‘Momosas’ and more in this Mother’s Day roundup
This year, and every year, Mom deserves some acknowledgement. Often in the form of chocolate. Or champagne. Or a chophouse dinner. Or a staggeringly love-filled and caloric amalgam of all three and more. Mix, match and make mom certain of your appreciation with this roster of Orlando offerings for this year’s Mother’s Day (May 8). Some of these require reservations, which you should go do right now. 4Rivers Smokehouse: For the bubbly mom who’s more about getting her dessert on than her drink (or the lady who enjoys both), consider the gift of strawberry champagne cake balls from the 4Rivers Smokehouse Sweet Shop (strawberry champagne cake rolled with buttercream and hand-dipped in white chocolate with a sprinkle of gold to finish). For faraway moms, these cake balls can be purchased and shipped nationwide on Goldbelly or preorder and pickup at your local smokehouse with locations in Orlando, Longwood, Winter Garden, Winter Park and UCF East Orlando). More info: 4rsmokehouse. com/4r-specialty-cakes AVA MediterrAegean: The team behind Winter Park’s hottest new Park Avenue addition is providing guests with a unique and personalized fine dining experience for Mother’s Day, including the beautiful AVA chocolate sphere, which is filled with toasted Iranian pistachio, tonka-tahini cream, salted caramel, violette-raspberry marshmallow nitrogen fog and extra-bitter warm chocolate sauce, served table side. Additionally, guests who order this specialty dessert will also receive an AVA G&T, a fresh and earthy spin on the traditional gin and tonic. A member of AVA MediterrAegean’s mixology team will come to the guests’ tables with an array of garnishes and flavored tonics for guests to combine with Grey Whale Gin for a customized nightcap that pairs perfectly with the AVA Chocolate Sphere. Reservations: avamediterraegean.com/ reserve
Bob Evans Restaurant: Special celebration meals are on deck for Mother’s Day and you can dine in or bring an individual or family-size meal home to share. The Mother’s Day Celebration Family Meal is served hot and feeds up to six with a family-size portion of Bob Evans’ hand-carved, slowroasted turkey, eight hickory-smoked ham steaks, three family-size farmhouse sides, a dozen dinner rolls and cranberry relish. Available for curbside pickup or carryout from May 5-8. Platter- and mealsized portions available, as well as dessert add-ons. More info: bobevans.com Bonefish Grill: Mom’ll get hooked on wood-grilled seafood selections including their seasonal Rockefeller butterfish topped with creamy spinach and jumbo lump crab. For dessert, give the carrot lava cake a try (rich carrot cake with a cream cheese molten center, served warm and topped with whipped cream). Other Mother’s Day specials include a Caprese dip appetizer, shrimp skewer and in the glass, a smoked old fashioned featuring Woodford Reserve Bourbon and a touch of maple with Angostura Bitters and an oak-smoked cherry. Bonus: Purchase $50 in Bonefish Grill gift cards now through June 19 and receive a $10 e-bonus toward your next Bonefish Grill visit. (Redemption window: June 21—Aug. 21). More info: bonefishgrill.com
Brio Italian Grille: Three different Mother’s Day packages are available for pre-order, pickup, curbside or delivery May 6-8 at the Millenia Mall outpost of Brio. Smaller package feeds two, $49.99; medium feeds four, $99.99; half pan feeds 10, $235. Comes with fresh-baked sourdough, choice of one salad, one main course with cannoli for dessert. For packages feeding 2-4, salad and main course choices are per person. Pre-order available May 1. More info: brioitalian.com/specials/mothers-day-packages/
Buca di Beppo: Mother’s Day Weekend To-Go Packages are available at locations in Celebration, Maitland and the Florida Mall with pre-orders (beginning May 1) available for pickup, curbside or delivery May 6-8. Package No. 1 comes in large ($60, feeds 5) or half pan ($110, feeds 12). Each features fresh-baked house bread, choice of one salad (house or Caesar) and one pasta (lasagna, baked rigatoni, spicy chicken rigatoni or shrimp scampi) and for dessert, chocolate chip cannoli. Package No. 2 comes in large ($70) or half pan ($130) and comes with house-baked bread, choice of one salad (mixed green or Caesar), one pasta (spaghetti marinara, penne a la vodka, baked ziti or fettuccine Alfredo) and entree (chicken or eggplant parmigiana or chicken limon). Cannoli for dessert. Twenty-four hour advance order required for half-pan lasagna; half-pan lasagna not available for sameday to go orders. More info: bucadibeppo.com/ specials/mothers-day Cafe Tu Tu Tango: Bring mom along to experience their extensive tapas-style menu along with a variety of inventive cocktails. Additionally, Café Tu Tu Tango will feature live entertainment and resident artists working in the restaurant for a spirited Mother’s Day get together. More info: cafetututango.com/reservations
Carrabba’s Italian Grill: Celebrate mom with love from Carrabba’s, where she can enjoy the seasonal champagne pasta with shrimp (linguine and shrimp tossed in a champagne cream sauce with roasted red bell peppers and sautéed mushrooms) or the wood-grilled mahi Wulfe (lightly breaded and topped with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes and a basil lemon butter sauce. Additional specials include Tuscan grilled filet Marsala, tomato Caprese with fresh burrata and
