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Easter

Spring has sprung in Chicago, and some of the city’s restaurants and hotels are ushering in the warm weather with special offerings for Easter (Sunday, April 16). Buffet brunches, prix fixe meals for the whole family, and Easter egg hunts are all on the calendar, so don’t wait to make your reservations.

An Easter at the Chicago Athletic Association hotel

Chicago Athletic Association hotel (12 S. Michigan Ave.)

  • In celebration of Easter Sunday, families of all sizes are invited to don their Sunday best for Easter Brunch in the hotel’s iconic White City Ballroom. The hotel offers an Easter Brunch Buffet in the ballroom featuring made to order waffles and omelets, a carving station offering Herb Crusted Beef Tenderloin, Smoked Pit Ham, and Roasted Leg of Lamb. While listening to a live Jazz trio guests can further indulge in a Spring Salad Bar and Housemade Charcuterie as well as desserts such as Carrot Cake, Strawberry Pie, and Chocolate Pot d’crème.
  • The Chicago Athletic Association hotel’s Easter Buffet is $135 for adults and $65 for children 6-13 years old in the White City Ballroom (complimentary entry and meal for children under 6) with a side of sweeping vistas of Millennium Park across Michigan Avenue and beyond Lake Michigan. Bottomless Bloody Mary and Mimosas are available for $30. Guests can reserve seatings every half hour between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. To make reservations, please email CAAEasterBrunch@chicagoathletichotel.com or visit RESERVE

Italian Easter Eats Will Have You Hopping for Joy

Dolce Italian at The Godfrey Hotel Chicago (127 W. Huron Ave.)

  • You may not be near the Vatican this Easter Sunday, but Dolce Italian transports your spirit, and your stomach, to Rome through an Italian Easter brunch menu. Executive Chef Nate Cayer evokes the carefree sophistication of the eternal city with dishes such as the Dolce “Benny” (poached eggs, porchetta, spinach, ciabatta, hollandaise) and the Meatball Parmigiana sandwich made with Chef Nate’s signature Dolce Meatballs.
  • Top off a decadent brunch with Dolce Italian’s bubbles package, which includes bottomless Mimosas (accompanied by various fruit juices), Bellinis, or Bloody Mary’s for $25 per person.
  • Dolce Italian’s Easter brunch menu is available on Sunday, April 16 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Reserve a table for friends, family, and everyone in between by visiting dolceitalianchicago.com.

Hop Over to Found for Easter Lunch

Found (1631 Chicago Ave., Evanston)

  • This Easter, enjoy a special spring-inspired lunch with the whole family at Found Kitchen & Social House. Located just outside Chicago in Evanston, the warm and inviting Parisian-inspired kitchen and social house serves seasonal, rustic new American fare in a spirited atmosphere with options like Kale & Swiss Chard Salad with cranberries, candied nuts, and seeds; Lamb Meatloaf with Crispy Smashed Potatoes, labnah, and pistachio chimichurri; Crispy Fried Chicken Thighs with popcorn grits, sorghum, and greens; and House-made French Macaroons. Chef Nicole Pederson’s Easter Lunch costs $39 for adults and $18 for children under 12, exclusive of tax and gratuity. Children under 5 years old eat for free.
  • Reservations can be made by calling 847.868.8945 or online at www.foundkitchen.com.

Easter Brunch on the Magnificent Mile

Howells & Hood (435 N. Michigan Ave.)

  • The Michigan Avenue dining destination known for its robust draft system of over 120 craft beers is celebrating Easter with a specialty brunch, $39 per person.
  • From 9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. guests can indulge in carving, charcuterie, seafood and omelet stations; as well as specialty dishes such as Chicken Chilaquiles, Cauliflower Casserole, and the Howells & Hood Meatloaf

Put a Spring in Your Step This Easter

Hyatt Regency Chicago (151 E. Wacker Dr.)

  • Just steps away from the Chicago Riverwalk and half a mile from some of Chicago’s most iconic parks, including Maggie Daley Park and Millennium Park, Hyatt Regency Chicago is the place to officially welcome spring to the city, starting with Easter weekend. Guests can start the festivities in Maggie Daley Park with The Great Chicago Egg Hunt and head back to the hotel for a farm-to-table experience in American Craft Kitchen & Bar. The restaurant is also offering an extended weekend breakfast service on Saturday and Sunday until 1 p.m. featuring an array of savory skillets, omelets made with locally sourced ingredients, and a few decadent dishes including Traditional Texas Toast with fresh whipped cream and maple syrup, Chicken and Waffles, and Banana Pancakes with Nutella.
  • To make a reservation, call 312.565.1234 ext. 4496.

