The Abbey on Lake Geneva, Fontana, Wis., 414-275-6810. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Buffet brunch in this spacious resort on the west end of Lake Geneva is $14.95 ($5.95 for children under 10). Cold side includes crabmeat salad, lox, smoked salmon and cold cuts. Eggs benedict and belgian waffles are main stops in the breakfast section. Luncheon items include carved roasts, usually beef and sometimes ham also. Fish dishes include items such as poached salmon with dill sauce. Other entrees usually include chicken paprikash, Chinese stir-fry items and veal and pork dishes. Black Forest cake, fresh fruit tortes and mousses hold down the dessert table. Extended Easter hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Valet parking is complimentary (tips accepted). Wheelchair accessible. Reservations accepted for parties of eight or more. A, C, D, DC, M, V.
Allgauer`s Fireside Restaurant, 2855 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook, 480-7500. See listing in west suburbs.
Atrium Restaurant, 3223 W. Algonquin Rd., Rolling Meadows, 259-7070. 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Continental restaurant offers buffet for $8.95; for 85 cents more the coffee and champagne will flow freely. Start with lox, bagels, smoked salmon or any of the 20 cold salads. Eggs benedict is the No. 1 dish here, but the brunch also has belgian waffles, tacos and carved items (beef, turkey and/or ham). Other items can include seafood crepes, oxtail, pepper steak, Athenian chicken, Cajun chicken wings and pasta primavera. Easter and Mother`s Day brunches are $12.95 and will be served from 9:30 a.m. Ample parking in lot. Wheelchair accessible. Reservations accepted. A, C, DC, M, V.
Baguette`s, 1800 E. Golf Rd. (in the Hyatt Regency Woodfield), Schaumburg, 885-1234. 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Champagne brunch, $18.95 ($5.50 for children 5 through 11), has omelets made to order and a variety of
”regional” stations. Ride on over to the Western station for barbecue. Swim over to the seafood station for oysters, shrimp or sushi. The Italian station has enough pastas and sauces to create happy consternation. Roast beef and ham are at a carving station. Send children to their own station for hamburgers and wieners. Desserts include a machine with soft-serve ice cream. Ample parking lot. Wheelchair accessible. Reservations recommended. A, C, D, DC, M, V.
Barn of Barrington, 1415 S. Barrington Rd., Barrington, 381-8585. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This rehabbed barn is filled with eclectic antiques. Brunch here is more a lunch extravaganza than a breakfast buffet. Salads include marinated tomatoes and cucumbers, herring salad, artichoke vinaigrette, along with lox, bagels and cream cheese. Quiche, brats, eggs benedict, sliced turkey, ham, roast beef and other meats are on the buffet. Desserts include the well-known Barn of Barrington bread pudding with brandy sauce. This champagne brunch costs $14.95 for adults; $8 for children under 10. Ample parking lot. Reservations recommended. A, C, D, DC, M, V.
Barrington House, 210 S. Cook St., Barrington, 381-3777. 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Brunch buffet in this old in-town frame house is $9.95, $4.95 for those 10 and under. It includes breakfast items such as scrambled eggs, eggs benedict, crepes or blintzes, and one or more of the following: pancakes, french toast and Belgian waffles. Also: smoked fish such as salmon, lake trout and/or whitefish, a chicken dish, sliced roast beef and a variety of pastries like coffee cake, danish and more. Desserts are extra as is liquor. Parking is said to be available in the bank lot across the street. Wheelchair accessible by a ramp on side of building. Reservations accepted. A, C, DC, M, V.
Bay Street Restaurant, 2000 E. Golf Rd., Schaumburg, 884-1818. See listing in west suburbs.
Benchmark Restaurant, 6100 N. River Rd., Rosemont (in the Westin Hotel O`Hare), 698-6000. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This brunch from the menu includes freshly squeezed juice, coffee cake, croissants, muffins, a fruit salad and champagne. Entrees are from $12.50 to $19, the most expensive being the seafood brochette and the least expensive being ”eggs your way.” In between are mixed grill, seafood crepe (with pernod cream sauce) and waffles. The hotel is putting on a big $19 buffet in the main ballroom on Easter and Mother`s Day (the standard Benchmark brunch will also be offered). Ample parking lot; valet parking is free. Wheelchair accessible. Reservations recommended. A, C, D, DC, M, V.
