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New Year's Day Brunch in DC: A Handy Guide

By Svetlana December 30, 2011 | 10:00 am
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What is the best thing about New Year's EVE being on a Saturday this year? Well, obviously the SUNDAY NEW YEAR'S DAY BRUNCH plans to deal with that hangover from Saturday (plus a Monday off to deal with that brunch hangover from Sunday, thanks!). So, we asked around and here is (on top of some of our usually recommended brunch spots - for those click here and here) what some of our favorite places around town have in store for you, so you kick that first day of the year off right. We can talk about resolutions come Tuesday. You're welcome.

in no particular order:

CLASSICS:

  • FIREFLY (brunch from 9AM TO 2PM-which should come in handy if you NEVER went to sleep) will host a New Year’s Day brunch, featuring Chef Daniel Bortnick’s newly-launched brunch menu and new cocktails conceived by assistant general manager Eric Santiago. On the menu: seasonal dishes such as lemon-ricotta spoonbread with poached pear and cinnamon whipped cream. For a more savory option, try the eggs reuben, made with corned beef hash, sauerkraut, gruyère, poached eggs and thousand island dressing on an English muffin, or the seared Yellowfin tuna B.L.T., made with bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato and citrus aioli on multigrain bread. New brunch cocktails ($9), include: spicy bloody mary with jalapeño-infused vodka, or a grapefruit mimosa with Cointreau, fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, sparkling wine and vodka.  Call 202-861-1310 to make a reservation.
  • SMITH COMMONS (11am-3pm)  with $5 draughts; complimentary bottomless mimosas for guests that dined at Smith Commons on New Year's Eve only (something to definitely consider when making those night-before plans too)
  • DISTRICT COMMONS- (11am-4pm) - $1 Mimosas and Bloody Marys with Brunch Entree. Noteworthy: Bloody Mary Tasting Flight, and the Pretzel Bread with Beer Mustard Butter
  • BIRCH & BARLEY AND CHURCHKEY (11AM -3:30pm at Brich and Barley and 12pm-4pm at Churchkey): Chef Kyle Bailey and wife Tiffany MacIsaac make the perfect duo serving savory and sweet dishes such as fried chicken & waffles and fried egg B.L.T.  on a pretzel roll, pork belly, arugula and hand-cut fries.
  • ACADIANA- NYD Brunch (11am-4pm)- $1 Cajun Marys and Blood Orange Mimosas with Purchase of Brunch Prix Fixe Menu; Keep an eye out for: Charbroiled Oysters, Eggs Acadiana (also to note that the prix fixe is an ENORMOUS amount of food)

INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS:

  • ASIA NINE (12pm-4pm) $1 Mimosas, Thai Bird's Eye Chili Bloody Marys, Thai Iced Teas, or Vietnamese Coffee with Brunch Small Plates. Bonus: Portions on their small plates are actually quite large so this is perfect for groups! Bonus to the bonus:  all brunch goers receive 40% off neighboring E St. Cinema movie tickets- now showing The Artist, The Descendant, Shame, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, My Week with Marilyn, A Dangerous Method... (all handily reviewed here)

