Where to enjoy brunch with Santa in the suburbs in 2018

Catch some of the Christmas spirit and put in a good word with St. Nick during an upcoming Breakfast with Santa in the suburbs. Kids will delight in meeting Santa Claus, and everyone will enjoy sampling seasonal sweets. Brunches are filling up fast, so make your reservations now.

<b>Arlington International Racecourse:</b> 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights, (847) 385-7500 or arlingtonpark.com/breakfastwithsanta. Meet Santa and pose for a photo together, make holiday crafts, decorate cookies, enjoy Christmas music and more during Breakfast with Santa from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 15, in the Million Room restaurant. The menu includes slow-roasted maple chicken and waffles, cheese and potato hash, chilaquiles roja, carved turkey breast, pastries, fruit and more. Bring an unwrapped toy to donate to Toys for Tots. Enter at the Grandstand Entrance off Wilke Road. Breakfast is $24.95 for adults, $14.95 for kids 4-11, and free for kids 3 and younger. Reservations are required.

<b>Brookfield Zoo:</b> 8400 31st St., Brookfield, (708) 688-8000 or czs.org/Brookfield-ZOO/Events/Upcoming-Events/Breakfast. Santa and Mrs. Claus are coming to Brookfield Zoo, and kids will have the chance to meet and take photos with them and special costumed characters during the annual Breakfast with Santa. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet in the Discovery Center with seatings at 9 and 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 8-9 and 15-16. Nosh on fluffy scrambled eggs, French toast with maple syrup, bacon, sausage links, breakfast potatoes, pastries, muffins, bagels, fresh fruit and more. Enjoy music from The Banjo Buddies. Seating is limited; reservations are required. $29.95 for adults, $21.95 for kids 3-11 and free for kids younger than 3.

<b>Catch 35:</b> 35 S. Washington St., Naperville, (630) 717-3500 or catch35.com/catch-35-naperville-presents-breakfast-with-santa-2018/. The Jolly Old Elf will be on hand to greet guests at Catch 35 Naperville's Breakfast with Santa at 9 and 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15. Enjoy the breakfast buffet featuring Mrs. Claus' cinnamon swirl French toast, Blitzen's apple cinnamon crepes, Saint Nick's scrambled eggs, Tiny Tim's mini yogurt parfaits, Rudolph's breakfast potatoes, Kris Kringle's croissants, Jack Frost's crabcake Benedict, Prancer's smoked salmon, holiday cookies from Santa's Little Elves and more. $30 for adults, $20 for kids 3-12, and free for kids 2 and younger, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations required.

<b>Chessie's Restaurant:</b> 200 Applebee St., Barrington, (847) 382-5020 or chessies-restaurant.com. Get your Christmas list ready: Santa will be on hand for photos and to listen to wishes from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8 and 15, during Chessie's Breakfast with Santa. Enjoy music by the Barrington Suzuki Strings (on Dec. 8 only) while dining from the holiday breakfast buffet. It's $17 for adults and $14.50 for kids 10 and younger. Reservations required.

<b>The Clubhouse:</b> 298 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 472-0600 or theclubhouse.com/2018/11/24/sunday-brunch-with-santa-2018/. Meet Mr. Claus during Sunday Brunch with Santa from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23. Breakfast includes an omelet station; a carving station; hot entrees such as banana walnut French toast, eggs Benedict, pancakes, vodka pasta, chicken piccata, mussels and more, a seafood and raw bar, salads and a dessert table featuring a chocolate fountain. Photos with Santa will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Brunch is $39.95 for adults, $19.95 for kids 6-12, and free for kids 5 and younger. Reservations required.

<b>Ditka's:</b> 2000 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights, (847) 496-3800 or ditkasrestaurants.com. Bring your wish list as St. Nick will be on hand for Breakfast with Santa from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 8-9, at Ditka's in Arlington Heights. The brunch buffet will include carved ham, fried chicken tenders and waffles, hot “Iron Mike” pancakes, scrambled eggs, breakfast specialties, Christmas cookies and more. A photo with Santa is included in the price: $29.95 for adults, $19.95 for kids 4-12, and $10 for kids 3 and younger. Reservations are required.

