Best bets for Mother's Day brunch, dinner

RALEIGH, N.C. — It is less than a month from Mother's Day, and restaurants are booking up fast!

Winston's Grille (North Raleigh) - Family-owned and operated, this restaurant is celebrating its 30th year in business. The brunch menu includes omelets, waffles and chicken and biscuits. If you can't get a reservation for brunch (served 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays), book a table for dinner. The lunch and dinner menus offer seafood, rotisserie chicken, prime rib, sandwiches and salads. Save room for dessert - they make their own ice cream.

Fairview Dining Room at Washington Duke Inn (Durham) - The three-course brunch features appetizer and dessert stations. Entrees are selected from a decadent menu including shrimp and grits, French toast and eggs benedict. Brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Sunday. If you can't get in for brunch, dinner is always delicious at Fairview.

Carolina Crossroads at the Carolina Inn (Chapel Hill) - The Mother's Day brunch buffet here will include salads, fruit, seafood, a carving station, warm entree and dessert. Children will love choosing from special buffet options including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, chicken fingers, hamburger sliders and sweet potato tots. Brunch is served 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Adults ages 13 years and older will be charged $65.95 per person. Those 60 years and older are charged $60.95 per person and children ages 6 to 12 years old can dine for $25.95 each. Children under 5 years old dine for free. As with the other locations, dinner is another option if you can't get a brunch reservation.

Dean's Seafood (Cary) - The Mother's Day Brunch buffet will include chocolate chip pancakes, made-to-order omelets, carving stations and dessert. Brunch is served 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Adults pay $28 for person and $14 for children ages 10 years and younger to dine. Dinner options here include a lot of delicious seafood, so if you can't get in for brunch just change plans to dinner.

Iris at N.C. Museum of Art (Raleigh) - Double chocolate waffles, huevos rancheros, omelets, burgers, salads and sandwiches are on the brunch menu at this beautiful restaurant located at the North Carolina Museum of Art.

Dame's Chicken and Waffles (Durham) - The menu features 10 delicious variations of the chicken and waffle dish. You can also create your own combination by selecting your waffle (classic, sweet potato, blueberry, gingerbread or vegan), grilled or fried chicken, topped with a homemade sweet cream butter and then drizzled with syrup. Dame's is open 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Sundays.

La Farm Bakery and Cafe (Cary) - Sunday brunch options include French toast, breakfast sandwiches, quiche and my favorite Croque Madame. Brunch is served 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. Sundays. (Does not take reservations)

Beasley's Chicken and Honey (Raleigh) - Chicken, waffles, biscuits, churros, egg casserole and red bean rancheros are all on the menu Saturday and Sunday at this downtown Raleigh hot spot. Brunch is served 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. (Does not take reservations)

NoFo at the Pig (Raleigh) - Located in the Five Points area, this restaurant and shop serves up brunch on Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations for Sunday brunch are only accepted on holidays like Mother's Day. The brunch menu includes shrimp and grits, buttermilk fried chicken and eggs, pulled pork hash and fried green tomato benedict.

Brig's restaurant (Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest and Durham) - Named best breakfast in the Triangle in our Voters' Choice Awards last year, this restaurant serves up fresh breakfast items (pancakes, omelets, benedicts, waffles) and delicious lunch options. All locations are open 7 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. seven days a week. (Does not take reservations)

Flying Biscuit (Raleigh) Located in Raleigh's Cameron Village shopping center, this restaurant specializes in breakfast (served all day). It was named best brunch in the Triangle in our Voters' Choice Awards last year. While lunch and dinner options are available, the breakfast is just too good to pass up. I'm a big fan of the organic oatmeal pancakes served with peach compote and the French toast. Always get the grits (even if you hate grits!) because they are truly heavenly.

Tupelo Honey Cafe (Raleigh) - Sweet potato pancakes, shrimp and grits and fried chicken are all on the menu at this Asheville-based restaurant. They have breakfast scrambles and grits bowls, but I recommend the Shoo Mercy pancake (sweet potato pancake topped with buttermilk fried chicken, bacon and maple syrup).

Another Broken Egg (Raleigh) - Located in North Hills, this breakfast, brunch and lunch spot serves up scrambled skillets, omelets, waffles, salads and burgers. My favorite item is their Banana's Foster Belgian Waffle. There are also locations in Durham and Morrisville.