Chicago Celebrates Easter With Spring-Forward Feasts

The Goddess and Grocer

This year, Easter is on Sunday, April 17, and Chicago is celebrating with a slew of special brunch and dinner options. Choose to dine in or dine at home with hot spots across the city offering everything from buffet spreads to coursed-out dinners with traditional eats like ham, lamb, and carrot cake to more over-the-top dishes like lobster rolls and caviar deviled eggs. The menus below offer a little something for everyone… 

The Goddess and Grocer {Multiple Locations} 

For those looking to celebrate at home, The Goddess has whipped up a special Easter menu filled with festive classics and delicious new favorites. The Goddess Easter Dinner serves four and includes a Smoking Goose Sliced Glazed City Ham, Creamy Scalloped Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, and Roasted Rainbow Carrots. Add on Deviled Eggs and hand-decorated Easter Cupcakes for an additional charge. À la carte highlights include Shrimp Cocktail, Smoked Salmon Platter, Artisanal Cheese Board, and Easter Cake Pops. 

The Peninsula Chicago {108 E Superior St, Chicago; (312) 337-2888}

Once again, The Peninsula Chicago will host their signature Easter Brunch in The Lobby. The four-course menu with à la carte plated options includes a selection of salads, Fennel-Rubbed Porchetta, Slow-Braised Lamb Shoulder, and Rack of Lamb or Tomahawk beef. Buffet items include handmade Sushi and Seafood stations, West & East Coast Oysters and domestic Caviar, a Cheese & Charcuterie station, a Shanghai Terrace Chinese station with Peking Duck and handmade Dim Sum, plus a springtime dessert buffet.  Enjoy Live entertainment like an Easter Egg Hunt for children and a visit from the Easter Bunny.

The Peninsula Chicago

Rewired Pizza Cafe & Bar {1100 W Thorndale Chicago, (773) 360-1621}

Keep it casual with an Easter brunch at Rewired Pizza. Listen to music from Tom Lowery Trio on the patio and inside, plus enjoy specials like a Bunny Hop Latte, Panchito Pistoles Bowl with al pastor meat, pineapple, pickled onion, potato, salsa verde, cilantro, over-easy egg, and Easter Egg Truffle Deviled Eggs. Sip brunch cocktails, including Mimosas, Peach Bellinis, Micheladas, and Bottomless Mimosas ($25).  

Prime & Provisions {222 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL, (312) 726-7777}

Celebrate in style at Prime & Provisions' annual over-the-top Easter Brunch with a full-service buffet-style spread, including breakfast offerings like Eggs Benedict, Cinnamon French Toast, and a Slow-Roasted Prime Rib carving station. Tuck into made-to-order Belgian Waffles and Omelets, plus a raw bar with Shrimp, Oysters, and Crab Legs. End your meal with something sweet from their decadent dessert station, including the steakhouse's popular Banana Cream Pie bites. 

Prime & Provisions

Publican Quality Bread Bakery {1759 W Grand Ave, Chicago, (312) 445-8977}

Have a relaxing Easter morning at home with Hot Cross Buns and Easter Babka from James Beard Award Winner Greg Wade. The baked in-house snackable sweet rolls are topped with icing crosses and sold in nine packs. The Easter Babka loaf features a chocolate and vanilla swirled dough loaded with two types of chocolate, a decadent chocolate streusel and a rich chocolate glaze. Baked in a decorative mold, this Babka is sure to be the center of attention on any dessert display. 

The Kitchen American Bistro {316 N Clark St, Chicago, (312) 836-1300}

Take in stunning river views while dining on The Kitchen's newly launched brunch menu. Enjoy seasonal favorites like the Belgian Waffle with fresh strawberries, almond crumble, and strawberry basil syrup, a freshly baked Cruffin with lemon-ginger curd, or the Lobster Roll with dashi aïoli and house crab boil chips. 

Good Ambler

Good Ambler {216 N Peoria St, Chicago, (312) 872-7165}

Spoil your friends and family with a selection of festive homemade Easter chocolates from Chef Kevin McCormick. Choose from Chocolate Bunnies, Sprinkle-Covered Chocolate Eggs, Chocolate-Covered Oreos, Bonbons, plus Chocolate-Covered Teddy Bears in flavors like Strawberry, Chocolate, and Vanilla. Want a giant Chocolate Bunny or Large Chocolate Eggs to wow guests? Pre-order those via Tock.

By Victoria Kent | Special Correspondent