<b>Egg'lectic Cafe:</b> 145 N. Hale St., Wheaton, (630) 690-9001, and 221 Town Square, Wheaton, (630) 260-9001, egglecticcafe.com. St. Nick will greet guests during Breakfast with Santa from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, at the Hale Street location. Santa will be on hand for breakfast from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 15, at the Town Square location. Call for reservations.

<b>Hilton Chicago/Oak Brook Hills Resort & Conference Center:</b> 3500 Midwest Road, Oak Brook, (630) 850-5555 or oakbrookhillsresortchicago.com. Kids will have plenty to keep them busy - including photo ops with Santa and his elves, cookie decorating and an arts and craft activity - during Breakfast with Santa, this year from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 2 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 9 and 16. Brunch includes a honey-glazed ham-carving station with pineapple and cranberry chutney, Cheez It hash browns, crème brûlée French toast with winter berries, Bavette Steak Benedict with bearnaise sauce, chicken coq au vin, butternut squash bisque, made-to-order omelets, a salad station, fresh fruit, holiday-themed desserts and a hot cocoa station with marshmallows, chocolate, sprinkles, whipped cream, caramel, cinnamon and peppermint. $47.95 for adults, $18.95 for kids 5-12 and free for kids younger than 5. Tickets include brunch, kids' activities, and tax and gratuity. Make reservations at eventbrite.com.

<b>Hilton Lisle/Naperville:</b> 3003 Corporate West Drive, Lisle, (630) 245-7600 or hilton.com. Meet the guy in the big red suit during Breakfast with Santa from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8. Fill up on items from the breakfast buffet, plus enjoy crafts, a magic show and photos with Santa. $24.35 for those 12 and older, $14.82 for kids 1-11, and free for infants younger than 1. Order tickets at eventbrite.com.

<b>Hilton Rosemont/Chicago O'Hare:</b> 5550 N. River Road, Rosemont, (847) 928-6949 or hilton.com. Kids can visit with Santa and take part in a cookie-decorating station, a coloring station and a craft station during Breakfast with Santa. Seatings are at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 15-16. Brunch features made-to-order omelets, croissants and pastries, pancakes, waffles, fruit, a hot chocolate station and more. Each child will receive a complimentary 4x6 photo with Santa. $39.95 adults, $19.95 kids 4-12 and free for kids 3 and younger. Order tickets at eventbrite.com. Reservations required.

<b>Hotel Arista:</b> 2139 City Gate Lane, Naperville, (630) 579-4100, hotelarista.com. Santa Claus will be heading to Hotel Arista for Breakfast with Santa Sunday, Dec. 16. Seatings are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Hotel Arista Grand Ballroom. Take photos with Santa, enjoy holiday activities with the elves and dine from a seasonal breakfast buffet. $49.95 for adults, $19.95 for kids 5-12, and free for kids 4 and younger. Make reservations at (630) 579-7827 or santa@hotelarista.com.

<b>Hotel Baker:</b> 100 W. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 584-2100 or hotelbaker.com/breakfast-with-santa-2018/. Have a holly, jolly time during Breakfast with Santa from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23. Fill up on specialties such as biscuits, sausage and gravy; ham, peppers and potato hash; scrambled eggs with chips and salsa; waffles; chocolate and butter croissants; pastries; fruits and berries; juices, coffee and more. $24 for adults, $19 for kids 3-13, and free for kids younger than 3. Reservations requested.

<b>Le Jardin:</b> Cantigny Golf, 27W270 Mack Road, Wheaton, (630) 260-8194 or cantignygolf.com/. Meet Mr. Claus at Le Jardin's Brunch with Santa from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (seatings at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.) Sundays, Dec. 2 and 16. Enjoy a special holiday buffet, photos with Santa, a balloon artist and face painters. It's $38, $33 for kids 4-12, $5 for kids 3 and younger. Or, if you're feeling a little grouchy, try Brunch with the Grinch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (seatings at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.) Saturdays, Dec. 8 and 15. Fill up from the buffet, watch a “Grinch” movie and take photos with the Grinch. Same prices apply. Make reservations online.

