Best Mother's Day dining in Morris County

Looking to pamper Mom with a spectacular Mother's Day dining experience? You've got plenty of options as many Morris County restaurateurs are gearing up to offer extensive menus, specials and holiday buffets.

Great service and a "family feel," is what separates The Columbia Inn in Montville from the rest, according to owner Aran McDermott, who has run the restaurant with his brother, Ryan, for 18 years, with the help of manager Fabio (Tony) Arbalaez.

"We have a good family feel here "We have a good family feel here already," he said. "Montville's a family town and that extends to Mother's Day. Everyone can get something they like here, and I think we've always thrived here as a result of that."

A special holiday menu is offered on Mother's Day at the inn. "It's a smaller version of our regular menu and a bigger version of our specials menu," Aran McDermott said, noting that his restaurant serves from 20 to 25 specials daily and the chef will "fancy up" the choices for the holiday.

Built in 1870s, the Columbia Inn, at 29 Main Road, has a rich history. It once served as Montville's town hall, but was later converted into an inn because of its convenient location between Route 202 and the Morris Canal.

The dining room seats 80, and another 30 can be accommodated in the bar area. There will be seating times of 12:30 p.m. and every half hour from 2 p.m. until closing. Two of the most popular entrees offered are Rack of Lamb, served with a mushroom and pepper corn brandy crème sauce for $28.95 and pan-seared Branzino (fish), served with lemon, garlic and fresh herbs from their garden for $25.95. Overall, prices range from $17.95 to $28.95. The restaurant is also well known for its thin-crust pizza. It can be reached at (973) 263-1300, or www.thecolumbiainn.com.

The Restaurant Village at Long Valley www.restaurantvillageatlongvalley.com

Nestled at the foot of scenic Schooley's Mountain, the Long Valley Pub and Brewery (908) 876-1122 occupies a beautifully-restored 1771 stone barn. Three other restaurants share its charming courtyard and comprise the Restaurant Village at Long Valley.

In the Brew Pub, located at 1 Fairmount Road, a Mother's Day brunch and dinner buffet is being offered at $28 for adults and $15 for children. Children aged three and under are free. There will be four seatings: 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. and reservations are strongly suggested, since they fill up quickly. The regular menu will be offered from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The delightful stone patio will be open all day and can accommodate up to 75 people. Also, the 35-seat outdoor stone bar will be open, serving cocktails and the pub's ales and porters, brewed on the premises.

Buffet items include french toast, breakfast burritos, bacon and sausage. Also Chicken Francaise, Spinach and Artichoke Ravioli, Penne Primavea, Maha Mahi with Pineapple Salsa and Stuffed Sole Filled with Crabmeat are options. Fresh carved turkey, prime rib and pork loin will also be available. On the patio, the pub menu will be offered and seating is first-come, first-served.

Patrons flock to the pub for food and freshly-brewed beers, but the atmosphere is also priceless, said Diana Reiter, manager. "I've always liked to sit upstairs," she said. "It's such a pretty view, no matter what season it is." Reiter said the restaurant attracts hikers and farm visitors in the spring and fall and is particularly busy when fall foliage adorns Schooley's Mountain and the picturesque valley.

Owned by Steve and Andrea Bussel, the Restaurant Village also includes Andrea's Dining Room (908) 876-9307. Offering patio and fireside dining, Andreas serves grilled specialties, Italian classics, seafood and delicate brick oven pizza. For Mother's Day, Andrea's will offer their regular dinner menu from 4 to 9 p.m., featuring several specials. Children aged 10 and under eat free with selections from the children's menu. Dinner menu entrees range in price from $15 for Eggplant Parmagiana over Linguine to a $26 Broiled Seafood Platter. Gluten-free pasta and wood-fired brick oven pizza are also available. Personal pizzas start at $9.

Steps away, La Rienda, (908) 876-7663, which opened April 24, is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and serves Latin specialties, including tacos starting at $7.95, and $8.95 burritos. Moltajete, a char-broiled beef, chicken and sausage dish with onion and chipotle sauce, is priced at $19.

For Asian specialties and sushi, neighboring Red Lantern, (908) 867-7486, occupies a historic 1700s building converted to offer a chic atmosphere and jazz music. On Mother's Day the regular menu is available with featured entrees priced from $10 to $20.

Serenade, 6 Roosevelt Ave, Chatham (973) 701-0303 www.restaurantserenade.com

At Serenade, located in Chatham, owner Nancy Laird, and her husband, chef James Laird, have been celebrating holidays in their elegant dining areas for 19 years. On Mother's Day, dinner will be served from noon to 7 p.m. A price-fixed three-course dinner is $75 for adults and $35 for children 10 years of age and younger.

The main dining room has three distinct areas, and features vaulted ceilings and high, arched decorative windows. "It's a beautiful place for daytime dining," said Nancy Laird. "It's sunny and we always have fresh flowers, especially on Mother's Day."

Customers return year after year for holidays, she said. "It's nice for us because they feel like family, returning to us each year."

The menu includes an octopus appetizer, served grilled with potatoes, preserved lemon, Nicoise olives and olive oil, and Short Rib Tortellini in black truffle tomato broth with smashed sweet peas and basil.

The chef will offer six entrees, including Filet Mignon, Roasted Rack of Lamb, Grilled Scallops and Organic Pork. With the exception of the lamb, all of the entrees are gluten-free.

Wine lovers will appreciate that Serenade has an extensive collection from around the world.

La Strada, Randolph (973) 584-4607 www.lastradarestaurant.com

Authentic Italian cuisine is offered at La Strada in Randolph, where an old-world atmosphere greets guests in three elegant dining areas. About 200 patrons can be seated at once in the restaurant, located at 1105 Route 10 East.

Owner Vincenzo Mammanna will offer an abbreviated menu on Mother's Day from noon to 8 p.m. The menu with include about 20 entrees and 15 appetizers. Menu prices range from $15.95 to $32.95. One popular entrée offered will be the Risotto Pescatore, which features shrimp, scallops, clams and lobster tail in a white wine garlic sauce, offered for $25.95.

The Publick House, Chester, 111 Main Street, (908) 879-6878 info@chesterpublickhouse.com

Located at 111 Main Street, the historic inn is a preferred location for special occasions. On Mother's Day, the restaurant will hold a large brunch buffet, with seatings at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

The inn, built in 1810, is recently renovated and has five dining areas. Additionally, the front porch accommodates 60 people for dining with a view of scenic downtown Chester.

"When you talk about Chester, you think of the Publick House," said Freddy Palacios, manager of the eatery. "It's perfect for Mother's Day and special occasions. That's what we get here, mostly people celebrating special occasions."

The price of the buffet is $34 for adults, and $12 for children under 12.

The menu will include appeitzers, a baker's basket including bagels, muffins, Danish, yogurt and cream cheeses. Also, pizza, eggs benedict, sausage and roasted potatoes will be included.

There will be an omelet station, a waffle station with fresh fruit toppings, antipasto, grilled vegetables, roasted red peppers, olives, artichokes and lentil salad. Entrees will include chicken, Penne a la Vodka, baked salmon, carp, prime rib, roasted stuffed pork loin, and mashed potatoes and vegetables.

Happy Mother's Day!

Send us photos of your Mother's Day; email eabreu@GannettNJ.com