Mother’s Day 2025 Dining on James St

Biànca:
With scallop crudo, tiger prawn salad, whipped ricotta with brown butter and pine nuts, roasted chicken, garlic and rosemary fried potatoes, and tiramisu (!) on the menu, you’ll be saying mama mia to this Italian banquet at Biànca.

Price: $150 per person, including a signature cocktail, wine or beer on arrival

ēmmē:
There’s something for every type of mum at ēmmē this Mother’s Day. Is your mum a sucker for seafood? There’s natural oysters, swordfish tartare with tangy tahini, wood fired king prawns to keep her happy. Maybe she’s more into her red meat? Enter charcoal wagyu slices with harissa and pickles plus slow roasted lamb shoulder with zucchini tzatziki. Perhaps she’s got a sweet tooth to boot? Add on rosewater custard, kataifi pastry with chocolate cream, or Egyptian orange cake to round out this feast.

Price: $88 per person, including spritz or bubbles on arrival for mum

ESSA:
Touted as a family lunch of family favourites served family style, there’s no meal that encapsulates the values of Mother’s Day better than Sunday School at ESSA. The gang are rolling out spanner crab and potato beignets topped with caviar just for the occasion, alongside whipped goats cheese with heirloom tomatoes, wood-fired shishitos and free range porchetta. Plus, Head Chef Phil Merchant is proving that mother really does know best, serving his mum’s chocolate torte with brandy cream for dessert.

Price: $98 per person 

Gelato Messina:
Chocolates for Mother’s Day is a tale as old as time, but Gelato Messina’s Mother’s Day Chocolate Box is putting a gourmet spin on the fan-favourite. Find eight handcrafted chocolate bars in flavours like pistachio, burnt vanilla, salted caramel, hazelnut, and honeycomb and orange sitting pretty in custom packaging for a visual and gastronomical delight.

Price: $60

If mum is more of a fan of gelato scoops, head in store for Gelato Messina’s special Mother’s Day flavour, Breakfast in Bed – Maple syrup gelato cinnamon buns and coffee fudge.

Gemelli:
Treat your mum to the rich and generous hospitality of Italy with this bountiful feast from Gemelli. Your table will be laden with cured meats, fresh mozzarella, warm focaccia, king prawns with spicy nduja oil, squid ink pasta, black onyx scotch fillet, macadamia broccolini, and pistachio tiramisu so wear your best eating outfits and come hungry!

Price: $95 per person

Penelope:
New kids on the block, Penelope, are joining in on the Mother’s Day celebrations with a four-course set menu luncheon. Those lucky enough to be dining within the venue’s deep and moody interiors will be treated to the likes of oysters with champagne and strawberry mignonette, wagyu beef tartare, grilled spring chicken served with labne and broad beans, salads of the Waldorf and beetroot variety, before rounding out the meal with a strawberry and cream tart.

Price: $110 per person, including a glass of Prosecco on arrival

sAme sAme:
Picture this: you’re sipping your aromatic cocktail, watching Head Chef Arté work his magic in the kitchen before tucking into fragrant dishes like spiced braised duck larb, spanner crab with coconut relish and finger lime, grilled wagyu brisket salad, Moreton Bay bug red curry, and warm tamarind pudding. Sounds good, right? Make this Thai extravaganza your reality on Sunday 11 May with sAme sAme’s Mother’s Day Lunch.

Price: $150 per person, including a signature cocktail, wine or beer on arrival

The Green:
There’s no need to play favourites at The Green this Mother’s Day because you can enjoy house classics like homemade Lebanese bread and hummus, charcoal hawaij chicken, slow-cooked lamb shoulder, fresh fattoush and harissa spiced potatoes all at once with your choice of banquet.

Price: from $60 per person, including a Chandon Sparkling Rosé on arrival for mum