28 Mother's Day Dining Deals and Freebies

If you've racked your brain for a Mother's Day gift, remember that a leisurely meal is always a welcome option. Mother's Day means big business for restaurants, and competition for your dollars is stiff. Many national and regional chains are hoping to lure you in for brunch, lunch, or dinner with discounted holiday menus, gift card deals, or freebies. Here are some of the best options.

A delectable brunch menu is a given every day at Another Broken Café, but moms who dine there on Mother's Day weekend get $10 in bonus bucks for use between May 13 and May 26.

Moms can get a free meal at Beef O' Brady's on Mother's Day with a purchase of equal or greater value up to $10. Menu staples include burgers, shrimp, and fajitas.

Want to send mom on an Italian vacation? Brio is running a sweepstakes for a trip for two to Capri through Mother's Day. And if you're planning on heading to Brio for your Mother's Day meal, snag some gift cards beforehand. For every $100 you spend, you'll get a $25 bonus card redeemable from June 17 through Aug. 31.

The Capital Grille's three-course Mother's Day brunch will include selections such as lobster frittata, filet mignon, and shrimp and grits. Diners also get to choose a starter and dessert. The price is $49 and includes nonalcoholic beverages, with brunch cocktails available at an additional cost. A $15 children's brunch menu is also available.

Now through Mother's Day, order a $50 ecard from The Cheesecake Factory and get a $10 bonus. The offer is good for orders up to $200. You can also snag discounted shipping on the restaurant's cheesecakes through Harry & David with the code FIVECAKE.

For $30, you can treat Mom to a Mother's Day brunch buffet at Claim Jumper. Options will include a carving station, made-to-order omelets, a fajita bar, and shrimp galore. Brunch cocktails will be available for an additional cost, including $4 mimosas. If you buy a gift card beforehand, you can also snag a nice bonus: a free slice of Claim Jumper's famous Chocolate Motherlode Cake for every $50 in gift cards bought, redeemable from June 1 through Sept. 30.

If mom is a seafood lover, she'll adore the three-course Mother's Day brunch at Eddie V's, served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost is $49 for entrees including lobster quiche, crab omelets, and shrimp and grits. A $15 children's brunch menu is also available.

Treat mom to a decadent meal at Fleming's, which will serve a three-course Mother's Day brunch starting at 10 a.m. Most selections are $48 and include a starter, entree, shareable sides, and dessert. Bringing the kids? There's a special menu for them, too, with prices starting at $16.

Though Fogo de Chao will be offering its normal brunch menu on Mother's Day, moms dining there that morning will receive a promotional card for a complimentary lunch, brunch, or dinner. It's redeemable from May 13 through July 11, excluding Fridays and Saturdays.

Head to Granite City Brewery for a hearty Mother's Day brunch, available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Adults meals are $25 and kids' meals are $9, with a wide-ranging menu including fruit, shrimp, salmon, biscuits and gravy, French toast, tortellini, prime rib, and tons of desserts.

Just $36 will buy mom a hearty four-course meal at Joe's Crab Shack on Mother's Day. Entree choices include seared tilapia over rice with veggies and shrimp macaroni and cheese; or an 8-ounce sirloin with grilled shrimp, mashed potatoes, and veggies.

Satisfy the carnivorous mom with a meal at Logan's Roadhouse. The Mother's Day menu includes a 12-ounce sirloin with grilled shrimp and one side for $20, and prime rib with grilled shrimp and one side for $23. There will also be a "Mom's Royal Treatment" sweepstakes with a grand prize of a $1,000 Spa Finder gift card, $750 Visa gift card, and $250 Logan's gift card.

Macaroni Grill is serving up a special Mother's Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Options include a caramel apple and walnut French toast for $14, porchetta hash for $15, and Italian biscuits and gravy for $13. Grab some ecards before going: They are 25% off with the code TREATMOM through Mother's Day.

Marie Callender's is pulling out all the stops with its all-you-can-eat Mother's Day brunch. It will include a carving station, made-to-order omelettes, Belgian waffle bar, soup and salad bar, baked goods and even champagne. Check with individual locations for pricing.

Check your local Melting Pot for Mother's Day hours, menus and offers — a sample special: a four-course menu that's $45 for adults and $25 for kids. It includes a cheese fondue course, salad, meat entree, and chocolate fondue dessert.

Mimi's will serve a three-course Mother's Day lunch or dinner from 11 a.m. to close for just $20 per person. Entree choices include shrimp pasta, Mandarin chicken salad, and roasted turkey. An $11 kid's menu will also be available. If you can't resist the lure of brunch, a separate menu will be served from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

If the famous pie at O'Charley's sounds like a sweet way to celebrate Mom, buy some gift cards before you go. Through Mother's Day, you'll get $10 in rewards when you buy $25 in gift cards. Rewards are redeemable from June 17 through Aug. 18.

Olive Garden will open early on Mother's Day, at 10:30 a.m., to accommodate crowds. It's also offering a gift card promotion: For every $50 in gift cards you buy until Mother's Day, you can get a $10 bonus card to spend during future visits.

Indulge mom's craving for some tasty chicken at PDQ this Mother's Day. Moms will get a free meal and 20-ounce drink with the purchase of any meal of equal or greater value. No online ordering or third-party delivery is allowed.

Moms who eat at P.F. Chang's on Mother's Day will get a sweet treat: A free mini dessert with the purchase of any entree. Through June 19, diners can also get a $10 bonus card with the purchase of $50 in gift cards. The bonus is redeemable June 20 through July 31.

From May 10 through Mother's Day, stop in for a meal at Piccadilly and get a special deal: shrimp and crab cake or stuffed fish, six fried shrimp, two sides, bread, a drink and dessert, all for $17.

Got $4? That's all Primanti Bros. requires you to spend when you come in on Mother's Day to earn a free meal for mom. The offer is good for dine-in only.

Grab some gift cards before you take mom out to eat at RA Sushi. For every $50 in gift cards you buy through Mother's Day, you'll get a $10 promo card good from May 13 through June 16.

Moms who dine at Ruth's Chris on Mother's Day will get a $25 bonus card valid for a future dinner purchase that includes an entree from May 13 to June 30. The restaurant's three-course Spring Classics menu will also be available on Mother's Day. It includes entrees including a 6-ounce filet and shrimp or a 12-ounce ribeye. Prices range from $46 to $60 per person.

Dive into a three-course Mother's Day brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Seasons 52. For just $30, you'll get to choose from several soups and salads; entrees such as steak and eggs, sea scallops, or French toast; and desserts including strawberry rhubarb cheesecake.

Pasta-loving moms will appreciate this Spaghetti Warehouse freebie. On Mother's Day only, treat mom to her favorite entree at the restaurant and she'll get a free take-home order of spaghetti and meatballs to enjoy in the next few days.

If you just want a little something sweet on Mother's Day, head to TCBY. Moms will get up to a 6-ounce cup of frozen yogurt and toppings for free that day.

Not all moms need a fancy brunch. At Wienerschnitzel, she can also enjoy a free chili dog, small fries, and small soda any time on Mother's Day.