Quantcast

Treat your mom to the best Sunday brunch in Austin for Mother's Day

I LOVE MY MOMMA

Photo courtesy of Little Ola's Biscuits

Plenty of amazing local restaurants are going all out this year for Mother's Day. From a classic Sunday brunch, to curated to-go dessert boxes, to free ramen, there is something for all moms to enjoy on her special day.

Finding the right place to dine might be a challenge while browsing types of cuisine, menu items, prices, and hours of operation. Luckily for you, we’ve gathered some of the city’s best dining options in this must-read guide to help you celebrate the special motherly figure in your life.

To-Go Dining Options

Uchiko
Executive Pastry Chef Ariana Quant has curated a Mother’s Day Sweet Box for pre-order until Friday, May 12, with only 50 boxes available for pickup on May 13 and 14. The six pastries included in the Sweet Box include a Paris brest with apricot, almond, and creme fraiche; a milk chocolate bar with blueberry and hazelnuts; a coconut mango bar with frangipane, coconut mousse, and mango compote; a flourless chocolate cake with cream cheese and dark chocolate mousse; a tonka bean bar with raspberries and pistachios; and a cashew and coffee caramel bar. Pre-orders ($80 with an optional $25 bottle of Bouvet Brut Rose) can be made on SevenRooms.

Little Ola’s Biscuits
This neighborhood biscuit shop is celebrating Mother’s Day with three pre-order biscuit packs to-go: the Big Ola’s Mother’s Day Pack, the Pup Mom Biscuit Pack, and Little Ola’s Mother’s Day Biscuit Pack. Each pack consists of six biscuits with three, four-ounce containers of condiments, with the Pup Mom and Big Ola’s packs containing extra treats for your mother (or dog) and a Mother’s Day card. The biscuit packs ($31-$95) can be ordered online for delivery ($15) or free pickup at Little Ola’s or Olamaie on May 13 and 14 via Table22.

Sunday Brunches

Goldie’s Sunken Bar
You won’t want to miss this – Austin Proper’s cocktail bar and lounge, Goldie’s, has planned a Proper Afternoon Tea for Mother's Day weekend on May 13 and 14 from 12-4 pm. The elegant festivity features classic treats such as cucumber sandwiches, egg salad canapes, French macarons, and a curated selection of lively, health-focused teas. Reservations ($65) can be made via OpenTable.

Andiamo Ristorante
If your mother fancies unforgettable and indulgent Italian cuisine, Andiamo Ristorante will be opening for a special Sunday brunch service. Take your pick from one of their starters like the Prosciutto e Melone or their Verdura Fritta, then choose from a pan-roasted lobster tail with linguine or a mushroom and green pea risotto in a tomato and white wine sauce for your main course. If you happen to save room for dessert, treat yourselves to one of the indulgent treats like the Sicilian orange cake, tiramisú, and more. Reserve on Tock.

Punch Bowl Social
This special event is for the fun mom in your life. Check out the live music at any Punch Bowl Social location while taking advantage of their Bloody Mary bar, handcrafted cocktails, and made-from-scratch dishes just for the occasion. Special menu items include the crab and avocado scramble and dutch baby pancake. And if your mom has a competitive side, she can engage in one of the many arcade games, bowling, darts, cornhole, and other fun activities the restaurant has to offer. Reserve on OpenTable.

JINYA Ramen Bar
Did someone say free ramen? Bring your mother to Jinya at the Domain for Haha No Hi (Mother’s Day), and her ramen is on the house. This expectedly popular deal is limited to one free ramen per order, so plan accordingly.

Vixen’s Wedding
Vixen’s will host a floral design workshop for Mother’s Day, and provide their build-your-own mimosa kits for half price from 10 am to 2 pm in addition to their delicious Portuguese brunch offerings. Reservations can be made via Resy.

Cru Food & Wine Bar
From 10 am to 3 pm, both Cru Food & Wine Bar locations downtown and at the Domain will be serving up a delightful three-course prix fixe brunch. Start off with your choice between a blood peach bellini or a Cru mimosa, then try a few goat cheese beignets, a roasted asparagus and burrata salad, or a crab cake benedict. Complete the experience with either the chocolate molten cake or the butter toasted lemon pound cake. Reservations can be made on OpenTable.

