Looking for the most up-to-date information? Click here for our 2012 Mother’s Day Brunch Guide.
While mothers' interests are as varied as the new fields of blooming spring flowers, it's safe to say all mothers will enjoy a personalized spin on the tasty, the sweet, and the extravagant. Whether you're pampering your mother, sister or wife, we have the Insider scoop on the best places to dine for Mother's Day in San Diego.
Treating the special mother in your life is no longer as simple as discovering where to brunch in San Diego. We live in the day and age of options, get with the program people!
Mothers who dine at Fleming’s will take home a bonus $25 gift card, just for being amazing moms. The waterfront Island Prime offers a stunning view of the downtown skyline and is serving up Blue Cheese Crusted Filets and Brownie Cheesecake for Mother’s Day. Anthology is paying tribute to your mom with a musical tribute to the top female R&B singers, served with a side of House Fried Chicken and Waffles. 333 Pacific is getting ready to pop bottles and serve flowing free champagne to all moms this Sunday. The Glass Door is going all out for mom this year by gifting every special lady with a hand-crafted card and fresh-cut flower on Mother’s Day. Big families with little tikes will love the Fun Kids Buffet at Red Marlin, especially when set to the back drop of sparkling Mission Bay.
From multi-course brunch menus to gourmet breakfast and lunch buffets, complimentary champagne and bonus gifts upon arrival, we compiled a list of our favorite restaurants for Mother’s Day.
2010 San Diego Mother’s Day Dining Guide.
Island Prime: Your mom will adore Island Prime’s stunning waterfront location, skyline and bay views and delicious three course menu this Mother’s Day. Begin with the Manchego Cheese Amuse and choose your pick of First Course options, including the Lobster Bisque with Spanish dry sherry and parmesan tuile; Fennel Crusted Diver Scallop with elephant garlic risotto, pancetta and basil oil; and Golden & Red Beet Salad with warm goat cheese, spicy candied walnuts and baby greens. Entrée options range from the Blue Cheese Crusted 8oz Filet with plugra mashed potatoes, prosciutto wrapped asparagus; Northern Halibut with goat cheese and elephant garlic risotto cake, frangelico cream, grilled asparagus; Cedar Plank Roasted Salmon with cucumber salsa, black linguini and chipotle cream; among many others. For dessert, you’re sure to get brownie points with mom by opting for the Brownie Cheesecake with dark chocolate fudge sauce, or go exotic with the Pineapple Upside Down Cake. This three-course menu is $49.95 per person or $69.95 with wine pairings. A children’s menu for kids 12 and under is also available for $12.95 per person. For details and reservations, please call 866.649.6149 or visit Island Prime in San Diego.
Fleming’s Steakhouse and Wine Bar: Your wine-loving mom will be in heaven at Fleming’s this Mother’s Day. In addition to the savory three course prix fixe menu, Fleming’s is hooking your hard working mom up with a special gift: a complimentary $25 gift card to use during future dining occasions at Fleming’s. Start off light with either the Fresh Fruit Salad or Wedge Salad. Your choices of entrees include the Beef Tenderloin and Vegetable Frittata with hash brown potatoes and green beans; Berry Stuffed French Toast with turkey sage sausage; Filet Benedict on buttermilk biscuits with hash brown potatoes and green beans; and more. For dinner, we dare you to indulge in the Walnut Turtle Pie. The three-course menu is served from 11:30am to 3pm at both the La Jolla and Downtown San Diego locations, and is available for $29.95 per person. For details and reservations, please call 858.535.0078 or visit Fleming’s Steakhouse.
KITCHEN 1540: This cozy and chic seaside restaurant at L’Auberge Del Mar is a perfect dining destination for Mother’s Day. The specialty menu offers a full spread of sweet and savory treats, ranging from such breakfast favorites as House Made Granola and Belgian Waffles to the Farmers Market Omelet with caramelized onions, market vegetables, goat cheese and skillet potatoes. For mothers craving lunch, start with the to-die-for Organic Beets with Valdeon Blue, pistachio brittle and caramelized yogurt, and choose your pick of entrees, including the Grilled Skirt Steak with roasted fingerling potatoes, black Trompette mushrooms and a Madeira reduction; and Scottish Salmon with preserved lemon spaetzle, sweet and sour pomegranate, and fennel salad. For details and reservations, please call 858.793.6460 or visit KITCHEN 1540 at L’Auberge Del Mar Resort and Spa.
