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    The Best Mother's Day Brunches

    Procrastinator's Guide to Mother's Day brunch: Top dining-out options mom will love

    Marcy de Luna
    Marcy de Luna
    May 10, 2013 | 10:30 am

    Taking mom out for Mother's Day? According to the National Restaurant Association, over 80 million American adults are expected to do just that. However, just like mom, not all Mother's Day menus are created equal. Here are some of our favorites:

    AMERICAN

    BISTRO ALEX
    Highlights: Bistro Alex at CityCentre will feature a three-course, prix-fixe menu this Mother's Day — plus live jazz by Henry Darragh. Hum along to the music as you dine on items like strawberry salad, cornflakes-crusted chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, grilled steak migas, and strawberry shortcake. Bloody Mary’s and mimosas are just $3 each.
    Available: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    Cost per person: Prix-fixe menu is $32
    Reservations: 713-827-3545

    CULLEN'S AMERICAN GRILL
    Highlights: If a raw seafood bar, breakfast station and an array of desserts aren't enough to make mom swoon, there's also a carving station. For that extra special touch, chocolates and fresh flowers can be delivered to your table by special arrangement.
    Available: The brunch buffet is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with last seating at 4 p.m. Dinner service starts at 5 p.m. with the full menu available.
    Cost per person: Brunch is $49.95 per adult, and children under 12 are $14.95.
    Reservations: 281-991-2000

    LINE & LARIAT
    Highlights: You had me at free mimosas, and also buttermilk fried chicken and gruyere mac n cheese, poached Scottish salmon, and roast beef sirloin. But Hotel Icon’s Line & Lariat isn't stopping there, brunch also features waffle and omelet stations, assorted pastries and desserts, and a cold station with items like a raw oyster bar and gulf shrimp remoulade.
    Available: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    Cost per person: $58 for adults, $25 for children ages 6 to 11, free for children ages 5 and under
    Reservations: 832-667-4470

    TRINITI RESTAURANT + BAR
    Highlights: This hot spot's Mother's Day brunch menu, four-course and prix-fixe, offers delectable items such as corn and lobster bisque, monkey bread french toast, frittatas (an Italian dish made with fried beaten eggs), Guinea hen, and pistachio Genoise (a rich and delicate Italian sponge cake).
    Available: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    Cost per person: Brunch menu is $65
    Reservations: 713-527-9090

    LUCILLE'S
    Highlights: Lucille's a la carte brunch includes such Southern favorites as chili biscuits, pork belly and waffles, fried green tomatoes, oxtail skillet, shrimp and grits. Enjoy Bottomless mimosas or sangria for $15 per person.
    Available: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    Cost per person: Varies
    Reservations: 713-568-2505

    RDG + BAR ANNIE
    Highlights: So many choices on the a la carte menu, including bacon-wrapped quail, bbq gulf crab meat, scrambled egg crepes with house smoked salmon and creamy avocado salsa, and, for dessert, chocolate bread pudding, pecan pie and fresh berry cobbler.
    Available: Brunch is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dinner from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
    Cost per person: Varies
    Reservations: 713-840-1111

    TREVISIO
    Highlights: This Texas Medical Center favorite features gigantic cold and hot buffet tables featuring smoked salmon, antipasti, cinnamon raisin French toast, Romano-crusted chicken and butternut squash risotto as well as an omelet station, roast tenderloin carving station and huge dessert table.
    Available: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    Cost per person: $45 for adults; $16 per child 7 and above
    Reservations: 713-749-0400

    CAJUN/CREOLE

    BRENNAN'S OF HOUSTON
    Highlights: Show mom some southern hospitality at Brennan’s. Turtle soup au sherry, Gulf Coast seafood cakes & eggs, pecan-crusted mahi mahi, Breaux Bridge crawfish omelette, and Brennan's white chocolate bread pudding are all options on the Texas Creole, three-course, prix-fixe menu.
    Available: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    Cost per person: $55 per adult and $15.95 per child
    Reservations: 713-522-9711

    FRENCH

    L’OLIVIER RESTAURANT + BAR
    Highlights: Pamper Mom this Mother’s Day with brunch at L’Olivier. On the four-course, prix-fixe menu: Butternut squash panzoti, crab cake Benedict, chicken crepes, and chocolate mousse.
    Available: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    Cost per person: $55
    Reservations: 713-360-6313

