Jersey Shore restaurants celebrate moms with Mother's Day brunch, specials and more

Moms are many things: protectors, teachers, hard workers, role models and best friends.

One thing they shouldn't have to be on Mother's Day is a chef.

So if you don't want to bring mom a messy breakfast in bed on Sunday, May 12, check out one of these Jersey Shore restaurants offering up brunch bites, from salmon toast to chicken and waffles.

Here are some options:

B2 Bistro + Bar, Toms River and Point Pleasant Beach

B2 Bistro + Bar will be hosting Mother's Day brunch and dinner buffets starting at 10 a.m. The Toms River location ends at 6 p.m.; Point Pleasant Beach at 6:30 p.m.

The buffets will include hot stations with bites like bacon, sausage, prime rib, potatoes and more. Both locations with have a omelet station, but Point Pleasant Beach will also have a raw bar and pasta station. (Pasta starts at 3 p.m.)

Brunch/dinner is $55 per adult, $27 per child 12 and under. Reservations are required for Point Pleasant Beach, which has seatings at 10 a.m., noon, 3 and 5:30 p.m. Reservations are also recommended for Toms River.

Go: For Point Pleasant Beach: 709 Arnold Ave., 732-295-0709. For Toms River: 1250 Hooper Ave., 732-797-2570; b2bistro.com.

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The Beach Gallery, Keansburg

The Beach Gallery, which is opening on Saturday, May 4, will be offering seatings at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

For $55 per adult and $30 per child 12 and under, cater to Mom's sweet tooth at the pastry station filled with muffins, jams and bagels with cream cheese, or with dessert options like mini cupcakes, cookies, chocolate mousse and mini pastries.

For breakfast, enjoy fresh fruit, charcuterie, salads and entrees like cinnamon vanilla brioche French toast with berry compote, or Belgian waffles with maple syrup. There also will be scrambled eggs and plenty of breakfast meats, as well as carving stations with ham, French turkey breast, buttermilk biscuits and deviled eggs. Sides include specialty toasts, like crostini with balsamic strawberries and ricotta.

The meal includes coffee, tea, soft drinks and, for those 21 and older, a mimosa or glass of rosé cider. Beer, wine and cocktails also will be available. Reservations are required.

Go: 260 Beachway Ave.; 732-769-5089, beachgallerykeansburg.com.

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Half Moon, Keansburg

This is perfect for those "green thumb moms" because if you celebrate here she'll get to take home a small potted plant.

Brunch will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring specials as well as regular brunch menu items like Chicken and Waffles: a house-made waffle, buttermilk soaked and fried Bell & Evan's chicken thigh, honey glaze and cinnamon butter. Also try a mimosa flight with four seasonal juices.

Reservations are recommended.

Go: 2 Beachway Ave.; 732-787-3560, halfmoonkb.com.

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The GOAT, Union Beach

There will be a prix-fixe three-course brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mother's Day for $53 per adult, $26 per child 10 and under, as well as a special a la carte dinner menu from 4 to 8 p.m.

For brunch, choose from appetizers like house-made ricotta with pistachio, Oak Hill Farms honey and black pepper on sourdough toast; entrees like the steak and eggs with a grilled hanger steak, scrambled eggs, home fries and chimichurri; and desserts like chocolate mousse cake with goat milk caramel, raspberry, whipped cream and almonds.

Go: 1411 Route 36; 732-264-5222, thegoatbydb.com/mothers-day-sunday.

MorningStar Cafe, Toms River

This cafe thinks mom should be celebrated all day, so hours have been extended until 6 p.m.

The regular menu will be available, but there will also be specials including a croffle, which is a salted pretzel croissant waffle, with blueberry cheesecake topping and almond oat crunch. Also try the salmon benedict, with poached eggs, English muffins, wilted spinach, Scottish smoked salmon and lemon hollandaise.

Desserts include a Limoncello flute with Italian lemon gelato and Sicilian limoncello ribbon swirl; and peach creamsicle with vanilla gelato, peach sorbet, raspberry melba sauce and almond granola.

Go: 1001 Fischer Blvd., Suite 5; 732-232-0558, morningstarcafenj.com.

Nicholas Barrel & Roost, Red Bank

Brunch is available both Saturday and Sunday of Mother's Day weekend, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The expansive menu includes 'brunch snacks' like lemon ricotta toast with snap peas and fresh mint; raw bar options like oysters, caviar and Bluefin tuna tartare; breakfast options like the colossal brioche French toast with bourbon maple and bananas; and lunch dishes like grilled swordfish tacos with green cabbage claw and chipotle aioli on yellow corn tacos.

The kitchen also offers pizza like Burrata pesto with house-made basil pesto, burrata, roasted red peppers and cherry tomatoes; as well as desserts like s'mores skillet dip with melted Valrhona chocolate chunk, marshmallow layer and graham crackers.

Go: 160 Route 35; 732-345-9977, barrelandroost.com.

Red Horse, Rumson

There will be a three-course prix-fixe menu for Mother's Day, served from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (brunch specials available until 3 p.m.).

For $95 per adult, and $40 per child 10 and under, enjoy appetizers like crispy shrimp spring rolls with prawns, Thai peanut sauce, fermented black bean, cucumber, peach salsa and coconut; and entrees like rack of lamb with merguez sausage, tomato couscous, olives, preserved lemon, mint and Moroccan glaze.

Brunch includes Titanic French toast with pastry cream, fruit jams, berries, raspberry sauce, cigarette wafers and maple syrup; or sourdough toast with pastrami-cured salmon, avocado, pickled red onion, crispy capers, hard boiled egg and everything bagel spice.

Go: 26 Ridge Road; 732-576-3400, redhorsebydb.com.

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Toast, Asbury Park, Red Bank

Both locations will be open for Mother's Day from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will be offering specials.

Try items like the lobster benedict, or French toast made in collaboration with Mav's Top Buns in Middletown, using fresh-baked chocolate babka. The diners are BYOB, so bring some champagne to pair with a juice flight including fresh lemonade, cranberry, orange and fruit juice.

Go: For Asbury Park: 516 Cookman Ave., 732-776-5900. For Red Bank: 45 Monmouth St., 732-224–1234, toastcitydiner.com. There are also locations in Montclair and Cranford.

Tucker's Tavern, Beach Haven

Mother's Day brunch runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a chef-curated special menu. Dinner with the regular menu is available starting at 3 p.m.

The brunch includes several "for the table" shareable options like biscuits and sausage gravy; papas bravas, which are crispy potatoes with garlic aioli and ghost pepper romesco; and warm cornbread with guava jam. There will also be raw bar options.

Entrees include dishes like lump crab omelet with wood grilled asparagus, tomato, provolone and home fries; and sweeter bites like the Nutella French toast with vanilla bean brioche, drunken berries, Applewood bacon and whipped cream.

Go: 101 Southwest Ave.; 609-492-2300, tuckerstavern-lbi.com.

Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA Today Network New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to glaracca@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Mother's Day brunch at the Jersey Shore includes new restaurants