Want to have Easter brunch at the St. Paul Grill? Then you better have your reservation well in hand or wait till next year—they’re sold-out. Yup, Easter is hot upon us (it’s this Sunday, March 23!) and the hottest brunch reservations are filling up quick: St. Paul Grill, gone. Nicollet Island Inn, almost gone (plan on Nicollet Island Inn-ing it only if you want to dine after 4 p.m. and have a party of four or fewer). The legendary Easter hot spot Windows on Minnesota tells me their $36.95 per person brunch, served from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., still has openings before 11 a.m. or after 1 p.m., but nothing in the classic post-church hours.
Are you feeling frenzied now? You still have two options. My top pick of the still-open brunches would be at FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar, where they’re serving their regular old breakfast menu from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; their regular brunch menu from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (both on their website); and then a prix fixe Easter dinner from 2 p.m. on, which will include a baby spinach salad, molasses bourbon fresh ham, and a lemon honey panna cotta (adults $27.95, kids 6 to 12 $10.95, and children under 5 eat free).
And if that fills up, OpenTable.com has a fairly comprehensive list of all the other brunches offered in town. I was surprised by some of the options, like Chambers Kitchen. Jean-Georges does Midwestern Easter brunch? Yes, yes he does. It’s à la carte, and you could really shock some bunnies out of their baskets with a meal of, say, yuzu noodles in a miso broth and cod with Malaysian chili sauce. Chambers is also sold-out at 11 and noon, but has spots on either side.
Hippity hoppity: Easter’s on its way!
FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar
31 Seventh St. S., Minneapolis
612-216-3473
www.firelakerestaurant.com
Chambers Kitchen
901 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis
612-767-6999
www.chambersminneapolis.com