The Ultimate Thanksgiving Restaurant Primer 2011
We've seen them played out on the big screen — the dire situations that call for finding a restaurant that's open for dinner on a big holiday. The weather is bad and you're stranded in a city because your flight has been cancelled à la Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Maybe the neighbor's dogs rampaged through your kitchen and devoured your turkey like in A Christmas Story. Or you get to your relative's house and they've already started, like in Avalon when Lou Jacobi arrives and asks, "You cut the turkey without me?!"
If you can't decide whether to brine or deep-fry, or you want to do a destination dinner — whatever the reason, wherever you are, this list should help. Below are suggestions by notable blogs, newspapers, and personalities for restaurants celebrating Turkey Day, as well as places you can pick up meals to-go, in The Daily Meal's featured cities.
(Photo courtesy of Trace)
AUSTIN
• III Forks — Enjoy a four-course Thanksgiving feast at this high-end steakhouse chain with menu items that include tomato basil soup, châteaubriand, and Kentucky bourbon pecan pie.
• Trace at The W Austin — Locally sourced seasonal ingredients get dressed up for the holidays in this traditional Thanksgiving menu. Dishes include curried squash soup and turducken — turkey stuffed with duck confit and chicken liver cornbread dressing.
• 24 Diner — The elevated comfort food served at this restaurant is tailor-made for a memorable Thanksgiving feast. The fare is traditional, with dishes such as brined, roasted turkey (alongside turkey leg confit) and bacon-braised greens.
For further guidance on where to eat Thanksgiving in Austin check out these guides:
• Citysearch: Austin Thanksgiving Planner 2011
(Photo courtesy of Temple Bar)
BOSTON
• Grafton Street — Enjoy a three-course prix-fixe dinner with dishes like duck confit tart, pan-roasted pork loin, and spiced chocolate molten cake.
• Temple Bar — New England flavors meet American classics in this three-course Thanksgiving Dinner menu with dishes like smoked ham hock croquettes, pan-toasted faro "risotto," and slow-roasted all-natural Amish turkey.
• Russell House Tavern — Enjoy upscale modern American dishes like hickory-smoked salmon terrine and roasted Verrill Farm pumpkin risotto without breaking your budget.
For further guidance on where to eat Thanksgiving in Boston check out this guide:
(Photo courtesy of Facebook/NoMi)
CHICAGO
• Bin 36 — Indulge in a flavorful Thanksgiving with dishes like duck served three different ways, maple syrup-brined turkey, and eight different family-style sides.
• LM Restaurant — Enjoy a Thanksgiving tasting menu that includes poached apple and chestnut soup, seared scallops, and a pumpkin tart with cranberry chutney and cream cheese.
• NoMi Restaurant — Enjoy Thanksgiving Dinner gourmet-style with dishes like eggs Benedict, hand-cut mushroom taglioini, and skate wing with kabocha squash purée.
For further guidance on where to eat Thanksgiving in Chicago check out this guide:
(Photo courtesy of Alize at the Palms Casino Resort)
LAS VEGAS
• Alize at The Palms Casino Resort — Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner with a view to die for will make you never want to carve a turkey at home again. The menu includes an amuse of caramelized onion and white truffle panna cotta; roasted free-range turkey with apple, nut, and dried fruit stuffing; and pear and chocolate cobbler with brown sugar ice cream for dessert.
• Charlie Palmer at Aureole — Be thankful this holiday for menu items that include a mosaic of diver scallop and black winter truffles, pan-roasted Utah bison tenderloin, roasted pumpkin ravioli with Maine lobster, and a tart sampler.
• MOzen Bistro — Enjoy Thanksgiving with an Asian flair at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. MOzen's three-course menu includes items like butternut squash potstickers, pan-fried sea bass, and pumpkin crème brûlée with mulled tea foam.
For further guidance on where to eat Thanksgiving in Las Vegas check out this guide:
(Photo courtesy of Alen Lin)
LOS ANGELES
• Gordon Ramsay at The London — Ramsay showcases a three-course festive Thanksgiving menu with highlights such as sugar pumpkin ravioli with candied seeds, roasted organic turkey with sage stuffing, and fennel ice cream for dessert.
• The Larder at Tavern — Tavern's Thanksgiving menu has something for everybody, like herb-roasted organic turkey breast and wild mushrooms persillade.
• mar'sel at the Terranea Resort — Enjoy your turkey four different ways, with a fruitful à la carte menu, or make a reservation at Catalina Kitchen, another Terranea dining option, for a family-style Thanksgiving feast.
For further guidance on where to eat Thanksgiving in Los Angeles check out these guides:
• About.com: Thanksgiving in Los Angeles 2011
(Photo courtesy of The Setai)
MIAMI
• Café Boulud — What goes great with Heritage Farm turkey breast? How about wild mushroom and barley soup, Maine peekytoe crab, and warm apple tatin, just to name a few.
