SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — Easter is Sunday, Apr. 4, and as we approach the quintessential springtime holiday that mandates the annual gorging of Cadbury eggs and neon-colored Peeps, it also means deciding how to plan the Easter feast.
Going traditionally Southern with baked ham and potato salad?
Or feeling a little more Italian with lamb?
Don’t want to cook at all?
No problem. We have you covered.
Port City Daily reached out to area restaurants for their menus to help make Sunday less about sweating over a hot stove and more about spending quality time with family and friends.
Here’s a rundown of some local offerings.
Casey’s Buffet and BBQ
5559 Oleander Dr. • (910) 798-2913 • caseysbuffet.com
Casey’s Buffet will be open Sunday, Apr. 4, from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. The buffet will be dressed with 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
Bluewater Waterfront Grill
4 Marina St. • (910) 256-8500 • bluewaterdining.com
Bluewater is doing Easter brunch on the Intracoastal Waterway, starting at 10 a.m., for folks who choose al fresco dining. Areas inside will also be open.
There will be traditional brunch offerings, like huevos rancheros and steak and eggs, as well as seafood fare, like smoked salmon bagel sandwich and jumbo crab cakes. Plus, special Easter items will be created from executive chef Jeff Scott and the culinary team.
Mimosas, Bloody Mary’s and springtime cocktails will be available as well. Live music from Currie Clayton will begin on the patio after brunch, beginning at 4 p.m.
East Oceanfront
275 Waynick Blvd. • (877) 684-8009 • blockade-runner.com/dining-br/
EAST Oceanfront at Blockade Runner will be open for Easter, offering a a three-course prix-fixe meal for $57.15 per adult (13+), $25.40 per child (ages 4-12), and free for children under 3.
There will be an Easter egg hunt at 1:30 p.m. on the beachfront’s lawn and gardens.
The full menu includes a starter (like deviled ham dip or shrimp cocktail), an entrée (such as fish and grits or porchetta), and dessert (including carrot cake or strawberry shortcake). The full menu can be viewed here; reservations must be made for parties larger than six.
Junction 421
5104 S. College Rd. • (910) 392-3490 • junction421.com
Junction 421 will be up and running for Easter brunch, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., and at dinner, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Brunch will include shrimp and grits ($19), crab Benedict ($18), bananas foster French toast ($16), short-rib quesadilla ($17), omelets ($15-$17) and more.
Dinner will include their normal menu, like fish and chips ($18), cordon bleu ($19), bacon-wrapped meatloaf ($17), flatbreads ($13 and up), burgers and sandwiches, salads and more.
Michael’s Seafood
1206 N. Lake Park Blvd. • (910) 458-7761 • mikescfood.com
Michael’s Seafood will be open Sunday, Apr. 4, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. and will be offering a special Easter menu.
Starters include Michael’s famed seafood chowder or She Crab soup ($6-$15), as well as deviled eggs ($3). Entrées will consist of honey-glazed ham ($13), lollipop lamb chops ($17), seafood lasagna ($19), and chicken and waffles ($12).
Some entrées include sides — coleslaw, garlic mash, house cornbread, corn on the cob, rice pilaf, vegetables, potato chips, tater tots. Premium sides, like mushroom risotto or Brussels with bacon, are offered for a $2 upcharge.
Dessert will be available for $7 each: chocolate cake, Key lime pie, coconut layer cake, strawberry shortcake, carrot cake.
The full menu can be found here; Michael’s also will be offering its regular menu. Customers are welcome to order dine-in, takeout, curbside pickup, or even pre-order.
Oceanic
703 S. Lumina Ave. • (910) 256-5551 • oceanicrestaurant.com
Folks can enjoy brunch on Crystal Pier overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The Oceanis will be open from 10 a.m to 10 p.m., serving brunch until 4 p.m. and offering live music starting at noon.
Brunch will feature a seafood and vegetable fritatta ($17) and pan-roasted NC black bass over risotto gratin ($32). There also will be appetizers, salads, handhelds, and entrées, including Calabash seafood platters.
Pine Valley Market
3520 S. College Rd. • (910) 350-3663 • pinevalleymarket.com
Pine Valley Market is offering family meals for four to six people, but they must be ordered by Thursday, Apr. 1, to be picked up Saturday, Apr. 3.
They’re offering a glazed ham, hashbrown casserole, broccoli and carrots with garlic-herb butter, and rolls for only $50.
The market also offers a stocked deli case, plus heat-and-eat meals, including crab cakes, chicken fried rice, turkey and dressing casserole, meatloaf, pasta dishes and lots of sides (collards, twice-baked potatoes).
As well desserts, like pound cakes and cookies, and baked goods, like Fred’s breads, are available for purchase, as are retail items, like wine and Bloody Mary kits.
Go here to peruse the menu.
Savor Southern Kitchen
3704 Carolina Beach Rd. • 910-262-2962 • savorsouthernkitchen.com
Easter is hopping at Savor Kitchen, from holiday-fun red velveteen doughnuts to a NC Cottontail Bowl (cauliflower rice, topped with Brussels and mushrooms, red pepper, onions and heirloom tomatoes).
Brunch will consist of three-egg omelets or eggs Benedict, chicken and waffles or steak and eggs, or for the really naughty: eggs in purgatory (three poached eggs in a pepper and tomato sauce, with feta, spinach, micro greens and ciabatta for dipping). Lamb lollipops and glazed ham make an appearance on the menu too.
Prices are $9.5 and up, and the restaurant will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are not accepted, but folks can call ahead to be put their name the list: 910-769-8112.
The full menu with pricing can be found here.
Spoonfed Kitchen
1930 Eastwood Rd., #105 • (910) 679-8881 • spoonfedkitchen.com
Spoonfed has Easter brunch covered, but orders must be in by Wednesday, Mar. 31 to be picked up by Apr. 3.
The restaurant and bakery is offering brunch items to-go, including French toast bread pudding for up to 10 ($55), baked goods, including muffins, cakes, scones and biscuits ($2 and up), as well as cookies and bars, like coconut macaroon nests, whoopie pies and sugar-cookie cutouts ($2 and up).
Its also serving up salads and sides, including fresh fruit, asparagus with citrus cream, deviled egg salad, mac and cheese and other items ($5 and up).
Whole pies (chocolate, Key lime, cherry-rhubarb) and cakes (hummingward coconut cream, strawberry with lemon curd) and individual tarts are up for grabs.
View the full menu here.
Want to be added to the Easter list? Email shea@localdailymedia.com
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