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 What better way to show your Mama how much you love her than with a nice meal at a posh restaurant? We've selected ten of the best restaurants in town. Some are offering special deals for Mother's Day. Others... are simply the kind of place we love to take our mums.
 Olé Formerly located in Fulham, this Spanish restaurant has been a favourite of south west London for some time now. The fresh, elegant, white-walled space makes for a calming and revitalizing dining area. Sit by the broad floor-to-ceiling window for natural light, or on the mezzanine so you can look out over the hustle and bustle down below. The special Mother’s Day menu is a bit more substantial than the tapas fiesta which usually adorns the tables of Olé. Given what’s on offer in London any Englishman would rightly think that the Spanish only ever snack on wee nibbles, so it’s a great chance to have a thick slice of authentic Iberian cuisine, not just the finger food. Of course, the Hispanic affection for sharing is actively encouraged, so dip into each others' dishes and try everything. The Spanish worship at the altar of garlic and olive oil, and there’s no fear of these strong, intense and enduring flavours here. Bring some mints. If you’ve got any room left, why not try some of the delectable tapas? Go expecting paella, tortilla and chorizo, and you will be uncommonly surprised by the diversity and depth of the cuisine on offer. Nevertheless, marvellous versions of all the classics are on offer too. Buen provecho! Address: 240 Upper Richmond Road, Putney, SW15 Phone: 020 8788 8009 Offer Date: 26th March 2006 Time: Daily 12:00 - 23:30 Price: Three-course Mother’s Day menu £19.99 Dress Code: None Nearest Station: East Putney Tube Hotel and Travel Information Near Ole   Caffe CaldesiTreat your mother to some bubbles this weekend! This swish Italian, a favourite with the Mayfair crowd, is offering a free bottle of Prosecco to every table this Mother's Day. Lighter than champagne with a delicious fruity flavour, this is the perfect way to toast someone at lunchtime... and after a hearty meal you can hit the shops of Bond Street for some serious retail therapy. Caffe Caldesi is a buzzy trattoria with friendly, casual staff, bare wood tables and excellent rustic food. The place is quite expensive, but worth every penny - the food is a cut above. The staff, the superb food and the bubbles will all combine to make your mother feel like a very special lady. Address: 118 Marylebone Lane, W1U Phone: 020 7935 1144 Offer Date: 19th – 26th March 2006 Time: Daily 12:00 – 22:30 Daily Price: Main course £10 - £15 Dress Code: None Nearest Station: Bond Street Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Caffe Caldesi  BenaresThe maharajah of London’s Indian eateries could be the perfect place to wine and dine mum this March. Set in the exclusive Mayfair enclave of Berkley Square this place oozes style and sophistication at 20 paces. The dining experience is as highly polished as the cutlery - you’ll be struck by the designer décor, top class service and cool clientele. Michelin-starred chef, Atul Kochhar, has prepared a first menu paring adventurous regional Indian food with stylish presentation. But let’s make no bones about it – this is a culinary encounter you pay through the nose for. The special Mother’s Day menu will take some of the sting out of the final bill, and give you a decent tour of the sub-continent. We recommend the delicate flavours of the roast saddle of lamb with cinnamon, cardamom and spinach, dripping in saffron rose petal sauce. A delicately balanced and immaculately presented homage to India, this is a world a way from the local curry house. Pricey but princely, the dining experience at Benares deserves an outing if you appreciate the finest Indian food around. Address: 12a Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, Mayfair, W1J Phone: 020 7629 8886 Offer Date: 19th – 26th March 2006 Time: Sunday to Friday 12:00 – 14:30 | Monday to Saturday 17:30 – 23:00 | 18:00 - 22:00 Sunday Price: Three-course Mother’s Day menu £42 Dress Code: Smart casual Nearest Station: Green Park Tube Hotel and Travel Information Near Benares  AlliumIt seems the 80s revival has reached even fine dining. Taking a look at the inside of Allium, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in Las Vegas casino, or perhaps on a cruise ship. From the deep