On the hunt for great Easter meals in Sonoma

Valley restaurants will be hopping with options this April 1|

Often Easter weather allows for outdoor exploring, hiking, planting and sitting. As of this writing, Sonoma is supposed to have sun and a high of 59 degrees on April 1. Not exactly beach weather, unless that’s what you like. Maybe even a trip to church and a special meal at home? A gift of a happy perennial plant to put in the ground on Sunday to remind us of someone?

But if you want to go out for that special meal, here are some opportunities around Sonoma Valley:

Depot Hotel Restaurant

Offers a special Easter Brunch of glass of champagne, mimosa or orange juice on arrival. First course choices include spring berries and Bellwether Farms Jersey cow ricotta or Belgian endive and watercress salad. Second course choices: boneless beef short rib hash, Dungeness crab cannelloni, poached filet of salmon, smoked ham or zucchini lasagna. Tiramisu, cheesecake, Limoncello cake and Torta Ghilarducci top desserts. $45 adults and teens, $22 age 5 to 12. 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Regular dinner menu from 5 p.m. 241 First St. W., Sonoma 938-2980.

El Dorado Kitchen

Choices among Easter brunch menu range from asparagus salad with Scotch egg, yogurt parfait, and Yukon Gold potato pancakes to Dungeness crab cake eggs Benedict, brioche French toast, mole hash, salmon, omelets, short ribs, and mushroom risotto with peas, asparagus and mushrooms. Desserts include tres leches cake and coconut tapioca. $59 adults, $25 kids 10 and under. 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. 405 First St., W. Sonoma. 996-3030.

Ramekins Culinary Center

Ramekins presents a buffet of several “stations” where you can select or order various foods, such as omelet, waffle and carving stations, farm-to-table, and pastries and sweets. You might enjoy Snake River pork round, prime rib, Panzanella (bread) salad with asparagus, shaved Easter egg radishes, and wild arugula, mini bagels and lox, poached eggs with biscuits and gravy, fresh fruit and potatoes, bacon, sausage and petite quiches, pain au chocolat, butterscotch budino and Peeps s’mores. Easter egg cookie decorating. Wine and cocktails available. $65, adults, $25 children, free for age 5 and under. Seatings at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. 450 W. Napa St. 933-0450.

Saddles Steakhouse

Lots of buffet choices that include fruits, Sonoma County cheeses, smoked salmon and prosciutto, King crab, jumbo prawns, kale and other salads, Kurobuta ham, prime rib, plum-glazed Rocky chicken breasts with pineapple, crêpes, cheesy grits, Alfredo pasta, Aidells chicken apple sausage, eggs Benedict and loads of desserts such as butterscotch pot de crème, passion fruit panna cotta, crème brûlée, chocolate raspberry ganache tarts, orange sponge cake, homemade marshmallows, madeleines, and sugar cookie bunnies. $80 adults, $40 children 12 and under. 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. 29 E. MacArthur, Sonoma. 933-3191.

Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

Enjoy the buffet, live entertainment and buffet with omelet and carving stations, and shellfish and dessert presentations. Easter egg hunts at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for customers on resort lawns. Wide array of appetizers such as deviled eggs, pimento cheese, tea sandwiches, ham and cheddar biscuits, local and imported artisan cheeses; salads of crab cole slaw, beet, fruit and Caesar salads. Chefs serve at chilled seafood, oyster and caviar stations of Niman Ranch filet mignon and leg of lamb, English pea risotto, frittatas, eggs Benedicts, smoked bacon and Irish bangers, vegetables, and local breads. Delectable dessert buffet. $105 general; $52.50 ages 5 to 12, free age 4 and under. Reserve at 939-2407.

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