Easter Brunch Guide

Pardon the pun, but you'd have to be hopping mad to not eat brunch on Easter Sunday. It's as much a holiday ritual as Jesus, but with more eggs and mimosas. One of the biggest brunch holidays of the year, there's no shortage of holiday brunch options in Chicago. Here's a handy guide for navigating the onslaught.

(Pecking Order)

Looking for a unique approach to Easter brunching this year? Look no further than Pecking Order. The family-centric Filipino favorite is cooking up atypical Easter sensations such as spicy sriracha wings, housemade longaniza, chicken adobo rice, pandesal French toast, eggplant torta, and roasted chicken poutine. Kristine Subido handles the savory, while her mom is responsible for dessert: sticky rice with coconut caramel, leche flan, and purple yam cake. Served between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., the price is a scant $17 per person, while kids 13 and under are 50% off.

Green eggs, everything bagels, and strawberry short cake converge at Graham Elliot Bistro for one tasty multi-course brunch spree. For $45, diners select one from each of three courses, with options ranging from shaved prosciutto or salmon lox for the first course to green eggs with wilted spinach or tiger shrimp with egg frittata for the main, and balsamic-splashed strawberry short cake or banana split for dessert. The price also includes one brunch cocktail.

Easter brunch adapts an Italian accent at tesori. For the holiday, the Loop restaurant is doling out brunch specials such as artichoke-sausage soup, fresh fava salad, smoked salmon carpaccio, lamb stufato, and tesori Benedict with housemade focaccia, prosciutto cotto, poached eggs, and Brie bechamel. Brunch is served from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Osteria Via Stato is another solid bet for an Italy-inspired take on Easter brunch. Between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., chef David DiGregorio is serving up a springy buffet of Easter goodies, including an omlette station, ciabatta French toast, housemade sausages, and a ricotta doughnut station. For kids, there's an Easter candy table as well. The cost is $39.95 per person. Children 10 and under are 50% off, and kids 5 and under are free. Reservations can be made by calling 312-642-8450.

For something a bit Frencher, head to Cafe des Architectes, where executive chef Greg Biggers and pastry chef Leigh Omilinsky team up for a decadent three-course affair with options for each course. For appetizers, there's carrot ginger veloute, poached Slagel Farm hen eggs, lingonberry short stack pancakes, bacon and Gruyere quiche, and spring greens. Entree options include smoked salmon pastrami Benedict, roasted leg of lamb, spring vegetable risotto, Lake Superior whitefish, and braised beef short ribs. Carrot cake, key lime tart, chocolate bread pudding, and a chocolate egg with caramelized white chocolate and almond praline are on deck for dessert. The cost is $69 for adults, $19 for children under 12, and brunch is served from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Make reservations by calling 312-324-4063.

(Sepia)

Expect a melange of family-friendly sweets and savories for brunch at Sepia. To start, the restaurant inundates the table with assorted breads and pastries, then guests partake in a family-style spread of fresh farmer's cheese blintzes, smoked trout with "everything bagel spice," and more. Entree options include breakfast strata, smoked chicken hash, grilled flat-iron steak, and crunchy French toast. Dessert is another family-style smorgasbord of oatmeal coconut cake, chocolate mousse cake, and blueberry tart. The cost is $50 per adult and $28 for children 12 and younger. Brunch is served from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

Everyone loves a brunch buffet, especially a holiday one that encourages familial feasting. aria ups the ante on Easter Sunday buffet brunching with a miscellany of salad fare, sushi, cheese, charcuterie, and more. Guests may also select entrees such as deep-dish quiche, lemon-blueberry pancakes, vanilla-Nutella waffles, roasted rack of lamb, steak frites, and wall-eye. Dessert platters are shareable, laden with the likes of coconut-carrot cupcakes, strawberry sorbet with Jelly Beans (aww), Easter egg truffles, and more. Brunch is $42 per person, served from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.

Leave it to The Bristol to utterly wow with uniquely delicious Easter brunch items such as raspberry rose croissants, Piedmont hazelnut bread, and blue cheese-pecan scones. And that's just the beginning. After the baked goods hit the table, guests opt for any of the savory temptations, from braised pork chilaquiles and biscuits and gravy to hangover breakfast noodles and open-faced breakfast sandwiches. The cost is $29 per person and reservations can be made by calling 773-862-5555.

Easter brunch dives into the ocean via GT Fish & Oyster. The nautically minded restaurant puts an impressive spin on the holiday ritual with items such as crab Benedict, smoked whitefish quiche, shrimp cocktail, lobster rolls, and more. It's all part of a three-course meal served from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., which goes for $45 per person. Little ones have their own three-course menu that costs $20 per child. Call 312-929-3501 for reservations.

Hop on over to the Gold Coast for a luxe take on Easter brunch courtesy of LUXBAR. Beginning as soon as the Easter bunny stops breaking into houses (aka 8:00 a.m.), LUXBAR's brunch features delicacies such as cinnamon pecan pancakes, steak and eggs, granola parfaits, and a slew of Benedicts. Weather permitting, the Viagra Triangle favorite may even unveil its glorious patio!

All the brunch specials you could ever need descend on Tortoise Club on Easter Sunday. Along with a variety of Benedicts, the sophisticated River North escape features plenty of boozy beverages, Easter egg giveaways, a complimentary family photo, and an iced seafood bar. Call 312-755-1700 for reservations.

Nothing says "happy Easter!" like a hulking BBQ brisket carving station. For beefy Easter supremacy, head over to Filini Bar & Restaurant for brunch. It's a focal point of the restaurant's brunch buffet, outfitted with other offerings such as omelettes, pancakes, and Italian classics. There's also a 33-foot long Bloody Mary bar and bottomless mimosas are also available. The buffet costs $39 per person and the restaurant is offering brunch from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Call 312-477-0234 for reservations.

Oatmeal-crusted brioche, mascarpone cheesecake, and fried lake perch sandwiches are a sampling of some of the dishes you'll want to be eating come Easter morning. Head to Gemini Bistro to make this happen. Served from 10:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., reservations for brunch can be made by calling 773-525-2522.

Rather than partake in the standard Easter brunch, NoMI Kitchen walks to the beat of its own drum with family-friendly happenings all day long. Kids will flip for the restaurant egg hunt and chocolate egg desserts filled with soft-serve ice cream alongside a toppings bar. Oh and there's also a special holiday menu with dishes from five different chef stations. The price to attend is $125 and reservations can be made by calling 312-249-4030. 

Banana bread French toast is better than anything you'll find in an Easter basket, so get thee to Benny's Chop House for brunch instead. The steak-y restaurant features everything from jumbo lump blue crab Benedicts to USDA Prime natural rib-eye for Easter brunch. For the kiddie brigade, the restaurant will curate an Easter cookie decoration station. The cost is $49 per person, while kids cost $19 for their own prixe fixe menus. Brunch runs from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.

- Matt Kirouac