10 NYC Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving Dinner 2018

My favorite holiday is upon us! The turkey, the gravy, the sides…my god, the sides. There is nothing better than coming together over a gigantic meal, and while I am always the one doing the cooking, if I were to let someone else handle, it would be to one of these carefully selected restaurants.

Credit: La Pecora Bianca

Thanksgiving Dinner: NYC 2018

  1. La Pecora Bianca. The stylish and popular Italian eatery from restaurateur Mark Barak is offering a special four-course prix fixe menu for Thanksgiving for $75 per person (+$35 for optional wine pairing), including options such as Farmer’s minestrone soup with fall vegetables, parmesan, and country toast; their popular gramigna pasta with butternut squash, chestnuts and smoked bacon (above); slow roasted turkey with mushroom stuffing, brussels sprouts, cranberries, and turkey gravy, braised kale and sweet potato purée for the table; as well as dessert options like a pumpkin spice cake with whipped creme fraiche and roasted pears. Reservations required. Menu here.
  2. Quality Eats. This casual spinoff of the Quality Meats and Quality Italian family is a great bet if you’re looking for non-traditional items like housemade turkey franks on sweet potato buns with toppings such as turkey chili, gravy, and green bean relish. They’re calling it “Franksgiving” and I really enjoy that. The full, a la carte menu is also available alongside the two turkey dogs for $24 special, and diners can take a chocolate gingerbread tart for a souvenir. Additional locations in the West Village and Nomad. Menu here. 
  3. Scarpetta. The new NoMad outpost of the Scarpetta empire is offering a special four-course prix fixe menu for Thanksgiving for $85 pp. The menu will include options such as butternut squash soup with pumpkin seeds and their famous creamy polenta with truffled mushrooms to start. Seriously don’t miss the polenta. Mains will include short rib & bone marrow agnolotti with garlic chip and horseradish; roasted turkey with cranberry agro dolce, sweet potato purée and root vegetables; as well as dessert choices like a thin apple tart with cookie crumble, caramel sauce and dulce de leche gelato. Menu here.
  4. Ben & Jack’s Steakhouse. If you like steak with your turkey, this is a great bet. Their Thanksgiving menu includes a full roasted turkey, supplement $15 for a porterhouse. Includes an appetizer of your choice (Caesar salad, arugula salad, or roasted pumpkin soup), as well as classic pumpkin or pecan pie for dessert. Menu here.
  5. The Pandering Pig. Chef/Owner Nicole O’Brien will be serving a Prix Fixe dinner with main courses such as Dindon au Vin or Wild Pan-Seared Salmon with Cointreau gastrique, cranberries & toasted walnuts served with sides such as garlic mashed potatoes, roasted brussell sprouts, dried apricot & herb stuffing, and other appetizing treats. The 3-course prix fixe menu includes also includes coffee, tea, root beer and dessert. Extra bonus: kids eat for half price on Thanksgiving! Open from 4 – 9 pm. Menu here.
  6. Bluebird London. If you got your eyes on the Thanksgiving parade, you may want to jump on this one because I think it’s worth the cost. The modern British brasserie is offering a $300 unlimited food and beverage buffet with parade viewing from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. – that’s honestly a GREAT idea if you’ve never seen the parade, avoid the cold and crowds while stuffing your face? SIGN ME THE F UP. If you just want dinner, you can do the $80 dinner buffet starting at 4 p.m. Book here.
  7. Hill Country. One of my favorites to grab catering from, Hill Country is going buffet-style for Thanksgiving with their Thanksgiving Rancher Feast. Serves 8-10 folks and you can pick up the day before Thanksgiving if you place an order ASAP. You can also eat in! The $60-per-person all-you-can-eat affair runs from noon until 8 p.m. with pit-smoked turkey with pan gravy, brisket, ribs, mac n cheese, and BOURBON PECAN PIE. Menu here. 
  8. Reynard. Because I miss Williamsburg a little bit, but I also love the food here. The chic restaurant in the Wythe Hotel from chef Christina Lecki, a veteran of The Breslin, are offering a special Thanksgiving dinner from the wood-burning oven. There’s “wood-kissed turkey” with button mushroom gravy, wood-roasted cauliflower with cauliflower cream and breadcrumbs, and coal-roasted honeynut squash. $95 per person, menu here.
  9. Le Coq Rico. If you’re going to do Thanksgiving at a restaurant, I feel like you can’t go wrong with a place that literally translates to “bistro of beautiful birds”. They’re offering a three-course prix fixe menu from Chef Guillaume Ginther, including their acclaimed duck foie gras terrine, stuffed heritage roasted turkey with gravy, and pecan pie with butterscotch caramel sauce as well as a la carte sides like roasted brussels sprouts and cranberry compote. The three course menu will be available for $90 pp, while a special menu for kids under 10 offers butternut squash soup with smoked duck breast, turkey, and a scoop of ice cream for $45 pp. Menu here. 
  10. Hearth. James Beard Award-winning chef Marco Canora’s East Village restaurant (and one of my personal favorites) will offer a delicious Thanksgiving feast from 2pm-8:30pm. The three-course prix fixe for $98 pp (with an optional wine pairing) starts with classic Fall flavors like Autumn squash soup and pecorino salad with red onion and walnuts. Traditional Thanksgiving fare will follow with poached turkey, mushroom-leek stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, and roasted autumn vegetables. And speaking of vegetables, there is a vegetarian pasta and fish entree for the meat-resisters. Do not sleep on the apple crumble with oat streusel or pumpkin mousse with cranberry compote & spiced pecans for dessert. Menu here.

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