If Mums Were Flowers, I’d Pick You! 6 Places to Treat Mum on Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 12 is the special time of year when we celebrate our first BFF and the person we always turn to when we need advice – it is also a chance to recognise all the other wonderful women in our lives from wives to great-grandmothers.

Did you know Mother’s Day dates back to Ancient Greece? The roots of our modern celebration go as far back as the Colosseum, when Greeks held an annual Spring festival dedicated to the maternal Goddess Rhea – Mother of the Gods.

Here are six of our favourite spots to take Mum on a culinary journey around the world and thank her for all the free food, laundry and shoulders to cry on:

Soak up beautiful ocean views at Cala Luna on the first floor of Beachfront Towers on Aerodrome Road in Maroochydore. With a name meaning Moon Bay, enjoy authentic regional Italian cooking passed down through family generations at this elegant restaurant, where the walls are adorned with an interesting mix of artwork and a well-stocked bar promises a wide range of drinks.

Spoil Mum with dinner on Sunday, May 12 and delve into starters of beef carpaccio, rocket and Parmesan salad and ciabatta; followed by pasta plates such as linguine di mare – fresh local seafood, garlic, onion, parsley, grated bottarga, chilli and tomato – enjoyed with a glass of white wine.

Effortlessly combining style with innovation, JAM continues to make its mark on Townsville's dynamic restaurant scene. A well-loved riverfront crowd-pleaser, this versatile venue constantly buzzes with a steady hum of diners popping by to wine and dine in the elegant space furnished with wide mirrors, soft lighting and intimate dining booths.

 

Enjoy a beautiful Mother’s Day luncheon at JAM with the family and dine on a specially curated three-course menu for the grown-ups, while the little ones are also taken care of with their own menu; bookings are essential, head to the website to secure your table. 

Renowned as a gastronomic capital of Italy, the essence of the bountiful gourmet region Emilia is recreated in Surry Hills at Italian restaurant Pasta Emilia on Riley Street. Explore a pantry-style shopfront for local and Italian imported items before taking a seat among shelves of boutique products, wine and fresh flowers while an accordion player readies for another cheery song.

 

Fine food and warm hospitality are combined in this quaint restaurant with a menu full of housemade organic pasta and fresh, full-bodied sauces to tempt Mum; think dishes like tagliatelle with pesto sauce and caramelised nuts, enjoyed with a glass of red wine.

Tucked in the heart of The Rocks you'll find the shining Kobe Jones venture, The Rocks Teppanyaki. Situated in a heritage-listed building built in the 1880s, The Rocks Teppanyaki retains its original, historic shell with an interior revamped with a classically stylish layout. Salmon pink walls and fine furnishings grace each of the five intimate dining rooms, all of which are fitted with a gleaming teppan grill. 

 

Mum can enjoy a pre-dinner drink at the cocktail bar before dining on sizzled scallop carpaccio with wasabi pepper sauce and mains such as Wagyu sirloin, cooked on the teppan and served with asparagus and mushrooms.

Open the barn door at Etsu Izakaya on Gold Coast Highway in Mermaid Beach to discover a magical mystery tour of Japanese share-plate dining. Moody surrounds of neon signage, walls plastered with photographs and a long, low-lit dining space make this izakaya-style restaurant an ideal place for a romantic encounter, or chilling out with friends for after-work drinks.

 

With everything on the menu from sushi and sashimi to tempura, salads and teriyaki, Mum will find it hard to choose; perhaps start with tempura Moreton Bay bugs, with amazu dressing and green chilli, moving on to pork belly yakitori skewers with ginger glaze and Nashi pear chutney.

Nestled in the heart of historic Bungendore, The George Bar & Dining on Gibraltar Street serves great local produce in modern, country-industrial-themed style. Just 30 minutes drive from Canberra, this rustic dining destination exudes charm with a stacked sandstone fireplace for cosying up during chilly months, a great alfresco play area for kids and authentic accents like horse collars and leather Chesterfield couches.

 

Expect dishes created with locally sourced meat and seafood, along with a hand-picked wine list, craft beer and cider; Mum can enjoy dishes such as saffron-infused casarecce pasta with succulent Tiger prawns, mozzarella and Parmesan, paired with a glass of Chardonnay.