Restaurant Thanksgivings Around The Country
The days left until Turkey Day are quickly dwindling. You have your recipes picked out, promising magazine-ready dishes with minimal effort. You've scheduled oven time between the turkey and desserts, and allocated each piece of your best dinnerware to each. You've planned out your centerpieces, and even invited Cousin Betty, whom you've seen all of once in your life and don't particularly care for, anyway.
This is it. The year homemade Thanksgiving goes off without a hitch.
Fast forward a week and a half. D-Day — or should we say, T-Day? The pie's a little lopsided, but you can recover. Shake it off. Then the green bean casserole goes down, but it's still OK. Keep your eye on the prize. The turkey. The turkey's going to be great. The turkey's going to be beautiful. The turkey's going to be perfect, because the recipe promised — and there goes the smoke detector.
Let's face it — this is the stuff of nightmares. Instead of piling into the car and driving to the nearest open takeout shack, why not let the professionals take care of the cooking? Thanksgiving should be a stress-free holiday to enjoy with your loved ones (sit a few seats away from Cousin Betty if you can) while still enjoying restaurant-quality food.
NEW YORK CITY
Chef David Burke of David Burke Kitchen is offering a $65 prix fixe menu full of whimsical plays on traditional favorites, like roasted organic turkey with black pepper cranberry, vanilla bean sweet potato purée, sausage chestnut stuffing, and giblets. Don't fill up on the turkey, though — Top Chef: Just Desserts star and executive pastry chef Zac Young has a Pie-a-Palooza to wow the senses: roasted pumpkin with toasted marshmallow, Mitsu apple with Cheddar crust, cranberry orange, and deep-fried chocolate bourbon pecan.
Do good while dining — Haven Rooftop at the Sanctuary Hotel will be donating a portion of proceeds from their $45 Thanksgiving prix fixe menu to victims of Hurricane Sandy. The exclusive enclosed rooftop restaurant and lounge will be offering appetizers like butternut squash soup and soft polenta in a red wine reduction. Mains include classic turkey with gravy and cranberry sauce, with sides such as sweet potato fries and Brussels sprouts almondine. For dessert, Haven has apple, blueberry, and pumpkin pie à la mode.
Still want a Thanksgiving meal at home? Call up Torrisi Parm between now and Nov. 18 to place an order for a Thanksgiving Day feast. Choose between just the bird or go for broke with a meal of turkey breast, cranberry sauce, Italian sausage stuffing, spicy rabe, and Brussels sprouts. Instead of the traditional pie, Parm is happy to hand out pumpkin cheesecakes, either individually or as a package deal.
Several BR Guest Hospitality restaurants will be open for Thanksgiving, featuring classic turkey dinner prix fixe menus and seasonal à la carte specials. Locations include both branches of Atlantic Grill, Bill's Bar and Burger, Blue Fin, Blue Water Grill, Ocean Grill, both locations of Strip House, and Wildwood Barbeque.
Alobar Restaurant in Queens is also happy to do the cooking for you, with a pre-order deadline of Friday, Nov. 16. They're offering tons of classics for all, including roasted turkey, pan gravy, maple roasted butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, whipped potatoes, and cranberry stuffing for $25 per person.
Market Table is celebrating Thanksgiving with a 3-course prix fixe menu. From 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., diners can enjoy dishes like spiced Long Island duck breast with roasted rutabaga, arugula, fennel, and pine nuts, or chestnut soup with red wine-glazed chestnuts, lardons, and cardamom cream. Turkey will also be on offer, paired with cornbread dressing, wilted spinach, sage-giblet gravy, and cranberry sauce, although other meats such as a pork chop will be available. The 3-course feast costs $75 per person and there is a 1-course menu available for children (12 and under) for $25.
BOSTON
Spend turkey day at 75 on Liberty Wharf, overlooking the scenic Boston Harbor through floor-to-ceiling windows and dining on regional American bistro fare. Their $55 prix fixe menu includes temptations like harvest pumpkin bisque with roasted pecans and goat cheese, oven-roasted turkey or leg of lamb, and apple and cranberry cobbler with cinnamon gelato or rum raising pudding with fresh berries and chocolate sauce for dessert.
