Eight Local Restaurants to Celebrate Mother's Day
Mother’s Day is Sunday, Ma7 8. Treat the moms in your life like the queens they are—and to an excellent meal.
Big Cat Habitat
May 8, 10 a.m.-noon, 7101 Palmer Boulevard, Sarasota, (941) 371-6377, bigcathabitat.org
Spend your morning with some big cats at Big Cat Habitat. Kick things off with a brunch prepared by Clean Plate Club SRQ’s Chef Jarek Dymek plus a mimosa bar. Then get your stretch on with a 30-minute Yoga With Tigers session led by Erika Cain.
Cafe Baci
May 8, 4001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 921-4848, cafebacisarasota.com
Get it before it’s gone! An Italian-cuisine staple in Sarasota, Cafe Baci will be serving its last plates on Mother’s Day, after being in business for two decades. Make it a meal to remember and start things off with a little antipasto—caprese, calamari, and prosciutto—and a salad. Then choose from chicken, pasta or veal for your main course. Finally, indulge in tiramisu, creme brulee or tartufo for dessert.
Fiorelli Winery
May 7-8, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., 4250 Waterbury Road, Bradenton, (941) 322-0976, fiorelliwinery.com
Visit 7.5 acres of vineyard while you enjoy brunch at Fiorelli Winery. A special Mother’s Day menu will be available throughout Mother's Day wekend. Saturday’s menu includes scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage, and assorted pastries. On Sunday, visit the build-your-own omelet station and grab a piece of French toast casserole with maple syrup and bananas foster sauce. No matter which day you choose to dine, you can enjoy bottomless peach fizzes or blueberry sangrias.
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse
May 7-8; 2001 Siesta Drive, Sarasota, (941) 358-9463, flemingssteakhouse.com
Treat your mother—or yourself—to a three-course dining experience at Fleming’s. Begin your meal with a Caesar or house salad before enjoying an entree of petite filet mignon and crab-stuffed shrimp scampi or petite filet mignon and lobster tail scampi. Wrap things up with a decadent dessert—chocolate gooey butter cake, New York cheesecake or Key lime pie.
Mixon Farms
May 8, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 2525 27th St E, Bradenton, (941) 748-5829, mixon.com
What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than with brunch and a view? At Mixon Farms, dine on brown sugar-glazed salmon, mini quiches and orange swirl ice cream while overlooking the farm’s beautiful koi pond and orange groves. Look forward to live entertainment and a half-hour tram ride through the bamboo garden—and, of course, there will be mimosas, too.
Pineapple Kitchen
May 7, 12 p.m.-2:30pm; 4914 Lena Road, Unit 104, Bradenton, (941) 254-1763, pineapplekitchen.com
Get the festivities started early with a pre-Mother’s Day luncheon at Pineapple Kitchen. Expect wine, whiskey and chocolate pairings, along with a three-course meal of charcuterie, tea sandwiches and cake. And make sure you wear your best tea-time-appropriate hat for a chance to win the best hat competition.
Reserve Retreat
May 8 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., 1322 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 253-6003, thereserveretreat.com
Live music, bottomless mimosas and delicious food—yes, please! All of this, along with a casual, fine-dining experience can be enjoyed at Reserve Retreat. Choose from brunch classics like avocado toast and eggs Benedict, or take a trip under the sea with grouper tacos and seared ahi tuna.
Vernona Gourmet Market, Restaurant & Lounge
May 8; 40 S. Boulevard of the Presidents, Sarasota, (941) 254-5877, vernonagourmet.com
In the mood to try something new? Vernona is serving up familiar flavors and traditional Hungarian home-cooking. Treat your palate to the bakonyi mushroom crepes or chicken paprikash. And in honor of Mother’s Day, the eatery will be offering a free glass of wine to every mother and buy-one-get-one bottomless mimosas to the rest of the dining party.