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For the second year in a row, extenuating circumstances have kept Mother’s Day celebrations relatively low-key. Instead of corralling the whole fam to an overcrowded brunch buffet, this year’s options include everything from intimate cocktail classes and at-home pastry workshops to luxe brunch to-go, as well as civilized, socially distanced reservations, all with nary an omelette station in sight.
Book a Table
The Logan’s rooftop lounge is offering a boozy high tea to celebrate Mother’s Day. The $55 per person prix fixe menu includes eight sweet and savory bites, a tea-inspired cocktail, plus some family-portrait-worthy backdrops of the Parkway. Reservations are required.
Brunch at Old City’s Fork is always a special occasion, but on Sunday, May 9, the kitchen is adding a couple of extras to the exemplary lineup, including a seasonal scramble featuring spring onions and asparagus and citrus ricotta pancakes. Inside and outside reservations are available through OpenTable.
With more than 4,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor dining situated in the heart of Main Line shopping destination Suburban Square, heading to brunch at the recently debuted Lola’s Garden is a solid Mother’s Day bet. Chef Andrew Wood of the dearly departed BYOB Russet is heading up this sizable new venture, and the brunch menu — available Saturday and Sunday — is packed with crowd-pleasers like Dutch baby pancakes, French omelets, and buttermilk biscuits. Book here.
Chef Christopher Kearse is celebrating Mother’s Day with a prix fixe three-course brunch, available by reservation only. Choose sunny seating on Chestnut Street, or opt for a table in the dining room and then dig into a menu of savory topped toasts, springtime quiches and soups, and potato rosti finished with smoked salmon.
Often places that traffic in bottomless brunch aren’t exactly focused on the food, but this indoor-outdoor Mexican eatery on West Passyunk pairs flowing mimosas with a menu of truly excellent daytime eats. If mom’s wishlist includes all-you-can-drink brunch cocktails, the kitchen at La Llorona ensures that each table will be properly primed with complimentary baskets of Mexican pastries, birria tacos, and egg and chorizo filled chimichangas.
The South Street wine bar is breaking out the bubbles in honor of Mother’s Day. In addition to a sea of sparkling wine offerings by the glass and bottle, Jet is welcoming Le Bec Fin alum and Chopped champ Gregory Headon for a Mother’s Day pop-up. Reservations available via email.
Brunch is a family affair in the hidden garden of this Fishtown oasis. A selection of breads and spreads kick off the meal, then guests choose from mains like New Caledonian prawns, Lebanese omelets, and kebabs. Make the meal a special occasion with a large format brunch punch. Reservations are available through Resy.
Hotel brunch is a perennial Mother’s Day win, and Urban Farmer at the Logan doesn’t disappoint. The a la carte menu is full of special occasion fare from sharable seafood towers to lobster Benedict, and a couple of bubbly cocktails made just for the occasion. Reservations are available online.
Jose Garces’ Old City tapas spot is going all out for a family-style Mother’s Day. This serious spread puts a Spanish flare on standard brunch fare with dishes like gambas and grits and fig French toast finished with Pedro Ximenez sherry. The prix fixe menu is $40 per person and can be reserved through OpenTable.
Buffets might be off the table for the moment but the Sofitel’s Liberté Lounge is keeping the spirit alive with a family-style brunch complete with a roving table-side Bloody Mary bar. Liberté is serving everything from Caesars and charcuterie to prime rib, shrimp cocktails, and wealth of desserts options. Brunch is $75 per person and can be reserved via OpenTable.
Rittenhouse has no shortage of daytime dining destinations, but if you’re in the market to treat your mom to brunch that goes beyond basic Benedicts, a Mother’s Day seat at the Love is in order. Aleppo dusted hush puppies and Sriracha bacon candy starters set the stage for inspired mains like pistachio orange ricotta ravioli and a posh brunch of truffled eggs with brioche.
Brunch at Home
For those who would prefer to keep the festivities close to home, High Street Philly is crafting four course to-go brunch boxes built for two. The price is $90 and the menu begins with orange cardamom morning buns and finishes up with a springy rhubarb clafoutis. Preorder via Tock by Wednesday, May 5 and pick up anytime on Saturday, May 8.
