How To Outsource Thanksgiving

Stay out of the kitchen this Thanksgiving with our Dallas restaurant guide to Turkey Day

Here's your list of where to eat out on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is the day for eating too much and not moving for hours at a time. Well, unless you're tasked with preparing the meal. That's some serious work, particularly if you've got a lot of guests coming over.

If the idea of cooking for 12-plus people seems like a recipe for tears and yelling — the holidays! — then our rundown on restaurant Thanksgiving dinners is for you. Most options are dine-in, but a few offer carry-out if you want to pretend you did the cooking. We will continue to add to this list as the big day draws near.

III Forks
The highlights: III Forks opens up early for lunch hours to serve Thanksgiving from 11 am-8 pm. First course is tenderloin tomato soup simmered with beef stock; second course is the signature salad with green apple, blue cheese, pecans and field greens. For entree, there is a choice: turkey with sausage sage cornbread dressing, creamed potatoes maple-glazed yams or tenderloin with whipped potatoes, creamed corn salmon with coconut jasmine rice and roasted autumn vegetables. Choose between pumpkin pie torte, chestnut ice cream, chocolate pecan pie or chocolate marquis torte for dessert.
Cost per person: $45 for adults and $17 for children under 12
Reservations: 972-267-1776

Be Raw Food and Juice
The highlights: Enjoy a four-course dinner with choice of Caesar or kale walnut cranberry salad, butternut squash or spicy corn chowder, stuffed portobello mushroom or corn mushroom kale enchiladas, and pumpkin or chocolate cheesecake. There are two seating times: 4 pm or 6:30 pm.
Cost per person: $45
Reservations: 214-234-0106 or paula@berawfoodandjuice.com

Cafe on the Green at Four Seasons in Las Colinas
The highlights: Enjoy a brunch buffet from 10:30 am-2 pm with cider smoked salmon, sushi, oysters, salads, ceviche, cheeses, butternut squash bisque, portobello and spinach stuffed chicken, prime rib, turkey, walnut apple stuffing, ricotta fennel crab ravioli, and assorted breakfast items. Plus there is a room dedicated solely to desserts, with more than 15 choices. The dinner buffet is from 5:30-8:30 pm.
Price per person: $72 for adults, $35 for kids 6-12, free for kids 5 and under
Reservations: 972-717-2420

Canary By Gorji
The highlights: Canary is preparing a three-course dinner from 5 to 9:30 pm, with field greens in champagne pomegranate vinaigrette with toasted almonds, turkey or pork chop with mashed potatoes and vegetables, and pumpkin or pecan pie.
Cost per person: $30 plus tax and gratuity
Reservations: 972-503-7080

Ellerbe Fine Foods
The highlights: An "everything but the bird" catering menu featuring cornbread dressing, butternut squash and Gruyere bread pudding, candied sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, broccoli and rice casserole, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and more, priced a la carte from $8 to $20. Orders are due by Friday, November 22. Pickups can be scheduled for Wednesday, November 27, or Thursday, November 28. Orders can be picked up no later than noon on Thursday. Delivery is available for $10 in Fort Worth only.
Cost per person: A la carte
Reservations: 817-926-3663

Fairmont Hotel
The highlights: The Fairmont is doing Thanksgiving brunch in the famous Venetian Room, including crab cake eggs Benedict, pecan and toffee sticky buns, chicken habañero breakfast sausages, turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin cheesecake, and pecan pie, with complimentary mimosa or glass of sparkling wine.
Price per person: $65 for adults, $55 for seniors, $30 for children 6-12, free for children 5 and under
Reservations: 214-720-5249

Fearing's
The highlights: The restaurant opens 11:15 am-3 pm and 5-8 pm for Thanksgiving. Offerings include pumpkin soup, seared Nantucket Bay scallops, quail on cornbread stuffing, poached shrimp, smoked cod, turkey with tortilla dressing, whipped potatoes, green beans and salsify, jalapeño cranberry relish, red grouper “Oscar” with Jonah crab on Jerusalem artichoke purée, lamb two ways on cauliflower purée with rainbow chard and sweet potato fritters, beef tenderloin on scalloped potatoes with mushroom and onion ragoût, chocolate pecan pie shooter, pumpkin gingerbread cookie ice cream sandwiches with maple mallow fluff, and apple cinnamon cheddar pie.
Price per person: $95 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under
Reservations: 214-922-4848

FM Smoke House
The highlights: Smoked Beer Can Turkeys. Seasoned and smoked with a pecan/maple wood blend, the 12 pound bird is steamed from the inside with a can filled with Franconia Dunkel beer and packaged for easy reheating. Sides including mashed potatoes, seasoned green beans, smoked corn and white cheddar macaroni and cheese are also available. Orders must be placed by November 18 and are available for pickup Wednesday, November 27 between 11 am and 6 pm.
Cost per person: $59 for turkey includes one quart of brown spice gravy. Sides range from $15 to $25.
Reservations: 972-751-6633