Red Marlin: Panoramic views of sparkling Mission Bay are the perfect back drop to Mother’s Day brunch this year at Red Marlin. Chef de Cuisine Danny Bannister’s spring-inspired brunch menu features such delicious dishes as the chilled Ahi Poke with Wonton Chips, Seaweed Salad and Pickled Ginger, Orchiette Pasta Salad with Sliced Flank Steak, Seared Swordfish with Watercress Salad and Orange Butter, Crispy Skin Chicken with Israeli Couscous and Mushrooms, Rosemary Crusted Lamb Chops with Olive Tapenade, fresh fruit tarts, layer cakes, assorted cupcakes, tea cookies and petit fours. All the small children in your big family will have a blast digging in this Mother’s Day at the Fun Kids Buffet. Red Marlin's Mother's Day brunch buffet is served from 10am to 2:30pm, and is priced at $49 for adults and $25 for children ages 5-12. Children under 4 eat free. For details and reservations, please call 619.221.4868 or visit Red Marlin at Hyatt Regency Mission Bay.
333 Pacific: Were you a bad kid this year? Then dine at 333 Pacific in Oceanside this Mother’s Day to treat your mom to complimentary champagne and a decadent three course menu. Begin with your choice of the Melon and Prosciutto Salad with arugula, ricotta salata and balsamic vinegar; Spicy Tuna Eggplant Tempura with eel and poke sauces and wasabi tobiko; Sweet Chili Calamari or the Caprese Salad. Your entrée options include Grilled Veal Chop with potato and fennel confit, grilled green beans and sundried tomato pesto; Chicken Paillard with Madeira, mushroom pan gravy, mashed portatoes and braised endive; Grilled California Lamb Chops with horseradish, whipped potatoes, asparagus and truffle mushroom jus; among others. You definitely want to save room for dessert this Mother’s Day with such alluring options as the Strawberry Shortcake with fresh berries, vanilla cream, light sponge cake and mint-strawberry glaze; Chocolate Silk Torte with house shortbread; and more. This three-course menu is $49.95 per person. A children’s menu for kids 12 and under is also available for $12.95 per person. For details and reservations, please call 866.773.9985 or visit 333 Pacific in Oceanside.
Soleil @k: If your mom is an early riser, head to Soleil @k at the Marriott Gaslamp Quarter for a deluxe breakfast buffet featuring all the best morning treats and complimentary mimosas. As you and mom sip down your free mimosa, choose your unlimited picks of French Toast, Waffles, Omelettes, Panckaes, Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Breakfast Potatoes, Meats and Cheeses, Toast, Yogurt, Oatmeal, Cereal and Pastries. The Mother’s Day breakfast buffet is offered from 6:30am to 1pm, and is priced at just $18 per person and $8 for children 10 and under. For details and reservations please call 619.450.2453 or visit Soleil @k at San Diego Marriott Gaslamp Quarter.
George’s California Modern: With the ocean breeze in your hair and a mimosa in hand, your mom will have a ball this Mother’s Day at George’s. La Jolla Cove makes a gorgeous back drop for George’s specialty Mother’s Day menu. There is no prix fixe menu, which gives your independent mom the freedom to indulge her every desire. Appetizer options include the Date Salad with arugula, toasted walnuts, goat cheese and pomegranate vinaigrette; Meyer Lemon Ravioli with fresh bay scallops, pea tendrils, chanterelles and tarragon; and Mexican Style Shrimp Cocktail with avocado, cilantro and lime; to just name a few. If you’re in the mood for breakfast, you’ll love the Brioche French Toast with Chino strawberries and Meyer lemon cream; and the Hanger Steak and Poached Eggs with red wine hollandaise, creamed spinach and home fries. For a heartier entrée, check out the Grilled 8oz Filet and Half Lobster with duck fat fingerling potatoes, roasted cauliflower, onion-mustard jam, horseradish cream and red wine sauce. For details and reservations, please call 858.454.4244 or visit George’s in La Jolla.
