Our favorite brunch spots for Mother’s Day in Alexandria

If you haven’t already made plans for the perfect Mother’s Day this weekend, on Sunday, May 12, there are plenty of restaurant options in Alexandria, but you’ll need to hurry and make reservations. Here are a few of our brunch favorites that we love for their great food, atmosphere and service.

Red Light District, 1700 Fern St.

Red Light Districts will feature a Mother’s Day buffet from 11am to 3:30pm for $36 per person or $12 for ages 3-12. The buffet includes a Belgian waffle station, a soft serve station with toppings, omelettes made to order, smoked Norwegian salmon with chopped capers, egg and onion, mini bagels and cream cheese, traditional Eggs Benedict, blackened Mahi Mahi with orange citrus sauce and much more.

Mount Vernon Inn, 3200 Mount Vernon Highway

The Mount Vernon Inn will feature a Mother’s Day buffet from 10am to 5pm for $72 per person; $25 for children ages 6 to 12. Main courses include Herb Crusted Beef Medallions with Horseradish Cream Sauce, Braised Chicken in Marsala Mushroom Cream, Pork Spare Ribs with Teriyaki Pineapple Glaze and Garlic Baked Salmon and Tomato Cream Sauce.

Bastille, 606 N. Fayette St.

Bastille offers $59 per person mothers Day brunch, three-course menu served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The menu includes Benedict Norvegian, Crab Crusted Halibut, Classic Steak Frites, Crepes au Poulet and Pavloa a la Creme de Fraises or Cheesecake au Yuzu.

Hank’s Oyster Bar, 818 N. St. Asaph St.

From Friday to Sunday, that’s it Mother’s Day weekend at Hank’s, where they’re rolling out the red carpet with exclusive offers, including the Build-Your-Own Seafood Tower for Two, where you can customize a tower of three-tiered flavors for $80. Do you have a bigger audience (or a bigger appetite)? Then go for the Ultimate Tower, which includes all available options for $195. Other offerings include soft-shell eggs Benedict.

Vermilion, 1120 King St.

Vermilion serves one Mother’s Day brunch on Saturday and Sunday with a menu composed by the mothers of the restaurant team. Some of the highlights include Corey’s Buttermilk Biscuit, Croque Madame and Tri-Colored Carrot Cake.

Chart House, 1 Cameron St.

Offering a three-course menu mothers Day meal for $72, including a choice of entree, soup or salad and dessert. Patrons choose from two soups (lobster bisque or New England clam chowder), three salads, 11 entrees (including lobster tails or surf and turf) and mini lava cake, key lime pie or chef’s dessert.

Other favorites

Landini brothers, King St.

If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of dining at this old-fashioned, white-tablecloth restaurant in Old Town, opened in 1979, make plans now. This will be the kind of dining experience you and your mother will always remember. If it’s a nice day, make sure you get a table outside so you can watch the world go by. Sitting inside, you’ll love the stone walls, wood paneling and chandeliers. Enjoy the thoroughly Italian menu and save room for dessert: homemade tiramisu or cannoli.

Chadwick’s, 203 The Strand

If you’re looking for a classic brunch menu, check out Chadwick’s, which also opened in Old Town in 1979. You’ll find traditional breakfast items, French toast, eggs benedict and blueberry pancakes. Or if you’re going for lunch, start with the crab dip or fried green tomatoes. Sunday brunch hours are from 10am to 3:30pm

A little bit of trivia

They say the idea for Mother’s Day came about when a woman named Anna Jarvis of Grafton, West Virginia, held a small memorial service for her own mother, Anna Reeves Jarvis, on May 12, 1907. Soon after, many places in the country began observing the day.

President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation on May 9, 1914 asking Americans to publicly show respect for mothers through the celebration of Mother’s Day. Carnations came to represent the day when they were distributed during one of the first commemorations honoring the mother of Mother’s Day’s founder.