A sampling of Mother's Day dining options in 10 cities
Mother's Day is the most popular day of the year to dine out – even more so than Valentine's Day. In turn, restaurants are extending their Sunday hours and offering everything from extravagant brunch spreads to elegant suppers.
Trying to figure out where to take mom on May 13th? Read on for brunch and dinner options in 10 cities.
Atlanta
Treat mom to brunch at Buckhead's Blue Ridge Grill, which will be serving an à la carte menu; enjoy items like eggs Benedict ($11) or shrimp and grits with Cajun cream sauce ($14) while watching others cook in the open kitchen (11:30 AM–2:30 PM; 404-233-5030).
Enjoy a prix fixe (or à la carte) brunch at tiny Les Fleur De Lis Café in the historic Healy Building, serving up favorites like leg of lamb, bouillabaisse and crêpes, both sweet and savory (11:30 AM–3:30 PM; prix fixe around $30 per person; 404-230-9151).
Splurge on the extensive brunch buffet at Park 75, the New American at the elegant Four Seasons Hotel, which will feature traditional breakfast, carving and dessert stations, and more exotic Asian, seafood and antipasti fare as well (11 AM–2 PM; $70 per adult; $30 for children ages six–12; complimentary for children 5 and under; 404-253-3840).
Boston
Copia is opening early to serve its à la carte menu throughout the afternoon (1–6 PM; 617-242-6742).
Excelsior’s three-course prix fixe menu sports dishes like duet of eggs Benedict with crab and ham and frozen rhubarb soufflé with shortbread (1–4 PM; $52 per person; $77 per person with wine; 617-426-7878).
L’Espalier is likewise hosting a three-course prix fixe: Mom’s options include smoked salmon roulade with grapefruit and avocado, walnut-crusted grilled lamb with polenta, and chocolate cake with orange-blossom ice cream and strawberry crème anglaise (11:30 AM–2 PM; $70 per adult; $35 per child under 11; 617-262-3023).
At Sel de la Terre, the sizeable à la carte menu ranges from crispy prosciutto with roasted pears and poached apricots to smoked chicken-and-brie crêpes to steak frites with panko-fried eggs (10 AM–3 PM; 617-720-1300).
Three courses for a set price are on tap at 33 Restaurant: among the choices are a goat cheese–tomato tart, lobster cakes with poached eggs and warm carrot-raisin cake (10 AM–3 PM; $35 person; 617-572-3311).
Chicago
Free-spirited moms might enjoy Kit Kat’s Diva Madam X doing her celeb impersonations, along with free-flowing mimosas and a four-course prix fixe menu (11 AM–3 PM; $29.95 per person; 773-525-1111).
Le Lan chef Bill Kim cooks a three-course, multiple-choice prix fixe menu, with a complimentary pomegranate sparkler for mom (11 AM–3 PM; $45 per person; 312-280-9100).
Petterino’s is serving a three-course à la carte brunch menu with free valet parking all day (11:30 AM–2 PM; $29.95 per adult, includes a mimosa; $19.95 per child 12 and under; 312-422-0150).
Pamper her at Prairie Grass Café, where chefs Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris are cooking up their own mothers’ recipes, incorporated into a buffet featuring favorite menu items (9:30 AM–2 PM; $27.95 per adult; $14.95 per child 10 and under; 847-205-4433).
At Tsuki, each mom will be presented with an array of ingredients to create two complimentary hand rolls – she gets sake and green-tea ice cream, too – with service from the regular menu; reservations required (4–10 PM; 773-983-9288).
Vermilion is offering a choice of traditional, Indian or Latin à la carte brunch fare, with a complimentary exotic fizz (blueberry-cardamom, jalapeño-cilantro, prickly-pear-ginger) for mom (noon–3 PM; 312-527-4060).
Las Vegas
Open exclusively on Sundays, Sterling Brunch at Bally’s will offer a spread featuring sturgeon caviar, sushi and lobster, as well as omelets, beef tenderloin and unlimited Perrier Jouët champagne (9:30 AM–2:30 PM; last reservation at 1:30 PM; $65 per person; 702-967-7999).
Dine on the outdoor terrace overlooking the lush gardens and pool at the Four Seasons' Verandah; the extensive brunch buffet will include cold and hot breakfast favorites (like Belgian waffles), sushi and a children’s station (10 AM–2 PM; $75 per person; $35 for children ages 12 and under; complimentary for children five and under; 702-632-5121).
