Last-Minute Options to Dine In on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is less than a week away, and for many of us, it crept up out of nowhere. We were short-changed on celebrations last year, but if you want to spare your kitchen and your nerves, there are plenty of dine-in options available. Here’s our guide to turkey and the trimmings.

Mélange, the Asian-European fine-dining destination at the newly-opened Le Méridien Pasadena Arcadia Hotel is offering a prix-fixe menu available for $75-$95 per person, inclusive of traditional favorites as well as dishes with a Chef Mako Tanaka-spin, like sweet soy green beans and turkey breast with kumquat compote and crispy leeks. It’s also available for takeout.

This year, FIG at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows in Santa Monica has three separate menus available for dine-in or takeout – a traditional Thanksgiving meal, a vegan option, and a curbside pick-up option serving 8-10 people. The vegan menu features green lentil bisque with crispy garlic, chervil and croutons as well as a kale and chicory salad with shaved pears, apples, persimmons and candied walnuts in a cider vinaigrette. Also available is a coconut panna cotta with passionfruit and crystallized mint rounds off the meal. The traditional menu includes honeynut squash tortellini in brodo, duck rillettes and Flannery dry-aged prime rib.

LOAM, Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles’ will be open on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 25 offering a feast available for both indoor and outdoor dining at the restaurant, as well as to-go. From 3 p.m.  to 11 p.m. expect a three-course pre-fixe menu crafted by Chef Joshua Guarneri ($80 per person) with dishes like confit and smoked turkey with sage stuffing, root vegetable smash, cranberry sauce, turkey jus as well as pumpkin risotto with smoked mushrooms, pepitas, sage and pecorino. For dessert, it’s an upside-down cake with persimmon, cardamom and Earl Grey ice cream.

Grilled branzino (Courtesy Hotel Casa Del Mar)

1 Pico at Shutters by the Beach will be serving a three-course menu of Thanksgiving classics with a twist from new Executive Chef Sean Michael Runyon featuring vegan options and festive cocktails. Multiple choices like pumpkin soup, lobster tartine, heritage turkey, braised short ribs, delicata squash barramundi, vegan almond chocolate tarts and mini pumpkin cheesecake will be served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at $115 per person, $45 for kids.

Across the road, Hotel Casa del Mar is also offering a special three-course prix-fixe menu which will be available for lunch and dinner on Thanksgiving Day at Terrazza and Catch restaurants located inside the hotel. There’s live music in the lobby from noon to 8 p.m., $115 per person, $45 for kids. Dinner options include traditional turkey with apple chestnut stuffing and a whole roasted honeynut squash steak with grilled chard, winter mushrooms over black quinoa. Whole grilled branzino is also available.

The Cat & Fiddle Pub and Restaurant’s three-course “Turkey & The Trimmings,” as well as the regular full menu, will be available on Thanksgiving for dine-in, delivery and to-go. Expect roasted turkey with chestnut and apricot stuffing, cranberry chutney or nut roast Wellington (vegan) and Nutella Brownies with Pecan Ice Cream featured for dessert.  Prices are $38 for adults / $19 for children. Limited onsite reservations available by visiting thecatandfiddle.com. Book by November 23 and order in advance to ensure availability on November 25 at 1 p.m. or 3 p.m.

All Chart House locations will open for dine-in and a $55 three-course menu that includes a choice of lobster bisque, New England clam chowder, kale and roasted butternut squash salad, chopped Caesar salad to start. The main course is butter and sage roasted turkey with cornbread stuffing, pan gravy, mashed or baked sweet potatoes, rum butter, creamed spinach and cranberry relish. A choice of pumpkin or pecan pie, mini lava cake or cheesecake round off the meal. There will also be an additional selection of appetizers and main courses on Thanksgiving Day.

Traditional roast turkey dinner (Courtesy Lawry’s)

The Tam O’Shanter Thanksgiving Day Meal ($32) will be available from 5-10 p.m. and comes with roasted turkey, traditional stuffing, market vegetables, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry relish and sourdough bread. Individual cuts of prime rib served with mashed potatoes and gravy, freshly prepared horseradish, creamed spinach or creamed corn will also be available. Choose between the Tam O’Shanter cut for $48; Prince Charlie cut for $56; California cut for $42. Lawry’s Prime Rib will also offer a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in addition to the regular full menu in the dining room and at the bar. To make reservations or place an order visit lawrysonline.com.

1 Kitchen at 1 Hotel West Hollywood on the Sunset Strip has a “Give Thanks” Sando ($19); available from Sunday, November 21 – Sunday, November 28 (12pm – 4pm). The limited-edition sandwich is made daily with house-smoked heritage turkey breast, spice roasted yams, brussels sprout slaw, cranberry mostarda on a fresh-baked roll. For every “Give Thanks” sandwich sold, 1 Hotel West Hollywood will donate the proceeds toward meals at the Los Angeles Mission. Their Thanksgiving Day Plate ($29) is available on Thanksgiving Day only (12pm – 10pm) for pick-up or dine-in at 1 Kitchen, Juniper Lounge or in-room dining. The plate will be filled with all of the classic favorites of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce.

Georgia’s Restaurant at the Long Beach Exchange will feature festive plates of roasted turkey over cornbread stuffing mashed potatoes and gravy, choice of one additional soulful side including yams, collard greens, or corn on the cob, and one piece of cornbread ($25 per person). Desserts including Nana Gretchen’s whole peach cobbler and sweet potato pie will also be available to order. For those who want to celebrate in the comforts of home, Georgia’s will also be offering their Thanksgiving dinner to-go ($125 serves 4 to 6 guests) on Thanksgiving Day while supplies last.

Courtesy of Georgia’s Restaurant

Old Town Pasadena’s Mi Piace will celebrate with a big Italian family feast from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Executive Chef Gil Saulnier will be preparing a special menu that includes a charcuterie and cheese board featuring bresaola, San Daniele prosciutto, spicy calabrese, saucisson, chef cheese selection, fig marmalade and a fresh house-made baguette. Entrée selections include traditional organic roasted turkey with whipped potatoes, haricot vert, cranberry sauce, roasted yams chanterelle-chestnut stuffing. Other special menu items include Kurobuta pork chops with red rutabagas, spiced apple chutney and balsamic morel glaze as well as wild king salmon with a pomegranate-citrus sauce and apricot basmati rice. Signature dishes like ravioli al burro will also be available to order as well as a Thanksgiving pumpkin cheesecake.

Acapulco and El Torito restaurants will be offering a $34 all-you-can-eat roasted turkey and ham Thanksgiving special featuring a turkey and ham carving station, apple-jalapeño stuffing, chipotle-honey sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, a taco station, soups and salads. There will also be a dessert bar with pumpkin pie, as well as unlimited champagne and mimosas, plus, $5 margaritas and draft beer specials.

Market Tavern  brings an English twist to the classic family-style Thanksgiving menu. On Friday, November 26 there will be turkey, gravy, yams, green beans and they’ll be serving up some Brit Yuletide favorites at the Original Farmers Market like Yorkshire puddings, roasted Brussel sprouts and plenty of roast potatoes. The to-go menu includes an arugula and goat cheese salad, broccoli cheddar soup, a choice of turkey, roast beef or roast salmon and a selection of desserts including apple, pumpkin and pecan pies with ice cream. Serving from 1 p.m. till 7 p.m., call for reservations 323-452-9299.

via LA Weekly