[Update: This was first published March 26 and has been updated with more openings.]
SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Easter is two weeks away. Made plans yet to dine out?
Plenty of restaurants are open Sunday, April 9, offering brunch, lunch and dinner menus. Some have buffets as well.
READ MORE: Catch up on food news here
Below is a starter list, with many restaurants accepting reservations, most also take walk-ins. Here’s a look.
Want to add to the list? Contact info@portcitydaily.com.
Blue Surf Cafe
Arboretum West, 4 Marina St.,414 Arboretum Dr Suite 130
Racine Commons, 250 Racine Dr.
Located off Military Cutoff Road, Blue Surf’s Arboretum West will open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. for breakfast, lunch and dinner with Easter Specials running all day. Included for brunch will be pimento deviled eggs and heritage bacon for $13, as well as a baked ham amd cheddar fritata, sauteed wild mushrooms, roast tomato vinaigrette, and spring mix salad for $15.
Dinner with consist of grilled ham with hot honey, fingerling potatoes and creamed greens.
The more casual Blue Surf Cafe opens from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Racine Drive for breakfast and lunch, also featuring Easter specials.
See the menus here.
Bluewater
4 Marina St., Wrightsville Beach
A buffet will be set up for Easter brunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and cost $40 per person or $20 for children under 10. Honey-brown sugar ham, salmon, collards, mashed potatoes, frittata, bacon and sausage, French toast, assorted salads, breads and muffins, as well as cheesecakes are offered.
Bluewater is located along the Intracoastal Waterway and offers waterside dining. The dinner menu will be offered at 4 p.m. and Eric Metts will perform live music on the patio. More information is available here.
The Bridge Tender
1414 Airlie Rd. • (910) 256-4519 • thebridgetender.com
The restaurant located on the Intracoastal Waterway has become a staple in waterfront dining. Normally only open for dinner, on Easter they’re expanding hours from 11 am. t o 6 p.m.
The Bridge Tender is known for its seafood specialties, like horseradish-encrusted tuna, seared scallops and crab cakes. It also has fried oysters and shrimp, and steaks and burgers.
Reservations can be made here.
Brunches
Mayfaire: 6800 Parker Farm Dr., Unit #150; Randall: 3326 Jaeckle Dr., Unit #120; and Barclap at the Pointe: 2030 Stonecrop Dr., Suite 501 • mimosasmademedoit.com
Living up to its name, Brunches has become revered for the ultimate nosh between breakfast and lunch. With three locations, they offer bowls, burritos and omelets, multitudes of ways — garden, southwestern, seafood, steak. Classics like shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles are offered, as well signature items like hippie has or Nutella French toast.
Brunches also has a burger menu and mac-and-cheese bowls. Mimosa flights and flavored fromosas (yes, frozen mimosas) and fun alcoholic drink pouches (think adult Capri-Suns).
The menu can be accessed here.
Casey’s Buffet and BBQ
5559 Oleander Dr. • (910) 798-2913 • caseysbuffet.com
Casey’s Buffet will be open from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. serving all of its normal offerings: ham, pot roast, turkey and dressing, oxtail, baked chicken, BBQ, among others, baked, string and lima beans, turnip and collard greens, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, sweet potato soufflé, squash casserole, cornbread dressing, and not to mention lots of desserts, from banana pudding to cobblers.
A catering menu is also available for $9.99 a person for curbside pickup or drop-off. Folks can choose from a vast offering of country cookin’, as each plate comes with two meats, two vegetables or sides, plus bread.
Adding additional vegetables or sides is $1 more, while dessert is an additional 0.75 cents per order.
Casey’s also offers drop-off service for $20 extra, which includes the food being delivered in disposable aluminum platters 20 minutes ahead of any event. Casey’s will provide disposable serving products, tea (sweet or unsweetened), sauces, butters and condiments. Drop-off caterings must be booked 48 hours ahead to ensure availability.
