We present to you the Mother of all dining guides for May 9th! Whether Mom wants a special brunch, dinner, view, terrace, free champagne or a juicy steak, it's all here.
The Foundry on Melrose treats Mom to free rose and champagne on her big day, and there are bottomless mimosas at all three Chaya locations, but if you’re heading downtown, Checker’s will be having a ‘Mom Eats Free’ brunch from 10am to 5pm (up to $30.00 in value) featuring buttermilk pancakes with fresh fruit to an open faced fried egg sandwich with prosciutto on grilled sourdough or Maine lobster risotto. Don’t forget the deconstructed bloody Mary – but those are not on the house – even for Mom.
At Gordon Ramsay, celebrate with an English Afternoon Tea Master Class on May 8th from 12 to 3pm and learn all you ever wanted to know about this sacred British tradition ($350. for two.) Brunch on Sunday will include free-flowing champagne and mimosas. ($85.00 per person.)
La Cachette Bistro in Santa Monica has a "Skinny" Mother’s Day menu but no need to feel deprived. Jean Francois’ choices are high protein, low fat with no butter or cream – which equals low calorie. Expect smoked salmon, scallops; a raw bar with oysters, clams and prawns; or frog legs. $33.00 per person
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Treat Mom to a decadent buffet with comp Mimosas and Bellinis, of course, at the Luxe Hotel’s OnSunset Restaurant with live music, and she will also receive a $25.00 gift certificate for the Luxe Spa. The kids can build their own teddy bear while Mom is relaxing.
For the star-struck celeb-chef Mom, head to The Yard gastropub in Santa Monica where Bravo’s “Top Chef’s” Chris C.J. Jacobson is launching brunch service on this very day, using farmer’s market fresh produce in his strawberry French toast with banana custard, Spring veggie quiche, and his heirloom tomato salad (served with fried chicken on biscuits and gravy.) Mixologist Blake Landis serves up pitchers of fresh-fruit white Sangria, a make-it-yourself Bloody Mary bar with fried green tomatoes and bacon-blue-cheese stuffed olives. Top it off with an Irish coffee served with a chocolate-covered-bacon “spoon” May 9th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and all Saturdays and Sundays to follow.
The Belvedere’s three-course brunch, will features free-flowing Piper-Heidsieck Champagne. Entrées include pan roasted Walleye pike fillet; squash blossoms filled with red pepper polenta; chicken Galantine filled with leeks and potatoes served with fava beans, morels, spätzle and Lavender Sauce; and grilled Angus beef tenderloin with spinach gnocchi.
Brunch with a View
For the million dollar view of Surfrider Beach, head to The Beachcomber at Malibu Pier for a special three-course lunch and dinner menu for $34 per person (lunch) and $42 per person (dinner.) Choose from tomato Bleu soup, lobster and avocado martini, swordfish tacos, and Macadamia crusted Opah.
More fabulous ocean views can be found in Redondo Beach at the waterfront Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club at their brunch buffet – complete with free-flowing champagne and mimosas – with floor-to-ceiling windows and stunning views of the Pacific. You might be distracted, but don’t miss the omelet or carving station and the whipped potato martini bar seatings are at 10:00 a.m., 12 noon and 2:00 p.m. The price is $54.95 for adults (including champagne and mimosas); $22.95 for children ages 4–11, who should love the banana split station.
Table with a Terrace
Selections from Cecconi’s menu include ricotta hotcakes with blueberry compote, Benedict or potato gnocchi with tomato, almond and pecorino pesto. In addition, house specials will be offered for both brunch and dinner like baked squash blossoms stuffed with goat cheese and thyme, wild Alaskan salmon with clams & tomato confit, polenta with orange cake and yogurt gelato and a strawberry mint cooler cocktail (Veev, Starr African rum, strawberries, mint and lemon-lime soda) created special for the day. As an added bonus, $1 off of every bottle of the featured Lucy, Rose of Pinot Noir will be donated to breast cancer research. From 10am-5pm.
Culina, Modern Italian presents an array of stations from traditional carving to omelet, sushi, seafood and Asian dim sum plus gourmet salad selections. The dessert station includes a cupcake and cookie station. ($95.) A buffet is available for children between 5 -12 at $47. Complimentary meals for children under 4.
