Brunchfaced: Easter Weekend Brunch Guide
Hoppy Easter! Here’s your egg-cellent guide on where to get brunchfaced this Easter weekend in San Diego!
JRDN @ Tower23 Hotel - Pacific Beach
Gather beachside at JRDN in Pacific Beach for Easter brunch with a view, it’s typically how I spend my holidays here in San Diego. Served from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., I recommend starting off with their Jumbo Sticky Buns ($10) made daily by Chef Melody Yono and then spicing things up with one of my favorite Chilaquiles dishes in San Diego, served with chorizo, guajillo chili salsa, queso fresco, pico de gallo, avocado and lime crema. Sip on one go my faves in SD, Brunch Mary made with jalapeño and cilantro infused vodka or build-your-own mimosa while you take in paradise.
Louisiana Purchase – North Park
North Park’s Louisiana Purchase will be launching their brand-new brunch on Easter weekend! Guests can enjoy dishes like LP Sardou – a 4 oz steak over English muffin and cream spinach, topped with crab boil poached eggs and a Marchand de vin and bearnaise or an Open Face Jambalaya Omlet. The Southern-inspired restaurant and cocktail bar will be offering food and drink specials throughout both Saturday and Sunday. Keep an eye on Louisiana Purchase’s social media for more details leading up to the fun-filled weekend.
Cusp – La Jolla Shores
Stunning views of La Jolla Shores and seasonal, locally sourced ingredients combine for a serene Easter brunch. Enjoy an a la carte brunch full of classic dishes, like french toast, benedicts and salads, alongside chef's specials like Prime Rib, Red Velvet Pancakes and House Cinnamon Rolls! Complimentary valet will be available.
Breakfast Republic – All Over
Have your most important meal of the day at Breakfast Republic this Easter, and indulge in April food and drink specials, including their Peep Show Mocha, prepared with toasted marshmallow, espresso, mocha, milk, whipped cream and a Peep garnish for good measure. If a boozy brunch is in order, try your hand at their Sunrise Service Mimosa, crafted from raspberry, orange juice, prosecco and an orange garnish. Refuel before the big Easter egg hunt with their Mac & Grilled Cheese, a revamped classic stuffed with cheddar mac ‘n’ cheese and two eggs any style, or enjoy their Protein Sampler Board, a charcuterie spread complete with a variety of breakfast-style meats and cheeses, plus two eggs any style topped with hollandaise, fresh fruit and house potatoes.
Hundred Proof - University Heights
It wouldn’t be an Easter celebration without some breakfast cocktails at Hundred Proof. Located in University Heights, Bar Manager Stephen Kurpinsky has artfully transformed cereal favorites into delicious cocktails. Kurpinsky’s Fruit Loops Ramos Fizz and Cinnamon Toast Punch will take you back to Saturday morning cartoons at mom and dads. Complete your brunch experience with Pastry Chef Jeremy Harville’s latest creation: Bananas Foster Baked French Toast ($12), buttermilk-soaked brioche baked to perfection and topped with bananas foster and cream cheese ice cream. Brunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Easter Sunday.
Union Kitchen & Tap – Encinitas & Gaslamp
Spend your Easter in the energetic Gaslamp District and stop by Union Kitchen & Tap Gaslamp for their Gourmet Easter Brunch, matched with live acoustic music from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., plus $15 bottomless mimosas. The buffet will be priced at $35 per person, and will include a variety of sweet and savory brunch items crafted to elevate your Easter Sunday experience. If Encinitas is closer to your stomping grounds, rest assured that Union Kitchen & Tap Encinitas will feature a slew of brunch cocktail and food specials honed for the occasion, paired with bottomless mimosas from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Bring the kids along for special Easter treats!
