We all know that moms are heroes, and Mother’s Day is our chance to show them just how special they are. That’s why Mother’s Day is consistently one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants.

Last year, according to the National Restaurant Association, more than half of individuals surveyed said they planned to visit a restaurant for dinner on Mother’s Day. Of the guests planning to dine out, nearly 40% said they would select a restaurant based on whether or not they are offering a special Mother’s Day menu.

Clearly, planning special touches for this occasion pays off. We’re thinking beyond brunch about a dining experience that moms will treasure — prix fixe menus, tableside touches, and red carpet ambiance — all while streamlining operations for maximum profitability.

Get Those Reso’s

The Mother’s Day experience begins before families even step foot in your restaurant. It all starts with booking the reservation. Start spreading the word about your availability now, with a little more than a month to go.

Share your menu on social media, send notes to local press and influencers, and encourage servers to share with their tables throughout the month of April, until your books are full. To maximize the return on your efforts, consider extending the Mother’s Day celebration throughout the entire weekend, Friday through Sunday.

To make it easy for your team, create a script for staff who are taking reservations for Mother’s Day to ensure they hit all the key points. If you have a prix fixe menu and special add-ons, alert guests about them at the time of booking.

Pro-tip! Because it is such a high-interest weekend, you may also want to secure a credit card along with reservations and clearly outline your reservation policy if you choose to charge guests for cancellations or no-shows.

Set the Scene

Roll out the red carpet, literally! Make Mom feel special and consider incorporating low-cost special touches like fresh flower bouquets and other decor to communicate to your guests that this is a luxury experience.

If you have space for it, create a photo-worthy, red carpet moment for your guests when they arrive — all you need is a backdrop! You could invest in a step & repeat backdrop with your restaurant logo for guests to have an actual red carpet moment as they arrive. Every time they share the photo, it’ll be a little bit of marketing for your restaurant.

If you want to go all out, hire a photographer to snap keepsake photos, as they arrive or at their table, that guests can buy as an add-on.

Special Touches

With so much competition on Mother’s Day, it’s important to make sure your offerings are unique enough to be a draw for guests. According to research, about 40% of restaurant guests would choose a restaurant offering free add-ons for Mom, like special cocktails, desserts, flowers, chocolates, or a small gift.

Think about what kind of gift you can offer that will feel special to Mom without breaking the bank. Since we’re focusing on dinner, a dessert is an obvious choice. Another way to wow moms is with a takeaway that they can enjoy for breakfast the next morning, like housemade jam in a cute jar. A small box of Piancone® Authentic Italian Cookies or Piancone Cannolis will ensure that guests are thinking about your restaurant long after they’ve gone home.

Go Luxe

Moms like nice things, and if there’s ever a time to embrace the upscale, it’s on Mother’s Day weekend. Even if white tablecloth is not exactly your aesthetic, small, intentional touches and gourmet menu items can elevate the experience.

Offer limited-time tableside plating and garnishing — like drizzling Braveheart® Black Angus Beef tenderloin medallions with a decadent demi-glace crafted using Braveheart Beef Bone Broth Concentrate. The bone broth could also work well in a rich sauce, topping poached eggs resting on Allegiance® 10 Bone Pork Tomahawk chops as a brunch item. Or infuse a housemade, signature ramen with a bone broth consommé.

Serve mom the finest comfort specials, like indulgent Lobster Mac ‘n’ Cheese or go straight to the authentic, Italian source with truffled Fusili al Ferreto featuring Piancone Epicureo Artisan Dry Pasta — crafted with a centuries-old process from the heart of the Old Country pasta-making capital.

And for a lighter yet elegant option, pan-sear Bay Winds® Wild Caught Chilean Sea Bass to crispy perfection, then drizzle it with a zesty lemon beurre blanc. This dish not only delights with flavor but also adds a touch of finesse to your menu. The key here is elevating the experience while still being mindful of kitchen efficiency and profitability. With the right combination of flavors, presentation, and smart menu choices, you can offer mom a truly luxurious night out.

Prix Fixe It

Because Mother’s Day is such a high-volume occasion, one way to streamline service is by offering a prix fixe menu. Start with a selection of one or two appetizers, like sweet pea bruschetta or a classic shrimp cocktail with large, chilled Bay Winds® Shrimp. Follow with a soup or salad course, pulling from your existing inventory with slight upgrades. Next, give guests a selection of beef, fish, or vegetarian entrées and then end with a sweet dessert.

Sweet Like Mom

By using pre-made options, like ones found in the line of Sweet Encore® Fine Desserts, you can streamline service and reduce labor costs, while still offering something special for moms. Sweet Encore offers a comprehensive variety of options, from creamy cheesecakes, to mile high peanut butter cake, to deep-dish key lime pie.

Or start with Sweet Encore chewy fudge brownies and add Nature’s Best Dairy® Ice Cream to create a sundae moms will love. Pre-made options also leave you extra time to customize your presentations. Use fresh garnishes, chocolate hearts or writing on the plate, even special sauces to take your dessert plates to the next level.

This Mother’s Day, roll out the red carpet and treat your guests to an unforgettable dining experience that makes moms feel like the superstars they are. With a little extra flair, thoughtful touches, and a killer menu, your restaurant can become a prime destination for families looking to celebrate in style!