Flowers, jewelry, chocolate, massage certificates… the classic Mother’s Day gift bundle. None of those, however, beat brunch. The meandering lines and crowds around restaurants you witnessed year after year were not your imagination — Mother’s Day has consistently ranked as the most popular holiday for dining out. Here are 20+ restaurants throughout the Bay Area offering special menus and items. Snag a spot while you can!
Featured Photo: The Bungalow Kitchen
San Francisco
Berber
Berber will offer their first Moroccan high-tea party on Sunday, May 8, for Mother’s Day, and adds a contemporary twist to this royal high-tea brunch — a spiced tea flight, caviar and North African bubbly, and surprise live musical performances. For dinner, a four-course prix-fixe menu will be offered, paired with a variety of contemporary cirque acts. Seating is designed in a cabaret-style layout, so every table has a full view of the round stage. It’s perfect for date nights, special occasions, and intimate meals with friends and family. berbersf.com
Bluestem Restaurant & Market
Bluestem Restaurant & Market has introduced a new make-at-home mix version of their legendary Brown Butter Cornbread with Honey Butter providing a fun activity for budding new chefs to make with Mom for brunch on her special day. $15 for mix online order or pick-up in market Tuesday through Saturday, 9am to 8pm. bluestemsf.com
Cafe Zoetrope
Cafe Zoetrope will be offering Mother’s Day Special Packages both to-go for delivery featuring braised brisket with mustard sauce and banana and dulce de leche bread pudding. cafezoetrope.com
Canela Bistro & Wine Bar
Canela is offering a “Mom’s Night Off – Dinner Meal Kit” to-go that feeds four for $195. The meal comes chilled with simple reheating instructions — so simple, even the kids can do it! The restaurant is also offering wine and retail specials. canelasf.com
Colibri Mexican Bistro
The restaurant, formerly in SF Union Square, reopened at Presidio Officers’ Club and is offering a Mother’s Day special: complimentary mimosas for all moms on May 8. Special homemade chilaquiles are also on the brunch menu. colibrimexicanbistro.com
Fairmont San Francisco
Fairmont San Francisco will be toasting Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 8, with a decadent brunch and a signature “Mom-inspired” guest package. Mom will swoon over an elegant buffet designed for celebration. Enjoy a special day to honor the ones you love. Select from two seating times – 12pm and 3pm (Seating currently available only at 3pm). Adult Price $139.00 Child – $89.00 (excluding 20% Service Charge and 8.625% Tax). Moms will also be enchanted by the flower stand pop-up set in the handsome lobby on Mother’s Day. fairmont-san-francisco.com
Greens Restaurant
Dine out for Mother’s Day at the vegetarian eatery at historic Fort Mason Center with views of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge. Special brunch, plus complimentary flowers for all mother figures, runs 10:30am to 2:30pm Sunday, May 8. greensrestaurant.com
International Smoke
Michael Mina & Ayesha Curry turn Mother’s Day into a weekend-long celebration, featuring two holiday specials alongside its à la carte dinner menu from May 6 – May 8. Specials include a Chicken & Waffle dish with crispy croquette, buttermilk waffle, pea tendrils and Sambal-maple syrup ($24) and an indulgent Maine Lobster Udon Carbonara with smoked pork belly, hen egg and parmesan ($42). Choose from the restaurant’s full menu and other International Smoke signatures like the Truffle Caesar, Wood-Fired Salmon, Maine Lobster Mac N Cheese and the Devil’s Food Dark Chocolate Cake. internationalsmoke.com
KAIYO Cow Hollow
Come for a prix-fixe, two-course Mother’s Day brunch ($38 per person from 11am to 3pm) from Chef Alex Reccio. Choices of karaage-style chicken & waffles, plus vegetarian and vegan options. Dinner service (5pm to 9pm) will feature some Mother’s Day specials as well. kaiyosf.com/cow-hollow
La Mar Cebicheria Peruana
Mother’s Day buffet is planned for 10:30am to 2:30pm at this Peruvian restaurant ($109 per person/$39 for children 12 & under), with stations featuring causa and salads, empanadas, ceviche and entree choices including catch of the day, stir-fried portobello mushroom, linguini and conchitas, and grilled Maine diver scallops. Includes dessert, too. lamarsf.com
Lazy Susan
For all the moms out there, Lazy Susan will be offering a condiment-duo gift (jar of Umami Crunch & jar of LS Sriracha) with all purchases of $30 or more through the extended Mother’s Day weekend (May 6 through May 8). All guests have to do is add the duo to their cart and apply the promo code “MomsRock” to receive the complimentary package. lazysusanchinese.com
McCormick & Schmick's
Treat her to some bubbly and celebrate Mom all week. A special Mother’s Day signature cocktail is available now through Mother’s Day. mccormickandschmicks.com
Palette Tea House
The creative team at Palette Tea House has been working hard to create new dishes, putting together an exclusive list of specials in time for Mother’s Day. They will also have a special gift included for lobster and caviar orders. Reservations are now available on their website, as well as Yelp Reservations. paletteteahouse.com
