Quick Hits: Where to Celebrate Easter in SF

Easter is this Sunday and if you’re wondering where to enjoy a leisurely brunch or luxurious dinner, many of San Francisco’s finest establishments are serving holiday menus. At A16, Easter will be celebrated starting on Thursday, April 13 with traditional Southern Italian flavors served a la carte in addition to their regular menu. Each night, Thursday to Saturday, there is a different special including whole roasted McFarland Springs trout and Casatiello Napoletano, a stuffed bread traditionally made around Easter. On Sunday, both locations (in the Marina and Rockridge) have an extensive offering of specials like lamb verdetto with new potato, English peas, and egg yolk, and minestra maritata with braised pork, meatballs, and escarole.

Photo Credit: Aubrie Pick

At Epic Steak on the Embarcadero, chef Parke Ulrich is serving a three-course surf and turf extravaganza that includes Drakes Bay oysters with paddlefish caviar, charred asparagus salad with house-cured gravlax, smoked tri-tip with smashed fingerlings, and Alaskan halibut acqua pazza (fish cooked in flavored liquid). For dessert? Bittersweet chocolate trifle and toasted marshmallow ice cream sandwiches. There are also drink specials and an Easter Honey Bee Bubbles flight.

Brasserie S&P, the lively restaurant at the Loews Regency San Francisco is serving up brunch all day from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Diners can enjoy fresh housemade juice, maple-brined pork loin and eggs with roasted potatoes, or blueberry ricotta pancakes with local ricotta. Bottomless mimosas mean you can linger for hours at the table. Bring the kiddos and they will receive a chocolate bunny as an Easter gift.

Finn Town is hosting a ‘Bet Your Bonnet Spring Goddess Celebration’ on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hungry brunchers can choose from an assortment of specialty dishes like Easter ham with homemade biscuits and spicy pepper jelly, salmon eggs Benny with spiced avocado and potato cake, and fried egg sandwich with rosemary pepper bacon on a housemade English muffin. The tavern will be screening Who Framed Roger Rabbit throughout the day.

If you will be in wine country, head to Meadowood Napa Valley where there will be a family-friendly fun-filled day of lawn games with music, a petting zoo, and exotic animal show. The Easter Bunny will be at the event and the massive egg hunt begins promptly at 12:30 p.m. Sunday-best attire is encouraged as a photographer will be on hand to snap family photos. Brunch will be served from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and reservations are recommended. From corned beef hash to mahi fish tacos, there is something for everyone on the resort Grill’s delectable menu.

Planning an indulgent breakfast or dinner at home? Many of the city’s bakeries and chocolate shops have Easter-inspired baked goods. At Jane’s three locations, pick up hot cross buns, spring quiche, and baskets filled with cookies, meringues, and coconut rochers. Recchiuti Confections has all your Easter chocolate needs covered. They are making dark chocolate shell eggs filled with vanilla-laced chocolate, caramel eggs, and burnt caramel truffles adorned with hipster bunnies. At our favorite bakery, Le Marais in the Marina, there are Valrhona easter bunnies, housemade marshmallow peeps, and an entire Spring menu of confections such as strawberry entremet with vanilla genoise, key lime pie choux with coconut lime curd, pomelo tart, and much more!