Easter is this Sunday, April 5, and plenty of restaurants around Washington are celebrating. Many of our 100 Best Restaurants are joining the festivities, offering special brunches, Greek Easter festivities (most of which are Sunday, April 12), all-day prix-fixe menus, and in one case, a vegan-friendly spread.
1099 New York Ave., NW
Guests can opt for an a la carte Easter brunch at chef Fabio Trabocchi’s osteria, or go in for a $65 tasting menu that includes a fresh pastry basket, three courses, and bottomless brunch drinks.
705 Sixth St., NW
This Japanese izakaya serves an Asian spin on the traditional Easter brunch, with springtime small-plates like a fried Jidori chicken egg and caviar, miso-glazed carrots with rabbit sausage, and a merengue with seasonal berries.
777 I St., NW
Special Easter brunch dishes at chef Victor Albisu’s South American grill include rack of lamb with olive persillade, ham and cheese croquettes, and grilled smoked swordfish with a fried egg and romesco. Bottomless mimosas can be had for $20, in classic or creative flavors like smoked pineapple.
818 Connecticut Ave., NW
Vegetarians and vegans looking to celebrate can head to Todd Gray’s “VegEaster” market buffet brunch from 11 to 3. The meal begins with a complimentary glass of sparking wine or cider, followed by a spread with the likes of grilled asparagus with shaved cashew cheese and black truffle vinaigrette, a spring risotto station, and raspberry jam bars. ($40 per person).
5120 MacArthur Blvd., NW
Festive brunch and dinner specials round out the regular menu at this Palisades bistro, such as lobster salad, braised lamb shank and artichokes over gnocchi, and a chocolate egg dessert.
707 Sixth St., NW
Mike Isabella goes casual for Easter at his Italian restaurant, offering a few holiday additions to the regular brunch menu like a sweet pea frittata, or shrimp and grits with Old Bay beurre blanc.
8296 Glass Alley, Fairfax
Easter brunch runs from 11 to 4 at chef RJ Cooper’s Mosaic District eatery, with supper to follow from 4 to 7. Southern-inspired dishes like deviled eggs and ricotta griddle cakes are already tasty, but be on the look out for additional specials.
309 Middle St., Washington, Virginia
Chef Patrick O’Connell creates a special Easter multi-course tasting menu at his destination restaurant, with dishes like lightly scrambled eggs with wild morels, chilled Maine lobster Napoleon with Ossetra caviar, and roasted pheasant. Guests can also pick between two other tasting menu options for the seatings, which begin at 4 (starting at $188 per person).
1734 N St., NW
The atmospheric Dupont restaurant celebrates both Easters with an Italian brunch menu on April 4 and 5, and a Greek version on April 11 and 12. The meals begin with family-style appetizers, followed by dishes like wood-roasted mushroom lasagna (Italian), or a rotisserie of local lamb (Greek). Both menus are $65 per person.
2201 14th St., NW
Skip cooking and let chef Mike Isabella’s team handle the feast with a special catering menu served for both Catholic Easter (April 5) and Greek Orthodox Easter (April 12). A bountiful menu includes spit-roasted lamb, chicken, or pork, dips and spreads, and sides like lemony potatoes and dolmades.
1401 T St., NW
Celebrate Pasquetta, or “Little Easter,” on Saturday, April 4 at this neighborhood Italian, which serves special $25 plates of wood-grilled meats like lamb and sausages, pizzas, homemade pastas, and market panzanella salad. The menu is offered exclusively on the outdoor patio.
301 Water St., SE
The regular brunch menu at this waterfront Italian restaurant gets a few festive additions, such as freshly-made hot cross buns and a rotisserie leg of lamb with buttery whipped potatoes.
1200 16th St., NW
This fine dining Easter celebration at the elegant Jefferson Hotel restaurant centers around a four-course menu with dishes like smoked Scottish salmon with red onion jam, crab cakes with grilled asparagus and a slow-cooked egg, and a shareable platter of desserts for the table ($105 per person; $55 for children 12 and under).
555 Eighth St., NW
Celebrate Easter early or late with an all-day prixe-fixe menu that runs from 11 to 8. The three-course lineup ($68 per person; $11 kids 12 and under) includes dishes like burrata with tomatoes, basil, and jamon, a duo of lamb, and seared scalloped with spring garlic.
3417 Connecticut Ave., NW
Chef Marjorie Meek-Bradley prepares a four-course meal that begins with a fresh pastry basket, followed by seasonal dishes like smoked sabelfish rilettes, baked eggs with wild mushrooms and herb salad, and raspberry beignets.
2275 L St., NW
Celebrate with a special menu that includes four courses such as smoked salmon deviled eggs, pistachio-crusted lamb, and a tres leches nest with sorbets for dessert. The restaurant also offers a new a la carte brunch menu alongside the prix-fixe.
701 Ninth St., NW
Chef José Andrés hosts an annual two-week Greek Easter Festival. An outdoor marketplace on the restaurant’s patio is held on Saturday, April 4 with with Greek foods, pantry items, wines, and live music. A $35 prix-fixe brunch is served on Sunday, April 5 and 12 with springtime specials.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
