Honor thy mother, dear readers, and that means you’ve got until Sunday to get your act together. Now here’s the rub: Everyone wants to take their mom out to eat for Mother’s Day, thus making it a classic overcrowding situation. Here are a few suggestions, with one caveat: Make reservations when possible.
You might have good luck downtown since there are at least 19 restaurants there that have special brunch, lunch and dinner menus for Mother’s Day, according to Downtown Cincinnati Inc. For example, Via Vite on Fountain Square (513-721-8483) is offering two courses for $21. The choices include breakfast pizza with egg, pancetta, spinach and fontina — sounds classy. More traditional is the full carving stations and all the extras at the Palm Court (513-421-9100). Gorgeous décor and I’ve never eaten a piece of their pastry that didn’t make me say, “Wow.” It’s $43.95 for adults, $32.95 for grandmothers (hey, they were mothers first) and $18.95 for children.
If your mom’s favorite part of brunch is the Bloody Mary, then head a few blocks north to the Gateway Quarter, where Lavomatic (513-621-1999) has brunch with a twist (or an olive) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. If Mom’s a true carnivore, Boi Na Braza (513-421-7111), the Brazilian steakhouse in the Carew Tower, has a full meal with dessert for $37.50 from noon until 8:45 p.m. She’ll get the added bonus of looking at those handsome gauchos with their big skewers of meat.
Musical mamas will appreciate Fort Thomas’ Vito’s Café (859-442-9444) and their special brunch from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Dishes like crab meat hash with peppers, onions and three eggs make music for your taste buds, while Piano Pete and the singers make music for your ears. Or try the 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Holiday Jazz Brunch buffet at Downtown’s Washington Platform (513-421-0110), where it’s swingtime courtesy of The Mike Sharfe Trio.
The menu sounds pretty amazing at Bella Luna (513- 871-5862), with everything from salmon carpaccio to prime rib or pork roast. Cornetto with prosciutto and mozzarella, pasta marinara with meatballs, chicken sausage with peppers and onions, eggplant and zucchini pie, clams oreganato … whew! I can barely write this without drooling.
Northside is another good destination point for Mom’s Day. This neighborhood is food heaven, and between Honey (513-541-4300), Take the Cake Cafe (513-241-2772) and Melt (513-681-6358) there's a menu with your mom’s name on it. Healthy moms will love Melt’s vegetarian and vegan choices, like sweet potato tempeh hash with steamed kale and roasted veggies. Honey offers dishes like braised pork belly over soft creamy polenta, wilted baby spinach and sunny-side-up egg. if mom’s got a sweet tooth, Take the cake will have a dessert that will blow her mind, but their entrees are incredible, too — cinnamon-bun French toast bread pudding or shrimp and grits scampi-style. Plus, they open early, at 9 a.m. Beat the rush!
For the locavore mom, and I know she’s out there, there’s brunch at Nectar (513-929-0525) in Mount Lookout, with dishes like a wild mushroom omelet with gruyere cheese and a potato croquette or banana buttermilk pancakes with double smoked bacon.
So give your mom a hug from me. And save this list! Father’s Day is June 20 and dads need love, too.
CONTACT ANNE MITCHELL: [email protected]
