The Mother of All Holidays

Warning: As May 9--Mother’s Day--approaches, restaurateurs are busy filling their reservation lists. If you plan to fete mom with a special meal, you better reach for a phone quick. Here are some suggestions:

Charles Bruchez, general manager of 2087 An American Bistro, said that Mother’s Day provides the restaurant industry its busiest day of the year. A restaurant can make more money on New Year’s Eve, he said, but in terms of foot traffic, May 9 is unrivaled for many businesses.

2087 in Thousand Oaks--home of contemporary American cuisine with hints of Latin American, Asian and European influences--will serve a buffet-style brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. ($25 adults; $12.95 children.) Brunch will include omelets; eggs benedict with smoked salmon or ham served on a brioche; salads from the regular menu; a carving station and more. Regular menu dinner service will be from 5 to 10 p.m. The restaurant will also offer a seafood special that includes Hamas Hamas Bay oysters, gulf shrimp and poached lobster for $12.95.

The restaurant is at 2087 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Call 374-2087.

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The formal Tuscany Il Ristorante in Westlake Village specializes in regional Italian cuisine. For Mother’s Day, a special brunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by a prix fixe dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. The dinner will consist of choices of appetizer, entree and dessert, plus coffee or tea for $36 for adults and $15.50 for children. Following is a detailed look at brunch menu choices ($26 adults, $12.50 children):

Appetizers: chilled cucumber and fresh mint soup; watercress salad; baby romaine leaves with Caesar dressing; spring salad of tomatoes, Bermuda onion and smoked mozzarella; smoked salmon pastrami with pea sprout and cranberry tomatoes; eggplant rollatine filled with spaghetti puttanesca and smoked caciotta.

Entrees: lasagnette of roasted duck and asiago cheese with shiitake mushrooms; capellini with scallops and rock shrimp in a creamy lemon-vodka sauce; chicken, spinach and ricotta ravioli with roasted tomato and sweet basil; seared ahi tuna in sesame crust with caramelized ginger, lime sauce and spicy slaw; Alaska halibut filet in crispy potato crust with garlic; stuffed baby filet mignon with cognac-peppercorn sauce and potato lasagna; slow braised lamb shank with creamy Gorgonzola polenta and zinfandel sauce.

Mom and company can also choose goodies from an assorted dessert tray.

The restaurant is at 968-4 Westlake Blvd., Westlake Village. Call 495-2768.

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Normally closed on Sundays, Ciao in Simi Valley sees fit to open its doors to help fete mom with Italian and French cuisine. From 11:30 a.m-10 p.m., the restaurant will serve from its regular menu, plus chef Francesco Grande will prepare special dishes. The restaurant is at 167 Los Angeles Ave. Call 522-1049.

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On the less formal / easy-on-your-wallet side, the Simi Valley Senior Citizens Center will host a brunch from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. All-you-can-eat fare will include eggs and pancakes, French toast and blintzes, bagels, fruits and more. Cost: mom and grandma eat for free; others, $8. Ages 4 and younger are free. Reservations must be made by May 1. Call 583-6363.

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Chef Didier Poirer at 71 Palm in Ventura will prepare a special brunch menu, which will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ($24.95 adults; children under 12, $9.95).

The meal will begin with a glass of champagne and fresh orange juice, followed by a choice of salads--Carpinteria baby spring mix or mixed fresh fruit.

Next, a choice of toasted onion or garlic bagel with smoked Scottish salmon, cream cheese, red onion and tomatoes; cold seafood salad with tarragon mayonnaise on a bed of mixed garden salad; three-cheese omelet with fresh asparagus and sauteed mushrooms; eggs benedict Florentine; grilled chicken breast Provencal over penne pasta; and prime rib sandwich with horseradish sauce.

And finally, vanilla ice cream profiteroles with chocolate sauce or sorbet sampler. The meal includes coffee or tea.

The restaurant is at 71 Palm St. Call 653-7222.

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The mother-daughter team of Suzanne Roll and Sandra Shelton will offer a special menu at their Suzanne’s Cuisine in Ojai.

Patrons can choose from a list of 15 entrees or opt for a four-ingredient omelet. The entree options include eggs benedict with smoked turkey; French toast stuffed with cream cheese and blueberries; mixed greens with smoked chicken or grilled portobello mushrooms, feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts; baked penne with grilled vegetables, tomato and Parmesan; egg pizza topped with tomato, mushroom, sweet peppers and mozzarella; coho salmon, butterflied with spinach and crab meat; stuffed portobello mushrooms with spinach, blue cheese and tomato, with an optional egg topping; herb-roasted chicken; bay shrimp and bay scallop seafood salad with mango-pickled ginger salsa.

Dessert choices include apple crisp with vanilla ice cream; carrot cake with lemon cream cheese frosting; fudge nut brownie with ice cream; sorbet assortment and others. Cost: $25, which includes a glass of champagne. The restaurant is at 502 W. Ojai Ave. Call 640-1961.

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Each year the Ranch House in the Ojai Valley takes a slightly different tack on Mother’s Day food preparation. “We skip the brunch and go straight to the dinner menu,” said restaurant manager David Skaggs. “We’ve found that people prefer the regular menu on that day.” So be it. The restaurant, on South Lomita Avenue near Ojai, will be open from 1 to 7 p.m. Call 646-2360.

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Rodney Bosch writes about the restaurant scene in Ventura County and outlying points. He can be reached by calling 653-7572, by fax at 653-7576 or by e-mail at: rodney.bosch@latimes.com.