Vlora Restaurant in the heart of Back Bay offers yet another tempting prix fixe meal, in addition to their regular menus. For $32.95, customers can dine on apple and butternut squash soup, traditional roast turkey with bacon and sage stuffing, baked sweet potatoes with marshmallow and brown sugar crust, green beans, and cranberry-orange relish, and apple crisp with vanilla ice cream for dessert.
What better way to spend Thanksgiving evening than surrounded by the classy interiors of Rialto? From 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., their three-course prix fixe menu will feature traditional favorites with an Italian twist. It starts with options like an antipasto of burrata, beets, herb salad, and quince compote, followed by the ever-present turkey, or ricotta and Parmesan gnocchi, or pancetta-wrapped cobia, or... well, you get the idea. For dessert, a pumpkin Bavarian with orange marmalade, cinnamon panna cotta, and candied pepitas is sure to send you straight into a food coma.
PHILADELPHIA
If you're looking for a restaurant Thanksgiving without being locked into a prix fixe, check out Moshulu – they're adding festive dishes that you can order a la carte. A special free range turkey entrée has been included, with Yukon potato puree, maple yams, wild mushroom leek stuffing, Madeira turkey gravy, and more. For dessert, indulge in pumpkin cheesecake, with bourbon brown sugar crème, pecan bars, and caramel and cranberry sauces. The best part? It's on a boat.
Chef Kulp at Fork Restaurant is happy to do the cooking for you (and she won't even say anything if you take all the credit!) Order a full Thanksgiving meal from their a la carte pre-order list featuring starters like mini crabcakes with citrus aioli, crudite with herbed buttermilk dip, and butternut squash soup. The turkey is guaranteed to be on the menu, including sides such as sautéed broccoli with garlic and red peppers, herb-roasted carrots and parsnips, and fresh cranberry sauce with orange zest. In addition to a full line of desserts, Fork also offers their house-made breads for you to take home.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Adour at the St. Regis hotel in Washington, D.C. packs quite a punch with an extensive Thanksgiving prix fixe menu, set at $95 per person. Adour's appetizers include things like artisanal pasta with pumpkin and fresh ricotta cheese, and Maine lobster medallions with celery-cauliflower remoulade and caviar cream. If you're tired of turkey by this point, you're always welcome to choose either the beef tenderloin or braised sea bass as an entrée, and round out the meal with pecan pie, fall classic vacherin, or Black Forest tart for dessert.
Bourbon Steak's Turkey Day menu has so much more than turkey on it. For $90, you could dine on chilled War Shore oysters with cranberry mignonette; lightly seared Virginia swordfish with braised pig's tail, cardoons, and porcini mushrooms; and pumpkin pie in a jar for dessert. Or, pick sheep's milk ricotta agnolotti; roasted Hudson Valley foie gras with kabayaki glaze, sour plum and crispy rice cake; seared diver scallops with late harvest grapes, baby leeks, and Brussels sprout leaves; and an heirloom apple crisp for two with vanilla ice cream, butterscotch, and shredded green apple. Just a few suggestions.
Not feeling the prix fixe menus? Blue Duck Tavern offers a special a la carte menu for Thanksgiving, tempting diners with dishes like pumpkin ravioli with sage and beurre blanc, as well as crispy skin salmon and clams, leeks, bacon, and chardonnay — and we haven't even gotten to the sides yet. These include mouthwatering sides like potato purée with garlic confit, cornbread, oysters, and chorizo. Blue Duck Tavern also has an extensive line of coffee and teas.