Anthology: This swanky Little Italy supper club is making your life easy this Mother’s Day by offering two ways to celebrate mom that will leave her singing your praises. A specialty brunch will be served from 11am – 2pm, and during brunch, the Anthology House Band will be performing a musical tribute to female R&B legends – featuring all the favorites from Billie to Aretha and Beyonce. Goodies on the brunch menu include Carpaccio of Hawaiian Pineapple with mango and strawberry crudo, honey infused yogurt and toasted coconut; Dungeness Crab Benedict with poached cage free organic eggs, crab salad, Crows Pass Farms bordeaux spinach, roasted rosemary potatoes schaner and Farms citrus hollandaise; and House Fried Chicken and Waffles with pure maple syrup, vanilla bean cream, rosemary and apple buerre blanc; among many more dining options. For dessert, make sure to save room for the Buttermilk Panna Cotta with strawberry and lemongrass coulis, dried fruits and toasted rosemary. If you can’t make it to brunch, then treat mom to Anthology’s dinner and show duo with a multi-media presentation by Luscious Noise starting at 7:30pm. Dining options are a la carte; brunch show tickets are $10 and dinner show tickets are $15. For details and reservations, please call or visit Anthology in Little Italy. Get more details here.
The Glass Door: The posh and petite restaurant atop the Porto Vista Hotel in Little Italy is serving up some sweet selections to spoil mom this Mother’s Day. Treat your mom to fresh spring-inspired dishes made especially with mom in mind, a meaningful Mother’s Day card and a special fresh-cut flower just for her. Porto Vista’s new Executive Chef Amy DiBiase’s Mother’s Day menu includes Peach Bellinis accompanied by selections of Chilled Tropical Shrimp Salad with citrus tarragon dressing and Smoked Salmon or Crab Benedict. Don’t fill up, because the Chocolate Explosion finale dessert is waiting for you and mom to share. For details and reservations, please call 619.564.3755or visit The Glass Door at Porto Vista Hotel and Suites.
Roppongi’s Restaurant and Sushi Bar: Every year Roppongi’s in La Jolla goes all out to make mom feel special on Mother’s Day, and this year is no different. Roppongi’s Mother’s Day brunch offers a savory selection of Executive Chef Stephen Window’s New Asian flavor at various Taste Stations, including such favorites as the Indonesian Beef Pineapple Satay, Chicken Satay and Kobe Beef Sliders. Those in the mood for brunch will enjoy new twists on brunch classics at the Breakfast Station, like Passion Fruit Banana Bread French Toast with Lilikoi syrup or Five-Spiced Duck Confit Eggs Benedict. Roppongi’s Mother’s Day brunch is served from 10:30am to 2pm at the fixed price of $49 per person, $19 for kids ages 7-12. Children 6 and under eat free. For details and reservations, please call 858.551.5252 or visit Roppongi’s in La Jolla. Get more details here.
Baleen: Chef Megan Reichman is creating a day in paradise for your mom this Mother’s Day in San Diego. Head to Paradise Point Resort and Spa for the Mother’s Day champagne brunch buffet at Baleen, which will feature such items as Smoked Norwegian Salmon, Baja Shrimp and Scallop Cocktail, Poached Eggs Florentine with chipotle hollandaise, applewood smoked bacon and country sausage, omelets, Roasted Garlic and Herb Crusted Prime Rib with Cabernet Reduction and Baked Lobster Mac and Cheese. If you save any room for dessert, you’ll fall in love with the Red Velvet Cupcakes and Raspberry Fudge Cake. And of course, the free flowing champagne is on the house this Mother’s Day. The champagne brunch buffet is served from 11am to 3pm, and is priced at $49.95 per person or $22.95 for children ages 3-12. For details and reservations, please call 858.490.6363 or visit Baleen at Paradise Point Resort and Spa.
Attention Chocolate Lovers: Surprise mom with an early Mother’s Day dining celebration at the Chocolate Dining Odyssey on Friday, May 7 at Rancho Bernardo Inn’s El Bizcocho restaurant. The decadent Chocolate Dining Odyssey features six courses of cocoa-crafted culinary bliss, and each dish will be paired with a signature beverage. Start off with the Cocoa Caesar and White Chocolate Spaghetti and save room for the Cocoa Dusted Venison Tenderloin. Yum! Mark my word, your mom will love you forever. Get details here. Get more details here.
Moms Love Flowers: Pick up a custom bouquet at San Diego florists and nurseries.
Discover more of the best San Diego restaurants.
5/6 Newsletter Photo Credit: Chef Calamari’s salmon dish from Suite & Tender.
