In no specific order, these are some great Twin Cities restaurants to highlight for a special Mother’s Day brunch.
St. James Hotel – Red Wing, MN Mother’s Day Brunch, 10am-3pm, $20 kids/$43 adults and reservations recommended.
This extensive buffet menu will include things like: A seafood display, breakfast foods display, salad bar, carving stations and a dessert bar. The house-cured gravlax is right up my alley, and I’d be all over it. Established in 1985, and now owned by Red Wing Shoe company, the St. James overlooks the Mississippi River and Wisconsin river side. Fully equipped with 3 unique restaurants: The Port – which is their fine dining outlet; The Veranda – a more elegant patio style dining with seating indoor and outdoor, looking over the Mississippi River Valley; and finally Jimmy’s – an “Authentic British lounge” The St. James also has a cute gift shop worth walking your mother through.
Lake Elmo Inn – Lake Elmo, MN Open 10am-2pm $12.75-Kids/$26-Adults.
Open for over 3 decades, this family favorites culinary focus is on good, clean ingredients and keeping dishes simple and enabling the food to create an atmosphere. This brunch is sure a fancy one, no matter the occasion this is place will always impress your mother in law. For this Mother’s Day they have their standard brunch with a Seafood Newburg special, which is essentially a southern “lobster and eggs” dish, yes please!
The Bungalow Inn Restaurant and Bar – Lakeland, MN, 9am-1:30pm $14/person
This Mother’s Day Brunch buffet was the size of one of the biggest sections of their dining room last year. My family likes to go here for multiple reasons: Any type of egg dish, any type of breakfast meat, ribs, salads galore and a healthy spread of morning pastries, with a center bar and TVs for the gents. Get there early to enjoy the somewhat historic ‘riverside restaurant’ feel. Mimosas for days!
Hell’s Kitchen – Downtown, MPLS, 7:30am-3pm
If I asked all my friends where to go for brunch, I bet half of them would say Hell’s Kitchen. Not only does it have a catchy name but this place has been a staple in Downtown, MPLS for years. With a fun but dark atmosphere you can bring your cynical grandmother here and it’ll be sure to please. Get that Bloody Mary though.
Meritage – Downtown, STP, 10am
This place brings brunch to a much different level. With detailed, from-scratch French cooking, quality of ingredients and dishes is held to the highest degree. They serve out of a lovely open bar with a cute seafood display, in a beautiful space in the Hamm’s Building in Downtown STP, and have the freshest oysters I’ve had, multiple times. The Upper West Sider (bagel&lox) brunch plate is phenomenal.
Tongue in Cheek – Payne Ave, STP, 10am-2pm
Two of my most favorite brunch spots are on Payne Avenue in East STP, and this is one of them. Super fun menu with an equally cool staff and space. The menu here is extensive with Chicken and Waffles, “Teasers”, breakfast ramen, burgers, squash salad and my fav: the salmon lox benedict. The “Teasers” are small 2oz-3oz bites or drinks that make trying more things on the menu possible. Like a “Mimosa” with a blueberry made out of blueberry juice in the bottom, or a small flute of gravlax mousse and horseradish. Bring Mom here if she can handle better food in a eclectic atmosphere.
Nicollet Island Inn – Nicollet Island, MPLS, 9:30am-2pm $45/person
Sit down with Mom and have and elegant, coursed out brunch this Mother’s Day. This 5-course menu is absolutely amazing. From fresh pasties to Eggs Benedict to Swedish meatballs to Lemon Meringue, this menu is sure to fill you up and please your palate. Enjoy complimentary tea/coffee and order you and your Mother a celebratory glass of Champagne. This historic hotel/restaurant has some of the best views of Downtown MPLS you’ll find, enjoy an after brunch stroll around Nicollet Island and thank Mom for keeping you alive all these years.
Jax Café – Northeast, MPLS, 9am-2:30pm $16.95-Kids/$42.95 Adults
This NE MPLS staple has all the feels of a cozy little cottage but without missing that wholesome meal that warms your sole. What more could mom want? They roll with a buffet Style brunch loaded with a hot table, cold table, dessert table, and carving station to choose from which have 6 different salads, eggs, fish, turkey, pork, and prime rib. I wouldn’t hesitate to order a cocktail with brunch, either.
Spoon and Stable – Northloop, MPLS, 10am-2pm
Spoon and Stable has one of the best chefs in the world owning and operating it, but that’s not the best part… Diane Yang is their pastry chef extraordinaire and hands down the best at what she does this side of the Mississippi River. Her pastries, desserts and sweets are out-of-this-world delicious. Her way to manipulate ingredients and be so precise on a recipe is truly mind blowing. They have a beautiful menu on the savory side but you must go for the crepe cake: What seems like endless layers of buttery crepes placed together so perfectly just melt in your mouth, especially when you wash it down with a French 75 from Rob Jones.
The Kenwood Restaurant – Kenwood Neighborhood, MPLS 10am-2pm
Their slogan here is “Fine food in a fine enough setting” and boy howdy do they nail it. This neighborhood joint has been quietly killing it in the food industry for years and they are soon to be expanding. For a brunch that anyone’s Mother will truly appreciate, bring her to The Kenwood and tell her thanks. The food here is semi-local and semi-rustic with some fishing details that can really help you appreciate the simple food they are executing. Enjoy a nice glass of vino with multiple options to pair with the Huevos Rancheros or yogurt and house made granola, go nuts!
Don’t be a fool, show your momma she’s cool.
Read next: St. Paul’s 50 Best Restaurants (The ultimate list)