Peached Tortilla
This festive brunch will have your mother feeling peachy keen with its Asian and Southern comfort influences. Just for her, Peached Tortilla will debut three new dishes: confit duck hash with golden potatoes, edamame, and fresno chimichurri, and a savory Thai curry shakshuka with tomatoes, red peppers, shiitake mushrooms, and a scallion pancake. If your mother has a sweet tooth, she might enjoy the Hong Kong milk toast with sweetened condensed milk, matcha powder, and fresh fruit. Brunch is served from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. Reserve on OpenTable.

Truluck’s
For the avid seafood lovers, Truluck’s is making Mother’s Day a day to remember with a specialty Summer Romance cocktail ($15) to go along with their mouthwateringly imaginative seafood dishes. The restaurant’s staff will be dedicated to making sure your mom’s every need is met during your dining experience. Their Mother’s Day hours are from 11 am to 8 pm. Reservations are not required, but are highly recommended, and can be made via OpenTable.

Lucky Rabbit
Get away from the city bustle with a special jazz brunch hosted by Lucky Rabbit in Jonestown. S7ven Jazz Band will perform from 11 am to 2 pm, followed by additional live music from Caterwaulers until 5 pm. There will be a special fresh fruit buffet, pastries, Round Rock Donuts to accompany the restaurant’s brunch specials.

Tillie’s at Camp Lucy
If you’d rather head west of town than north, you can’t go wrong with a lovely drive to the Hill Country for a delightful brunch at American-Nouveau concept Tillie’s. Their prix fixe Mother’s Day menu includes a green asparagus salad or tomato salad for starters, followed by your choice of ribeye steak frites or cauliflower “shawarma” as your main course. Diners can finish off their meal with either profiteroles “concha” or Texas pecan tart. Brunch will be served from 11:30 am to 7 pm. Reservations ($85 for adults, $45 for children) can be made via OpenTable.

From Your Site Articles
Photo coutesy of Love Weld

Nurture your generous side with these Mother's Day gifts from Austin

MOM'S LOVE LANGUAGE: GIFTS

In case it wasn’t apparent, Austin goes all-out for Mother’s Day. Lots of local shops are putting all of their energy in providing the best gift options for every type of mom out there. If you haven't found the right gift for her yet, don't fret. CultureMap's got you covered with some of the city’s best gift ideas in this ultimate guide to help you celebrate the special motherly figure in your life. From jewelry, to handmade crafts, to curated gift boxes, there is something for all moms to enjoy on her special day.

Paper + Craft Pantry
This Mother’s Day pop-up market is an invitation for all sorts of mothers: dog moms, plant moms, or a dad who performs both roles as a parent. 17 local small businesses will be set up at the Paper + Craft Pantry in East Austin on May 7 from 12-4 pm. From embroidery, to watercolor paintings, to one-of-a-kind ceramics, this pop-up will surely help you find the perfect gift. Check out the wares at thepapercraftpantry.com.

Kendra Scott
This popular jewelry brand has delicate gifts that your mom is guaranteed to love every time she wears it, for every style and price point. The new Mom Heart Padlock Pendant Necklace comes in sterling silver or 18k gold vermeil, with complimentary initial engraving in a choice of three different fonts. Or choose a bestselling accessory like the Elisa Gold Pendant Necklace with 21 total gemstone colors to personalize your gift, including two new colors: mulberry dusty and light yellow dusty. Shop at kendrascott.com.

Meanwhile Brewing
Fellow last-minute shoppers can get a second chance at finding the right gift in-person at Meanwhile’s Mother’s Day Market on May 14. The brewery has curated a showing of several local creators, makers, and vendors for this small event from 11 am to 4 pm. See the list of vendors at meanwhilebeer.com.

Earlybird CBD and Latika Soap
These two local Austin businesses are teaming up to bring your mom the ultimate self-care experience. From May 12-14, shoppers who purchase from Latika Soap will receive a discount code for a free four-pack of Earlybird CBD gummies, while shoppers who purchase from Earlybird will receive a complimentary Vitamin C bath soak and a 20 percent off discount code for their next purchase at Latika. Check earlybirdcbd.com and latikasoap.com for more details.