Fort Oak – Mission Hills
Make reservations for Easter brunch now for San Diego’s newest dining gem tucked away in Mission Hills. We recommend going with a group to share a little bit of everything but if you have to choose, try the Chicken Fried Quail and French Toast ($16) with hot honey, date puree and house-cultured butter or the Corn Beef Hash Benedict ($15) with poached eggs, cabbage, hollandaise, rye panko, and potatoes. Elevate your Easter brunch with one of their brunch cocktails like the Continental ($12) with a blend of rums, pineapple, lime, chai maple syrup, whole egg. Fort Oak will serve Easter brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m
Biergarden of Encinitas – Encinitas
Easter brunch will be served “surf style” at The Bier Garden. Located in the quaint surf town of Encinitas, highlights from their Easter brunch menu include their Lump Crab Benedict ($18) served with two poached eggs, bacon, roasted tomato, spinach, shallots, hollandaise sauce on butter croissants and their Fried Chicken & Maple Bacon Waffle ($16) the name speaks for itself. Grab a seat before noon to get $2 off their Bloody Mary menu; each of which are served with a beer chaser. Brunch is available on Easter Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
barleymash – Gaslamp
In addition to their regularly scheduled brunch featuring breakfast sandwiches, hearty hashes and a Skyy Vodka Bloody Mary bar, barleymash will also be offering Executive Chef Kevin’s specialty Black Forest Ham Steak & Eggs on Easter Sunday. From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., come in to dine, drink and enjoy live music from local band, The Counterfeits, beginning at 11:00 a.m.
Fig Tree Café – Pacific Beach, Liberty Station, Hillcrest
Fig Tree Café’s garden-style flair is a fitting venue for an Easter Sunday brunch, featuring lush greenery and fresh ingredients to match. Wake up with their Iced Coco Mocha, comprised of chocolate, coconut, espresso and milk, topped with whipped cream, a sprinkling of mocha powder and coconut shavings. Sip your way to a tropical paradise with their Tropical Fruit Mimosa Flight, featuring Passion Fruit, Kiwi, Coconut/Raspberry and Pineapple tasters – an idyllic accompaniment to their Chicken-Mango Sausage Scramble special, prepared with three eggs, Canadian bacon, applewood smoked bacon, red onion and cheddar cheese.
Storyhouse Spirits – East Village
Recently opened in the East Village, Storyhouse Spirits is hosting a spirited Easter brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. House-made favorites crafted by Chef Nick Paulerio include Pork Belly Chilaquiles ($16) with house-cured pork belly, fire roasted salsa, scrambled egg, cotija cheese and cilantro lime aioli and Duck Hash ($16) featuring house-made duck confit, wood-fired scalloped potatoes and muenster cheese “hash”. Grab a seat early as this open-air distillery, restaurant and bar has open seating where guests can soak in the sun and awesome views of the East Village.
Park 101 - Carlsbad
For an Easter celebration the whole family is sure to love, head North of San Diego, to Carlsbad’s Park 101. The open-air dining establishment will be serving up specialty dishes, such as Prime Rib and Lox, as well as their weekend Mega-mosas! $15 gets you a bottle of Cupcake Prosecco and your choice of orange juice, guava or strawberry puree. Easter eggs will be hidden throughout Park 101 for the kiddos to find throughout the day.
Trust Restaurant - University Heights
Experience the wood-fired cookery of Chef Brad Wise, brunch style, at Trust Restaurant for their Easter brunch. Reserve your table early to try their large and voluptuous Ultimate Sticky Bun ($12), made daily in limited quantities. If you still have room, try Trust’s Smoked Pork Shoulder Hash ($15) with sunny side egg, Fresno chili, black bean + radish salsa, n’duja mayo and cilantro or their Smoked Salmon Toast ($15) served with herb goat cheese, arugula, red onions, boiled egg, fried capers, radish and fresh fruit. Easter brunch will be served from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Westgate Hotel – Downtown
Easter Champagne Brunch: On Sunday, April 21, guests can toast the holiday and honor spring with a delicious Easter brunch marked by French elegance, and, of course, champagne. Dishes include fresh seafood, made-to-order omelets, carving stations, a special children’s buffet selection, as well as a full array of quintessentially European gourmet dishes. While adults will delight in this sophisticated Parisian experience, children will love the entertainment which includes face-painting and a special visit from the Easter Bunny. Brunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The price is $99 for adults, $35 for children ages 4-12, and complimentary for ages three and under. Prices do not include tax and gratuity. Special event parking is available for $12.
