30+ Boston Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving Dinner
When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, there are a few routes you can take. Plan A: Let the chef of the family handle his or her business. But what if you don’t have a seasoned cook in the family? Or if you do, what if they’re just tired?
That’s when you think, “OK, Plan B: where did I leave that Chinese takeout menu?”
Stop right there! For those looking to bypass the kitchen, but still crave a delicious hearty Thanksgiving meal, we’ve got you covered. Presenting, Plan C: Visit one of the many Boston area restaurants staying open next Thursday.
Here, a list of 26 29 33! restaurants up to the challenge of feeding you and yours this Thanksgiving. (Click for more info below or scroll down to browse.)
(Update: Added 11/21: The Red Lentil, Anthem, City Table, and M.J. O’Connor’s. Added 11/20: Eastern Standard, Scampo, and Towne.)
• Anthem Kitchen & Bar
• Asana at the Mandarin Oriental
• Aura at the Seaport Hotel
• Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro
• Beat Hôtel
• The Beehive
• Bistro du Midi
• BOKX 109 American Prime
• Boston Chops
• City Landing
• City Table
• Deuxave
• Eastern Standard
• Grafton Street Pub & Grill
• Grill 23 & Bar
• Harvest
• L’Espalier
• Legal Harborside
• Legal Sea Foods, LTK Bar, and Kitchen & Legal C Bar
• M.J. O’Connor’s
• PARK Restaurant & Bar
• The Red Lentil
• Restaurant Dante
• Rialto
• Russell House Tavern
• Rosa Mexicano
• Scampo
• Strega Prime
• Temple Bar
• Top of the Hub
• Towne
• Turner Fisheries
• The Westin Waltham Boston
Or maybe you’re thinking…
• “No—I want to stay home! Where can I buy an awesome bird (and all the trimmings)?”
Unless otherwise specified, all events are Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 28, 2013.
* Reservations are strongly recommended. *
Anthem Kitchen & Bar
12-8 p.m.
A la carte pricing
South Market Building, Faneuil Hall, Boston, 617-720-5570, anthem-boston.com
You can order a full turkey dinner at Anthem next Thursday, or you can skip ahead to Turkey Day leftovers with the turkey gobbler sandwich, which comes with sliced turkey breast, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, and giblet gravy on a toasted baguette. Check out Anthem’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Asana at the Mandarin Oriental
12-7 p.m.
$89 per person, $38 for children
776 Boylston St., Boston, 617-535-8888, mandarinoriental.com
The fancy spot in the Mandarin Oriental will have a live carving station with slow-cooked prime rib, snake river farms ham, and of course, roasted turkey, along with the obligatory appetizers and sides. We’ve got our eye on the dessert parlor menu, with 18 options including cookies and cream push pops, roasted apple panna cotta jars, and maple crème brûlée. Check out Asana’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Aura at the Seaport Hotel
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
$71 per person, $25 for children 7-14, free for children 6 and under
One Seaport Lane, Boston, 617-385-4300, aurarestaurant.com
Make way for a buffet. Aura will host Thanksgiving brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. next Thursday (because nothing prepares you for Thanksgiving dinner like an all-you-can-eat brunch). Offerings will include everything from French toast, pancakes, and bacon and eggs, to leek-and-truffle quiche, shrimp cocktails, and pork loin with mustard jus. Kids will love dessert even more than usual since Aura’s spread includes a chocolate fountain. Check out Aura’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro
1-10 p.m.
$61 per person (Reservations strongly recommended.)
25 Charles St., Boston, 617-723-7575, beaconhillhotel.com
Beacon Hill Bistro’s executive chef Josh Lewin has offered us some fun tricks of the trade before, including teaching us how to puff grains (in case you’d rather have cereal for Thanksgiving dinner) and contributing to last year’s roundup of last-minute Thanksgiving recipes (Potato and apple mille-feuille, anyone?). This Thanksgiving, BHB will serve a three-course dinner including traditional dishes, plus an attractive slate of seafood: salt cod brandade, oyster stew, and Maine salmon. Check out Beacon Hill Bistro’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Beat Hôtel
11 a.m.-8 p.m.
