Patch Picks: Where to Go for Mother's Day

Well, Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 8, and if your mom is anything like mine, the best gift you can give her is some good quality time with her family. Of course, nothing says “quality time” quite like fighting for a table at an overcrowded restaurant! Frankly, if you haven’t made reservations somewhere by now, all I can say is: good luck. But since I don’t get paid for writing articles that only consist of two words (sadly), I've put together a list of five ways to celebrate this very special day:

The Langham. Make Mom feel like royalty at this luxurious landmark hotel, just minutes away from San Marino. As of Wednesday night there was still availability (albeit limited) for the Ballroom Brunch on Sunday, an elaborate buffet in elegant surroundings. Call Vicki Pellman at (626) 585-6218 for reservations.

Scarlet Tea Room. It’s a Mother’s Day extravaganza all weekend long at the Scarlet Tea Room in Pasadena. Choose a prix-fixe dinner on Friday, May 6, or Saturday, May 7, featuring live music on both nights, or opt for a Mother’s Day five-course tea or three-course brunch on Sunday, May 8. For information and reservations, call (626) 577-0051.

Huntington Rose Garden Tea Room. Located adjacent to the stunning Rose Garden (!), The Huntington’s Rose Garden Tea Room offers an array of delights, from fresh-baked scones and savory finger sandwiches to seasonal salads and luscious desserts. Call (626) 683-8131 or make your reservation online. (If the Tea Room is booked, The Huntington is still a great Mother’s Day idea, with so much to see in the galleries and gardens—for starters, the new exhibit and John Frame’s . Refreshments are also available at the Rose Garden Café on a walk-in basis.)

Gold Class Cinema. Avoid the restaurant crowds altogether and treat Mom to an unforgettable movie experience at the Gold Class Cinema, located in the One Colorado courtyard in Old Town Pasadena. Kick back in plush recliners and order from a menu of mouthwatering seasonal items like roasted roasted portobello sliders, steak fajita quesadillas and cheesecake brulee, along with gourmet popcorns and assorted candies. Oh yeah, and watch a movie, too! Call (626) 639-2260 for information. 

Stay home. But don't you dare let Mom do the cooking! In fact, you don't have to do it, either, thanks to Julienne. This Mission Street favorite has put together a special Mother’s Day to-go menu, with a delicious variety of appetizers, entrees, sides and desserts available for pickup after 11 a.m. Call Kate at (626) 441-2499, ext. 15, send a fax to (626) 441-3010 or e-mail kate@juliennetogo.com to place your order (make sure to include your first and last name, day and evening phone number, date and time of pick-up and quantity and description of your selections). 

P.S. Don’t forget !