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Best Places For New Year's Day Brunch 2015 In Chicago

Make a resolution for 2015 right now by planning your first fabulous meal of the New Year. Restaurants around the city will be open on New Year's Day and they'll be serving all sorts of delicious eats sure to help you get over that hangover. Some even encourage you to roll right out bed and wear your PJs. When available, reservations are strongly recommended.
Perennial
(Photo Credit: perennialchicago.com)

Perennial Virant
1800 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 981-7070
www.perennialchicago.com

Start the New Year off right with a gourmet brunch like no other. At this popular Lincoln Park restaurant, Chef Paul Virant will be serving his signature contemporary Midwestern cuisine featuring local ingredients. You can savor the flavors of sweet dishes like French toast with Klug Farm apples, lime sour cream, thyme and pie crust, as well as more savory options, including a biscuits and gravy with Gunthrop Farm chicken sausage.

Jake Melnick's Corner Tap
41 E. Superior St.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 266-0400
www.jakemelnicks.com

Jake Melnick's may be known as a neighborhood bar, but it's also a great place to nurse a hangover. The Near North Side restaurant and bar has a large brunch menu packed with the usual treats, but items on past New Year's Day menus have included dishes designed to help that headache or to fill your stomach, like a Rise 'n Shine burger. A hangover smoothie -- packed with fruit and green tea -- is also a great way to ring in the new year.

Hot Chocolate Chicago
(Photo Credit: hotchocolatechicago.com)

Mindy's Hot Chocolate
1747 N. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 489-1747
www.hotchocolatechicago.com

There's no need to get dressed up to enjoy some delightful pastries. That's because this popular Wicker Park restaurant holds an annual pajama party every year on New Year's Day. All of the usual items are available for feasting on, from pastries like doughnuts and sticky buns to savory dishes such as a seasonal quiche. Seasonal smoothies are also often available -- in addition to the hot chocolate, of course. And even better? When you get back home, you can go straight back to bed.

Related: Best Boozy Brunches in Chicago

Nana
3267 S. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL 60608
(312) 929-2486
www.nanaorganic.com

Pajamas are also encouraged at this Bridgeport restaurant's annual New Year's Day brunch. While you're staying comfy in those jammies, enjoy some healthy -- and tasty -- American dishes made with organic, locally-sourced ingredients. As many of the dishes are influenced by Mexican and Spanish flavors, be sure to try out the popular chilaquiles that comes topped with tortillas, chihuahua cheese and an amazing poblano cream sauce. If you can swing it, come early, because reservations aren't taken and the dining room tends to fill up early.

Francesca's Forno
1576 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 770-0184
www.miafrancesca.com

For a great Italian meal while in your pajamas, look no further than this Wicker Park restaurant. It serves up house-made, traditional Italian fare, perfect for a cold winter day in Chicago. For prior New Year's Day brunches, dishes that have been on the menu include an Amaretto french toast, tomato-braised pork hash and eggs Sardou. Francesca's Forno has just what you need to start the new year off right.

Related: Best Breakfast Sandwiches in Chicago

Elizabeth SanFilippo is a freelance writer, who enjoys trying new foods from all over the world. But her favorite city for culinary treats will always be Chicago. When not writing about food, she's writing about a variety of topics for numerous websites and blogs, and working part-time at a culinary vacation company based in the Windy City. Some of her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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