Mother’s Day Celebration Family Meal from Bob Evans. BOB EVANS the Tramonto in Tuscany cocktail (Lunazul Blanco tequila, fresh sour mix and orange juice shaken and topped with Bonizio Rosso). Want an extra gift for mom? When guests purchase $50 in gift cards now through June 19, they’ll receive a $10 bonus card to use on their next Carrabba’s visit (redemption window June 21—Aug. 21). More info: carrabbas. com
City Works Eatery & Pour House: Get Mother’s Day on, Disney Springs-style with a family-friendly Rock N Roll Brunch that will feature themed music, complimentary roses for moms and rocking breakfast classics with surprising twists. Your mom’s cool — and bubbly — so consider treating her to a “momosa” flight in four flavors. Choices include classic, Bellini, tropical, sangria, rosé and paloma. Reservations not required, but strongly encouraged. More info: 407-801-3730; cityworksrestaurant.com/ locations/disneysprings-2
Columbia Restaurant: Mom will always love you for a visit to this family-run Florida classic, which has special Mother’s Day items at all locations — but most importantly for the metro: Celebration! Dishes include coca de langosta, which brushes coca (a Catalonian flatbread) with Columbia’s original “1905” sauce before a topping of Spanish chorizo, diced vine-ripened tomatoes, Maine lobster meat and manchego cheese. Baked until crisp, drizzled with piquillo pepper aioli ($16), grilled Patagonian salmon with Argentine chimichurri, sauteed asparagus with grape tomatoes ($30) and blueberry rum cheesecake made with fresh Florida blueberries ($10). More info: ColumbiaRestaurant.com
Margaritaville Resort Orlando: They’re serving up a scrumptious brunch at Margaritaville on Mother’s Day (11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.) in the resort’s On Vacation venue. Guests will dig into brunch delights including fresh garden salad, omelets, an assortment of muffins, teriyaki salmon and specialty chicken. A kid’s station will be available, in addition to Chef Mimi’s Dessert Display, which will satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth. $50 for adults and $20 for children younger than 12 (plus tax and 20% service charge). Reservations required. More info: 407-479-0950; margaritavilleresorts.com/margaritaville-resort-orlando/ experiences/mothers-day Metro Diner: Wow mom with something especially sweet: like the all-new chocolate-stuffed waffle, which features the diner’s signature Belgian waffle infused with homemade chocolate, stuffed with chocolate cheesecake filling, topped with fresh cut strawberries, chocolate sauce, cream cheese icing and sprinkled with powdered sugar. Available May 28 for $12.99. Dish available inside or for curbside to-go and delivery. More info: metrodiner.com Morimoto Asia: Let mom “lei” into a relaxing holiday at Morimoto Asia’s Mother’s Day Luau, a four-hour extravaganza featuring entertainment and delicious food amid the festivity of a traditional Hawaiian soiree. Island-inspired buffet will feature a poke and sushi bar, plus a hot lineup including Morimoto-style Peking duck, whole Kalua roasted pig and more along with an assortment of desserts. Specially curated Hawaiian-inspired cocktails available for an upcharge. Entertainment will include live band, ukulele and huda dancers. $135 a ticket. More info: 407-939-6686; morimotoasia.com
Paddlefish: Celebrate mom on a steamboat in the heart of Disney Springs this Mother’s Day with Paddlefish’s Mama’s Boil. Priced at $75 per person, this holiday special includes a Maine lobster and shrimp with red potatoes, sweet corn and cornbread. Regular a la carte menu is also available and features a chilled, raw-and-steamed seafood bar, starters like crab cakes and beef skewers, sandwiches and main plates like stuffed cod, pork chops and salmon, a wide variety of children’s offerings and much more. More info: paddlefishrestaurant. com
PDQ: Moms get a free meal on Mother’s Day (threepiece tender, eight-piece nugget or any sandwich or salad) with the purchase of any kids or adult meal. This offer is available at all locations in-store and online using code “mom.” More info: eatpdq.com/locations/find-a-location Sugar Factory: Give mom a little sugar at the Orlando outpost of Sugar Factory, where all weekend long, you’ll find a decadent special for the occasion: New York cheesecake dipped in rich, dark chocolate and topped with whipped cream, chocolate-covered strawberries, a raspberry macaron and edible gold. Because mom sparkles! More info: 407-270-7082; sugarfactory. com/location/orlando
Terralina Crafted Italian: Mother’s Day offerings here include lump crabcrusted Alaskan salmon Oscar over scalloped potatoes and asparagus ($32). Pair with a Mother’s Day mimosa ($13), a mimosa flight or bloody mary. A la carte menu and extensive kids menu available, as well. More info: terralincrafteditalian.com TooJay’s: With locations in Altamonte Springs, Lake Mary, Ocoee and Orlando, you can celebrate mom all over the metro. Five-dollar mimosas are ready to pop, featuring a full split of Ruffino Prosecco served with a carafe of Florida orange juice. Moms will also enjoy a free piece of signature cake. Options include Too Jay’s famous chocolate Killer Cake, carrot cake, coconut cake and more. Offer valid May 8, dine-in only, no coupon required. More info: toojays.com
Want to reach out? Find me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@ orlandosentinel.com. For more fun, join the Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group or follow @fun.things.orlando on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.