Here’s Where to Order Thanksgiving Catering in Boston

With Branch Line’s help, your Thanksgiving table can look like this. / Photo by Emily Hagen

Volunteered to bring the pies, fix the sides, or even roast the turkey this Thanksgiving—and freaking out a bit as Thursday, November 28 draws near? Order some help from the city’s best restaurants, bakeries, and caterers. Here’s where to take out all the Thanksgiving necessities, from appetizers and sides, to pies and rolls, to show-stopping table centerpieces.

Apple pie is great, but apple cider doughnut pie is extra special. / Photo courtesy of Blackbird Doughnuts

Blackbird Doughnuts

Certainly your dessert table needs an apple cider doughnut pie this year. The seasonal treat is comprised of Best of Boston-worthy apple cider doughnuts baked into a gooey brown sugar custard with apple spice glaze and sprinkles. Thanksgiving orders must be received by 8 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24, and can be picked up in-store, or sent frozen via FedEx two-day shipping. To dig into this pie before or after the holiday, Blackbird needs 24 hours’ notice for pick-up, or 72 hours’ notice for delivery.

$32, 492 Tremont St., South Boston, 617-482-9000, and other locations, blackbirddoughnuts.com.

Branch Line

Your whole Thanksgiving feast can come from this Watertown rotisserie, which has a spatchcocked Prestige Farms turkey on its takeout menu, complete with rotisserie drippings-gravy; as well as signature whole chicken and rotisserie Rohan duck. Sides like honey-glazed root vegetables, and tarragon Francese stuffing can be ordered for groups of 8-12 or 20-25 guests. But the most exciting holiday treat in the lineup? An entire sheet pan of sister restaurant Eastern Standard’s classic butterscotch bread pudding. Order by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, for pickup Thanksgiving morning.

$8-$98, 321 Arsenal St., Watertown, 617-420-1900, branchlinearsenal.com.

The Butcher Shop

The Barbara Lynch Collective’s meat market is teaming up with sister kitchen Stir to offer a variety of pre-made side dishes, like savory wild mushroom bread pudding with gruyere, thyme, and leek, and pints of pommes purée. These can accompany fresh (uncooked) Green Circle turkeys, and you can also include a Butcher Shop brining kit, sauces by the pint, and even a chef’s selection of charcuterie. Or, take all the guesswork out with a full Thanksgiving dinner package for up to six people. Orders must be received by 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23, and can be picked up at the Butcher Shop in the days before the holiday.

$9-$166, 552 Tremont St., South End, Boston, 617-423-4800, thebutchershopboston.com.

Community Servings Pie in the Sky

Since 1993, Jamaica Plain-based non-profit Community Servings has supported its mission to deliver meals and nutritional support to critically ill people around the state with a bake sale blowout, featuring desserts made by pastry chefs and bakers from Boston’s top shops. Among the contributors this year are Big Heart Hospitality Group, which employs Best of Boston pastry chef Dee Steffen Chinn; Harvest, a consistent Pie in the Sky supporter and the restaurant home of Food Network regular Josh Livsey; Best of Boston bakery Sofra; and many more restaurants, bakeries, and caterers. Choose among classic flavors like apple and sweet potato—as well as options to include additional charity donations. Place orders by Saturday, Nov. 23, for pick-up the day before Thanksgiving at one of more than 100 locations around Massachusetts, southern Maine, and New Hampshire.

pieinthesky.org.

Behold, the Piefecta: Pecan, pumpkin, and brown sugar whipped cream. / Photo courtesy of Flour Bakery + Café

Flour Bakery + Café

It’s not just incredible pies, breads and rolls, and Black Friday morning treats on the special Thanksgiving menu from James Beard Award-winning baker Joanne Chang’s team. The Flour crew is also preparing trimmings and sides, like preserved cherry and cranberry chutney with ginger and orange; roasted cauliflower gratin with brie and lemony gremolata; and fennel sausage stuffing. You can’t not order this season’s new special, though: the Piefecta, a perfect stack of pecan, pumpkin, and brown sugar whipped cream. Order online by noon on Friday, Nov. 22, or in-store by 8 p.m. that night. Pick-up is at the Flour location of your choice on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon ahead of the holiday.

$6-$40, 131 Clarendon St., Boston, 617-437-7700; 190 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-225-2525; and other locations, flourbakery.com.

Island Creek Oyster Bar (Burlington)

The suburban outpost of this seafood hotspot can help you serve shrimp cocktail, lobster and butternut squash bisque, oyster stuffing, and more festive appetizers and sides this Thanksgiving. Chefs Matty Celeste and Nicki Hobson also have a couple pies on the menu, plus savory, non-seafood options like creamed cipollini onions, and mac and cheese. There’s plenty of easy parking to be had while you’re picking up your order between 1-6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27.

