Mother’s Day can bring on its share of pressure — how to plan a day fit for some of the most important people in your life? It’s hard to go wrong with giving them a seat at the head of the table (or around it) during a Mother’s Day feast in the Hamptons or Shelter Island. Several seasonal spots have opened their doors — including one on Shelter Island opening Mother’s Day weekend with a brunch that doubles as a bang — and year-round restaurants are also serving up delectable eats. These Mother’s Day happenings in the Hamptons and on Shelter Island are worthy of consideration, whether you’re headed out with one very important lady or rolling deep.
Bistro Eté, 760 Montauk Hwy., Water Mill, 631-500-9085
Bistro Ete’s French coastal fare comes without a side of snobbery. The service is as warm as the hot dishes served inside the well-lit dining room and patio lined with garden beds full of greenery. Speaking of which, asparagus season means the vegetable will be featured as a special at Bistro Ete’s Mother’s Day brunch. Toast to it and Mom with fresh-squeezed mimosas.
Harvest on Fort Pond, 11 S. Emery St., Montauk, 631-668-5574
This waterside restaurant serves family-style meals, making it an ideal choice for a Mother’s Day dinner out. The restaurant will be open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Mother’s Day and serving its Harvest dinner menu. Highlights include a fresh burrata with creamy mozzarella and sumptuous beefsteak tomatoes, pizzas for sharing while taking trips down memory lane, and a swordfish piccatta with sautéed spinach. Younger diners will delight in the simply palatable chicken tenders and mac ‘n cheese. Guests can make reservations by phone beginning Sunday, April 28.
Bostwick’s on the Harbor, 39 Gann Road, East Hampton, 631-324-1150
Open for their 33rd season, seafood and sunset bastion Bostwick’s on the Harbor is offering a Mom’s Day brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with splendid start-the-day dishes like crab Benedict and banana Nutella crepes (plus a complimentary glass of Prosecco!). But take heed: Just like at dinner, Bostwick’s is first-come, first served.
Navy Beach, 16 Navy Road, Montauk, 631-668-6868
Navy Beach has a new-look menu with spirit-free and low ABV selections, including some from nearby Wölffer and Montauk Brew Co. However, the Atlantic Ocean vistas remain jaw-dropping as ever, making it an ideal spot for treating a mom who feels the best days are beach days. Their three-course prix fixe special, with an app, entrée and dessert, includes faves like clam and corn chowder, garlicky PEI mussels, bucatini pomodoro and everything bagel-crusted salmon. Plus moms get a glass of rosé on the house with their meal. $60 per guest plus tax and grat.
Hampton Maid, 259 E. Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, 631-728-4184
Set along the Shinnecock Bay within a can’t-miss windmill-shaped building, Hampton Maid has drawn as much favor for its breakfast as it has for its views since it opened in the 1950s. On Mother’s Day, guests can see why during a brunch from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Options include an Amish cheddar cheese omelette with herb-roasted tomatoes, a breakfast burger made with house-ground prime meat and chorizo and a sunny-side up egg and bacon and classics like pancakes and French toast.
(Pro tip: Greet Mom with an arrangement created at the Hampton Maid’s Mother’s Day Flower Arranging class, slated for Sunday, May 4 from 3 to 5 p.m. Andrew Family Farms’ Rose Andrew will guide attendees through creating a unique bouquet from spring’s fresh blooms. $100 per person.) Brunch is $50 per adult and $25 per child.
Fresno Restaurant, 11 Fresno Place, East Hampton, 631-324-8700
There are plenty of usual suspects on this list, but Fresno is a newcomer to Mother’s Day brunch. The restaurant with a sky-lit will debut Mother’s Day brunch menu and serve it from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. before reopening for dinner service at 5:30 p.m. Asparagus, egg and ham, local oysters and duck hash made the inaugural menu.
Calissa, 1020 Montauk Highway, Water Mill, 631-500-9292
Take Mom on a quick trip to Mykonos without leaving the Hamptons with a brunch (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) or dinner (starting at 5 p.m.) reservation at Calissa, the elegant Aegean Islands-inspired restaurant in Water Mill. The menu is a la carte and delicious, with Greek-style dishes like Grilled Halloumi, served with roasted apples and jumbo lump crab cake served alongside spicy tzatziki, asparagus and mint. Like a good bedtime story, lemon tart with fresh raspberries makes the sweetest of endings.
Rosie’s Amagansett, 195 Main St, Amagansett, 631-604-5095
This bright restaurant with an unassuming brick façade and crisp blue furnishings is developing a Mother’s Day brunch menu. While the details have yet to be finalized, a little birdie tells us a lobster Benedict is “definitely” going to be a highlight. Cocktail specials are also likely.
Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa, Montauk, 631-668-2345
Newly revamped Gurney’s is going all-in and turning Mother’s Day into a weekend. The three-day affair kicks off with welcome cocktails and a drive-in movie night by the indoor pool on Friday, May 9. Saturday’s wellness-heavy itinerary includes a mindfulness and mimosas event, soundbath and yoga. On Sunday, guests can rise and shine with a morning Zen class before digging into a Mother’s Day brunch at Gigi’s restaurant (resort guests only). Brunch is $110 for guests ages 13+ and $45 per child 12 and under.
The Golden Pear, Multiple locations
Treat Mom to a Mother’s Day meal or dessert in without having to make and bake it. The Golden Pear Café will have handmade butter cookies for $16 per pound, and jumbo dark-chocolate-dipped strawberries for $60 a dozen. Catering menus for brunch or dinner are also available. Strawberry orders must be placed 48 hours in advance by calling 631-697-2149.
Sea Salt at Solé East, 90 Second House Road, Montauk, 631-668-2105
Solé East Resort is unveiling a fresh chapter in its culinary journey with the launch of Sea Salt, a completely reimagined on-site restaurant replacing The Backyard Restaurant.Sea Salt will be serving a special Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday, featuring two prix fixe menu options priced at $38 and $65. Helmed by chef Melissa O’Donnell, both menus will showcase a variety of brunch favorites, including Eggs Florentine, Crabmeat Quiche, Lobster Eggs Benedict, and more.
Long Island Aquarium, 431 E Main St., Riverhead, 631-208-9200
Honor the person who taught you that the “seaweed is always greener” (and listened to the Little Mermaid song by the same name on repeat) with an under-the-sea adventure at Long Island Aquarium. A made-to-order omelet station and build-your-own yogurt parfait give guests plenty of breakfast-style options, while a ham carving station, penne a la vodka and mac ‘n cheese are lunch and dinner fare. Beyond the bites, the ticket includes all-day entry to the aquarium. (Moms who don’t do the brunch can still snag a free entry into the aquarium on Sunday with a paying child ages 3-12.) And, the early fish aren’t the only ones who get the worms (and cakes). Seatings are 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Head’s up: The aquarium closes at 5 p.m., so the latecomers will want to visit the sea creatures before dining. $78 per guest 13+, $42 per child age 3 to 12, $10.35 per child 2 and under. Members receive a 10% discount.
The Pridwin Hotel & Cottages, 81 Shore Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-0476
The idyllic waterfront hotel with an on-site restaurant opens for the season on Mother’s Day weekend. A wine dinner and brunch are part of the festivities. On Mother’s Day Eve, The Pridwin is teaming up with Macari Vineyards for a multi-course dinner complete with pairings from the family-run vineyard. Consider spending the night in a cottage-style room. Whether you do or not, a TBD brunch menu complete with dishes made with local ingredients is sure to be craveable. Dinner is $135 per person.
The Birchwood of Polish Town, 512 Pulaski St., Riverhead, 631-727-4449
Always one to offer a good special for a holiday, The Birchwood of Polish Town will have brunch and dinner fare from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in its laid-back 1920s tavern. A giant donut wall that’s equal parts Instagram installation and delicious, fresh-baked bread and sushi are a few of the many buffet-style dishes that will be available. Kids can feast at a station just for them — mac ‘n cheese, chicken fingers and fries are for the taking. Seatings are 90 minutes. $59.95 per guest over 12; $29.95 for guests ages 3 to 12 and children under 2 are free.
Vine Street Café. 41 S. Ferry Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-3210
Vine Street Café is also offering the option for brunch or dinner feasts. Brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the country-chic eatery reopening at 5 p.m. for dinner. While the official offerings are TBD, common specials include seafood dishes and eggs Benedict.
Cove Hollow Tavern, 85 Montauk Highway, East Hampton, 631-527-7131
Like its sister restaurant, Cove Hollow Tavern — a lively East Hampton happy hour hub — will serve brunch (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and dinner (starting at 5 p.m.). While the ambiance is distinct — Cove Hollow with its brooding dark wooden furnishings and the more cottage-style Vine Street Café — the restaurant’s holiday menus are generally similar or the same. Look out for seafaring fare, crispy hash browns and eggs.
Nick & Toni’s, 136 N. Main St., East Hamptons, 631-324-3550
Want to impress mom? Bring her to East Hampton’s mainstay classic for their $80 prix fixe brunch that she’ll be talking about until next year. Homemade, warm and fragrant cinnamon buns with vanilla bean glaze, lemon ricotta pancakes, poached eggs with crispy polenta and roasted wild mushrooms, skirt steak and fried tagliata — that’s just a whisper of this jam-packed menu. Grab your seats from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (and regular a la carte dinner is, of course, an option too).
Il Buco al Mare, 231 Main St., Amagansett, 631-557-3100
The specialty curated menu will feature dishes including tuna crudo, Lacinato kale focaccia, broccoli rabe, and halibut, along with the à la carte menu. A delicious selection to celebrate mothers and the start of the summer season, seatings start at noon and continue all day until 8:45 p.m.
