Too busy to roast and glaze a holiday ham yourself? We’ve got you covered. Here’s what’s happening this Easter Sunday (March 23) at restaurants all across the area. And if ham’s not your thing, don’t worry. Festivities include cookie decorating, outdoor egg hunts, and many a Champagne brunch.
1789 Restaurant
1226 36th St., NW; 202-965-1789; 1789restaurant.com
Easter brunch at this Georgetown institution include a guest appearance by the Easter Bunny, who will visit each table with candy for children. The three-course meal comprises a selection of canapés followed by a choice of appetizer (including Vidalia-onion soup, house-cured Arctic char, and chicken-liver pâté) and entrée. The prices, based on the main-course selection, range from $24 (eggs Benedict) to $38 (rack of lamb with fava-bean purée, charred onions, and mint).
Brunch is served from 10 to 2.
2941
2941 Fairview Park Dr., Falls Church; 703-270-1500; 2941.com
This soaring dining room, which started serving Sunday brunch this month, will celebrate Easter with a four- or six-course tasting menu for adults and a four-course tasting menu for children. The four-course adult menu ($85) offers Maine Peekytoe-crab salad, veal raviolini, roasted lamb loin, dessert, and mignardises. The six-course menu ($125) offers Dungeness-crab salad; penne pasta; grilled Hawaiian walu with littleneck clams; squab salad with a poached quail egg; parsley-crusted lamb chops; and a chocolate tasting. The children’s menu ($25) includes a zucchini-flower crab cake, penne, a choice of chicken or steak, and dessert.
Brunch is served from 11 to 8.
Bastille
1201 N. Royal St., Alexandria; 703-519-3776; bastillerestaurant.com
Chef/owners Christophe Poteaux and Michelle Garbee are putting a French spin on a traditional Easter brunch at their modern Old Town bistro. A three-course menu ($28) includes a goat-cheese cromesqui with baby arugula and dried cherries; a Parisian bistro steak with pommes frites; and a strawberry-rhubarb buckle cake with chantilly cream. A children’s menu ($16 for kids under 12) includes soup or salad, macaroni and cheese, and a choice of dessert.
Brunch is served from 11:30 to 2:30.
Bebo Trattoria
2250-B Crystal Dr., Arlington; 703-412-5076; bebotrattoria.com
Roberto Donna’s hearty Italian fare is on the menu at this Easter dinner. The three-course set menu ($35) includes a first course of sautéed asparagus in brown butter with a soft-poached egg and Fontina cheese; ricotta-and-spinach raviolini with butter, sage, and prosciutto; and roasted basil-crusted lamb loin with rosemary sauce. Dessert is priced à la carte.
Dinner is served from 4 to 9.
Black’s Bar & Kitchen
7750 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda; 301-652-5525; blacksbarandkitchen.com
The brunch buffet ($49 for adults, $20 for children 12 and under) at this sleek suburban dining room includes a raw bar with oysters and Old Bay-spiced shrimp; a carving station with roast beef and leg of lamb; crab cakes; fried chicken; a selection of breakfast entrées; and a children’s table with chicken nuggets, hamburgers, and more.
Brunch is served from 10:30 to 3.
Blue Duck Tavern
1201 24th St., NW (Park Hyatt Washington); 202-419-6755; blueducktavern.com
This glassy West End spot is offering an Easter brunch with three seatings. The three-course menu ($80 for adults, $40 for children under 12) includes such choices as a lump-crabmeat omelet; rockfish with snap-pea sauce; braised leg of lamb with morel sauce; and braised short ribs with horseradish sauce.
Brunch seatings are at 11, 1, and 3.
Buzz
901 Slaters La., Alexandria; 703-600-2899; buzzonslaters.com
Not hungry for a brunch buffet or tasting menu? In the spirit of the holiday, stick with the sweets. Pastry chef Josh Short’s Easter offerings include iced Easter-egg sugar cookies ($1.95), lemon and coconut cupcakes ($2 each), lemon-chiffon cake layered with lemon curd and decorated with pastel-colored buttercream ($32 for an eight-inch cake), and coconut cake ($32 for an eight-inch cake).
Open 6 AM to midnight.
