If you’re too worn out from egg hunting to whip up an Easter feast, head to one of these destinations offering brunch and dinner specials. Some require reservations, so don’t procrastinate. Beware: After a meal at one of these spots, you may not have room left for Peeps and chocolate bunny rabbits.
400 BEACH SEAFOOD 400 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 727-896-2400, 400beachseafood.com. Get stuffed silly at the Easter Buffet, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Enjoy many selections, including breakfast items, omelet and carving stations, seafood, ham and lamb. If you’re sweet on desserts, you’ll be in heaven in the Dessert Room. $27.95 for adults; $12.95 for children.
BON APPETIT RESTAURANT AND MARINA CAFE 150 Marina Plaza, Dunedin, 727-733-2151, bonappetitrestaurant.com. Enjoy a four-course dinner from a choice of six entrees for $45, or the Easter buffet for $40, perhaps after a day at Honeymoon Island. Bon Appetit is the perfect destination for those seeking a sophisticated holiday refuge with a waterfront view.
CASSIS AMERICAN BRASSERIE 170 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 727-827-2927, cassisab.com. A St. Pete favorite, Cassis will be offering an Easter buffet from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Details are sketchy as to what will be on the menu, but lucky rabbit’s foot seems like a definite no. $29.95 for adults; $14.95 for children.
COLUMBIA RESTAURANT 2117 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa, 813- 248-4961; 800 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, 727-822-8000; 1241 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater, 727-596-8400, columbiarestaurant.com. Choose from Roast Leg of Lamb “Dali” or baked Virginia ham, for $19.95 each. The dinner menu is available if you’re not in a hammy (or lamby?) mood.
FIRST WATCH 1648 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, 813-929-3947; 2726 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, 813-975-1718; 520 N. Tampa St., Tampa, 813-307-9006; 13186 N. Dale Mabry, Tampa, 813-961-4947, firstwatch.com. Choose one of First Watch’s new menu items, which will be available for Easter brunch. Dishes include Crepegg, skillet hashes and omelets. For those of you who will be glued to your laptop —even on a holiday — take advantage of First Watch’s WiFi.
FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE AND WINE BAR 4322 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, 813-874-9463, flemingssteakhouse.com. Fleming’s is a fine choice for “Grade A, top choice meat,” and seafood on a special occasion, such as Easter. Enjoy the Easter brunch, from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., which includes selections such as filet mignon Benedict. The three-course adult brunch will be available for $34.95. Children 12 and under may select the children’s brunch for $16.95. The regular menu options will be available to those patrons not in a brunchy mood.
FRESH HARVEST AT SEMINOLE HARD ROCK 5223 N. Orient Road, Tampa, 813-627-7625, seminolehardrocktampa.com. If you can’t stay away from the slot machines on holidays, take advantage of Fresh Harvest’s Easter brunch menu. Enjoy sushi and dim sum selections, grilled items, made-to-order omelets and pastas, American and Italian items, salads and sweets a la mode, for $27. The menu will be available from 10 a.m.-10 p.m., so in between bites, you can gamble the day and night away.
THE HANGAR 540 First St. SE, St. Petersburg, 727-823-7767, thehangarstpete.com. If you’re fascinated with airplanes or are a wannabe pilot, fly on over to Hangar for the three-course Easter special. Selections include Maple-Dijon ham and herb-roasted leg of lamb, and Easter Bunny Surprise for dessert. Available from 1-8 p.m. $24.95 for adults; $12.95 for children.
INNISBROOK GOLF & TENNIS RESORT 36750 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor, 727-942-2000, innisbrookgolfresort.com. Squeeze in a round of golf before or after fueling up at Innisbrook’s Easter brunch. You’ll have two seatings (11 a.m. or 2 p.m.) to enjoy crepes, carving and salad stations, and many other tasty selections. Walk over to the complimentary carnival after brunch. $36.95 for adults; $16.95 for children 12 and under. Reservations required.
OCEAN PRIME 2205 N. Westshore Blvd., Tampa, 813-490-5288, oceanprimetampa.com. Enjoy the Easter brunch beginning at 11 a.m., with selections such as King Crab Benedict and blueberry French toast. Or stay home with your peeps and venture out to Ocean Prime for dinner, for black truffle macaroni and cheese, Chilean sea bass in Champagne truffle sauce and more. Reservations can be made via website.
PARKSHORE GRILL 300 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, 727-896-WINE, 727-896-DINE, parkshoregrill.com. Enjoy the four-course Easter Feature, which includes rosemary-grilled Niman ranch lamb sirloin and sea scallops. Make like the Easter Bunny and eat your carrots … in the form of a five-spiced carrot cake. $50 per person.
PELAGIA TRATTORIA 4200 Jim Walter Boulevard, Tampa, 813-313-3235, pelagiatrattoria.com. Who says you can’t enjoy seafood or meat at 9 a.m., or made-to-order omelets at 2:30 p.m.? The spread also includes carving and pasta stations and many other types of foods and desserts. Available from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. $40 for adults; $16 for children twelve and under. Reservations can be made via phone or website.
PUB WATERFRONT RESTAURANT 20025 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores, 727-595-3172, thepubwaterfrontrestaurant.com. If hunting for Easter eggs makes you hungry, visit the Pub for the Easter breakfast buffet kicking off at 8 a.m. Easter lunch and dinner specials will be available as well, with choices of ham, pecan-crusted tilapia and sirloin marsala. Breakfast buffet is $11.95. Lunch and dinner specials are $16.95 for adults, $11.95 for children.
RUSTY PELICAN 2425 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, 813-281-1943, tampa.therustypelican.com. There is nothing rusty or shabby about the menu or the view at this seafood and steak destination. Enjoy the Easter buffet, complete with seafood, lamb beef and ham selections, as well as made-to-order omelets, pasta, salads, fruits. Wash it all down with bottomless mimosas. $46 for adults; $21 for children.
SHOR CLEARWATER 301 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater, 727-373-4780, shorgrill.com. This is a SHOR bet for an excellent view of the gulf during Easter brunch. The spread will include seafood, prime rib, breakfast items like made-to-order omelets, crudités, cheeses, salads and desserts. $45 for adults; $21 for children twelve and under. Three-hour complimentary parking is available.
SPOTO’S GRILL 131 13079 Park Blvd. N, Seminole, 727-393-1703, grill131.com. Enjoy Easter dinner with selections of leg of lamb and ham, between 12-7 p.m. Just because it’s dinner, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t wash it down with mimosas. Reservations are recommended. Spoto’s owner, Bob Spoto, previously owned the Steak Joint restaurants in St. Petersburg and Dunedin, and Smokey’s Texas Barbeque in Pinellas Park.
YACHT STARSHIP 603 Channelside Drive, Tampa, 813-223-7999, yachtstarship.com. If the idea of sitting in a restaurant on Easter bores you, how does a brunch cruise sound? All aboard for a brunch that includes a breakfast buffet and traditional Easter selections, along with a visit from Peter Cottontail (he’s available for pictures). Cruises are at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. $44.95 for adults; $29.95 for children. Reservations are required.
This article appears in Apr 5-11, 2012.