Truthfully, you kind of/sort of forgot it was Easter this Sunday. Oops. You were reminded when your mother called to inform you that she and your father will be arriving Saturday night, so when will you be going to church on Easter morning, and where will you be going to brunch afterwards? Hmm. Time to 1) Join a church or at least find one for this weekend and 2) Make a brunch reservation. We can help you out with #2. Here are a handful of brunch ideas around the city for this Easter Sunday, April 12:
1) Farmerie 58 (58 E. Ontario St., 312-440-1818) serves an Easter brunch menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Highlights include a crab cake Benedict, quiche duo and sour cherry French toast.
2) Park Grill (11 N. Michigan Ave., 312-521-PARK) welcomes the Easter Bunny at 10:30 a.m. and offers a $10 brunch buffet for kids. An ala carte brunch menu for adults is available until 4 p.m.
3) Sepia (123 N. Jefferson St., 312-441-1920) offers an upscale brunch menu from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for $39 for adults; $20 for children. Family-style starters like white cheddar grits with laughing bird shrimp and tasso ham and spring panzanella with English peas, asparagus and ricotta start things off. Then enjoy a choice of entrée: pan roasted cod, chorizo, manila clams, gigante beans, or grilled lamb loin in a white bean puree, or chickpea crepes, or poached eggs and confit pork shoulder hash. A trio of desserts is served family-style.
4) Dunlays on Clark (2600 North Clark St., 773-883-6000) hosts an ala carte Easter Brunch starting at 10 a.m., going until 3 p.m. There will be a kids' Easter egg hunt at 2 p.m., and mini kids' meals available. Reservations recommended but not required.
5) Both Shaw's Crab House locations (Chicago: 21 E. Hubbard St., 312-527-2722) and (Schaumburg: 1900 E. Higgins Road, 847-517-2722) are hosting an Easter brunch buffet for $49.99 for adults (includes a complimentary mimosa) and $19.99 for kids (under five eats free). Dig in to classic breakfast fare (including an omelet and waffle station) as well as a cold seafood bar and carving station with beef tenderloin and herb-roasted turkey. You can also enjoy desserts like crème brulee, raspberry tartlets and chocolate cupcakes in bite size portions, so you can have every dessert and feel a little more guilt-free.
6) Mercat a la Planxa (638 S. Michigan Ave., 312-765-0524) is taking reservations for a four-course ‘'Catalan'' Easter brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feast on pastries, eggs Benedict, Black Angus skirt steak, diver scallops and more. Sip cava flight specials or grilled prawn Bloody Marys.