royal blue carpets and chrome fittings, to the pinpoint light studded ceiling this is glitz glitz glitz. Thankfully the kitsch décor is backed up by some genuine substance in the kitchen. Head chef Anton Edelmann, formerly of the Savoy, has created an elegant, dynamic, take on the French model. You’ll be struck immediately by the magnificent vivid colours on the plate. For Mother’s Day you’re mercifully not limited to a set menu – the á la carte choice for £28.50 represents great value. For a main course we are compelled to recommend the roast cod with chives, ginger crust and basil coulis. A delicious roll of flavours, each flowing neatly into the next. Finish off with a delightfully light (and complimentary) selection of petit fours. Although stylish, the décor might not be palatable to some, but the food is first rate. Mum will appreciate the classic French food with some magnificent fresh variations. Address: Dolphin Square, Chichester Street, SW1V
Phone: 020 7798 6888 Offer Date: 26th March 2006 Time: Lunch: Tuesday to Friday and Sunday 12:00 - 14:30 | Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday 18:00 - 22:00 Price: Three-course Mother’s Day á la carte menu £28.50 Dress Code: Smart casual Nearest Station: Pimlico Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Allium  Zinc Bar and GrillThe West End is packed full of brilliant theatres and wonderful shops, but sadly you can easily come across some truly terrible places to eat. If you are in that neck of the woods with mum - taking her to a show or out shopping – miss out on the also-rans and try a West End hit. With its varied menu Zinc is an ideal place for a quick pit-stop or a lingering meal. Conran restaurants run on a keep-it-simple basis and this formula works wonderfully here at Zinc. The internationally peppered á la carte menu has some great versions of classic staples. The steak is truly excellent, while the sandwiches are a filling bunch with meat, fish and veggie options to pick from. If you’re getting into the swing of things, why not finish off in the chic cocktail bar with a carefully mixed mojito? On March 26th all mothers booked into the restaurant will receive a sweet-smelling goodie bag from Crabtree and Evelyn, as well as a complimentary glass of Prosecco. Address: 21 Heddon Street, W1B Phone: 020 7255 8899 Offer Date: 26th March 2006 Time: Monday to Wednesday 12:00 – 23:00 | Thursday to Saturday 12:00 – 00:00 | Sunday 12:00 – 16:00 Price: Main course £10 - £20 Dress Code: Smart casual, no jeans or trainers Nearest Station: Piccadilly Circus Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Zinc Bar and Grill  The GunWell, there are no particular offers at The Gun for Mother’s Day, however, we can think of no better place to take your mum for brunch. This delightful Victorian building was gutted by a fire a few years back, so the interior has all been re-done with careful attention to period detail. Nelson himself was reputedly a patron in the pub’s 18th century incarnation. If the weather’s fine eat outside on the dockside terrace looking out across the Thames. Brunch is an awkward meal but the menu has a decent variation to suit all moods. Building up from the light, soothing, spiced Bloody Mary soup, through eggs Benedict, ending on a hearty roast rib of beef replete with Yorkshire puds, there’ll be something to tickle your taste buds. Everything is immaculately prepared and matches up to food found at far more expensive establishments. Their fish selection is particularly pleasing – all bought fresh from Billingsgate Market every morning. It might be out on a limb in Docklands, but the food and convivial atmosphere is excuse enough to take a trip out on the DLR. Address: 27 Coldharbour, E14 Phone: 020 7515 5222 Time: Monday to Friday 11:00 - 00:00 | Saturday 10:30 - 00:00 | Sunday 10:30 – 22:30 | Sunday Brunch 10:30 – 13:00 Price: Brunch £5 - £14 Dress Code: None Nearest Station: South Quay DLR Travel and Hotel Information Near The Gun  Momo at Selfridge'sThe perfect pit-stip for shopaholic mums this Mother's Day weekend is Momo at Selfridge's. Show your Ma how much she means with a shopping trip to this incredible Oxford Street emporium, wrapped up with a delicious lunch at this classy Arabic restaurant. Whether you pop in for a pot of mint tea or settle down to mezze and mains, this chic, comfortable restaurant is an ideal place to unwind and take the weight off your feet. Momo offers