The Smoking Gun - Gaslamp
On Sunday, April 21st, The Smoking Gun's Walk of Champagne Brunch will be paired with adult Easter eggs. We can’t say what sort of things you’ll find inside the plastic colored eggs, but for brunch you can look forward to gourmet biscuit dishes, like the Brisket Biscuit N’ Gravy, with eggs, caramelized onions, arugula and smoked beef brisket. Brunch also consists of sweet menu items like bacon pancakes, along with a handful of savory plates. And don’t forget the drinks - Irish Coffee, made with Jameson Caskmates, Dark Horse Coffee Roasters and whipped cream, is a great way to toast to the holiday!
The Corner Draft House – Bankers Hills
Stop in for brunch at Bankers Hill local hangout, The Corner Drafthouse on Easter Sunday. This casual gastropub offers comfort style brunch items like their Smothered Breakfast Burrito ($13.50) with scrambled eggs, drafthouse potatoes, applewood-smoked bacon, sausage chorizo, queso fresco, topped with salsa verde and Tennessee Hot Chicken ($16.50) with buttermilk fried chicken, poached egg, buttermilk biscuit, homemade sausage gravy, watercress, house-made hot sauce. If you can’t choose from one of their 70 taps, grab a bottle of bubbly on special for $15 during brunch or a bloody off of their bloody mary menu.. Easter brunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
20|Twenty Restaurant – Carlsbad
Indulge in an elegant Easter celebration at 20|Twenty Restaurant in Carlsbad with friends and family this year. Executive Chef Julian Quiñones will prepare a gourmet brunch buffet featuring a made-to-order omelet station, raw bar, carving station, freshly baked desserts and more. A children’s menu will also be available. Easter brunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m on Sunday, April 21. The price is $85 for adults and $30 for children 12 and under, plus tax and gratuity
Patisserie Melanie- University Heights
Place a custom order at Patisserie Melanie for the perfect Easter brunch at home. Specializing in authentic French pastries, Chef Melanie is known for baking some of the best croissants and kougn-amanns in San Diego. New for spring are her Garden Macaron Collection which include elderflower, poppy, rose and violet. More spring pastries will be announced soon. Patisserie Melanie is open Wednesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Quantities are limited, so place your special order for Easter by calling (619) 677-2132 or emailing Melanie@PatisserieMelanie.com
Waterbar – Pacific Beach
Spend the holiday seaside with unparalleled ocean views when you make Waterbar your Easter Sunday destination. Perched along the shoreline in Pacific Beach, this coastal hotspot will offer endless rose, along with Loaded Cinnamon Buns, a plate of three homemade cinnamon buns smothered in white icing and topped with sliced bananas, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and blueberry compote, Eggs Benedict, stacked with an English muffin, Canadian bacon, poached eggs and hollandaise, served with your choice of side, and finally, their Spring Fling Scramble, featuring English peas, asparagus, baby heirloom tomato, chives, crumbled goat cheese , sliced avocado and choice of toast. The special brunch menu will be available from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., so don’t miss out!
Monello – Little Italy
Celebrate Easter at one of the most authentic Italian restaurants in San Diego. Incorporating ingredients from the Little Italy Farmer’s Market, guests can enjoy local flavors with an Italian influence. Though the weekly cheese wheel typically steals the show, other favorites include Freshly Baked Pasticceria (pastries) stuffed to order or the Brunch Piadin ($13) rolled bites of traditional Italian flatbread filled with eggs, applewood-smoked bacon, fontina cheese arrabbiata sauce and a side of roasted potatoes
Backyard Kitchen & Tap – Pacific Beach
Since no Easter is complete without an Easter bunny photo-op, Backyard Kitchen & Tap will host their Easter Egg-Stravaganca, complete with a brunch buffet and pancake station from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., priced at $17.95 for adults and $9.95 for kids, and special Easter cocktails for the adults. Enjoy live acoustic entertainment from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and bring the youngsters to meet the Easter bunny – furbabies included!
*all photos were courtesy of the restaurants, if you notice a photo as your own please let me know and I will properly credit