Easter 2011: Where to Brunch

Looking to spend sometime with Peter Cottontail or have some decadent Easter brunch? We have laid out the Bunny Trail for you!

Where to Brunch This Easter

• Bloom

In addition to the regular menu, the boutique-style restaurant will offer special holiday entrees, including Alaskan Halibut with sweet corn and spring squash ratatouille ($26); and a Baked Frittata with asparagus, spinach, red potato and parmesan cheese ($12).

• Carefree Station | 9am-3pm

Enjoy a leisurely Easter Sunday while dining on Carefree Station’s award-winning brunch menu items, served with complimentary champagne. Try the Crab Benedict with two poached eggs on brioche toast rounds, with chunks of jumbo lump crab and Boursin cheese, smoked tomato sauce and traditional hollandaise, served with grilled potatoes and fresh fruit ($17.95). For a Southwestern experience, order the Sonoran Stack, a layered dish with grilled potatoes, house-made chorizo, cheddar cheese sauce, eggs, Chile Colorado sauce, sour cream and pico de gallo ($13.95).

Chef Thomas Nasworthy has prepared several special dishes for the holiday. Choose from Berkshire Ham with black eyed pea “salsa,” sweet potato waffle, and caramel corn syrup ($18.95); the B.L.T (Braised Lamb and Tomato) with sweet tea braised leg of lamb, cherry wood smoked bacon, grape tomato jelly, rosemary pink lemonade aioli, and black peppercorn foccacia ($18.95). For a sweet and savory dish, order the French Toast Benedict with cinnamon brioche, maple braised ham, “Easter Eggs,” white chocolate hollandaise sauce, and Kona-spiked home fries ($16.95).

• Eddie’s House | 10am-3pm

$39 per adult, $19 for children 10 and under

Buffet: Assorted Bagels, Breakfast breads, croissants, House Smoke Salmon Platter with cream cheese, capers, red onion, Chilled Tortellini Salad, Mediterranean Platter-Tabouli, Hummus, Falafel, Pepperocinni Peppers, Arizona Field Greens and Strawberry Salad, Cereal Bar, Assorted Family Friend Cereals, Mama’s Hot Oatmeal,  Vanilla Bean Yogurt, Seasonal Fresh Fruit , Made to Order Omelet Station: With choice of mushrooms, Serrano chili, cheese, spinach, veggies, caramelized onions, basil, tomato, chorizo, black beans, Eddie’s House Special Pancake Station with Berries, whipped Cream, chocolate chips, heath bar, bananas, blueberry syrup, Breakfast Sides: Apple Smoked Bacon, Breakfast sausage Patties, turkey Sausage and Bacon

Brunch Menu Features: Sonoran Eggs Benedict with Pulled Chicken and Orange-Jalapeno Hollandaise, Bacon-Infused Meatloaf with Country Mashed Potatoes and Mushroom Gravy, Petite Filet Mignon with Hand-cut Fries and Grilled Asparagus, Buttermilk Fried Chicken with biscuits and Gravy, Pan Seared halibut with Heirloom Tomato and Fetoush Salad

Chef Erin’s Dessert Station: Almond Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Oreo Cake, Fruit Tarts, Peach Cobbler, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Snicker doodle Cookies

• The Greene House

The Greene House is featuring special Easter entrees, in addition to normal menu items. Select dishes include Brioche French Toast with strawberries and cream and mint syrup ($10); and a Spring Vegetable Frittata with goat cheese, watercress, and citrus vinaigrette ($11).

• Modern Steak

Modern Steak is serving a three-course, prix-fixe menu for $30 per person on Easter from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. The restaurant’s dinner menu will be served from 4 to 9 p.m. From the prix-fixe menu, first course selections include Vanilla Yogurt Parfait with fresh fruit and house made granola; Lobster Chowder “New England Style” with root vegetables and bacon; and a Chopped Salad with avocado, crisp vegetables, Parmesan, and champagne vinaigrette. A variety of entrées will be available, such as an 8 oz. Sirloin Steak and Eggs with breakfast potatoes; Eggs Benedict with smoked ham, tomato hollandaise, and fresh basil; Artichoke Tortelli with mushrooms, Cippollini onions, roasted tomatoes, and asparagus. At Modern Steak, decadent dessert selections finish the meal, including Peanut Butter Cup with Valrhona chocolate ganache and a house cookie, or Spring Berry Shortcake with lemon curd and strawberry sauce.

• Olive & Ivy

Olive & Ivy is offering several Easter dishes, plus regular brunch menu items. Special offerings include Slow Roasted Prime Rib served with creamed spinach and Marsala glazed Shitake mushrooms ($26); plus Alaskan Halibut with olive oil poached hearts of palm, snow peas and pink grapefruit ($24).

