Mother's Day, the perfect occasion for a mom-osa

There’s no better excuse for an elaborate midday meal than Mother’s Day. Something about moms, mimosas and large amounts of pancakes just make sense together. Here’s our roundup of some of the best places to pamper your mom this Sunday.

Mother’s Day meals at Simply It go beyond its shrimp tempura and whole snapper. Owner Tuan Nguyen celebrates by giving each maternal figure a booklet of Nguyen family recipes and takes it even further—family members will actually be on hand to discuss the recipes and answer any questions. Noon–10pm.

At Park Grill, Mom can peruse Park Grill’s elegant lunch offerings, like cedar planked salmon Benedict ($14), while sipping on a complimentary cocktail and dining outside in Millennium Park. 11am. 312-521-PARK for reservations.

Three KDK restaurant chefs honor mothers the best way they can: by serving the recipes their own moms love most. Cory Peterson at Marché offers his mom’s favorite dessert, a rich chocolate cake with fresh pear mousse and candied pears, and Erica Fisher at Opera serves up her mom’s own banana bread recipe. Her spin on it is served with caramel sauce and an Asian pear sorbet. Gioco’s Danny Sweis is keeping it simple and classic, with traditional Italian dessert cookies. Mother’s Day desserts at all three restaurants are only $5.

In addition to its regular brunch items, O’Donovan’s offers a whole slew of elaborate meals for an all-you-can-eat Mother’s Day buffet, from grilled tilapia and assorted mini quiches, to homemade pineapple bread pudding with a brandy and pecan sauce. $15.95 adults, $7.95 children. Reservations are available for the following times: 10–11:30am, 11:45am–1:15pm or 1:30–3pm.

The stations at Cafe des Architectes's Mother’s Day Champagne brunch may be set up buffet-style, but they’ll be serving classy dishes you might typically expect in teeny portions on fancy linens. The seafood station includes poached Madagascar shrimp and oysters on the half shell, and the decadent dessert station features rose-lychee éclairs, chocolate mascarpone cheesecake and lemon meringue tart with candied violets. $79 adults, $30 children (children under 6 complimentary). Seatings at 10:30am or 1pm. 312-324-4000 for reservations.

Old Town Brasserie hosts a truly French affair, complete with live jazz piano and a prix-fixe menu that includes roasted rack of lamb with gnocchi and white asparagus, and dark-chocolate terrine served with passion-fruit mousse. There’s also a contest for the mom wearing the best hat, and the winner gets a dozen long-stemmed red roses. If you play your hats right, this could be the Mother’s Day meal and gift all in one. $29. 11am–3pm. 312-943-3000 for reservations.

One of the best deals we’ve found is at 42 Degrees N. Latitude, where a diverse buffet—including jambalaya, prime rib with horseradish crème, ricotta stuffed eggplant, cinnamon scones and a bottomless cup of coffee—is only $19.95 for adults, $6.95 for children. 9am–3pm. 773-907-2226 for reservations.

Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club’s brunch centers around free-flowing mimosas. With one of those always in her hand, Mom should be content. But Texas-style French toast with bourbon-glazed cherries and poached eggs over Cajun crab cakes can’t hurt, either. $29.95. 11am–3pm.

In honor of both Mother’s Day and the launch of his new brunch menu, Duchamp’s Michael Taus is serving some elaborate creations on a prix-fixe menu, like houska French toast with lemon mascarpone, spiced hazelnuts and Nutella. $29. 10am–2pm.

An omelette station and a cold buffet and a carving station and a hot buffet and a Bloody Mary station? Making all the stops at Chicago Firehouse’s feast should lead to a very satisfied and very, very full mom. $45.95 adults, $23 children. 10am–4pm.