BALSAN11 E Walton St (312-646-1400). 10am–3pm; $45. Treat Mom to brunch at the Elysian hotel, where the three-course meal features freshly baked madeleines and scones, French toast with blueberries, steak and eggs, smoked wild salmon and more. The meal comes with a $50 spa certificate, so after brunch, pamper your mom (and—hell, why not—yourself) with a good massage.
BIG JONES5347 N Clark St (773-275-5725). 9am. Average main course: $18. Does alcohol make Mom a little more, um, tolerable? Then head to the Southern brunch at this Andersonville spot, where mothers get complimentary Champagne, and everybody gets eats like oyster-stuffed quail and antebellum rice waffles.
LOCKWOOD17 E Monroe St (312-917-3404). 11am–4pm; $60, seniors $50, kids ages 6–12 $25. If you’re going for the classic Mother’s Day experience, look no further than the Palmer House Hilton, where chef Greg Elliott will feature soups, seafood items and entrées including duck breast, Atlantic salmon and peppercorn-crusted beef tenderloin.
NIA803 W Randolph St (312-226-3110). Noon–10pm; $30, wine pairings available for $20. This Mediterranean small-plates spot offers a five-course Mother’s Day menu featuring roasted red pepper bisque, Swan Creek cornish hen, wild Alaskan salmon and more. After brunch, show your mom you love her (or simply shut her up) by stuffing her with complimentary Norman Love chocolates.
OAK TREE RESTAURANT & BAKERY900 N Michigan Ave, sixth floor (312-751-1988). Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Average main course: $11. Take Mom to this American café inside Bloomingdale’s for Mother’s Day, and she’ll receive a free loaf of bread. Flavors include asiago onion garlic, focaccia, onion pumpernickel and more. Maybe she can make your lunch with it!
PETTERINO’S150 N Dearborn St (312-422-0150). 10am–3pm; $39.95. This Mother’s Day buffet offers four stations, including a carvery station (ham, turkey, roast beef) and a hot station (crab cake eggs Benedict).
SEASONS RESTAURANT120 E Delaware Pl (312-649-2349). 10:30am–5pm; $120, kids ages 5–12 $35. With more than 100 spring-inspired dishes (leg of lamb, cream cheese–stuffed French toast), and more than 100 of your dollars spent on them, the brunch buffet at the Four Seasons Hotel will please even the finickiest of moms.
SIXTEEN401 N Wabash Ave (312-588-8030). 10:30am–3pm; $115, kids under 8 $25. Is mom a bit of a princess? Then treat her like a queen at this brunch buffet featuring made-to-order sushi, customizable omelettes and carving stations.
SUSHISAMBA RIO504 N Wells St (312-595-2300). 11am–4pm. Average small plate: $13. Go the food route here, with chef Dan Tucker’s menu of twice-baked potatoes, cast-iron baked eggs and yuzu yogurt panna cotta. Or get that mama drunk on a special Mother’s Day cocktail of white rum, ginjo sake, yuzu juice and passion fruit juice.
VIE4471 Lawn Ave, Western Springs (708-246-2082). 2–6:30pm; $60, kids ages 12–17 $25, kids 11 and younger pay their age. Paul Virant serves crispy gnocchi, seared pike, grilled steak, chicken ballotine and more for a Mother’s Day meal.
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