Patch Picks: Restaurants Open on Easter

Still no plans for Easter Sunday dinner? No worries. Douglaston Patch has provided you with a list of local eateries that will remain open on the holiday in this week's edition of Patch Picks.

Conti’s Restaurant - 124-911 Northern Blvd., Douglaston. 718-428-8800

Stop by Conti’s for an array of authentic Italian dishes. The eatery's Easter menu features a choice of Lobster cocktail served with jumbo lump crab meat over sliced avocado and asparagus topped with lemon dressing, a wild mushroom mix sautéed in garlic and white wine topped with white truffle oil and shaved parmiggiano, thin sliced veal topped with a tuna paste, capers and lemons, beef Carpaccio topped with arugula salad, shaved parma cheese and white truffle oil or grilled calamari in a garlic, oil white wine as well as a touch of balsamic dressing.

Pasta choices include homemade lasagna and Gnocchi with a veal sauce.

For the main course, customers will have a choice of Osso Buco, roasted baby lamb, sesame crusted yellow fin tuna over spinach, fillet of snapper crusted with parma cheese sauté in dry vermouth served over broccoli rabe and a choice of Bronzino black or sea bass. Desserts and beverages will vary. Call ahead for reservations.

Giardino’s - 44-37 Douglaston Pkwy., Douglaston. 718-428-1090

Giardino’s is serving up several dishes as part of their $45 per person Easter special. Try a family-style antipasti featuring a choice of hot or cold dishes such as a hot eggplant rollatine, mini Sunday meatballs or fried calamari.

Cold appetizers include pizza rustica pie, ricotta salata, roasted peppers, deviled eggs and olives. Some popular additions include baked clams, shrimp oreganata and mussels marina.

Entrée choices are Lamb Osso Bucco, braised lamb shank, veal rollatine, veal scallopine with mushrooms, prosciutto and mozzarella in a marsala sauce, chicken parmigiana and rack or leg of lamb.

The menu also offers several seafood entrees, such as shrimp oreganate, aged sterling silver shell steak, lemon sole and shrimp marechiara and baked Atlantic salmon.

Desserts include mini pastries, Easter grain pie, chocolate covered starwberries and fresh fruit.

Giardino's children’s menu includes chicken fingers, chicken parmigiana, cheese ravioli, pizza margherita and ice cream sundaes.  

Call for reservations.

Il Toscono Restaurant - 42-05 235th St., Douglaston. 718- 631-0300

Il Tosco is offering a prix fixe Easter dinner menu at $42 per person. Meals include a choice of eight appetizers, such as Cesar salad or multi Colore salad, corn meal crusted oysters, duck confit spring roll or Prince Edward Island mussels.

For your entrée, try the baby clams in a garlic white wine sauce served with Tuscan bread, spinach and ricotta dumplings baked with béchamel sauce served with fresh tomato, lasagna, roast leg of lamb, fresh ham, veal scaloppini, grilled Atlantic salmon, whole baby chicken and Tuscan sausage served with wild mushrooms, red bliss potatoes and asparagus and a grilled rib eye steak. Coffee and dessert is included. Call for reservations.

Strawberry's Sports Grill - 42-15 235th St., Douglaston. 718-517-8787                                  

Stop in at Strawberry's Sports Grill for their Easter Sunday brunch specials at $22.95 per person. You will have a choice of southern fried chicken tenders and waffles served with maple syrup and butter, a wide selection of scrambled eggs, Belgian waffles and smoked brisket hash.

You can also choose two sides, including cheddar cheese grits, toasted English muffins, buttermilk biscuits, apple-smoked bacon or country sausages. Your brunch also includes one Bloody Mary or mimosa.

Il Bacco -253-24 Northern Blvd., Little Neck. 718-224-7657

Stop by Il Bacco on Easter Sunday for traditional baby lamb or enjoy favorites off of their regular menu. The restaurant will be open from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Call for reservations.