As much as we love the tradition of decorating eggs, we prefer them scrambled, poached or whipped into sweet meringue. It seems local chefs agree. Throughout Southwest Florida, restaurants celebrate Easter with panache, crafting elaborate brunch buffets and special menus that celebrate the flavors of spring. This year, we’ve combed through dozens of options to find the best places to brunch on April 20. Advanced reservations are highly recommended and often, required.
Angelina’s Ristorante, Bonita Springs
A Southwest Florida Italian institution, Angelina’s is typically only open for dinner, when its romantic, chandelier-lit atmosphere and 30-foot-tall wine tower can truly shine. Its annual Easter brunch is a true gem that leans into the restaurant’s reputation for luscious, housemade pastas and impeccably fresh ingredients. Think: potato gnocchi with lamb ragù and mint gremolata, blueberry-ricotta French toast, and wild mushroom frittata with smashed Parmesan potatoes.
Bicyclette Cookshop, Naples
Chef Kayla Pfeiffer’s playful, innovative cuisine earned a James Beard Award nomination for Emerging Chef earlier this year. In keeping with that ethos, she skips the traditional honey-glazed hams and eggs Benedict in favor of a revisionist take on Easter cuisine, featuring plates like country-fried lamb smothered in Szechuan pepper gravy, custardy mandarinquat clafouti with wild fennel syrup, and carrot cake ice cream sandwiches.
The Catch of the Pelican, Naples
The Naples Grande Beach Resort’s annual Easter brunch buffet is all about choice—and the colossal spread is full of luxurious bites. Will it be a French-style omelet, crab cake Benedict with caviar hollandaise, or some cast-iron waffles to start? Then, hit the carving station for slices of tomahawk rib-eye and load your plate with Gulf shrimp, lobster, snow crab and oysters at the chilled seafood display. Leave room for dessert: Nearly a dozen options include peach cheesecake bites, citrus crème brûlée and mini chocolate eggs.
Ocean Prime, Naples
A Fifth Avenue South favorite for surf-and-turf, Ocean Prime opens its sidewalk-facing doors for a special holiday brunch. Start with one of the signature cocktails, like the citrus-rhubarb mimosa or shrimp cocktail-topped Bloody Mary, before delving into the steak and seafood that the restaurant does so well, like lobster and avocado toast, Maryland crab cake Benedict and Prime New York strip steak and eggs.
The Ritz-Carlton Naples, Tiburón
The Ritz-Carlton Resorts know how to throw holiday celebrations for the whole family (Christmas teddy bear tea, anyone?). For its Easter fête, they’re trotting out the Easter bunny for complimentary family photos, then spoiling mom and dad with a lavish buffet featuring carving stations, made-to-order entrees, salads, sushi and breakfast favorites. Everyone, from toddlers to grandparents, will find their childlike enthusiasm at the dessert table, where the resort's pastry chef crafts edible works of delicious, whimsical art.
Sale e Pepe, Marco Island
Italians have a reputation for going all-out with the Easter meal—a mantle Sale e Pepe is embracing with full force. The beachfront restaurant offers a more-is-more take on the prix-fixe, with a family-style spread of appetizers, including imported cured meats and cheeses, poached Florida shrimp salad and Sicilian arancini, followed by a choice of mains, like grilled filet of beef or herb-roasted porchetta. Dessert is family-style as well, featuring mini apricot tarts, baked ricotta cream cake, and bread pudding made with the traditional Colomba Pasquale, a dove-shaped bread enriched with eggs and butter.
The Veranda, Fort Myers
With its old-fashioned, formal service and time-stands-still vibe, The Veranda is a favorite for celebrating special occasions. (Nab a seat on the outdoor patio if the weather isn’t too steamy.) The Easter menu feels timeless, too, with fine-dining classics like shrimp cocktail, blue crab cakes with remoulade, prime rib, honey-glazed ham with sweet potato-pecan soufflé, and a peanut butter-fudge pie that puts Reese’s eggs to shame.