While it's true that for many of us, Easter dining can mean chocolate rabbits and dyed eggs and way too many jelly beans, it's also true that it's an excellent day for making a fine brunch or dinner, maybe pulling out the stops for gravlax, a fruit-covered Pavlova, or even a roasted leg of lamb.

But it can also be a very good day to dine out, as many excellent restaurants will be pulling out all the stops too, and for both brunch and dinner. So if you don't feel like cooking, head over to The Hungry Cat for a lobster and English pea frittata, or to Willie Jane for smoked lamb leg with mustard spatzle. Or get the best of both worlds and order Petrossian's soft scrambled eggs with vodka whipped cream and caviar in dyed egg shells. You can always eat the jelly beans when you get home. Here are 18 local restaurants cooking Easter special meals. 
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A.O.C.
On Easter Sunday, the folks at A.O.C. will be serving à la carte items including vanilla bean French toast with hazelnut, bourbon, brown-butter and apples; A.O.C. brioche, melted Gruyère, frisée, prosciutto and sunny-side up egg; and Spanish fried chicken and cornmeal waffles with jamon butter and maple syrup. Large platters include grilled pork tenderloin with root vegetables and rapini pesto, or rack of lamb with fava puree, spring onions, pea tendrils and scallion oil. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. 8700 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles; (310) 859-9859.

Café del Rey
Café del Rey offers an Easter brunch overlooking the Marina. Along with sparkling wine and cider, mimosas, and bloody Marys, the Easter menu highlights Mediterranean dishes such as grilled asparagus salad with wild mushrooms, fried egg, shaved Parmesan and black truffle vinaigrette; crab cake sandwich served on an English muffin with arugula, shaved fennel, piquillo pepper and tzatziki; short rib hash with roasted red potato, shallots, garlic, spinach and fried eggs; salmon with corn purée, fava beans, red bell peppers and green zucchini; and grilled tiger shrimp with curry cilantro marinade, farro, cucumber, edamame, haricot vert and harissa vinaigrette. Brunch is priced at $48 for three courses, served from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on April 20 only. 4451 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey; (310) 823-6395.

Catch
On Easter Sunday, Catch is offering a prix fixe, three-course meal from chef Sven Mede. Dishes includE tuna crudo with pickled chanterelles, shaved radish and olive oil; duet of lamb with rack and shoulder, ricotta cavatelli, fava beans, thyme, and wild mushrooms; and lemon panna cotta with farmers market strawberries and basil. For more information or reservations visit www.hotelcasadelmar.com or call 310-581-7714. 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica; (310) 581-7714.  

Chaya Restaurants
This Easter Sunday, from 11 a.m. -3 p.m., each Chaya restaurant (Downtown, Beverly Hills, Venice) will be offering a three-course brunch with bottomless Champagne. For a set price of $45 per person ($20 for kids 12 years and younger), guests select from a number of appetizers, entrees and desserts. Those visiting the Chaya Brasserie in Beverly Hills will have access to an unlimited dessert bar. Menu highlights include Downtown's Maine lobster and rock shrimp bahn mi sandwich with moromi gribiche sauce, cilantro, carrot, radish, lacinato kale salad, and ginger ranch dressing; Beverly Hills' blood orange and rosemary olive oil gelato starter with blood orange, fennel, frisée, chardonnay vinaigrette, and aged balsamic; and Venice's pappardelle and American Kobe beef Bolognese with poached egg, Maitake mushroom and truffle oil. Downtown guests will also be treated to a live jazz performance by Jimmy Reid. Reservations for all locations are highly recommended. 525 S. Flower St., Los Angeles; (213) 236-9577. 8741 Alden Dr., Los Angeles; (310) 859-8833. 110 Navy St., Venice; (310) 396-1179.

Craft 
Craft is celebrating Easter with a festive, three-course brunch on Sunday, April 20. Chef de cuisine Ray England will offer spring dishes such as avocado with tomatillo, sorrel and spiced peanuts, and roasted lamb rack with farro and green chickpeas. Pastry chef Shannon Swindle's desserts include buttermilk glazed Berliners, rhubarb jam and almond ice cream and cream cheese semifreddo, blueberries, lemon and pistachios. Brunch is offered from 12 p.m.-3:30 p.m., and reservations may be made online, or by calling (310) 279-4180. 10100 Constellation Blvd., Los Angeles; (310) 279-4180.

Dominick's 
Chef Brandon Boudet is serving an Easter dinner from 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Special menu items include spinach and fontina quiche with crispy speck and chocolate and caramel bread pudding for dessert. Drink specials include $15 bottles of red and white wine and Prosecco. 8715 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood; (310) 652-2335.

The Flintridge Proper 
The chefs at Flintridge Proper are serving up a traditional family-style Easter brunch. Dishes include bacon quiche, Meyer lemon pancakes, mushroom hash, scrambled eggs, lobster Benedict, crown rack of lamb, clove-glazed ham, corn bread stuffing, green bean casserole, scalloped potatoes and deviled eggs. Call 818-790-4888 for reservations. 464 Foothill Blvd., Pasadena; 818-790-4888.