Coquina Fishbar
890 Town Center Dr. • (910) 239-9029 • coquinafishbar.com
Located in Mayfaire Town Center, Coquina Fishbar will be open for brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Easter Sunday.
In addition to its full menu — po’boys, tacos, salads, fish entrees, pasta — there will be a brunch menu. Shrimp and grits, chef’s quiche, steak and eggs, devil crab Benedict or fried chicken waffle. There is also a kids menu and dessert.
Prices are $15 and up. Reservations can be made by calling (910) 239-9029.
Dram Yard
101 S. Second St. • (910) 782-2400
Brunches at Dram Yard, located downtown Wilmington on the campus of ARRIVE Hotels, bring worldly flair to run-of-the-mill breakfast.
It’s menu consists of a crunch wrap, featuring chorizo, cheddar Mornay, potatoes and poblano-avocado crema, catfish and grits in a pork stew, with prik nam pla, and duck leg hash.
It’s craft cocktail menu includes a tequila take on Orange Julius, as well as Verde Maria — a Bloody Mary made with tequila, tomatillos, cucumber, pineapple and lime.
Sangria and traditional Marys also offered.
See the full menu here. Dram Yard is open for brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
East Blockade Runner
275 Waynick Blvd. • (910) 344-2513 • blockade-runner.com
Also located along the Atlantic Ocean on Wrightsville Beach, Blockade Runner has a buffet ($85 ages 13 and up; $35 ages 4-plus, free for kids under 3) offered from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
More than 30 items will be featured on its many stations, including seafood, shrimp and grits, carving, desserts and sides. The full menu is available here.
There also will be an Easter egg hunt for the kiddos between noon and 2 p.m., plus there will be a visit from the Easter bunny.
Reservations are requested for parties of 10 or more by calling (844) 215-8227.
Eat at Nineteen
Olde Point Country Club, 513 Country Club Dr., Hampstead • (910) 406-1419 • oldepointgolf.com
Though located in a country club, Eat at Nineteen is always open to the public and will be serving brunch on April 9 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
A large menu includes build-your-own omelets, pancakes and Meyers rum French toast. Lunch items, such as a classic BLT or Caesar wrap, also makes an appearance, plus they offer a gluten-free menu. Prices range from $7 to $14.
Call (910) 406-1419 for more information.
Imaginary Cakes
5202 Carolina Beach Rd,. Unit 12 • (910) 795-0920 • imaginarycakes.com
One of Wilmington’s premier sweet spots has specialty Easter sweets available for pre-order. It’s offering six-pack bird’s nest cupcakes for $15 (chocolate or vanilla or half-and-half). decorated with vanilla buttercream, Cadbury robin’s eggs, and toasted coconut.
A 6-inch coconut cake with coconut cream mousse filling and coconut buttercream icing decorated with Cadbury robin’s eggs and toasted coconut is $40.
All orders must be placed by April 3, with pickup available April 7 or 8.
JohnnyLukes Kitchen and Bar
5500 Market St. • (910) 769-1798 • www.johnnylukeskb.com
Open until 3 p.m., the restaurant is accepting reservations and walk-ins.
French toast, egg Bennys, chicken and waffles and biscuits and gravy will be served, among other items. There is a kids menu.
Mimosas — doubles and loaded — and Bloody Marys offered, $7-$10.
Junction 421
5104 S. College Road • (910) 392-3490 • junction421.com
The Monkey Junction eatery will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Easter and has a special menu it’s serving all day. A handful of starters — crab dip, deviled eggs — are priced $6 and up, with entrees — leg of lamb, French toast, short ribs and grits — starting at $18. Dessert specials include strawberry shortcake, banana pudding and coconut cheesecake.
Reservations are suggested by calling 910-392-3490.
Kornerstone Bistro
8262 Market St. • (910) 686-2296 • kornerstonebistro.com
Wilmington’s Italian restaurant located in the northern part of the county will have a brunch buffet from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. on Easter Sunday.
