Spots for Your Easter Breadbasket : Dining: Many Orange County restaurants will have special brunches for the holiday and even go as far as setting up petting zoos and egg hunts.

Blessings, bunnies, baskets, bonnets, brunch . On Easter, for many people, dining out has become a part of the celebration; many restaurants in Orange County expect sellouts on Sunday, so you better make reservations. Here are a few spots to consider:

* The Hyatt Regency Irvine will set up a petting zoo in the lobby from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and there will be an Easter egg hunt for a golden egg worth a “great prize,” and the Easter Bunny and Big Bird will be there, too. Le Cafe’s buffet brunch, served from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will cost $26.95 for adults, $9.95 for children under 12. There is no charge for kids under than 3 feet tall. The menu includes salads, pates, sushi and shellfish. There will also be an omelet station, a caviar table, waffles and pasta made to order and a carving station for ham, leg of lamb and turkey. Champagne is included. The restaurant will also have an Easter sunset dinner buffet from 6 to 9 p.m. That one’s $16.95 for adults, $7.95 for children under 12 and, again, it’s free for those under 3 feet. (714) 863-3111.

* Le Meridien Hotel in Newport Beach dedicates Easter in Cafe Fleuri to the children, with holiday performances by the Jim Gamble marionettes at 11:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. and a visit from the Easter Bunny, who will pose for pictures with kids all morning. The restaurant’s traditional Sunday brunch will be augmented by a special children’s buffet with hamburgers, french fries, assorted chocolates, desserts and “Easter surprises.” The regular buffet includes seafood, salads and pates, steamship of beef and roasted baby lamb with thyme and garlic sauce. 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., $32 for adults, $16 for children 6 to 12 and free for children under 5. Le Meridien’s restaurant Antoine will offer a three-course menu from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Entrees vary from noisette of lamb in a fresh herb crust with Parisienne pancake to sauteed sea bass with a red beet vinaigrette and potatoes mousseline. Souvenir photos will be taken at every table, and a harpist will perform. $42 for adults; $20 for children 6 to 12. Le Meridien will also prepare Easter baskets to go ($45 each). 4500 MacArthur Blvd. (714) 476-2001.

* Easter champagne brunch in the ballroom of the Irvine Marriott will include a carving station, an omelet bar, duckling, mahi-mahi, pork loin, a shrimp bar and dessert assortment. Champagne by the glass and orange juice will be included, and there will be a petting zoo. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. $22 for adults; $20 for senior citizens; $15 for children under 12 (prices include tax and tip). (714) 553-0100, Ext. 6684.

* At the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, the focal point will be an 8-foot-tall Easter egg created by David Fielding, a graduate of the Pasadena School of Art. For the Sunday brunch, executive chef Christian Rassinoux and his team will create an abundant buffet of fresh salads, pates, terrines, smoked fish, domestic caviar, hot entrees and breakfast baked goods (look for an elaborate French pastry display). Brunch will be served in the ballroom from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for $38.50 per person and $19.50 per child (6 to 12). The hotel offers children’s Easter packages: $40 per child includes the Sunday brunch, an egg coloring party, a puppet show, a movie, an Easter egg hunt and a petting zoo with baby bunnies, chicks and ducklings. (714) 240-5008.

* At the Disneyland Hotel the Grand Ballroom hosts Roger Rabbit’s Easter Brunch and an Easter Egg Scramble for youngsters. The brunch, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., features an all-you-can-eat buffet with steamship round of beef, glazed ham and seafood, freshly made waffles and omelets, salads and an array of desserts and decorated Easter eggs. The Scramble, an egg hunt for children up to 12 years old, will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. $27 for adults and $11 for children 12 years and under. The hotel offers a package that includes the brunch, Egg Scramble and a Disneyland Passport for $46.50 for adults and $30.50 for children 12 years and under. Disneyland will be open from 9 a.m. to midnight on Easter. (714) 956-6709.

* Limited bluff-top seating will be available for two Easter buffets at Watercolors Restaurant in the Dana Point Resort. A brunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will feature made-to-order omelets, Belgian waffles and a fresh-pasta station. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Easter buffet will include a leg-of-lamb carving station, roulade of beef tenderloin with basil and Dijon mustard and roast salmon with scallop and herbal crust. Champagne will be served throughout the day. Either buffet is $32 for adults and $16 for children under 12. The resort also offers a three-night weekend getaway (Friday to Sunday) for $159 per person, double occupancy, with Camp Cowabunga and Easter egg hunting with the Easter Bunny for the kids. 25135 Park Lantern. (714) 661-5000.

* For brunch on the bay, John Dominis will offer a buffet from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The sushi chef will stand ready to prepare shrimp, salmon and more, while other offerings range from waffles, eggs Benedict and baron of beef to made-to-order shrimp scampi and omelets, salads, peel-and-eat shrimp and fresh oysters on the half shell. Desserts will be fresh pastries, fruit and Belgian chocolate for dipping. $21.95 per person with champagne; $18.95 without. 2901 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach. Reservations: (714) 650-5112.

* In Santa Ana, Armonia will open early, at 3 p.m. The holiday soup will be minestrone Gustoso, and entrees will include lamb filet in port wine sauce, accompanied by roasted potatoes and fresh asparagus; fresh salmon with dill sauce and fresh pasta Alfredo, and chicken breast with cognac sauce served with pasta and fresh tomatoes. The special Easter appetizer will be homemade puff pastry with breast of chicken, fresh spinach and mushrooms in a light cream sauce, and there will be a dessert assortment of Italian pastries. $15.95 to $23.95. 3314 S. Bristol. (714) 957-6909.

* In Brea, the Cat & the Custard Cup will offer brunch for the first time this Easter. Served from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., the meal will include eggs Benedict with Black Forest ham and orange hollandaise, prime rib, chicken crepes Veronique, cold poached salmon with fresh dill and sauteed halibut with scallops. Prices range from $9 to $13. 800 E. Whittier Ave. (714) 694-3812.

* A coloring contest will keep kids busy at Tony Roma’s in Newport Beach, and the young artistes can win free dinners. The restaurant will serve from its regular menu from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; dinners, including baby back ribs, starting at under $10. 2530 W. Coast Highway. (714) 642-9070.