Mom raised you better than this

The Procrastinator's Guide to Mother's Day: Last minute brunch alternatives sureto please mom

Easter has been dubbed "brunchapalooza" but Mother's Day is brunchapalooza plus a side of filial guilt if you mess this up.

If you don't have a confirmed reservation at many of Houston's favorite brunch spots, the only way you're getting in this Sunday is on a wing and a prayer. Mom deserves better than that.

Mom's favorite restaurant might be out of reach, but depending on her style you can find an enjoyable alternative.

Don't worry, we've got a few ideas to save your Mother's Day. If you open with flowers and keep the mimosas flowing, she might even find your deviation from the expected downright charming.

One option is to head somewhere that doesn't take reservations, but is still known for a great brunch scene. The includes The Breakfast Klub for classic Southern comfort food, Baba Yega for an over-the-top buffet and great people watching, the only-in-the-Heights bungalow charm of Zelko Bistro and Tiny Boxwood's/Tiny's No. 5 for a more refined vibe and gorgeous patio seating.

Lines are guaranteed to be intense, so spare mom and send someone early so that you can escort her directly to the front or to a good table.

If the logistics of a reservation-less morning sound overwhelming, you've got other options. Mom's favorite restaurant might be out of reach, but depending on her style you can find an enjoyable alternative.

If mom likes the modern cuteness and fresh fare of Canopy, take her to Roots Bistro. Not quite as cute, but the menu has lots of fresh, modern American flavors. It's also a no-brainer for those who prefer a vegetarian or vegan menu — executive chef German Mosquera knows how to work with both. On Sunday all Moms also get a free chocolate mousse for dessert.

If mom likes Hugo's or Backstreet Cafe, try Concepción. The food is more in the mold of Hugo's, with chef Jonathan Jones promising modern Latin flavors, but the patio is one of the few in town that can rival Backstreet's.

If mom likes Benjy's, head to Union Kitchen. Neither the Bellaire nor the Memorial locations have quite the same design-friendly charm as either of Benjy's restaurants, but they are offering special a la carte menus with a quartet of eggs benedict options, special omelets and other brunch faves.

If mom likes Brennan's, take her to Restaurant Cinq at La Colombe d'Or. Both locations have sophisticated charm in a historic building, but while Brennan's is known for a mix of Texas and creole flavors, Cinq starts from a classic French perspective, which was enriched with notes of Southern and Gulf flavors under departed executive chef Jeramie Robison.

If mom likes Azuma, head to Rattan Pan-Asian Bistro. Both offer refined Asian flavors in a very pretty space, but while Azuma is all about sushi and robata from Japan, Rattan offers South Asian, Chinese and Japanese entrees, including a lengthy sushi menu.

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wave goodbye, Wooster's

Midtown bar with creative cocktails and craft taps will close in February

Photo courtesy of Wooster's Garden

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A staple Midtown cocktail bar will soon serve its last drink. Wooster’s Garden will close on February 12, co-owner Jeff Barati announced on Instagram.

He paid tribute to the bar in an emotional post about its legacy.

Since 2014, Wooster’s Garden has been so much more than a place to grab a cocktail – it’s been a second home, a meeting place, a celebration spot, a refuge after long days, and the backdrop to countless memories. Truly my favorite of all our concepts. So many great memories that are very difficult to put into words. I’m getting emotional typing this.

We’ve watched first dates and engagement parties turn into lifelong partnerships, strangers become regulars, and regulars become family. We’ve shared laughs, tears, milestones, cigar nights, and late nights. None of this would have been possible without the community that showed up night after night – your support, stories, and loyalty are what gave this Midtown haven a heartbeat.

Barati tells CultureMap that he and business partner Andy Aweida have leased the space to a new operator who will announce its plans soon. Still, he has some hope that Wooster’s will be revived in the future.

“Our tentative plan is to reopen elsewhere if we can find the right location,” he writes a in a text. “The staff wants to stay together and reopen.”

Opened in 2014 by the Kirby Group, Wooster’s Garden offered a compelling mix of craft cocktails paired with an extensive tap wall of beer and wine along with creative, upscale bar food. Its format and indoor-outdoor design served as a template for a number of the group’s later concepts, including Heights Bier Garten and Bayou Heights Bier Garten.

Closing Wooster’s Garden follows the Kirby Group’s recent decision to shutter Verde Garden, its Mexican-themed bar in Montrose’s Harlow District development. It will be replaced by Exilio Latin Flair, a pan-Latin restaurant from the owners of Bari Ristorante.

cocktails closings wooster's garden