Best Spots for Easter Brunch in Chicago

One of the best days of the year to go out for brunch is on Easter. From formal restaurants that roll out the white linens, to more neighborhood establishments that offer ala carte entrees and homemade desserts, come Sunday, April 4, Chicago will be buzzing at brunch time. Here’s a list of some of the city’s best brunch spots to enjoy the Easter holiday at with your friends and family.

Chef Scott Walton of MARKETHOUSE (611 N. Fairbanks Ct.; map it) will prepare a “farm fresh” Easter buffet brunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $45 per adult and $20 per child under the age of 10. Brunch menu items will include Swan Creek scrambled eggs with  cream cheese and  snipped chives; Maine lobster with  arugula;  smoked tomato eggs benedict with Tabasco hollandaise; stuffed pancakes with warm oak aged Vermont maple syrup, and MARKETHOUSE’s signature butterscotch bread pudding. Reservations can be made by calling 312-224-2200.

BIN 36 (339 N. Dearborn St.; map it) will throw its annual Easter Sunday Brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring a buffet of breakfast favorites, classic roasted meats from the carving stations, salads, artisanal cheeses, and desserts. Cost is $38 per adult and $19 per child under age 12. Kids under age 5 eat for free. Items on the buffet will include a design-your-own omelet bar,  blueberry ricotta pancakes; roast beef with horseradish cream; and Belgian waffles. Bloody Mary Flights ($12.50) and Mimosa Flights ($12.50) will also be offered. The Bloody Mary Flight will include the “BIN 36 Mary” (with horseradish and celery), the “Italian Mary” (with balsamic syrup, parmesan, and fresh basil), the Asian Mary (with pickled ginger, soy sauce, and wasabi); and the ”Consuela Mary” (with roasted chipotle peppers, fried tortilla strips and salted lime). The Mimosa Flight features the classic orange mimosa, as well as pineapple, pomegranate, and peach varieties. Kids can enjoy Milk and Juice Flights ($3.50 each) consisting of apple, orange, cranberry, and pineapple juices or a Milk Flight with strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, and regular milks. For reservations call 312-755-9463.

Enjoy the view of Chicago’s Magnificent Mile from Zest (505 N. Michigan Ave.; map it) located inside the historic InterContinental Chicago where its new Executive Chef Kurt Mittelberger will serve traditional brunch items with “international influences” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Brunch for adults is $49 per person with a complimentary mimosa and $20 per child with orange juice. Items on Zest’s Easter Sunday brunch menu will include Curried Chicken Salad and Lavash Bread, Honey Marinated, Slow Roasted Ham with Cranberry Orange Jam, Corn Fed Range Chicken with Apple Fennel Stuffing, and Salmon Caponata. There will also be a sushi station with selected sushi and sashimi prepared to order by Jimmy Kim of Tokyo Lunch Boxes & Catering. For reservations call 312-321-8790.

Bonus Easter tip: Want to bring a chocolate bunny to your Easter brunch as a gift? Check out Vosges Chocolates‘ chocolate Easter bunnies, including white chocolate with lemon zest and pink peppercorns and deep milk chocolate with sweet butter toffee and pink Himalayan salt.

Photo credit: SXC