The Grape
The highlights: The Grape is preparing a takeout smoked organic turkey dinner ($180-$330) with fixings and choice of sides, or pick up a brown sugar-maple glazed ham ($75). A la carte sides ($10-$14) include maple whipped sweet potatoes, sour cream and chive mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing with sausage, bread stuffing with raisins and shiitakes, green beans, mushroom soup, and creamy corn with roasted red peppers and bacon. Desserts ($25) include pumpkin cheesecake, pecan pie, caramel apple crisp and pumpkin pie. Orders must be placed by Saturday, November 23, and will be available for pickup on Wednesday, November 27, 2-5 pm.
Cost per person: A la carte
Reservations: 214-828-1981

Green Grocer
The highlights: Sells a fully-cooked Thanksgiving dinners with five-side and eight-side packages available as well as a la carte options. Offerings include choice of pasture raised turkey breasts and hams or whole pasture raised pre-brined turkeys to be cooked at home for six to nine guests. Sides include sweet potato gratin with smoked Gouda, mashed potatoes, green beans, cornbread stuffing, Brussels sprouts with bacon and onions, butternut squash soup, creamed collard greens and more. Orders must be placed by November 18 and can be picked up Wednesday, November 27 between 9 am and 9 pm or on Thursday, November 28 between 9 am and 11 am.
Cost per person: $15.99-$24.99 per side. Five-dishes with turkey breast or ham is $169.99, with eight sides, it's $229.99.
Reservations: 214-643-6209

Highland Park Cafeteria
The highlights: HPC serves from 10:30 am to 3 pm featuring turkey and dressing, two sides and a fresh roll. Sides include cranberry sauce, squash casserole, green beans, mashed potatoes, candied yams and more. For those looking to bring the dinner home, HPC also offers three versions of Thanksgiving dinner depending on the size of your party. Orders must be placed by November 25.
Cost per person: $11.99 for dining in. $49.99 for 2-4 people for carry out orders, $99.99 for 8-10 people and $154.99 serves 10-12.
Reservations: 214-324-5000 or highlandparkcafeteria.com

Holy Grail Pub
The highlights: Holy Grail is doing a four-course Thanksgiving dinner from noon-7 pm. There's also an optional four-course beer pairing for $15. If you can't make it to Holy Grail, you can pre-order a whole smoked beer can turkey and sides to bring home.
Cost per person: $35 for adults and $12 for children under 12
Reservations: 972-377-6633

InterContinental Dallas
The highlights: A festive brunch menu includes a dozen salads, peeled shrimp, smoked salmon, sushi, prime rib, ham, turkey breast, ginger-orange cranberry chutney, pecan-crusted chicken, cornbread dressing, caramelized-onion mashed potatoes, crab cake sliders and omelet station from 10:30 am-2 pm.
Cost per person: $65 for adults, $25 for children 6-12, free for children 5 and under. There is also a 50 percent discount to active military (ID required).
Reservations: 972-386-6000

Medieval Times
The highlights: Turn back the clock on Thanksgiving at Medieval Times, where $10 of every ticket sold on November 28 goes towards the Red Cross relief efforts for Typhoon Haiyan victims in the Philippines. Ticket prices are also reduced for the 5 pm show.
Cost per person: $38.95 for adults and $29.95 for children 12 and under using the code TWEB13.
Reservations:Online

The Mercury
The highlights: The Mercury is serving a Thanksgiving Day buffet from 11 am-3 pm. Offerings include five salads, prime rib, turkey, salmon with stir-fry vegetables, chicken enchiladas, pork loin, brisket, smoked salmon, crab claws, oysters, brunch migas, eggs Benedict, omelets, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, cream spinach, broccoli casserole, cornbread dressing, macaroni and cheese, cream corn, jalapeño cheese grits, and cranberry sauce. Choose from 16 selections from dessert, including pies, chocolate mousse, white chocolate cheesecake and apple cobbler.
Cost per person: $50 for adults and $30 for children 10 and under.
Reservations: 972-960-7774

MoMo’s Pasta
The highlights: A three-course dinner available from 11 am to 10 pm. Choose from a house or Caesar salad, an entrée of turkey, chicken or pasta and tiramisu for dessert. The regular menu will be available as well.
Cost per person: $24.95
Reservations: 214-521-3009

The Pyramid Restaurant
The highlights: In a four-course prix fixe dinner from 6-10 pm, chef Brian Armstrong serves traditional Thanksgiving favorites such as cauliflower bisque, butternut squash, cranberry and frisée salad, turkey with brioche and chanterelle stuffing, and white chocolate and pumpkin cheesecake.
Cost per person: $55
Reservations: 214-720-5249

Second Floor Bistro
The highlights: Second Floor is serving a Thanksgiving buffet from 11 am-5:30 pm, with prime rib and turkey; an array of sides and Southern specialties; and pies, cakes and fruit.
Cost per person: $55 for adults, $25 for children 6-12 and free for kids 5 and younger
Reservations: 972-450-2978

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Eco Warrior News

Dallas restaurants doing amazing little things for the environment

Southwest Airlines

Cute bamboo cup from Southwest Airlines

One unfortunate legacy left by the pandemic has been a huge increase in the use of plastics — setting back progress that was being made pre-pandemic.