Blue Moon Restaurant, 1900 Larkin Ave., Elgin, 697-0464. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Brunch in this large restaurant/banquet hall is a buffet with omelets made to order, sausage, hash browns and, usually, eggs benedict and potato pancakes. Meats include roast beef, chicken and ribs. Lox, bagels and other brunch-style items are on the table, along with frequent additions of crepe suzettes, cheese blintzes and cherry blintzes. For dessert: Black Forest cake, cheesecakes, fruit slices and more. Price is $6.95 for adults and $3.95 for children 5 to 12. A bigger buffet on Easter and Mother`s Day will be $8.95
($4.95 for children). Ample parking in huge lot. Wheelchair accessible. Reservations accepted. A, C, DC, M, V.
The Brasserie, 3400 W. Euclid Ave. (in the Woodfield Hilton Hotel), Arlington Heights, 394-2000. 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Buffet is $12.95. On the breakfast side are omelets made to order, french toast, bacon, pork sausage and other items (waffles are made at the dessert table, but ice cream can be held off for a breakfast dish). Yogurt and cold salads are available. Roast beef and turkey are carved at the buffet, and other hot dishes include a lasagna or mostaccioli, a chicken dish (such as fried chicken or chicken breast amaretto), sometimes a roast pork or veal stew and usually a glazed ham. Desserts include an ice cream sundae station manned by an attendant. Valet parking is $2. Wheelchair accessible. Reservations accepted. A, C, D, DC, M, V.
Chaffee`s, 1000 Lakeview Pkwy., Vernon Hills, 680-5900. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Buffet in this attractive place (one room has a cathedral ceiling, the other is more like a living room) is $10.95, $5.95 for children 4 to 11. Cold table has smoked salmon, lox, bagels, fruits, deviled eggs and more. Omelets are made at the table, and eggs florentine comes fresh from pan to plate. Roast beef, turkey, fettucini Alfredo and soups (like cream of tomato herb or turkey clam gumbo) are common luncheon items. Pastry chef makes many finger-sized desserts, along with lemon and/or chocolate cheesecake, raisin oatmeal cookies, cream puffs and various cakes. Champagne and Bloody Marys are half price ($1.50) for brunch. Easter and Mother`s Day will have expanded hours, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ample parking lot. Wheelchair accessible. Reservations accepted for parties of six or more. A, C, D, DC, M, V.
Chapel Hill Golf Club, 2500 N. Chapel Hill Rd., McHenry, 815-385-0333. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Brunch buffet ($8.95) includes a single glass of champagne. Breakfast side has omelets made to order, belgian waffles, crepes with fruit, cheese blintzes and corned beef hash. Lunch side has carved ham and roast beef, broasted chicken, barbequed ribs, beef stroganoff, chicken tetrazzini and other entrees that change somewhat each week. Pastries include freshly baked muffins, coffee cakes, bagels, strudels and puddings. Easter and Mother`s Day brunches are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and cost $11.95. Ample parking in lot. Wheelchair accessible. Reservations accepted. M, V.
Country Squire Restaurant, Ill. Hwy. 120 and U.S. Hwy. 45, Grayslake, 223-0121. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Brunch in this old coutry estate that once belonged to the Sears family is a sit-down affair. Entrees are $6.95 to $12.95, which includes a glass of domestic champagne, a fruit compote tray and juice. There are the standard egg dishes, but also things like eggs Alaskan
(poached eggs on muffin with crabmeat and shrimp sauce) and eggs Victoria
(diced chicken and mushrooms with poached eggs and a chablis chicken sauce). Breast of chicken de Jongue and veal Oscar are some of the luncheon-type entrees available. Desserts include Black Forest torte and key lime pie. Ample parking in lot. Wheelchair accessible. Reservations accepted. A, D, DC, M, V.
