Beyond Brunch For Mom’s Day
Moms who dine at Il Lupino on Mother’s Day recieve a gift jar of its homemade Pomodoro Sauce. Jo McGarry photo
Mother’s Day is a day to brunch, although I’ve always thought that dinner is the meal from which most mothers would appreciate a break.
And while this coming Sunday’s brunch business will be the busiest of the year for many restaurants, I’m happy to report a trend toward Mother’s Day dining at steakhouses and fine-dining restaurants, and a big increase in the number of Mother’s Day dinner options available.
If you’re out of brunch options, here are some recommendations that might suit your mom.
At Wolfgang’s Steak House, you can celebrate with some of the dishes that have made the Waikiki restaurant such a huge success. A thick slice of bacon as an appetizer, garlic mashed potatoes, jumbo lump crab cakes and petite filets are a few of the choices on the Mother’s Day lunch menu. For $59.95, guests enjoy a three-course lunch with a slice of straight-from-New York City cheesecake. Be sure to make reservations for this one, as the restaurant usually sells out (922-3600).
Sticking with the steak houses (you can tell where this mom is headed for Mother’s Day), longtime favorite Hy’s is offering a Sunday lunch May 12, with Lobster Bisque, Crab-stuffed Mushrooms, Kiawe Grilled Lamb Chops and Prime Rib as just a few of its special menu items. With seatings at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., you can treat Mom to a hefty breakfast or a lingering lunch.
And if you haven’t been to the stately steakhouse in a while, this might be the perfect day to remind yourself what’s made this restaurant a lasting, well-loved Honolulu favorite for decades. Three-course menu with a dozen different choices costs $56. (922-5555).
Ground floor at Royal Hawaiian Center, Il Lupino Trattoria and Wine Bar is offering breakfast, lunch and dinner for moms who enjoy first-class food in an elegant environment. Il Lupino has all the glorious hustle and bustle you’d expect from a big-city Italian restaurant, and on the menu you’ll find Marinated Grilled Lamb Chops, Osso Bucco with Saffron Risotto and Fresh Squid Ink Linguine topped with Calamari Stuffed Italian Sausage, and Spicy Pomodoro Sauce.
Added bonus at Il Lupino (and one that would put the restaurant high on my list of top spots this year) is a gift jar of the restaurant’s homemade Pomodoro Sauce, created by late former executive chef Nic Sayada (922-3400).
There’s no one who does fun family dining quite like Romano’s Macaroni Grill, and this year at the Ala Moana location moms are treated to roses and a chance to win a return trip for dinner along with a $100 gift certificate to Maui Divers (356-8300).
With so many dining options this year, you can pretty much guarantee that your family’s favorite restaurant will be open and offering something special.
And if shopping is high on your mom’s list of things to love, lunch at Stage Restaurant within Honolulu Design Center combines contemporary dishes in a super stylish environment.
The restaurant (usually closed Sundays) will open May 12 from 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to serve what may be one of the most elegant brunch buffets in town.
Including pastries and desserts, I noted more than 60 choices on the menu that includes omelet stations, carved strip loin, sushi stations, hot and cold buffets and a dozen different desserts, for $54.95 per person (237-5429).
Food, fine wine and furniture shopping – now that’s my kind of Mother’s Day.
Happy eating!