$38 per person, $19 for children under 12
13 Brattle Street, Cambridge, 617-499-0001, beathotel.com
Beat Hôtel’s Thanksgiving dinner comes with a full day of entertainment too. Not only will dinner be served buffet-style (don’t you love to hear that?), but live country, bluegrass, and Americana music will feed your ears as well. Beat also wants your vegetarian and vegan friends to feel welcome with plenty of vegan offerings. Check out Beat Hôtel’s full Thanksgiving menu + entertainment schedule.
The Beehive
11 a.m.-2 a.m.
A la carte pricing
541 Tremont St., Boston, 617-423-0069, beehiveboston.com
Boston’s “liveliest holiday meal” comes with live jazz performances throughout the day. Like Beat, The Beehive will also offer a vegetarian Thanksgiving, which comes with wild mushroom-and-truffle stuffing, country mashed potatoes, brussels sprout-and-pea salad, root vegetable medley, and more. Check out The Beehive’s full Thanksgiving menu + entertainment schedule.
Bistro du Midi
Cafe opens 11:30 a.m., Main Dining Room Open 3-8 p.m.
$50 for three courses, can be ordered separately
272 Boylston St., Boston, 617-426-7878, bistrodumidi.com
Those who frequent Bistro du Midi can visit the cafe as usual on Thanksgiving. The main dining room opens at 3 p.m., where you won’t find a giant Thanksgiving prix fixe menu, but instead three specials: 1) lentil soup, applewood-smoked bacon, thyme creme fraiche; 2) slowly cooked turkey, sweet potato puree, roasted cauliflower, cranberries, chestnuts, roasted pan jus; and 3) pumpkin cornmeal tart, goat cheese ice cream. Vegetarian option available. Check out Bistro du Midi’s full menu.
BOKX 109 American Prime in the Hotel Indigo
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
$55 per person
399 Grove St., Newton, 617-454-3399, newtonbokx.com
BOKX 109 wants you to think outside the box (har har) for Thanksgiving with a five-course meal. Entrees include butter-poached 109 prime rib, seared diver scallop, and roasted organic turkey ballontine. Top it off with desserts like white chocolate-and-pumpkin cheesecake or a flourless BOKX brownie sundae. Check out BOKX 109’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Boston Chops
12-8 p.m.
$69 per person
1375 Washington St., Boston, 617-227-5011, bostonchops.com
True to its name, Boston Chops will offer some mouthwatering entrees this Thanksgiving. Aside from roasted turkey, you can also opt for filet mignon, prime rib eye, prime New York sirloin, or grilled Maine salmon. Check out Boston Chops’s full Thanksgiving menu.
City Landing
12-9 p.m.
$62 per person, $20 for children’s dinner
255 State St., Boston, 617-725-0305, citylanding.com
This Thanksgiving, City Landing presents a menu with a four-course prix fixe option and a la carte fare. The “For Sharing” section is alluring considering the $62 prix fixe price tag. Trio of pita spreads? Mini lobster rolls? Duck bruschetta? We’re game. Check out City Landing’s full Thanksgiving menu.
City Table
12-10 p.m.
A la carte pricing
65 Exeter St. in the Lenox Hotel, Boston, 617-933-4800, citytableboston.com
City Table in the Lenox Hotel will serve a few Thanksgiving specials next week, including a classic turkey dinner and roasted prime rib. But to start, consider the smoked ham and chestnut bisque. It is getting chilly outside, after all. Check out City Table’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Deuxave
12-8 p.m.
