MOTHER’S DAY DINING : Medley of Meals Planned for Mom

Uh-uh. Don’t even think of letting Mom step into the kitchen this Sunday. It’s Mother’s Day, and literally hundreds of restaurants in Orange County stand ready to help you celebrate.

“M” is for MULTI-COURSE, sit-down brunches and dinners:

The “Mother’s Medley” dinner at Horikawa includes a California roll, chicken teriyaki roll, shrimp and scallops tempura and salmon shioyaki. It’s $19.95 for lunch (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and $25 for dinner (5 to 9 p.m.), which also includes soup, salad and a special dessert. The regular menu will also be available. The location: South Coast Plaza Village. Reservations: (714) 557-2531.

A special two-course prix fixe ($19.95) brunch will be served at Five Feet and Five Feet Too. You have a choice of appetizer and entree, drawing from such Michael Kang specialties as grilled hot lemon prawns with a marinated green papaya and mango salad, and Hawaiian barbecued pork tostada with grilled cactus salsa. Five Feet is at 328 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach, (714) 497-4955; Five Feet Too is in Fashion Island Newport Center, (714) 640-5250.

Bistro 201 will serve a three-course brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Entree choices include roasted free-range chicken on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes, and swordfish Nicoise with baby artichokes and polenta. The cost: $19.95 per person. 18201 Von Karman Ave., Irvine. (714) 533-9201.

Chef Lap Hynh will prepare a four-course dinner from noon to 9 p.m. for $14.95 at Le Gourmet Bistro. Entree choices include papillote of salmon with julienne of spring vegetables and rib eye steak with shallots and Madeira wine. Special menu for children under 12, $8.95. 17917 MacArthur Blvd. (in the Food Park), Irvine. (714) 851-9694.

Zuni Grill’s brunch, available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., delivers a choice of three courses, with entrees varying from huevos rancheros with black beans, Cheddar cheese and avocado to honey-baked ham with mashed potatoes, sweet yams and honey-mustard sauce. It’s $10.95; $6.95 for children 12 and under, and includes champagne and coffee or tea. 3966 Barranca Parkway, Irvine. (714) 262-0864.

Abbondanza’s Sunday springtime special of free champagne for all mothers extends through May 24. And on Mother’s Day, at both restaurants, a special menu will include entree, soup or salad, and pasta. The price range in Mission Viejo (25922 Muirlands Blvd.), which will serve from 4:30 to 9 p.m., is $10.50 to $13.95. (714) 830-1600. In the dressier Newport Beach location (3421 Via Lido), open from 5 to 9 p.m., it’s $15.95 to $18.95. (714) 675-8973.

Villa Nova by daylight is a rare (only on Mother’s Day or Easter) treat. The restaurant will be open for brunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Specialties will be priced from $8.95 to $13, and a children’s menu (for those 12 and under) at $5.95. 3131 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach. (714) 642-7880.

“O” is for the OPULENT BUFFETS:

Brunch seatings in the Grand Ballroom of the Irvine Marriott will be every half hour, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A pianist will perform, and the buffet is $23 for adults, $20 for senior citizens (65 and over), $15 for children under 12, no charge for children under 3. Prices include tax and gratuity and parking will be validated. 18000 Von Karman Ave. (714) 553-0100, ext. 6684.

“Festa della Mamma,” an exuberant Italian-style celebration at Prego Ristorante, features a buffet from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Specialties include polenta, roasted leg of lamb and Italian sausages. It’s $19.95 for adults, $10.95 for children under 12. 18420 Von Karman Ave., Irvine. Reservations: (714) 553-1333.

The Ritz-Carlton will present its traditional Lobby Lounge holiday buffet, with accompanying piano music. Breakfast buffet will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m., and brunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $29 for adults, $15 for children 12 and under, free for children under 5. The Pavilion’s brunch buffet will offer seating from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a price tag of $38.50 for adults, $19.50 for children 12 and under, and free for children under 5. The Terrace Restaurant will present its buffet from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with prices the same as in the Pavilion. Reservations: (714) 240-2000. 33533 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point.

The Disneyland Hotel will stage a “supercalifragilistic” brunch, set in the English park scene from “Mary Poppins.” Offered from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the hotel’s Grand Ballroom, it’s $32.50 for adults, $12.50 for children 4 to 12 years of age, and $3 for kids under 4. Tax and gratuity are extra, but complimentary parking is included. Reservations: (714) 956-6413. 1150 W. Cerritos Ave., Anaheim.

“T” is for the TOKENS OF ESTEEM presented at many restaurants:

There’s an orchid in store for each mother who dines at the Royal Thai restaurants. The champagne brunch, served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., includes a crisp Thai salad and choice of six entrees. It’s $11.95 per person. The regular dinner menu will be served from 5 to 10 p.m. Two locations: 4001 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach, (714) 645-THAI, and 1750 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (714) 494-THAI.

