But a new list of the “Top 100 Brunch Restaurants” in America suggests something else: The spots where families are celebrating mom may be far more concentrated \u2014 and exclusive \u2014 than before.<\/p>\n
The rankings, compiled from OpenTable diner data, highlight the restaurants<\/a> drawing the most reservations and the highest ratings.<\/p>\n RESTAURANT INSIDERS SHARE THE SECRETS OF SNAGGING HARD-TO-GET RESERVATIONS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n California leads by a wide margin with 19, followed by New York (12), Texas (11) and Illinois (10), while more than half of U.S. states have no restaurants on the list at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n In other words, the so-called “top” brunch spots are heavily clustered in a handful of major dining markets. That concentration reflects how brunch itself has evolved.<\/p>\n Mother’s Day is one of the most celebrated days for brunch at American restaurants. (iStock)<\/p>\n “Brunch has become a major factor for hospitality in general in the last 10 years \u2014 from boozy brunches to sophisticated nice afternoons with the family<\/a>,” said Robert Mahon, managing partner of Mahon Hospitality Group in New York City.<\/p>\n In dense, experience-driven cities, restaurants are built to meet demand for something more than a meal, Mahon told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n QUICK-AND-EASY MOTHER’S DAY MEAL CAN BE MADE IN MINUTES, CHEF SAYS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “We’re living in an experience economy<\/a>,” added Bo Bryant, a restaurant strategist and the founder of Arizona-based Brunch Kitchen & Cocktails. “People aren’t just going out to eat anymore. They’re going out to feel something \u2014 to mark a moment.”<\/p>\n Brunch, Bryant told Fox News Digital, sits “at the intersection of food<\/a>, social ritual and affordable luxury.”<\/p>\n Brunch sits “at the intersection of food, social ritual and affordable luxury,” a restaurant strategist told Fox News Digital. (iStock)<\/p>\n On Mother’s Day<\/a>, that demand spikes sharply. Mahon expects reservations to jump “by 30 or 40% at a minimum,” while Bryant said some restaurants begin booking as early as 10 weeks in advance.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n “The trend is clear: People are booking earlier every year,” he said. “If you want your first choice, you need to secure it well in advance.”<\/p>\n “Breakfast is a meal. Brunch has become an experience \u2014 and people are genuinely willing to pay for that feeling.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n To keep up, many restaurants streamline menus or lean into prix fixe offerings.\u00a0<\/p>\n The goal, Mahon said, is efficiency \u2014 ensuring “the pace of food comes out correctly” during one of the busiest dining days of the year<\/a>.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n At the same time, brunch menus have become more creative and indulgent, with cocktails<\/a> and curated dishes helping to drive higher spending.<\/p>\n Mimosas and cocktails are a staple of the Mother’s Day brunch scene. (iStock)<\/p>\n “Breakfast is<\/a> a meal. Brunch has become an experience \u2014 and people are genuinely willing to pay for that feeling,” Bryant said.<\/p>\n Fox News Digital reached out to the National Restaurant Association, based in Washington, D.C., for comment.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n OpenTable’s list captures only part of the picture. Missing are the local diners, neighborhood caf\u00e9s<\/a> and walk-in spots where many families still celebrate \u2014 places less likely to rely on reservations or appear in national rankings.<\/p>\n Many families opt for the less-crowded spots when it comes to celebrating Mother’s Day. (iStock)<\/p>\n Bryant sees a split among diners.<\/p>\n “The first loves the Sunday ritual \u2014 the buzz, the crowd, the social theater of it all. For them, the scene is\u00a0part of the appeal,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/family-eating-together-at-restaurant-fox-news-001.jpeg\")
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