Mother's Day Brunch

I am curious about your opinion on whether or not one should go out for brunch on Mother's Day or stay home and save the celebration for another week.

Should you go ahead and eat out because there will be high volumes resulting in a constant supply of fresh food along with most places having extra offerings?

OR

Should you avoid it because the high volumes of people and food mean that there just isn't enough time to focus on quality?

Thanks for your opinion!

[Robin Garr]

I am curious about your opinion on whether or not one should go out for brunch on Mother's Day or stay home and save the celebration for another week.

It's my considered opinion that both Mother's Day and Valentine's Day are very good times to stay home and enjoy a family celebration. This is doubly true for those of us who eat out enough that going to a restaurant is not in and of itself an unusual and exciting experience. I think the jostling crowds and the 'in the weeds" factor make these days iffy.

Oaks and Derby are a little different, it seems to me, even though they're also crowded and slammed, because of the community party element. It's a time to be out with friends and having a blast ... but I would never review a restaurant on the basis of a visit on one of these days, which underscores the opinion that most eateries simply aren't going to show their best under that kind of pressure.

Oaks and Derby are a little different, it seems to me, even though they're also crowded and slammed, because of the community party element. It's a time to be out with friends and having a blast ... but I would never review a restaurant on the basis of a visit on one of these days, which underscores the opinion that most eateries simply aren't going to show their best under that kind of pressure.

But many of them charge "their best."

[Robin Garr]

But many of them charge "their best."

Correct me if I'm wrong here: I know hotel rates go up rapaciously and cab fare increase during Derby week. But most local restaurants don't indulge in similar profit-taking ... do they?

You may be right. I had seen what the Oak Room was charging and a couple of other special things and had, perhaps incorrectly, that most did this. I could be completely out to lunch on this (so to speak). We don't do much of the Derby partying scene.

P.S. If I were a high-roller coming in to drop some serious cash, I would be all over the Oak Room deal.

[Robin Garr]

You may be right. I had seen what the Oak Room was charging and a couple of other special things and had, perhaps incorrectly, that most did this. I could be completely out to lunch on this (so to speak). We don't do much of the Derby partying scene.

P.S. If I were a high-roller coming in to drop some serious cash, I would be all over the Oak Room deal.

How much is the Oakroom's <i>prix fixe</i>? Bear in mind that their regular <i>prix fixe</i> isn't cheap, but - as reported in my recent review - it is awesome.

It's my considered opinion that both Mother's Day and Valentine's Day are very good times to stay home and enjoy a family celebration.

I agree! Last year my boyfriend and I cooked brunch for both of our moms, and we had a much better (and more meaningful) time than we would have fighting the crowds somewhere.

I went out to eat on Valentine's Day evening this year, and I think it's the last time I will.

I won't mention the restaurant, but it was one on Hurstborne Parkway that I respected.

They ran out of salad lettuce (!!!!) and visibly sent somebody out to a grocery to bring back big bags of iceberg. But what got me is that they tried to foist iceberg on my dining partner, who had ordered a Caesar Salad (!!!!), as if we wouldn't send that back. It felt like our intelligence was being insulted -- the server should have told us in advance they couldn't make a proper Caesar.

Also, the food in general tasted like it was rushed.

The experience didn't exactly add to a romantic evening.

You may be right. I had seen what the Oak Room was charging and a couple of other special things and had, perhaps incorrectly, that most did this. I could be completely out to lunch on this (so to speak). We don't do much of the Derby partying scene.

P.S. If I were a high-roller coming in to drop some serious cash, I would be all over the Oak Room deal.

How much is the Oakroom's <i>prix fixe</i>? Bear in mind that their regular <i>prix fixe</i> isn't cheap, but - as reported in my recent review - it is awesome.

I can't answer your question directly, but a few of years ago I had dinner in the Oak Room on Oaks night (i.e., Friday), and I'd say the tab was nearly double what it would have been otherwise. I do assume those sorts of pricing increases are limited to the higher end hotel restaurants in town, but don't know for certain.

[Robin Garr]

I do assume those sorts of pricing increases are limited to the higher end hotel restaurants in town, but don't know for certain.

I'm pretty sure it's not usual among the Louisville Originals (for example), TP. Some places put on special menus or prix fixe, but my impression is that this is for the sake of efficiency and handling the crowds rather than profit-taking.

Can anyone (including restaurateur/chefs) enlighten us?

Obviously I'm biased since we sell Gourmet- to- Go foods. But with that said, for many years I have avoided going to restaurants on those special holidays. My experience both here and on the East Coast is that, regardless of price, restaurants are slammed on those days and the experience suffers. Typically long waits, even w/reservations, service suffers, rushed at tables and generally it's just not an exemplary experience at even the best places.

We regularly go out for Valentine's day several days before or after the date, and Mother's Day is dad's turn to cook and eat in (but of course, Brian is an excellent cook that may be easier for us). Particularly with kids in tow, I'd much rather eat a dinner/brinch someone prepared for me on Mother's Day than deal with the crowds, delays and antzy kids. MUCH more relaxing....
Deb

Robin,

We have special menus & prix fixe for the holidays/Derby and those menus tend to be more expensive than our regular foods. This is really because of the extra cost of ingredients (like our Derby boxed lunches having a Beef Tenderloin w/Brie Sandwich), and some for the service and for the additional cost of labor (overtime). But we don't jack up the price of our regular foods, say, for Derby & Oaks to charge all the folks from Horse Country (Shelbyville, Simpsonville) and their guests extra while they are here. And my experience is that's pretty standard in Louisville.

Deb

That's my impression. Not that restaurants raise prices on normal fare, but that many of them do special things for Oaks/Derby.

I thought I saw that the Oakroom was doing this spectacular Prix Fix for around $200/person, but I can't find it anywhere now.

I know they did something special for Thunder (it was on the same page in the CJ as the write-up on our boxed lunches.); maybe that was it.... That would explain why you can't find it now.

Deb