Book it now! Melbourne restaurants with Mother’s Day specials

You might not be able to fly mum to Venice this Mother’s Day but you can do the next best thing, book her a table at Hawthorn’s Vaporetto.

The bar and restaurant specialise in the cuisine of the City of Canals and the four-course menu for Mother’s Day lunch or dinner features a cocktail to start and cicchetti, which are Venetian for tapas. This is followed by shared entrees, a choice of pine mushroom and smoked duck breast tortellini, poached ruby snapper with mussels or nettle risotto for main, and for dessert a quince cake with figs and mascarpone and a cheesecake with berries and chocolate crumble.

She won’t need a gondola to get there, but mum will definitely not mind!

Dish Cult’s top pick: Mother’s Day lunch or dinner ($105 per adult, $45 per child, three courses, $35 per child, two courses)

Take in the sea views from what was once Williamstown’s bather’s pavilion and enjoy Basque-inspired cuisine at Sebastian.

This Mother’s Day, groups between two and six can choose from the à la carte menu, while bigger groups will be offered the Mother’s Day set menu. It’s four courses all designed for sharing so no one will miss out on the pintxos of leek croqueta, the rainbow trout with fennel or Miguelitos, dulche de leche cream sandwiched between puff pastry pillows.

So whether it’s just you and mum, or the entire extended family, Sebastian’s lets you enjoy a fabulous meal together and then take a stroll on Williamstown Beach (quick dip in the sea optional!)

Dish Cult’s top pick: Mother’s Day set menu ($80 per adult, $17 per child under 12)

If yum cha is more mum’s thing, then the dumplings, buns and Shanghainese fare at much loved David’s is sure to impress.

The Mother’s Day yum cha feast includes classics like delicate Xiao long bao and crispy skinned Peking duck as well as less traditional but no less delicious offerings such as Chicken ribs with spicy mayo and White chocolate dumplings.

You can book for a morning, afternoon or evening sitting and even upgrade to have flowers and sparkling waiting on the table for when mum arrives. Now that’s sure to impress even the most jaded of mums!

Dish Cult’s top pick: Mother’s Day yum cha ($72 per adult, $48 per child under 12)

Mum wants beautifully executed Northern Italian in an unfussy and welcoming neighbourhood setting? Then you should book the four-course Mother’s Day lunch at Richmond’s Ostēr.

The menu reflects the seasonally driven, produce-forward philosophy of the kitchen and includes locally cured meats with pickled vegetables, housemade sourdough, tortelli pasta filled with kabocha squash, a choice of rainbow trout or Roaring Forties lamb rump for main and Tiramisù for dessert.

The two Italians who run Ostēr, chef Nicola Romano and front-of-house maestro Osvaldo Tognella, have designed everything here to make you feel looked after, which makes it perfect for Mother’s Day.

Dish Cult’s top pick: Four-course Mother’s Day lunch ($80 per person)

Pick mum up and drive her out to the Yarra Valley’s Balgownie Estate to enjoy a relaxing lunch at the winery’s restaurant 1309.

Destroyed by fire between lockdowns last year, this new restaurant has come roaring back to life and lets you stare out at the Estate’s vines as you enjoy a menu prepared by head chef Beth Candy which highlights the produce of the Yarra Valley.

The Mother’s Day four-course menu comes with an arrival cocktail (just for adults, obviously), matched wines and even a gift for mum.

If you really want to treat her, you could book a night at the Estate’s boutique accommodation. That would surely win you favoured child status!

Dish Cult’s top pick: Mother’s Day four-course lunch ($130 per adult, $40 per child under 12, $95 per teen)