$75 per person
371 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-517-5915, deuxave.com
On the menu at Deuxave? Turducken with Misty Knolls Farms turkey leg, duck rillette, and truffled chicken mousse. If you’ve ever wanted to try the three-bird creation, here’s your chance to do so. (And if not, don’t worry, there are one-animal entrees as well.) Check out Deuxave’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Eastern Standard
7-10:30 a.m. breakfast, 1-8 p.m. dining room and bar
$58 per person, $20 for children, also available a la carte
528 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-532-9100, easternstandardboston.com
With a package titled “Bounty of the Sea,” it’s hard to imagine being disappointed. Eastern Standard adds to the turkey-pies-and-pumpkin routine with roasted whole fish, New York strip, and a cranberry-orange sorbet. Check out Eastern Standard’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Grafton Street Pub & Grill
11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., bar open until 11 p.m.
$38 per person exclusive of tax, beverage, and gratuity, $18 optional beer or wine pairing
1230 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-497-0400, graftonstreetcambridge.com
Optional beer and wine pairing? Count us in. Grafton Street Pub & Grill’s menu stands out for its classic and familiar-sounding items. Roasted turkey, corn bread stuffing, pear salad, and sweet potato ravioli? Yum. All that’s missing is… Nope! There it is: chocolate bread pudding. Mmm… Check out Grafton Street’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Grill 23 & Bar
2-9 p.m.
$72 per person
161 Berkeley St., 617-542-2255, grill23.com
Grill 23 is keeping its prix fixe menu simple for Thanksgiving, with items also available a la carte. Roasted parsnip soup and crisp market chickories lead to the herb-roasted turkey breast and confit leg. Then top it all off with a Thanksgiving Trio of desserts: heirloom apple turnover, whiskey pecan pie, and pumpkin profiterole. Check out Grill 23’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Harvest
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. lunch, 5:30-10 p.m. dinner
$68 per person
44 Brattle St., Cambridge, 617-868-2255, harvestcambridge.com
Harvest’s Thanksgiving menu comes with an optional wine pairing, because why not? Venison comes with cabernet sauvignon, lobster pie with chardonnay, and a potato gnocchi app comes with pinot grigio. It’s a package for the Kathie Lee Gifford in all of us. Check out Harvest’s full Thanksgiving menu.
L’Espalier
11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. lunch, 5:30-10:30 p.m. dinner
$95 for prix fixe menu, $120 for dégustation menu with turkey, $42 wine tasting
744 Boylston St. Boston, 617-262-3023, lespalier.com
Last year, Jared Bacheller of L’Espalier shared with us a last-minute Thanksgiving recipe for Butterscotch pie. This year, owner and chef Frank McClelland ups the Thanksgiving ante with a $120 degustation menu with turkey from his farm in Essex, Apple Street Farm. Be still our beating hearts, this menu also teases a procession of lobster, halibut, beef rib-eye, award-winning cheeses, and more. Check out L’Espalier’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Legal Harborside
12-8 p.m.
$60 per person
270 Northern Ave., Boston, 617-477-2900, legalseafoods.com
Legal Harborside (Floor 2) will offer a special prix fixe this Thanksgiving separate from other Legal Sea Foods locations (see next entry). The Harborside prixe fixe menu includes seared scallops and pork belly, three different salmon dishes, pan roasted icelandic cod, and more. More info at legalseafoods.com.
Legal Sea Foods, LTK Bar, and Kitchen & Legal C Bar
Hours vary by location
$22 per person, $8 for children
Various locations, legalseafoods.com
On top of their usual fair, these spots will also offer Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, and cranberry sause. More location info at legalseafoods.com.
M.J. O’Connor’s
Park Plaza: 12-10 p.m., Waterfront: 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
A la carte pricing
Park Plaza, 27 Columbus Ave., Boston, 617-484-2255; and Waterfront, 425 Summer St., Boston, 617-443-0800; mjoconnors.com
M.J. O’Connor’s in both their Park Plaza and Waterfront locations will be open on Thanksgiving serving turkey dinners for $18 and $16 respectively (guess the mashed potatoes and green beans make the $2 difference?) At Park Plaza, you’ll also find butternut squash bisque and pumpkin-and-walnut ravioli, while the Waterfront location will offer ham dinner and combo platter alternatives. Check out M.J. O’Connor’s Thanksgiving menus for their Park Plaza and Waterfront locations.