CHICAGO
Bin 36 is offering a special prix fixe menu from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Turkey Day for just less than $50 each. Hungry yet? You could be eating a three-course meal including duck three ways: foie gras tourchon, rillettes, and duck prosciutto with huckleberry jam — and that's just the appetizer. Bin 36's offering a maple syrup brined turkey with gingersnap gravy, and sides like sourdough stuffing with house-made sage sausage, pomegranates, and hazelnuts. For dessert, try the pumpkin cremeux with pecan crunch, chocolate leaves, and maple bourbon syrup.
Turkey's in the [steak]house at Chicago Cut Steakhouse. Their $50 prix fixe menu starts with butternut squash soup, with a main course of maple glazed roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing, and Rhode Island cranberry sauce. Sides include green beans almondine, brown sugar glazed carrots, sweet potatoes, and whipped potatoes. Then, choose between pumpkin, apple, and Georgia pecan pie slices to end your evening.
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Trio at the Four Seasons will be offering a Thanksgiving Day brunch-dinner buffet, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for $78 per adult. Enjoy a made-to-order omelette station, house pate, terrine and charcuterie platters, roasted turkey, smoked ham, chef Elmar's braised short rib ragù, and many more. Kid-friendly options include chicken fingers, mac and cheese, and Nutella and banana sandwiches.
Bar Mirabeau's prix fixe menu for Thanksgiving dinner offers the option to start with a warm kale salad, with candied bacon, dried currants, ricotta salata, and balsamic vinaigrette. Ever wanted to try deep-fried turkey by a professional? Bar Mirabeau's happy to provide, or feast on braised beef short ribs or smoked lobster. Finish everything off with pumpkin pie with crème Chantilly or a warm chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream.
SAN FRANCISCO
Have an epic Thanksgiving with Epic Roasthouse's four-course prix fixe menu for $85 a person. Sound familiar? It's on The Daily Meal's 007 Ways to Eat Like James Bond list, too — so eat like 007 on Thanksgiving. The first course is an amuse bouche of buttermilk chive biscuit, with house-made molasses ham, homestead sharp Cheddar, and toasted marcona almond vinaigrette. Follow it up with things like caramelized ricotta gnocchi, slow-roasted prime rib, and chocolate truffle hazelnut cake with raspberry coulis.
1300 on Fillmore will be having seatings at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m. for Thanksgiving Day guests hungry for turkey. The $59 prix fixe menu includes grilled star crimson pears, duck prosciutto, wild arugula salad, Point Reyes blue cheese, and aged balsamic. Ever had port-cranberry relish or sage cornbread relish? Now's your chance, served with oven roasted turkey with giblet gravy.
LOS ANGELES
The Larder at Tavern, headed by Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne, is ready for the big day with either a full Thanksgiving feast, or an a la carte takeout menu, both of which need to be pre-ordered by Nov. 18. The complete meal serves 10 and includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes with romesco, sherry, and roasted shallots; Brussels sprouts with balsamic, pancetta, and thyme; and spiced pumpkin pie and pecan tart with whipped crème fraîche. Or take any of these dishes (and more) individually, to fill in holes in your turkey day menu at home.
Spend a relaxing Thanksgiving dinner with live piano at The Bistro Garden. Their $62 prix fixe menu features temptations like butternut squash ravioli with brown butter, sage, and dried cranberries to start and traditional roast turkey, grilled filet mignon, or Atlantic salmon as a main course. For dessert, choose chocolate or pumpkin soufflé, warm pecan tart a la mode, or cranberry and pear sorbet with mixed berries.
Make your Thanksgiving Day star-studded (sort of) with Gordon Ramsay at The London in West Hollywood. He's offering guests delectable appetizers like an autumn mushroom risotto with mascarpone cheese and butter-poached lobster and pumpkin pancake with granola. Move onto roasted organic turkey with sage stuffing, a sautéed Pacific salmon trout with chanterelles, apples, and Brussels sprouts, or "Gordon Ramsay's" roasted beef Wellington for two. Finish the evening with pastries such as a baked apple tarte tatin with vanilla bean ice cream or even a chocolate salted caramel tart.
Long story short: Turn that countdown clock off — you've got nothing to worry about this Thanksgiving in the food department.