Yes, New Year’s Eve was different with large parties off the table, indoor dining verboten and an outdoor curfew of 10 p.m. But that doesn’t mean welcoming in 2021 and toasting to its arrival has to be quiet. With temperatures predicted to climb to the mid 40s, and little else going on, taking advantage of outdoor dining is an option for every meal for the first day of the new year. Whether you want to launch the year with a brunch of omelets, devour pizza in the late afternoon, or settle in to an evening seafood feast, there is a restaurant with an inviting heated enclosure ready to welcome you. Below are some options to kick off the new year.
NYC restaurants are currently limited to outdoor dining, along with takeout and delivery. The type of service offered is indicated on each map point. However, this should not be taken as endorsement for dining out, as there are still safety concerns: for updated information on coronavirus cases in your area, please visit the NYC Health Department’s website. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.
Bella Blu
New York, NY 10021
Start with sautéed baby artichokes with pistachios or sea scallops with wild mushrooms in a balsamic glaze and move on to spaghetti and lobster, papardelle in lamb ragu, or whole Dover sole at this popular Upper East Side spot, which has just built a new heated enclosure and will be open for lunch and dinner.
Avra Madison Estiatorio
New York, NY 10022
The buzzy Hellenic spot added five heated individual greenhouses to its trellised outdoor seating area located just off Central Park. Crispy octopus and classic tomato and feta salad are great choices to kick off the new year, and fresh fish is available by the pound. For those who prefer meat, the lamb chops are perfectly charred. Though dinner can be steep, lunch is a bargain at $29.50, even on New Year’s Day.
La Grande Boucherie
New York, NY 10019
This latest location of the French steakhouse opened in Midtown West last month, and the outdoor space has a 40-foot high glass ceiling with open sides and heated floors. Brunch will feature raw bar items as well as prime rib, escargots and a selection of eggs dishes. Plates for two are easy to share, including Chateaubriand, dry-aged tomahawk rib-eye, and broiled lobster.
Szechuan Mountain House
Queens, NY 11354
This Flushing spot has been popular with its enclosed tent and a heater at each table. Among the signature dishes are the classic ma po tofu, green spicy bass (swimming in a soy-based sauce and showered with chopped chives), and diced chicken with lotus (the house-pickled root gives a wonderful sour contrast to the heat). The mix of jasmine and sticky rice is a perfect conduit for feisty sauces, and for those who like things a little milder, the kitchen is happy to adjust.
American Brass Restaurant
Queens, NY 11109
The new American bistro just installed 22 heated greenhouses with stellar views of the Manhattan skyline. Try a brunch of buttermilk fried chicken and warm sticky buns with salted caramel, or a veggie omelet if you are sticking your new year’s resolution. Dinner options include day boat scallops with blood orange sabayon and leeks; and a short rib grilled cheese sandwich with tomato jam.
Socarrat Paella Bar
New York, NY 10011
Kick off 20201 in a beautiful heated back patio reminiscent of a Spanish garden where the paella is the dish to order. A brunch-worthy bacon, egg and cheese version and veggie rendition is being offered along with the more classic chicken and chorizo or seafood varieties, and there are three different sangrias to complete a festive meal. For those who want to stray from the paella theme, huevos a la flamenco — a baked egg casserole with chorizo, potatoes, artichokes, and fava beans — is a tasty option.
Rahi
New York, NY 10011
Artisinal Indian cuisine and an outdoor grill are the draws at this West Village spot with creative regional fair from chef Chintan Pandya. For brunch, check out coconut uttapam waffles made from lentil and rice, served with curry leaf chutney, maple syrup and a choice of fried eggs or chicken. There’s also a Bombay sandwich made with Beyond Meat, onion, tomato and green chutney. Dinner options include a masala lamb burger and gobi korma with cauliflower, cashew, yogurt and cardamom.
Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery
New York, NY 10003
Twelve cozy new individual chalets with “fireplace heaters’’ and soft furnishing are now open at Andrew Carmellini’s brasserie in Noho. Brunch dishes include lemon pancakes with fresh berries; croque madame with house-cured ham and fried egg; and gravlax Benedict on an everything brioche. Though dinner is price fixed at $125, the same menu is offered at a 4 p.m. seating for $85.
Ainslie
Brooklyn, NY 11211
You don’t have to choose between breakfast or pizza at this Williamsburg Italian beer and wine garden because a hybrid of the two is offered here with pancetta and a sunny side up egg. Brunch also features French toast and eggs baked in a spicy tomato sauce, while dinner highlights include housemade lasagna, hangar steak and chicken Milanese. Heated seating is available in the garden or rooftop as well as on the tented sidewalk.
The Rockaway Hotel
Queens, NY 11694
The new hotel will be serving an upbeat brunch with live music in its fully ventilated winter beach-themed dining area on the pool deck, which is filled with candles, Sherpa throws and pampas grass. Choose raw bar platters, bowls of everything from overnight oats to chia pudding, roasted squash salad, or a burger with ground beef and bone marrow; then wash it down with an espresso martini.