Our Guide To Cinco De Mayo And Mother’s Day Takeout

Whether it was a hotel brunch downtown, a fried chicken buffet, or a meal brought in with family, Mother’s Day celebrations have always been an opportunity to celebrate Mom and give her the day off of dishes. With Mayor Hogsett’s extension of the shelter-at-home order until May 15, that may mean your typical holiday festivities are slightly different this year. But whether you’re sequestering in your old room from high school or just dropping off treats on the porch, there’s no reason not to let local restaurants help you honor the woman who hung every drawing you made on the fridge and kissed your bruises away. And while you’re checking out the curbside options at your favorite restaurants, don’t forget that the official day of al fresco margaritas and guacamole doesn’t stop just because you’re raising your glass over Zoom. Check out all of these local options for making early May as festive as it has always been.

Cinco de Mayo, Tuesday, May 5

Rooster’s Kitchen (888 Massachusetts Ave., 317-426-2020) is hosting a pre-Cinco de Mayo party at Fountain Square Brewing Co. (1301 Barth Ave.), this Friday, May 1, at 5 p.m. featuring pulled chicken and chorizo street tacos, chips and salsa, and guacamole.

Ukiyo owner and chef Neal Brown is hosting Tiger & Taco in the lot of Ukiyo (4907 N. College Ave.) featuring guac and chips, kingfish ceviche, carnitas, chicken mole, and black bean tortas, tacos, and more. For the full menu, visit http://tigerandtaco.square.site.

Big Lug Canteen (1435 E. 86th St., 317-672-3503) has family fiesta packs and individual Mexican-inspired takeout dishes that range from fajitas platters to taco salad, as well as add-ons such as salsas, rice and beans, and chicken tortilla soup. And don’t forget the beer! 

Cunningham Restaurant Group Latin favorite Livery (720 N. College Ave., 317-383-0330) is offering Cinco de Mayo taco and margarita kits with all the fixings for street tacos and premixed cocktail components to turn your quarantine kitchen into an authentic cantina.

Having suspended service since the closure of restaurants on March 16, Georg Munoz is opening his popular Festiva (1217 E. 16th St., 317-635-4444) with a full roster of taco stand La Chinita Poblana tacos, shredded chicken or beef enchiladas, guacamole, chips and salsa, pinto tortilla soup, and sides of beans, rice, and plantains to share.

Make Cinco de Mayo the day to get takeout from one of a new Latin restaurant on the Northside. Bae Latin Food (14580 River Rd., #190, Carmel, 317-219-6205) features tacos, tostones, and Venezuelan specialties such as seafood and steak grilled dishes, South American-style burgers, and arepas.

Oakleys BistroTony Valainis

Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10

Oakleys Bistro (1464 W. 86th St.,317-824-1231) is celebrating Mom with brunch for four with all the trimmings including Vermont maple bread pudding, crab cakes with Hollandaise sauce and poached eggs, glazed pork belly, and mini rhubarb-crumble and lemon-raspberry pies. Order by Wednesday, May 6.

Take Mom the dishes from her old favorite Greek restaurant with a complete Mother’s Day dinner from Santorini Greek Kitchen Catering (950 S. White River Pkwy. W Dr., 317-917-1117). Meals for four include spanakopita or tiropita, Greek salad, chicken souvlaki, gyros with accompaniment, potatoes or green beans, baklava, and decadent galaktabouriko. Fish kebabs are also available for a lighter but no less flavorful option.

Create your own array of comestibles fit for the queen of your family at Goose the Market (2503 N. Delaware St., 317-924-4944) which is offering up brunch-worthy croissant sticky buns with walnuts, caviar and blini with garnishes, king crab legs, veal chops, bagels, 4 Birds Bakery eggs Benedict, charcuterie platters, and plenty of chocolate and dessert options.

A full selection of sweet and savory croissants are available at Rene’s Bakery (6524 N. Cornell Ave., 317-689-9029), as well as pineapple, caramel, and pistachio macarons; strawberry and chocolate-raspberry tortes; carrot cake; and a lattice-top blueberry-peach pie that will do Mom proud. Orders must be received by Thursday, May 7, for Saturday pickup.

Jonathan Brooks’ brunch revisionist Milktooth (534 Virginia Ave., 317-986-5131) is back for a flash featuring a decadent Mother’s Day pastry tote that includes pastry chef Ilana November’s honey morning buns, slices of chamomile cake, an almost rhubarb galette, and lavender sugar cookies, as well Tinker Coffee and optional bottle of bubbly and OJ. At Brooks’ Beholder, which has been offering luxe carryout throughout the quarantine, customers can order a Mother’s Day brunch bundle that includes a dozen bagels, house-made lox, whitefish salad, grilled scallion cream cheese, with optional add-ons of caviar, trout roe, blueberry-lemon coffee cake, and mimosa kits to toast Mom on her big day.

Fried chicken and roasted pork loin are on the menu for Mother’s Day morning pickup at The Northside Social (6525 N. College Ave., 317-253-0111).

Big Lug Canteen (1435 E. 86th St., 317-672-3503) also has Mother’s Day covered with a brunch-worthy menu of “Country King” (all the meats and cheeses) or veggie quiches, biscuits and gravy, hash brown casserole, and, of course, whole Sahm’s coffee cakes weighing in at two pounds. And don’t forget to order flowers! Preorder May 5 to May 7 for picking up hot items on Sunday, May 10, or items to reheat on Saturday, May 9.

Uptown Café on Binford (6404 Rucker Rd., 317-466-9631) is cooking up a homey yet elegant a la carte Mother’s Day morning menu of eggs Benedict, quiche, pecan rolls, fresh baked bread, and mimosa kits. Order by Friday, May 8, at 2 p.m. for pickup on either May 9 or 10.