Restaurant recommendations from MnMo food critics Jason DeRusha and Joy Summers.
Joy’s Picks
As a mother of two young kids, the last thing I want on Mother’s Day is to have to haul my cookies out of bed, put on makeup, and be forced to depend on others for coffee refills. Let me sleep in and instead let’s enjoy an afternoon outing!
Milkjam: There’s something for everyone at this new Lyn-Lake ice cream shop. Dairy-free scoops for my milk-allergic baby, sugar-cereal studded flavors for my bigger boy, and spiked milkshakes for me. (Lyn-Lake)
128 Cafe: To celebrate my mom and my incredible mother-in-law, I want to take them somewhere beautiful, easy to get in and out of, and with decent acoustics. Plus, the food can’t be too fussy. 128 Cafe is the perfect blend of approachable food for them and snob-appeasing food for me. That my niece is a server there doesn’t hurt. (Merriam Park)
Brasa. Photo by Todd Buchanan.
Jason’s Picks
I’ll be honest, I tend to avoid the crazy morning brunch scene on Mother’s Day. We still like to go out as a family—just skipping the stale salmon-egg scramble.
Brasa: It’s crowd-pleasing enough for the pickiest mom, and exciting enough for the foodie mom. Plus, Brasa has a great kids menu. (Northeast Minneapolis and Grand Avenue in St. Paul)
Q Fanatic: Eat in or carry-out, chef Charlie Johnson’s barbeque is my favorite in Minnesota. Get the espresso and pepper/vodka sauces on the killer brisket. (Champlin and 60th & Nicollet)