PARK Restaurant & Bar
12-8 p.m., bar open until 11 p.m.
A la carte pricing
59 JFK St., Cambridge, 617-491-9851, parkcambridge.com
PARK’s cozy atmosphere could make for a warm little gathering next Thursday. The restaurant will serve a la carte specials including ricotta gnocchi, roast turkey breast, apple-and-sage-stuffed redfish, and even a Thanksgivukkah meat pie: cider-braised turkey thigh, local squash, and caramelized apples, with a sweet-potato latke crust with sweet-tart cranberry relish. Check out PARK’s full Thanksgiving menu.
The Red Lentil
12-6 p.m.
$65 per person, includes wine pairing
600 Mount Auburn St., Watertown, 617-972-9188, theredlentil.com
The Red Lentil is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant, and next week, they will be open on Thanksgiving for their 2013 Vegan Harvest Dinner. Five courses include soups, apps, salads, entrees, and dessert. Wine pairings are included. Check out the Red Lentil’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Restaurant Dante
4-9 p.m.
$69 per person
40 Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge, 617-497-4200, restaurantdante.com
This Thanksgiving, Restaurant Dante will serve Thanksgiving dinner with an Italian twist. They’re also keeping vegetarians in mind with an entree that sounds so good, we might all go vegetarian this Thanksgiving. Chestnut stuffing, potato puree, sweet potato fries, maple brussels, cranberry sauce, green beans, and vegetarian gravy? Dee-lish.
Rialto
1-7 p.m.
$75 per person, $35 for children
1 Bennett St., Cambridge, 617-661-5050, rialto-restaurant.com
More Thanksgiving classics with Italian flare! The three-course offering from Rialto includes classic Thanksgiving dishes, fluke crudo, taleggio buckwheat lasagna, venison two ways, and more. Of the many children’s options available this year, we’re digging Rialto’s varied three-course kids’ menu: not only can your little ones order turkey, salad, and dessert, but the adventurous and daring can also opt for grilled shrimp or braised beef. What palates! Check out Rialto’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Russell House Tavern
11 a.m.-8:30 p.m., bar open until 11 p.m.
$45 per person exclusive of tax, beverage & gratuity, $18 optional beer and/or wine pairing
14 JFK St., Cambridge, 617-500-3055, russellhousecambridge.com
More beer and wine pairings for your Thanksgiving boozy pleasure. Popular Harvard Square stop Russell House Tavern’s three-course prix fixe includes seared scallop and oxtail, heirloom carrot risotto, cider-braised short rib, and “Turkey Duet with All the Fixins.” They’ll also serve up New England cheese boards for $9. Check out Russell House Tavern’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Rosa Mexicano
12-9 p.m.
155 Seaport Blvd., Boston, 617-476-6122, rosamexicano.com
Most of us wouldn’t put traditional Thanksgiving fare and Mexican plates in the same realm, but Rosa Mexicano’s putting in a little effort. For an entree, try pavo en mole de huitlacoche (roasted turkey with mole, plantain stuffing, roasted veggies, and chorizo potatoes), and have some budin pegajoso de calabaza (sticky pumpkin pie) for dessert. Check out Rosa Mexicano’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Scampo at the Liberty Hotel
12-8 p.m. dining room and bar
$54 per person, $27 for children under 12, and other a la carte items
215 Charles St., Boston, 617-536-2100, scampoboston.com
One look at Scampo’s Thanksgiving menu and you can’t help but think: ooh, pretty. Offerings include white lily biscuits, chilled South Bay blonde oysters, Indian summer duckling, and “My father’s cranberry sauce.” Check out Scampo’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Strega Prime
12-9 p.m.
A la carte pricing
100 Sylvan Road, Woburn, 781-933-3333, stregaprime.com
In Woburn, Strega Prime will dish out turkey two ways ($33) this Thanksgiving (braised dark meat and oven-roasted white). Or if you’re actually not a turkey person, consider the braised short rib ($44) or veal porterhouse ($38).
