Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Columnist Muriel Stevens: Easter dining options remain plentiful

There's still time to make reservations for Easter dinner or Easter brunch.

Hyatt Regency at Lake Las Vegas is featuring a lavish Easter champagne brunch in Cafe Tagine and the resort's signature dining room, Japengo. Hyatt's Easter brunch includes a salad station along with such signature salads as wild mushroom and duck salad and plum tomatoes and mozzarella; a Pan Asian sushi station and a Mediterranean station.

Guests can enjoy made-to-order paella and such traditional fare as prime rib of beef, roasted pork loin and molasses-glazed ham. A host of breakfast items, including cheese blintzes, eggs Benedict and much more.

An Easter Bunny dessert table will offer an array of cakes, pies, fruit tarts and mini pastries along with chocolate bunnies and Easter eggs. For younger guests the resort is introducing the Jelly Bean Kids Buffet, featuring such favorites as chicken nuggets, pizza and mini corn dogs.

An Easter egg hunt, petting zoo and a variety of creative activities will keep youngsters happy while grown-ups relax.

Easter Sunday brunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Price for adults is $44.95 per person; children ages 6 to 12 are $21.95; tykes 5 and under dine free. For brunch reservations call 567-6042. Ask about the special one-night package for locals (must have a Nevada driver's license).

Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas: Easter Sunday Brunch at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas is a sit-down affair that begins with a variety of cocktails including classic bellinis, florentine kir, prosecco mimosa and more. A choice of appetizer or salad, including asparagus and Dungeness crab, shrimp cocktail, smoked Atlantic salmon and more.

As an entree choose prime rib with Alaskan king crab or cioppino or eggs Benedict or grilled salmon or sauteed sea scallops or grilled lamb chops.

Also included is a dessert presentation. Price per adult is $60; Ritz Kids have their own menu; $20 per child. All Ritz Kids choices are served with a fresh fruit cocktail appetizer and a dessert presentation. Brunch service is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For reservations call 567-4700.

Celebrate Easter at Benedict's Garden Bistro & Terrace: Summerlin's newest restaurant, Benedict's Bistro in the Trails Village Center of Summerlin shopping center, will offer a menu of Easter specialties from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will be live entertainment throughout the day and complimentary mimosas and champagne to guests 21 years and older. Many appetizers ($6.95-$9.95); complimentary Bistro salad or Caesars salad; pastas; entrees and desserts.

Strawberries with zabaglione served in a wine goblet sounds just right for Easter Sunday. For reservations call 869-2121.

Easter Egg hunt: On Saturday, Aliante Nature Discovery Park will present an Easter egg hunt from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eggs filled with candy and prizes will be age appropriate (0-4, 5-7, 8-11, 12 and older). Pictures with the Easter Bunny, face painters, bounce horses, roaming dinosaur hop sack races and more. Refreshments are available. For driving directions to the Nature Discovery Park or more information call (866) 874-6392.

Sweet Georgia Brown's: Southern cooking in an upscale setting is what Sweet Georgia Brown's is all about. Come hungry. Portions are more than generous; prices are super.

The full menu was not yet in place the first time I dined at this joyful homespun restaurant, but the Southern hospitality was as sweet as the warm peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream that my friend and I shared during a second visit.

The Hicks family, who owns Sweet Georgia Brown's, previously owned H&H Barbecue. Sadly, their H&H restaurant was a total loss after a fire. Sweet Georgia Brown's location on East Flamingo Road at Eastern Avenue was just waiting for someone like the Hicks clan. The site had previously been Manhattan Italian restaurant and most recently Cosmos.

SGB's barbecue sauce cannot be defined geographically. The story related to me by Cassandra Hicks Black, daughter of founder Elbert Hicks, who created his own barbecue sauce, was about a man who loved barbecue, but never settled for what he considered second best. Hicks' sauce is different, but delicious. Slightly sweet, yet not too sweet, tangy with spices and secret seasoning, it's perfect with the Southern dishes served here.

