18 places to eat out this Thanksgiving
This holiday, stuff yourself with stuffing without getting stuck in the kitchen.
Feasting is the main event on Thanksgiving, but you don’t have to be tied to the kitchen all day in order to have a good meal. Many restaurants around Boston will be open for Turkey Day, and they’re offering special menus with holiday flare.
Here’s an assortment of spots for Thanksgiving noshing, whether you’re dining with family or friends, no matter if you want a traditional spread or something a little more on the eclectic side.
Note: Reservations may be limited.
Anthem
In addition to the regular menu, you’ll find roasted pumpkin soup and both a traditional turkey dinner and a turkey gobbler sandwich at this Faneuil Hall restaurant. For dessert, Anthem is making spiced pumpkin and vanilla bean crème brûlée. (South Market Building, Faneuil Hall, Boston; 617-720-5570 or opentable.com for reservations)
ArtBar
Creamy ginger pumpkin soup and roast turkey with bourbon cider brine are just some of the items on the family-style dinner menu that Royal Sonesta Boston’s restaurant will be serving up from 12-8 p.m. Housemade apple-cranberry crumb pie, chocolate pecan pie with caramel bacon drizzle, and bourbon pumpkin cheesecake will also be available for Thanksgiving to-go orders. (40 Edwin Land Boulevard, Cambridge; $50 for adults, $19 for kids 10 and under; 617-806-4122 or opentable.com for reservations)
Aura at the Seaport Hotel
Turkey with a side of French toast, anyone? Aura is hosting Thanksgiving brunch with live music by the Lane Houston Jazz Quartet. The spread will include a raw bar, breakfast goodies like eggs Benedict, and traditional Turkey Day dishes like the bird itself, sweet potato and maple syrup casserole, and cornbread stuffing. (1 Seaport Lane, Boston; $85 for adults, $25 for children 12 and under; 617-385-4304 for reservations)
The Mandarin Oriental’s Bar Boulud is offering a hearty Thanksgiving-themed three-course feast featuring squash soup as a starter.
Bar Boulud Boston
Bar Boulud is adding twists to Turkey Day classics with its prix fixe, three-course meal. Guests can choose between turkey, sweet potato gnocchi, seared Bay of Fundy salmon, or braised short rib for their main meal. The restaurant is also hosting a pop-up pie shop leading up to the big day, serving up slices and whole pies that come in flavors like tall apple, glazed pecan, and pistachio cream. (776 Boylston St., Boston; $85 for adults, $144 for additional sommelier selected wine pairings; 617-535-8800 for reservations)
Beat Brasserie
This Cambridge spot is throwing a daylong celebration, with grub and live country, Americana, and bluegrass music from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Turkey, roasted delicata squash salad, smoked haddock chowder, and the Thanksgiving Bowl Azteca will all appear on the à la carte menu. The restaurant’s 36 wines will be on tap. (13 Brattle St., Cambridge; 617-499-0001 or opentable.com for reservations)
The Beehive
If you like having two meals in one Thanksgiving, this could be the spot for you. The Beehive is offering a prix fixe, three-course feast with live jazz music throughout the day, as well as a Thanksgiving leftover menu from 9 p.m.-11 p.m. with dishes like a turkey melt with caramelized onions and herbed gravy. (541 Tremont St., $65 for adults, $19 for children 10 and under; 617-423-0069 or opentable.com for reservations)
City Table
This restaurant inside the Lenox Hotel will be serving both its main menu and holiday specials, like butternut squash and apple bisque, and a traditional turkey dinner. Not a turkey fan? Don’t worry: Their holiday menu also features prime rib. (65 Exeter St., Boston; 617-933-4800 or opentable.com for reservations)
Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse
The downside of eating out for Thanksgiving is that there are no leftovers for sandwiches—but that won’t be the case at Davio’s. A full dinner menu of traditional Thanksgiving classics—like mashed potatoes and challah bread herb stuffing—will be available for guests, and you can also buy a turkey sandwich to go. (75 Arlington St., Boston; $59 for adults, $15 for children under 12; 617-357-4810 or opentable.com for reservations)
Five Horses Tavern