Carnations bloom for each mom at the Anaheim Marriott, where La Plaza’s champagne buffet brunch will be served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s $19.95 for adults, $14.95 for seniors (62 and over) and $8.95 for children under 12. Reservations: (714) 750-8000, Ext. 5210. 700 W. Convention Way.

And the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel and Tennis Club will present a rose to each mother attending the champagne buffet brunch at JW’s Grill and the Pacific Ballroom. The brunch will feature the “flavors of California,” and mariachis and a pianist will entertain. $22.95 for adults, $17.95 for seniors and $12.95 for children under 12. (714) 729-3565. 900 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

At the Dana Point Resort, mother can capture her special day with a matted portrait. The studio will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the cost is $15 for the portrait, which will be delivered to the resort within two hours after your sitting. Meanwhile, you can choose from two champagne buffet brunches: in Watercolors Restaurant (11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; $32 for adults and $16 for children under 12) and the Grand Ballroom (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; $28 for adults, $14 for children.) Reservations: (714) 661-5000. 25135 Street of the Park Lantern, Dana Point.

There’s a rose for each mamma dining at Trattoria Spiga in Crystal Court. The special a la carte Mother’s Day menu includes homemade tortelloni stuffed with ricotta and mascarpone cheese, and Alaskan salmon sauteed in white wine and garlic cream. Prices range from $6 to $16.50. (714) 548-3365.

And more roses are at Sweet Basil California Trattoria, where a three-course feast will be served from noon to 9:30 p.m. at a cost of $15.95. A special children’s plate is also available. The location: 17575 Harvard Ave., Irvine. (714) 752-3033.

Il Fornaio offers a new way this year to say “I love you” on Mother’s Day: it’s a card which encases a heart-shaped biscotti decorated with swirled caramelized sugar ($3.50 each, or the biscotti are available loose at $9.50 per pound). Each woman who dines at Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana on Mother’s Day will receive one of the heart-shaped biscotti. 18051 Von Karman Ave., Irvine. Restaurant: (714) 261-1444. Bakery: (714) 261-2202.

“H” is for HELP WITH THE KIDS:

Children will play games on the lawn and enjoy a special lunch at the Robert Mondavi Wine & Food Center. Meanwhile, after a glass of sparkling wine in the Rose Garden, adults sit down to a three-course luncheon, paired with Robert Mondavi wines. Festivities begin at noon. The cost is $45 for adults, $12 for children ages 5 to 12. (714) 979-4510. 1570 Scenic Ave., Costa Mesa.

Movies, popcorn and video games--the Hyatt Regency Irvine will keep the kids happy in their own supervised area and serve them their own brunch, while adults enjoy a buffet in and around Le Cafe. Service will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; $26.95 for adults, $11.95 for kids under 12, and free for kids under 3-feet tall (20% senior citizen discount, if requested). Reservations: (714) 975-1234, Ext. 2103.

“E” is for ENTERTAINMENT:

At the Fullerton Hofbrau, from 3 to 7 p.m., the jazz quartet Four’s A-Plenty will perform. The restaurant will serve a roast turkey dinner for $8.95 and leg of lamb with rosemary sauce for $9.95, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at 323 N. State College Blvd. (714) 870- 7400.

A barbershop quartet will sing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the buffet brunch at Mr. Stox, 1105 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim. The buffet includes seven different entrees. Dine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at a cost of $19.95 for adults, $10.95 for children under 12. (714) 634-2994.

The Horvath String Quartet will play classical chamber music for brunch at Mon Chateau from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The three-course menu of Belgian/French cuisine is $17.95 per person with champagne. 23642 El Toro Road, El Toro. (714) 830-3810.

A magician, strolling violins and a pianist will entertain at the Waterfront Hilton at Huntington Beach’s buffet from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be roses for mothers, too, and dining in Cielo Mare restaurant, the Pacific Ballroom or on the pool-side patio. Cost is $34.95, $13.95 for children 7 to 12, free for under age 7. Reservations: (714) 960-7873. 21000 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach.

Le Meridien Newport Beach will transform its Deauville Ballroom into a Paris street scene, with an accordianist, mime and caricaturist. The 50-item brunch buffet will be served both in the Ballroom and in Cafe Fleuri. Meanwhile, Restaurant Antoine will offer a separate buffet. Cafe and Ballroom brunch is $32 per adult, $12 per child ages 6 to 12. Antoine’s brunch is $36 per adult, $14 per child. Children under 5 eat free. The hours: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (714) 476-2001. 4500 MacArthur Blvd.

“R” is for RESERVATIONS. Make them today!