Where To Eat Thanksgiving Dinner In Los Angeles
Luckily for the residents of Los Angeles, the city's location in Southern California guarantees that the surrounding region's purveyors can supply local chefs with fresh ingredients that yield innovative dishes 365 days of the year. For Thanksgiving, some of the City of Angels' premiere chefs are offering a meal that can truly be called farm-to-table, embodying the holiday spirit of celebrating and giving thanks for our nation's bountiful harvests.
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.
FIG is a bistro in Santa Monica that places a strong emphasis on sustainability and seasonal, local ingredients. Named after Santa Monica's famous landmark, the 123-year-old Moreton Bay Fig Tree, the team at FIG incorporates up to 90 percent locally and organically grown ingredients acquired directly from farmers and purveyors. In celebration of Thanksgiving, they will be serving a four-course, family-style menu of dishes such as brown butter cauliflower soup with pickled grapes; smoked persimmon and frisée salad with watercress, cured egg yolk, and fine herbs vinaigrette; green bean casserole with wild mushroom Madeira cream sauce and crispy shallots; and herb- and citrus-roasted turkey breast with braised leg and thigh, turkey gravy, and cranberry compote. Dessert consists of a choice between caramelized apple bread pudding with bourbon crème anglaise, and pumpkin pie with cinnamon Chantilly. Available seating times are 1:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.; cost is $69 per adult and $25 per child 12 years of age and under. An a la carte children's menu will be offered as well. Optional wine pairings will be available for an additional $35.
If you're looking to get out of the City of Angeles on the holiday, Finch & Fork is just a short drive away in Santa Barbara, and chef James Saio will offer a stellar three-course feast for just $65 per person. First course choices include roasted butternut squash soup with almond crumble; pork belly hash with a slow poached egg, and carrot and kale salad with candied pepitas. Guests will have to decide between an entrée of turkey breast with candied yams with toasted marshmallow, crispy walnut stuffing, country gravy, baby vegetables, and cranberry compote; salmon with fried Brussels sprouts, orange, parsnip purée, and smoked onion beurre blanc; and short ribs with pickled pearl onions, goat cheese grits, and braised mushrooms. For dessert, choose between a pumpkin milkshake, warm apple bread pudding, and chai spiced chocolate with salted caramel.
Jar, chef Suzanne Tracht's "modern American chophouse" in the heart of L.A., will serve a family-style Thanksgiving Feast, beginning with a choice between chestnut chickpea soup, butter lettuce salad, and oyster stew. The main course of roasted turkey, cranberry relish, cornbread, turkey sausage stuffing, sweet potato au gratin, mashed Yukon Gold potatoes with gravy, and long-cooked mustard greens with roasted onions and almond pesto will then be communally served. For dessert, choose pumpkin pie with whipped cream, apple tart with vanilla bean ice cream, or chocolate pudding with crème fraîche whipped cream. A salmon or vegetarian meal is also available; reservations are from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., cost $90 for adults, $45 for children 12 and under, and can be made by phoning Jar.
James Beard Award-winning chef Suzanne Goin and James Beard Award-nominated restaurateur and sommelier Caroline Styne opened their largest restaurant, Tavern, in Brentwood in 2009. The space houses a trio of concepts: a full-service dining room, a marketplace, and a bar. It provides the Westside with a refined but casual neighborhood establishment. For Thanksgiving, Tavern will offer a special holiday-themed prix fixe menu that can be enjoyed in the dining room between the hours of noon and 8 p.m., and is comprised of appetizers such as smoked salmon with caraway rye crostini, goat cheese, and chives, and market crudités with buttermilk dressing. Mains include Suzanne's stuffing with turkey sausage, almonds, dates, and cavolo nero, Italian broccoli with garlic and chiles, and winter squash gratin with rajas and queso fresco. Some of the offered desserts are apple, cranberry, and walnut crisp; pumpkin loaf with maple frosting and spiced pepitas; and ginger, date, and molasses cookies.
An à la cart menu will be offered to-go through the Larder at Burton Way as well as the Larder at Tavern, along with an additional Thanksgiving dinner to-go package that serves up to eight people for $60 per person. The menu includes Mom's traditional stuffing; sweet potatoes with romesco, sherry, and roasted shallots; mashed potatoes; Brussels sprouts with balsamic, pancetta, and thyme; Italian broccoli with garlic and chiles; roasted root vegetables; cranberry sauce with orange and mint; oven-ready organic turkey and turkey gravy; spiced pumpkin pie; pecan tart with whipped crème fraîche; and a dozen assorted dinner rolls. Orders must be finalized by 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 23, and can be placed on their website. Pickup times will be scheduled for Wednesday, November 26 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. as well as Thursday, November 27 between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Please allow approximately 30 minutes for pick-up; for orders amounting to $150 or more, the Larder at Burton Way offers delivery, with a $10 charge for delivery within a three-mile radius of the Larder, and an additional charge of $5 per mile outside of that area.
Wolfgang's Steakhouse Beverly Hills is offering a special Thanksgiving menu at $59.95 per guest. Enjoy butternut squash soup followed by traditional roast turkey with cornbread stuffing, mashed yams or mashed potatoes, haricot verts and carrots, and cranberry sauce. Round off the meal with pumpkin pie and schlag.
Kate Kolenda is the Restaurant and City Guide Editor at The Daily Meal. Follow her on Twitter @BeefWerky and @theconversant.