In addition to the full menu, both locations of this restaurant will have Thanksgiving specials like a gobbler Thanksgiving sandwich (country fried turkey breast, pumpkin puree, sharp cheddar, cranberry Brussels sprouts slaw, and maple mayo on a ciabatta roll with a side of gravy) and a roast turkey dinner with turkey leg potato hash, cornbread stuffing, glazed carrots, and a pomegranate-cranberry chutney. (Five Horses Tavern Davis Square, 400 Highland Ave., Somerville; 617-764-1655 or opentable.com for reservations. Five Horses Tavern South End, 535 Columbus Ave., Boston; 617-936-3930 or opentable.com for reservations)
Gather
If you’re looking for a Thanksgiving dinner with a view, this may be your spot. Guests can pick from the full menu or opt for a traditional turkey dinner entree—which will include stuffing, mashed potatoes, veggies, and gravy—in Gather’s dining room that overlooks the Boston Harbor. (75 Northern Ave., Boston; 617-982-7220 or opentable.com for reservations)
Legal Sea Foods
Legal Sea Foods and select sister venues will offer their classic seafood-filled menus, along with a traditional feast of slow-roasted turkey breast served with sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, and cranberry sauce. (Various locations; $24.95 for adults; $8.95 per child 12-and-under)
MJ O’Connor’s
Depending on your mood, you can either enjoy this pub’s regular menu or a special Thanksgiving dinner at either of its locations. Thanksgiving-themed grub will include butternut squash soup, roast ham, bourbon pumpkin pie, and a classic turkey dinner. (MJ O’Connor’s Park Plaza, 27 Columbus Ave., Boston; 617-482-2255 or opentable.com for reservations. MJ O’Connor’s Waterfront, 425 Summer St., Boston; 617-443-0800 or opentable.com for reservations)
Pantry
This Natick restaurant is whipping up farm-to-table American fare like butternut squash soup, maple brined turkey, apple sausage stuffing, and five-spiced maple glazed ham. The star of the show: a mashed potato bar. (1360 Worcester St., Natick; $42 for adults, $25 for kids ages 4-12; 508-416-1352 or opentable.com for reservations)
Parsnip
A three-course Thanksgiving meal will include dishes such as Mangalitsa ham, figs, truffled honey dressing, and shaved truffle; fall squash & chestnut agnolotti, and sage butter sauce; and Taza chocolate chunk pecan pie, whipped crème fraîche, and chocolate sauce. (91 Winthrop St., Cambridge; $65 for an adult three-course meal, $25 for kid’s two-course meal; 617-714-3206 or opentable.com for reservations)
Scampo’s family-style prix fixe Thanksgiving feast includes old favorites and less traditional items.
Scampo
The Liberty Hotel is going family-style for this Thanksgiving feast. The prix fixe, four-course menu will feature main dishes like roasted heritage turkey, halibut, and bone-in filet mignon, and desserts like apple crustata with buttermilk ice cream and pecan pie with bourbon zabaglione. (215 Charles St., Boston; $65 for adults, $25 for children 12 and under; 617-536-2100 or opentable.com for reservations)
STRIP by Strega and Strega Prime
Both locations of this restaurant group will be serving the same Thanksgiving three-course menu, including your choice between turkey two ways with all the fixings, and veal 0sso buco with exotic mushroom risotto, cipollini onions, and broccoli rabe in a marsala sauce. (STRIP by Strega; Park Plaza, 64 Arlington St., Boston; $65 for adults; 617-456-5300 or opentable.com for reservations. Strega Prime; 100 Sylvan Rd., Woburn; $59 for adults; 781-933-3333 or opentable.com for reservations)
Strega Waterfront
Executive Chef Salvatore Firicano is sticking with a traditional menu for his prix fixe, three-course meal: butternut squash ravioli, oven roasted turkey, baked ham, and holiday pies. (1 Marina Park Dr., Boston; $49 for adults; 617-345-3992 or opentable.com for reservations)
Top of the Hub
How about a visit to the Skywalk Observatory after your holiday meal? It’s included in this prix fixe, four-course dinner with dishes like pumpkin ravioli, maple sugar barbecue-rubbed pork tenderloin, slow-braised lamb shank, and cinnamon crumble apple cranberry cake—and turkey, of course. (Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston St., Boston; $75 for adults, $25 for children; 617-536-1775 or opentable.com for reservations)
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