"Every server knows that working on Mother's Day is hell. In fact, if I die and go to hell, I completely expect it to be Mother's Day. 365 days a year," wrote Darron Cardosa, in his book "The Bitchy Waiter: I'm Really Good at Pretending to Care."What's so bad about it? From big groups that show up in waves , to food-fussy kids and grandmas to splitting the check dramas and coffee-cup lingerers, restaurants hate this holiday.
Chefs, servers and owners said that this year guests have set their expectations high: Special occasion meals in a time of rising food prices. In a post-pandemic world, luxury -- or rather the appearance of luxury and excess -- is "in." Across the country, customers will get aggravated if their US$30 eggs Benedict isn't dolloped with caviar on Sunday.
Mother's Day presents "an operational challenge," said Shawn Walchef, owner of five Cali BBQ eateries in the San Diego area. "It's the busiest day of the year and also the day guests have the highest expectations. He foresees some fuss over tables on the patio -- "In Southern California, everyone wants to sit outside."
At the family-packed McLoone's Boathouse in West Orange, New Jersey, also home to a waterfront buffet, brunch has gone to $54.95 from $49.95 in 2019. Ophelia, a rooftop restaurant near the United Nations in New York, solves the "luxury" problem neatly by offering a menu in which Mom gets it all: fried quail egg, lobster, filet mignon, waffles and smoked salmon -- but be warned: it's a $59-per-person presentation of "petite bites."