<b>Lucille Restaurant at Drury Lane:</b> 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 530-8300 or lucillerestaurant.com/holidays-and-special-events/santa-brunch. Nosh on specialties like homemade doughnuts, eggnog, hand-carved prime rib and other holiday dishes from the savory station (French toast, made-to-order crepes), carving station, made-to-order pasta station, seafood bar, omelet station, hot chocolate station, ice cream station, dessert table and Bloody Mary bar (extra charge) while catching up with St. Nick during Brunch with Santa. Reservations are available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23. Take photos in front of the 20-foot Christmas tree before seeing the musical “Disney's Beauty and the Beast” (tickets are not included in the brunch price). $55 for adults, $16 for kids 6-12, $10 for kids 3-5, and free for kids 2 and younger, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required.

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Maggiano's:</b> 1901 E. Woodfield Road, Schaumburg, (847) 240-1600 or maggianos.com/. It's a winter wonderland during Maggiano's Santa Breakfast. Decorate doughnuts, put together a bag of reindeer food, dine from a breakfast buffet and cocoa bar and write a wish list at the North Pole Post Office. The breakfast is from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, Sunday, Dec. 9, and Saturday, Dec. 15. It costs $30 for ages 2 and older and free for kids younger than 2. Get tickets at eventbrite.com/.

<b>Maggiano's:</b> 240 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 368-0314 or maggianos.com/. Forget brunch: How about Santa & Spaghetti instead? Maggiano's will be serving up a dinner buffet including Caesar salad, spaghetti and meatballs, ziti with butter, cookies, a Signature Candy Bar and more during three seatings (at 5, 6 and 7 p.m.) Monday, Dec. 10. Bring your camera to take photos with Santa. A cash bar will be available. Tickets are $25 for ages 2 and older, including tax and gratuity. Free for kids younger than 2. Buy tickets at eventbrite.com/.

<b>Magnolia Cafe & Bakery at Lambs Farm:</b> 14245 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville, (847) 362-5050 or lambsfarm.org/marquee-events/breakfast-with-santa/. Kids will enjoy visiting with St. Nick during Breakfast with Santa at 9, 10:30 and noon Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 8-9 and 15-16. Children can make a picture frame, decorate a gingerbread man, make sand art ornaments and take a picture with Santa. $17.95, $7.95 for kids younger than 2. Call for reservations, which are required.

<b>Mon Ami Gabi:</b> 260 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 472-1900 or monamigabi.com/events/brunch-with-santa/. Santa Claus is coming to brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 16. Santa will listen to last-minute requests and pass out treats to the kids. Nosh on a la carte dishes like waffles with Nutella, quiche Lorraine with bacon and cheese, duck confit with Brussels sprouts and more. Reservations required.

<b>Morton Arboretum:</b> 4100 Route 53, Lisle, (630) 725-2066 or mortonarb.org/events/supper-st-nick. Breakfast with Santa is already sold out, but there are spots available for Morton's Supper with St. Nick. Available dates include 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 20-21. The elegant family supper, which will be held in Thornhill Mansion, will include a dinner buffet and a visit with Santa. Buffet options will feature seasonal starters and salads and entrees like hand-carved prime rib, turkey and maple-glazed ham, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and stuffing. Finish with warm cookies and milk, cinnamon apple cobbler, bread pudding and more. Includes an open bar for those 21 and older. It's $90 for member and $95 for nonmember adults; $75 for member and $80 for nonmember teens 12-20; $60 for member and $65 for nonmember kids 3-12; and free for kids younger than 3. The fee includes admission to “Illumination.” Reservations required.

