Upscale Chicago Restaurants to Indulge Mom

1. McCormick & Schmick's—Gold Coast or Oak Brook

The multicourse dine-in menu at this favorite steakhouse includes soup, salad, surf or turf entree, and a dessert for $39 a person. The Oak Brook location has a large patio overlooking a pond. 

2. RPM Italian—River North

Moms looking for a fancy dinner for Mother's Day can find it at this River North hot spot. For something extra special, check out the sommelier experience, which pairs the best truffles and pastas with premium wines.

3. Siena Tavern—River North

Top Chef contestant and fan-favorite Fabio Viviani serves up a four-course tasting menu in his River North restaurant. Mother's Day specials include monkey bread, Beef Carpaccio, Siena Shakshuka, and Tagliatelle. 

4. Il Porcellino—River North

Dine-in, carry out, or get delivery from this River North restaurant. The Mother's Day special menu for dine-in includes il Porcellino panzanella salad, lemon roasted chicken, and a black truffle porcini tortellini, or families can order a dinner to eat at home, which includes garlic herb focaccia, prime beef meatballs, the il Porcellino panzanella salad, lemon roasted chicken, black truffle tortellini, and lemon cheesecake. 

5. Osteria Via Stato—River North

This perennial Mother's Day brunch favorite is offering a brunch buffet for $68.95 per adult or $34.95 per kid. Kids five and under eat free. The buffet will include lots of fun stations serving made-to-order omelets, antipasti, ciabatta French toast, and Slagel Farms meats carved tableside. 

6. Tapas Valencia and Meson Sabika—South Loop and Naperville

Meson Sabika (located in a historic mansion and garden near downtown Naperville) and its sister restaurant Tapas Valencia, (in an artistic location in the South Loop) are offering their traditional menu of Spanish tapas, along with Mother's Day specials that include $5 sparkling wine and mimosas all day.

  
Seasonal berry French Toast at Mia Francesca.

7. Mia Francesca—Multiple Locations

Visit the website for all locations.
Reservations for Mother's Day are now available and include the regular menu of Italian classics, with specials to be announced. In previous years, Mia Francesca has offered family to-go packages featuring filet mignons, sides and fresh Italian desserts. 

 
The dessert bar at The Signature Room.

8. The Signature Room—Magnificent Mile

The view is as good as the food at this restaurant near the top of the building formerly known as the John Hancock. Plated brunches feature lobster bisque, classic eggs benedict and croissant and bananas foster casserole with special desserts that include signature white & dark chocolate mousse cake, lemon pound cake, or blueberry crisp.

9. Lucille Restaurant at Drury Lane—Oak Brook

This suburban theater also offers a massive buffet for Mother's Day brunch. Visit carving and omelet stations, a dessert table, and a children's corner filled with sweet treats. Reservations are limited with adults paying $95 per person while kids 2-12 pay $40.

10. Adorn Bar & Restaurant—Gold Coast

New executive chef Richie Farina presents the Blush & Bloom Mother's Day Brunch Buffet, a spectacular that includes live entertainment and children's activities. The brunch includes floral arrangements and live music, as well as a sneak peak into the new spa opening June 1st. The price is $255 per adult and $74 per child.

11. Travelle at the Langham—River North

If it's only the best for your mom, treat her to a luxury brunch buffet or pre fixe dinner at Travelle. Brunch includes unlimited champagne, mimosas, and bellinis, caviar stations, live sushi rolling, a prime cuts carving station, gelato shop, and more for $70-$255. Dinner includes five courses (soup, lobster, branzino, Wagyu short rib, and dessert) for $145 per person.

Midrange Options for a Special Mother's Day 2023

 
Head to L. Woods near Chicago for Mother's Day 2023. Photo courtesy of L. Woods in Lincolnwood

12. L. Woods—Lincolnwood

In addition to its regular menu for brunch or dinner, moms can enjoy a Maryland style crab cake with shaved vegetables, wild Alaskan halibut with roasted asparagus, or prime rib of beef au jus, and a strawberry rhubarb cobbler. Meals are served a la carte and are available for lunch or dinner Saturday and Sunday of Mother's Day weekend. Families can order a la carte items from the catering menu to serve Mother's Day Brunch at home.

13. Aba—West Loop

Lots of different experiences are available for Mother's Day at this restaurant featured on our list of best outdoor dining spots.  Moms can order off the regular menu, which features classic Greek dinners like hummus, kebabs, and salad, or select specials including spring frittata with crab, English peas and shaved asparagus for brunch, and the crusted yellowfin tuna with green peppercorn & aleppo, melted spring onion, fava bean succotash and Assyrtiko beurre blanc.

RELATED: DIY Mother's Day Cards That Kids Can Make

Enjoy a classic brunch at Beatrix for an unforgettable Mother's Day treat.

