If you’re feeling judged or fomo for whatever your Thanksgiving plans are, give it up now. Every version of Thanksgiving celebrating is problematic in some way and kind of nice in others. No one is having the perfect Thanksgiving. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here are some places you can go enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner out.
Boston Proper Thanksgiving Reservations
When planning for Thanksgiving at a restaurant, you will want to think about the number of people in your group, the ages and stages of life they are in, and then how everyone will get to and from dinner. Budget is of course important, but if you can prioritize the other things you are much more likely to have a successful night out, and that is worth every bit of effort for all involved.
Hotel Dining Is Different Here
A hotel is a good venue if you are having Thanksgiving dinner with young kids or older family members who may want to stay nearby or also have space to take a break from dinner and sit in a lobby or lounge area for a little bit.
Peregrine at The Whitney Hotel will have a thoughtfully put together three course prix fixe menu with New England seasonal touches such as a shallot tarte tatin, brown butter and sage-stuffed turkey roulad and maple whiskey-glazed duck breast with a caramelized brown sugar tart for dessert. Peregrine takes some elevated classics and makes them modern. They use classic techniques with local ingredients. Thanksgiving is at $95 per person, and guests can make reservations here.
The Lenox Hotel is offering a prix-fixe Thanksgiving dinner with a signature dessert cornucopia from the property’s Willow and Ivy. Thanksgiving is $95 per adult and $35 per child. Dinner includes hand-carved turkey with traditional sides, grilled salmon, pastas and the dessert cornucopia. There is the option for a ribeye upgrade for an additional $30.
If you’re feeling like your family needs to be locked up for the holidays, take them to Clink in the Liberty Hotel. I jest, but you can chuckle to yourself while dining at the Liberty Hotel if you need a little levity. Clink is a much loved space and place for dinner in Boston. Clink will have full à la carte offerings in addition to Thanksgiving menu items. This is the perfect option for those who do not want to commit to a full prix fixe. Reservations for Thanksgiving at Clink in the Liberty Hotel can be made here.
Rowes Wharf Sea Grill will have a Thanksgiving a la carte menu from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Guests can enjoy waterfront dining while dining on organic turkey breast, yankee post roast, baked stuffed lobster and ghost pumpkin bisque. Reservations and the full menu can be seen here.
Para Maria at the Envoy Hotel will have seasonal favorites like a cider-brined turkey with the option for both white or dark meat served with a black pepper gravy, a fall salad with baby greens, walnuts, dried cranberries and goat cheese, a savory sage sourdough stuffing (nice alliteration there), citrus and cinnamon cranberry sauce among other options. The prix fixe is $65 per person and $25 per child under 12 the full Para Maria menu will also be available. Guests can make reservations at this link.
InterContinental Boston, Matria Boston, is celebrating Thanksgiving with several options for dining-in and to-go. In addition to Matria’s full menu, guests can enjoy a special Traditional Roasted Turkey Dinner ($42) featuring roasted turkey with giblet pan gravy, chestnut focaccia stuffing, parsnip Yukon au gratin potatoes blended with Blue Hill cheese and pancetta, along with cranberry compote, and roasted fall vegetables including kabocha, corn, and brussels sprouts. To end dinner on a sweet note, there is the Chef’s Dessert Table ($30 per person; $15 children ages 3-12) which includes coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or cider, along with nearly a dozen desserts and sweet treats like tiramisu, panna cotta, salted caramel cannoli, apple cider créme brûlée, sweet potato cheesecake lollipops, house-made pies, and gelato. Reservations for Matria can be made here.
Contessa’s flavors of choice are from Northern Italy and they make no exception for Thanksgiving. Contessa’s family-style Thanksgiving is $195 per person. Diners will start with a choice of Contessa’s meatballs Aldo or a squash carpaccio, featuring arugula, pumpkin seeds, and agrodolce. For the pasta course, there will be ricotta gnudi di pecora, served with black truffles. The secondi course, will have several options including roasted turkey served with sage turkey gravy and sides such as turkey stuffing, cranberry mostarda, and roasted Brussels sprouts with pancetta. Those seeking an alternative to turkey, can order the porterhouse steak for a $185 supplement. For dessert there is a choice of pumpkin gelato or apple pie. Reservations can be made here.
A La Carte or Prix Fixe Kind of Folks
Harvest in Cambridge will have a three course prix-fixe menu with the option of curated wine pairings. There will not be the option for the regular à la carte Harvest menu on Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving dinner prix-fixe is $99 per person with an option of wine pairings for an additions $50.
The Banks will be offering a three course prix fixe Thanksgiving meal starting at 11 a.m. There is the option of a curated wine pairing as well selected by their beverage director, Benjamin Chesna. Thanksgiving is $85 per person with the option of a $50 wine pairing. The Banks regular à la carte menu will not be served. Reservations for Thanksgiving at The Banks can be made here.