Temple Bar
11 a.m.-9 p.m., bar open until 11 p.m.
$39 per person exclusive of tax, beverage, and gratuity, $19 optional wine pairing
1688 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-547-5055, templebarcambridge.com
If you want an all-turkey meal, you can do that at Temple Bar, where first course options include turkey liver mousse with pickled radishes, honeycomb, and beet chips; and the entree offerings include the Traditional Turkey Dinner: slow-roasted turkey breast and leg, apple-and-sage stuffing, tuffled-potato puree, green-bean-and-wild-mushroom ragu, crispy shallots, fresh cranberry sauce, and giblet jus. Whew! Just typing all that out is enough to put us in a turkey coma. Check out Temple Bar’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Top of the Hub
11 a.m.-8 p.m.
$65 per person, $25 for children under 12; free for children under 5
Prudential Center, 52nd Floor, 800 Boylston St., Boston, 617-536-1775, topofthehub.net
The holidays are not a bad time to be a little touristy, and aside from touring Fenway, walking the Freedom Trail, and taking a Duck Tour, visiting the Prudential Tower Skywalk is likely next on the list. Top of the Hub’s Thanksgiving special is a good way to wrap a few bucket-list items into one. Enjoy dinner at the restaurant with live jazz from 4-8 p.m., then take a walk around the skywalk observatory, which comes complimentary. Check out Top of the Hub’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Towne
12-8 p.m., bar open until 10 p.m.
A la carte pricing
900 Boylston St., Boston, 617-247-0400, towneboston.com
Rather than go the prix fixe route, Towne will offer family-style platters on Thanksgiving (each serves about four). Seafood enthusiasts can order the raw bar for $46 for shrimp, oysters, clams, and lobster, after which you’ll think, “Psh, turkey. Who needs it?” … Of course there will also be turkey. Check out Towne’s full Thanksgiving menu.
Turner Fisheries
11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
$69 per person, $20 for children ages 5-12, free for children 4 and under
10 Huntington Ave., Boston, 617-424-7425, turnersboston.com
There’s that magical word again: buffet! Turner Fisheries is boasting a Thanksgiving feast with carving stations and all, with turkey, prime rib of beef, wild salmon and other seafood, and plenty of fall seasonal sides. And will there be desserts? Duh. Check out Turner Fisheries’s full Thanksgiving menu.
The Westin Waltham Boston
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. lunch, 6-10 p.m. dinner
$55 per person or a la carte
70 3rd Ave., Waltham, 781-290-5600, westin.com/waltham
This Thanksgiving, the Westin Waltham Boston will offer a three-course meal for $55. Enjoy turkey, butternut squash soup, pumpkin pie, and more of your classic Thanksgiving favorites.
THANKSGIVING DINNERS FOR TAKEOUT
Verrill Farm – Turkey, Sides, and Pies
Tuesday, November 26, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Wednesday, November 27, 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving Day, Thursday
Closed Friday, November 29
11 Wheeler Road, Concord, 978-369-4494, details at verrillfarm.com.
Formaggio Kitchen – “Everything But the Turkey“
Orders due by Sunday, November 24, 4 p.m. (to be picked up Wednesday, November 27).
Monday, November 25, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Tuesday, November 26, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Wednesday, November 27, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 29, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
244 Huron Ave., Cambridge, 617-354-4750, formaggiokitchen.com
Abby Park – Takeout Sides
Order by Monday, November 25, 5 p.m.
550 Adams St., Milton, 617-696-8700, details at abbypark.com
Area Four – Pumpkin Pies and Apple Crumbles
Order by Friday, November 22, 6 p.m.
500 Technology Square, Cambridge, 617-758-444, areafour.com
The Butcher Shop – Turkey, Sides, and Dessert
Order by Saturday, November 23, 8 p.m.
552 Tremont St., Boston, 617-423-4800, thebutchershopboston.com
