Try not to think about the calories. But do think about all the hours your mom spent in the kitchen cooking for you, and all the meals you remember so fondly. (Well, OK, maybe they're not all remembered fondly. You get the idea.) Isn't it time to give your mother a break from the kitchen and cooking? And, especially if yours, like mine, wasn't a particularly good cook, isn't it time to get Mom out of the kitchen?
As always, this Mother's Day is on a Sunday (May 8). Many restaurants are closed on Sundays; others will be open serving their regular menus, so you might just want to treat Mom to her favorite meal at her favorite spot. Others, such as those eateries listed below, have created special Mother's Day menus to help spoil your loving mother. She spoiled you, and now it's time to repay her.
Mother's Day brunch on the patio at charming Caffe Niche (779 E. 300 South, 801-433-3380, CaffeNiche.com) would be a great choice for Mom. Niche is offering brunch from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., priced at $30 per person for adults and $15 for kids ages 3-9. Along with $5 mimosas, bellinis and bloody Marys, brunch includes a starter, entrée and dessert. Among the menu items are housemade biscuits and gravy, blackened fish tacos, Kobe beef corned hash, crab and avocado salad and verrine chocolate mousse.
Finca (327 W. 200 South, 801-487-0699, FincaSLC.com) will host a "Día de la Madre" brunch buffet from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., priced at $42 for adults and $19 for kids ages 3-12. Buffet items range from a "Cold Sea Bar" with head-on prawns to breakfast paella with chorizo, rice, vegetables, eggs and pickled onions. There's also a New York strip steak carving station, a dessert station, drink specials and much more to choose from at Finca.
Mother's Day brunch at Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar (20 S. 400 West, The Gateway, 801-355-3704, FlemingsSteakHouse.com) runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and features a bonus: The three-course brunch is $39.95 per person, but join Fleming's for brunch or dinner on Mom's Day and receive a $25 dining card for future use. Menu choices include savory potato-leek soup, eggs Benedict with filet mignon or smoked salmon, Fleming's' Brentone omelet, roast Prime rib and porcini-crust filet mignon, plus sides, desserts and signature cocktails.
In addition to the opulent brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ($65 for adults and $32.50 for kids ages 5-12) in The Grand Ballroom at The Grand America Hotel (555 S. Main, 801-258-6807, GrandAmerica.com), there's also a special Afternoon Tea ($28 for adults and $20 for children ages 12 and under). It's a traditional English tea service including an assortment of finger sandwiches, scones served with crème Chantilly and berry jam, a selection of pastries and premium loose-leaf teas (including caffeine-free selections) and hot chocolate. Cocktail service is also available.
I'll bet your mom loves pie. If so, how about a whole pie made from scratch by executive pastry chef Natalie Keller at Hub & Spoke Diner (1291 S. 1100 East, 801-487-0698, HubAndSpokeDiner.com)? She'll be baking pies like her malted milk and peanut butter pie, cookies and cream and more. You can place an order for a Mother's Day pie by phone or online.
Log Haven (6451 E. Millcreek Canyon Road, 801-272-8255, Log-Haven.com) will feature a Mother's Day supper from noon to 5 p.m. with a special three-course menu created by chef Dave Jones. Among the options are spring asparagus soup, arctic char almondine, Aleppo-pepper lemon-pressed chicken breast, pea and baby shiitake mushroom risotto, grilled Duroc pork loin, homemade desserts and more. The cost is $47.95 for adults and $25.95 for children under 12.
Oasis Café (151 S. 500 East, 801-322-0404, OasisCafeSLC.com) will offer a brunch buffet from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will also be open for dinner service with its regular menu. In addition to a wide selection of salads, pastries and desserts, the buffet will feature hot and cold entrées such as carved Prime rib, cheese blintzes with blueberry sauce, crab cakes with mango salsa, French toast with buttermilk glaze, maple-mustard salmon, shrimp-filled enchiladas and much more. The cost for brunch is $35 for adults and $18 for kids ages 3-10.
At Tuscany (2832 E. 6200 South, 801-277-9919, TuscanySLC.com) you have two shots to thrill your mom. They'll be offering Mother's Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ($49 for adults; $25 for children ages 12 and under) and Mother's Day "Grand Dinner" at 6 p.m. ($45 per person). The Tuscany brunch features Prime rib, carved ham and lamb, an omelet station, eggs Benedict, waffles, seafood, salads and pastries. Meanwhile, the set menu for the "Grand Dinner" includes items such as a spring spinach salad with feta cheese, baby heirloom tomatoes and sweet basil vinaigrette; filet mignon and poached lobster tail with saffron creamed potatoes, asparagus and garlic butter; plus a Tuscany dessert platter.
Finally, you can treat Mom South American-style at a couple of local Brazilian eateries around town. At Rodizio Grill (600 S. 700 East, Trolley Square, 801-220-0500, RodizioGrill.com), enjoy unlimited tableside carved meats, Brazilian hot and cold side dishes and salads, grilled salmon, brunch favorites and dessert for $29.99 per person (all moms receive a $15 gift certificate for a future visit).
Too many moms will have to work on Mother's Day. If that's the case, Tucanos Brazilian Grill (162 S. 400 West, The Gateway, 801-456-2550, Tucanos.com) has them covered. On Friday, May 6, Tucanos will host Mother's Day lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ($19.95), followed by an early Mother's Day dinner ($29.95) on Friday, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., and again on Saturday, May 7. Special Mother's Day selections include center-cut bacon-wrapped sirloin, prime rib, grilled shrimp and hand-dipped chocolate Brazilian truffles, in addition to the full selection of churrasco meats, seafood and unlimited salads and sides.
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there, and thanks for all you do!