The dinner menu is available all day; a lunch menu with smaller portions and prices is available from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Do not think that a smaller portion means that a diner will go away hungry. There's not a chance. No one leaves Sweet Georgia Brown's without taking home a sizeable amount of food.

The size of the sides that come with most plates are enough for two or more people. At lunch, diners have a choice of petite ($6.95-$8.95) or regular-size plates ($12.95-$16.95) of barbecued ribs, brisket, chicken or hot links.

You can if you wish create your own combo of barbecue items or a combo of barbecued, fried, smothered and seafood items. Included with all meals is the house cornbread, real cornbread almost like the cornbread my Southern relatives used to bake. This is dense, fine-crumbed cornbread, not sweet, not like a cornmeal cupcake. It's irresistible. And it's served warm.

Among my favorites are the barbecued shrimp, the awesome catfish and the appetizer sampler ($12.95) that includes pork rib tips, catfish strips and zesty wings. Frying is an art form here. Each catfish filet has crisp crust of cornmeal and a sweet tender interior. There is not a drop of grease on the plate. SGB's cooks know just the right temperature for achieving this perfect seal. Served with the catfish is a delicious tartar sauce.

I could make a meal from the delicious side dishes ($3.50-$4.25). The crusty mac and cheese is soooo good.

On Easter Sunday, Sweet Georgia Brown's will offer a more elaborate version of its usual Sunday Gospel Brunch. Brunch service is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The regular menu will be offered from 6 to 11 p.m. Price for adults is $19.95; $12.95 for children.

Included are ribs, turkey wings and dressing, fried catfish, fried chicken, smothered chicken, steak and pork chops, a wide array of side dishes, and many desserts. Gospel singers from area churches will entertain.

Reservations are not required, but might be wise if you want to dine at prime times. Part of the pleasure of this restaurant is the staff. Each person from management to the servers are impeccably groomed and able to answer all questions.

Sweet Georgia Brown's will not have a beer and wine license until June 1. They do have freshly made lemonade served in sugar-rimmed glasses, peach tea, fountain drinks, Kool Aid, coffees and tea.

Among the desserts are the warm peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream, banana pudding, a variety of cakes and sweet potato pie, when available. There's a bar and lounge with a dance floor. The music changes nightly. For reservations and more information call 369-0245.

Short orders

Sushi classes at Whole Foods: It's easier than you might think to make your own sushi. Two classes are scheduled for Saturday. A sushi master from California will be the instructor. The fee for the sushi class is $15, payable before the sessions -- 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call Whole Foods at 254-8655 for more information.

Andre's hosts Bec Fin Society of Las Vegas: The splendid wines of Silver Oaks Cellars will be featured at a winemaker dinner on April 15 at Andre's at 401 S. Sixth St. A reception and six-course repast is $150 (plus tax and gratuity). Reservations requested. Call 385-5016.

Wine dinner at Roy's Summerlin: Roy's Summerlin Executive Chef Chris "Lopaka" Falconer will present a five-course dinner paired with Treana wines on April 22 at 7 p.m. Among the many dishes are: Hawaiian-style lobster and scallop ceviche, spring tomato salad with warm jumbo lump crabmeat vinaigrette, ahi carpaccio and crispy duck confit spring roll, grilled USA lamb chops and Japanese hamachi tataki with fava bean risotto triangle and luscious apricot and almond financier with poached apricots and almond cake and lychee sorbet.

Five Treana wines will be featured. Dinner price is $75 per person (does not include tax or gratuity). Roy's Summerlin is at 8701 W. Charleston Blvd. For reservations call 838-3620.

Groovy, glitzy Ethel M Easter treats: Splashed with brilliant colors, Ethel M's Easter offerings are dazzling. Any one of these sparkling treats would make the day of any age recipient. And when Bugs Bunny asks, "What's up Doc?" give him a chocolate carrot so lifelike, he'll think it just came from Mr. McGregor's garden. Sequined Easter eggs make another statement. Who knew Easter packages could be so hip! Better hurry. Time is getting short.

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