Nothing screams "spring is here!" quite like Easter brunch. Local restaurants put out creative spreads, it's a perfect excuse to get a little dressed up and wear your favorite pastels, and you can spend the rest of the day relaxing in the sunshine.  Win-win-win. Here are some of our favorite spots to indulge—but remember, Easter is this Sunday, April 5, so hop to it if you want to make a reservation.

Taverna Toscana

10 a.m.-3 p.m., 1301 Sixth Ave. W., Bradenton, (941) 357-7772, tavernatoscana.com

This popular Italian restaurant, run by celebrity chef Fabio Viviani, offers up a buffet-style brunch for Easter, including shrimp cocktail, fresh salad and fruit, scrambled eggs, breakfast meats, brioche French toast, fried chicken and waffles, short ribs eggs Benedict, pasta and plenty of desserts, plus a mimosa bar with a choice of six different juices. $75 for adults (plus $25 for bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys); $20 for kids 6-12; free for kids under 5. 

Michael's On East

10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., 1212 S East Ave., Sarasota, (941) 366-0007, bestfood.com

The lore behind this perennially popular brunch is that it takes the MOE staff two days to set up all the food—which includes meat, seafood, pancakes, omelets, waffles, hot and cold buffet stations and enough desserts to put the Easter Bunny in a sugar coma. This one always sells out, so call ASAP to see if spots are left. $99.95 for adults; $54.95 for kids age 3-10; free for kids under 2.

The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort

11 a.m.-3 p.m., The Great Lawn at The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, 1601 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, (941) 233-9036, stregislongboatkey.com

Set on the resort’s tented Great Lawn, this Easter brunch buffet comes with Gulf views and a full slate of family-friendly extras, including an Easter egg hunt and an animal encounter for kids. Seating is offered at select times between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Adults are $215 and children are $80. Very limited seats remain. Click here to reserve. 

Duval’s

11 a.m.-10 p.m., 1435 Main St., Sarasota, (941) 312-4001, duvals.com

Easter menu served all day Sunday in conjunction with the regular menu. Duval’s Easter specials include a shrimp avocado tower with ponzu sauce and a Scotch egg wrapped in breakfast sausage topped with Mornay sauce. Entrées include a crab-stuffed flounder with potato pancake, asparagus and hollandaise, a surf and turf with filet and lobster tail in brandy peppercorn sauce, and a grilled tomahawk pork chop with peach chutney, Brussels sprouts and potato pancake. For dessert, there’s carrot cake with candied pecans or coconut cream pie. Prices are à la carte.

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

1534 Mound St., Sarasota, (941 36605731), selby.org

Easter Brunch at Selby Gardens? Yes, please. Also catered by Michael's On East, Selby's annual Easter affair includes hot and cold stations with omelets, pancakes, meat, desserts and complimentary coffee, tea and water, with other beverages available for purchase. Plus: the kids will love the Easter egg hunt and balloon twisting, and the ticket price includes access to the gardens' Alexander Calder: The Nature of Movement exhibit. $85 for adult members, $95 for adult non-members, $50 for children age 4-12, free for kids under 3. This event is currently sold out, but call (941) 366-5731 ext. 888 or email [email protected] to see if you can be added to the wait list.

The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota

11 a.m.-3 p.m., 1111 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Sarasota, (941) 309-2000, ritzcarlton.com

A few spots remain for this Grande Dame of Easter brunches, which includes a dedicated buffet for kids, a dizzying array of sweet and savory options for adults and a mimosa, Bellini and Bloody Mary bar. Live entertainment and family-friendly activities, too. Don't forget to dress in your Sunday best. $175 for adults; $65 for kids age 12 and under.   

Jack Dusty will also have a breakfast buffet from 7 a.m. to noon, with Easter Bunny visits. Reservations are required.

Ocean Prime

Starting at 11 a.m., 501 Quay Commons, Sarasota, (941) 404-1024, ocean-prime.com

Swanky and seafood-focused, Ocean Prime's Easter brunch includes mimosa bottle service with Veuve Cliquot Champagne; a raw bar including oysters, lobsters, crab legs and more; caviar service; sushi; soup and salad; and brunch mains including brioche French toast, short rib surf and turf; smoked salmon latkes, baked lobster mac 'n' cheese and crab cakes Benedict; and seafood entrees like blackened snapper, scallops and Chilean sea bass. 

Boca

9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., 19 S. Lemon Ave., Sarasota, (941) 256-3365, bocarestaurants.com

Boca's brunch—which is served every Sunday, by the way—has a little something for everyone: vegetables, salads, seafood, pancakes, waffles, eggs, avocado toast, flatbreads and specialty cocktails. A kids menu is available for the little bunnies, too. 

Grove

10 a.m.-3 p.m., 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch, (941) 893-4321, grovelwr.com

Grove's popular Easter buffet includes chef stations, a build-your-own omelet station, carved prime rib, Southern shrimp and grits, peel 'n' eat shrimp, sushi, desserts and more. You can also choose whether to eat in the regular dining room or the ballroom. Adults: $70. Kids under 10: $25.

Mattison's Forty-One

10 a.m.-3 p.m., 7275 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 921-3400, mattisons.com

Another longtime local favorite, Mattison's Forty-One's Easter brunch includes charcuterie, cheese, salads, breakfast station, carving station, made-to-order omelets, a hot buffet station, seafood station, plenty of desserts and, our favorite, a flambée station with made-to-order bananas Foster crêpes. $74 for adults; $37 for kids.

Element

10 a.m.-3 p.m., 1413 Main St., Sarasota, (941) 724-8585, elementsrq.com

Element's Easter brunch includes one of our favorite things: a raw bar with oysters and shrimp cocktail. Plus: an omelet station, carving station, hot buffet (think: shrimp and grits, waffles, pancakes and French toast), carving station and a cold buffet (salads, smoked salmon, fruit, deviled eggs, bagels and more). $79.99 for adults; $24.99 for children 8 and under.

Pier 22

10 a.m.-3 p.m., 1200 First Ave. W., Bradenton, (941) 748-8087, pier22.com

Pier 22's Easter brunch includes an omelet station, carved prime rib, shrimp and grits, roasted oysters, sushi, ham, waffles, a selection of pastries and danishes and more. $70 for adults; $25 for children age 10 and under. 

Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant

April 3-5, 3130 Fruitville Commons Blvd., Sarasota, (941) 263-8100, coopershawk.com

Cooper’s Hawk is offering two Easter specials this year: a surf and turf with filet medallions, a blue crab-stuffed lobster tail, roasted broccolini, Mary’s potatoes and lemon beurre blanc for $52.99, and blue crab-stuffed lobster tails with the same sides for $56.99. Saturday and Sunday brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you want to lean into the wine side of the operation, the holiday menu also suggests pairings including Cooper’s Hawk Lux Pinot Noir and Lux Sparkling. 

Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant

10 a.m.-3 p.m., 995 Riverside Drive, Palmetto, (941) 729-0616, riverhousefl.com

Riverhouse’s Easter brunch returns Sunday with seating on both the first and second floors, plus a live pianist upstairs. The menu ranges from brunch staples like bananas Foster French toast, farmhouse breakfast tacos and several Benedicts to heartier picks including Gulf shrimp and grits, prime rib brunch, lobster pot pie, jambalaya and fresh seafood dishes. Last reservations are taken at 2 p.m. After brunch, the ground floor switches back to the regular dinner menu from 3 p.m. to close, while the second floor will be closed for dinner. Prices are à la carte.