Sprinkles Cupcakes
This cutesy cupcake shop has unveiled its special Mother's Day boutique with a local Mother's Day box bundle containing 12 total cupcakes, three in each of the following flavors: vanilla, salty caramel, red velvet, and dark chocolate. Special gift wrap is included, and boxes can be picked up between May 8-14 at their Palm Way location at the Domain, or delivered at an added cost. Boxes can be ordered from sprinkles.com.

V/O Med Spa
All month-long, V/O Med Spa is celebrating mothers with a special discount: Purchase a wrinkle relaxer treatment in any area, and you’ll receive 50 percent off a one-hour signature facial. The discount is available for both new and existing customers. More information is available on their viomedspa.com.

Foxtrot Market
Austin’s first location of the cult-classic Foxtrot Market opened its doors on Burnet Road earlier this year, and will be providing Mother’s Day gift boxes now until May 14. The curated selections range from self-care items to pantry staples by women-owned businesses. The boxes ship within two to three days and can be ordered online via foxtrotco.com.

Ten Thousand Villages
If you lean more on the creative side and love to give your mother handmade gifts, Ten Thousand Villages on Burnet Road will host a special block printing workshop on May 12 and 13 from 11 am to 2 pm. The team will teach crafters about this 2,000-year-old practice and help you create beautiful, handmade cards. While you're there, you can browse the many unique and handmade fair-trade gifts and take advantage of a 20 percent off in-store promotion for purchases over $50. Additionally for May 13, shoppers will be accompanied by live music by a jazz guitarist and pop-up market in their new community engagement room. Learn more at tenthousandvillages.com.

The Flower Peddler
Treat your mom to a hand-picked flower bouquet all Mother's Day weekend long at the Flower Peddler at the Domain near North Italia. From 10 am to 3 pm on May 13 and from noon to 3 pm on May 14, you can show the motherly figures in your life some love with a complimentary rose, and get a chance to create your own bouquet for her with their selection of freshly picked florals. Learn more at theflowerpeddlertruck.com.

Love Weld at South Congress Hotel
From 10 am to 2 pm on Mother's Day, permanent jewelry maker Love Weld will be at the South Congress Hotel to help you celebrate your special bond with your mother with a 14k welded piece of jewelry. In just 15 minutes, you can have your chain and charm picked out, fitted, and welded. Walk-in space is limited, so appointments are recommended and can be made via Calendly. Just to note: the 15-minute appointment slot is for one person only, so book multiple times for more than one person.

Ad Placement 300x100
Ad Placement 300x600

CultureMap Emails are Awesome

Property Showcase

10 restaurant and bar openings — including a pop-up — top Austin's tastiest food news

News You Can Eat

Editor’s note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of Austin’s restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our regular roundup of essential food news.

Openings and closings

ICYMI: Buckle in for tons of openings this week. During our busy week we covered the opening date for Radio/East, which is the highly anticipated expansion of Radio Coffee & Beer; the arrival of Tarbox & Brown, a San Marcos restaurant with lots of cultural influences, led by a chef with South African and Chinese roots; and the debut of Bacalar, a Mexican restaurant that marks the return of a former Top Chef winner to the Austin food scene. We also heard about a secretive new speakeasy, Trona, from an entrepreneur with a very cool track record. But there's more we haven't told you about yet.

First-year Texas Longhorn player Deandre Moore just got a check for his "name, image, and likeness," and used that money to open the Jive Turkeyfood truck (1637 E. Riverside Dr.). And even cooler — he hired his mom. Taleea Moore is cooking up lots of turkey dishes, inspired by the family's athletic at-home eating that has long subbed out poultry for beef. There are only three regular menu items so far: a turkey burger (of course), a Thanksgiving-inspired cornbread comfort bowl, and a deep-fried turkey taco. The rest are seasonal treats.

