Holidays are a time to gather around the dining table and share a meal with loved ones — but for many, it can be incredibly stressful, slaving away in the kitchen and missing out on time with friends and family.
Easter Sunday is no different — so chef and recipe developer Melanie Portman spoke to Eat This, Not That to share her top recommendations for restaurant-chains across the country that are offering festive menus and crowd-favorite dishes guaranteed to remove the stress of cooking over the Easter weekend.
For those wanting to dine out on Easter Sunday, Chef Melanie’s top pick is Bonefish Grill — a relaxed, upscale vibe restaurant-chain with over 150 locations throughout the U.S.
“This is my pick for families who want Easter to feel like an occasion without the white-tablecloth price tag,” the chef says. “Bonefish opens an hour early on Easter Sunday at 10 a.m. for brunch service, and the menu is a step up from what most chains offer.”
Chef Melanie top menu recommendation? Bonefish’s ‘Bang Bang Shrimp Eggs Benedict’, which she says is worth the trip alone – but their brunch-staples, which all come with bacon and breakfast potatoes, are well worth the value too.
Another great dine-in option she recommends for those wanting to ditch cooking altogether over the holiday weekend is The Cheesecake Factory.
Despite already having a never-ending menu featuring over 250 items, The Cheesecake Factory added 20 new menu items just in time for Easter — making it a fail-proof option for the whole family.
“The Cheesecake Factory on Easter is almost unfairly convenient because the menu is so massive that literally everyone at the table will find something they love,” says Chef Melanie.
Sunday brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Chef Melanie said to make a simple brunch more of a special event for the holiday weekend, diners should finish off their meal with a slice of their beloved, famous cheesecake.
Feeding a large group of people can be difficult at the best of times, so the dine-in buffet and meals-to-go options at the Golden Corral the way to go if you’re celebrating Easter with lots of family and friends.
With over 350 locations across 39 states, Chef Melanie says the Golden Corral is great “if you’re feeding a big family with picky eaters of all ages.”
“The buffet eliminates the stress of picking one restaurant that works for everyone — grandma wants carved glazed ham from the carving station, the kids want mac and cheese, your brother-in-law wants prime rib, and everybody’s happy.”
Another chain recommended by the chef with dine-in and to-go options that features a wide assortment of choices for Easter is Cracker Barrel — in spite of the controversy the chain faced earlier this year over its logo fiasco.
“Cracker Barrel on Easter just makes sense,” Chef Melanie said, highlighting their Easter menu featuring seasonal specials on top of their staple items such as country ham, biscuits and fried apples.
But if you want to stay in, Chef Melanie says their Heat n’Serve options are top tier. The meals start at less than $100 each, can feed up to 10 people and are ready to serve in under three hours.
Another great option offering full meals-to-go is Bob Evans — with their Easter classics such hickory-smoked ham, roasted turkey or beef pot-roast.
“Bob Evans is the underrated Easter pick, especially for families who lean toward homestyle comfort food,” says Chef Melanie. “Their dine-in menu hits all the right notes…but where they really shine is the Farmhouse Feast: a full take-home Easter dinner starting at $89.99 for up to 8 people.”
To round out Chef Melanie’s top-picks, Italian-chain Bucca di Peppo is an option the chef can’t recommend enough — and is conveniently open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. over the Easter weekend with a limited-time spring menu.
“Buca di Beppo is the kind of Easter restaurant my family would have chosen — loud, generous, and built around the table,” Chef Melanie says. “The family-style portions mean nobody’s waiting for a plate to arrive; everything comes to the center, and you pass it around, which is exactly how a holiday meal should work.”
Whether you celebrate Easter quietly at home or venture out to a restaurant with loved ones, Chef Melanie’s Easter weekend chain restaurant picks are sure to satisfy everyone at the table this weekend — all while taking out the burden of cooking over the festive holiday.
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