• THE PHOENICIAN | 10am-3pm

$89 per adult; $44.50 per child (3-12 years old)

• Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak

Start your holiday weekend off on Saturday morning with Breakfast with Bunny at the Hole-in-the-Wall restaurant. During Breakfast with Bunny, your kids will be invited to decorate cookies and create sand jars as well as take complimentary photos with the Easter Bunny. You can also enjoy any of the items from the complete breakfast menu as well as the breakfast buffet. To view a list of all of Pointe Hilton’s activities, view our write-up here.

• Prado at InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa | 10am-3pm

$79 per adult and $39 for children 10 & under

Enjoy traditional brunch favorites as well as a few inventive culinary treats for Easter. Prado Chef de Cuisine Peter DeRuvo’s Easter brunch menu includes Blueberry Pancakes, Challah French Toast, Prime Rib, Whole Roasted Salmon, a Bloody Mary Bar and a Six-Flavor Gelato Cart with Mini Cones and Assorted Toppings.

• Roaring Fork | 10am-2pm

$19 per person

Executive Chef, Bryan Hulihee has creates a brunch menu with a rugged western edge. The buffet style menu offers a bread table, savory cold & hot item station, egg & meat carving tables as well as a tasty dessert station. Menu items include sticky cinnamon buns, eggs benedict, green chili pork stew and more.

6am-3pm, with special feature entrees offered from 11am-3pm. Menu item prices vary. The special feature entrées include a Lobster and Crab Salad Sandwich, Croque Madame, and Flat Iron Steak and Fries. Diners may also enjoy the Bloody Mary Bar from 9am-5pm.

• Sassi | 10am-1 pm

$50 per adult and $25 for children 12 and younger.

Guests will enjoy an elegant five-course brunch in the ambiance of a classic Old World villa and splendor of outdoor patios offering panoramic views of mountain vistas and the Sonoran desert.

Sassi’s Easter brunch starts with salads and antipasti offerings featuring assorted salumi and artisanal cheeses, caprese salad, marinated seafood salad with ceci beans and roasted peppers and assorted muffins and breakfast breads. Delectable breakfast offerings include frittata made with artichoke, goat cheese and herbs; poached egg bruschetta with prosciutto and asparagus; and baked crepes filled with lemon basil ricotta and strawberry.

Tantalizing Easter brunch entrees include roasted leg of lamb with rosemary, olive pesto and fingerling potatoes; turkey breast stuffed with wild mushrooms topped with truffle jus; pan-roasted halibut with basil pesto crust; and penne with artichoke pesto, potatoes and pecorino. Sweet homemade desserts top off the elaborate brunch with Sassi’s gelato and sorbetti, limoncello panna cotta, traditional Italian Easter cake and chocolate truffle Easter eggs.

• The Wigwam

11am-4pm Easter Champagne Brunch at Red Allen’s at The Wigwam. $55 per adult, $20 for children 5-12, children under 5 will be complimentary.

Join Red Allen’s for a farm fresh holiday brunch overlooking The Wigwam fairways. To start, salad stations featuring innovative creations like the Local Baby Greens Salad with mint-scented chayote squash, Allspice-crusted walnuts, crisp grapes, gorgonzola blue cheese, and blueberry tarragon dressing;  Mesquite Smoked Pork Loin & Savoy Cabbage Slaw; and Scottish Salmon Salad. Entrees offered at chef action stations include Whole Roasted Suckling Pig wrapped in a banana leaf, basted with pineapple and served with Apple-Jack Au Jus; Grilled Lemon Balm Lamb Chops served with Thai peanut sauce and jalapeno-mint jam; Littleneck Clam & Calamari in tomato & fennel broth served with crispy fried leeks and more. And for dessert, a chef’s selection of sweet delights.

• Z’Tejas

Z’Tejas, with multiple locations around the Valley, is offering a delicious Easter brunch menu with favorites such as Bananas Foster French Toast, Eggs Benedict, Chicken and Potato Hash, Breakfast Quesadillas and Enchiladas. In addition to brunch, guests can take complimentary photographs with the Easter Bunny himself! The Chandler Z’Tejas location will have their annual Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. All locations will be giving out additional goodies and candies. The Chandler location opens at 9 a.m. with Egg Hunts each hour. The Gateway location will open at 10 a.m. – complimentary goodies for the kids. The Tempe and Scottsdale locations will open at 11am – complimentary goodies for the kids.

Not into the Brunch scene? Beckett’s Table is hosting an Easter Dinner on the 24th.  Visit the website for more information or to make reservations.