Crumbs: All Brunch Edition!

Easter is right up there with Mother’s Day when it comes to brunches — it’s one of the busiest days of the year for establishments offering it, so it pays to plan ahead. If you haven’t made a brunch reservation yet, now’s the time. As in, as soon as you’ve finished reading this column, call and make a reservation at the restaurant of your choice. Seriously. Need some ideas? Here’s a rundown of some of the many brunch offerings around town. If you’ve got a taste for escargot, clams and mussels or steak frites in addition to the traditional omelet, there’s the French Café in the Old Market, whose weekly Sunday brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you’re downtown and feel like getting an early start, there’s Liberty Tavern, located inside the Hilton at 10th and Cass, as well as the mighty Dixie Quicks at 19th and Leavenworth, both of which begin serving at 9 a.m. on Sundays. Liberty Tavern charges a flat price ($18 for adults, $6.95 for kids 6-12 and those under five eat free), while Dixie Quicks is ala carte. For the uninitiated, Dixie Quicks’ web site (DixieQuicks.com) does have a menu listed, but those items change throughout the day so it’s best to go with an open mind. They also allow you to bring your own hooch, so if you’re planning on mimosas, be sure to bring your own champagne. You’ve got three brunch options in Midtown Crossing — Crave, Loft 610 and Cantina Laredo all offer brunches, and not just for Easter. You’ll get a complimentary Mimosa or Bloody Mary with brunch at Cantina Laredo or Crave, while Loft 610 offers bottomless mimosas and a Bloody Mary bar. Cantina Laredo and Loft 610 offer a la carte brunch items, while Crave patrons can graze at a 25-item buffet. Even dogs can get in on the Easter action at Midtown Crossing this weekend. The midtown development will host an Easter “Begg” Hunt (they said that, not me) on Saturday, April 23. Dogs will have the chance to scour the park for treat-filled “beggs” that contain dog treats and certificates for other prizes. The event starts at 11 a.m., but you should be there by 10:45 a.m. Registration is $5 per dog, and you can RSVP via Facebook. Further west, Dario’s Brasserie in Dundee hosts a weekly Sunday brunch, with croissants, crepes and Eggs Benedict in addition to its pitch-perfect Croque Monsieur and notorious Pommes Frites. Vegetarians and vegans will appreciate the voluminous offerings at McFoster’s Natural Kind Café at 38th and Farnam. The iconic vegetarian-friendly outpost boasts that 50 percent of the food served at their restaurant is organically grown, and their use of ingredients such as whole wheat tempura breading for onion rings, free-range chicken and organic eggs ensure you’re getting the healthiest, most preservative-free dishes they can offer. The lengthy menu (sometimes accompanied by lengthy waits) offers something for everyone, even if you’re not into patchouli. Even further west, Fleming’s steakhouse in Regency is offering a three-course prix fixe Easter Sunday brunch. For $32.95 per person, you’ll get an appetizer, choice of five entrees (including a mushroom, cheddar and filet mignon frittata and filet Benedict) and your choice of three different desserts. A Bellini will set you back another $6.95. If you find yourself on the north side of town, you may want to consider Tussey’s Casual Grill at 9229 Mormon Bridge Plaza. They’re offering an all-you-can-eat buffet that includes the standards as well as peel-and-eat shrimp and a dessert table for $14.99 for adults and $6.99 for kids ages 4-12 (3 and under are free) as well as five different mimosas for $2 a glass. These are by no means all of the buffet offerings — a simple web search will yield many more — but regardless of your choice, make sure you’ve made reservations well in advance and arrive on time. And if you can’t get in, well, there’s always the café at the closest Hy-Vee.