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Pheasant Run Resort:</b> 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 584-6300 or pheasantrun.com/. Families and friends can enjoy Breakfast with Santa in the New Orleans Ballroom from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 2, 9 and 16. Brunch features a carving station, breakfast favorites (corn flake-crusted French toast with maple syrup, red velvet waffles, breakfast potatoes, pastries, fresh fruit) and a made-to-order omelet station. Kids can decorate cookies and share their wish lists with Santa. After brunch, take a walk through Bourbon Street to see the Christmas Light Spectacular presented by iPANiC Escape Rooms. The buffet costs $24.95 for adults, $12.95 for kids 6-12, and free for kids 5 and younger. Reservations recommended.

<b>Pinstripes:</b> 7 Oakbrook Center Mall, Oak Brook, (630) 575-8700; 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington, (847) 844-9300; 1150 Willow Road, Northbrook, (847) 480-2323 or pinstripes.com/. Santa will be visiting suburban Pinstripes during brunch from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 2, 9, 16 and 23. He'll take photos with guests and listen to wish list requests. During the buffet, indulge in specialties from the waffle station, made-to-order omelet station, carving station, salads, homemade flatbreads, breakfast station (homemade biscuits and gravy, breakfast potatoes), chefs station (housemade meatballs, chicken Marsala), kids table and a sweets table. $35 for adults, $15 for kids 6-12, and free for kids 5 and younger. Drink specials include $4 mimosas and $7 Bloody Marys. Call for reservations.

<b>Rainforest Cafe:</b> 6170 W. Grand Ave., Gurnee, (847) 855-7800, and D121 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, (847) 619-1900, rainforestcafe.com. Get up early to bring the kids to see Santa and enjoy a breakfast buffet (carving station, waffles, omelets, French toast, hash browns, fruit, pastries and more) at the same time. The Gurnee event runs from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15. The Schaumburg breakfasts are from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 15-16 and 22-23. For the kids, there will be crafts, games, raffles, prizes and goody bags. Gurnee: $21.97 for 11 and older, $14.06 for kids 4-10, and free for kids 3 and younger. Schaumburg: $22.53 for 11 and older, $14.40 for kids 4-10, and free for kids 3 and younger. Tickets for Gurnee: eventbrite.com/ and Woodfield: eventbrite.com/. Reservations required.

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Saranello's:</b> 601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, (847) 777-6878 or saranellos.com/. Santa will be on hand to greet kids for brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday through Dec. 30. Indulge in the breakfast buffet featuring an egg and omelet station, waffles, pancakes, champagne, mimosas and more. It's $34.99 for adults and half price for kids younger than 12, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations required.

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Shaw's Schaumburg:</b> 1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-2722 or shawscrabhouse.com/events/brunch-with-santa-on-december-9th/. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, Santa will take photos and visit with families during brunch, which features breakfast items, shellfish and seafood stations and a sweets table. Don't miss the build-your-own hot chocolate bar, a perfect treat to enjoy with Christmas cookies. Brunch is $65 for adults, $15 for kids 7-12, and free for kids 6 and younger, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations recommended.

<b>Wheatstack:</b> 5900 S. Route 53, Lisle, (630) 968-1920, option 2, or wheatstacklisle.com/. Get in the holiday spirit at Wheatstack's Brunch with Santa. Seating begins at 9:30 a.m. Sundays, Dec. 2, 9 and 16, and at 10 a.m. and noon Dec. 23. Made-to-order omelets, French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, biscuits and sausage gravy, breakfast potatoes, lemon chicken, pasta, fruit, a chocolate fountain and more will be on the menu. Don't forget your camera. $21 for adults, $13 for kids 5-10, and free for kids 4 and younger. Reservations required.

<b>Woodfield Mall:</b> 5 Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, simon.com/mall/woodfield-mall. Join St. Nick at a free Breakfast with Santa from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 8, in the new Dining Pavilion at Woodfield. Enjoy a light breakfast, goody bags for kids, crafts and a visit with Santa. Advance reservations are required at eventbrite.com/e/breakfast-with-santa-tickets-52272096247.