A variety of items will be offered, including leg of lamb, ham, smoked salmon, and crispy potatoes. Breakfast items such as eggs Benedict, bacon, biscuits and sausage gravy, grits, plus desserts including cannolis, cookies, cakes and more.
It’s $34.95 for adults and $14.95 for kids 10 and under.
Reservations are encouraged: (910) 686-2296.
Oceanic
703 Lumina Ave. • (910) 256-5551 • oceanicrestaurant.com
To dine along the Atlantic, Oceanic will serve brunch from noon to 3 p.m. and will have live music on the pier.
Two specials include a prosciutto avocado toast ($17), featuring grilled sourdough, smashed avocado, hardboiled egg, shaved prosciutto, micro greens, cilantro lime vinaigrette, and lobster florentine benedict ($24) served with Maine lobster, spinach, bacon, mushroom, poached egg, English muffin, hollandaise, chives, and country potatoes.
The regular menu is also available. Call 910-256-5551 for reservations.
Origins
102 Autumn Hall Dr Unit 120 • (910) 769-0041
Located in Autumn Hall, Origins will have an Easter brunch menu, consisting of chicken and donuts, creme brulee French toast, steak and eggs, tostada, omelet and more.
The raw bar menu will be available as well. Prices are $17 and up.
The restaurant will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling 910-769-0041.
Purple Onion Cafe
4647 Main Street #1 • (910) 755-6071 • purpleonioncafe.com
Though not open on Easter, the Brunswick County cafe is offering takeout specials for families who want to dine at home without the hassle of cooking. The “Table of 8” option includes a 4-pound spiral-sliced ham or 1-pound pork loin, served with choice of four sides (mac and cheese, broccoli and cheese casserole, Brussels sprouts, country green beans, mashed potatoes, etc.), a dozen assorted roles and one whole cake for $160.
There are also a la carte items available for main courses, sides and desserts ranging from $8.95 to $48.95. See the full menu here; orders must be place by Wednesday, April 5 and picked up on Saturday, April 8 before noon.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
244 N. Front St. • (910) 343-1818
Downtown’s restaurant will be open all day serving its dinner menu; however, it also will have Easter brunch. Items featured include Benedicts — steak Oscar and crab cake — wild blueberry pancakes, Ruth’s chicken and biscuits and more.
There will also be drink specials, including bacon Bloody Marys, Ruth’s mimosa, black cherry Old Fashioned, sparkling sangria and more.
The restaurant opens at 11 a.m. See the menu here.
Savor Southern Kitchen
3704 Carolina Beach Rd. • 910-769-8112 • savorsouthernkitchen.com
Savor is open every Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The varied menu contains breakfast burritos, Benedicts, chicken and waffles, Monte Cristo, plus other breakfast sandwiches and platters.
There are gluten-free and vegan offerings as well, plus lunch items including salads and multiple handhelds, like burgers, turkey sammie and a reuben.
The full menu is available here.
The Second Glass
1540 S 2nd St., #110. • (910) 399-7486 • secondglasswinebar.com
Mimosa flights, mule kick, surf and turf Bloody Marys — and those are only the drinks offered at The Second Glass for brunch.
Open Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., South Front District’s The Second Glass turns up regular biscuits and gravy into gourmet delicacies, with the rich addition of duck fat and sausage gravy. Egg specialties, an omelette and Benedict, change weekly and for lunch lovers there’s a burger with pimento cheese and duck fat mayo and a fried local catch sandwich, with Brussels slaw.
Prices are $13 to $20. Reservations welcome here.
Steam
9 Estell Pl. • (910) 726-9226 • steamrestaurantilm.com
A menu of 15 or so items is separated by starters, entrees, desserts and a kids menu. House beignets and oysters on the half shell, as well as Belgian pecan waffles and a short-rib grilled cheese make an appearance. The kids can indulge in chocolate chip pancakes and more sweet treats include house ricotta cheesecake and triple mousse cake.
Prices are $9 and up, with bunch served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; reservations are accepted here.
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