#upscale-dining

#upscale-dining

Spots such as the minuscule clubhouse 4 Charles Prime Rib and Jon Neidich's the Nines, with its burgundy velvet and caviar-topped baked potatoes, helped to establish the template for a proper swankstaurant. The past few months have seen a rush of them - from the gaslight glow of Chez Fifi uptown to the latest Chumley's reboot, known as the Eighty Six, downtown - often coming from chefs and restaurateurs who had initially followed a more casual path.

We don't think anything perks up a Saturday more than a brunch excursion. Obviously, your brunch doesn't have to be anything fancy - there's no shortage of great brunch spots across the U.S., and sometimes the best breakfast is a simple, well-executed pancake plate. On special occasions, though, you may want something a bit more upscale: a fancy brunch that you can dress up for, where you'll eat in a gorgeous atmosphere and get good food to boot.