Crandell`s, 10439 Ill. Hwy. 47, Hebron, 815-648-2609. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Brunch buffet at this country dinner house is $7.25. Breakfast items include scrambled eggs, sausage, ham, french toast and sometimes corned beef hash. Luncheon items include (on most occasions) barbecued ribs, broasted chicken, baked ham (sliced in the kitchen), roast beef, broiled haddock lasagna, mostaccioli and even fried smelt. Muffins, cinnamon rolls, turnovers and a variety of pies are on the pastry table. For Easter and Mother`s Day, hours are extended (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and price goes to $8.95. Ample parking in lot. Wheelchair accessible. Reservations accepted. A, M, V.
Culpepper`s, 6600 W. Gunnison St., Harwood Heights, 867-6681. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This casual ”brass and glass-style” restaurant has lox and bagels, pasta salad and other cold items in its $11.95 brunch. Roast beef and ham are carved, and chafing dishes have breakfast items as well as luncheon things like Hungarian goulash, beef stroganoff and chicken dishes (ginger, divan or paprikash). There`s always a fish such as scrod, perch, haddock or sole. A sweet table has breakfast pastries and richer selections like cheesecakes. On Easter and Mother`s Day, hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the brunch price is $12.95 ($5.95 for children 10 and under). Ample parking lot. Wheelchair accessible. Reservations accepted for parties of eight or more. A, M, V.
Davis Street Fish Market, 501 Davis St., Evanston, 869-3474. 8 to 11:30 a.m. Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays. This ”country breakfast” is from the menu with skillet combinations of eggs, cajun hash browns, biscuits and meats that even include an andouille sausage. They have a ”voodoo”
french toast and buckwheat cakes. Sides of beignets and corn bread are available. Prices range from about $3 to $6 for main dishes. On-street parking. Wheelchair accessible. Reservations accepted for parties of five or more. A, C, DC, M, V.
Deerpath Inn, 255 E. Illinois Rd., Lake Forest, 234-2280. 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A $14.50 champagne brunch (brunch is $8.95 for children under 12) is staged in the English Room of this fine old inn with medieval touches. The lox is prepared in-house, and the cold table also has smoked trout, oysters on the half shell, cold cuts and fruit. Omelets and waffles are made to order at the buffet table, and eggs benedict comes freshly prepared from the kitchen. A roast of beef and leg of venison are featured at the carving station, and other luncheon items include beef bougignone, oysters rockefeller and chicken a la king. Desserts include homemade eclairs, chocolate mousse cake, English trifle, cheesecakes and other things made by a pastry chef on the premises. Ample parking in lot behind the inn. Reservations accepted on Easter and Mother`s Day only. A, C, D, DC, M, V.
Derby Street Restaurant, 1185 N. Roselle Rd., Hoffman Estates, 882-6663. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mostly breakfast items at this ”family restaurant” brunch. Several kinds of scrambled eggs are available on the buffet, along with eggs benedict, corned beef hash and a number of breakfast pastries. Price is $4.50. Juice comes a la carte. Ample parking in lot. Wheelchair accessible. Reservations not accepted. A, M, V.
El Torito, 601 N. Mall Dr., Schaumburg, 843-7570, and other suburban locations. See Que Pasa listing in city brunches. Price is $7.95; drink specials are $2.
First Street Pier, 1876 1st St., Highland Park, 432-1200. 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Price for buffet is $13.95 with champagne, $9.95 without. Characteristically, they have a cold table full of smoked sable, poached chubs, lox and other fish items. Brunchers can walk into the kitchen and order an omelet, eggs benedict or frittata. Other hot breakfast dishes include corned beef hash. Hot luncheon entrees include stir-fry chicken. On-street parking and nearby city lots. Reservations accepted. A, C, DC, M, V.
Grandpa`s Place, 1868 Prairie St., Glenview, 724-1390. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An all-you-can-eat buffet, $4.95, in this old bar has salads, sweet rolls, scrambled eggs, meats, cheese blintzes and even baked beans. Also has fresh fruit and fruit salads. Saturday breakfast menu (8 to 11 a.m.) has a corned beef hash special, eggs benedict and other hearty breakfasts. Easter and Mother`s Day brunch hours are till 3 p.m. On-street parking. Reservations accepted. A, M, V.