superb Middle Eastern cuisine in all different shapes and sizes. You could treat your mother to five courses followed by a hookah session in the smoking tent... or maybe she'll be ready for another round of shopping after a quick glass of fizz and some tasty starters. Either way, a visit to Selfridge's and a bite to eat at Momo will let her know how much she means to you. Address: Selfridge's, W1A Phone: 020 7318 3620 Time: Daily12:00 – 21:30 Price: Starters around £5, mains £10 - £15 Dress Code: None Nearest Station: Bond Street Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Momo  Harry Morgan'sThis superlative kosher deli and restaurant will have more than its share of mummy's boys at the tables this Sunday - it is where a lot of North London ladies would pick if their children were dutiful enough to say "You decide". A local institution, Harry Morgan's is justly famed for its superb salt beef and other kosher delicacies, and enjoys a buzzy, gossipy atmosphere with crowds of locals at the tables and friendly staff who greet customers by name. With a deli counter to rival any in New York City and a relaxed atmosphere, this place is a haven for lovers of Heimishe food. Harry's is in a lovely corner of St John's Wood as well, perfect for a quiet stroll in Regent's Park after lunch or a drink in a local pub. The friendly staff and superior food mean this place will please even the most demanding of mums. Address: 31 St John's Wood High Street, NW8 Phone: 020 7722 1869 Time: Daily 11:00 - 22:30 Price: Main course £8 - £12 Dress Code: None Nearest Station: St John's Wood Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Harry Morgan's  La BrasserieLa Brasserie has been the place for Chelsea ladies to get over their hangovers since the 1950s. The restaurant has remained largely unchanged and it's easy to see why. From put-upon, mournful waiters who resemble Marco Valdo to comfortable seating, brisk service and delicious rustic French cuisine, this place is an alchemical marvel of perfect dining pleasure. Take your mum here for a meal that will leave her grinning from ear to ear. Sloane ladies come here to tuck into steak tartare and spiky Bloody Maries before renewing their assault on the shops of Chelsea, but if you go for two courses, you may find yourself too full to move afterwards. The menu is long on rich delights like cassoulet, steak, and thick onion soup, and the wine list is impressive and reasonably priced. Stylish decor and overworked, but still friendly, service make this one of the most charming spots in town. A perfect place to show mum a good time in style. She'll love the waiters too! Address: 272 Brompton Road, SW3 Phone: 020 7581 3089 Time: Daily 12:00 - 22:30 Price: Mains from £13 Dress Code: None Nearest Station: South Kensington Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near La Brasserie  Julie'sThe proprietress of this magnificent oddity hidden behind Ladbroke Grove in trendy west London is the kind of mum we'd all love to have - as cool as a cucumber, as sharp as a razor, with a huge laugh and easy good manners. She is a wonderful lady and has made this place one of the most esoteric but reliably enjoyable spots in the area. We positively insist on going here for any occasion that demands mid-day drinking. Julie's is set over two split levels and furnished in an Ottoman style, with comfortable chairs, throws and cushions everywhere, and huge ornate bowls crowding everything else off the tables. The menu is equally eclectic but their best food is simple and uplifting - Middle Eastern and Mediterranean finger food that makes you want to lick the plate clean, complemented with gorgeous breads, coffees, and of course... champagne. West London children... this is the spot to take your mother for a lazy afternoon she will remember for ever. Address: 135 Portland Road, W11 Phone: 020 7229 8331 Time: Daily 11:00 – Midnight Price: Main courses from £10 Dress Code: None Nearest Station: Holland Park Tube Travel and Hotel Information Near Julie's  Did You Know? - Furmety, a sweetened boiled cereal dish, was often served at the family dinner during Mothering Sunday celebrations. - During the 1600s on the 4th Sunday of Lent, England celebrated a day called "Mothering Sunday". Mothering Sunday was also referred to as Refreshment Sunday due to the relaxing of the rules of Lent on that particular day. |
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