Holiday dining

The best Fort Worth restaurants to treat Mom for Mother's Day brunch 2021

Wicked Butcher Mother's Day brunch, bloody mary

Mom definitely deserves one of these.

Photo courtesy of Wicked Butcher

A year ago, just a handful of restaurants ventured to open for dine-in on Mother’s Day (and that was at 25 percent capacity), with many more opting to only offer meals via curbside pickup. Mom had to pour her own mimosas at home. This year, Mother’s Day brunch is back, with festivities ranging from multicourse fine dining menus (with real mimosa flutes) to live music and even live longhorns at one popular restaurant. Here are Fort Worth’s best places to brunch on Mother’s Day, which falls on Sunday, May 9. The list will continue to grow as more are announced.

B&B Butchers & Restaurant
The Clearfork steakhouse is giving moms what they really want: someone to entertain the kids. There’ll be a balloon artist on-site for Mother’s Day Sunday brunch, along with live music and a couple of Texas longhorns out front for family photo opps. Each mom gets a complimentary mimosa to go with brunch dishes like the crab cake Benedict, coconut-crusted French toast, chilaquiles, and old fashioned omelets. Brunch will be served from 10 am-3 pm. 817-737-5212.

Blue Mesa Grill
The busy brunch spot will open early at 8 am to offer its usual mega-buffet featuring biscuits and sausage gravy, migas, chicken and waffles, omelets, a carving station with brisket and red chile salmon, street tacos, adobe pie, cheese enchiladas, sweet corn cake, Southwest mac and cheese, salads, chimayo corn, bubbly, and mimosas. Brunch is $28 per person, or $7 for 11 and under, and will be served until 4:30 pm. Or order brunch to-go by May 6 ($70, serves four) for pick-up Mother’s Day weekend. 817-332-6372.

Capital Grille. Special brunch options include lobster frittata, NY strip steak & eggs, and filet mignon, 11 am-2 pm, plus regular à la carte menu served all day. Three-course dinner for takeout includes beef tenderloin, lobster tails, salad, mashed potatoes, flourless chocolate cake, and chocolate-covered strawberries. Serves four to six, ready to warm at home. $165. Pickup May 8 12-5 pm, or May 9 10 am-12 pm. 817-348-9200.

Chef Point
Both the Watauga and Colleyville locations of the restaurant and bar will offer a special Mother's Day menu all day, 10 am-9 pm. Highlights include lobster mac and cheese, Maple Leaf duck, grilled stuffed swordfish, shrimp & grits, and more. There are a few kids' menu offerings, mimosa flights, and bloody Marys, too. Colleyville, 817-482-5030; Watauga, 817-656-0080.

City Works Eatery & Pour House
Rock n' roll themed brunch lets guests build their own Momosa flight of four mimosas such as Mulemosa, Aperol, and Rosé. May 8-9 from 10 am-3 pm. 682-207-1500.

The Classic Cafe at Roanoke
Upscale Roanoke restaurant is offering a special Mother's Day menu to-go only. Choices include a three-course meal featuring salmon, beef medallions, pork jagerschnitzel, vegetarian pasta, ribeye, or beef tenderloin with sides ($30-$55). One-course meal options include gumbo, beef bourguignon, or chicken fried steak ($14); add a children's plate, appetizer, French bread, wine, and more. Order online by May 6 for pickup on May 8 only. 817-430-8185.

Clay Pigeon Food & Drink
Chef Marcus Paslay's kitchen is serving four-course Mother's Day brunch, 10:30 am-3 pm. Courses include Bacon & Gravy Croquettes; Cucumber Green Apple Gazpacho, Knife & Fork Caesar, or Eggs in Purgatory; French Toast, CP Burger, Shrimp & Grits, or Eggs Benedict; and Cereal Milk Panna Cotta for dessert. $50 per person or $15 for kids 12 and under. 817-882-8065.

Cru
Three-course brunch menu with appetizer, entree, and dessert is $45 for dining-in 10 am-3 pm. Take Home Brunch for Two includes two appetizers, two entrees, and two desserts, $80. Order by May 8 at 4 pm. Fort Worth, 817-737-9463.

Eatzi's Market & Bakery
To-go specials for Mother’s Day include zucchini and goat cheese quiche, asparagus tart, chateaubriand filet, Wagyu sirloin roast, citrus herb turkey breast, raspberry Key lime pie, and a special pink Mother's Day Tower of Power Cake. Order by May 8 for pickup May 7-9. Fort Worth, 817-945-9095; Grapevine, 817-527-4007.

