Washington, DC Mother's Day Roundup: 5/14/17
In life, some relationships may come and go, but you will always have your mother. For some, this bond is eternal, no matter how old you get or how successful or famous you are — Abraham Lincoln said his mother was an angel and romantic poet Robert Browning said that love began and ended with motherhood. Most of us get nostalgic when Mother's Day, today, most of us get nostalgic when Mother's Day rolls around each year.
Most moms are just happy to have their kids and family around them on Mother's Day, but there are other ways to show how much you care, and we don't just mean a phone call. That's nice too, but how about treating Mom to a relaxing meal, prepared and served by you or at a nice restaurant? Whatever her style or your budget, there are lots of choices in Washington, D.C., and we have selected a few culinary solutions for Mother's Day we think your mom will appreciate. And please, don't forget to get her a card — moms always like a heartfelt card.
For the Mom Who's a Gourmet Cook
Some moms love upscale food gifts that make them feel like a queen for a day; if this is true of your mother, Dean & DeLuca in Georgetown has a range of gift ideas to fit any budget. Read our culinary gift guide to find out more about their special promotions and other ways you can say "I love you" with food and drink gifts, gadgets, and goodies.
14K Restaurant and Lounge
Never underestimate the power of a well-made cocktail; it can cheer you up or give you a reason to celebrate and is almost never turned down. If you love brunch — or more importantly, your mom does — then consider dining at 14K Restaurant at Hamilton Hotel DC. This charming 1920s boutique hotel welcomes guests with its retro design, and in the dining room, chef Nezzar Battle serves fantastic food all the time, not just on Sunday. On Mother's Day, 14K's brunch menu (served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) has plenty to keep the kids happy, features specialties from land and sea, and will satisfy everyone's craving for sweets. Plus, it includes a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar for $9 per person or an endless Champagne cocktail bar for $15 per person. The price for brunch is $54.99 per adult and $22.99 per child aged 3 to 12, excluding tax and gratuity. Seats fill up quickly, so be sure to make your reservations online.
DBGB Kitchen and Bar
You can count on DBGB Kitchen and Bar to offer upscale French and American bistro fare regardless of the season, but it really pulls out the stops on special occasions, like La Fête des Mères, or Mother's Day. For brunch and dinner, the restaurant is serving its springtime à la carte menu plus a few specials created just for maman. At brunch (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), look for a local twist on eggs Benedict made with Maryland crab, brioche toast, spinach, and hollandaise sauce for $18. If you want to treat your mom, order her the lobster salad with white asparagus, pickled ramps, pea shoots, and lemon balm sabayon for $25. And save room for dessert and a signature cocktail — they make a great surprise. Sunday's dessert special ($12) is a chocolate-lover's dream made with chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, strawberry compote, strawberry ice cream, and a heart-shaped strawberry macaron and is tasty with or without the special white cosmopolitan cocktail being served to celebrate the day.
If Mom prefers to dine in the evening, no problem, DBGB is also serving a special for dinner (5 to 10 p.m.) made with roasted Maine lobster, farrotto, baby root vegetables, lovage, and a saffron lobster sauce for $36. Make your reservations now.
RPM Italian
For pasta and panache, RPM Italian is che bella figura, as they say in Italy. This restaurant is co-owned by celebrity couple Bill and Giuliana Rancic (she's a local girl) and combines fantastic Italian food (thanks to executive chef Gabe Thompson and crew) with chic Italian style. You can go for brunch at RPM but if mom would rather eat during adult hours, the Mother's Day menu is available from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. There's no shortage of incredible, handmade pasta on the menu, but for this Sunday, a special four-course menu includes winners like squash blossoms stuffed with burrata and ricotta topped with a spicy diavolo sauce, classic carbonara pasta, and a seasonal morel mushroom and spring pea pasta. The menu price is $65 per person not including tax and gratuity, and every mom will receive an edible gift and a $25 gift card to encourage her to make a return visit. Make reservations online or by calling (202) 204-4480.
City Tap Penn Quarter
Moms brunching at City Tap Penn Quarter from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mother's Day will be greeted with lovely flowers and a complimentary basket of gooey cinnamon rolls with vanilla icing. There will also be bottles of Cupcake prosecco available for a special Mother's Day price of $15 along with the normal $19 bottomless mimosas, beermosas, and Bloody Mary options. For its brunch menu, City Tap is offering the regular à la carte options, which include delightful lemon ricotta pancakes and hearty chicken and waffles. Reservations can be made by calling 202-733-5333.
Lincoln
This Sunday, treat Mom and dine at Lincoln to remind yourself how a real president behaves. PRG Hospitality, which owns Lincoln and Teddy & The Bully Bar, is serving two special brunches to help you honor the women in your life. Executive chef Demetrio Zavala's menus for each restaurant are different, but both highlight seasonal ingredients like rhubarb, ramps, and baby radishes. Lincoln's three-course brunch menu is $52 per person for adults ($22 per person for children under 12) and comes with a variety of sides for the table to share. Look for unique menu items like huckleberry doughnuts with lemon curd and fresh ricotta, grass-fed New York strip and eggs, homemade biscuits and gravy, poached halibut, and pecan sticky buns. Brunch is 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and reservations can be made by calling 202-872-8700 or via OpenTable.
Nazca Mochica
Nazca Mochica, which operates a full-service upstairs restaurant and lower-level bar lounge in the spaces once occupied by Skewers and Café Luna, is offering a three-course prix fixe menu during brunch (noon to 3 p.m.) and dinner service (starting at 5 p.m.) that is perfect for moms interested in exploring traditional Peruvian cuisine. Among the first course options is causitas (baked whipped potatoes) with aji amarillo pepper sauce, olives, and cebichepiquillo pepper. The second course options range from cebiche en salsa de rocoto made with fresh white fish and octopus in rocoto sauce to a leg of lamb marinated in a dark beer reduction. Traditional dulce de leche-filled cookies or seasonal gelatos and sorbets make up the final course. The prix fixe option is available for $35, and the normal à la carte menus will also available. Reservations can be made by calling 202-733-3170.
Ripple
In the District's Cleveland Park neighborhood, Ripple is hosting a Mother's Day brunch with a roast chicken feast served family-style with three courses for $45 per person. There will also be an à la carte menu offered that includes fresh Path Valley Farms beets topped with curry, yogurt, gooseberry, and shaved fennel; a rich croque madame on brioche with prosciutto di Parma, a local egg, and a creamy béchamel; and fried Amish chicken with house-made pickles and ramp ranch. The brunch will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reservations can be made by calling 202-244-7995.
Teddy & The Bully Bar
Sunday, Teddy & The Bully Bar will be honoring America's populist president, Teddy Roosevelt, and in keeping with this theme, you will want to try Sunday's hybrid menu. It includes three plated dishes (guests can choose from numerous options within each course), family-style sides, and endless trips to a variety of buffet stations. Health food fans will like the roasted strawberries and lime rhubarb yogurt, but you can also indulge in cinnamon French toast crunch with vanilla mascarpone and bourbon syrup, short rib huevos rancheros and crispy Gruyère cheese arepas, a prime rib carving station, and a create-your-own omelette station.
And if you need to imbibe, try the Bloody Maria made with Milagro silver tequila or the Lady Outlaw made with Tito's handmade vodka, elderflower liqueur, lemon sour, and lavender bitters. Brunch is from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., the price is $56 per person for adults ($22 per person for children under the age of 12), and reservations can be made by calling 202-872-8700 or via OpenTable.