Cafe Mozu
1330 Maryland Ave., SW;202-787-6868; cafemozu.com
The Mandarin Oriental hotel’s more casual restaurant, which looks onto the Tidal Basin, is holding an Asian-accented brunch ($80 per person). Kicking things off are a selection of tapas, such as lemongrass-cured salmon, ahi-tuna tataki, duck-leg summer rolls, tamarind-glazed flank steak, Dungeness-crab claws, and miniature Kobe burgers. Diners then choose a main course, including beef tenderloin with oxtail sauce; roasted lamb; and edamame risotto. Desserts range from a pistachio-strawberry gâteau to a rosemary-apricot tart; there’s also a selection of chocolate bunnies and eggs to honor the day.
Brunch is served from noon to 3.
Cafe Promenade at the Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Ave., NW; 202-347-2233; cafepromenade.com
The upscale Mediterranean-inspired cafe is celebrating Easter at both brunch and dinner. A Champagne brunch buffet ($79 for adults, $39 for children under 12) includes a seafood bar with oysters on the half shell and bay-scallop ceviche; a salad display; and a carving station with Asian-style ahi tuna, baked honey-glazed ham with pineapple chutney, and pistachio-crusted rack of lamb. Chocolate fondue and assorted cakes and pastries will make up the dessert table.
Brunch is served from 11 to 3.
The four-course dinner ($65 per person) starts with a choice of New England clam chowder or portobello-mushroom soup with smoked duck. Next, choose among Caesar salad with shredded Parmesan, warm duck salad with red beets, and a lobster-and-crab napoleon with seaweed salad. Entrées include Colorado rack of lamb with pesto ratatouille; roasted salmon en croûte with fennel-saffron beurre blanc; and free-range chicken breast stuffed with wild mushrooms. Finish with chocolate “salami” with Frangelico and strawberries or a blackberry crème brûlée.
Dinner is served from 5 to 9 PM.
Dino
3435 Connecticut Ave., NW; 202-686-2966; dino-dc.com
This Italian wine bar is offering a special à la carte brunch menu. Choices include fruit-bread French toast topped with bacon and fresh berries ($10); Texas toast piled with wild mushrooms, prosciutto, and truffle oil ($12); crab/rock-shrimp/salmon cakes ($15); and grilled garlic sausage with saffron aïoli and home fries ($10).
Brunch is served from 11:30 to 3.
From April 19 through 27, Dino will offer a Passover Seder menu. The dinner includes a six-course meal ($55 for adults, $25 for children) with a Seder plate for the table, seven-fruit haroset, Caribbean gefilte fish, and matzo-ball soup. Diners can then choose among rockfish in sweet-and-sour sauce, pomegranate-glazed chicken, and red-wine-braised brisket with spaghetti squash, roasted eggplant, and raisin kugel. Baklava made from matzo follows the meal. The seder is BYOH: bring your own Haggadah.
Lafayette Room at the Hay-Adams Hotel
16th and H sts., NW; 202-638-6600; hayadams.com
This historic hotel’s dining room is putting on a Champagne brunch ($85 for adults, $40 for children). Appetizers include roasted-red-pepper soup with smoked chicken and cilantro and warm white and green asparagus polonaise with lemon-tarragon sauce. Entrées include poached eggs with crab cakes; veal scaloppine with porcini-mushroom gnocchi; red wine braised lamb shank; and seared Angus strip-loin steak.
Brunch is served from 11 to 3.
The Grille at Morrison House
116 S. Alfred St., Alexandria; 703-838-8000; morrisonhouse.com
At the cozy restaurant in this historic hotel, recently taken over by Kimpton, chef Dennis Marron has added a few Easter specials to his regular three-course Sunday brunch menu ($42 per person, including Champagne). They include king- and smoked-salmon tartare; crab cakes with toasted brioche; crispy duck-confit hash with red-wine-poached quail eggs and a potato pancake; and a braised lamb crepinette with sunny-side-up eggs. For dessert, options include profiteroles, a three-sorbet terrine, and a maple-chestnut flan.
Brunch is served from 11 to 3.
Morrison-Clark Inn
1015 L St., NW; 202-898-1200; morrisonclark.com
Chef Janis McLean is putting on a three-course brunch ($55 per adult with Champagne, $48 without, and $20 for children under 12). Entrée highlights include grilled wild salmon, brioche French toast, and Chesapeake eggs Benedict.
Brunch is served from 11:30 to 3.
