By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published May 01, 2021 at 10:01 AM

Mother's Day is just a week away, and that means you need to make a decision: stay at home or dine out? Either way, restaurants can help.

Whether it’s a beautiful brunch spread you’re after or a very special dinner, here are some great last minute picks (both dine-in and carry-out) that will show mom just how special she really is. Best of all, you can leave the cooking and the dishes to someone else.

But don't delay. Reservations are growing slim and deadlines for pre-ordering carry-out are coming up fast. So, don’t delay your decision-making process for too long.

Looking for more options?
Check out our dining guide or brunch guide.

Bartolotta Restaurants
Bartolottas.com
Offering:
Dine-in (brunch and dinner)

All Bartolotta restaurants will be open on Mother’s Day offering special three-course brunch menus from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. View the menus and book your reservations online. Curbside pick-up for celebrating at home is also available from Harbor House.

Bavette La Boucherie
330 E. Menomonee St., (414) 273-3375
Bavettelaboucherie.com

Offering: Dine in brunch or pre-ordered carry-out

Bavette is offering fully prepared heat and eat brunch for Mother’s Day for $24 per person. Brunch includes honey yogurt with fruit and granola, cinnamon crumble coffee cake and huevos rancheros (baked eggs with chorizo, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and cheese, served with tortillas and avocado cream). Bellini or bloody mary kits are also available. Orders must be placed by Monday, May 3 with pick-up on May 7 or 8 between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Call the restaurant or place your order online.  Dine-in is also available on Sunday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended.

Blue's Egg Milwaukee
317 N. 76th St., (414) 299-3180
Bluesegg.com

Offering: pre-ordered carry-out dinner

Dine-in reservations are booked. But you can build you own Mother's Day feast to enjoy at home with Black Shoe's heat-and-eat a la carte options, available for pre-order (deadline is May 5 at 5 p.m.) with pick-up from  2 to 4 p.m. on May 8. Options include beef tenderloin roast, roasted lemon chicken, spinach artichoke lasagne or roasted salmon, plus myriad sides and sweets. You can even pick up a box of brunch pastries or coffee cake. View all options and order online.

Cavas
401 E. Erie St., (414) 930-9088
Cavasmke.com
Offering:
Dine-in  or pre-ordered carry-out dinner

Celebrate Mother's Day with a bit of Spanish flair at Cavas. The menu includes salad, grilled baguette with tomatoes and honey chipotle spread, paella, flan and a bottle of bubbly (plus a flower for mom). Cost is $120 for two or $200 for four. Dine-in seatings are available at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Deadline for carry-out orders and reservations is May 7 (or until sold out). View the full menu and order online.

Celesta Restaurant
1978 N Farwell Ave., (414) 231-3030
Celesta.restaurant
Offering:
Pre-ordered carry-out brunch

Bring home a delicious plant-based brunch from Celesta (brunch packs feed two for $55) The  menu includes beet carpaccio with almond ricotta, roasted vegetable pasta salad, lemon-chia mini muffins, roasted rosemary potatoes and tofu shakshuka. A trio of mousse (spiked or non-alcoholic are also available (three 8-ounce jars for $25). Flavors include cherry lemon (with brandy), coconut peach (with rum) and raspberry chai (with chai liqueur). Orders can be placed by email at celestacatering@gmail.com (be sure to include your name, phone number, the number of brunch packs you’d like and your preferred pick-up time).  Pick-up is May 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Lazy Susan
2378 S Howell Ave., (414) 988-7086
Lazysusanmke.com
Offering:
Pre-oredered loaded picnic basket for carry-out

Looking for something a bit different? Lazy Susan is serving up Mother’s Day picnic baskets complete with ceramic settings for two (mugs, plates, silverware, wine key, salt and pepper shaker) a bottle of rose wine, Lazy Susan House Blend from Anodyne, cheese from woman-owned Blakesville Creamery, charcuterie from Underground Meats, hand made snacks, jam, summer truffle butter and more. Baskets are limited and require pre-payment. Cost is $125 per basket with pick-up on May  8 between 2 and 4 p.m.  Call (414) 988-7086 to order.

North Shore Boulangerie
4401 N. Oakland Ave., (414) 963-215
Northshoreboulangerie.com
Offering:
Dine-in or carry-out brunch

North Shore Boulangerie is offering a special Mother’s Day Souffle Brunch. The meal includes guest’s choice of slow-roasted, smoked pork loin with a sweet and tangy apple cider glaze o pan-seared skin-on Branzino with brown butter and almonds. Both entrees include shaved brussel sprouts with crispy pork belly, red pepper along with a creamy parmesan risotto. Dine-in customers receive an airy chocolate soufflé with either a vanilla crème anglaise or raspberry coulis for dessert, plus a lovely surprise for mom.  Curbside meals are also available to order for pick-up at both Shorewood and Mequon locations (with a heart-shaped mousse bombe for dessert). Make your reservation online.

Sabrosa Cafe & Gallery
3216 S. Howell Ave., (312) 834-1929
Sabrosa.cafe
Offering:
Dine-in brunch

Sabrosa will be offering a special Mother’s Day brunch menu on May 9 featuring dishes like strawberry and bacon pancakes; pot roast galette; quiche Lorraine; tortilla espanola (scalloped potato pie served with poached egg, grilled andouille, marinara, avocado crema); and tomato omelette ahogado. Specialty brunch drinks will also be available. Make your reservation online.

Sanford
1547 N. Jackson St., (414) 276-9608
Sanfordrestaurant.com
Offering:
pre-ordered carry-out dinner

Treat your mother to a prime rib dinner from Sanford. Their Mother’s Day meal features slow roasted prime rib; roast cauliflower, mushrooms and ramps  with smoked mushroom butter; a sauté of spring vegetables; yukon potato puree; red wine beef jus; pull-apart rolls with butter; and lemon pound cake with blueberry preserve, ginger lemon syrup for dessert. Meal serves four people for $190. Orders can be placed online with pick-up on May 8 between noon and 5 p.m. 

Sorella
2535 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., (414) 301-6255
Sorellamke.com
Offering:
Dine-in brunch

Sorella is offering an Italian Mother’s Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (reservations required). Menu features sfogliatella (Italian pastries), pizza eggs, sausage and pepper bruschetta, pizza rustica, French toast, spaghetti carbonara, baked polenta (with eggs, marinara, prosciutto), mortadella and egg sandwiches and semolina migliaccio (brulee, amaretto, berries). Make your reservation onlineBoth indoor and outdoor heated tent tables are available. 

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.