GREENFIELD — Mother’s Day brunch is typically one of the bigger holidays for Hope & Olive. This year, it was a return to normal for the restaurant, in some ways.
“Serving food on plates is what we do best. We are very happy to be back at it,” said Jim Zaccara, one of the co-owners of Hope & Olive.
Hope & Olive remained open through the pandemic in different capacities, either with takeout ordering or outdoor seating when the weather was good.
Now, the restaurant has had indoor seating for about a month, Zaccara said.
“People are ready to come in,” he said. “People are feeling a lot of confidence because of the level of vaccinations in the area.”
For Mother’s Day, Hope & Olive typically has a brunch buffet. But this year it was a sit-down meal, by reservation only. All the tables were booked, Zaccara said.
To surprise his mother Kirsten Levitt, Max Johl booked a table two weeks ahead of time. He and his partner, Christina Lundy, visited for the day from their home in Yonkers, N.Y.
“They burst into my house at 10:30 with my grand-dogs,” Levitt said.
Last year, Johl said, he wasn’t able to visit for Mother’s Day because of the pandemic, but still talked to his mother on the phone.
“We do something every Mother’s Day,” Johl said.
Levitt said they would probably visit a flower nursery after brunch, as an outdoor activity.
“Even though we’re all vaccinated, it’s nice to be out on such a beautiful day,” she said.
Nate Carpenter and Lucy DeLaCore said they were excited just to be eating at a restaurant.
“This is the first time we’ve been in a restaurant. It feels really great,” DeLaCore said.
Last year’s Mother’s Day, Carpenter said, was somewhat less of an event.
“It was picking flowers and making cards at home. Much more low-key,” he said.
They said they were not sure what they might do after brunch, but probably something outside.
“This was the big plan because it was so unique,” Carpenter said.
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.