VILLON at the San Francisco Proper Hotel
Join the San Francisco Proper for a very special Mother’s Day in their newly reopened restaurant, Villon, a sophisticated gathering place dressed in dramatic design. Enjoy a decadent brunch buffet on May 8 by Executive Chef Jason Fox, featuring live stations and vegetarian options. Villon’s Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet is priced at $115 per person. Featured Drinks: Bloody Mary & Mimosa Cart (for an additional fee). Reservations are available between 11am-4pm. properhotel.com
WILDER
Mother’s Day plans include a free flower bouquet (or add $10 option for premium bouquet), Instagrammable flower wall, specialty cocktails, plus dishes such as crab cake Benedict ($22), steak & eggs ($35), $1.50 oysters, uni carbonara pasta with truffles ($35) or whole lobster with red potatoes, asparagus & lemon garlic butter sauce ($96). wildersf.com
East Bay
alley & vine
For Mother’s Day brunch (11am to 2:30pm) on Sunday, May 8, alley & vine will offer a three-course menu with multiple options including a special kids menu to satisfy all the young ones in tow. Look for celebratory standouts like Dungeness Crab Cake served with a caper remoulade and frisee salad and Manjari Chocolate Pot de Creme. alleyandvine.com
North Bay
The Bungalow Kitchen
Treat Mom to a brunch across the Bay at The Bungalow Kitchen by Michael Mina in Tiburon. Along with The Bungalow Kitchen’s signature prix fixe brunch offering, the restaurant will be offering a luxe Bagel Service for two for $125, presented on a show-stopping multi-level tray filled with all the necessary accouterments — including Osetra Caviar, west coast Oysters, shrimp cocktail, salmon gravlax, and a smoked fish dish — to make the perfect brunch bagel. Brunch is available from 11am to 2:30pm on Saturday and Sunday. bungalowkitchen.com
Gravity Tavern
Dine in this hospitality-driven tavern with rich leather seats, velvet banquets, wing chairs and dark walnut woodwork. Locally-sourced foods are served and custom cocktails flow in the spirit of the 19th century golden era. For Mother’s Day, a Prime Rib Special will be served beginning at 5pm. gravitytavern.com
Johnny Doughnuts
Surprise Mom with a Mother’s Day Gift Box ($40), featuring limited-edition Blueberry Crumble Raised Doughnut, decorated with a real mini flower bouquet. Also included: Lime Poppyseed; Brown Butter Cake; Chocolate Salted Caramel Old Fashioned; Classic Glaze; and Raspberry Bismark. Available for pick-up Sunday, May 8. johnnydoughnuts.com
Left Bank Brasserie
Make Mom’s day and book a reservation at Left Bank. Enjoy a four-course prix fixe showcasing the best of spring. The Day Boat Scallops with artisan polenta, micro pea shoots, pickled spring onions, and brown butter sauce will have mom saying “wow!” leftbank.com
South Bay
Amoura
Popular family-owned Eastern Mediterranean restaurant in South San Francisco will be opening for Mother’s Day to celebrate with mezze, kebabs and their entire à la carte menu. A number of Mother’s Day specials will also be offered, including: classic Eggs Benedict, Salmon & Prawns with Garlic Lemon Sauce or Grilled Lamb Chops. Beverage options include $15 Bottomless Mimosas or a $12 Za’atar Blood Mary. amourasf.com
Aurum
In Los Altos, Aurum will be celebrating moms with a four-course menu ($60). In addition to the special menu, moms will also be met upon entry with a special surprise! A highlight from the menu is this absolutely stunning Dahi poori mousse. Vegetarian alternatives are available for all courses. aurumca.com
iChina
Crafted by Executive Chef Eddie Lam and his talented culinary team, these Chef’s Specials will only be offered during lunch service on Mother’s Day. Some of the specials guests can expect include iChina Sheng Jian Bao, Sizzled Hamachi Crudo, Dungeness Crab Benedict, Seared Dayboat Scallops, Taiwanese Braised Beef Short Rib Pappardelle, Wagyu steak and Eggs and more. ichinarestaurant.com
ROOH
The two Bay Area Indian restaurants are offering Mother’s Day special dishes — Kolkata Jackfruit Cutlet & Mango Leches Cake (with saffron rabri mousse & gold flake on top). The Kolkata Jackfruit Cutlet (young jackfruit, potatoes, green chilies, onion, tomatoes, ginger, breadcrumbs, roasted chickpea flour & spices) was Chef Pujan’s childhood delicacy made by his mom. roohrestaurants.com
Wild Onion Bistro & Bar
Celebrate mom over Wild Onion’s new brunch menu, featuring all of her favorite dishes like Fresh Berry Pancakes, Challah French Toast with Bailey Irish Creme Anglaise and Wild Onion’s Eggs Benedict. All of Chef Ray Garrow’s brunch entrees include a choice of Mimosas or Michelada — a treat not just for mom! Cocktails do take center stage on the Wild Onion menu and mom can enjoy everything from Wild Onion’s Signature Tomatillo Bloody Mary to several kinds of Mimosas (Classic, Blood Orange and Hibiscus Ginger) or Bellini with peach, pear, raspberry and strawberry. Special offers for mom include a “mom-mosa bouquet” (mom gets to select a pour from three flavors — hibiscus ginger, rose, orange blossom honey suckle — or can enjoy all three for $20) and a special gift from San Francisco’s SOMA Small Batch Goods. Brunch from 11am to 2pm. hotelcitrine.com/dining
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