Best Places For New Year's Day Brunch 2016 In OC
Wake up on the morning of a brand new day, in a brand new year, and start your day with a delicious meal in Orange County. With great weather and a warm sun, you won't beat the scene on New Year's Day. No matter how much drinking one has done the night before, it's hard not to feel lucky. Up the luck New Year's morning by treating yourself to a fabulous brunch at these top spots.
The Alley
4501 W. Pacific Coast Highway
Newport Beach, CA 92663
(949) 646-9126
www.thealleynewportbeach.com
Head down to The Alley in Newport Beach to welcome in an awesome new year. From 10am to 3pm, The Alley will be offering a bottomless Champagne brunch, featuring favorites like eggs Benedict (meatloaf or cali, both prepared with Sriracha hollandaise), filet mignon & eggs, and their custom quesadillas, omelets and burritos. Make it a meaty celebration with The Alley's bacon bloody mary for $8.
Bosscat Kitchen and Libations
4647 MacArthur Blvd
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 333-0917
www.bosscatkitchen.com
A definite must try for brunch is Bosscat Kitchen and Libations for New Year's Day brunch. For $20 you will get a choice of bottomless bloody marys or mimosas, and an entree. And the entrees are absolutely delicious. Try the "KING," or blue suede pancakes with banana cream pudding, maple peanut butter and bacon, the Fruity Pebbles French toast with bacon, condensed milk glaze, and fresh berries, the Sticky Bun Breakfast Burger with Canadian bacon, duck fat, fried eggs and gruyere cheese, and the crawfish & bacon Top Ramen scramble, made with Top Ramen noodles, eggs, American cheese and kimchi. There are more traditional choices, too, including the short rib chilaquiles, and the smoked salmon & eggs ($14). Brunch is served from 11am to 3pm.
Las Brisas
361 Cliff Dr.
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 497-5434
www.lasbrisaslagunabeach.com
A four-course, full-service dining experience - including complimentary champagne - awaits at Las Brisas on New Year's Day. As you enjoy another spectacular SoCal morning, start your meal with a serving of fresh fruit before moving on to a bowl of house-made soup or a fresh salad. For your main course, it's a feast for the senses (and the belly), with options like Las Brisas' Huevos rancheros & New York steak; crepes de Laguna (hand-made crepes filled with spicy Canadian scallops, wild Mexican shrimp, fresh fish and creamy citrus velouté, served with scrambled eggs); the free-range chicken crepes (pan-seared free-range chicken and sautéed vegetables enveloped in a creamy citrus velouté rolled in hand-made crepes and served with scrambled eggs) and the roasted Colorado lamb (slow-roasted lamb sirloin with rosemary garlic demi-glaze with roasted fingerling potatoes). Top off the experience with the chef's specialty daily dessert. Brunch is $49 per person and will be served from 9am to 3pm.
Plums Café
369 E 17th St
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 722-7586
www.plumscafe.com
Plums Cafe offers the best of both worlds on New Year's Day. It has the imported feel and flavors of the Pacific Northwest in their dishes, with many of Southern California's fresh ingredients. They'll be serving New Year's Day brunch from 8am to 3pm with favorites like their famous Dutch baby pancakes, or their chocolate banana waffles with salty caramel, oregon hazelnut and whipped cream. Or, if it was that kind of evening, their Hangover Burger (ground sirloin beef patty, fried egg & Oregon thick cut pepper bacon, Tillamook-Habanero Jack, lettuce, tomato & grilled onion on English muffin) is available to save the day.
Ramos House Cafe
Los Rios Historic District
31752 Los Rios St.
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
(949) 443-1342
www.ramoshouse.com
Haven't had enough time off, or stressed out from too many holiday responsibilities? Ramos House Cafe is the perfect place for a little relaxation. Order from the $40 fixed price menu, then sit back and let Ramos House Cafe do the rest. You'll start with apple cinnamon beignets, basil cured salmon lox or a poached pear with mascarpone & almonds as you sip on your beverage of choice. When that's been cleared from the table, move on entrees like the Villa Persimmon & Candied Pecan Pain Perdu, the Winter Veggie Hash with Fresh Herbs & Organic Egg, the Beef Stew with Blue Cheese Mash & Roasted Root Vegetables, or their Mac 'n Cheese with lobster, bacon, butternut squash &/or amaretto. No matter what you decide to eat, you'll no doubt appreciate the side of pampering you'll get for free with every meal.
Wild Goose Tavern
436 E. 17th St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
(949) 722-9453
www.goosebar.com
Wild Goose Tavern keeps it simple for brunch. So, if you're into old school favorites like Belgian waffles (black cherry compote, French vanilla whipped cream), eggs any style (hash browns, bacon, toast) and breakfast burgers (arugula, tomato chutney, fried egg, bacon, cheddar cheese), this is the place to be. Wild Goose is also your go-to for day drinking your way into 2016. Bubbly indulgences include the classic French 75 (gin, lemon, sugar, sparkling wine), Barbatoge (grenadine, lemon juice, grand marnier, sparkling wine), an Aperol Spritz (Aperol liquor, orange juice, sparkling wine, orange wheel), and the St. Germain Spritz (elderflower liquor, sparkling wine, lemon wheel). Great Champagne cocktails are also available including sparkling wine, sugar, bitters, lemon peel, or keep it classic with a bloody mary. Brunch served from 10am to 2pm.
Royal Khyber
1621 W. Sunflower Ave
Santa Ana, CA 92704
(714) 436-1010
www.royalkhyber.com
If you want to try some Indian food for brunch, head to Royal Khyber from 11am to 2pm on New Year's Day for their regal (if not exactly R&B) brunch. For $17.95 per person ($12.50 for children under 10), lose yourself in a buffet of Indian favorites like saag paneer, vegetable khorma and chicken tikka masala. There are salads too, including an organic gourmet spring green mix, as well as an an assortment of Tawa preparations, chutneys, fresh fruits and desserts. For just $5.25 extra, turn up the bling on your brunch, by making it a "free flowing Champagne" celebration.
Raya
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
One Ritz-Carlton Dr.
Dana Point, CA 92629
(949) 240-2000
www.ritzcarlton.com
Raya, inside The Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel, will be offering a new level of luxury for brunch today. Held in the Pavilion Ballroom from 11am to 2pm, the $80 per person ($40 for kids 3 - 12) buffet features award-winning savories and sweets, along with absolutely breath-taking ocean vistas. Wear your Sunday best and ring in the New Year with panache.