Austin could always use more cool cocktail spots — they book up fast on the weekend — so people are excited to welcome Daydreamer, a "cocktail and champagne bar." (That's not to be confused with Daydreamer Coffee, which opened last year.) There's lots to dream about, but most appealing is that this venture comes from the minds of a whole bunch of industry vets from very cool spots all around Austin. Follow your dreams to 1708 E. 6th St.

Longtime Austin establishmentJuliet Italian Kitchen, also known for dreamy vibes thanks to pretty interior design and a great location in the Zilker area, is expanding into Georgetown. The stylish vibes will continue at 701 S. Main St., in Georgetown's Old Masonic Lodge Building, which was built in 1900. This will be the restaurant's third location, and will include an upstairs bar and dining area, plus a patio, seating 188 guests in total.

The team behind Drinks Lounge just launched Drinks Backyard, bringing even more casual vibes to South Austin — where they'll really be appreciated. Located at a former liquor store (6328 S. Hwy. 183), this bar takes advantage of the two acres around it with a stage, covered lounge seating, and a 14-foot TV for sports and movies. The bar and patio are open now, but the backyard is still getting ready. Eventually, it will welcome guests under 21 and pets. Smokin' Brew-B-Q is the first food truck onsite, with more coming soon.

We focused on other things last week, but two casual chains shared news we don't want to gloss over. Graze Craze, a charcuterie shop, has opened its first location in the Austin area, in Lakeway (2127 Lohman’s Crossing Rd., Ste. 304). The company takes its meat-cheese-and-other-snacks curating very seriously, and these gargantuan charcuteries are sure to impress large parties.

Similarly, Seattle-based Eastern European pie-maker Piroshky Piroshky is making its Texas debut — but in this case, they're not sticking around. Catch the pop-up in Austin on October 6 to see why this bakery is popular enough to pull off a national tour. The team is posting locations as they go on Instagram.

Radio Coffee brings the brews to new East Austin shop and music venue in October

going live in the fall

When it comes to expanding the influence of coffee connoisseurs in Austin, there's room for everyone on the East Side.

One East Austin coffee shop just changed hands for a fancy rebrand, and another recently expanded out of the area into Buda. Cosmic Coffee, a South Austin staple, blew everyone out of the water with a gorgeous, sprawling industrial complex on East 4th Street, and now another neighboring coffee and beer combo is following suit.

Radio/East, a second location spun off from the original music-loving Radio Coffee & Beer, will open its doors at 3504 Montopolis Dr. in East Austin on Wednesday, October 18.

The new family- and dog-friendly space sprawls across two acres, which is divvied up among a 1,200-square-foot indoor coffee shop, indoor and outdoor live music stages, and a food truck park. Guests will be able to order their favorite drinks from the indoor counter, or they can choose to order from either of the two outdoor windows that open to the grand shaded backyard. And we can't forget one of the more rare features: plenty of parking for customers.

Radio's founding father-son duo Jack and Greg Wilson brought on two new partners — Trey Hudson and Nine Mile Records owner Rick Pierik — in the hopes of developing and maintaining this new spot as a community-focused space, much like the beloved original.

“With the new space, we’ve been able to create a through line to the existing concept of Radio,” said Hudson in a release. “With Radio/East we tried to listen to what the Montopolis community needed and we hope that we can be as central to this neighborhood as we have been to the area around Menchaca.”

Pierik will be the driving force behind Radio/East's musical events. Local musicians and touring bands will all get their chance to take the stage with four nights of performances planned indoors and outdoors beginning on Thursdays.

With Austin's wide-ranging music taste, Pierik will seek to reflect the city's musical diversity with every show.

"Jack Wilson and I are looking to bring together diverse programing from every corner of the music industry, booking up-and-coming national and international acts alongside all of the amazing Austin talent we've known and admired for years," said Pierik. "We're especially committed to helping local artists develop their fanbases through quality concert experiences and eclectic bills."

