Dining out: Still time to make Easter reservations, new spring specials and more

Last-minute Easter ideas

It’s not too late to find reservations available for Easter, but it’s getting close. These restaurants had special offers or hours and available reservations as of early this week.

Eddie Merlot’s locations in Burr Ridge and Warrenville are hosting Easter brunch and dinner buffets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3-9 p.m., respectively. Most of the brunch reservations appeared to be booked, but there was good availability for dinner, which will offer five stations featuring salads, seafood, hot dishes, dessert, and a carving station with ham, prime rib, filet mignon, rack of lamb and more. The dinner buffet is $92 for adults and $30 for kids 10 and younger.

Labriola in Oak Brook will host an Easter brunch buffet from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with reservations available scattered throughout the day. The buffet will include carving and omelet stations, shrimp cocktail, salmon and Labriola favorites such as pizza, pasta and lemon chicken. It’s $59.95 for adults and $24.95 for kids. Add the bottomless bellini bar for $19.95. Plus, they’re expecting a visit from the Easter Bunny.

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille locations in Oak Brook, Schaumburg and Vernon Hills will open their doors early (11 a.m.) on Easter Sunday to welcome families for a full day of dining. The centerpiece of the holiday menu is the individual Easter ham meal ($49) featuring Perry’s sliced double-smoked, triple-glazed ham served with whipped potatoes and green bean almondine. It comes with the choice of Perry’s pear salad or carrot ginger soup. A similar kids’ Easter meal is $19.

Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood and Crab in Rosemont will be open on Easter Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. serving its full menu, including fresh Florida stone crab claws and New Zealand lamb. Celebrate the flavors of spring with the Yuzu Cool cocktail featuring tequila, yuzu, tart lemon and a touch of Aperol and the limited-time lemon-blueberry custard bread pudding for dessert.

The Graceful Ordinary in St. Charles still had reservations available in the early afternoon for their special family-style brunch, which runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (available reservations started at 2:30 p.m.) It’s $65 for adults and $25 for kids 3-12 and features a family-style first course and sides, along with entree choices that include steak and eggs, French toast, avocado toast, ricotta gnocchi, and lobster biscuits and gravy. The restaurant will be closed for dinner service.

Spring in your step

Staying in the Easter mode, sister restaurants STK Steakhouse and Kona Grill in Oak Brook are celebrating Easter and spring with special seasonal menus through May 10.

STK is serving up tropical cocktails such as spring fever and mint condition ($23), alongside elevated dishes including caviar deviled eggs ($19), braised lamb shank ($64), truffle prime rib ($69) and colossal lobster ($129).

Kona Grill is offering a guava sunset margarita and mango breeze ($16); deviled eggs with traditional, bacon or lobster toppings; Kona jambalaya ($9); and entrees such as Kona Loco ($29) and bacon wagyu meatloaf ($41).

Let’s go

A new Buffalo Wild Wings GO is slated to open in Lake Zurich at 840 W. State Route 22 on Thursday, April 2.

The designed-for-takeout concept emphasizes digital ordering and quick pickup while offering the brand’s most popular menu items, including traditional and boneless wings, chicken dippers, sandwiches, wraps and shareable sides with a selection of signature sauces and dry rubs.

If you’re reading this before the grand opening, the first 50 (18+) guests in line on April 2 will receive free wings for a year, while all opening-day guests will receive a voucher for $5 off any order of $25 or more.

Just Salad (but not just)

Fast-casual chain Just Salad recently opened a location in Northbrook at 3806 Willow Road.

Despite the name, Just Salad also offers wraps, “market plates” and bowls featuring a variety of warm proteins, rice and veggies. In addition to the food, they’re known for sustainable dining, including a reusable bowl program that rewards guests with a free topping for every reuse.

The location has grand opening celebrations scheduled, including a giveback day on Wednesday, April 8, when they’ll donate $1 from every in-store purchase to the Glenview Park Foundation. On April 9-11, the restaurant is offering its salads, wraps, warm bowls or market plates for $5.

Sustainable dining

Burl in Evanston is teaming up with Chicago fishmonger The Fish Guy for a four-course dinner on April 16 themed “Closed Circuit,” highlighting sustainability in restaurants.

The $125-per-person dinner, starting and ending with fish eggs, aims to show how nothing in nature is ever wasted as both chef and fishmonger try to honor the environment by promoting low food waste.

The night also will include a speech from Midland Co., an Iowa-based shrimp farm making advancements in water waste innovation for seafood farmers.

• Email dining events to rwest@dailyherald.com.