• Mister Collins — Enjoy family-style dishes made from scratch including sekel pear and pomegranate salad, whole roasted turkey with cornbread-apricot dressing, and pumpkin crème brûlée.
• The Setai — Celebrate Thanksgiving dinner with an Asian-inspired menu featuring dishes like Tandoori Turkey Tikka, or opt for traditional American fare like pumpkin velouté, all at the same restaurant.
For further guidance on where to eat Thanksgiving in Miami check out this guide:
(Photo courtesy of Broussard's)
NEW ORLEANS
• Broussard's — Enjoy traditional Thanksgiving classics with a French Creole twist like sweet potato, shrimp, and corn bisque; garlic- and mustard-crusted sirloin of beef, and cranberry walnut torte.
• Palace Café — Enjoy modern Creole cuisine like the Pilgrims never had, from crabmeat cheesecake and turtle soup to pepper-crusted duck breast with seared Hudson Valley foie gras.
• M Bistro at the Ritz-Carlton — Thanksgiving dinner gets a French makeover at the Ritz-Carlton. Dishes include butternut squash, caramelized onion, and apple cider bisque and braised pork shank "lollipops."
For further guidance on where to eat Thanksgiving in New Orleans check out this guide:
(Photo courtesy of Neely's Barbecue Parlor)
NEW YORK
• Salumeria Rosi Parmacotto — Upscale restaurant flair meets authentic flavorful ingredients in dishes like Tuscan porchetta roast; cranberry mostarda tart; and Tuscan bread stuffing with acorn squash, marsala wine, and Italian rice.
• Neely's Barbecue Parlor — Get your deep-fried turkey and eight home-style sides like roasted autumn squash and Southern cornbread dressing at the Upper East Side restaurant or to-go.
• Marc Forgione — Taste the untraditional at the Iron Chef's eponymous restaurant. Dishes include delicata squash ravioli with Maine lobster and sage emulsion, Dad's cedar-planked salmon in old fashioned egg sauce, and pumpkin cheesecake panna cotta for dessert.
For further guidance on where to eat Thanksgiving in New York check out this guide:
(Photo courtesy of 10 Arts Bistro by Eric Ripert)
PHILADELPHIA
• 10 Arts Bistro by Eric Ripert — Enjoy a seasonal Thanksgiving breakfast and dinner with a modern American menu that offers something for everyone.
• London Grill — Enjoy an all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving Buffet with classics like country ham, turnips and rutabaga, and sweet potato casserole with marshmallows.
• Na Brasa — Enjoy Thanksgiving Brazilian steakhouse-style! Dishes include traditional Thanksgiving fare and 14 decadent cuts of meat carved tableside.
For further guidance on where to eat Thanksgiving in Philadelphia check out this guide:
(Photo courtesy of Flickr/Fiancial Times Photos)
SAN FRANCISCO
• Ame — Traditional Thanksgiving classics get remixed into a flavorful fusion in dishes like hamachi crudo, roasted quail and foie gras "stuffing," and abalone mushrooms with lemon-brown butter sauce.
• Michael Mina — Thanksgiving is done upscale on this four-course menu that includes dishes like foie gras and ham hock terrine, duck confit tortellini, and butternut squash pain d'epices.
• Creola — You don't have to go to New Orleans to get some Cajun flavor this Thanksgiving. Dishes like flash-fried jumbo shrimp in orange marmalade sauce, spicy pumpkin crème caramel, and Tur-Duck–Hen bring Creole cuisine to the Bay!
For further guidance on where to eat Thanksgiving in San Francisco check out this guide:
(Photo courtesy of Facebook/Boka Kitchen)
SEATTLE
• Boka Kitchen & Bar — Experience the bold and local side of Thanksgiving with dishes like maple-glazed pork belly, tofu roulade, and American heritage turkey.
• Brix Wine Café — Enjoy Thanksgiving in this delicious à la carte menu complete with wine pairings.
For further guidance on where to eat Thanksgiving in Seattle check out this guide:
(Photo courtesy of Carmine's)
WASHINGTON D.C.
• Carmine's — Enjoy all your favorite traditional American Thanksgiving classics in the charm of a Southern Italian restaurant.
• Georgia Brown's — Turkey, beef, ham, and catfish coexist on this merry Thanksgiving menu. Dishes include roasted or deep-fried turkey, roasted prime rib, country ham, and catfish fingers.
• Art & Soul — Top Chef Masters contestant and Oprah Winfrey's former chef Art Smith gives Thanksgiving a Southern touch with dishes like maple glazed ham, cornbread andouille stuffing, and apple walnut pie.
For further guidance on where to eat Thanksgiving in Washington D.C. check out this guide:
• Open Table: Washington, D.C.
Because no Thanksgiving post would be complete without it, here's Adam Sandler's Thanksgiving song.