Santa Cruz’s Chaminade is serving an Easter brunch buffet
Dining out on Easter is a great way to celebrate with friends or family or both, and Santa Cruz and the Monterey/Carmel areas have many restaurants offering special menus this Sunday.
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Happy Easter!
Santa Cruz
Chaminade
The Chaminade offers its annual Easter Brunch Buffet from 9am-3pm; the price is $55.95 (adults), $18.95 (kids 6-12), and free for kids under 6. As of press time, it was nearly sold out. Selections include honey ham with Jack Daniels glaze; rosemary and garlic encrusted lamb leg; a seafood bar with teriyaki salmon, peel and eat prawns, and more; omelets made to order; and Belgian waffles with fresh berry compote. Additional highlights: gourmet salads, cheese ravioli, eggs florentine, chocolate fondue, and a sundae bar. There will be a special kids’ menu plus Easter egg hunts at 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30 p.m., 1:30pm, and 2:30pm, appearances by the Easter Bunny, and face painting. Egg hunts are for hotel and dining guests only. Call (831) 475-5600 for reservations.
One Chaminade Lane, Santa Cruz
Sanderlings has a brunch buffet from 9 am to 2 pm; the price is $45.95 for adults and $19.95 for kids 2-12. Selections include prime rib; honey ham; Seascape benedict with crab cakes; BBQ pork ribs; whole roasted chicken; and mushroom ravioli. Salads include roasted beet-feta-arugula, spinach with avocado-walnuts, and Indian-spiced chickpea with cucumber, red onion, and more. Other highlights include cracked crab legs and a special kids’ menu.. Call (831) 662-7120 for reservations.
One Seascape Resort Drive (at Seascape Beach Resort), Aptos
Hyatt Carmel Highlands
At the Hyatt Carmel Highlands’ California Market, diners can start Easter brunch with a visit to the Bellini bar where staff will create custom sparkling wine drinks blended with fresh seasonal fruit purees. From there guests will order from the a la carte brunch menu, featuring signature items from the hotel’s new California Market all-day brunch menu. For the finale, guests are invited to the grand dessert buffet with Easter favorites. Additionally, the hotel’s bunny concierge will be guiding young guests to a bunny petting zoo and Easter egg decorating station. Brunch entrée choices include frittata with cast iron baked egg whites, wild arugula, roasted tomatoes, and Nicasio Valley farmers cheese; brioche French toast with local berry compote and vanilla bean whipped cream; Cioppino with sautéed mussels, clams, local catch, squid ink linguini, spicy tomato broth, and grilled garlic bread; and Cobb salad with grilled chicken, smoked bacon, egg, avocado, blue cheese, tomatoes, and lemon-Dijon dressing. The cost is $49.99 per person, with seatings from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.–call 831- 622-5445.
Hyatt Carmel Highlands, 120 Highlands Drive, Carmel
Fandango
The restaurant is serving a special prix fixe Easter brunch ($38.85 for adults, $18.75 for kids 12 and under, seatings 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.). Dishes include roast leg of lamb Provencal; honey glazed baked ham with Hawaiian sauce; grilled fresh salmon with Hollandaise; eggs benedict Florentine; salad with spinach, orange, bleu cheese, and walnuts; berry shortcake; and chocolate profiteroles. Call 831-372-3456.
223 17th St., Pacific Grove
Sardine Factory
The restaurant is serving a three-course $39 prix fixe menu, with seatings from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m, plus a special selection of appetizers and savory entrees. For the prix fixe, guests receive a choice of soup or salad, a choice of three entrees including roast leg of Colorado lamb with port sauce, sautéed Salinas Valley spinach, and garlic mashed potatoes; and a choice of two desserts (Bananas Foster or Cherries Jubilee). Brunch specials include eggs steak benedict with filet mignon; eggs crab benedict; and Maine lobster hash with poached eggs. Call 831-373-3775 for info or reservations.
701 Wave St., Monterey
Tarpy’s Roadhouse
Tarpy’s is bringing back a signature cocktail for Easter: a strawberry hibiscus cooler with house infused strawberry gin, fresh lemon juice, and HUM hibiscus liqueur. Tarpy’s will be serving Easter brunch specials, and these items will become restaurant brunch stapes after Easter. Dishes will include steak & eggs with wood fired prime sirloin steak, crispy fingerling potatoes, bone marrow butter basted eggs and smoked onion jus ($22); Roadhouse French toast (country bread soaked in a whiskey custard with a huckleberry compote and candied pecan butter, $16); and oxtail hash and eggs with braised oxtail, fingerlings and caramelized pearl onions on pimento cheese grits with red eye hollandaise ($19). For kids, Tarpy’s is offering free coloring sheets, stickers and crayons to enjoy during their Easter meal. Call 831-647-1444 for reservations.
2999 Monterey Salinas Highway, Monterey
TusCA Ristorante
The Easter brunch buffet ($40 for adults, $15 for kids over 5, free for kids under 5, seatings from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) will include a cage-free omelet and waffle station; natural smoked bacon; chicken sausage; eggs benedict; sliced fresh fruit; salads such as local watermelon salad with feta and fresh squeezed lemon juice and spring quinoa salad; and a carving station that includes honey and tangerine glazed Easter ham and herb and pepper encrusted carved beef. There will also be entrees including seared salmon with spring tomato and cucumber dill crudo and butternut squash ravioli with toasted hazelnuts and black kale, and a dessert table with cream puffs, chocolate-dipped strawberries, fruit tarts, mini cheesecakes, and more. Call 831-657-6675.
Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa, 1 Old Golf Course Road, Monterey
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