$5-$30, 300 District Ave., Burlington, 781-761-6500, islandcreekoysterbar.com.

Cranberry kasha varnishkes are among Michael’s Jewish deli-inspired Thanksgiving offerings. / Photo courtesy of Michael’s Deli/Twitter

Michael’s Deli

Add some Jewish deli-style flair to your holiday table. Among this Best of Boston winner’s Thanksgiving offerings are potato latkes with cranberry-applesauce, cranberry kasha varnishkes (pictured), and knishes stuffed with turkey, stuffing, and cranberry chutney, as well as Black Friday morning-ready bagels and blintzes. Order by Sunday, Nov. 24.

$3.75-$11.99, 256 Harvard St., Brookline, 617-738-3354, michaelsdelibrookline.com.

Apple and mascarpone pie and more can join your holiday table, thanks to SRV and the Salty Pig. / Photo courtesy of SRV

The Salty Pig and SRV

For the first time this year, a couple of South End sister spots are teaming up to offer “Pigs & Pies” catering for Thanksgiving. Packages can be curated with cheese and charcuterie selections chosen by the Salty Pig chef Michael Bergin, and a variety of baked goods courtesy of SRV pastry chef Meghan Thompson. Choose among the likes of prosciutto, smoke trout rillettes, local cheeses, and accoutrements like smoked shallot jam, pickles, and crostini; as well as cranberry-rosemary biscotti, a festive molasses kumquat loaf, and apple and mascarpone pie. Order your customizable basket by calling the Salty Pig at 617-536-6200 by 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22.

130 Dartmouth St., Boston, 617-536-6200, thesaltypig.com.

Season to Taste Catering

Accompany your own turkey with sides and appetizers like potato gratin with caramelized leeks and bacon, sage-sourdough stuffing, and roasted pumpkin soup. Executive chef Jason Lord’s team is also baking up some pumpkin and Southern pecan pies. Orders are open until 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20, for pick-up in Cambridge—this chef-driven catering company shares a kitchen with the excellent Table at Season to Taste.

$10-$45, 2447 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-826-9037, seasontotastecatering.com.

The Smoke Shop

Chef Andy Husbands’ Best of Boston barbecue joint offers a complete lineup of dishes to go, from smoked turkeys with Texas toast stuffing, to pork loin ham, whole-smoked brisket, and more. The Thanksgiving menu also has options like a green bean casserole with smoked portobello cream sauce—and butter cake for dessert. Place orders by November 24, and pick up on November 27.

$10-$165, 1 Kendall Square, Cambridge, 617-577-7427, and other locations, thesmokeshopbbq.com.

Dutch apple pies at Stillwater. / Photo courtesy of Stillwater

Stillwater

Downtown Boston’s new comfort-food haven is hosting “the Side Show” this holiday season. Choose from options like a tray of Ritz Cracker-topped mac and cheese, sage biscuits by the dozen, and hot honey-roasted Brussels sprouts from chef Sarah Wade’s Turkey Day takeout menu. She’s also offering packages of side dishes to feed groups of 8-15 people, and she’s baking up some classic Dutch apple pies (pictured). Orders must come in by November 21 for pick-up between 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on November 27.

$15-$290, 120 Kingston St., Boston, 617-936-3079, stillwaterboston.com.

Summer Shack

Along with oven-roasted turkey and classic sides, chef Jasper White’s New England restaurants also offer whole, deep-fried birds, homemade pies, and seafood appetizers like snow crab legs and scallops wrapped in bacon. Order by phone or online, and pick up at the Boston or Cambridge locations on Wednesday, Nov. 27.

$3-$135, 50 Dalton St., Boston, 617-867-9955; 149 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge, 617-520-9500, summershackrestaurant.com.

Boston’s local meat delivery service is offering antibiotic-free turkey breast, among other holiday specials. / Photo courtesy of Walden Local

Walden Local

Here’s an option for the home cook who wants to serve a locally sourced spread. This Massachusetts-based butcher shop, which sources meats from dozens of sustainable farms around New England and New York for its direct-to-consumer delivery service and Boston storefront, is offering holiday shares. The packages can include the likes of pasture-raised turkeys and boneless turkey breast, a custom-blended dry rub, Nashoba Brook sourdough rolls, Brookford Farm cheeses, and Maine Pie Co. pies. To see the delivery offerings, a monthly or bi-monthly Walden Local “meat CSA” membership is required, but the South End shop is open to non-members and is also taking turkey orders.

$60 and up, 316 Shawmut Ave., South End, Boston, 857-277-0773, waldenlocalmeat.com.