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Best Mother's Day restaurants

BY JOAN REMINICK AND PETER GIANOTTI | joan.reminick@newsday.com and

If you're not preparing dinner for Mom, then at least you can treat her to a restaurant meal. After all, it's the most popular day for dining out. Here are some festive choices as the big day nears:

>> Restaurants that honor "Mama"

NASSAU

CITY CELLAR WINE BAR & GRILL, 1080 Corporate Dr., Westbury, 516-693-5400, COST $$

The lively City Cellar offers Mother's Day brunch plus the regular dinner menu. Price range for specials: $7.50 to $30. They include fava bean soup, local asparagus salad, omelets, French toast casserole, baked lobster cannelloni, seafood risotto, hot smoked wild king salmon and Cedar River Farms prime rib. Dessert: strawberry tartlet and warm cherry crisp.

FRATELLI IAVARONE CAFE, 1534 Union Tpke., New Hyde Park, 516-488-4500, COST $$-$$$

The cafe's Back Room Trattoria hosts a $39-a-person, three-course meal. Each Mom also receives a rose and a glass of wine or Prosecco, and is eligible for a $100 gift certificate. Three seatings: 1:30, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Dinner starts with an appetizer, such as baked clams or mozzarella with tomatoes and peppers, or a half-order of pasta, including linguine with clam sauce and spaghetti all'Amatriciana. Main dishes include full orders of pasta or entrees such as chicken scarpariello, stuffed pork loin and salmon paillard.

GLEN COVE MANSION, 200 Dosoris Lane, Glen Cove, 516-674-2990, COST $$-$$$

The Gold Coast Mother's Day brunch at this Georgian-style mansion is $49 for adults, $24 for children 12 and younger. Courses include made-to-order omelets and crepes; eggs Benedict; a carving table with leg of lamb and grilled turkey breast; pan-seared salmon; penne alla vodka; bread pudding; ice cream; holiday pies, cakes.

PUGLIA OF LITTLE ITALY, 2366 Hempstead Tpke., East Meadow, 516-513-1354, COST $$-$$$

The suburban offspring of the Hester Street restaurant will offer its regular lunch and dinner menus, starting at 11:30 a.m. Notable dishes include linguine with white clam sauce, meaty lasagna, rice balls, red snapper marechiaro, steak alla pizzaiola and eggplant alla Parmigiana.

ROTHMANN'S, 6319 Northern Blvd., East Norwich, 516-922-2500, COST $$$

Rothmann's, the popular steakhouse, has a buffet brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; $54 for adults and $20 for children 12 and younger. Brunch dishes include smoked fish, quiches, chicken Francaise, prime rib, turkey breast, raw bar, desserts and unlimited beverages. Dinner menu, plus specials, from 4 to 9 p.m.

WATERZOOI, I850 Franklin Ave., Garden City, 516-877-2177, COST $$-$$$

Go Belgian at Waterzooi, which will have its regular menu, including all those pots of mussels. Also, try the carbonnade a la flamande, a beef stew; rack of lamb, lobster croquettes, lobster bisque and, naturally, Belgian waffles.

SUFFOLK

GULF COAST KITCHEN AT THE MONTAUK YACHT CLUB RESORT, 32 Star Island Rd., Montauk, 631-668-3100, COST $$$.

At this new dining spot within a waterside resort, a Southern-style brunch buffet runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be house-made biscuits as well as egg dishes, cornmeal pancakes, hominy grits, fried chicken, lobster mac 'n' cheese, sugar-cured ham and blackened steak. For dessert, visit the cupcake bar, or try the Cuban bread pudding or fruit crisp. (Adults, $33.95; children, $15.95).

JONATHAN'S RISTORANTE, 15 Wall St., Huntington, 631-549-0055, COST $$.

At this sophisticated trattoria, a three-course brunch (from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.) features such dishes as smoked salmon with crÃÂ¨me fraÃÂ®che, followed by a main course such as waffles with fresh blueberries and vanilla gelato or house-made fettuccine with veal Bolognese. Dessert options include panna cotta and flourless chocolate cake. (Adults, $28; children younger than 10, $14).