With the religious observances of Easter (April 5) and Passover (April 1-9) taking place soon, Chicago-area spots are preparing for what they’re hoping are the masses of families that will celebrate. Below are some of what restaurants are offering:
PASSOVER
—At Summer House – Lincoln Park, Chef Ben Goodnick plans to celebrate Passover with a multi-course menu complete with traditional dishes like matzo ball soup, braised beef short rib, potato pancakes, flourless chocolate cake and more. The prix fixe menu is available for $64.95 per person and $26.95 per child 12 and younger, plus tax (gratuity not included). The menu is also available a la carte for dine-in only.
—For Passover, Prairie Grass Cafe’s two-time James Beard Award winner, Chef Sarah Stegner, is offering a dinner package for two that’s pretty personal: The apple kugel on the menu is the recipe of the grandmother of Stegner’s very good friend, Eda Davidman. And the package includes everything from slow-braised all-natural BBQ brisket to house-made matzah ball soup to a flourless chocolate cake. Pre-orders can be picked up on April 1 at 4-5:30 p.m., and dine-in options are also available starting at 5 p.m.
—This Passover, enjoy a prix fixe holiday menu at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab with traditional favorites like gefilte fish with red beet horseradish, chopped liver, Suzy Friedman’s vegetarian chopped liver with bibb lettuce salad, and matzo ball soup. For the main course, choose from herb roasted chicken, braised short rib or wild Alaskan halibut en papillote, served with ginger glazed carrots and potato pancakes. End your meal with a slice of flourless chocolate cake or key lime pie. The Passover dinner is $79.95 for adults and $34.95 for children 12 and younger, plus tax (gratuity not included). Dinner reservations are available April 1-2 at 4-9 p.m.
—Lincoln Park’s Mon Ami Gabi is handling Passover orders for home dinners. Pre-order your dinner for pickup on Tock four days before the intended pickup at 5 p.m. The bistro is offering a multi-course holiday menu with traditional dishes like matzo ball soup, housemade gefilte fish, slow-braised beef brisket and more. The menu is available for $64.95 per adult, plus tax (gratuity not included). Carryout orders will be available for pickup at 2-5 p.m. on April 1-2, packaged cold with reheating instructions.
Spend Passover at Lincolnwood’s L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge with a family-style holiday dinner, including Suzy Friedman’s vegetarian chopped liver, house-made chopped liver, gefilte fish and matzo ball soup; a choice of rosemary brown butter chicken, beef brisket or potato-crusted Lake Superior whitefish with honey-glazed carrots, green beans and potato pancakes; and a choice of lemon cheesecake or flourless chocolate cake for dessert. The Passover dinner is available for dine-in starting at 4 p.m. for $62.95/person, plus tax (gratuity not included).
Let Aba handle preparations for your at-home Passover celebrations with a la carte catering specials such as matzo crackers, Brussels sprouts-and-Honeycrisp apple salad, herb roasted fingerling potatoes, matzo ball soup, spicy brisket kofta, roasted whole chicken and flourless chocolate cake in addition to signature dishes, each serving 8-10 guests. All items will be served cold with reheating instructions included. Orders must be placed by March 29 at 5 p.m. for carryout or delivery on April 1-3.
EASTER
—Celebrate Easter Sunday at Adorn Bar & Restaurant (at the Four Seasons Hotel) at 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with dishes curated to showcase the bright flavors of spring. There will be fresh salads with seasonal produce, land and sea carving stations, and a raw bar. (Regular items include wagyu corned beef hash, egg-white frittata and coconut-and-chia pudding.) The restaurant and lake-facing junior ballroom brim with culinary creativity to celebrate the holiday. The price is $95 (for kids 12 and younger) to $275 per person.
