Where To Eat Thanksgiving Dinner In Washington, D.C.

Preparations for the big Thanksgiving meal are fraught with tension as we argue about how to set the table, decide who sits where, and navigate the minefield of what nostalgic or symbolic dish to serve. When we finally do sit down to eat, we tend to stuff ourselves, leave the table exhausted and emotionally drained from all the family bonding, and fall into a food-induced coma.

If the above isn't your thing, you can dine in a restaurant instead and put yourself in the capable hands of the pros. To help you choose where to dine, we have a lineup of restaurants open and serving traditional serving Thanksgiving dinner in Washington, D.C.

You should make your reservations now if you plan to dine out because most places are busy and fill up quickly. In addition, if you're getting your meal delivered or picking it up, call now to find out if you can still place an order.

Note: Prices do not include beverages, tax, or gratuity, and please verify the menu and pricing when you make your reservation.  

701 Restaurant has a modern, urban sophistication that fits its contemporary, continental cuisine. Sip on a glass of wine, relax to the soft notes of live jazz, and spend some quiet time with family and friends. The three-course menu offers traditional fare like roasted turkey with sweet potato pureé, stuffing, cranberry compote, and gravy, and seafood dishes such as crab beignets with frisée and almond romesco, and wild striped bass with butternut squash pudding, spinach, soy glaze, and saffron sauce. Seating times: 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for lunch, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. for dinner. Prix fixe price: $48 per adult, $24 ages 12 and under. Reservations required.

For longtime D.C. residents, 1789 Restaurant  is the restaurant for important holidays like Mother's Day, Easter, and Thanksgiving. This year you can order from both the à la carte menu (prices range from $11 to $52) and the special holiday menu. The three-course holiday menu includes a choice of roasted beet salad or butternut squash soup, followed by a traditional roast turkey and the trimmings, and a choice of dessert to round out the meal. Prix fixe price: $54. Reservations required.

If you want all the trimmings with a Southern twist, you will love Art and Soul at The Liaison Hotel Capitol Hill and their Thanksgiving buffet menu, which includes turkey cooked three ways, plus ham, steak, and all the classic side dishes, with a dose of Southern charm provided by the likes of sorghum-molasses-glazed sweet potatoes and braised greens. Seating times: 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Prix-fixe price: $60 per adult, $30 per child (ages 6 to 12). Reservations required.

Always a treat, Blue Duck Tavern at the Park Hyatt Hotel is making every effort to impress with their three-course Thanksgiving menu, which includes starters set throughout the open kitchen, plus a choice of entrées, side dishes accompanied by fresh-baked bread, and pies from the pastry kitchen. Seating times: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Prix-fixe price: $100 per adult, $45 per child ages 6 and under. Reservations required.

Celebrate Thanksgiving in true family style — the way they would in southern Italy. Head to Carmine's, where you can choose to order off of their regular menu or their traditional Thanksgiving menu. They will be offering a dinner that serves eight people and includes an 18-pound roasted turkey, sausage and sage stuffing, Brussels sprouts, and cranberry sauce. Seating times: 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Prix-fixe price for eight people: $239.95. Reservations suggested.

Not everyone likes turkey; sometimes all you want is a fantastic steak, which is why Charlie Palmer Steak is on the list. Their three-course Thanksgiving menu will make traditionalists happy, as it includes roasted turkey along with fine steaks like filet mignon and bone-in New York strip, but it will also feature stunning seafood dishes like wild striped bass with butternut squash, chanterelle mushrooms, wilted arugula, as well as a full range of sides and salads — the works. Moreover, they have a killer wine list so you can pair your meal with the perfect bottle. Seating times: 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Prix-fixe price: $75 per person, $25 per child under 12. Reservations required.

If you aren't in the mood to put on a suit and sit in a formal dining room, City Tap House might be the ticket. "Rustic yet comfortable" is how they describe their atmosphere, and their menu is an homage to contemporary, American regional cuisine with dishes like yellowfin tuna tartare and a lobster roll accompanied by duck-fat fries. Chill, drink a pint or two, and sample something from their selection of pub favorites, pizzas, seafood, and more. If you want something with a Thanksgiving vibe, try the pumpkin and butternut squash risotto with foraged mushrooms, or the walnut-sage pesto with pasta. Reservations suggested.

Plume Restaurant is a grand dame known for its world-class dining, excellent wine list, and impeccable service. The three-course menu includes a mix of traditional dishes; yes, turkey is being served, and fresh, gourmet specialties too, like roasted chestnut gougères, and marinated butternut squash

mâche salad, kumquat, dried cranberries, and aged sherry-vinaigrette. Seating times: 12:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Prix-fixe price: $98 per adult, $45 per child (12 and under). Reservations required.

In addition to the regular à la carte lunch and dinner menu at Rasika Penn Quarter, try a South Asian-inspired version of the turkey dinner for just $16: turkey dum biryani with aromatic spices and basmati rice, butternut squash bharta, Brussels sprouts kadi, and cranberry raita. Seating times: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch, and 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for dinner. Reservations required.

Just like its sister in Penn Quarter, Rasika West End will serve their à la carte lunch and dinner menus, in addition to an exotic version of the Thanksgiving bird for $16: Here it's turkey Kozhambu served with a sauce made with coconut milk and curry leaves flavored with star anise and stone flower, with butternut squash bhaji, Brussels sprouts poriyal, and cranberry pulao. Seating times: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch, and 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for dinner. Reservations required.