New Bedford area celebrates Mother's Day: New Bedford Eats

Seth Chitwood, The Standard-Times
·6 min read

Attention all sons and daughters! Mother's Day is quickly approaching and it's time to start planning an unforgettable day for the most important woman in your life.

Luckily, the New Bedford area has a plethora of options to choose from, making it tough to narrow down just a few. From delectable buffets at popular restaurants to wine tastings at a newly opened Nasketucket Bay vineyard, and especially with the Black Whale and Cisco bringing back their delicious strawberry shortcake special for dessert -- there's so much to choose to do.

And when you're done enjoying a meal with your mom, there's even three different planned hikes at the Sawmill in Acushnet for you to spend the rest of the day hiking.

Here are several things to look forward to this coming weekend if you still haven't decided exactly what to do with your mom on her special day.

Merrill's at the Waterfront offers a flight of different flavor mimosas during their brunch.
Merrill's at the Waterfront offers a flight of different flavor mimosas during their brunch.

Merrill's annual Mother's Day buffet

Celebrate Mom in style at Merrill's on the Waterfront in New Bedford! On Sunday, May 12, treat your mom to a delicious Mother's Day buffet featuring various juices, fresh salads, scrumptious breakfast items like French toast and sausage, and a variety of entrees including seafood scampi and stuffed sole. Indulge in a mouth-watering carving station with prime rib and honey-baked ham, as well as a special mac and cheese bar just for the kids. Finish off the meal with delectable pastries, cakes, and donuts. Adults are $48 and children 12 and under are $18. For more information, visit Merrill's Waterfront.

More: Ready to dine out again? Here are 10 waterfront patios in the SouthCoast area to visit

Cork's weekend specials are a must-try

Celebrate Mother's Day in New Bedford at Cork with their delicious specials. Treat mom to the mouthwatering ham quiche empanada, filled with tasty ingredients such as brown sugar ham, eggs, potatoes, spinach and provolone mornay. She'll also love the unique and flavorful Okinawa ganochi pesto lump crab, made with Okinawa purple sweet potato gnocchi, sorrel and basil pesto citrus sweet tomato, pancetta and parmesan. For a light and fresh option, try the summer shrimp salad with grilled shrimp, mixed greens, roasted corn, fried black beans, pickled peppers and onions, and a citrus aioli.

Or indulge in the mother hen, featuring a brined and seared airline chicken breast, paired with beet and goat cheese risotto, romanesco cauliflower, and a mimosa coulis. And don't forget to finish off the meal with the irresistible peach misu, a champagne and peach tiramisu dessert. Make reservations now and show mom how much she means to you at Cork this Mother's Day!

Kilburn Mill hosts two Mother's Day events to choose

Celebrate Mother's Day in style at the Kilburn Mill. Treat the special mothers in your life to a delightful brunch on Sunday, May 12. Indulge in a mouth-watering buffet, featuring dishes like freshly made omelets, scrumptious French toast, and a variety of succulent meats. Enjoy the picturesque waterfront views while spending quality time together. Don't miss out on this opportunity to show your love and gratitude for all the amazing moms out there. Two convenient seating options are available: 10 am and 12 pm. Please purchase your tickets for the entire group at once, so you can all enjoy the 90-minute buffet together.

Also join Sea Glass Art Sundays, where people can get creative with sea glass found along the beautiful beaches in New Bedford. Tickets are also available here.

More: Closed for 15 years, Fairhaven's old Bijou Theatre building is active again. Step inside.

Fairhaven's newly opened vineyard has a Mother's Day treat

Celebrate Mother's Day with a relaxing and delicious experience at Nasketucket Bay Vineyard in New Bedford. This 21+ event includes a buffet-style brunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., featuring a variety of dishes such as a tossed salad, fruit salad, scrambled eggs, and more. Enjoy the beautiful views and live music by Mike & Leah from 11-1:30, while sipping on a wine tasting or a glass of wine included in your ticket price. There are no reservations needed, so simply grab a plate and find a cozy spot to indulge. The vineyard will be open to the public at 2 p.m.

Newport Chowder Company is bring mouthwatering food to Fido Friday at Nasketucket Bay Vineyard.
Newport Chowder Company is bring mouthwatering food to Fido Friday at Nasketucket Bay Vineyard.

Cisco's brings back strawberry shortcake for Mother's Day

At Cisco Brewers Kitchen and Bar, not only will you be treated to a live performance by the band Jacob and Jackson from 2 to 4 p.m., but there are also exciting specials to indulge in. Sip on the refreshing Palm Sparkler Cocktail and enjoy the Matriarch Roll of Sushi, featuring seared salmon and spicy crab meat topped with crispy leeks and eel sauce. Start off your meal with the delicious and unique Korean Chicken Boa Buns, filled with glazed chicken, avocado, bib lettuce, and cupid mayo. For main courses, choose between the flavorful Penang Curry Salmon and the mouth-watering Honey Roasted Rhubarb Salad. And don't forget dessert - try Cisco's famous Strawberry Shortcake, made with a warm, homemade biscuit, vanilla ice cream, marinated strawberries, and whipped cream.

The Black Whale's strawberry shortcake dessert returns for Mother's Day.
The Black Whale's strawberry shortcake dessert returns for Mother's Day.

Honor your mom with the 'Queen Bee' Sushi Roll at Black Whale

At Black Whale, specials for guests include a refreshing watermelon martini, made with Grey Goose Watermelon Lime, as well as other specials such as the lobster bisque and tarmanid glazed chicken skewers with mango salsa and pickled veggies. Satisfy your sushi cravings with the Queen Bee Roll, filled with eel, cucumber, avocado, sweet soy, and fried leeks, in honor of your mom. Don't miss their heartwarming entrees, like the miso chili and sea bass, lobster and saffron risotto, and crab and watermelon salad. And of course, treat your mom to their mouthwatering strawberry shortcake special. Make sure to reserve your spot at this popular event.

Mill Pond in Acushnet is home to The Sawmill, a reservation created by the Buzzards Bay Coalition.
Mill Pond in Acushnet is home to The Sawmill, a reservation created by the Buzzards Bay Coalition.

Enjoy a hike with your mother in Acushnet

Get ready to celebrate Mother’s Day in a unique and exciting way at The Sawmill in Acushnet. Join us for a special hike through nature, where we'll be searching for signs of motherhood like bird nests and bug eggs. Along the way, you'll find informational cards offering insights into the instincts of wild mothers. After our hike, we’ll gather at the scenic amphitheater for a fun game of tag - moms vs kids! You can even bring your own lunch and enjoy a picnic in the great outdoors. Our outdoor amphitheater is the perfect spot for play and relaxation. Don't miss out on this memorable day honoring the amazing moms in our lives and the beauty of nature. Hikes are available at 9:30am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Register now to secure your spot! For more details, email us at Baptista@savebuzzardsbay.org.

Standard-Times staff writer Seth Chitwood can be reached at schitwood@s-t.com. Follow him on twitter:@ChitwoodReports. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Mother's Day in New Bedford: New Bedford Eats