—Gene & Georgetti’sguests are encouraged to keep an eye out for a special appearance by the Easter Bunny during brunch service. During lunch and dinner, antipasti selections include a prime beef Carpaccio with arugula, artichokes and Parmigiano Reggiano ($29), alongside an arancino filled with lamb ragù and finished with spring pea crema ($25). Main courses continue with a Parmigiano-Reggiano lamb risotto ($38) and handmade garganelli tossed in a lamb-and-saffron sauce ($36). Conclude the meal with Colomba Pasquale—the traditional Italian Easter “dove” bread served with a dollop of mascarpone cream ($16).
—Celebrate Easter Sunday at Sunda New Asian River North (110 W. Illinois St.) at 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Known for its bold flavors and inventive take on traditional Asian cuisine, Sunda is putting its signature spin on the classic Easter buffet with items such as an Asian-inspired hot bar (with pork belly adobo, chicken inasal and Korean beef stew, among other items); carving, build-your-own-omelet, and seafood/sushi stations; and desserts like the ube white-chocolate fountain and mini-cheesecakes. The prices are $98 (adult) to $38 (kids 4-10 years old) to free (kids 3 and younger).
—You can celebrate Easter at the Gold Coast spot LUXBAR all day (9 a.m.-11 p.m.). The brunch menu will be available 9 a.m.-3 p.m. while the Easter bunny will be there at 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The regular menu will be available all day.
—I|O Godfrey (127 W.Huron St.) invites guests to celebrate Easter Sunday on April 5 with a brunch buffet served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The menu features brunch classics, including eggs Benedict, a customizable omelet station, a carving station with prime rib and ham, and a pancake and French toast station with berries and maple syrup. Guests can also enjoy fresh salads, pasta, seasonal soups, sushi and desserts, including chocolate-covered strawberries and cake pops. In addition to the festive meal, families can enjoy an Easter egg hunt and a special appearance by the Easter Bunny, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Easter brunch is priced at $65 per adult and $15 per child under 12. Reservations can be made here.
—Welcome spring with an Easter brunch buffet celebration at Miru at The St. Regis Chicago. Enjoy sweeping views of Chicago while savoring brunch classics such as cinnamon French toast with fresh berries, a whole roasted leg of lamb, a sushi and raw bar, Japanese specialties, and pastries and desserts. The price per person is $135, plus tax and service fee; children aged 10 and younger eat for $75, plus tax and service fee; and children 4 and younger dine for free. Please note that 2:30 p.m. will be the last seating, as Miru will be closed for dinner service.
—John Manion’s Latin-inspired hotspot Brasero is bringing the heat with a special Easter brunch. At 10 a.m.-3 p.m., the team will be serving a prix fixe of family-style bites, as well as a special preview of West Town’s Guillotine Bakery. For $60, guests can enjoy a sweet and savory selection of new brunch dishes as well as a couple cult classics from the Brasero team that have earned them the title of Robb Report’s Best New Restaurant.
—Mano a Mano—an Italian spot in Chicago’s Logan Square area—is offering people three ways to celebrate Easter on April 5: Easter brunch and dinner as well as a limited pre-order of the restaurant’s signature porchetta. The last day to pre-order is April 2; the porchetta (which comes with corn polenta and spicy broccolini) feeds four to six people.
—On April 5, the upscale Basque restaurant Asador Bastian will offer Easter brunch—as general seating or at the chef’s table. Some of the menu highlights include assorted pastries; crudo of lubina (European bass); spider crab arroz cremoso and a chocolate egg, all for $165. The chef’s-table experience costs the same.
—This Easter, Fioretta (318 N. Sangamon) invites guests to enjoy a Grand Brunch. Menu highlights include classic breakfast favorites like eggs Benedict; an omelet station; carving station with maple glazed ham, slow-roasted prime rib and chicken Vesuvio; a raw bar featuring shrimp cocktail, oysters and snow crab legs; smoked salmon; salads; pasta; sides like charred broccoli, whipped potatoes and mini-roasted meatballs; and a dessert display with bomboloni and other sweets. Priced at $95 per adult and $39 per child (ages 7-12), the Easter menu will be available on Sunday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reservations can be made here.
