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New York (CNN) Mother’s Day is one of the busiest days for the American restaurant industry. It also has a reputation among waiters and restaurant staff for being one of the toughest days on the calendar.
“Every server knows it’s hell to work on Mother’s Day. In fact, if I die and go to hell, I fully expect it to be Mother’s Day. 365 days a year,” says Daron Kaldosa in his book The Bitchy Waiter: I’m very good at pretending I care. ”
What’s so bad about it? From big groups showing up in waves (“Most of them are here!”) to fussy kids, to splitting checks and lingering coffee cups, restaurants hate the holiday. This year is expected to be a particularly difficult year as high inflation and soaring menu prices have given some restaurant patrons a special sense of entitlement.
“The expectation can be unnerving,” says Joe Haley, an abstract artist who works as a waitstaff at an Italian-American restaurant in Quincy, Massachusetts. “It’s crowded. Some people call last minute to make reservations. Some people have multiple reservations for their mom to choose from, but they never cancel… once a year.” The man who takes my mother says, ‘Nothing should go wrong!’ he said.
But it will. At a large table, a few people arriving late can wreak havoc on the kitchen. “And every family has at least one unreliable nuisance or in-law who saves their lives. Mother’s Day is terrifying,” Haley added.
Chefs, waitstaff and owners said this year’s guests have high expectations. It’s a special occasion meal amid skyrocketing food prices. In the post-pandemic world, luxury, or rather the appearance of luxury and excess, is “in”. Customers across the country would be outraged if $30 eggs Benedict weren’t served with a generous serving of caviar on Sunday.
Chef Art Smith, who served as chef to Oprah Winfrey and Jeb Bush, said his tastes have literally changed since COVID-19. He plans to serve hundreds of Mother’s Day meals at four restaurants, including Homecoming at Walt Disney World’s Disney Springs.
people visiting? “They’re drinking more. They want more carbs. If it’s macaroni and cheese, it has to have the most cheese. They want more sides too, they just want more.”
busy day for restaurants
The National Retail Federation predicts Mother’s Day spending will reach $35.7 billion this year, with a record $5.6 billion spent on meals and outings alone, a 6% increase from last year. It’s the second busiest day in the restaurant industry after Valentine’s Day, according to online reservation site OpenTable.
Sean Walshef, owner of five Cali BBQ restaurants in the San Diego area, said Mother’s Day presents a “management challenge.” “It’s the busiest day of the year, and it’s also the day with the highest expectations for guests. I expect there to be a big fuss over the patio table.” They want to sit down.”
For many restaurants, this will be the first big holiday since 2019 that hasn’t been affected by the pandemic. “It’s a gathering of people we haven’t seen in a while,” said Vin Douglas, owner of Main Prospect, who opened Main Prospect in Southampton, New York, about 18 months ago.
He expects Sunday guests to spend about 40 percent more than usual, with a third of adults adding $19.95 “bottomless mimosas” to their meals. Luckily, egg and seafood prices have come down in recent weeks, he said.
price increase
But Mother’s Day brunch still bears the scars of inflation. At Breakers in Palm Beach, Mother’s Day brunch at The Circle Restaurant is $250 per person (up from $160 in 2019) and includes unlimited champagne cocktails and table-to-table harpists.
At the family-friendly McLone’s Boathouse in West Orange, New Jersey, which also has a waterfront buffet, brunch prices have increased from $49.95 in 2019 to $54.95.
Pricing is tricky. “Mother’s Day meals shouldn’t be uncomfortably expensive,” says Derek Axelrod, co-owner of Manhattan’s Upper East Side T-Bar restaurant. The Mother’s Day menu will probably cost more than $100 per person, but the profit won’t be much, he said. They rely on liquor sales for that. Meanwhile, T-Bar adds touches to its menu with foie gras, cranberry and chicken parfaits.
Servers and owners are also under pressure to “push the lobster.”His seven different restaurants at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas are serving Mother’s Day meals that include lobster (The resort’s Mother’s Day menu roundup states that subsequent gondola rides cost an additional $39.)
Ophelia, a rooftop restaurant near the United Nations in New York City, masterfully solves the problem of “indulgence” by offering a menu that satisfies all mothers: fried quail eggs, lobster, filet mignon, waffles and smoked salmon. but please note the following: It’s a “petite bite” presentation for $59 per person.
In Naples, Fla., burgers at the Veranda E restaurant are brought under glass on Sunday and smoke rises as the cover is removed. “It’s new to us,” says owner Mary Brandt. Four generations of women in her family will work at the restaurant..
Chain restaurants are also changing to maximize profits and seating capacity. Ruth’s Chris Steak House, which has locations in about 34 states, is opening several locations for breakfast or brunch on Mother’s Day. The Fort Worth store will feature wild blueberry pancakes. Some Red Her Lobsters are also offering moms a coupon for her 10% discount on their next meal. This includes discounts on the ultimate endless shrimp feast.
Book now and tip your server. Of all holidays, Mother’s Day is considered to be one of the most stressful days for workers, so the National Restaurant Association has asked owners to make sure their employees “diet and stay hydrated.” , recommends that mothers of working staff in particular should be given a “combat duty” bonus. make a shift.
Quincy’s waiter Joe Haley has a better idea. “Why can’t you make breakfast for your mother?”
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