HOLIDAY DINING : More Than Eggs Being Offered on Restaurants’ Easter Menus

Among the many Easter traditions that some Orange County residents will observe this weekend is one that might truly be considered non-sectarian: brunch or dinner out. If you’re planning to visit a restaurant Sunday, here are a few of the more unusual options available:

The Easter Extravaganza at the Hyatt Regency Irvine will focus on the kids, featuring a petting zoo (including a pig, a goat, bunnies and chicks), costumed characters, video games and a movie theater with popcorn and soda pop. The hotel will also stage three Easter egg hunts (11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m.), with golden eggs awarding weekends at Hyatts in Irvine and La Jolla. Buffets will be offered in the Atrium, Morell’s and Le Cafe; diners are eligible for drawings giving away brunches, weekends and dinners. The prices are $26.95 for adults, $11.95 for children ages 4 to 10 and free for anyone under three feet tall. 17900 Jamboree Road. Reservations: (714) 975-1234, Ext. 2103.

The Easter Bunny will pose for free souvenir photos with young guests at Cafe Fleuri in Le Meridien Hotel, Newport Beach. Children’s entertainment will include the Jim Gable marionettes, doing half-hour performances at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the hotel Garden Gazebo. In addition to the traditional Easter buffet, there will be a special children’s buffet that will feature hamburgers, french fries and other items. The Cafe Fleuri brunch, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., is $32 per person, $12 for ages 6 to 12 (plus tax and tip), and free for ages 5 and under. A buffet of classic French favorites will be served at Antoine from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s $36 per adult, $14 for children 6 to 12 (plus tax and tip). Reservations: (714) 476-2001. 4500 MacArthur Blvd.

The Irvine Marriott Easter petting zoo will include bunnies, chicks and ducks. It will accompany a champagne buffet brunch in the Grand Ballroom priced at $23 for adults, $20 for senior citizens, $15 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for under 3 (tax and tip included). Service will be from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with seatings at 10:30 and 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. Reservations: (714) 553-0100, Ext. 6684. 18000 Von Karman Ave.

The Disneyland Hotel promises an “Eggstravaganza” with Roger Rabbit as host for an Easter brunch and egg scramble (that’s a hunt, folks, for kids up to 12 years old), plus visits by Mr. and Mrs. Easter Bunny and Thumper of “Bambi” fame. The hotel Grand Ballroom will be the site for an elaborate buffet brunch from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The cost: $32.50 for adults, $12.50 for ages 4 to 12, $3 for ages 3 and under. Hotel parking is included, but tax and gratuity are not. Reservations: (714) 956-6413. 1150 W. Cerritos Ave., Anaheim.

For surf-view dining at the Surf & Sand Hotel, diners can choose between the sophisticated rooftop Towers’ three-course prix fixe champagne brunch and the more casual beachside Splashes’ a la carte brunch. At Towers, where entree choices (from noon to 8 p.m.) will include roast leg of lamb with thyme sauce and seared salmon with tarragon sauce, the tab is $35 per person, $18 for children less than 12 years. Splashes’ Mediterranean entrees will range from $8 to $13, available from noon to 4:30 p.m. 1555 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach; (714) 497-4477.

Easter eggs will be nestled all around the grounds at the Hyatt Newporter for kids to find in hunts at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The Easter Bunny will be on hand, and magicians and strolling musicians will perform during the buffet brunch, which will feature ham and prime rib. In addition, Camp Hyatt will be open for the kids, offering activities such as egg coloring, and there will be baby chicks and bunnies to pet. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The prices are $28.95 per adult, $11.95 for children 12 and under, free for ages 3 and under. 1107 Jamboree Road. For reservations, call (714) 729-1234, Ext. 582.

A barbershop quartet will perform from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. during brunch at Mr. Stox in Anaheim. The buffet will include fruits, cheeses, tortes and terrines, assorted seafood, salads and several entrees. The cost is $19.95 for adults, $10.95 for children under 12, with service from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1105 E. Katella Ave. (714) 634-2994.

The 18 acres of gardens at the Ritz-Carlton will be enhanced by a children’s petting zoo, spring blossoms and three eight-foot-tall Easter eggs. The hotel began collecting the giant decorated eggs two years ago. This year’s addition, created by Al Levigne, assistant manager of the hotel, is in the Faberge tradition, a shimmering royal blue, with gold-encrusted Ritz-Carlton lion and 62 giant synthetic rubies. The hotel will present an Easter buffet brunch in the Terrace restaurant from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and in the Ballroom from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. It’s $38.50 for adults and $19.50 for ages 6 to 12. Reservations: (724) 240-5008. 33533 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point.

The Easter bunny will hop into the California Market Place just outside Knott’s Berry Farm, where the Garden Terrace Cafe will serve a Greek buffet brunch with such traditional dishes as tzatziki, keftethes, moussaka and baklava. Available from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m., it’s $11.95 for adults, $9.95 for seniors, $5.95 for children 9 and under. Meanwhile, Knott’s Family Restaurant will prepare a traditional ham dinner for $8.95--or, for the same price, prime rib, broiled halibut or top sirloin steak--from noon to 9 p.m. Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant has scheduled a sunrise breakfast, with seven special holiday selections priced below $6.50. Come between 7 and 11 a.m. Or, if you’d rather wait for the famous chicken dinner ($9.75 including dessert and beverage), come between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. Advance reservations taken for the Garden Terrace Cafe and Knott’s Family Restaurant only. (714) 220-5055. 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park.