—Hop into an egg-citing Easter at Summer House – Lincoln Park. Start your day with brunch at 9 a.m.-3 p.m., complete with a visit from the Easter Bunny from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., and enjoy springtime favorites like ham and eggs, cinnamon-sugar pancakes, and fluffy buttermilk pancakes. Then, gather for Easter dinner at 3-9 p.m., featuring spring-inspired dishes like roasted Alaskan halibut alongside the full Summer House menu. Finish your celebration with a stop at The Cookie Bar for limited-time Easter and spring-themed cookies.
—Dēliz will launch its brunch menu on Easter Sunday at 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Standout offerings include a caviar service and caviar bites served with potato rosti, crème fraîche and traditional accompaniments, as well as a wood-fired seafood tower featuring lobster, crab, scallops, prawns and oysters roasted together. Other highlights include the crab Benedict, cacio e pepe omelette, and a Colossal Cinnamon Roll topped with cream cheese frosting and candied pecans. The restaurant will also offer rare chocolate-fed Australian wagyu.
Gold Coast spot Maple & Ash will host an Easter brunch prix fixe menu for $125 per person and $65 for kids. Served at 10 a.m.2:45 p.m., the menu includes an amuse bouche of Kaluga caviar, a starter roasted seafood tower, a choice of entree of Alaskan king crab eggs Benedict, smoked salmon avocado toast, fried chicken & biscuits, or New Zealand Lamb Chops (among other selections); accompaniments for the table including chateaubriand, brown butter potatoes and maple-glazed bacon; and mignardises for dessert. Reservations can be made online here.
—On Easter Sunday (9 a.m.-3 p.m.), West Town’s Dell’ Rooster will offer a complimentary mimosa, for those 21 and older, during the restaurant’s brunch service. Guests can enjoy brunch bites like the Rooster & Waffles—buttermilk crispy chicken atop pearl sugar waffles, with maple-rum glace, chipotle aioli and mixed greens salad; the short rib skillet; dulce de leche pancakes with blueberry compote and whipped cream; and a breakfast burrito with papas con chorizo, lettuce, onion, rice, beans, cheese and crema, among other brunch items.
—Celebrate Easter in Wheeling at Saranello’s brunch with all of your favorites, including shrimp cocktail, a chef carving station with New York strip steak, roasted Vermont turkey, smoked ham, brisket Benedicts, crab cake Benedicts, smoked whitefish and cold-smoked salmon for $54.95 per person, plus tax (gratuity not included); children 12 and younger eat for half-price.
—This Easter, The Peninsula Chicago is hosting a family-focused Easter Brunch in its sweeping fifth-floor restaurant, The Lobby. Complete with an egg hunt and a visit from the Easter bunny, guests can enjoy selections of sushi, caviar stations, traditional Chinese dishes, brunch classics and a decadent dessert buffet. Entertainment includes a string quartet, balloon artist, magician and more—and guests are encouraged to find the “golden egg” to win a prize from the hotel. Tickets are priced at $325 per adult and $85 per child (ages 5 to 12).
—In Northbrook, celebrate Easter with Di Pescara’s Sunday Brunch, featuring a la carte specials such as lobster deviled eggs, jumbo lump crab omelet, Gulf of Maine lobster Benedict and more. Add unlimited Mimosas or Bloody Marys to your meal for $15 per person, plus tax (gratuity not included).
—Also in Northbrook, Prairie Grass Cafe’s Easter Buffet Brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.. Priced at $79 per adult and $39 for children 10 and younger (beverages, tax, and gratuity not included), the many items will include crispy cod “fish and chips,” PGC deviled farm eggs, warm feta, grilled asparagus, PGC chicken-pot pie and roasted potatoes. There will also be a made-to-order omelet station, and dessert items like cheese-danish coffee cake, hot cross buns and lemon cake. Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made by calling 847- 205-4433. For parties of eight or more, the restaurant offers a $100 gift certificate valid for six months with a reservation; however, it’s not applicable for Easter Sunday or Mother’s Day use.