Eddie V’s Fine Seafood
This multicourse meal at the fine steak and seafood destination starts with warm, house-baked cinnamon rolls. Choose from salad, lobster bisque, or shrimp cocktail for the first course; and steak and eggs, lobster quiche, or smoked gravlax for the entrée. Choice of bananas Foster cake or fresh berries with cookies round out dessert. There’s also a children’s brunch menu, as well as a four-course menu available exclusively to-go. 817-336-8000.

Ellerbe Fine Foods
The beloved West Magnolia Avenue farm-to-table restaurant will open early for Mother’s Day Sunday brunch. Three courses ($56 per person) include choice of soup or salad; an entrée choice of braised brisket tartine, sautéed salmon with coconut basmati rice, or eggs and avocado with browned butter cornbread; and strawberry and ricotta cake for dessert. There’s even a children’s menu if the kiddos are tagging along. Brunch will be served from 10 am-3 pm. 817-926-3663.

FnG Eats
There are two seating times (10:30 am and 12:30 pm) for Mother’s Day brunch at the Keller scratch kitchen, which will serve a la carte dishes like French toast strata, macadamia nut chicken salad, and blueberry buttermilk pancakes. Or order by Thursday, May 6 for family-sized brunch dishes to-go, including chicken and cornbread waffles; DIY mimosas. 817-741-5200.

Grace
The downtown fine dining destination was one of the few restaurants open on Mother’s Day last year at 25 percent capacity. This year, reservations are going fast for Sunday brunch dishes, including eggs Benedict with petite filet and lump crab, quiche Lorraine, and pork carnitas with white cheddar grits and lime crème fraiche. Grace’s regular dinner menu will also be available. Brunch will be served from 10:30 am-2:15 pm. and dinner only will run from 4-9 pm. 817-877-3388.

Joe's Crab Shack
Four-course meal for dine-in includes choices from crab-shrimp dip, panko-parmesan-crusted mozzarella, house or Caesar salad, seafood platter with tilapia, shrimp, fish & chips, popcorn shrimp, coleslaw; steamed mussels, clams, & shrimp with garlic bread; surf & turf sirloin with shrimp; cedar roasted salmon; apple crumble, or s'mores. May 7-9. $36. 682-286-1000.

Lili's Bistro
The Magnolia Avenue bistro is hosting a Mother's Day brunch with live piano music, 10:30 am-2:30 pm. They offer a full menu of a la carte brunch specialties, including crab benedict, baklava crepes, coffee cake bread pudding, ham-brie-cherry compote "monte cristo," and more. Reservations are recommended. 817-877-0700.

Magdalena's
Chef Juan Rodriguez's kitchen is serving up a fixed-price, four-course brunch, $50 per person. Courses include fresh fruit salad; Churro and Lox- Smoked Salmon with Herbed Cream Cheese and Prickly Pear Pickled Onions; Breakfast Casserole with Heirloom Tomatoes, Avocado, Salsa Roja, Sausage, and Croissant; and Pancake with Passion Fruit, Condensed Maple Syrup and Whipped Cardamom Cream. Reservations include fresh fruit juice for BYOB mimosa flights, chocolate-covered strawberries, and complimentary valet parking. Reserve here. 817-740-8085.

97 West Kitchen & Bar
Texas-infused brunch crafted by executive chef Grant Morgan features a variety of elevated stations including an omelet bar and breakfast favorites such as house-made biscuits with smoked sausage gravy and chicken apple sausage. $60, or $18 for 12 and under. 682-255-6497.

Omni Fort Worth Hotel
The downtown hotel's Cast Iron restaurant is doing a chef-served buffet featuring an array of salads; assorted breads; chilled seafood; made-to-order breakfast; a chef’s carving station featuring home-smoked coffee rubbed brisket and salmon encroute; spice rubbed chicken entrees; an assortment of sides; desserts; and personalized cupcakes for Mom. It's $68 for adults and $35 for kids; ages 5 and under are free. Hotel valet parking will be complimentary. Reserve through OpenTable.com or call 817-350-4072.

Perry's Steakhouse & Grille
Mother’s Day specials at the Grapevine steakhouse include fennel-crusted salmon; brunch cocktails including mimosas, brandy milk punch, and bloody Marys (11 am-4 pm); and a three-course Sunday pork chop supper with dessert trio (4-9 pm, $39 per person). 682-477-2261.

Pinstripes
Treat Mom to bowling, bocce ball, and brunch at the Shops at Clearfork dining and entertainment venue, where Mother’s Day brunch will be served 10 am-3 pm. Menu highlights include the egg white “Momlet” with kale, roasted red pepper, goat cheese, and avocado toast; and the lobster and egg bruschetta over a grilled baguette with truffle oil. Menu is also available for takeout. 682-352-0808.

