RI's 5 Best Spots For Easter Brunch + Dinner

RI's 5 Best Spots For Easter Brunch + Dinner

Easter isn't an iconic food holiday the way that Thanksgiving is...that's why we love it. All the cause for celebration with none of the required dishes. We set out to find 5 delicious spots for you to enjoy Easter with your family and came back with these five...

Vanderbilt Grace, Newport

One of the most beautiful and iconic spots in Rhode Island is the grand Vanderbilt Grace, in Newport. Built by Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt in 1909, this place oozes style. Newport is one of those special cities that, under the right circumstances, can transport you back in time. And Vanderbilt Grace is just the right spot to slip back to the turn of a different century. Now, juxtapose the delicious, seasonally changing food with this history and you have a wonderful spot to celebrate Easter. We're not sure how they'll pull off the spring flowers after this hellacious winter, but we trust them...and you should too. The beautiful garden will be host to an Easter egg hunt and decorating contest and then the real excitement begins: a seasonal buffet of Jonathan Cartwright's delicious food featuring carving and omelet stations. It will be served from 12 pm to 3 pm and promises to be outstanding. 41 Mary St. 846-6200, www.vanderbiltgrace.com

XO Cafe, Providence

Look...we just love brunch at XO. Forget about Easter Sunday. How about every Sunday? Normally this is a pajama brunch where you receive a free Bloody Mary or Mimosa for showing up in your finest PJs. It's not rocket science when it comes to XO. You take the "up to the minute" freshness of Chef Marty Lyons' cuisine and throw in the fun cocktails of general manager Alyssa Hudson and you have a wonderful brunch or dinner... or whatever. For Easter Sunday they are offering their already tasty brunch menu with the addition of a local lamb from 11 am to 3 pm. After brunch they will be serving dinner until 8 pm and the aforementioned lamb will be served two ways -- with Porterhouse chops being accented by braised shanks. It all sounds tempting, but we're leaning towards brunch. The creme brulee custard on the French Toast is calling! 125 North Main St. 273-9090, www.xocafe.com

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Shelter Harbor Inn, Westerly

True, we Rhode Islanders aren't ones to travel. And it's fair to say the majority of us live more than a stone's throw from this beautiful New England inn and restaurant. But trust is, even though it's not summer yet, a trip to Shelter Harbor is in order. Folks in the Westerly area have long considered the Inn their special occasion restaurant. And with good reason...they turn out some of the most reasonably-priced seasonal food in the area. Now throw in the Inn's historic feel and beautiful grounds and you have a perfect locale for you and your family. And they know how to fill your belly too. A four-course meal featuring such favorites as baked ham and roast tenderloin alongside newcomers like pan seared halibut and artichoke and leek lasagna sounds like a perfect Easter to us. 10 Wagner Rd. 322-8883, www.shelterharborinn.com.

 

White Horse Tavern, Newport

One of our state's treasures is the venerable White Horse Tavern. It allows the smallest state in the union to lay claim to its oldest founded tavern and the tenth oldest restaurant in the world. We know kids hate history, but imagine being able to tell your family that they are dining in the same building that once fed Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin. It comes across a little more genuine when they can actually see and touch the history. Along with all this history is some of the best that Newport has to offer food-wise. On Easter they are serving an extensive menu that highlights Chef Richard Silvia's commitment to locally-sourced ingredients. The Easter menu features local honey, cheeses and an array of proteins. We are currently salivating over the Guinness braised short rib hash and eggs. Lots of our favorite words in there! 26 Marlborough St. 849-3600, www.whitehorsenewport.com

Vintage Restaurant, Woonsocket

Diners in Woonsocket have known about Vintage for a long time now. We love the dinner menu and its "across the board" feel. There is bound to be several things to entice you on the brunch, lunch or dinner menus. They are highlighting some classics this Easter Sunday with ham, lamb, beef and scampi filling the entree side of brunch. On the breakfast side there's some delicious-sounding Nutella crepes, crab cakes Benedict and orange/mascarpone stuffed French toast. They have a buffet that features most expected continental breakfast items and the rest is cooked to order so you can be sure it will be fresh and hot. We're curious about the Caribbean pancakes. Pineapple, banana, pecans and coconut sounds a little adventurous for us...let us know if you try 'em. 2 South Main St. 765-1234, www.vintageri.com