Seven standout food deals for Easter and Passover

Seven standout food deals for Easter and Passover

Whether you celebrate the slaves’ escape from Egypt, the resurrection of Christ or the annual arrival of Cadbury eggs, these seven restaurant events—with Passover- and Easter-themed menus—can help make next weekend memorable.

The Rosedale Diner
For the first time, the midtown institution is offering a $29 prix fixe Passover plate called Charoset and Chrain from March 29 to April 5. Such standbys as chopped liver, matzo ball soup, roasted chicken, braised short ribs, tzimmes (candied carrots) and potato kugel will be well represented.

Sweet Escapes
The Distillery District dessert palace is offering a chocolate truffle cake that contains eggs, butter, sugar, chocolate and nothing else. An eight-inch cake costs only $20 and is a good injection of flavour after eating matzo.

Oliver and Bonacini Café Grill
From Good Friday to Easter Monday, the Bayview Village restaurant (along with its Oakville and Waterloo locations) will be offering dinner specials. For $20, diners can enjoy a AAA black Angus strip loin with Yorkshire pudding, buttermilk mash and onion gravy. Rest assured, rabbit will not be on the menu.

Caplansky’s Delicatessan
A no-brainer. Zane Caplansky blogged last month that he’s booked to cater his first seder (he even offered to do the Four Questions but, sadly, was denied) and is accepting orders for gefilte fish, matzo ball soup, fricassee, braised brisket, smoked turkey and desserts. Goyum regulars, take note: it’s still kosher to drop by for a brisket sandwich and poutine.

Shopsy’s
Those who miss the old landmark on Front Street can head to the new Shopsy’s at the Sheraton at Richmond and York. For Passover, the deli has set aside a special menu that includes a breakfast with matzo instead of home fries ($10 or less), chicken soup with matzo ball ($5), gefilte fish ($6.50) and chopped liver ($6). Mains include brisket ($14), grilled salmon ($16) and, for kids with big appetites, two all-beef hot dogs with veggies to balance it out ($10).

Epic
The Royal York’s annual Easter brunch, to be held on April 4, will cost $70 per adult ($35 for kids and free for children under five) and feature smoked salmon and cured meats, dark chocolate fondue, hot cross buns, roast sirloin and lamb, and, to buck the trend, sushi and sashimi from the Benihana chef. Finicky tots can also work up an appetite in the play area, where they will be either entertained or horrified by the Easter bunny.

Globe Bistro
The intimate Danforth bistro is offering a $29 three-course brunch starting with scones and such apps as a mushroom purée with pickled fiddleheads, smoked trout with a slow-cooked egg, and maple lardon frisée salad. Mains include prime rib with potatoes roasted with duck fat, a root vegetable lasagna and baked French toast with ginger maple syrup. End it with a slice of carrot cake or a chocolate panna cotta.

(Image: FaceMePLS)