Gusto
Chef Casanova is putting an Easter spin on his Sunday Supper menu, offering a traditional Italian Easter feast. Dishes include sheep's milk ricotta crostini with local fava beans, whipped ricotta, black pepper and extra virgin olive oil; bucatini carbonara with pancetta, black pepper, pecorino and egg yolk; agnello with slow-roasted leg of lamb, concentrated tomatoes, heirloom cannellini beans and lamb ristretto; and polenta budino with sweet polenta pudding and blueberry glassato. 8432 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles;(323) 782-1778.

The Hungry Cat
The Hungry Cat Hollywood and the Hungry Cat Santa Monica Canyon are offering brunch and dinner specials for Easter Sunday, including an all-day raw bar and cocktail specials. Offerings include bay scallop ceviche, shrimp and grits, chorizo and eggs, lobster and English pea frittata, and pork cheek hash. Brunch is served from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., and dinner is served from 5 p.m. Reservations recommended. 1535 N. Vine St., Hollywood; (323) 462-2155. 100 W. Channel Road, Santa Monica; (310) 459-3337. 

Lucques 
Join Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne at Lucques for their Easter Sunday Supper, from 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Their three-course dinner includes smoked haddock and soft cooked egg on toasted brioche with crème fraîche and fines herbs; a choice of pan-roasted sea bass with avocado, tangelos, spring onion and pistachio aillade; or slow-roasted lamb sirloin with fava bean-potato gratin, Barbara's greens, blistered cherry tomatoes and black olives. Dessert is a vanilla custard tart with strawberries and almond croustine. Pricing is $45 per person. 8474 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles; (323) 655-6277.

Maison Giraud 
Easter at Alain Giraud's Pacific Palisades French bistro consists of special brunch dishes and a prix fixe dinner menu. Brunch items include housemade sangria, poached asparagus salad, smoked salmon salad, and Easter “choux” (chocolate and strawberries), and dinner highlights include roasted lamb filet. Dinner menu is priced at $42 a person. Call (310) 459-7561 for reservations. 1032 Swarthmore Ave., Pacific Palisades; (310) 459-7561.

Mud Hen Tavern 
Susan Feniger's Mud Hen Tavern is celebrating Easter with an All About Eggs Easter brunch from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. (regular brunch menu will also be available). Festivities continue from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. with their Easter dinner menu. 742 N. Highland Ave., Los Angeles; (323) 203-0500.

Petrossian Restaurant & Boutique
West Hollywood's Petrossian Restaurant & Boutique is serving up a multi-course Easter brunch menu. Dishes include caviar-centric dishes such as the Petit Petrossian caviar service, along with classic brunch items such as eggs Benedict with caviar, brisket hash, and their signature Egg Royale – soft scrambled egg and vodka whipped cream, topped with the restaurant's housemade caviar and served in a colorful egg shell. Easter desserts include coconut panna cotta egg cup with mango, orange and almond toast; spice carrot cake with cream cheese frosting; Valrhona bunny cake with dark chocolate devil's cake and white chocolate mousse. Their four-course menu is $65 per person, including a glass of Champagne or Easter brunch special cocktail. 321 N. Robertson Blvd., West Hollywood; (310) 271-6300.

The Pikey 
The Pikey, Hollywood's English Pub, is celebrating Easter Sunday with a British brunch (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) and dinner (3 p.m. -2 a.m.) on Sunday, April 20. Easter specials include hot cross buns; lamb tongue hash with poached eggs and grilled chili; soft boiled eggs with mustard greens and hash browns; and roasted ham with pea pudding and shredded potatoes (along with their regular brunch menu). For dinner, look for their Easter baked ham and roasted lamb, both served with roasted duck fat potatoes, market vegetables, stuffing and Yorkshire pudding. Pricing for dinner specials is $22 per person. 7617 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles; (310) 850-5400.

Post & Beam 
For Easter brunch, Post & Beam chef Govind Armstrong will serve wings and waffles: fried maple glazed wings atop cornmeal waffles and drizzled with smoked chili pepper syrup. Available for $15 on Sunday, April 20 only. 3767 Santa Rosalia Dr., Los Angeles; (323) 299-5599.

Public Kitchen & Bar
Public Kitchen is offering an Easter a la carte menu and an Easter brunch buffet for $42 a person. Highlights include short rib hash with bacon, potatoes, brussel sprouts, feta, and a fried egg, and orange French toast topped with seasonal berries, mint, and vanilla mascarpone. Every brunch features a tableside bloody mary cart with unlimited garnishes and $16 bottomless Agua Fresca mimosas. 7000 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood; (323) 769-8888. 

Tavern
For Easter brunch, Tavern is offering a special prix fixe Easter menu of spring vegetables with smoked ricotta, soft-cooked egg and toasted breadcrumb salsa; a choice of Dungeness crab cakes with English peas, preserved Meyer lemon and mustard crème fraîche or herb-roasted lamb sirloin with risotto carbonara, fava rendrils and charmoula. Dessert specials include strawberry buckle with cinnamon streusel and vanilla ice cream. Pricing is $45 per person, with a la carte dining also available. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. 11648 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles; (310) 806-6464.

Willie Jane
Willie Jane, Govind Armstrong's southern-inspired restaurant on Abbot Kinney, is offering a brunch special on Easter Sunday, featuring ham “steak” with biscuit, red eye gravy and fried eggs ($16), along with their prix fixe dinner menu featuring a smoked lamb leg with mustard spatzle braised neck ragout ($32). 1031 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Los Angeles; (310) 392-2425.

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