Miami's Best 2013 Thanksgiving Specials
Let's face it – there are four types of people on Thanksgiving. The one who spends two full days in the kitchen preparing for "the best meal I've ever made!" The family friend who shows up with the same cheesecake every year and acts like he's part of the family. That random guest nobody knows who strikes up awkward conversations, and makes you thankful for family-friend-with-cheesecake. And then there's that one you've been inviting over for years who never shows up. Where is that guy, anyways?
In honor of that non-traditional Thanksgiving lover who finds this holiday the perfect time to wine and dine out, we've rounded up the best Thanksgiving specials in Miami. Be sure to check back for additional restaurants as more menus become available.
The Dutch at the W South Beach Hotel & Residences will offer a home style prix fixe meal created by chef de cuisine, Conor Hanlon. Guests can feast on roasted turducken, root beer whipped sweet potatoes, classic gravy, pickled cranberry relish, cippolini onions, and confit turkey leg stuffing. A selection of pies will be featured by famed pastry chef, Josh Gripper, and will include pumpkin pie with a pretzel crust and cranberry sorbet; apple pie with vanilla ice cream; and sweet potato pie with rum raisin ice cream. The dinner costs $45 per person, excluding beverages, tax and gratuity.
Meat Market on Miami Beach is serving up dishes featuring executive chef and co-owner Sean Brasel's twists on American classics. Guests can choose from the following dishes: Bell and Evans fresh turkey leg roulade, stuffed with brioche, Asian pear and lobster, and served with a spicy aji pumpkin sauce, with fresh cranberry gastric bok choy ($32); Bell and Evans fresh juniper and white cranberry-marinated sous vide turkey breast, wood grilled, with sweet potato flan, braised beet greens and vanilla Jack Daniel's sauce ($35); or a mixed grill of three that includes the previous choices and also the Meat Market house made "ham" kurobuta pork belly, with orange and king crab salad and roasted macadamia nuts ($42). Finish off with the chocolate chip pecan bourbon pie with sour cream ice cream for $12.
Also on Miami Beach, Smith & Wollensky will be offering a traditional menu featuring classic Thanksgiving dishes like roasted butternut squash soup, winter greens, herb roasted turkey, roasted Brussels sprouts, potatoes au gratin, and duck fat roasted root vegetables. Finish with a choice of classic pumpkin pie, apple brown betty, or pecan pie. The prix fixe menu will cost $49 per adult and $20 per child (under 12), excluding tax and gratuity. The Thanksgiving menu is available on the Smith & Wollensky website.
III Forks Prime Steakhouse in Hallandale Beach will offer a prix fixe, four course dinner. The meal will start with a tenderloin tomato soup, with fresh roasted vine ripe plum tomatoes and sweet basil simmered with tenderloin beef stock. The second course is the III Forks salad with crispy green apple slices, Wisconsin blue cheese, toasted pecans and field greens laced with housemade vinaigrette. Entrée choices include spice rubbed holiday turkey with grandma's giblet gravy; roasted midwest beef tenderloin in roast shallot thyme veal glace, with whipped potatoes; a Vermont maple glazed Atlantic salmon with coconut infused jasmine rice and roasted autumn vegetables; fresh cranberry-orange relish; sausage sage cornbread dressing; creamed potatoes; maple glazed yams; roasted autumn vegetables; off the cob creamed corn; or roasted autumn vegetables. Desserts include a choice of a pumpkin pie torte with whipped cream and caramel; a Kentucky bourbon chocolate pecan pie; or Maker's Mark pecan bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. The dinner costs $44.95 for adults, and children under 12 can enjoy a soup or salad, entrée and dessert for $16.95. Tea and coffee are included.
Sushi Samba will offer Thanksgiving specials, in addition to their regular menu, at both of their Lincoln Road and Coral Gables locations. The menu will feature items like braised short rib gyoza with kabocha purée, red shiso leaf and smoked ginger soy ($14); mojo roasted organic turkey with linguiça quinoa stuffing and crispy Brussels sprouts ($24); and kabocha cheesecake with candied cashews, bourbon caramel sauce and milk chocolate whipped cream ($11). To complement the feast, a refreshing signature Thanksgiving cocktail of red wine, pisco porton, holiday sugar syrup, crème de cacao dark liquor and orange zest will be served for $13. Both locations will be open from 11:30 a.m. to midnight on Thanksgiving Day.
Bistro One LR at the Ritz-Carlton on South Beach will feature a Thanksgiving Day buffet complete with all the fixings, including a turkey carving station, a European meat and cheese station, a chilled seafood station, sushi and ceviche bar, an anitpasti station and more. The buffet costs $95 per person, and the full menu is available on The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach website.
The Restaurant at The Setai on Miami Beach will offer their Thanksgiving patrons a four-course dinner with live Spanish and classic guitar. Guests can choose from three dishes per course, including homemade Maine lobster ravioli; velvety pumpkin velouté soup garnished with shaved parmesan cheese and truffle oil; and the roasted turkey legs with sausage, chestnut and mortadella, honey and cardamom jus, sweet potato puree and cranberry chutney. A pumpkin tart with pumpkin mousse, cranberry and cherry chutney, or a chai-spiced chocolate cake will be offered for dessert. The Restaurant's à la carte menu will also be available. The cost is $95 per adult and $45 per child (ages 5-12 years old), excluding service charge and sales tax.
The legendary Miami establishment, The Rusty Pelican, will feature both brunch and dinner buffets on Thanksgiving Day. The buffets will include a variety of food stations featuring the restaurant's signature items, sushi, paella, a raw bar, ceviche and tartare, omelettes, breakfast classics, pasta, sweets and Thanksgiving dishes with a tropical twist. Each party of up to four will receive a bottle of red, white or sparkling of their choice, and 6 people will receive two bottles of wine. Brunch seatings will be held at 9 a.m., 12 p.m., and 3 p.m., and dinner will be served at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. Adults are $75 per person and children are $25 per person inclusive of tax and gratuity. The full Thanksgiving buffet menu is available on The Rusty Pelican website.
Toro Toro at the InterContinental in Downtown Miami will offer a family-style, Pan-Latin prix fixe dinner from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. The multi-course meal will begin with a chef's selection amuse bouche, followed by the first course of a Toro Toro chopped salad. The second course will include pumpkin soup; a picadillo and choclo empanada basket; and foie panettone, and the main course will feature roasted turkey breast; braised turkey thighs; and roasted honey chipotle ham and picanha, accompanied by mole negro turkey gravy and Toro Toro cranberry sauce. Sides will include green beans; Yukon mashed potatoes; corn esquites; and chorizo stuffing with chorizo, cornbread and jalapeño. Guests can finish off their meal with a pumpkin crema Catalana; apple empanadas; and a sweet and savory chocolate mousse. The prix fixe meal costs $59 per person, excluding beverages, tax and gratuity. Toro Toro's classic dishes will be also be available at the bar only.