Thanksgiving is really delicious, but it's also really hard—between you and that turkey is days of prep, family drama, and maybe even some mind-numbing holiday weekend travel. Want to avoid all that? Eat out for Thanksgiving—or have meals delivered to your doorstep! Restaurants throughout the city are offering special Thanksgiving menus, including prix-fixe extravaganzas, more humble fare, and some interesting twists on turkey day tradition.
$65 AND OVER
Wallsé
Dovetail: For a decadent, but more refined Thanksgiving, John Fraser's Upper West Side mainstay is offering a $98 three-course prix-fixe. Start with autumn squash velouté or tuna tartare, move on to sirloin, chatham cod, or if you're feeling traditional, slow roasted turkey with confit leg agnolotti (i.e. turkey in ravioli form), and finish with pumpkin cheesecake or apple cobbler. The bar will also be serving warm spiced doughnuts, mulled wine, and hot apple cider on Wednesday the 26th. A vegetarian prix-fixe is also available. 103 W 77th Street; for reservations call 212-362-3800 or reserve online; seatings from 11:45 a.m. to 9:15 p.m.
Reynard: In Williamsburg, Reynard at the Wythe Hotel is open again this year for Thanksgiving dinner, offering a five-course prix-fixe for $87. Guests can choose from Chef Sean Rembold's selection of soups, appetizers, entrees, and desserts, including spiced carrot soup, grilled squash with apple butter and Challerhocker cheese, striped bass, turkey, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, apple honey cake and pumpkin pie. 80 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn; for reservations call 718-460-8004; seatings from noon to 8 p.m.
Wallsé: Chef Kurt Gutenbrunner, the Austrian chef in charge of the KG-NY restaurant group, is hosting an Austrian-inspired Thanksgiving dinner at Wallsé in the West Village. The $70 prix-fixe includes Chestnut Soup “Viennese Mélange,” a Traditional Organic Pennsylvania Turkey with Braised Red Cabbage, Brioche Dumplings and Cranberries, and Salzburger Nockerl served with Concord Grape Sorbet. Optional wine pairings are also available. 344 West 11th Street; for reservations call 212-352-2300 or reserve online; seatings from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
UNDER $65
Burke & Wills
Burke & Wills: Do they have Thanksgiving in Australia? According to Australian and fellow Gothamist intern Jessica Warriner, no. According to this website, Australian Jesus has it in May. But none of that's stopping Burke & Wills! The $35 prix-fixe ($65 with wine pairings) includes foie torchon with cranberry chutney and brioche, rotisserie leg of lamb with roasted Brussels sprouts and beet reduction, and warm chocolate & pecan pies, among other dishes. 226 West 79th Street; for reservations call 646-823-9251; seatings from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Chapter One: Ever wonder what they actually ate at the first Thanksgiving? The menu differs considerably, and likely didn't feature the turkey we know and love today. Instead, chef Warren Baird of the West Village's Chapter One did some extensive research, and came up with a more historically accurate menu. The $39 family style Colonial Harvest Dinner will feature roast venison with maple and cranberry (although turkey can be subbed), Ryaninjun bread (made of rye and cornmeal), hard cider, and more. 33 Greenwich Avenue; for reservations call 212-842-9146; seatings at 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Jacob's Pickles: For a southern-style Thanksgiving, Jacob's Pickles is offering a six-course feast for $45/person. Dinner starts with pickles and biscuits followed by deviled eggs, harvest salad, and butternut squash soup. Mains include braised Heritage Farms Turkey Leg, Cider Glazed Salmon or Crispy Flat-Iron Pork Steak, followed by baked Braeburn apple tart with oat crump topping with vanilla ice cream, caramel and pumpkin cream for dessert. 509 Amsterdam Ave; for reservations call 212-470-5566; seatings at 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Molyvos: Do they have Thanksgiving in Greece? Like Australia, probably not, but that's not stopping Molyvos either! The midtown Greek restaurant will have a $48 prix-fixe ($75 with Greek wine pairings), which gets you Butternut Squash Soup with Kolokithosoupa thyme honey and yogurt, Roasted Organic Turkey with Galapoula sto Fourno (classic Greek politiko rice stuffing), spicy Corfu-style roasted sweet potatoes, and Pumpkin Cheesecake whipped mizithra with Cretan honey, warm spices, and Mavrodaphne syrup. 871 7th Avenue; for reservations call 212-582-7500; seatings from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.; À la carte menu also available
CATERING
Marlow & Daughters (Katie Sokoler/Gothamist)
BKLYN Larder: Flatbush Avenue's own cheese and provisions (what a great word) shop is offering a tremendous amount of food for Thanksgiving catering, including everything from the cheese plate to dessert, as well as house-made charcuterie, and fresh baked bread. The bird itself is pasture-raised and sourced from Oink & Gobble Farm in Interlaken, NY. 228 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn; 718-783-1250; email order form to or deliver it to the store; place orders by Tuesday November 18 for Thanksgiving Day pickup between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Cinnamon Snail: New York's favorite food truck serving surprisingly-vegan desserts is once again offering full Thanksgiving catering. And just like the truck, it's all 100% vegan, even the horseradish mac & cheese. Choices include, appetizers, soups, a comprehensive list of sides, Thanksgiving specialty donuts, and seitan and tofu-heavy individual meals and meal packages. Pickup in Williamsburg, Manhattan, Hoboken, or Red Bank, NJ; order form; place orders by Sunday November 24 for Thanksgiving Day pickup.
Marlow & Daughters: Williamsburg's best-known specialty butcher is once again catering for Thanksgiving, with turkeys ranging from 10 to 25 lbs, all sourced from upstate. In addition to the birds, Marlow also has pies—Bourbon Pecan, Malted Milk Tart, Pumpkin and Squash, and Apple Cheddar—if you also don't feel like baking. 81 Broadway, Brooklyn; 718-384-1441; order form; Pick up turkeys between Sunday November 23 and Thanksgiving Day, pies on Wednesday November 26 or Thanksgiving Day.