Mrs. K’s Toll House
9201 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring; 301-589-3500; mrsks.com
Eggs are hidden in Mrs K’s gardens during a day filled with Easter festivities and dinner. Guests can show up a half hour prior to one of three seating times and join an egg hunt ($10 per family) with goodie-filled eggs and a grand-prize Easter basket (customers are asked to bring their own basket). A four-course tasting menu ($60 for adults, $25 for children 12 and under) includes smoked salmon with crème fraîche and vine-ripened tomatoes; buffalo mozzarella with balsamic vinaigrette; poached-pear, bleu-cheese, and mesclun salad; herb-roasted lamb with wild-mushroom sauce; spice-crusted pork loin with cranberry-port sauce; and tiger shrimp, scallops, and crab in Champagne-cream sauce over linguine. Finish the meal with a berry tart, chocolate truffle cake, or lemon shortcake.
Brunch seatings are at 11, 1:15, and 3:30.
Oceanaire Seafood Room
1201 F St., NW; 202-347-2277; theoceanaire.com
This downtown-DC seafood restaurant will serve brunch (entrées from $25 to $35) in addition to its regular dinner service. In addition to regular menu items, chef Rob Klink will dish out sourdough French toast with bacon; broccoli-and-cheese quiche with field-green salad; a smoked fish platter with toast points and horseradish cream; a crab-and-avocado frittata; and filet mignon with two scrambled eggs.
Reservations available from noon to 9.
Old Angler’s Inn
10801 MacArthur Blvd., Potomac; 301-365-2425; oldanglersinn.com
This quaint country-style inn celebrates the holiday with a three-course menu ($55 for adults, $25 for children under 12) that ranges from the traditional (eggs Benedict) to the fusiony (blackened ahi tuna with pineapple-papaya salsa and polenta). Appetizers include oysters with Champagne mignonette; shrimp cocktail; Caesar salad; and chicken spring rolls. Desserts include a chocolate terrine and crème brûlée.
Easter menu served from noon to 8.
Roof Terrace Restaurant
2700 F St., NW; 202-416-8555; roofterracerestaurant.com
This Kennedy Center dining spot with skyline views hosts a kid-friendly holiday brunch in place of its usual Sunday buffet. Children ages 12 and under are invited to meet and have a picture taken with the Easter bunny and to sit at the kiddie table, where they can munch on a spread ($20) that includes macaroni and cheese, French fries, chicken fingers, and pigs-in-a-blanket. For the adults ($39.95), there’s challah French toast, a carving station, a raw bar, and gourmet salads.
Brunch seatings are at 10, 12:15, and 2:30.
Seasons at the Four Seasons Hotel
2800 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; 202-342-0810; fourseasons.com
This sunny dining room will be offer an expansive holiday buffet ($98 for adults, $49 for children under 12), with omelet and carving stations as well as tables for seafood (oysters, ceviche, mussels), Asian dishes, salads, and cheese.
Brunch is served from 10:30 to 2:30. An Easter bunny will preside over egg hunts at 11:30 and 1.
Sette Bello
3101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; 703-351-1004; settebello.com
Travel the length of Italy with a mix of northern- and southern-style dishes on Manuel Molina’s brunch buffet ($49 for adults, $24.50 for children under 12). There will be custom-made omelets; antipasti; a pasta table with mini eggplant parmigiana and spinach-and-ricotta ravioli; main courses such as herb-crusted leg of lamb and roasted salmon with caper-lime sauce; and a dessert spread.
Brunch is served from 11 to 3:30.
Willard InterContinental
1401 Pennsylvania Ave., NW; 202-628-9100; washington.intercontinental.com
At this historic hotel, you can choose between two brunch buffet options:
The Willard Room features a Champagne brunch ($78 for adults, $39 for children under 12) which includes a carving station with roast Colorado lamb; seafood options such as mussels and cherrystone clams; and freshly made omelets, crepes, and waffles. A “farmers market” table includes artisanal cheeses and locally sourced cured meats.
Brunch is served from 11 to 2.
The Willard Grand Ballroom offers a more festive, family-friendly buffet ($70 for adults, $38 for children under 12) with a piano player, a children’s cookie-decorating station, and a visit from the Easter bunny. Brunch stations will offer Belgian waffles, seafood, tossed pastas, and omelets. A carving station includes thyme-and-garlic-brined chicken with artichokes and black-trumpet mushrooms. On the dessert table, you’ll find carrot cake with cream-cheese frosting and beignets with vanilla-bean crème anglaise.
Brunch seatings are at 11, 11:30, 1, and 1:30.
For our guide to local bottomless brunches (with bottomless Champagne, mimosas, and more) click here.
