My Mom LOVES Laguna Beach. (And I so love my Mom. The photo is us when I was about 8.) There’s no place she would rather be on Mother’s Day than here in Laguna Beach. So, by default, I’m sure your mothers all feel the same. Fortunately, there are a number of Laguna eateries catering to Moms this Mother’s Day.
Here’s my lineup from Chefs who have reported specialty Mother’s Day brunch menus, along with specialty item served with regular dining menus. Reverse alphabetical this time as Easter was alphabetical. (Mom always taught me to be fair.)
Please note – what’s already fully booked:
Harvest at The Ranch is fully committed with reservations.
Larsen’s at Hotel Laguna is fully committed with reservations.
The Montage Loft is also fully committed, and they are fully committed with a waiting list for their famous Afternoon Tea for Moms in the Lobby Lounge.
Sapphire.Cellar.Craft.Cook is fully committed for brunch but has a couple … and I mean a couple … spots left for dinner with Chef’s Mother’s Day specials.
Closed on Mother’s Day – Chef Greg Daniel’s Harley Laguna Beach is closed. And our finest female chef in town, Chef Lindsay Smith, has decided to play her favorite role that day (MOM) for the first time since becoming a Mom (14 years!) so Nirvana will be closed, too!
SPECIALTY MOTHER’S DAY MENUS
Splashes at Surf & Sand is very nearly fully booked (so act quickly). Chef Ron is serving a 3-course menu lunch from noon to 4 p.m., and dinner from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.. It’s $95 a person for lunch and $100 for dinner. Call (888) 281-3502.
Skyloft. Once again, Skyloft is pulling out the stops with a specialty Mother’s Day menu that offers a 7-item brunch menu (beginning 10 a.m.) that’s served till 1 p.m. Enjoy omelets, breakfast burritos, french toast, Brisket Benedict (so yum) and more.
The Skyloft lunch and dinner menus offer more than 11 appetizer and salad options and 12 entrées that range from Steak & Lobster to the Skyloft BBQ Plate, The Cheeseburger (as well as Beyond Meat), Grilled Salmon and plenty of sandwiches and vegetarian options.
Mozambique. Skyloft’s big sister sets the pace with a Mother’s Day Special Menu that starts with brunch items from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is a trip across continents, from french toast to eggs rancheros and Boerewors and eggs. Lunch and dinner menus offer an expansive offering with 8 appetizers and salads and 10 entrées that range from Steak & Lobster to swordfish, shrimp scampi, Peri-Peri Chicken, pastas, burgers and more.
Las Brisas. Back with its popular Mother’s Day Brunch, it’s a 4-course prix fixe menu for 485 a person. After fresh and fruity starters, dive into gourmet tostada options and choose entrées that range from 5 kinds of Eggs Benedict to Crab Scramble, Huevos Rancheros, Lamb Chops, Steak & Lobster Enchiladas and more. Finish with one of three desserts. Go online for reservations.
Driftwood Kitchen. The only real gourmet buffet” I can find in town, the reservations are moving very quickly here, so get those seats reserved online or by calling (949) 715-7700. Chef Rainer has cooked up another seaside Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet with Cold Stations piled high with fruits, cheeses, salads and charcuterie. The “Live Action Station” is active, indeed, with omelettes made to order, while the Carving Station features Whole Double R Ranch Prime Rib AND New Zealand Rack of Lamb. Then there’s a Fish Station with Dungeness crab cakes and King Salmon filets. And, the Hot Station has all the Eggs Benedict, sausages, bacons, breakfast potatoes, veggies and marcona almonds you could ever want or need. Kids get their own station and the Dessert Station would make Willy Wonka, himself, proud.
Served 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Adults $895 Children $19, kids under 6 are free.
Broadway by Amar Santana. In addition to his regular menu, Chef Amar is offering a 3-course prix fixe that reads like a menu fit for a queen. Chose from Yellow Corn Soup or Chilled Lobster Salad for starters, move to Chilean Sea Bass with gingered bok choy and black rice croquettes for entrée, and dessert is a trio of créme brulées.
SERVING REGULAR MENUS with SPECIALS
Oliver Osteria’s decadent Bombolonis.