An Easter Extravaganza

I|O Godfrey at The Godfrey Hotel Chicago (127 W. Huron Ave.)

  • I|O Godfrey, the all-seasons, indoor|outdoor rooftop lounge at The Godfrey Hotel Chicago, hosts Chicagoans and visitors for an Easter extravaganza for all ages. While families and friends feast on a buffet bursting with brunch items, little ones can hunt for eggs with prizes inside, play in the kids room, or have their faces painted like bunnies.
  • When guests are not gazing at the panoramic cityscape views, they can eat up I|O Godfrey’s brunch options such as an omelet station, a carving station, and family-style pastas, salads, and other brunch dishes. To RSVP for the brunch on Sunday, April 16 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., please visit godfreyeaster.com.

Lamb Loin, Magic Eggs, and More at Lawry’s for Easter Sunday

Lawry’s The Prime Rib (100 E. Ontario St.)

  • From visits with the Easter Bunny to a jelly bean count, the timeless steakhouse in the former McCormick Mansion offers a variety of family activities for Easter. Executive Chef Leonard Delgado serves a la carte menu items such as Lawry’s Famous Prime Rib, seafood and vegetarian dishes, plus specialty plates like a Colorado Lamb Loin with mint couscous for $39. To sweeten the meal, each table will choose one Easter egg from a basket, and if a magic egg with a silver key is chosen, a secondary Easter egg basket is brought out containing exceptional winnings. Prizes include a Lawry’s gift box, Seasoned Salt & Pepper duo, Vintage Salad Dressing, C.C. Brown’s Hot Fudge, wine, gift cards ranging in amounts of $25 to $250, and more.
  • The Easter celebration is held from 12 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 16. A la carte pricing is offered, and a children’s menu is available for $20 per child aged 12 and under. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling 312.787.5000.

A Picture-Perfect Easter Brunch

LH Rooftop at LondonHouse Chicago (85 E. Upper Wacker Dr.)

  • This Easter Sunday, LondonHouse Chicago offers guests, travelers, and locals a brunch accompanied by unbeatable river views. From the hotel’s Juliette Ballroom on the third floor, brunch-goers can indulge their appetites at the buffet and satisfy their Instagram accounts with beautiful snapshots family and friends posing with the Easter Bunny in front of Chicago River views through the room’s unimpeded floor-to-ceiling windows.
  • Executive Chef Jacob Verstegen’s reimagined American brunch spread includes sweet Easter treats like house-made Chocolate Croissants and Sweet Cream Scones, along with even more indulgent options like Lobster Benedict and Braised Short Ribs.
  • LondonHouse Chicago serves the Easter brunch buffet package with the Easter Bunny on Sunday, April 16 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. for $75 per person. Reservations can be made by calling 312.253.2317.

An Elegantly Over-The-Top Easter Brunch

Maple & Ash (8 W. Maple Street)

  • For the first time, Maple & Ash and Executive Chef Danny Grant host an elegant Easter Brunch on Sunday, April 16. The meal starts with the restaurant’s famous Fire Roasted Seafood Tower for the table, along with a selection of housemade pastries compliments of Executive Pastry Chef Aya Fukai. Chef-manned stations include: egg station serving omelets made-to-order, beef tenderloin carving station and breakfast station with items such as bacon, sausage, waffles & accoutrements. Maple & Ash’s housemade Ricotta Agnolotti will be served table-side and dessert can be ordered a la carte. Maple & Ash’s Easter Brunch is priced at $65 for adults and $20 for children 12 and under (does not include tax or gratuity).
  • Easter Brunch at Maple & Ash takes place Sunday, April 16, 2017 starting at 10 a.m. Reservations can be made on OpenTable, or by calling the restaurant at 312.944.8888. 

“Bona Pasqua!” with a Catalan Easter Feast

Mercat a la Planxa (638 S. Michigan)

  • South Loop Spanish restaurant Mercat a la Planxa presents a traditional Catalan feast this Easter Sunday with an array of brunch options. Some specials on the brunch menu include a roasted, stuffed lamb leg with spiced carrot puree and sautéed asparagus ($45) as well as the classic ”Brazo Gitano,” a Spanish cake roll with candied walnuts and fresh strawberry jam ($12).  
  • Brunch will be offered on Sunday, April 16 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Guests can make reservations online here or by calling the restaurant at 312.765.0524.