Vernick Fish has created an intimate raw bar experience built for two. Reserve the $85 package in advance, pick up on May 8, and look forward to arctic char tartare with gaufrette chips, seafood antipasto, and a confit yellowfin salad. A handpicked menu of paired wines is available to complement the meal.
Mother’s Day is the ideal excuse to splurge on a brunch board from Philadelphia’s newest smoked fish specialist. Available for preorder through Clover, four or six person platters begin with bagels, three kinds of salmon served with appropriate accoutrement, plus assorted cupcakes from Sweet Tooth bakery. For those looking to score extra points with their respective mothers, multiple levels of luxe caviar add-ons are available. Pick up on Sunday, May 9.
The good folks at AKA Rittenhouse are offering a little something extra for those opting for an in-town staycation. Guests staying overnight can enjoy a two-course brunch served in AKA’s rooms with idyllic Rittenhouse views. The menu is coming from A.kitchen chef Eli Collins and includes all sorts of appealing a.m. offerings from black tea sticky buns to lemon-curd-topped cornmeal pancakes. Brunch is $35 per person for two courses.
Abe Fisher is boxing up all of the trappings of a great Mother’s Day brunch with its platter for two. The $49 platter, available for pick up on Saturday,May 8, includes onion and poppyseed topped pretzels along with nova lox, whitefish salad, house made boursin cheese, plus Meyer lemon poppy cake and an add your own sparkling wine mimosa mixer.
With locations spread throughout Center City, South Philly, and the Main Line, Di Bruno Bros. has Mother’s Day catering sorted for much of the greater Philadelphia area. Their customizable menu generously feeds six and has enough variety to keep the whole family happy. Thoughtful add-ons like flower arrangements, paired wines, and cocktails are available. Order by Tuesday, May 4 and pick up on Saturday, May 8.
Gifts, Classes, and Shareable Experiences
Four Seasons is a one-stop-shop for mom-centric gifts. The hotel’s talented pastry department has a raspberry rose Charlotte, a red fruit tart topped with edible flowers, and adorable ladybug bonbons available for preorder alongside show-stopping bouquets from the in-house floral team.
Gin-loving moms and their kin can head to New Liberty Distilling for an afternoon of hands-on cocktail making and a lighthearted lesson on boozy history. During the three afternoon sessions attendees will be mixing up updated takes on an Aviation and a Gin Fizz. Tickets available online.
Kennett Square’s beloved BYOB is offering a few options for moms who would prefer an edible experience over an Edible Arrangement. Take home Talula’s brunch for four and enjoy personal frittatas, black pepper bacon and strawberry crepes, or opt for a cheese and charcuterie tote packed with a selection of curated local treats.
For those who would prefer to leave dessert to the pros, Lil Pop Shop is on the case with a trio of pies to preorder. Choose from double lemon, jumble berry crumble, or a chocolate chip cookie pie served with a pint of Weckerly’s vanilla ice cream. Order by Thursday, May 6 to schedule a Saturday or Sunday pickup.
Sisterly Love Citywide Food Fair
There are a couple of ways to celebrate the Saturday before Mother’s Day at the Sisterly Love Citywide Food Fair. Either grab your mom and take a spin around the roving food market on May 8 where it’s popping up at East Market, or assemble a day of celebrations from an assortment of women-owned vendors including Lil Pop Shop and Charcuterie Chic.
Parc pastry chef Abby Dahan’s recently launched Bake School is hosting a pre-Mother’s Day virtual baking class. On Thursday,May 6, the Paris-trained Dahan will be guiding students through the steps of making a French strawberry cake called a Frasier. A link for registration and ingredient shopping list can be found here.
Those in the market for a sweet and charitable way to celebrate Mother’s Day should head to 9th Street on May 9 to sample a limited run of gelato pops from Kalaya chef-owner Nok Suntaranon and Homemade by Bruno’s Janine Bruno. The two chefs have joined forces to craft a pair of Thai popsicles debuting on May 9 at Kalaya and Kalaya Thai Market. Proceeds from the tamarind and chili flavored pops are going to AnaOno, a local company making mastectomy bras for breast cancer survivors.
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