—At the Peruvian restaurant Tanta Cocina Peruana, in River North, there will be items such as tiradito achupado($28), consisting of spotted prawns, coral leche de tigre, huacatay oil, crispy yuyo, cancha powder and Peruvian corn; conchitas escabechadas($24), with grilled U10 scallops, chickpea puree, piquillo escabeche and crispy kale; and El Conejito ($17), an actual tiny bunny, carrot cake, dulce de leche and cream-cheese mousse. (I’m assuming the bunny isn’t real.) Tanta’s Easter menu will be available April 3-5.
—Evanston spot LeTour will host an over-the-top Easter Brunch Buffet on Sunday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., priced at $48.95 per person and $18.95 for children under 10. The buffet will feature eggs Benedict, French toast casserole with customizable toppings, whole poached salmon, shrimp cocktail, chicken piccata and much more. A donut bar invites guests to build their own dessert creations with sundae-style toppings.
—At The Alston, Jenner Tomaska is ushering in a new Sunday tradition with the debut of the restaurant’s weekly brunch, launching with a special Easter celebration. Guests are invited to enjoy a four-course brunch menu priced at $125/person. The experience highlights seasonal ingredients, fresh pastries and chef-crafted entrées alongside a curated cocktail program.
—In addition to Soul & Smoke‘s brisket and pastrami, it will serve matzo ball soup made in Chicago from Zeitlin’s Deli during April 1-9, while supplies last. Also, anyone celebrating Easter can find a centerpiece for dinner with Soul & Smoke’s house-made ham. Easter hams are available for pre-order now for pickup and delivery from all locations (Evanston, Chicago-West Loop and Chicago-Avondale) on April 4-5.
—People can celebrate Easter at Tre Dita at The St. Regis Chicago with two dining experiences: At 11 a.m.-2 p.m., enjoy a Tuscan-inspired set lunch featuring shared antipasti, a choice of handmade pasta and dessert for $94 per person, plus tax and service fee. Children ages 4 and younger can dine from a modified menu of pasta and gelato for $44 per person, plus tax and service fee. In the evening, the full à la carte menu will be available beginning at 4 p.m.
—Lincolnshire Marriott Resort’s Three Embers Restaurant invites guests to an Easter Sunday brunch in its Grand Marquee Pavilion, featuring an extensive menu that includes a carving station with rosemary‑crusted leg of lamb, brown sugar and honey‑glazed ham, and prime rib; a waffle station with toppings like strawberry compote and bananas Foster sauce; a chilled seafood display; full breakfast and lunch buffets; salad and omelet stations; and a dessert spread of mini pies, cakes, tarts, and cookies. Juice, coffee, champagne and bottomless mimosas are included, and guests can enjoy a special photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny. For more details or to make reservations, click here.
—At Tortoise Supper Club (350 N. State St., near Marina Towers), Easter Brunch reservations are accepted Sunday, April 5, at 10:15 a.m.-2:45 p.m. The grand buffet includes an iced seafood tower; carving stations featuring honey baked ham and grilled salmon; breakfast and brunch specialties; and an extensive desserts bar. In addition, a Polaroid photographer dressed in florals and wearing a fascinator will snap a picture of your table for you as a keepsake. Brunch is $89.95 each for adults and kids 12 and older; $39.95 each for kids 5-11; and free for kids 4 and younger.