  • CUBA LIBRE (NOON-2PM) “Brunch without Borders.” which is $25.  Guests can order all they can eat at Cuba Libre with no carry home leftovers and the unlimited brunch must be ordered for the whole table. Bonus: The menu is recently updated as a result of Chef-Partner Guillermo Pernot’s two recent visits to Cuba, so keep an eye out for: Atún Africano,African adobo-rubbed charred tuna, pickled cucumber salad and avocado salsa with preserved Meyer lemon-curry oil; One-Eyed Ropa Vieja Hash, shredded beef brisket stewed with tomatoes, bell peppers, and red wine on a hash of Yukon gold potatoes, boniato, maduros and corn, topped with a fried egg; Huevo Habanero, a poached egg in enchilada sauce with grilled white corn and more. BONUS: Bottomless morning cocktails such as Havana Hottie (Bloody Mary), Classic Mimosa, Mimosa Rojo with Watermelon Juice, and the Red or White Sangria can be added to your unlimited brunch for another $10 per person.  For reservations, please call (202) 408-1600.
  • ON 14TH: Masa 14 & El Centro DF will be offering their same bottomless brunches- $35 all you can eat & drink… while it’s nothing “New Years” specific, it’s still a great deal/great way to ease into 2011.
  • AGORA (11 AM - 3 PM), Bottomless brunch ( $29.95 per person/must be ordered for the entire table) complemented by a bottomless supply of featured cocktails such as the Mimosa, Bloody Mary, champagne, house vodka, gin and tequila and house gin & vodka martinis (keeping that spirit from the night before alive). The menu features a selection of Salads & Spreads, Cheese & Cure and Cold Meze options along with sandwiches and egg-based dishes and delicious Turkish coffee. The pre-fixed brunch menu includes Htipiti, roasted peppers, feta, thyme and olive oil; Beet Salad with lemon mashed potatoes, garlic, orange, red beets, savory herb, onion, lemon vinaigrette; French Toast, challah bread dipped with egg-batter dusted with confections sugar served with maple syrup, as well as Cilbir, two poached eggs topped with yogurt, sumac and spice oil.  For reservations, please call (202) 332-6767.

FANCY, CELEBRATORY BRUNCHES:

  • BOURBON STEAK (11:30am -3pm): For a fancier twist on the standard brunch fare, executive Chef Adam Sobel's menu for New Year's Day (priced at $80 per person and $40 per child, not including tax and gratuity) will offer appetizers such as Bacon onion tart with truffle vinaigrette, Corn beef hash rosti with poached egg and Sunchoke soup with foie gras tortellini. Entrees will include Hot smoked Arctic Char with horseradish cream, Pumpkin French toast and Prime skirt steak and eggs with pomme dauphine. Desserts will include favorites like Rootbeer float with chocolate chip cookies and Bourbon brownie with peanut butter mousse.For reservations or more information, please call 202.944.2026.
  • ROOFTERRACE RESTAURANT @ Kennedy Center (11AM-2PM) . $39.95 per person for adults and $20 per person for children 12 and under, excluding tax and gratuity The restaurant will serve a special Sunday Kitchen Brunch Buffet on New Year’s Day, featuring freshly baked scones, muffins and Danish, made-to-order omelets and other breakfast favorites, house specialties like prime rib, seasonal gourmet salads and a raw seafood bar.  Guests are invited into the chef’s impressive kitchen to choose from the expansive menu selection. BONUS: THE VIEWS ARE AMAZING. For reservations, please call (202) 416-8555.
  • BLUE DUCK TAVERN (11 am -2:30pm) has a new kitchen (Executive Chef Sebastien Archambault and Chef de Cuisine John Melf)  will be launching  an a la carte brunch on January 1st.  For reservations call (202) 419-6755

    FOR THOSE IN VIRGINIA:

  • Both locations of RUSTICO will be serving Chef Steve Mannino’s new brunch menu on New Year’s Day from 11 AM to 3 PM. Guests can enjoy the popular brisket hash with sunny side egg and black pepper biscuits or the brunch burger with texas toast, potato hash, bacon, egg, cheddar and spicy hollandaise complimented by one of the restaurants many brews on draft.
  • VERMILLION (11am-2:30pm) - Chef Tony Chittum delivers both classic brunch favorites and indulgent treats perfect for New Year’s Day.  Featured New Year's day dishes include: eggs benedict  with smoked chatham cod, pickled red onion, crispy capers and béarnaise; spiced pumpkin pancakes  with slow cooked apples, sorghum syrup and chef’s burger with tillamook cheddar and “chicken fried” bacon.

OPEN LATE BONUS:

  • STATION 4 will be serving brunch TILL 5PM. SO-if you don't wake up till (very) late-you know where to go.

NOW-TELL US WHAT YOUR NEW YEAR'S BRUNCH PLANS ARE...

Previously in BYT Guides:

God loves a cheerful giver.

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God loves a cheerful giver.-- 2 Corinthians 9:7

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