Eggs Topped with Uni Take Easter to the Next Level

Roka Akor Chicago (456 N. Clark St.)

  • Roka Akor Chicago, River North’s premier robatayaki-style Japanese sushi, seafood, and steakhouse restaurant, offers a special four-course holiday dinner menu this Easter. Executive Chef Ce Bian prepares an array of dishes like Shigoku Oysters with Grape Granite, Deviled Eggs with Shiso and Uni, Prime NY Strip Steak with Bone Marrow and Truffle Aioli, and Fresh Blueberry Cobbler with Lemongrass Ice Cream.
  • Roka Akor’s Easter menu is available on Sunday, April 16 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. in addition to the restaurant’s regular a la carte dinner menu. The holiday menu is priced at $75 per person, and reservations can be made by calling 312.248.7164 or online at http://www.rokaakor.com/chicago.

Hop Over to Skokie for a Midday Easter Treat

Roka Akor Old Orchard (4999 Old Orchard Shopping Center, Skokie, IL)

  • Roka Akor Old Orchard, Skokie’s premier robatayaki-style Japanese sushi, seafood, and steakhouse restaurant, offers a special prix-fixe lunch menu this Easter. Executive Chef Kristian Cho kicks off the afternoon with Roasted Beet Salad and Beef and Kimchi Dumplings. Guests then select from grilled main options like a Maki Platter, Prime Skirt Steak with Sweet Garlic Soy, or Grilled Salmon with Ginger Teriyaki. To finish, guests cleanse their palate with the House Sorbet. Easter Mimosas ($8) are available throughout the day and the full a la carte menu will be served at dinner.
  • Roka Akor’s prix-fixe Easter lunch menu is available on Sunday, April 16 from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. for $28 per person. Reservations can be made by calling 847.440.3383 or online at https://www.rokaakor.com/old-orchard/

Sunday’s Best for Easter Brunch

Sepia (123 N. Jefferson St.)

  • It’s not often that Michelin-starred Sepia opens its doors for brunch, but come Easter Sunday families can celebrate with an exquisite prix fixe menu from Chefs Andrew Zimmerman and Sarah Mispagel. Zimmerman and Mispagel offer their creative twist on brunch classics including Spring Herb Zeppoli, Shakshuka, and a Chocolate Nutella Raspberry Tart. Head Bartender Keith Meicher gives guests the option to imbibe in specialty cocktails such as the Bee’s Knees and the Bloody Maria ($12).
  • The prix fixe menu is $57 for adults and $32 for children 12 and under (prices are exclusive of tax and gratuity). Reservations for Easter brunch at Sepia are required, and can be made by calling 312.441.1920.

An Easter Feast at The Barn

The Barn (Rear 1016 Church St., Evanston)

  • The Barn, a meat-centric hideaway housed in a 19th century brick barn hidden away down an alley in Evanston, offers a special three-course brunch this Easter Sunday. Chef Nicole Pederson’s decadent à la carte brunch at the restaurant – which just opened November 1 – offers a plethora of options such as Soup de Poisson ($9.95); Little Gem Salad and Creamy Dijon Salad ($11.95); The Grand Central Caviar Sandwich ($18.95); a choice of Prime Heritage Angus steaks, such as the 14 oz. Bone-In New York ($46.95); Za’Atar Roasted Half Chicken ($22.95); and more.
  • Reservations can be made by calling 847.868.8041 or online at www.thebarnevanston.com.

The Art of Easter at The Langham, Chicago

The Langham, Chicago (330 N. Wabash Ave.)

  • Hop over to The Langham, Chicago for an extravagant brunch with the Easter Bunny and more. Set throughout the hotel’s elegant second floor, families are invited to join the tradition and holiday festivities on as the hotel’s Executive Chef Anthony Zamora collaborates with his team to present guests with a medley of holiday-themed gourmet chef buffet stations with sample dishes including: Poached Eggs Benedict, Brioche French Toast with Vermont Maple Syrup, and Vanilla Pearl Sugar Belgian Waffles. Grand favorites include a Bountiful Ocean seafood station featuring such delicacies as Chilled Jumbo Shrimp, Alaskan Snow Crab and King Crab, and freshly shucked Oysters, a Carving Station, an Omelet Station, and the Smokehouse Station. In true brunch fashion, the hotel offers guests a Bloody Mary Bar with mixologist selections of spirits, mixers, and garnishes as part of this holiday package. Finally, those looking to end their meal on a sweet note can visit the Crepe Station, or choose from a lavish selection of tarts, éclairs, petit fours, cakes, macaroon, cookies, and candies. While indulging in the decadent Easter Buffet, parents can sit back and enjoy the relaxing music of a live jazz band, while the children have fun with the on-site magician, balloon animal artist, and the Easter Bunny.
  • In addition, Executive Pastry Chef Scott Green, recently named one of the Top Ten Pastry Chefs in North America for 2016 by Dessert Professional Magazine, will be displaying six intricate, individually holiday-themed egg sculptures that he will create from chocolate and sugar. Using Guittard Chocolate ‘La Première Etoile 58%’, five of the six eggs will stand at 14 – 18 inches, while one larger egg will measure near 36 inches. Too beautiful to eat, these elaborate masterpieces will be showcased throughout the hotel.
  • Seating available from 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Adults are $145 per person (exclusive of tax and gratuity) and children up to 12 years old are $50 each (exclusive of tax and gratuity), ages 4 and under eat for free. To make reservations, call 312.923.7705 or visit www.langhamhotels.com/chicago.