Grill 23 will have their regular à la carte menu in addition to Thanksgiving specials. Thanksgiving options include: full turkey dinner, sourdough stuffing, cranberry chutney and crispy sweet potato as well as a fried turkey leg. For dessert there will be a Dutch apple pie among other sweet treats.
You can make reservations for Eastern Standard’s Thanksgiving dinner here. Easter Standard will be offering a three course prix fixe for $98. The menu will include traditional holiday favorites, Eastern Standard classics, and seasonal New England dishes. Beverage, including their full wine list, will be available a la carte. There will also be a special kids menu. You can peruse the menu here.
Smith and Wollensky in Boston, Burlington and Wellesley will be serving a three course prix fixe. It is a simple Thanksgiving menu. There is a choice of soup or salad to start and then roasted turkey breast served with turkey gravy, cornbread and andouille sausage stuffing, brussels sprouts with bacon, and duck fat roasted vegetables. Dessert is a choice of classics: pecan pie, pumpkin pie or apple tarte. Reservations for Smith and Wollensky can be made here.
For something a little different (at least for us Northerners) head to Bootleg Special for their Cajun-fried turkey served with cranberry and sausage cornbread stuffing, stir fried haricot vert and country gravy as well as their regular à la carte menu.
Joe’s on Newbury will have a three course prix-fixe Thanksgiving menu for $65 as well as their a la carte menu. There will be the option of roasted turkey with whipped potatoes, stuffing, butternut squash, green beans, cranberry sauce and gravy, or a “land & sea” menu with an 11oz grilled sirloin, shrimp scampi, roasted fingerling potatoes and honey-glazed carrots.
Abe & Louie’s will add a collection of Thanksgiving specials to their á la carte menu. Thanksgiving will include a butternut squash soup with spiced crème fraîche and candied pumpkin seeds, Vermont-raised turkey dinner with whipped potatoes, stuffing, roasted Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce and gravy. Dessert will include a pumpkin cheesecake topped with vanilla whipped cream and caramel.
Bring Back The Buffet
A well done buffet can be a beautiful thing. A buffet with a view that competes with the food is even better. Legal Harborside, and only this location, will be offering their Waterfront Thanksgiving Feast. This feast is $95 for adults and $45 for children ten and under. There is everything from turkey and roasted beef tenderloin to crab stuffed sole. It is Legal Seafoods after all. Reservations are required and can be made here.
The Sea Crest Beach Resort in North Falmouth is a short drive from Boston and a nice way to gather as a family and spend the day, the night or weekend. The Lantern Room will have a Thanksgiving buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $95 per person. The Thanksgiving menu will have a sage-roasted turkey breast and roast prime rib of beef at the carving stating, a chilled raw bar with local oysters and crab claws, fall favourites such as New England clam chowder and butternut bisque as well. The dessert table will include pumpkin and bourbon pies, apple cider donuts, and for those who just need some chocolate: chocolate cake.
The Boston Harbor Hotel will be doing a Thanksgiving brunch buffet with three seatings at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The buffet includes a raw bar, brown bread and corn bread, wagyu short ribs, white truffle carbonara and pumpkin spice cheesecake for dessert. Tax and gratuity are included and hotel parking is validated for $18 per car. The buffet is $225 per person and $80 for children 5-12 years old.
Outside Boston for Thanksgiving
Coach Grill will feature a Thanksgiving prix fixe for $72 in addition to their regular menu. The prix-fixe will have a choice of butternut squash bisque with spiced crème fraîche, or a shaved Brussels sprouts salad with hazelnut, cranberry and lemon-thyme vinaigrette to start. For entrees, of course there will be roasted turkey with whipped potatoes, stuffing, butternut squash, green beans, cranberry sauce and gravy, or local sea scallops with vegetable risotto and Meyer lemon beurre blanc. Dessert will be a choice ofapple crumb tart with vanilla bean ice cream and salted caramel, or a pumpkin cheesecake with vanilla whipped cream.
I love the Cape off season, and Thanksgiving on Cape Cod is quite nice. The Pelham House Resort in Dennis will offer a Thanksgiving buffet for $155/adult and $75 pers child ages 5-12. The seatings for Thanksgiving begin at 11:30 with a last seating at 5:00 p.m. Guests are welcomed to a rooftop cocktail hour with sushi rolled to order and a raw bar of lobster, oysters, and shrimp cocktail. The buffet will include roated turkey with stuffing and cranberry sauce, roasted beef striploin, braised short ribs, pan-seared salmon, butternut squash ravioli, maple-glazed sweet potatoes with pecan crumble and truffle roasted vegetables. For dessert there will be a spread that includes: pumpkin spice layer cake, apple pie bread pudding, dark chocolate and spiced orange profiteroles, pecan pie blondies and panna cotta just to name a few.
I can’t list every restaurant that is hosting Thanksgiving in one post, but Boston Chefs has a wonderful tool listing Thanksgiving options by neighbourhood, which I highly recommend checking out as you make your Thanksgiving plans.
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