Patch Picks: Easter Brunch on the Eastside

A couple of times per year, people come out in droves for a thing called brunch. Easter Sunday happens to be one of those times.

It can be daunting to find a place that can accommodate your party and match everyone's tastes and dietary needs. But don't panic if you haven't made a reservation yet — or are still deciding where to go. Take a deep breath, and check out our list of suggestions below.

1. Hector’s, Kirkland, 425-827-4811, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Brunch is always a big deal at Hector’s and even more so on Easter. A large menu includes meals that will satiate customers for the entire day from biscuits and gravy, chicken fried steak and eggs, huckleberry pancakes to a smoked salmon plate. Get there early to order one of Hector’s famous cinnamon rolls, baked fresh that morning. Reservations are recommended.

2. Beach Cafe, Kirkland, 425-889-0303, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Offering a full range of omelets, pancakes and sides, Beach Cafe will also be serving special Easter items such as ham and quiche. Breakfast happy hour lasts from 9 a.m. until noon and features $5 drinks: Bloody Mary, Mimosa, Bellini, Screwdriver and Irish Coffee. The Easter Egg Scramble, an Easter egg hunt and event at the Woodmark Hotel (requires reservations), starts at 10:30 a.m., which should open up some seats at the Beach Cafe if you arrive at that time.

3. Trellis, Kirkland, 425-284-5900, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A delicious farm-to-table brunch awaits at Trellis. The popular Kirkland breakfast features eggs, toasted brioche, country sausage, potatoes and fresh fruit. Or try a malted Belgian waffle with apple puree and honey whipped cream. Salmon BLT, crab salad, flatbreads with toppings like pear and Gorgonzola or even steak and eggs offer diners a large and delicious variety. No reservations are accepted for this holiday brunch, though wait times have been short in past experiences. Management suggests diners consider the nearby Kirkland Performance Center shows at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. to better plan their meal at Trellis.

4. Le Grand Bistro Americain, Kirkland, 425-828-7778, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Across the plaza from Beach Cafe at Carillon Point, diners can indulge in some French classics this Easter. The menu includes French toast (or should it just be called “toast”?), croque madames, various omelets, and a full raw bar with oysters and scallops. Reservations are recommended.

5. Milagro Cantina, Kirkland, 425-952-6270, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Not excited by pancakes and ham? Try a Mexican brunch featuring eggs with coriander potatoes and peppers, chorizo meatball soup, or French toast dipped in horchata and cream tequila batter with key lime crema and agave syrup.

6. , Redmond, 425-885-2646, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Guests will be treated to a complimentary fresh fruit platter upon arrival. The full-service brunch features eggs benedict with a choice of ham, salmon or beef tenderloin, a crab omelet with cream cheese and basil, quiches and more. Management has promised some special surprises to finish the meal. Reservations will be accepted for any size of group for Easter Brunch.

7. Desert Fire, Redmond, 425-895-1500, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located in the Redmond Town Center, Desert Fire is offering its standard Southwest brunch with a couple of additional items, though the identity of these items was kept a secret. What we know for sure is that you can’t beat the $1 Mimosas or the $2 Bloody Marys!

8. , Redmond, 425-556-5972, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. You’ll find a great selection of both savory and sweet items on Pomegranate’s Spring Brunch menu. From cinnamon french toast and candied ginger lemon oatcakes to spring morel and asparagus pie or a breakfast firebread selection, guests will definitely leave full! A.M. Kickers include a Bloody Mary, Prosecco Mimosa (or Man-Mosa) or latte with whiskey and Bailey’s Irish cream. Reservations are available for parties of six or more.

9. Daniel’s Broiler, Bellevue, 425-462-4662, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A three-course brunch includes a basket of homemade scones, choice of an appetizer like fresh strawberries with Devonshire cream or clam chowder, and an entree such as eggs Benedict or Alaskan salmon. Adults are $35; kids 6-10 are $10; kids under five eat free!

10. Celtic Bayou, Redmond, 425-869-5933, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The unlikely combination of Irish pub and Cajun food may not scream Easter to most, but Celtic Bayou is offering a tempting scramble/Bloody Mary deal for $10. It might just be a great alternative to ham and lamb this year.

11. Hilton Bellevue, Bellevue, 425-455-1300, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. From carved meats, salads, pastry assortments, made-to-order Belgian waffles and seafood, the Hilton offers a traditional buffet of items for Easter Brunch. Adults are $42; children ages 6-12 are $18.95. Reservations are recommended.

The following Redmond restaurants are offering their regular breakfast or brunch menus on Easter Sunday: Matt’s Rotisserie & Oyster Lounge, Canyon’s Restaurant, Claim Jumper, and Family Pancake House.