—At Olio e Piu on Sunday, April 5, Easter specials will include crispy artichokes al limone with whipped ricotta, Pecorino Romano and mint pesto; paccheri ai frutti di mare with shrimp, calamari, mussels, cherry tomato, red pepper and extra virgin olive oil; and chocolate rice pudding with orange zest, cocoa nibs and Valrhona dark chocolate sauce. Also, guests can toast the holiday with Olio e Più’s Bubbles & Brunch, featuring $25 limitless Italian mimosas (orange, cranberry, grapefruit or pineapple), with optional bellini or Aperol upgrades, plus champagne by the bottle.
—Easter Sunday highlights at the Avondale spot eden (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) include a crab Louie salad with gem lettuce, asparagus, green chickpeas and green goddess remoulade alongside a breakfast bowl featuring a sunny-side egg over sticky rice, bok choy and shiitake brought together with a butternut-coconut curry and fresh garden herbs (plus optional protein add-ons of crab, salmon or steak). Those seeking a sweeter start can turn to the Mixed Berry & Rhubarb French Toast. Pastry Chef Josephine Le Bozec adds a seasonal touch with monkey bread topped with mini-chocolate eggs alongside Eden’s Handcrafted Peeps—packaged in a gift-ready box of three.
—At Trino, Stephen Sandoval is marking Easter with a special brunch service from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., showcasing the restaurant’s bold, Latin-influenced approach to the classic steakhouse. The menu blends coastal flavors with brunch staples, beginning with cold plates like crab tostadas, shrimp coctel and oysters alongside caviar bumps. And there are chef-driven brunch favorites like chilaquiles rojo with guajillo salsa, queso añejo, avocado, crema and salsa macha; and a short rib barbacoa hash with crispy potatoes, chipotle hollandaise and warm tortillas. The menu is rounded out with playful brunch touches like PuEy Pancakes with mascarpone, plantains and berries, plus sides like papas bravas, duck fat beans with salsa cruda, and asparagus with diosa verde.
—Gold Coast restaurant Alpana will have a swanky Easter brunch—for affordable prices. For $48/adult and $25/child, a two-course prix fixe menu includes Easter hot buns for the table in addition to options such as cauliflower bisque, strawberry crunch salad, brown sugar-glazed Easter ham and blueberry “cheesecake” French toast, among many others; children’s choices include the aforementioned ham and French toast in addition to a kids’ cheeseburger. Reservations for parties up to eight are available at 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
—Celebrate Easter Sunday with a family-style brunch at The Graceful Ordinary in St. Charles. Begin with shareable starters like cinnamon rolls, cheddar biscuits and seasonal fresh fruit served with a honey yogurt dip. From there, guests can choose a sweet or savory main, such as indulgent bananas Foster, French toast, or steak and eggs with chili crunch. Little ones will find plenty to love, too, with kid-friendly favorites like chocolate chip pancakes and the classic cheeseburger and fries combo. Brunch will be served at 10 a.m.-3 p.m., and is priced at $65 per adult and $25 per child ages 3-12, with children under 3 eating for free.
—Celebrate Easter at Sifr with its new chef’s tasting menu—a four-course, $60-per-person experience designed for the whole table. The meal begins with charred green chickpea hummus topped with zhoug, za’atar and puffed lentils alongside sesame nigella pita, followed by dishes like maitake mushroom with charred yellow pepper and Meyer lemon, chicken or lamb kebabs with zhoug and toum, or upgrades like scallops with fermented pepper beurre blanc and Angus beef kebab. Entrées include roasted butternut squash couscous risotto, branzino with chermoula, duck fesenjan with pomegranate glaze, or lamb shank with Persian pilaf before ending on a sweet note with date pudding and salted caramel ice cream or mango sorbet. RSVP at OpenTable.
—Curate your Easter spread with help from Beatrix Market. Order a la carte large-format favorites including harvest salad, three-potato salad, roasted ham with maple glaze, turkey breast, mashed potatoes, spinach & mascarpone ravioli with lemon cream and spring peas, steamed asparagus, baked mac & cheese, and more. All items serve eight to 10 people, and are served cold with reheating instructions included. Place orders by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, for carryout or delivery from both locations on Friday, April 3.