    PHILIPPE RESTAURANT + LOUNGE
    Highlights: You can't go wrong taking mom to Philippe where savory brunch menu highlights include chorizo scrambled eggs for $15 and eggs Benedict with bacon or smoked salmon plus hollandaise for $16. A second menu of Chef Specials offers a roasted half lobster with crab bisque, crab meat, asparagus and arugula salad for $25 and surf and turf with braised beef short ribs, prawns a la plancha and soft potato pancakes for $36. The $9 Fraisier tart is one of several dessert options.
    Available: The brunch special is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the Chef Special is from 3 p.m to 8 p.m. The regular dinner menu is available all day.
    Cost per person: Varies
    Reservations: 713-439-1000

    INTERNATIONAL

    ROYAL SONESTA HOTEL
    Highlights: Mother’s Day at the Royal Sonesta Hotel is triple the fun with complimentary mimosas, live music and a special brunch menu. Enjoy fare like chilled melon gazpacho, Peruvian ceviche copa, tuna tartar on wasabi seaweed, cinnamon raisin pecan brioche French toast with blueberry compote, lobster ravioli with cognac butter sauce, tomato-crusted barramundi fillet, and crème brulee to order.
    Available: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    Cost per person: $55 for adults, $45 for seniors (65+), $25 for children ages 5 to 12, and free for children under 5.
    Reservations: 713-627-7600

    KIRAN'S
    Highlights: The Indian-Latin brunch includes a migas and waffle station, an eclectic mix of entrees ranging from free-range chili tamales to chicken tika masala and desserts including tres leches, mango mousse and brioche bread pudding. The brunch also includes bottomless mimosas.
    Available: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
    Cost per person: $55 per person; $25 under 12
    Reservations: 713-960-8472

    PESCA WORLD SEAFOOD
    Highlights: Two prix-fixe menus include shrimp bisque, paella and flourless chocolate cake (brunch) and empandas de carne, crab cakes Benedict and Venezuela-style flan (breakfast). There is also an a la carte menu.
    Available: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    Cost per person: $25 per person prix-fixe breakfast, $35 per person prix-fixe brunch. A la carte varies.
    Reservations: 713-522-1330

    JAPANESE/ASIAN

    RA SUSHI
    Highlights: Keep mom happy all day with a happy hour that goes from morning till close and offers a selection of more than 35 sushi, appetizer, and tapas items ranging from $2.25 to $7.25. For $3 to $7, choose from a variety of beer, wine, sake, and signature cocktails like Sake Sangria.
    Available: 11 a.m. to close at both Houston locations
    Cost per person: Varies
    Reservations: RA Sushi does not accept reservations. For more information, call 713-621-5800 (Highland Village) or 713-331-2792 (CityCentre).

    STRAITS ASIAN BISTRO
    Highlights: It's hard to pass on the Mother's Day specials at this upscale Singaporean restaurant at CityCentre. Divine dishes ranging from $10 to $28 include ahi tuna ceviche, blue crabmeat and mango spring roll and Asian pesto-seared sea scallops with Chinese pork belly sticky rice and spicy red jalapeno curry sauce.
    Available: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
    Cost per person: Varies
    Reservations: 713-365-9922

    LATIN

    LATIN BITES
    Highlights: Start your brunch off right with a Rocoto Porton Bloody Mary, then try items like Venezuelan cachapas (a traditional Venezuelan dish made from corn) and arepas (bread made of corn). Your mom and your wallet will enjoy the complimentary dessert of mil hojas (meaning “a thousand layers”) pastry.
    Available: Brunch is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The regular menu is available from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
    Cost per person: Varies
    Reservations: 713-229-8369

    STEAKHOUSE

    DEL FRISCO’S DOUBLE EAGLE STEAK HOUSE
    Highlights: Banana and mascarpone stuffed French toast for $18 and steak & eggs for $26 are two of the items on Del Frisco’s festive Mother's Day brunch menu. There's also a choice of $10 kid-friendly plates like crispy chicken fingers, French toast and mini cheeseburgers.
    Available: Brunch is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The regular dinner menu is available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    Cost per person: Varies
    Reservations: 713-355-2600

    A frittata at Triniti

    Mother's Day dining May 2013 Triniti-Frittata
    Photo by Debora Smail RealityPhotography
    A frittata at Triniti
    unspecified
    news/restaurants-bars

    Top restaurant stories of 2025

    Major closures, celeb sightings, more top Houston restaurant news 2025

    Eric Sandler
    Dec 26, 2025 | 1:15 pm
    Austin Simmons Charolais restaurant headshot
    Courtesy of Chef Austin Simmons
    Austin Simmons is opening Charolais by Chef Austin Simmons.

