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