By Food Thinkers via flickr.

Brunch on New Year’s Day is a must-do for lots of folks, especially when January 1 falls on a Saturday like it does this year.  There are a ton of choices on the Upper West Side and elsewhere in the city.

As for me, crawling out of bed to fight the mobs for a watered-down Bloody Mary is definitely not the way I want to start the new year. My blueberry pancake recipe is better than anyone’s, so why schlep?

But if you feel that brunch is part of the celebration, here’s a list of places open New Year’s Day, culled from Opentable. You can probably assume that your favorite brunch spot is open even if it isn’t listed here.

But call first. Too many hung over waiters sleeping in? Some places may decide to call it a day.

Upper West Side

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Photo: Cafe de Soleil.

Simply put, the last time I was there, the place was unbearably noisy. In fact, my hubby and and I wound up spending the entire evening screaming at each other—no we weren’t having an argument—in a vain attempt talk while we ate.

This afternoon, we were walking by Cafe de Soleil and decided to give it another try. Amazing. They’ve essentially taken care of the ear-splitting noise level. Maybe they’ve stuffed the ceiling with cotton balls.

The food by the way, was quite good. My hubby had a burger, cooked rare to his specifications. I had vol au vent aux ouefs a la russe, basically a mess of scrambled eggs in a puff pastry shell with a helping of smoked salmon and asparagus on the side. We also got an order of garlic fries. Embedded in the cone of frites are whole roasted garlic cloves. Very yummy.

If you’re looking for a bargain, Cafe de Soleil offers a Monday night special, $12.95 for your choice of eight different cuts of steaks and burgers.

Cafe de Soleil
2723 Broadway
(between 104th St & 105th St)
New York, NY
212 316 5000

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Upper West Side restaurant Community Food and Juice reopens. Photo: Community Food and Juice.

Calling all Upper West Side brunch-goers—upper Broadway restaurant Community Food and Juice reopened today.  The restaurant’s been closed for months due to a devastating fire. Today, it was packed, so it probably pays to get on line early for their popular Sunday brunch.

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Update:  Community Food and Juice reopened Oct. 21.

Favorite neighborhood brunch spot Community Food and Juice, which was shuttered because of a fire April 24, is set to reopen in mid-to-late July, a company spokesperson said.

The blaze broke out in the kitchen, according to Dede Lahman, of Clinton St. Baking Co. & Restaurant, which owns Community Food and Juice. There were no injuries, said Lahman, who declined to comment further on the cause of the blaze. The Columbia Spectator had reported that the fire started on the grill.

Damage from the blaze was enough to shut down the restaurant for repairs during the busy Columbia University commencement season earlier this month.

Email info@communityrestaurant.com if you’d like to be notified when Community Food and Juice reopens.

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Finally, spring appears to have arrived!  One way to spend a lazy weekend morning is to trek up to Ft. Tyron Park and have brunch at the New Leaf New Leaf Restaurant & Bar.

As you know, all proceeds from New Leaf support entertainer Bette Midler’s New York Restoration Project, a nonprofit that helps restore the city’s parks and open spaces.

Though New Leaf’s food is just fine and the eatery is open year round, it’s the spring and summertime sylvan surroundings that make the schlep uptown especially worthwhile. With trees leafing out and the weather warming, what could be more relaxing than tucking into eggs or a salad on an outdoor patio?  If you want a culture fix, you can wander next door to the Cloisters.

Brunch is served from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; service will start daily as the weather turns warmer.  Lunch and dinner are also served.

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I know the economy is in the dumpster, but are you really going to make Mom cook on Mother’s Day?

This year, at Upper East Side and Upper West Side restaurants, prix fixe brunch and dinner menus abound.  Free roses and mimosas are big, too.

So give Mom and break and take her out for a nice meal on Mother’s Day!

Here’s a list of eateries from Open Table.  Click here for more information and to make reservations.

Upper East Side

Alloro

Atlantic Grill

Aureole

Bistro Chat Noir

Café Boulud

Caffe Grazie

David Burke Townhouse

Frederick's Madison

Gobo

Jacques Brasserie

JoJo

La Goulue

L'Absinthe Brasserie

Lumi

Match 65 (formerly Paris Match)

Maya - New York

Merchants NY Restaurant

Paola's Restaurant

Payard Patisserie & Bistro

Persephone

Petaluma

Saucy

Sotto Cinque

Zucchero e Pomodori

Upper West Side

Arte Cafe

Bistro Ten 18

Cafe du Soleil

Cesca

Eighty One

Fusha West

Havana Central at The West End

Isabella's

Ocean Grill New York

Regional

Roth's Westside Steakhouse

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