Now is the time to consider making a restaurant reservation for Mother’s Day.
Yes, it’s still 11 days off, but Mother’s Day is the biggest day for dining out on the entire calendar, so it’s not too soon to plan.
Plenty of restaurants will be open. Many that don’t normally open on Sunday will for the holiday. All of them will be crowded. Call ahead to find out what the situation will be at your favorite spot.
Look for special menus, buffets or limited offerings at some places. Don’t be surprised if you find that rules are stricter when dining out on Mother’s Day. Restaurants may be less likely to hold reservations more than 5 or 10 minutes. There also may be a limit on the amount of time you can have your table, as restaurants need to turn them over more often to accommodate the crowds.
Even with reservations, be prepared to wait in some cases.
To keep waits to a minimum, consider eating at off times — say late lunch at 3 p.m. — as opposed to brunch or dinner hour. Brunches and buffets tend to be more efficient on Mother’s Day as the restaurant kitchens aren’t trying to fill individual orders, but there will be plenty of traditional offerings as well.
Restaurant dba at 21 Furnace St., Akron, will be open for Mother’s Day dining, even though it is not normally open on Sundays. Service will be from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. with set three- or four-course dinners at $39.99 and $49.99.
Fleming’s Prime Steak House & Wine Bar, 4000 Medina Road, Copley Township, will be open for brunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a special three-course brunch menu for $36.95 for adults, $17.95 for children under age 12. All moms will receive a $25 gift card valid toward a future visit.
Comings and goings
• Cameo Pizza and Italian Restaurant has opened in the Gala Commons complex, 2215 E. Waterloo Road, Akron. Cameo, which originated in 1936, has seven locations in the Sandusky/Put-in-Bay area.
The pizza is a family recipe made using a thinner crust with homemade sauce and a unique cheese blend. They also offer a line of pasta dishes and a full-service bar. There is a game room for kids and a family-friendly environment.
Owners are Darrell Guariniello and Matt Keech. Cameo is open for lunch and dinner. Phone 330-733-7700.
• A new location of Beckham’s B&M, which specializes in barbecued ribs and chicken, is opening Saturday at 852 Copley Road, Akron.
Owners Greg and Sonya Beckham will be having a grand opening celebration from noon to midnight Saturday. There will be music, food samples, prizes and discounted menu items.
Beckham’s B&M also has locations in Cleveland, Oakwood, and Maple Heights.
• Meanwhile, 3 Sons Restaurant, 3725 S. Cleveland-Massillon Road, Norton, has closed.
All about chocolate at Civic
The Akron Civic Theatre will host its first chocolate fundraiser, It’s All About Chocolate, at 6 p.m. May 20.
Those who attend must bring a 1-pound box of chocolates, in their original packaging, which they can swap for another box. Swapping will take place in order of ticket color, with those who buy their tickets earliest getting to swap first.
In addition to the swapping, there will be chocolates to sample, chocolate drinks, and a raffle.
Chocolatiers for the event will include Grabham Chocolates, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Baker Boulevard, the Chocolate Garden, Just Cookies and Pampered Chef.
The ticket price is $25 and includes wine, punch, and five samples from the chocolate presenters. Additional sampling tickets can be purchased. Only 100 tickets will be sold and all proceeds will go to the Akron Civic Theatre.
Tickets are available at the Akron Civic Theatre Box Office by calling 330-253-2488.
Celebrate summer eating
Kirbie’s Family Meats & Catering is hosting its annual Pre-Summer Celebration every Saturday in May from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The events change each week and will include summer beer and wine tastings, cooking and grilling ideas, hints and recipes, and giveaways. Kirbie’s is at 4062 Fishcreek Road in Stow. Call 330-688-4333.
Kirbie’s also is offering catered pig roasts this year for $16 a person. The menu includes a whole rotisserie roasted pig, carved off the bone, along with sauces and the head for display, grilled vegetables, sour cream cheddar potato bake, cole slaw and rolls.
Farmers market news
Countryside Conservancy’s Farmers Market moves from its winter location at Old Trail School in Bath Township to its summer home in Howe Meadow, 4040 Riverview Road, Cuyahoga Falls, as of May 11, from 9 a.m. to noon.
The Haymaker Winter Farmers’ Market in Kent moves outside on Saturday to its summer location at Franklin Avenue and Summit Street, under the Haymaker overpass. Hours for the next three weeks will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., but will change back to 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 25 when the summer season officially begins.
For a full listing of area farmers markets, check out the Beacon Journal’s food section on May 22.
Restaurant group moves
The Tri-County Restaurant association has a new location. As of today, its headquarters has moved to 6959 Promway Ave. NW, North Canton.
The organization’s phone number, email address and web address remain the same.
Lisa Abraham can be reached at 330-996-3737 or at labraham@thebeaconjournal.com. Find me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter @akronfoodie or visit my blog at www.ohio.com/blogs/lisa.