Take the family off the strip for authentic Mexican at the family-owned Viva Mercado’s, which will be serving its regular menu; after she gets a flower or two, mom can try the seafood chile relleno ($14.95) or the carne ala vallarta ($14.50), with capers, olives and chile gueros (11 AM–9:30 PM; 702-871-8826).
Los Angeles
The Beverly Hills Hotel will serve a three-course brunch in the historic Polo Lounge and on the adjacent outdoor patio (11 AM–3 PM; $79 per adult; $40 per child; 310-276-2251).
Listen to David Pritchard on guitar as you enjoy a sit-down brunch at Bistro 45 (10 AM–3 PM; $28.95 per adult; $15.95 per child under 12; 626-795-2478).
Brunch at the Border Grill includes lobster Benedict, blue corn waffles and squash blossom relleno among its three courses (10 AM–3 PM; $32 per adult; $12 per child). At 5 PM, the menu shifts to a three-course "Environmentally Friendly Dinner" of sustainable seafood, locally grown produce and hormone- and antibiotic-free meats ($35 per person; 310-451-1655).
Ciudad is offering a deal similar to Border Grill's. Banana pancakes, seafood paella salad and ancho vegetable enchiladas are among the choices for the three-course brunch (10 AM–3 PM; $34 per adult; $12 per child). Then, just like its sibling, at 5 PM, the menu shifts to a three-course "Environmentally Friendly Dinner" of sustainable seafood, locally grown produce and hormone- and antibiotic-free meats ($35 per person; 213-486-5171)
Chef Suzanne Tracht pays homage to mothers at Jar from 10 AM–2 PM with an à la carte menu of dishes like chilaquiles with shredded pork ($12), lobster Benedict with pea tendrils ($16) and a rib-eye steak with two eggs ($26); there's also a selection of special Mother's Day cocktails like the JAR Holy Water (lemon vodka and club soda), and the Blood Orange Mimosa (323-655-6566).
Miami
Baleen, the monkey-themed New American overlooking Biscayne Bay, will offer mom a brunch buffet featuring everything from waffles to seafood, plus a glass of champagne (10:30 AM–3:45 PM; $65 per adult; $33 for children ages six–10; complimentary for children five and under; 305-858-8300).
The decadent brunch buffet at Cioppino in Key Biscayne’s Ritz-Carlton will include a raw bar, caviar and a variety of other gourmet fare, plus prosecco, mimosas, and Bloody Marys from the open bar (seatings at noon and 2:30 PM; $95 per adult; half price for children 12 and under; free for children five and under; 305-365-4500).
Moms dining at South Beach's Joe Allen will receive roses on their special day; à la carte brunch and dinner menus will be offered (11:30 AM–11 PM; brunch is served until 3:30 PM; 305-531-7007).
NYC
Amalia is offering an à la carte brunch menu featuring dishes such as polenta pancakes with warm berry compote and citrus whipped cream, plus cocktails like the orange blossom gin fizz (11:30 AM–3:30 PM; 212-245-1234).
Craft is opening early for Mother's Day, serving its regular menu plus specials from 2–8 PM (212-780-0880).
In addition to à la carte offerings, davidburke & donatella will serve a three-course brunch menu for $55 per person (11 AM–2:30 PM; 212-813-2121)
Fleur de Sel is offering both its regular à la carte lunch menu and a $55 three-course prix fixe menu from noon to 3 PM. For dinner, the Flatiron French will serve a $76 prix fixe dinner menu and an $89 six-course tasting menu (3:30–8:30 PM; 212-460-9100).
The three-course fixed-price brunch at Gilt features entree choices such as surf 'n' turf Benedict and Australian rack of lamb (11 AM–4 PM; $65 per person; 212-891-8100).
Picholine will open early on Mother's Day, serving its regular dinner menu from 1–9 PM (212-724-8585).
"La Festa Della Mamma" at San Domenico features a five-course tasting menu for $85 per person (1–9 PM; 212-265-5959).
Tribeca Grill will offer both à la carte brunch (11:30 AM–3:45 PM) and dinner (5:30–10 PM). Call 212-941-3900 for reservations.
Philadelphia
Avalon is offering a three-course brunch (10 AM–2 PM; $29 per adult; $15 per child ages 10 and under; 610-436-4100), plus an à la carte dinner from 5–9 PM (610-436-4100).
