User's Guide

The Poor Planner’s Guide to Mother’s Day Brunch: Where You Can Still Get a Table (With a Map!)

Photo: iStockphoto

Did you realize that Mother’s Day is this Sunday? It is! And that means that all of New York City will be heading out to brunch with their moms, and the reservation books are filling up fast. But don’t worry if you were too busy to save a spot for you and your own mom. (Maybe you were following this week’s news, or enjoying the recent spell of nice weather? It’s completely possible to love your mom, while at the same time being a bad planner.) Whatever the reason, we’ve got you covered: We called some of our favorite spots around the city and rounded up the best places where you can still get a last-minute brunch reservation or simply walk in. (Just like Two for Eight, we made the calls but don’t guarantee the results.) Unfortunately, you’re on your own when it comes to flowers.

Where: 10 Downing
10 Downing St., at Sixth Ave.; 212-255-0300
What: Moms gets complimentary spring rhubarb mimosas with regular brunch menu.
Price: à la carte
Availability: Limited availability (after 2 p.m.)

Where: A Voce Columbus
10 Columbus Cir., at Broadway; 212-823-2523
What: three-course prix fixe
Price: $50 per person
Availability: Open availability

Where: Atlantic Grill Lincoln Center
1341 Third Ave., nr. 77th St.; 212-988-9200
What: specials in addition to their regular brunch menu
Price: à la carte
Availability: Limited availability (after 1 p.m.)

Where: Balaboosta
214 Mulberry St., nr. Spring St.; 212-966-7366
What: regular brunch menu
Price: à la carte
Availability: All large group reservations booked; walk-ins available

Where: Blue Water Grill
31 Union Square West, at 16th St.; 212-675-9500
What: specials in addition to regular brunch menu
Price: à la carte
Price: à la carte
Availability: Limited availability

Where: Bread Tribeca
301 Church St., nr. Walker St.; 212-334-8282
What: unsure about a special
Price: à la carte
Availability: Open availability

Where: Café Boulud
20 E. 76th St., nr. Madison Ave.; 212-772-2600
What: three course prix fixe
Price: $79 per person ($45 for children under 12)
Availability: Only available for 2:30 p.m. seating

Where: Cafe Cluny
284 W. 12th St., at 4th St.; 212-255-6900
What: regular brunch menu with special drinks
Price: à la carte
Availability: Walk-ins only (brunch starts at 8 a.m.)

Where: ’Cesca
164 W. 75th St.,nr. Amsterdam Ave.; 212-787-6300
What: regular brunch menu, which includes a free cocktail
Price: $29 per person
Availability: Open availability

Where: Ciano
45 E. 22nd St., nr. Park Ave. S.; 212-982-8422
What: regular brunch prix fixe with two savory items and one sweet item
Price: $29.95
Availability: Limited availability

Where: Cookshop
156 Tenth Ave., at 20th St.; 212-924-4440
What: regular brunch menu
Price: $28 per person
Availability: Only tables for two left!

Where: Compass
208 W. 70th St., nr. Amsterdam Ave.; 212-875-8600
What: regular prix fixe brunch menu
Price: $28 per person
Availability: Limited availability

Where: Craftbar
900 Broadway, nr. 20th St.; 212-461-4300
What: regular brunch menu
Price: à la carte
Availability: Open availability

Where: Danal
59 Fifth Ave., nr. 13th St.; 212-982-6930
What: regular brunch menu
Price: à la carte
Availability: Limited availability

Where:

Where: Dos Caminos
825 Third Ave., at 50th St.; 212-336-5400
475 W. Broadway, at Houston St.; 212-277-4300
373 Park Ave. S., nr. 26th St.; 212-294-1000
675 Hudson St., at 14th St.; 212-699-2400

What: specials in addition to regular brunch menu
Price: à la carte
Availability: Availability at all locations

Where: Double Crown
316 Bowery, at Bleecker St.; 212-254-0350
What: regular brunch menu
Price: à la carte
Availability: Open availability

Where: Empellon
230 W. 4th St., nr. W. 10th St.; 212-367-0999
What: regular brunch menu with a complimentary chocolate flan for dessert
Price: à la carte
Availability: Open availability

Where: Five Points
31 Great Jones St., nr. Lafayette St.; 212-253-5700
What: regular brunch menu with specials
Price: à la carte
Availability: Two tables left!

Where: Frankies 457 Spuntino
457 Court St., Brooklyn, nr. Luquer St.; 718-403-0033
What: regular brunch menu
Price: à la carte
Availability: Walk-ins only

Where:

Where: Kittichai
60 Thompson St., nr. Broome St.; 212-219-2000
What: three-course prix fixe
Price: $25 per person; $37 with wine pairing
Availability: Open availability

Where: Plein Sud
85 W. Broadway, nr. Warren St.; 212-204-5555
What: A prix fixe that includes a basket of warm Cheddar cheese biscuits for the table, a Bloody Mary or mimosa, and choice of entree and dessert.
Price: $29 per person
Availability: Limited availability

Where: L’Orange Bleue
430 Broome St., at Crosby St.; 212-226-4999
What: regular prix fixe brunch menu, which comes with coffee or tea and a free cocktail
Price: $15.95 per person
Availability: Open availability

Where: Locanda Verde
379 Greenwich St., at N. Moore St.; 212-925-3797
What: specials in addition to regular brunch menu
Price: à la carte
Availability: Fully booked but taking walk-ins

Where: Marea
240 Central Park S., nr. Broadway; 212-582-5100
What: regular brunch menu with prix fixe or à la carte
Price: $42 per person for prix fixe
Availability: Limited availability

Where: Marseille
630 Ninth Ave., at 44th St. 212-333-2323
What: regular brunch menu
Price: à la carte
Availability: Limited availability

Where: Mercer Kitchen
99 Prince St., at Mercer St.; 212-966-5454
What: regular brunch menu
Price: à la carte
Availability: Limited availability

Where: Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal St., nr. Bleecker St.; 212-475-3850
What: regular brunch menu
Price: à la carte
Availability: Only seatings for two, 2 p.m. or later

Where:

Where: The Pearl Room
8201 Third Ave., Brooklyn, at 82nd St.; 718-833-6666
What: three-course prix fixe
Price: $55 per person
Availability: Open availability

Where: Peels
325 Bowery, at E. 2nd St.; 646-602-7015
What: regular brunch menu
Price: à la carte
Availability: Walk-ins only

Where: Public
210 Elizabeth St., nr. Prince St.; 212-343-7011
What: regular brunch menu
Price: à la carte
Availability: Walk-ins only

Where: Riverview
2–01 50th Ave., Queens, at 2nd St.; 718-392-5000
What: brunch buffet
Price: $35.95 for adults and $19.95 for kids
Availability: Limited availability

Where: Sorella
95 Allen St., nr. Delancey St.; 212-274-9595
What: regular brunch menu.
Price: à la carte
Availability: Open availability

The Poor Planner’s Guide to Mother’s Day Brunch: Where You Can Still