Hop On Up to the 95th Floor of the John Hancock for Brunch with the Easter Bunny

The Signature Room (875 N. Michigan Ave.)

  • Families can visit with the Easter Bunny and enjoy brunch up in the clouds at The Signature Room this Easter holiday. Executive Chef Cardel Reid delivers an extensive brunch menu, including a Starters Buffet of salad, seafood, charcuterie, vegetables, soup, and more; Chef-attended carving stations with Roasted Leg of Lamb and Customized Omelets; and entrées including Mushroom Linguine, Apricot Honey Glazed Pork Loin, Steak & Eggs, and others. A separate kid’s menu is also available with options such as Grilled Cheese, Scrambled Eggs, and more.  
  • Easter brunch is available from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 16 for $80 per adult (includes one glass of Signature Room Sparkling Wine) and $35 per child. There is no charge for children under the age of 3. These prices are exclusive of tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 312.280.0465.

The Hunt Continues: Thompson Chicago’s 4th Annual Golden Egg in the Gold Coast

Thompson Chicago (21 E. Bellevue Place)

  • Thompson Chicago, the luxury lifestyle hotel in Chicago’s Gold Coast, is taking their 4th annual Golden Egg in the Gold Coast event to a new level, featuring new partners and a social media contest. Evolving the hotel’s popular play on the traditional Easter Egg Hunt, Easter eggs containing prizes from Thompson, their Oak Street Council neighbors, and the hotel’s seafood-inspired Italian restaurant, Nico Osteria, will be popping up in guestrooms all Easter weekend long.
  • Eggs can be presented to the front desk to receive potential prizes including:
    • Breakfast or brunch for two at Nico Osteria
    • Dinner for two Nico Osteria
    • Complimentary valet parking
    • A $200 shopping gift card for Barneys
    • Rolex leather timepiece case from Razny Jewelers
    • Haircut, styling, and color services at Marianne Strokirk Salon
    • A petite set of lashes and pampering at Salon Lashe
    • Gift certificates to Hugo’s Frog Bar and Luxbar
    • One Golden Egg Prize, redeemable for a complimentary 1-night stay at Thompson Chicago
  • A note encouraging a social media post of the lucky find will also be included in the eggs, offering all who participate and use the hashtags #GoldenEggHunt and #ThompsonChicago the chance to be entered to win the 1-night stay Grand Prize.
  • A special 15% discounted rate for overnight stays on Friday, April 14 and Saturday, April 15, 2017 can be booked here, or by calling 312.266.2100.

A Brunch for the Bunnies

True Food Kitchen Chicago (1 W. Erie St.)

  • This Easter Sunday, True Food Kitchen invites celebrants to brunch the anti-inflammatory way. Tasty, guilt-free brunch dishes make an appearance on the prix fixe menu – guests may choose from three courses that spotlight seasonal spring produce and ingredients, such as Torched Avocado with cucumber noodle, mushroom, snap pea, radish, sesame, and turmeric ponzu or a Garden Scramble of asparagus, broccolini, caramelized onion, roasted bell pepper, and sweet potato.
  • It wouldn’t be a celebration without festive beverages, so guests may also sip on brunch cocktails like the Blueberry Royale (organic vodka, blueberries, Thai basil, grapefruit) or seasonal mimosas. Those choosing not to imbibe can refuel with refreshers like the Hangover Rx (pineapple, orange, honey, coconut water).
  • True Food Kitchen’s Easter prix fixe menu is available for $35 per person, which includes three courses and one seasonal beverage, on Sunday, April 16 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. To make a reservation, please click here.

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