—Robert’s Pizza & Dough Co.is serving brunch specials for Easter Sunday, from eggs Benedict to unlimited mimosas. In addition, there will be items like bacon, egg and asparagus pizza; wild mushroom omelet with Gruyere cheese and hollandaise sauce, served with hash, za toast and date jam; and smoked salmon plate with crème fraîche, chopped eggs and housemade baguette.
—At the Albert at Hotel EMC2, guests can enjoy a $60 per person Easter brunchbeginning with an antipasti buffet followed by a choice of main course and a sweets table. The menu showcases dishes such as herb-crusted prime ribeye, roasted turkey, house-made gnocchi, grilled lamb chops, lemon ricotta pancakes and seared Pacific Coast salmon.
—Clarendon Hills spot Il Mio is celebrating Easter with a special brunch menu. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., guests can indulge in a menu that blends sweet and savory breakfast dishes. Signature brunch items include Italian French toast on challah, lemon ricotta pancakes, steak and eggs, and classic eggs Benedict. Additionally, Il Mio will serve brunch cocktails, including mimosas and a classic Bloody Mary with Grey Goose vodka.
—Roanoke will mark Easter with a selection of seasonal featured dishes perfect for a holiday meal in Chicago’s Loop. Specials include beet salad with roasted red and gold beets, plum, goat cheese, and poppy seed dressing; blackened scallops with parmesan risotto; beef short ribs with mashed potatoes and braised red wine sauce; and lamb chops served with spinach, baby carrots and mint garlic sauce. Guests can finish the meal with carrot cake. Reservations are available via OpenTable.
—This Easter at Rose Mary, Chef Joe Flamm will host a one-day-only brunch. Priced at $55/person, the menu reflects the restaurant’s signature blend of Italian and Croatian influences. The experience begins with a choice of savory Burek with Nueske’s bacon, farm egg and mozzarella, or sweet palčinke with balsamic strawberries, whipped cream cheese and mint. For the main course, guests can opt for a Benedict Pampanella with pork belly, poached egg, hollandaise and paprika; or a braised lamb hash with sweet onions, peppers, ajvar, kajmak and fresh herbs. The meal concludes with a chocolate budino layered with pizzelle crunch, sea salt and coffee gelato.
—If you’re in search of Good Friday or Easter pastries, look no further than breads from Greg Wade, winner of the 2019 James Beard Award for Outstanding Baker, and Publican Quality Bread (West Town and Oak Park). Options include Good Friday Hot Cross Buns—nine soft sweet buns studded with golden raisins, flavored with allspice and candied lemon and finished with apricot jam. Also available is the Easter Chocolate Malt Pie, which serves six to eight and is made with a malted chocolate cookie crust, malted chocolate cremeux and Chantilly, topped with marbled chocolate shards. Finally, the Easter Colomba bread serves five to six; it’s a dove-shaped loaf garnished with chocolate chips, hazelnuts, candied orange peel and golden raisins, and finished with a sugar glaze.
—For those looking for a short Easter getaway,The Abbey Resort (Fontana-on-Geneva Lake, Wisconsin) is offering an Easter Brunch Buffet on Sunday, April 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be breakfast favorites, chef-crafted entrées, fresh salads, Wisconsin cheeses and an iced seafood display. Guests can also enjoy carved meats, various desserts, a chocolate fondue station and a kid-friendly buffet (chicken tenders, tater tots and cavatappi with meatballs). Weekend activities include crafts, games, face-painting and candy-filled Easter egg hunts throughout the day, plus plenty of photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny. Families can also join special activities in the Sandbar and egg hunts on the Harbor Patio at 11 a.m and 2 p.m. Easter brunch is priced at $72 per adult and $30 for children ages 4-12, with children under 4 dining for free. Advance reservations are required; call 800-709-1323.