It's like we turned around and it's ... almost April? How did that happen? And Sunday is Easter? We repeat: When. Did. That. Happen?
If you're looking for a place to take the fam or friends on Easter Sunday you probably already know that a reservation is going to be tough. The expected rains this weekend could make getting a reservation even harder, as restaurants that rely on outdoor seating may need to shutter those spots.
And you absolutely want a reservation if you are traveling with a crowd.
But do not worry. LAist has done some of the footwork for you: Here are 5 places that are still taking reservations for Easter Sunday brunch. We tried to hit up a variety of locations and price points.
Now, it's all up to you.
Admittedly, this one is pricey. But really, it's a food adventure: Board the recently refurbished Queen Mary in Long Beach and dine like royalty. The Sunday brunch held aboard Long Beach’s historic World War II-era ship earned a spot on Condé Nast Traveler's guide to the best hotel brunches in the world!
On the menu: A full breakfast spread plus stations dedicated to seafood with King Crab legs and oysters on the half shell, Mexican fare with carne asada and carnitas tacos, dim sum, samosas, Korean BBQ ribs, a carving station with prime rib, a taste of Italy with tortellini and charcuterie, and all sorts of pastries. Enjoy it all while a live band plays tunes from the '30s and '40s, the Queen Mary's heyday.
Pro tip: Driving to this place can get tricky amid interchanges with traffic heading to the nearby port. So, give yourself plenty of time to make a wrong turn or three. If you arrive early, you'll have more time to walk the decks and take in the ship's maritime history, its Art Deco décor and views of the Pacific Ocean and Long Beach skyline: "On her maiden voyage in 1936 she was considered the grandest ocean liner ever built."
Cost: $98 per person, ages 13 and over, with an option to upgrade to include champagne for an additional $19. Ages 5-12, $39, ages 2-4 is $15. Guests one and under are free. Reservations are recommended.
Location: 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach
Sunday brunch hours: 10 a.m. and the last seating is at 2 p.m.
Vegan hash scramble, spinach and leek quiche, crabcake benedict and a latke board — everything you need for lox and bagels, only substitute latkes for your bagel — are on the Easter Sunday brunch menu at Akasha, along with basketfuls of breakfast pastries. There's also the traditional brunch menu, which includes a fried egg sandwich, breakfast burritos and wild mushroom toast. Chef Akasha Richmond, credited with helping to make Culver City a dining destination, also has an Easter dinner menu lined up that includes a lamb ragu pappardelle and a spring vegetable risotto.
Cost: Note that the online menu does not include pricing, but the entrees are in the $15 to $22 range. The all important bottomless mimosas are $20 a person, cannot be shared and come with a 90-minute time limit, so consider yourself warned. Reservations are recommended: (310) 845-1700.
Location: 9543 Culver Blvd., Culver City
Sunday brunch hours: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Tatel arrived on the scene to much fanfare, thanks to its pedigree — it hails from Spain — and its celebrity backers, including sports legends Pau Gasol, Rafael Nadal and Cristiano Ronaldo, according to Eater.com. This pretty spot has a brunch menu that includes a chorizo and bravas omelette, huevos a la flamenca, and a Jamón Ibérico and manchego cheese sandwich. There are also vegan and vegetarian options, including torrija French toast (made with brioche bread) and an arroz con leche bowl that sounds like dreamy excuse to have dessert for breakfast.
Cost: Brunch menu entrees range from $14 to $38. No sign of mimosas, bottomless or otherwise, but the cocktail menu is intriguing, with the likes of a Pacha Mama cocktail — Mezcal, sage, honey and ginger — and red sangria on the menu. A pitcher of said sangria is $70 and said to serve four. There are also several non-alcohol cocktails, too. Reservations are recommended.
Location: 453 N. Canon Dr., Beverly Hills
Sunday brunch hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At Tapizôn, Brazilian meets Asian meets tropi-Cali flavors, resulting in such dishes as Picanha steak and eggs, feijoada (a rich, meaty black bean stew that is loved throughout Brazil, and there’s a vegan version on the menu, too) and dadinho de tapioca (crispy tapioca cheese fritters with a spicy acai dipping sauce). And of course there’s avocado toast! Also served with that spicy acai sauce. Don’t forget to try the yucca fries. The special of the day, however, will be the Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa (Portuguese salted cod), seen here.
Cost: Entrees, $16-$35. Bottomless O.J. and passion fruit mimosas, $30, plus many other cocktails, non alcohol and fully loaded. Reservations are recommended.
Location: 450 Main St., El Segundo
Sunday brunch hours: 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Pozole, salmon avocado tostadas, huevos rancheros over blue corn tortillas, and Francesa Toast (that's Mexican style French toast made with traditional Mexican sweet cornbread and then topped with cinnamon crema... hungry yet?) Those are just a few of the specials on the brunch menu at Descanso in Costa Mesa. The restaurant, which bills itself as a contemporary taqueria, serves street-inspired cuisine with a modern twist. It's known for, among other things, margarita flights and the "a la plancha" menu, cooked tableside. Descanso also does brunch on Saturdays, too.
Cost: $25 for the Easter Brunch special, which starts at an extra early time of 10 a.m. (Brunch usually starts at 11 a.m.) Entrees on the weekly brunch menu start at $18, and can be accompanied by bottomless mimosas featuring orange, pineapple and guava juices for $21. Reservations are recommended.
Location: 1555 Adams. Ave., Ste. 103, Costa Mesa
Sunday brunch hours: 11 to 3 p.m.