Overlooking the Schuylkill, Bistro St. Tropez will dish up an à la carte brunch that features omelets, French toast, sandwiches, salads and entrees (11 AM–3:30 PM; 215-569-9269).
Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House offers complimentary mimosas to mothers as part of its Sunday blues brunch buffet (11 AM–3 PM; $16.95 per person). There's also an à la carte dinner from 4–10 PM (610-429-4046).
All locations of Kildare's will serve a brunch buffet from 11 AM–3 PM ($16.95 per adult; $6.95 per child).
Meridith's in Berwyn will serve a prix fixe brunch (8 AM–3 PM; $29.99 per adult; $15 per child ages 10 and under; 610-251-0265).
San Francisco
Michael Mina pulls out all the stops at Arcadia, where he’ll be offering a spread that includes prime rib carved tableside, as well as an extravagant buffet featuring omelet, risotto, salad and artisanal cheese stations, plus dramatic fruit and crudité displays (11 AM–2 PM; $47 per person; 408-278-4555).
Bushi-tei will extend its lunch hours to offer a special Mother’s Day menu ($35 per person) featuring the likes of red crab cake with orange-ginger beurre blanc, scallop with saffron potato mousseline and cherry pie with vanilla bean ice cream. A special prix fixe dinner ($65 per person) will showcase chef Waka’s terrine de mer with caviar and fine herb salad, lemongrass roasted beef with truffle potato pancake and strawberry mascarpone mousse glacée with gianduja and croquant. The regular Sunday brunch and dinner menus will also be available (lunch, 11 AM–2:30 PM; dinner, 5:30–10:30 PM; 415-440-4959).
Although they are not usually open for Mother’s Day, La Folie will fete la mere this year by offering the regular menu – three-, four- and five-course dinners at $70, $80 and $90, respectively – as well as two special menus: the Menu du Marché for $105 per person and the vegetarian Menu Jardinière for $70 per person (5:30–10:30 PM; 415-776-5577).
In addition to serving its regular menu all day, Pres a Vi is offering an à la carte Mother’s Day brunch (10:30 AM–2 PM). Selections include an herbed goat cheese omelet, Dungeness crab cakes Benedict, vanilla-cinnamon French toast and Hawaiian “Loco Mocco” (a grilled domestic Kobe beef patty with caramelized onions, mushrooms, fried eggs and gravy, served on a bed of jasmine rice). For reservations, call 415-409-3000.
Choose from a myriad of options at The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco. The Lobby Lounge will offer its traditional tea service to the strains of a harpist (1–4:30 PM; $62 per person), while the Ballroom will prepare an elaborate buffet brunch with a jazz trio (11 AM–3 PM; $105 per adult; $50 for children ages five–12). More formal options include a five-course prix fixe dinner in the Dining Room featuring chef Ron Siegel's signature Japanese influenced French cuisine (4:30–9 PM; $125 per person) and a three-course menu, offered at both lunch and dinner, at the Terrace (11 AM–9:30 PM; $95 per adult; $45 for children ages five–12). For all reservations, call 415-773-6198.
Washington, DC
Blue Duck Tavern, a sophisticated West End New American, emphasizes locally sourced seasonal fare with a fixed-price, three-course repast that begins with salads, charcuterie and smoked fish, followed by a choice of entrees like roast rack of pork with lemon plums or halibut with sweet pea sauce, and an assortment of sides and dessert (seatings at 11 AM, 1 PM and 3 PM; $80 per person; $35 per child between the ages of six and 12; younger children eat free; 202-419-6755).
A lovely drive towards the Blue Ridge Mountains will whet appetites for the four-course menu at Four & Twenty Blackbirds, which features local springtime bounty like asparagus, rhubarb and lamb, served amidst chic rusticity (noon–6 PM; $58 per adult; $35 per child under 10; 540-675-1111).
At 701, the classy Penn Quarter Contemporary American, new chef Alex Powell (ex NYC’s JoJo) will showcase his culinary style in a three-course menu that offers choices like tuna spring rolls with eggplant caviar and crispy free-range chicken with glazed white vegetables, while a piano-and-bass duo set the scene (11 AM–3 PM; $40 per person; 202-393-0701).
The lavish brunch served from 10 AM–2 PM at 1789 offers choices like halibut with fava beans and rack of lamb, as well as eggs Benedict, with first and second courses included in the entree price ($22–$31), as is a floral gift for the guest of honor; its seasonal à la carte dinner menu will be served from 5:30–10 PM (202-965-1789).