Rainforest Café
Three-course menu for dining in includes choices from soup, salad, flat iron & coconut shrimp, rasta pasta alfredo, aloha salmon & shrimp, fried shrimp, tribal cheesecake, and Key lime pie. $35. 972-539-5001.

Silver Fox
Open especially early just for Mother's Day, the prime Fort Worth steakhouse will serve an elevated brunch including choice of Benedict: filet mignon, lobster tail, or crab cake; or Bananas Foster French toast with Neuske’s bacon and fingerling potatoes. Brunch is $49 per person and will be served 11 am-4 pm. Brunch will also be available to-go. 817-332-9060.

Toro Toro
The Worthington Renaissance Hotel’s Latin-inspired steakhouse and bar will serve its bottomless brunch menu ($29 per person) with $3 brunch cocktails. Go for short rib birria tacos, salmon ceviche, huevos rancheros, baby back ribs, and Belgian waffles. 817-210-2222.

Truluck's
Featured dish of seafood lasagna with Maine lobster, blue crab, shrimp, caramelized onions, artichoke hearts, mozzarella, whipped mascarpone, and ricotta for $58. Special cocktail is the Cosmosa with Tito's vodka, Cointreau, lime, cranberry, raspberries, and Cava for $14.50. 11 am-9 pm. Southlake, 817-912-0500.

Wicked Butcher
The snazzy Sinclair Hotel’s high-end steakhouse will open for Mother’s Day Sunday brunch, offering an a la carte menu of comfort food favorites. Choose from shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, grilled beef breakfast tacos, and even Nutella-stuffed French toast. Save room for olive oil cake, black cherry cheesecake, and one “Wicked Sundae” piled with caramel corn, brownie chunks, chocolate ice cream, and caramel sauce. The restaurant will be open 11 am-3 pm. 682-231-8214.

brunch holidays

Closure News

Tropic Lady restaurant-bar on Fort Worth's Race Street says aloha

Tropic Lady

The dip trio at Tropic Lady.

A chill restaurant and bar in Fort Worth's River East district has closed: Tropic Lady, which opened in the former Fuzzy's Taco space at 2719 Race St. in 2023, has closed.

The restaurant, which closed in mid-December, was a sibling to Bearded Lady, the popular gastropub in Near Southside; their last Facebook post was on December 10. Their phone number is not working, and their website is no longer active. Owner Shannon Osbakken was unavailable for comment, but a Bearded Lady employee confirmed the closure.

Tropic Lady was a tropical-themed gastropub opened by a trio of friends: Bearded Lady owner Shannon Osbakken, her business partner Sarah Allen, and general manager Amanda Yunger. It offered a similar menu as Bearded lady but with more tropical-inspired fare, including shrimp tacos, bacon-wrapped grilled pineapple bites, and guacamole dotted with mango.

For a gastropub, they did interesting food with dishes like watermelon salad with feta and cucumber; or their Dip Trio, with mango guacamole, tomatillo salsa, and queso blanco served with house-made tortilla chips. Definitely not run-of-the-mill. They also had great lunch specials like a smashburger with curly fries for $10.

Food did not seem to be the problem.

Decor featured artwork and murals created by local artists. A beautifully landscaped patio wrapped around the building’s facade. So the setting did not seem to be a factor.

It's tempting to point the finger at its location on Race Street, which has witnessed a round of closings in the past two years including buzzy birria taqueria Caliscience, which closed in February 2024; as well as The Post at River East, a restaurant and live music venue that shut down the same month.

In 2023, three other restaurants on Race Street closed: Tributary Cafe, the Bon Appetit-lauded La Onda, and vegan burger spot Zonk Burger. But separate reasons can also be found for each of those closures, whether that be inexperience or lease issues.

For years, the city and neighborhood advocates have been trying to turn Race Street into a trendy hotspot. As part of the city’s Urban Villages program, the city of Fort Worth invested $5.6 million in revitalizing the area, making improvements to traffic flow, sidewalks, landscaping, and outdoor lighting.

When Osbakken opened the bar, she said she loved the area, stating "it reminds me of Magnolia when were first were on it 10 years ago in our old location. It's a great community and the neighbors have been friendly and reaching out."

And there are still restaurants along the street, including a popular Mexican restaurant called Tesoro, the Dough’d Up doughnut shop, and Kingyo Sushi & Ramen House, as well as a coffee shop, Race Street Coffee.

The Bearded Lady continues to flourish. Osbakken originally opened the popular gastropub on Magnolia Avenue in 2013. Six years later, she moved it to the South Main, where it’s still going strong.

closings