Dining Out on Thanksgiving: The Holiday Hotspots of NYC (for any occasion!)
Thanksgiving is a time for gathering to create lasting and loving memories among family and friends. But if you live in an 800-square foot apartment with no dishwasher, a tiny oven, and a living space that’s been converted into your roommate’s bedroom, having the Thanksgiving of your Dreams becomes one of the holiday season’s great challenges. Fortunately, we live in The City that Never Sleeps, which means there are plenty of restaurants filled with hardworking cooks, hosts, and servers ready to help you celebrate all to be thankful for this year. Whether it’s a romantic evening for two, a gathering with family, or the Friendsgiving of a lifetime, there’s a fall holiday feast out there waiting for you!
the thanksgiving table for two
The Grill
5 courses, $195pp
If you’re looking for a luxurious and over the top evening to splurge on quality food and cocktails, then head to The Grill. Indeed, here you’ll find the “dinner and a show” surely to impress your plus one, which is probably why the restaurant feels justified in its price point. Evidence is found once reading the description of the turkey dish. Accompanied by a bourbon gravy flambé, it is reasonable to expect that a tableside performance of a flaming piece of poultry will keep your fires of passion burning long into the night. As for the rest of the menu—while there may not be any more surprises: a pumpkin soup, endive and apple salad, and a selection of the typical side dishes—this does not mean your Thanksgiving meal will be unsatisfactory. The team knows you’re here to celebrate and indulge your hedonist desires…all you and your partner need to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
Photos from The New York Times and Eater NY
As intended by its name, Scarpetta will have you stay awhile to savor every last bite, which is why it’s on my list as a romantic Thanksgiving getaway for two. The space is simple and elegant, offering a quietly intimate atmosphere that heightens one’s anticipation of the cuisine. Scarpetta does not disappoint; it makes recognizable flavors of the season sexy and surprising, offering starters like a warming butternut squash soup finished with a zing of pickled cranberries. If that’s not enough, try the pasta (made in-house!): a short rib & bone marrow agnlotti shared with your partner will certainly trigger a remembrance for all to be thankful for this year (just make sure to have a nice glass of red to go with it). For main dishes, the turkey option is straightforward: roasted with a cranberry agro dolce, sweet potato puree, and a root vegetable—but you can also opt for the Branzino or a New York strip. And if you’re still hungry even after dessert, you can always order more crudi, the braised octopus, or some veg (cauliflower Romanesco!).
Photos from @scarpettarestaurants
If your passion for turkey rivals the strength of your passionate romance, then Le Coq Rico is your go-to. The restaurant is truly a cornucopia of love for heritage poultry, starting by building intimate and friendly relationships with their handpicked farmers and culminating in their mastery of slow-cooking whole birds. In just one bite, you’ll have no choice but to believe that your turkey’s dying wish was to roast for hours in this restaurant’s kitchen and to then present itself at your table in all its glory. In short, the bird is lovingly filled with caramelized butternut squash, a gravy stuffing (made with house-baked bread!), roasted onions, chestnuts, and fresh herbs. Although a kid’s menu is offered for $45, the cuisine and aesthetic may not be as appreciated by hearts and minds under 16—but they’ve also got a pickup option if you’re short on time and have got tiny, hungry mouths to feed (taking orders until November 15th, 8pm!)
Photos from @lecoqriconyc
The Family-Friendly Thanksgiving
Tavern on the Green
4 courses, $125pp, $65 for kids
Tavern on the Green: one of New York’s great institutions. So if you’ve got some money to spend, children to appease, and in-laws to impress, this restaurant’s decadent and crowd-pleasing display epitomizes the “New York City Thanksgiving”. The menu strikes a comfortable balance between gastronomic adventure and approachable taste; some app choices include a Hudson Valley Foie Gras or an Oak Leaf salad with a sherry vinaigrette. Entrées are comprised of a Turkey “with all the fixings”, a hearty chateaubriand (thick cut from the tenderloin) with creamed spinach and potatoes, or simple yet well-executed grilled salmon with pea shoots and a risotto. Finally, dessert options will yield nothing but joy, checking all the boxes: pumpkin cheesecake, a fluffy and buttery chocolate challah bread pudding, and an apple crisp with vanilla ice cream. Thus Tavern on the Green will gladly take the stress out of your Thanksgiving celebration with its excellent cuisine, welcoming atmosphere, and endless hospitality.
