When it falls during March, Easter always feels like a sneak attack. We’ve barely recovered from St. Patrick’s Day, then—whammo!—we’re scouring the city for our Easter egg, by which we mean a top-of-the-line brunch spot that still has a table available. Our tip? Skip the tried-and-true brunches and take your family to one of these newer joints. They register lower on the holiday radar, but they’ll still make your Easter feast special.
Best place to take out-of-towners: Sixteen
401 N. Wabash Ave. 312-588-8000
Truth be told, the odds of sharing an elevator with The Donald here are slim. But your out-of-town clan will still love the stunning city views from the 16th floor of the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago—plus the chichi dining room has talk-of-the-town touches like a glittering chandelier made of Swarovski crystals. The brunch buffet features crab legs, sushi and sashimi, made-to-order omelets and waffles, and carved meats such as honey-mustard rack of lamb and roasted turkey. Deets: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; $110, $25 for kids 10 and underBest place for some family bonding: Sepia
Instead of the usual a la carte brunch menu, this stylish Warehouse District restaurant is offering a three-course meal with family-style starters and sweets. Sharable dishes include an East Coast seafood platter, a rustic Cobb salad, French toast with banana and caramel mascarpone, and house-made pastries. Individual entrees include Amish chicken with arugula and apples, and an omelet with lamb shoulder and cipollini onions. Don’t miss the brunch libations—it’s hard to find a bloody mary made with bacon-infused vodka, and we also like the eye-opening appeal of the blood orange margarita (both cocktails $9). Deets: 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; $39, $20 for kids 12 and under
Best place late risers: Powerhouse Restaurant and Bar
This classy Warehouse District eatery doesn’t start serving until 2 p.m., so if you’re not a fan of the traditional bonnet-wearing morning crowd, this spot’s for you. For Easter, Powerhouse ditches the usual lunch and dinner fare, offering a special a la carte menu instead. Look for sweet onion soup with pickled pearl onion, gruyere and baguette ($9); wild king salmon with roasted beets, grilled asparagus, maitake mushrooms and red wine-lobster jus ($28); and rack of Colorado lamb with cannellini, baby turnips, green garlic confit and rosemary jus ($45). Deets: 2-9 p.m.; prices vary
Best place to walk down memory lane: Lockwood
This Loop restaurant is part of the multi-million dollar Palmer House Hilton renovation project; though the restaurant is new, the hotel drips with history. From its rise after the Great Chicago Fire to the entertainers who played the Empire Room (Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra), there’s plenty for Gram and Gramps to reminisce about over brunch—and you’ll be happy a glass of champagne or a bloody mary comes with the special buffet. The spread includes bass and shrimp bouillabaisse; carved prime rib with red wine sauce and horseradish cream; and carved country ham with wholegrain mustard sauce. Deets: 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; $65, $25 for kids12 and under
Best place for Francophiles: Brasserie Ruhlmann SteakHouse
While we love Paris in springtime, our bone-dry bank account won’t get us there for Easter. Instead, we’re heading to this French-flaired River North spot, which drips with glitz. Brasserie Ruhlmann is serving the regular a la carte brunch menu plus seasonal specials. Highlights include crepes Suzette with pastry cream, fresh berries and Grand Marnier sauce ($9); a made-to-order cheese souffle ($12); and eggs Benedict on brioche with Delouvrier’s hash (chef Christian Delouvrier’s spin on the potato cake).
Deets: Noon-3 p.m.; prices vary
Terri Mooney is a metromix special contributor. metromix@tribune.com