If you’d prefer to dine at home, the Clay Oven in Irvine will prepare an entire meal--featuring a whole tandoori leg of lamb with gravy, rice, vegetables, Indian breads and chutney--serving six to eight people at a cost of $95. Orders must be placed by 10 p.m. Thursday for pickup Saturday or Sunday between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The restaurant will also serve tandoori lamb as part of its $10.95 Easter champagne buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 15435 Jeffrey Road. (714) 552-2851.

And here’s another dinner-to-go offering: Bistro 201 will prepare a feast for up to 14 people, featuring a choice of herb-encrusted prime rib, applewood smoked ham or leg of lamb with rosemary pesto filling, plus herbed bread, vegetables, relishes, and peach cobbler. The meal costs $175 and must be ordered by 5 p.m. Friday and picked up by 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Delivery is also available for $15. If you’d prefer to dine in the restaurant, a three-course order-from-the-menu champagne brunch is $19.95 per person, with a child’s menu for $7.95, served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A three-course Easter dinner, served from 4 to 9 p.m., is $24.95. The restaurant is at 18201 Von Karman Ave., Irvine. (714) 553-9201.

The Dana Point Resort will set up a studio for family portraits on Easter. Matted photographs are $15 and will be delivered to the resort within two hours after your sitting. That gives you time for a champagne buffet brunch at Watercolors Restaurant, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. ($32 for adults, $16 for children under 12), or in the Grand Ballroom between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. ($28 for adults, $14 for children). Watercolors buffet reservations: (714) 661-5000, Ext. 57. Guest room and Grand Ballroom buffet reservations: (800) 533-9748 or (714) 661-5000, Ext. 51. 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point.

Gustaf Anders’ Christmastime smorgasbord of Scandinavian specialties proved so popular that it will be offered for Easter as well. The buffet will include lamb in sweet-and-sour dill sauce, a variety of herrings, whole poached salmon, gravad lax, crab salad, and an array of desserts. It is priced at $27 per person and is available from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations: (714) 668-1737. The restaurant is in South Coast Plaza Village.

The new French-contemporary restaurant, Le Gourmet Bistro, will serve a four-course sit-down Easter dinner, priced at $10.95 for adults and $5.95 for children under 10 (tax and gratuity not included). Entree choices: roast pork with citrus sauce, chicken in lime and ginger sauce, sea bass with red bell pepper sauce, and rib-eye steak with shallot sauce. Noon to 8 p.m. in the Food Park at 17917 MacArthur Blvd., Irvine. (714) 851-9694.

You can take time out for a traditional Easter bread with perhaps a tall caffe latte on Easter morning or during the afternoon, at Il Fornaio’s retail bakery, Un Poco di Tutti. They’re baking plump hot cross buns (Panini della Quaresima) with raisins and candied orange peel, for 95 cents each. Or take home some Columba Pasquale, a large, dove-shaped loaf, with candied orange, lemon peel and almonds for $10.75. Bakery hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday; 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 18051 Von Karman Ave., Irvine. (714) 261-1444.

At Louise’s Trattoria in Huntington Beach, the Easter bunny will pass out eggs for the children (with a surprise, such as free dessert or dinner for two, inside some). And for adults there will be a drawing for an Easter basket of goodies. The restaurant will serve a sit-down brunch from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ($5.95 to $10.95, including champagne). A special Easter dinner menu will be available, in addition to the regular Italian specialties, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. ($6.95 to $12.95). 300 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 202, Huntington Beach. (714) 960-0996.

Among the other restaurants offering Easter buffet brunches:

Ellis Island, with an international buffet (including Portuguese, Spanish and Italian fare--and champagne), for $13.95. 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 353 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Newport Beach. (714) 673-7800.

Bayou St. John, champagne buffet of Creole/Cajun fare. $9.95 for adults, $6.95 for children 10 and under. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 320 Main St., Seal Beach. (310) 431-2298.

Costa Mesa Marriott Suites: Windows restaurant, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. $7.95 per person. (714) 957-1100. 500 Anton Blvd.

Doubletree Hotel: Dover’s, Napa and the Patio area, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. $19.95 for adults, including champagne; $8.50 for children, ages 3 to 10. 100 The City Drive, Orange. (714) 634- 4500, Ext. 53.

John Dominis, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. $22.95 per person with champagne, $18.95 without. Also, regular dinner menu, 5:30 to 10 p.m. (714) 650-5112. 2901 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach. (714) 650-5112.

Gandhi Indian Cuisine, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. $10.95 per adult, $5.95 for children under 10. 1621 Sunflower Ave., South Coast Plaza Village, Santa Ana. (714) 556-7273.

Prego Ristorante, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. $19.95 for adults, $10.95 for children under 12. 18420 Von Karman Ave., Irvine. (714) 533-1333.

Anaheim Marriott La Plaza Restaurant, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last seating, 3:30 p.m.). $19.95 per adult, $14.95 for seniors, $8.95 for children under 12. (714) 750-8000, Ext. 5210. (Ext. 117 after 5 p.m.) 700 W. Convention Way.