Ahi tuna on the Easter menu at Aigre Doux
photo: Steven Johnson
Some of you may have Easter traditions that go back for generations, perhaps a meal that features roasted lamb with mint sauce and ends with a bunny-shaped cake covered in thick white frosting and spotted with jelly beans. You already know what you're doing come March 23rd, but here are some festive suggestions for those who don't.
Aigre Doux does a three-course prix fixe brunch with starters like Maine lobster bisque or Ahi tuna with citrus salad, and entrees such as roast prime rib with mustard spaetzle and Broccolini. Chocolate-coconut layer cake with candied walnuts and sticky toffee pudding with mascarpone sorbet are among the dessert options (11:30 AM–3 PM; $38 per person; 312-329-9400).
Mity Nice Grill hosts a big brunch buffet with familiar favorites including pecan-praline French toast, carved ham and turkey, a Belgian waffle station, blintzes, eggs Benedict, fresh-squeezed juices and pastries (10:30 AM–2:30 PM; $26.95 per adult; $13.95 for children 12 and under; 312-335-4745).
Osteria di Tramonto celebrates Easter with a traditional brunch buffet (French toast, omelets, carving station, antipasti, salads, pasta and desserts) and an in-house Easter egg hunt for the kids (10 AM–4 PM; $34.95 per adult; $12.95 for children 12 and under; 847-777-6570).
Sepia's Easter brunch menu begins with family-style service of chilled seafood, Cobb and grilled vegetable salads plus fresh fruit and pastries. Then diners have their choice of five entrees served individually, ranging from Amish chicken with arugula and apples to a lamb-and-cipollini omelet. Dessert, which features chocolate French toast with bananas and other goodies, returns to family-style service (11:30 AM–3:30 PM; $39 per adult; $20 for children 12 and under; 312-441-1920).
Both locations of Shaw’s Crab House (Chicago and Schaumburg) will serve a seafood-centric Easter brunch buffet featuring classic breakfast fare plus assorted maki, Alaskan king crab legs, shrimp cocktail, seared salmon, fried shrimp, lobster-Brie penne pasta, beef tenderloin, roasted turkey and a dessert station (10 AM–3 PM; $49.99 per adult; $19.99 for children five–12; kids under age five eat free; 312-527-2722 for Chicago, 847-517-2722 for Schaumburg).