    Editor’s note: Readers turn to CultureMap to stay informed on all the latest Houston restaurant news, but some stories grab more people’s attention than others. As always, closings rank highly, taking seven of the 10 places on this list. What’s notable is that the closings included both restaurants open for more than 25 years as well as a steakhouse that closed in less than two years. While the results are mostly doom-and-gloom, we found joy in one of America’s most famous former athletes surprising the diners at popular Houston restaurant — and leaving one lucky waiter a tip worth celebrating.

    Here are the 10 most-read CultureMap restaurant and bar stories of 2025.

    1. Houston chef breaks his silence on sudden exit from Woodlands restaurant. Speaking exclusively to CultureMap, chef Austin Simmons explained the reasons for his surprising departure from Tris, including a dispute with the restaurant’s owner over interior renovations. After taking some time to focus on his Chef & Rancher beef company, Simmons announced in September that he’ll open Charolais by Chef Austin Simmons in the Hughes Landing district. Scheduled to open in April, the restaurant will also have a companion butcher shop that sells meat from Chef & Rancher.

    2. Pioneering Houston Mexican restaurant will shutter after 44 years. Chef Arnaldo Richards announced his intention to close his Mexican restaurant Picos. He cited a number of factors, including a decline in business and the death of his brother Alex. Due to an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from Houstonians, Picos extended its closing until early 2026.

    3. Houston restaurant served Beyoncé a Southern feast for her first meal in H-Town. When Beyoncé Knowles-Carter returned to Houston for two sold-out shows at NRG Stadium, she and her family turned to downtown restaurant Taste Kitchen + Bar for a Southern feast. The epic spread included jerk lamb chops with deep-fried lobster, smothered chicken with collard greens, and the restaurant’s signature chicken and waffles. Later that weekend, Taste chef-owner Don Bowie shared a photo with Jay-Z.

    4. Shaquille O'Neal leaves $1,000 tip at Houston Tex-Mex institution. The NBA Hall-of-Famer, media personality, and restaurateur dined at Ninfa’s Uptown in July. Sitting in the main dining room, he posed for pictures with both fans and the restaurant’s staff. After dining on crispy tacos, he left his server a very generous tip.

    5. James Harden's Houston restaurant locked out over $2.2 million in unpaid rent. The former Houston Rocket’s tenure as a restaurant owner came to an abrupt end in September, when the building’s landlord locked out Thirteen for non-payment of rent. Harden opened Thirteen in 2021, shortly after he left the Rockets for the Brooklyn Nets. In July, he signed a two-year, $81.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers.

    6. Award-winning Houston steakhouse will close after only 2 years. Although it has achieved success and spots in the Michelin Guide with both Candente and The Pit Room, Sambrooks Hospitality couldn’t find an audience for Andiron, its live fire steakhouse in Montrose. Even after pivoting to a more affordable menu, Andiron wasn’t financially viable. New Orleans restaurateur Malachi DuPre claimed the space for Casa Kenji, a new seafood restaurant that blends Japanese and Latin influences.

    7. Surprise chef resignation shutters The Woodlands' best restaurant. Chef Austin Simmons took two spots in this year’s top 10. The sudden closure of Tris, a fine dining steakhouse that drew celebrities such as Joe Rogan, shocked the Houston community. Bari Ristorante, an Italian restaurant in River Oaks District, will open its second location in the space in early 2026.

    8. Top-rated Houston restaurant will close after 8 years in Montrose. Chef Ryan Lachaine cited the increased costs of operating a restaurant when he announced he would close Riel at the end of August. Food enthusiasts and hospitality workers flooded the restaurant for one final meal of caviar tots, pierogies, and other fan favorites. Lachaine found a new position as the executive chef of River Oaks restaurants State of Grace.

    9. Beloved Houston Italian restaurant will close after 27 years in Montrose. Surely one of this year’s saddest closures is Paulie’s, the Italian restaurant in Montrose, and its companion wine bar Camerata. Owner Paul Petronella said he was unable to agree on lease terms with the building’s landlord. Since the announcement, fans have lined up for one last meal of pastas, salads, and decorated shortbread cookies.

    10. Meet the men behind Houston's most under-the-radar Italian restaurant. In this episode of CultureMap’s “What’s Eric Eating” podcast, Mimo owners Mike Sammons and chef Fernando Rios share how working together at Da Marco became the basis of a friendship and business partnership. In addition to discussing their decision to open Mimo and how it has achieved success, the episode also includes insights from both men on Marco Wiles, the pioneering Houston chef and restaurateur behind Da Marco, Vinoteca Poscol, and the late, lamented Dolce Vita pizzeria.

    Austin Simmons Charolais restaurant headshot
    Courtesy of Chef Austin Simmons
    Austin Simmons is opening Charolais by Chef Austin Simmons.
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    news/restaurants-bars
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