Without hyperbole, Mother’s Day is the biggest brunch day of the year.
In a typical year, it's a blessing and a curse for restaurant owners. On one hand, sales are brisk on high-margin brunch items. On the other, Mother's Day service tends to be an all-hands-on-deck slugfest for everyone in the restaurant, from the kitchen to the waitstaff to management.
This year, as the effects of the coronavirus pandemic continue to percolate, you’d be hard-pressed to find a restaurant owner who would turn down even the most demanding Mother’s Day service. Many restaurants are opting to remain closed for the next few weeks and state-enforced occupancy restrictions will keep numbers low at the restaurants that will be open.
But restaurant owners are a creative bunch, and with a bit of time to prepare, many Atlanta eateries have created fun and interesting Mother’s Day takeout options. Read on for our list, and if you don’t see a favorite restaurant here, be sure to check social media or give the restaurant a call to see what they have to offer. Don’t be shy about making requests - these unprecedented times have brought about unprecedented flexibility in restaurant kitchens. With a little lead time, nearly any restaurant open for takeout should be able to create a wonderful experience for the mom in your life.
Soiree Catering - The Underwood Hills-based caterer is taking orders for pickup or delivery on Mother's Day, with options like breakfast in bed, Louise's seafood pot pie, ham or beef tenderloin. Meals range in price $65-$110, and a hand-tied bouquet from K+Co Floral can be added for an additional $30. Call 404-467-1699 to order.
City Winery - The Ponce City Market restaurant and performance venue is offering a unique Mother's Day gift through a program called "This One's For You, Mom." In addition to options like chef-prepared meals or cases of wine, City Winery has arranged for a wide list of musicians to be available to give your mom a special shoutout and play her a personalized mini-concert. Artists include Macy Gray, Lisa Loeb, Steve Earle, Joan Osborne and more. The musical gift costs $150 and all orders can be placed at City Winery's website, citywinery.com.
Proof of the Pudding - West Midtown catering specialists Proof of the Pudding are offering a range of Mother's Day packages, from breakfast in bed to a taste of Italy to a chance to spoil your mom beef tenderloin and potato Dauphinoise. The five different package options, each designed to serve four, range in price $60-$108 and add-ons like cocktail kits are also available. To place an order, call 404-892-2359 or visit proofatl.square.site.
South City Kitchen - Order a charming Southern brunch from South City Kitchen this Mother's Day. The restaurant's Mother's Day package includes biscuits, muffins, butter, chocolate chip cookies and choice of entree, including smoked brisket and a zucchini tomato frittata. Available add-ons include fried chicken, mimosas or a floral bouquet from Bold Design's floral atelier. Place orders by May 7 to pick up on May 9 by emailing Sarah Shaheen at sshaheen@fifthgroup.com. Pickup points will be South City Kitchen's locations in Midtown, Vinings and Buckhead and at the Original El Taco in Virginia-Highland.
Oak Steakhouse - What says "Mother's Day" more than a family-style meal? Oak Steakhouse is offering heat-at-home Mother's Day meals designed to serve either two or four, with a choice of entree, salad, bread, sides and a dessert. For the non-moms nervous about turning on the oven, the kitchen team at Oak will provide heating instructions. Email oakmothersday@gmail.com to order by Wednesday, May 6, at 1 p.m. Pickup will be available May 9, from 4-8 p.m. and May 10 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Ray's Restaurants - They've already melted your mom's heart on Instagram with a riverside 20th wedding anniversary celebration, so you might as well order Mother's Day brunch from them, too. Both Ray's on the River and Ray's at Killer Creek are offering a family-style meal for four for $195, with options to add on flowers, mimosa kits and wine. To order, call Ray's on the River at 770-955-1187 or Ray's at Killer Creek at 770-649-0064. Curbside pickup will be available on May 8 and 9 from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Doughnut Dollies - For anyone who inherited a sweet tooth from their mom, check out this all-doughnut picnic box from Doughnut Dollies, the gourmet doughnut shop with locations in Marietta and West Midtown. The picnic-themed half-dozen includes limited flavors like fig and brie, blackberry cornbread and Arnold Palmer. Mother's Day boxes are available by preorder only; to place an order, visit mydoughnutdollies.com.
Star Provisions Market & Cafe - If your mom is missing her Star Provisions fix, the market and cafe has come to her rescue for Mother's Day. The West Midtown shop and restaurant combo has nine — yes, nine — themed gift baskets to choose from, each filled with an assortment of chocolates, small gifts, gourmet food items and more. Order online by visiting starprovisions.squarespace.com; pickup is available April 25, May 2 and May 9 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Castellucci Hospitality Group - The Castellucci's constellation of restaurants has a wide variety of offerings available for celebrating mom this year. Each of the CHG restaurants is selling meal and gift packages, and the group has partnered with local florist and designer Amy Osaba and the card company Paper Source to offer special bouqets and greeting cards for the occasion. Here are the options available at each restaurant:
- Cooks & Soldiers: Mother's Day fried chicken and pinxto basket, a mimosa party kit or various wine party boxes. Order at cooksandsoldiers.com.
- The Iberian Pig (Buckhead and Decatur locations): Mother's Day paella and lomo tapas basket, meat and cheese board, and various wine and cocktail party boxes. Order at theiberianpigatl.com.
- Bar Mercado: Mother's Day roasted chicken picnic basket and various sizes of wine and cocktail party boxes. Order at barmercadoatl.com.
- Double Zero: Festa della Mamma chicken parmesan and lasagna family meal, various pizzas, cocktail kits for Aperol spritzes, bellinis and mimosas and wine party boxes. Order at doublezeroatl.com.
- Sugo: Festa della Mamma chicken parmesan and lasagna family meal, cocktail kits for bellinis and mimosas and wine party boxes. Order at sugorestaurant.com.
- Recess: Mother's Day roasted salmon picnic and mimosa kit for four. Order by emailing Lauren Castellucci at lauren@chgrestaurants.com.
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