Plastics are bad. They harm everything they touch: the environment, health, food security, and economies. But they're convenient, subsidized, and in some cases necessary.

Pre-pandemic, a growing awareness started to snowball regarding the negative impact of plastics, particularly plastic straws and single-use plastic containers — and it was significant enough to make the plastics industry very nervous.

"In the two years leading up to the pandemic, the public backlash against plastic was a major concern for industry leaders," says a story about the plastics and the pandemic in The Guardian. "As a corporate executive remarked during an industry event early in 2019: 'We need to get the image of plastic in oceans out of the public’s mind. Otherwise, we could lose our social license to operate.'"

But then the pandemic came along, igniting mass hysteria about contagion, and suddenly, bans on single-use plastics that had been in the works were reversed in countries around the world: North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

“Overnight, plastics went from public enemy No. 1 to consumers asking for everything to have as much packaging as possible and to be single use," said one gleeful analyst for Shell Oil, who are a major plastics player.

The urgency of the plastics situation remains invisible to most people, lined up at the drive-thru for their coffee or Chick-Fil-A, piling up nearly 250 pounds of plastic waste every year. (That's what the average American amasses — more than any other country.) But there are nonethless pro-environment efforts being made by Dallas companies and organizations, big and small.

La Casita Bakeshop cup Revolutionary compostable cup at La Casita Bakeshop.Facebook

Dallas efforts
These Dallas restaurants and organizations are taking positive steps to fight waste, even despite the fact that it's more costly for them to do the right thing.

Plastic Free Lunch Day is November 22
In an effort to reduce the amount of single-use plastic in school cafeterias, Dallas ISD’s Food and Child Nutrition Services will participate in Plastic Free Lunch Day on November 22.

Plastic Free Lunch Day was started by middle school students in Brooklyn. The initiative was so successful that it was implemented at all New York City public schools in 2022 and has since spread and become a national observance at public schools across the country. Dallas ISD was the first in Texas to participate, when it joined up in 2022.

On this one day, in an opportunity to educate students and the community on ways to positively impact the environment, plastic items used during lunch services will be replaced with biodegradable alternatives. (Plastic cutlery, cups, and straws will be available upon request for the crybabies.)

Southwest Airlines bamboo cup
Southwest Airlines Co., the Dallas-based airline, has introduced a new bamboo cup for inflight cold beverages, and a wood stir stick in place of a plastic stick. The airline expects the new items to reduce its inflight single-use plastics by more than 1.5 million pounds annually.

In July 2024, Southwest transitioned to a paper overwrap for its napkins made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled materials — fully eliminating plastic from this service item. The airline is making an effort to eliminate single-use plastics from inflight service by 2030.

La Casita Bakeshop compostable cups
La Casita Bakeshop, the award-winning bakery and cafe operation, recently debuted fabulous new cups that are 100 percent compostable, soil- and marine-biodegradable, breaking down naturally after 90 days. and are made from natural materials.

"We are always trying to find ways to be more environmentally friendly and this is a big way we can," they said in their post announcing the new cups. "We just want to be proud of our paper trail and being a restaurant it's hard to do that."

Smoothie King biodegrable cups
Smoothie King, the Dallas-based smoothie chain, previously used styrofoam cups, but began testing a biodegradable cup in 2019. They now offer it as the default choice. They're using Vio Foam, specially made cups that biodegrade 92 percent in four years. They'll still accommodate whiny selfish customers who insist on getting a plastic cup instead, but their Vio foam cup not only helps the environment, it also keeps their smoothies cold a little longer.

Kate Weiser Recycle Box Program
Kate Weiser, the Dallas chocolatier, sells its gorgeous eye-catching bon-bons in a variety of boxes, from 4 pieces all the way up to 35 pieces. (OK, they'll sell them individually, too, but who goes to a chocolate shop and buys a single chocolate?) They have a program where you can bring your empty box to the store and get a refill and get 5 percent off. (Weiser amusingly calls it a "secret hack.")

Dude Sweet Chocolate freezer packaging
Dude Sweet Chocolate, the Oak Cliff chocolatier, has a next-level campaign in which they will accept cold-ship packaging you've received in the mail and re-use it. Say, for example, that you ordered an 8-pack of ice cream pints from Double Rainbow in San Francisco, and it arrived in a box with freezer packs and a foil liner. You can drop that packaging off at Dude Sweet's factory location at 1340 Inwood Rd., and they'll re-use it in one way or another when they're doing shipments of their chocolate.

Note: Whether you're putting it in the blue bin or the gray bin, your plastic is not being recycled. The best course when it comes to plastic, especially single-use plastic, is to not use it at all.

sustainability