Napa Valley Grille – known for its rustic cuisine and commitment to local produce – is offering a four-course brunch that includes sweet shrimp quiche with fromage blanc, and asparagus salad; and Amish pork belly with poached hen eggs with bacon gremolata. Be sure to look for the tableside cocktail cart and outdoor patio seating.
Caché, not only has a great patio and a market-based menu by award-winning local chef Josiah Citrin and his Chef de Cuisine, Nyesha Arrington, but they are doing a Day Jazz Brunch from 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., features a two-course menu. Expect lemon ricotta pancakes with blueberries; Portobello & Swiss omelet with basil or duck confit hash with poached egg. $25 per guest; $12.50 for children under 10.
It’s all about the ‘stations’ at Whist in the Viceroy, Santa Monica. From a salad to roasted prime rib carving; selfish, charcuterie, cheese and finally a pasta station if you have any room left. Includes a complimentary Bellini, glass of sparkling wine or bloody Mary. From 11am-3pm; $65 per person; $25 for children 5-12, under five free.
A newcomer to MD Brunch is Wilshire Restaurant in Santa Monica announces their first Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday, May 9. Sit on the patio and enjoy eggs Benedict with prosciutto Americano; lobster Benedict with heirloom tomato; burrata and basil omelette and a Flatiron steak and eggs. And an open bar of unlimited mimosas, bloody Marys and Bellinis are included in the pricing of $55 per guest and $30 for children under 12. From 11:30am to 3:00pm.
Prix fixe menu at Lilly’s French Café and Bar will be served from 10am until 3pm with specials from the new menu including rillettes aux 2 saumons, salade frisee aux lardons, eggs Lilly Benedict and Grilled Rib Eye Steak Sandwich. Prices start at $20. which includes a complimentary glass of wine.
The garden patio at the French Market Café will be open starting at 10am throughout the day.
Special prix fixe menu starting at $18. includes complimentary glass of Champagne or Mimosa.
You can also shop at the wonderful French Market and buy your favorite bottle of wine from the wine cellar to enjoy with your meal or take home.
Evening meals
If Mom is not in the brunching mood, several top restaurants around town will offer dinners that night instead, such as Providence from 5:30-9pm with ala cart and tasting menus. Drago Centro also went for a night out on the town option, with a six course dinner ($75), complete with optional wine pairings ($40). From 5 to 9 pm. Nobu West Hollywood will present a Complementary glass of Rose Petal Champagne for all Mothers to savor with toro tartar caviar; sashimi salad, poached lobster and other sushi favorites. $100 per person.
Upon arrival at Vertical, mothers get the royal treatment with a complimentary glass of Gruet Rose sparkling wine, which is also available by the bottle for retail purchase at an honorary Mother’s Day price of $19. Beginning early at 4 p.m., is a three-course dinner menu ($49.) with wine pairings (add $26.) Expect white corn soup; pan-seared sea bass with baby artichokes and a chive-laced crème fraîche; and Farro risotto with asparagus and fava beans.
Oliverio at the Avalon in Beverly Hills offers dinner from 5-10pm with 5 courses pre-fixed for $70. per person and an optional wine pairing for $35 to $50 per person. Some highlights include grilled Mediterranean octopus and lentil salad; sausage and red pepper risotto; lightly bread veal chop Milanese and Mediterranean Sea bream. This is actually part of their entire Mamma Mia Weekend staring with a brunch on Saturday, also with a tasting menu/wine pairing option (don’t miss the yellowtail crudo), and a Sunday Italian themed brunch.
Carnivore Mom
If Mom loves nothing more than a juicy steak, all of these top steakhouses will also be serving a Mother’s Day brunch menu, and in some cases dinner as well; B LT Steak; Morton’s The Steakhouse; BOA; Wolfgang’s Steakhouse and Flemmings.
Out of town Mom
Of course, if you don’t live close enough to take dear old Mom out to brunch or dinner, Bakelab is selling beautifully decorated, retro-inspired Sweet Nostalgia gift boxes filled with bon bons, oatmeal cream pies and chocolate snaking cakes, available online* at www.foodoro.com. Please note: online orders must be received by Wednesday, May 5th for FedEx delivery by Friday, May 7th. The gift box can also be picked up at the bakery in Los Angeles or delivered locally for a fee.
