Where to Dine for Mother’s Day Brunch (and more)

The art of truly spoiling your mother on Mother’s Day is a time-tested way of ensuring better presents for the rest of the year. There are so many kinds of mothers, though, that it can take a determined child (or set of children) to really make Mother’s Day fly. As usual, Los Angeles offers a multitude of options from drinking brunch with Mom to enjoying a shrimp jambalaya set to the sounds of a gospel choir singing “Halleluiah!” Here’s a list of good ways of making sure that someone takes your Christmas wish list a little more seriously this year – spoil her first, get spoiled later.

If the lady is of the quintessential Beverly Hills-ilk, look no further than the Montage Beverly Hills. For brunch ($95, $25 for kids), they’re offering a buffet, Krug Champagne, and a special gift for Mom in the Marquesa ballroom while lunch is served at Parq restaurant with choices like Corn Agnolotti and Roasted Halibut washed down with more Krug champagne ($85, $25 for kids). You may be all about Slow Food, but Mom rooted for Marcel on Top Chef and memorized every step to sous-vide. A molecular gastronomic like her deserves brunch at Tres by Jose Andres at the SLS Hotel. For $48, go with a Cava Mimosa, a Croissantini, and Olive Mini Pancakes or forgo brunch for Afternoon Tea at $26 per person.

[Photo: Parq at the Montage, Beverly Hills.]

If Mom is a classical music buff, indulge her with Mother’s Day brunch at the Blue Ribbon Garden at Walt Disney Concert Hall ($58; $15 for kids under 12). Way up above street level and set within a beautiful garden, you’ll find two brunch/lunch seatings offering French toast, Crispy Crab Cakes, Smoked Salmon Crepes, and the ever-important glass of Champagne. For the woman who mixes maternal instincts with a Latin flair, Ciudad has planned a Mother’s Day that requires a designated driver – Bottomless Mimosas (the trick is to mention DowntownLA.com). To eat, there's Artichoke and Goat Cheese, Mini-Brie and Spot Prawn Quesadillas, and a Roasted Prime Rib ($39).

Super cool Moms (that don’t live in Silver Lake) will be particularly pleased by the three-course menu at chef Eric Greenspan’s The Foundry on Melrose ($39). From Soft Scrambled Eggs to Cauliflower Soup and a serving of Sourdough French Toast, Mom and her complimentary glass of champagne will be wrapped around your little finger. Moms for whom 5PM is not dinner, but happy hour, try Drago Centro’s 6 course Mother’s Day Dinner ($75). Start with Fiore di Zucchino, tuck into a Roasted Lamb with Artichokes, and before you know it, you’ll be savoring a Chocolate Terrine with Praline and Vanilla Crème.

Environmentally friendly Moms will have already enjoyed the menu at Akasha, which is why taking advantage of their Mother’s Day brunch, with Ricotta Pancakes, Huevos (or tofu) Rancheros, and egg, bacon, goat cheese pizza is not only tactical, but delicious. Their “make your own Bloody Mary bar” may render the rest of these suggestions null and void. Any Mom that enjoys having a good time, live music, and Southern cuisine will think you really went the extra mile booking at the House of Blues Mother’s Day Gospel Brunch. For $38, choose between Cornbread muffins, pecan caramel sticky buns, and Creole chicken while a vivacious gospel choir does their thing on stage – or don’t choose at all and pile your plate high. Like Mom says, you’re still growing.

For the mother who shops at the same stores as her daughter (no judgment), perhaps indulge her youthful “glow” with brunch at the W Hotel’s Backyard in Westwood. From fresh Blueberry Scones to Dungeness Crab with Mac’n’Cheese, you’ll make Mom feel oh so young again. Young-at-heart Moms will also be thrilled to hear you’ve booked a table for her at Katsuya where she can indulge in some Champagne alongside that rock shrimp.

Any mother who doesn’t mind overhearing an obscenity or two from the kitchen might enjoy spending her special day at Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood. On Saturday, you and mom can pop in for an English Afternoon Tea Master Class ($350 for two) to learn all about fluffy scones and those tiny sandwiches or on Sunday stop by for a less labor-intensive brunch (with bottomless Bloody Marys) in their Hampton Court ($85). Moms ranging from over-protective to laissez-faire would find something to love at Michael’s Mother’s Day Brunch in Santa Monica. Start with Oysters and Sugar Snap Pea Soup and move toward some famous Blueberry Pancakes or a Petit Prime Filet.

Old-school Angeleno mums (no, we didn’t call you old) would be interested one of the Chayas – in Venice enjoy bottomless mimosas and a menu of highly healthy fare like King Salmon in Brown Rice with Bok Choy, while in Beverly Hills, she can order up a Grapefruit, Avocado, Fennel Salad and Pappardelle with Kobe Beef. Head downtown if you think she’d prefer a three-course brunch with Albacore Carpaccio, Grilled Flatbreads with Ham, and a Valrhona Chocolate Brownie. (Note: Moms tend to like anything that starts with Valrhona Chocolate.)

For extra credit, try starting Mother’s Day the Friday before (May 7) at the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills. From 7 – 9PM and for $50/person, enjoy a chocolate, cheese, and Champagne pairing with Teuscher Chocolates. The store will be open and ready to charm Mom on Sunday as well, if the mood strikes for a wine and cheese sampling of a Santa Barbara rose. — Nicole Campoy-Leffler