Starfish Asian. Open for lunch and dinner, Owners Archie and Gretchen Mack are working through the finals of their specialties that day. (Watch for my announcements on Wednesday!)
Rum Social. Our newest entry to Laguna is offering its a la carte menu with several specials from Chef Jared. Some reservations are still available, (949) 594-4014.
Royal Hawaiian Fire Grill. RoHi opens at noon on this special day with the regular lunch menu with a couple great specials – Alaskan Halibut with carrot ginger purée and all those awesome grilled veggies that Chef Maro does so well. The other special is a Wagyu top sirloin steak with potato purée, bacon, shitake mushroom, pearl onions and his famed chimichurri sauce.
Romeo Cucina. A longtime favorite to locals and visitors alike, Romeo Cucina opens at 5 p.m. on Mother’s Day with full menu, specials and online ordering. Large parties are welcome and reservations are strongly recommended.
Oliver’s Osteria. If there’s ever a day for moms to “cheat” their diets, it’s on Mother’s Day at Oliver’s Osteria. You simply MUST start with Chef Eric’s house-crafted Bomboloni and keep grazing from there! His newly refreshed brunch menu has only expanded into more goodness. I have a complete Oliver’s Brunch review here of a few items that have (thankfully) remained.
Can’t make it in for brunch? Not a worry. Enjoy Chef Eric’s new lunch menu with more than 20 light and summery dishes. And, of course his dinner menu is larger still. It always amazes me that his tiny kitchen can produce all these many dishes, but the team does it with grace and aplomb. Some Oliver’s reservations are still available online or call direct, (949) 715-0261.
Lumberyard. With a never-ending rotation of cool new specials, Chef Enzo and Owner Cary Redfearn have plenty in store for Mother’s Day. Choose from the entire brunch or regular lunch.dinner menu, with specials as a plus. The Yard bar will not be open on Mother’s Day, but the adjacent patio to the east of the restaurant is reservable just like all the other tables in the restaurant. Dial (949) 715-3900.
GG’s Avocado Shrimp Crevettes are awesomely light and refreshing.
GG’s Bistro. The only restaurant in town open 365 days a year, GG’s is serving its one-of-a-kind great breakfast menu (starting at 9:00 a.m.) as well as their copious lunch and dinner menus with specialty items. (And, may I add, the best Turkish coffee around. Fabulous.) Whether you’re eating light (I love the Shrimp Avocado Crevettes) or diving into their larger portion dishes like their giant grilled kebabs, there’s something for every family member here. Be sure to also order GG’s Sangrias – made to order, these are absolutely the best in town. I love sitting out on the extended patio and watching the world go by. Walk-ups are usually easily accommodated, but I’d play it safe on Mother’s Day and make a reservation. Reservations: (949) 494-9306.
GG’s Turkish coffee
(The) Drake. The father-son chef duo (Paul and Nick) will be making an early appearance on Mother’s Day with doors opening at 4:00 p.m. Live music, of course, is always on cue, too. Hurry, not many reservations remaining.
(The) Cliff. Treat your Mom (or any favorite “mom” of your choice) to some of the best views in all of Laguna with multiple items opens for breakfast and brunch. Doors open at 8:00 a.m. Reservations: 949-494-1956.
C’est La Vie. Chef Antonio Roa is offering a variety of special add-ons and (of course) fresh-baked pastries and desserts with the regular dining menu. Reservations are filling quickly here, so be quick about it!
Broadway by Amar Santana. Chef Amar is opening early on Mother’s Day (4 p.m. – 9 pm.) with full regular menu a resh new cocktail (The Prettiest Star), and specials that include his unfathomable Ceviche, Lobster Ravioli and his decadent dessert, the Pineapple Financier with Pedro Zimenez Caramel atop house made Toasted Cocoanut Ice Cream.
230 Forest. Open Sunday at 11 a.m., Chef Marc (Laguna’s longest running chef) continues to dish out some of the freshest creations in Laguna Beach. It’s no exception on Mother’s Day with the full menu, along with an Ahi Nicoise Salad and Chilean Sea Bass specials.