Best Easter brunch

RALEIGH, N.C. — With so many options for Easter brunch this year, we decided to rank our top five now - hopefully in time for you to get a reservation. Most of these places will fill up! 

Dean's Seafood (Cary) - Their regular brunch is a thing of greatness and for Easter they just amp it up! For Easter brunch they are adding seared crab cakes, a carving station with roast beef and glazed ham and will serve even more desserts. That is, of course, in addition to their heavenly bread pudding. Prices: $25 for adults, $12 for children ages 10 and under. 

Washington Duke Inn's Fairview Dining Room (Durham) - Their extensive Easter brunch buffet includes King Crab legs, grilled Joyce Farms chicken and shrimp and grits. We are really intrigued by their dessert bar, which boasts Easter cronuts. Prices: $65 for adults and $25 for children ages 6 to 12. Seatings are at noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. You can make reservations by calling 919-493-6699 or online.

Beasley's Chicken and Honey and Joule (both in Raleigh) - Yes, Ashley Christensen is so great that she gets two restaurants on our list. Beasley's offers comfort food at its best. Their regular brunch delivers with churros, red bean rancheros and a Belgian waffle topped with bananas, pecans, cream and maple syrup. Joule has a NC Sweet Potato Hotcake that is well worth the calories! Not sure what she is adding to the menus, if anything, for Easter but would definitely recommend checking out either place. Neither restaurants takes reservations so get there early! 

Carolina Inn (Chapel Hill) - Pecan French toast and oysters on the half shell are just two of the items on their Easter brunch buffet. Prices: $55.95 for adults and children 13 years and older; $50.95 for Seniors 60 years and older, $22.95 for children 7 to 12 years of age and children 6 years and under eat for free. Make reservations by calling 919-918-2735.

Brig's (Wake Forest, Raleigh, Cary, Durham) - One of the best breakfast spots in the area, this is a great and affordable place to take the family for brunch. Weekends are usually packed for these restaurants, which only stay open 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., so make sure to get there early and expect a wait. We recommend the pancakes with some fresh blueberries on top! 

Enjoy a great Easter brunch at home by getting some baked foods from these Durham restaurants. Head downtown to get some awesome doughnuts from Monuts or go near the Streets at Southpoint and visit Rise for doughnuts or their famous biscuits topped with items like mac and cheese or fried chicken.