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Easter is a holiday that celebrates a lot of things: Jesus’s resurrection, but also bunnies, chocolate, eggs, spring, and brunch. On a normal Sunday brunch is a leisurely-bordering-on-decadent affair, but on Easter Sunday things can kick up into another gear. The places that do Easter brunch tend to be on the pricier side, and the menus are often not too distinct, with most restaurants offering their sometimes minor twists on brunch classics. So we’re talking like a lot of eggs Benedicts with crab and French toast, that kind of thing. But Easter is an opportunity to experience some really good food (and really good ambience) at some of the Seattle area’s best restaurants.
Here are some of the most notable Easter brunches in the Puget Sound:
Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi
Where: 10400 Northeast Fourth Street, Bellevue
Price: $135 for adults, $40 for kids ages five to 12, juice and coffee included
If you want to have an “elevated” brunch, take the express elevator to this restaurant on the 31st floor of the Lincoln Square South building. Ordinarily a steakhouse that’s traveled back in time from the near future, on Easter from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Ascend is doing its “Carts & Carousels holiday brunch,” which means they wheel around items like cinnamon roll pancakes topped with blood orange–scented syrup and Australian Wagyu Benedict. There’s also the panoramic view and like, tree stumps with roots hanging from the ceiling? Note that there’s generally a business dress code and they don’t allow tank tops or baseball caps.
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Ray’s Boathouse
Where: 6049 Seaview Avenue Northwest, Ballard
Price: $70 for the prix fixe menu
This venerable piece of old Seattle down the street from Golden Gardens has some of the best waterfront views in the city, which has made it a special occasion destination for generations. On Easter, Ray’s Boathouse (not to be confused with the more moderately priced Ray’s Cafe upstairs) is doing a three-course menu for $70 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the restaurant’s regular seafood-focused menu will also be available.
Water’s Table
Where: 1053 Lake Washington Boulevard North, Renton
Price: $75 for adults, $23 for kids five to 12
You can’t spell brunch without buffet! Or something. C’mon down to the Hyatt at the southern end of Lake Washington and munch on finger sandwiches, lamb hash, hot cross buns, and a ham carving station. Find the full menu here and reserve a table here.
Mint Progressive Indian
Where: 1103 First Avenue, Downtown
Price: $95 for adults, $50 for kids under 12
As you might have gathered from this list, a lot of Easter brunch menus feature the same items with fairly minor variations. For a dash of creativity, head over to Mint Progressive and try a three-course menu highlighted by things like Goan chorizo pulao and Kerala chicken fry. Reservations can be made here.
Rionne XIII
Where: 401 15th Avenue East, Capitol Hill
Price: $65 per person
All of Ethan Stowell’s restaurants are doing some version of Easter brunch, so we’re just singling out one of the more intriguing menus. If you don’t want to have pasta or “breakfast pizza” with egg, truffle, and crispy prosciutto, you can opt for the biscuits and gravy, which here means focaccia, ‘nduja gravy, and a six-minute egg.
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Duke’s Seafood
Where: Seven locations around Puget Sound
Price: Around $20 an entree
This pun-loving local chain is featuring Easter items like the Veggie Scramble for Your Life (sounds intense) and eggs Benedict with either crab or prawns. Duke’s is a great choice for those who prefer their brunches boozy, as their most famous “Duketail” is the “Bloody Bloody Mary,” which comes garnished with two immense prawns.
Elliott’s Oyster House
Where: 1201 Alaskan Way, Pier 56, Downtown
Price: Most entrees are $20+
If you’re headed downtown on Easter, Elliott’s Oyster House, one of the city’s best (and most touristy) bivalve spots is doing a special Easter menu from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. that includes king crab and artichoke quiche and an applewood-smoked salmon scramble. The views are incredible provided we get a clear day, and it’s a little more affordable than some of the places on this list.
Fairmont Olympic
Where: 411 University Street, Downtown
Price: $95 for adults, $45 for kids aged four to 12
The Fairmont Olympic Hotel is trying to outdo the Easter brunch competition by hosting a buffet chock full of entertainment options — there’s going to be a gospel group, an Easter bunny kids can take photos with, build-your-own bloody mary and mimosa bars, oysters, crab claws, carving stations, blah blah blah. If you can dream it up, it’ll probably be at this brunch. Reservations here.