14. Beatrix—Streeterville and Oak Brook

This upscale, modern brunch joint is offering brunch in-person or to-go. The four-person to-go meal includes a mini-pastry box, melon and berries, brown sugar bacon, chicken sausage, lobster and crab enchiladas, and fresh-squeezed orange juice. In person, moms can order off the regular menu or pick from specials that include lobster & crab enchiladas with soft scrambled eggs, salsa verde, tomato, and avocado. Add on a mimosa kit or cinnamon roll kit to enjoy at home with your in-person or to-go order. 

15. Public Landing—Lockport

Farther afield, but worth the drive, this Southwest Suburban restaurant has a spectacular garden patio overlooking the I&M Canal. It will host two seatings for Mother's Day dinner at 3pm and 7:30pm, each offering a special menu for up to eight people. Menus include appetizers like salad, bacon wrapped shrimp, and bruschetta, and entrees such as maple bourbon pork tenderloin, surf and turf, and prime rib. 

16. Carnivale —Fulton Market

Specialty tapas, live music, and flowers for mom make this colorful restaurant a special place for Mother's Day. An extensive buffet will include lots of Carnivale favorites like ceviche mixto, Spanish style seafood paella, lamb stew or barbacoa, and churros with chocolate and dulce de leche sauce. A cotton candy station rounds out the fun.

 
Long-stemmed roses for Mother's Day. Photo courtesy of I|O Godfrey

17. I|O Godfrey Roofscape—River North

Chicago's largest and only year-round rooftop will offer a variety of specialty menu items including classic breakfast and brunch selections, an omelet station, eggs benedict, pancake and French toast stations, a carving station, salad bar, pastas, sushi station, a dessert station, and more. Adults pay $59 per person while kids under 12 are $15. Special grown-up drinks will also be available for purchase. 

18. The Walnut Room—Downtown

Did you miss getting reservations for Christmas meals at the Walnut Room? Mother's Day is also fun at the classic destination inside Macy's State Street. Moms get a welcome mimosa, and you can start with a shareable cinnamon rolls for the table. Then enjoy perennial favorite entrees like chicken pot pie and spring vegetable quiche before indulging in a slice of Frango mint pie.

19. Bistronomic—Gold Coast

Families can get a pre fixe French brunch for mom on its own for $49 or with bottomless mimosas for $69. Kids are $28 for pre fixe, or enjoy a la carte specialties like avocado toast, eggs benedict, croque monsieur, or buttermilk pancakes with butterscotch sauce. 

20. Harry Caray's—Rosemont, River North or Navy Pier

All Harry Caray's locations will be open on Mother's Day. The Rosemont location is offering special Mother's Day crafts to keep kids busy while they wait for the pre fixe or standard kids' menu meals, while a DJ will be spinning at the Navy Pier location.

21. Chuck's Southern Comfort Cafe—Burbank and Darien

More than 25 different dishes are available on the buffet at Chuck's Southern Comfort Cafe. Choose bananas foster French toast, egg scramblers, chilaquiles, cajun potatoes or green beans, a carving station, or an array of desserts for $45 per adult and $21 per kid.

Fun and Casual Mother's Day Restaurants Near Chicago

 
Mother's Day Brunch photo courtesy of Pinstripes

22. Pinstripes—Oak Brook, Northbrook, River North and South Barrington

Bowling, bocce, and brunch bring the fun at this bowling center and restaurant with locations in the city and suburbs. The brunch buffet features a waffle station, carving station, sweet station, and more. Moms can get bottomless mimosas and aperol spritzes, plus each mom gets complimentary flowers.

23. Mother's Day Restaurant—North Riverside

The name kind of says it all, right? This family-owned diner has an array of brunch favorites, as well as special treats like a Belgian Eskimo waffle (that's ice cream on a waffle for breakfast, which I won't say no to), bananas foster crepes, and taffy apple pancakes. Just make sure you get there early—it's packed on Mother's Day!

24. Wake 'n Bacon—Lakeview

Nothing says "fun mom" like enjoying brunch at the self-proclaimed most Instagrammable brunch venue in Chicago. Located at 420 W. Belmont, this counter service restaurant offers Latin and Asian inspired breakfast and lunch bites, bacon flights, and cocktails and beers starting at just $6. Plus, it looks like there's flowers growing from the ceiling!

25. Lynfred Winery—Roselle

More of a treat than a brunch, moms can enjoy three cupcakes from Smallcakes with a suggested wine flight, or they can create their own. Delicious Lemon Drop, Pink Chocolate, and Hot Fudge Sundae cupcakes come with three glasses of wine for $25, or $20 for Lynfred Winery members. 

Photos courtesy of the restaurants