Hop to these Central NJ restaurants for Easter brunch and dinner
After a long 40 days of Lent, Easter Sunday is nearly here — and we're sure you're ready to indulge with a holiday meal full of ham, lamb, pea soup, poached asparagus, carrot cake and more.
But if you're looking to over-eat without a long morning in the kitchen, these restaurants in Hunterdon, Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties can do the work for you, whether you want Easter brunch, dinner, a buffet or takeout.
It's a good bet to make reservations as soon as possible. So hop to it!
Catherine Lombardi, New Brunswick
Dinner: The traditional Italian restaurant's namesake is its family matriarch, and just like the real Catherine Lombardi always did, the eatery will serve dinner on Easter. Inside the space themed as Catherine Lombardi's living room, the restaurant will offer its regular a la carte menu, as well as specials, from 2 to 6 p.m.
The regular menu includes items such as garganelli with truffle cream, veal parmigiana, wild boar Bolognese, and lasagna with meat gravy. Easter specials include items such as soft shell crabs, Easter pie (also known as pizza rustica), and osso bucco.
Go: 3 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick; 732-296-9463, catherinelombardi.com
The Frog and the Peach, New Brunswick
Brunch and dinner: As a popular spot to celebrate holidays with a high-end flair, the Frog and the Peach will be open for Easter this year with a three-course brunch and dinner menu available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for $72, $28 per child.
Menu options include appetizers such as rabbit consomme, black truffle ricotta gnocchi, and local hothouse tomato salad; entrees such as lobster eggs benedict, grilled leg of lamb, and pastrami short rib; and desserts such as creme brulee, raspberry tart, and lavender blueberry layer cake.
Go: 29 Dennis St., New Brunswick; 732-846-3216, frogandpeach.com/easter-sunday/
Forsgate Country Club, Monroe
Brunch buffet and takeout: The country club dating back a century will open to non-members on Easter with a brunch buffet. Seatings will be available at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. for $50 per adult and $23 per child. A takeout meal is also available for $200 for 4-6 people or $345 for 8-10 people.
Brunch offerings will include leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic, spiral baked ham, chicken cordon bleu, omelets with assorted fillings, Belgian waffles with berries, French toast, smoked salmon, assorted salads, fruits and vegetables, as well as a variety of baked goods.
Go: 375 Forsgate Dr., Monroe; 732-521-0070, forsgatecc.com/files/Easter%20Combined%20for%20Website.pdf.
The Grain House at the Olde Mill Inn, Basking Ridge
Brunch and dinner: For an Easter Sunday with a historic touch, the Grain House, which is outfitted with beamed ceilings and fireplaces inside the Olde Mill Inn, will have two offerings for Easter meals. A buffet from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. is available for $75, $30 per child; and a four-course meal from 11:15 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. is available for $68, $27 per child.
At the buffet, visitors can find items such as Goffle Road Poultry Farm egg omelets, shrimp cocktail, a salad bar, cinnamon French toast, and wild mushroom and spring leek quiche. On the pre-fixe menu, they can choose from items such as a deviled Goffle Road Poultry Farm egg, skillet-seared local black sea bass, braised lamb shank, and Applewood smoked ham.
Go: 225 Route 202, Basking Ridge; 908-221-1100, oldemillinn.com/event/easter-sunday-at-the-grain-house/
Orchard Park by David Burke, East Brunswick
Brunch and dinner: Celebrity chef David Burke's only Central Jersey restaurant will bring its upscale New American fare with a playful twist to diners on Easter with a $65 three-course prix fixe brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The regular a la carte menu will be served from 5 to 9 p.m.
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Visitors will choose from appetizers such as lobster dumplings, soft scrambled eggs, and mushroom panzanella; entrees such as biscuits and gravy, Titanic French toast, and spiral cut Benton's ham; and desserts such as a chocolate Easter egg filled with chocolate mousse, and an olive oil and passionfruit bundt cake.
Go: 670 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick; 732-554-5714, orchardparkbydb.com/event-calendar/
Osteria Morini, Bernardsville
Brunch: The modern Italian restaurant will offer its traditional dishes with fresh twists on Easter with a two-course prix fixe brunch served from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for $65, $35 per child. Parties will choose two dishes from each course to be served family-style.
Breakfast pastries are included for all orders, and then customers will choose from options such as arancini, burrata and polpettine for the first course; and dishes like branzino, fusilli alla carbonara, and frittata for the second course.
Go: 107 Morristown Road, Bernardsville; 908-221-0040, osteriamorini.com/bernardville-nj/menus/easter-brunch/
The Ryland Inn, Whitehouse Station
Takeout dinner: Looking for a restaurant-quality meal you can enjoy at home? The elegant American restaurant located on a former equestrian estate is offering a takeout holiday dinner for $65 per person. Pickup is from noon to 4 p.m. on April 15 and 16.
Customers can choose three courses, with options including spring pea soup and grilled asparagus salad for appetizers; lightly grilled Ora King salmon and Heritage Pork bone-in rib roast for entrees; and Meyer lemon cream tart and carrot cupcake for dessert.
Go: 115 Route 28, Whitehouse Station; 908-534-4011, rylandshop.landmark.technology/products/easter-at-home#22442416
Stage Left Steak, New Brunswick
Brunch: Hub City's nearly 30-year-old steakhouse, beneath its sister restaurant Catherine Lombardi, will offer prime cuts as well as brunch classics with a twist on Easter at a three-course brunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for $50, $25 per child.
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First course selections include caviar, escargot, and warm duck confit salad; main course selections include a wild mushroom and asparagus omelet, raisin hazelnut French toast with blackberry maple syrup, and filet mignon two ways; with dessert options including sticky toffee pudding, apple crumb cake, and molten Valrhona chocolate cake.
Go: 5 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick; 732-828-4444, stageleft.com
Stone House at Stirling Ridge, Warren
Brunch: The upscale, rustic wedding venue and restaurant located on 10 acres in the Watchung Mountains will offer a brunch buffet on Easter from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $75, $30 per child.
Visitors will find a crepe and Belgian waffle station, an omelet station, a charcuterie station, carving stations with leg of lamb and salmon Wellington, a salad station, and dessert stations, including an ice cream sundae bar.
Go: 50 Stirling Road, Warren; 908-754-1222, stonehouseatstirlingridge.com
Summit House, Summit
Brunch: The upscale neighborhood restaurant is known for its locally-sourced ingredients in its New American dishes, and it will do just the same on Easter. A three-course, family-style brunch will be offered for $75, $35 per child with seatings from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
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Visitors will choose from appetizers such as foraged mushrooms, monkey bread, and asparagus salad; entrees such as eggs benedict, steak and eggs, homemade scialetelli pasta and shrimp; and desserts such as carrot cake.
Go: 395 Springfield Ave., Summit; 908-273-6000, summithousenj.com/easter/
Jenna Intersimone has been a staff member at the USA Today Network New Jersey since 2014, after becoming a blogger-turned-reporter following the creation of her award-winning travel blog. To get unlimited access to her stories about food, drink and fun, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Contact: JIntersimone@Gannett.com or @JIntersimone.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Central NJ restaurants serving Easter brunch, dinner