A list of events following Radio/East's grand opening is as follows:

  • October 19 – Sunrosa with Guma and Feeling Small
  • October 20 – Redbud with Mockjaw, Tearjerk, and Creekbed Carter Hogan
  • October 21 – Peachfuzz 10th Anniversary Party featuring The Texas Gentleman, Brown Burlesque, Lady Dan, and a to-be-announced special guest
  • October 28 – First Annual Radio/East Chili Cook Off and the Austin Flea, featuring Mother Neff, The Push & Shove, and Sour Bridges
  • October 31 – A Rocky Horror Halloween featuring A Giant Dog with Trouble in the Streets
  • November 11 – A Free Lunch Benefit featuring Caroline Rose and BRUCE
  • November 17 – Money Chicha with The Tiarras

Tickets for the upcoming shows can be purchased online beginning Friday, September 29.

In addition to keeping Radio/East music-focused, visitors can expect to see some classic beverages on the menu, with a few new twists to keep customers coming back. The new location will have two tap towers with eight craft beer taps, four rotating specialty draft cocktails, and plenty of wine to go around.

Radio/EastGet a local favorite beer on draft, or try a new specialty draft cocktail.Photo by Renee Dominguez

Bar Manager Jacob Biggie has been hard at work to develop new creative cocktails for the new location, including Phantom Mood (Still Austin Gin, hibiscus, lime, and cucumber with soda) and Sensitive Artist (Senza Maeso hybrid spirit, Aperol, St. Germain, lime juice). Guests can also try the new seasonal non-alcoholic highball, dubbed the Chai-ball.

The lineup of food vendors at the new East Austin digs include Veracruz All Natural with its binge-worthy tacos; organic pizza slices from Side Eye Slice (a sister concept to Side Eye Pie); and Radio's own food truck – Shortwave Diner – offering classic American diner fare and comfort food such as smash burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, hot dogs, chicken and waffles, and more.

Following the grand opening at 7 am on October 18, Radio/East's operating hours will be 7 am to 1 am Monday through Saturday, and 7 am to 10 pm on Sundays.

Austin is No. 12 in the U.S. with the highest number of 'unretirees'

Office News

Many Austin seniors are still punching the clock well past retirement age. According to "Cities with the Most Working Seniors," a new employment study by business website ChamberofCommerce.org, more than a quarter of Austin seniors aged 65 and up are still employed, making it the No. 12 city in the U.S. with the most working seniors.

More than 25,400 Austin seniors aged 65 and up are employed out of a total 93,861, or 27.1 percent of the city's senior population.

The No. 1 city in the U.S. with hard-working oldsters is Alexandria, Virginia, located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, where 36.8 percent of its seniors still employed. Coming in second was Tallahassee, Florida, with 30.9 percent. In third place was Dallas, with 30.3 percent of the senior population clocking in for work around the city.

To determine their ranking, the site examined the percentage of seniors aged 65 and over who were actively employed within the last 12 months, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Their analysis included data from 170 of the nation’s most populous cities.

The report says the median household income of a senior citizen in Austin is $58,546, and hints at the rising cost of living coupled with personal extenuating circumstances leading to a new trend of "unretiring" seniors within the local workforce.

"Deciding when to retire is one of the most important financial and personal decisions that workers can make," the report's author said. "Before making the leap, make sure you have factored in your savings, social security benefits, spending habits, economic volatility, and how your social life will change after retirement."

Also in Central Texas, San Antonio ranked No. 82 overall with 22.1 percent of the senior population currently in the workforce. Although that seems like a smaller number of people, it's actually much larger than Austin, with 41,918 seniors toiling away out of a total 189,544.

San Antonio's relatively high percentage of working seniors might come as a surprise, considering the city was named one of the best cities for retirees earlier in 2023.

The top 10 U.S. cities with the most working seniors are:

  • No. 1 – Alexandria, Virginia
  • No. 2 – Tallahassee, Florida
  • No. 3 – Dallas, Texas
  • No. 4 – Irvine, California
  • No. 5 – Washington, D.C.
  • No. 6 – Plano, Texas
  • No. 7 – Anchorage, Alaska
  • No. 8 – Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • No. 9 – Overland Park, Kansas
  • No. 10 – Madison, Wisconsin

ChamberofCommerce.org is a digital site for small business owners and entrepreneurs. The full report and its methodology can be found on chamberofcommerce.org.

View All Listings