Photos from @tavernonthegreen
Rosemary’s is bringing out the best in the holiday’s all-stars, serving up a 4-course menu that is short, sweet, and to the point. Going big with family style, dishes are comforting and classic, sprinkling in some Italian flare by offering its signature focaccia and some prosciutto with mozzarella and burrata to start you off. The housemade cavatelli will lend itself well to the kids, and the turkey dish will leave everyone full and satisfied: roasted breast, smoked thigh, and some polpette (turkey meatballs) accompanied by a cranberry mostarda and green beans finished off with a drizzle of maple gravy…Its flavors the perfect embodiment of a family Thanksgiving. And definitely don’t skip out of the pumpkin tiramisu for dessert!
Photos from @rosemarysnyc
I’ve always had a soft spot for Marc Forgione. The man has spent nearly all his life immersed in the various aspects of the food world, and the American Cut empire is undoubtedly one of many iterations of these experiences. The Thanksgiving menu in New York is three courses (a side included) and priced at $85pp. Starters are well-crafted yet simple (give the kids the hubbard squash ravioli), but the real stars are found in the entrée choices: a Vermont-native, pasture-raised turkey is served with gravy and chestnut & sausage stuffing; or you—or your adventurous young one—can go bold and try the venison chop with “black gold” and sauce forestiere (a creamy sauce with mushrooms). And for the fish lovers, the team is also serving up a trout straight from the Catskills with some hominy and chanterelles. Sides and desserts are basic, but in just the way you and the rest of the family will like it.
Photos: @americancut
The Friendsgiving of Your Dreams!
Dirty French
3 courses, $98pp
If you’re on the hunt for an atypical yet very “New York-y” Thanksgiving celebration, check out this swanky Lower East Side spot. Dirty French oozes a subtle, sultry sex appeal, starting with its neon-lit nametag at the entrance and continuing as you and your friends are tucked away inside a leather banquette. Dirty French will seduce you slowly with its method: a quality cocktail, pleasant service, and an approachable, unpretentious holiday menu filled with passion that will keep you there for hours without complaint. Expect the usual Thanksgiving flavors—a roasted turkey breast served alongside braised pieces of leg, and sides like mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts—but don’t anticipate an evening that is boring or bland. And if you’re looking for more, be sure to keep those good times rolling after dinner in the neighboring Lobby Bar.
Photos: The New York Times and Eater NY
Don’t get confused: this Thanksgiving feast will be found at Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria on Great Jones Street and not Il Buco at 47 Bond. Now that we’re clear, let’s talk about the food. For $105pp (and $40 for kids just in case), you get 4 courses that wholeheartedly embrace all the flavors of fall. From the appetizers, a Minestrone soup with turkey broth and hubbard squash embodies that warm welcome of home you look forward to each holiday season. The nostalgia continues in the main dishes—choose from an olive oil poached Halibut, roasted heritage pork with persimmons and (pickled!) chanterelles, or the rotisserie turkey with juicy rillettes rounded out with a huckleberry mostarda. Sweets are incredibly alluring and indulgent as you can choose from a roasted pear with mascarpone, fairytale pumpkin pie, or a chocolate tart finished with salted caramel. It seems to me that dining with friends at Alimentari & Vineria will make you feel loved and right at home.
Photos: @ilbuco_av
The Red Cat has always been so unique to me; since its opening in 1999, it has constantly maintained its balance on the scale of quirk and class. Those stunning red plates against the crisp, white table cloths are so tantalizing that they can’t help but whisper to you that you are about to enjoy a meal of beautiful food and good memories. The Thanksgiving pre-fixe consists of three courses for $85 with something for all your friends to enjoy. Apps are diverse in taste: like crispy fried oysters, a lentil soup, or a sunflower salad with beets and parmesan to name a few. As for the entrées, options are abundant but not overwhelming. The menu appears to nudge you toward seafood with two choices –scallops “chowder style” or a salmon with red onion, grapefruit and shiitake. As for the bird, the turkey is butter-based and comes with a sage-fig stuffing, but if you want something different, The Red Cat is also serving up a grilled pork chop or hanger steak with fennel and potatoes.
Photos: @theredcatnyc