Personally, I prefer a nice dinner out the night before Mother's Day, avoiding the mass-feeding mumbo-jumbo that has become mom-day restaurant celebrations. If you insist on dining in a restaurant, though, here are terrific Orlando-area options. The date: May 13, 2018. (I'll keep adding to the list as I learn about new opportunities.)
Groups will share a three-course family-style brunch at the warmly hued sister restaurants Chef's Table and The Tasting Room in Winter Garden. The meals will include foods such as Florida shrimp 'n' grits, poutine, and bread pudding. Seatings at 11am and 1:30pm. $39.90, plus $3 for bloody Marys or mimosas. Reservations: 407.230.4837 or chefstastingroom@gmail.com.
This isn't really a meal, but there's some booze and some dessert, and it sounds like fun, so read on. The Coca-Cola Orlando Eye is offering an Eye Love Mom package, and it's actually available May 11 through May 13. For $139, you receive a private ride for four in an Eye capsule (you can add on more people for $20 apiece), drinks at a MOMosa bar and bites at a Sweet Treats Bar (the name is dull compared to those fab puns for the others, but we all like sugar). In addition, mothers will receive a carnation and a free gift. Reservations
This intimate, chef-driven speakeasy in Dr. Phillips will serve brunch on Mother's Day 2018. The brunch will be served buffet-style with "Southern-inspired" fare including shrimp and grits, and chicken and waffles. Sangria, bloody Marys and mimosas are included. Personally I'd pay extra and buy one of the primo craft cocktails. $75. Reservations: 407.985.2972
The sleek Disney Springs steakhouse will serve a brunch buffet from 11:30am to 3pm. Brioche French toast, an omelet station and a bloody mary bar will be featured. $54. Reservations
This hip biker-casual mega-restaurant in Downtown Orlando will serve Mother's Day brunch from 10am to 9pm. Make a reservation, and Mom will receive her entree for free. The a la carte menu will include crème brulée French toast, and a steak/eggs/hash browns platter. Bottomless bellinis and mimosas will be available. All mothers will be entered into a giveaway for designer goods, spa gift cards and more. Reservations: 407.996.6686
The Dr. Phillips restaurant will serve its dinner menu all day on Mother's Day, and will offer a three-course brunch menu for $49. Menu options include fried green tomatoes, Alaskan king crab omelet and butternut panna cotta. Click here for the full menu. Reservations.
Go Japanese for Mother's Day at Dragonfly, a stylish Dr. Phillips darling. Here, instead of omelets and carved steak, you'll receive an izakaya lunch. The restaurant will serve unlimited crispy bao, robata-grilled vegetables, pork curry rice, maki rolls and more. Sushi chefs will be preparing r
nigiri, maki, and poké. $39/$19, plus $15 for a "bottomless adult beverage option." Seatings 11am to 2pm. Details
This boutique hotel in Winter Park will offer a Mother's Day brunch, with seating at 10am and 1pm. A cold seafood display, made-to-order omelets, seafood crepes with lobster sauce, carved beef tenderloin and spice-rubbed salmon will be among the options. Mimosas will flow, complimentarily, and live music will play. $69/$29 with free parking. Reservations
If your kids are paying themselves, do them a favor and suggest a celebration at Huey Magoo's. The homegrown fast food chain that specializes in chicken tenders is giving mothers a free five-piece meal on Mother's Day, as well as the family buys another one plus two beverages.
Choose your own Mother's Day brunch at Dr. Philips' Urbain 40. It'll be a three-course midday repast with a variety of choices. Starter options include seared yellowfin tuna tataki and crab cakes with mango-pepper coulis. For the main dish, try a lobster frittata (pictured), or herb-, citrus- and panko-crusted cod. Maybe lemon-myrtle-scented salmon? I order that sometimes. Dessert options are baklava cheesecake, a chocolate and peanut butter torte, and "tuxedo sesame-dusted white peach-ginger ice cream sandwiches with caramelized peaches and ginger-peach 'cello.'" Here's the full menu. $64 plus tax and tip; includes a glass of bubbly and a rose.
Eleven Rooftop at Reunion Resort
A Mother's Day brunch buffet with bottomless mimosas and Central Florida views are on the menu at this rooftop resort restaurant. Food stations will feature crème brûlée French toast, ancho chili strip loin and a raw bar. $59.95/$21.95 plus tax and tip. Reservations
Despite its location inside the large Hyatt Grand Cypress resort hotel, Hemingway's is every bit the local restaurant with a regular following. For Mother's Day, champagne brunch is on the island-inspired menu, along with lovely resort views. Guests are promised a "chef-driven menu" that's sort of a hybrid between all-you-can-eat and a seated meal with the choice of two entrees, such as pan-seared halibut and petit filet mignon with three-pepper Hollandaise sauce. Click here for the full menu. 11am to 4pm. $72/$35
