The old-fashioned concept of Thanksgiving has Mom in the kitchen for days, baking, mashing, roasting. That's still a lovely dream that some people get to enjoy.
But for the rest of us who have neither the time nor the inclination to host a big dinner, restaurants come to the rescue. Some do lunch, some do dinner. Some even offer the whole thing to-go.
We share these options and will continue to add to this list as the days count down.
Asador
Rustic three-course meal with choice of soup or salad, entrée and a dessert, with an optional bowl of rum punch for the table for an additional $25. Courses include pumpkin soup or squash salad; turkey or scallops; and pecan tart or crème brulee. 12-7 pm. $50 per person. 214-267-4815.
CBD Provisions
A la carte menu features holiday-friendly dishes such as a pork shoulder with hominy, green chiles, and jicama, or Wagyu rib steak and butcher's steak with mole poblano, summer squash and calabacitas. Chef Michael Sindoni's holiday specials include roasted cushaw squash with Gulf crab, candied pecans and ricotta; turkey breast with leg-and-thigh sausage, cornbread stuffing and collards; and kabocha squash cheesecake with marshmallow and candied pecans.
Chicken Scratch
Thanksgiving feast to go includes 12 pounds of smoked turkey, 12 pounds of smoked ham, four sides and gravy for $250. A la carte items include turkey, ham, mushroom gravy, cranberry-orange relish, collard greens, cornbread-sausage stuffing and buttermilk biscuits. Last day to order is November 22; pick-up is on November 27, from 8 am-12 pm. Call 214-749-1112.
Clay Pigeon
Thanksgiving to-go menu highlights include smoked turkey, beef tenderloin, cornbread sage stuffing, roasted root vegetables, sweet potato casserole, green beans amandine, Brussels sprouts and glazed carrots. Desserts include pumpkin, pecan and apple. All orders must be placed by noon Friday, November 14, and picked up no later than 8 pm on Wednesday, November 26.
Cook Hall
Festive, family-style four-course meal with butternut squash soup, turkey breast, scallops, squash gratin and pumpkin ice cream sundae. $34 per adult, $15 for children 12 and under. 1-9 pm. Call 214-297-4111.
East Hampton Sandwich Co.
A holiday-inspired Thanksgiving sandwich debuts on November 10. This seasonal sandwich has turkey breast, greens, crispy onions, black cherry compote and sage aioli.
Eden
Buffet with turkey and smoked ham carving station, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with brown sugar and cinnamon, sautéed squash with basil, mushrooms, and onions, mushroom salad, roasted vegetable salad with feta, potato salad, deviled eggs, soups, salads, and desserts including pumpkin, apple and pecan pies, coconut cream cake and fruit dipped in chocolate. Buffet runs from 11:30 am-9:30 pm and is $40 for adults and $17 for children.
Ellerbe Fine Foods
"Everything but the bird" take-out menu includes mashed potatoes, butternut squash and Gruyere bread pudding, creamed spinach, pecan pie, and crème fraiche tarts. Orders must be placed by Friday, November 21. Dishes are available for pick-up or delivery on Wednesday, November 26, and until noon on Thursday, November 27.
Fearing's Restaurant
Three-course menu includes quail, Waldorf salad, tangerine-glazed turkey with tortilla dressing, and Nantucket Bay scallops on tubetti pasta. A special dessert trio includes chocolate pecan pie with chocolate glaze. Hours are 11:15 am-3 pm and 5-8 pm. Price is $100 for adults and $30 for children 12 and under.
FM Smoke House
Smoked beer can turkeys are 13-pound birds cooked over a pecan and hickory wood mix for several hours and steamed from the inside with Franconia Dunkel; they're $59 each. Beans, smoked corn and mashed potatoes to-go are $15 for six to eight servings. Mac and cheese is $25 for six to eight servings. Orders must be received by Friday, November 21; pick-up is Wednesday, November 26, 11 am-6 pm. Pick-up can also be arranged at Holy Grail Pub in Plano by request. Call 972-752-6633.
The Grape
Thanksgiving feast to-go includes turkey dinner from $180-$330, with choice of sides. Brown sugar-maple glazed hams are $85 each. Sides include maple whipped sweet potatoes; sour cream and chive mashed potatoes; Luscher's sausage and cornbread stuffing; sage, golden raisin and Texas shiitake bread stuffing; green beans with tomatoes and toasted almonds; mushroom soup; and creamy corn with roasted red peppers — available in small or large $12-$14. Pecan pie, pumpkin pie and caramel apple crisp are $25 each. Orders must be placed by Saturday, November 22, and will be available for pick-up on Wednesday, November, 26, from 2-5 pm. Call 214-828-1981.
Green Grocer
Fully-cooked Thanksgiving dinners with choiced of turkey breast or ham, in 5-side and 8-side packages, as well as a la carte options. Sides include creamed kale, brown butter mashed potatoes, roasted delicata squash with chili lime vinaigrette, Brussel sprouts with bacon, whipped sweet potatoes and more. Five-side packages with either turkey breast or ham (turkey breasts are approximately 5-6 lbs. each, smoked boneless hams are approximately 6-7 lbs. each) are $179.99; with eight sides, $235.99. Orders must be placed by November 22 and can be picked up November 26 between 10 am and 8 pm. Order online at www.shop.greengrocerdallas.com or at Green Grocer.
Highland Park Cafeteria
Special holiday hours run from 10:30 am-3 pm, with a $13.99 dinner that includes choice of roasted turkey, ham, squash casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread dressing, candied yams, green bean casserole, zucchini muffins, deviled eggs, Waldorf salad, ambrosia, lime whip, coconut meringue pie, pumpkin pie, cherry pie with crumb top, pecan pie, rhubarb pie, apple pie, German chocolate cake, coconut cake, carrot cake and more. Order by Monday, November 24, with pickup available all day Tuesday and Wednesday, as well as Thursday morning.
Holy Grail Pub
Special Thanksgiving Day menu includes four courses with optional beer pairings. Choose from brie en croute or smoked corn chowder with chorizo and jalapeño corn waffle; arugula salad with feta and walnuts or roasted root vegetables with goat cheese dressing; fried turkey breast with mashed potatoes, almond green beans and smoked porter gravy or lamb chops with sweet potatoes and endive. For dessert, there is pumpkin cheesecake or bread pudding. Price is $35 per person, plus $15 for beer pairing. Hours are noon-7 pm. Call 972-377-6633.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Thanksgiving-themed burger features a sage pesto turkey patty, Brussels sprout salad, jalapeno cornbread stuffing, cranberry ginger chutney and Gouda cheese. Available through November 30 for $11.
Knife
Three-course menu includes choice of appetizers such as butternut squash bisque, arugula salad with Iberico pork and shaved Parmesan, or fettuccine Bolognese. Entrees include turkey with sweet potato casserole, salmon, filet mignon or pork chop with collard greens. For dessert, choose from pumpkin panna cotta with pumpkin doughnuts, dark chocolate tart or apple pie macaron. Each table receives a pecan pie boxed and wrapped to take home or eat in, and each guest receives a pumpkin coffee cake muffin. 11 am-4 pm. $75 per person. Call 214-443-9339.
La Madeleine
A catered feast for 20 is delivered hot and set up at your holiday office event or party for $10.99 per person. The menu includes turkey breast, cranberry apple stuffing, potatoes gratin, green beans Almondine, cranberry orange chutney, sourdough petit pain and butter. A family feast with dessert for four or eight people is available for pick up to heat and serve at home. It costs $13.75 per person.
Landmark Restaurant at Warwick Melrose Hotel
Thanksgiving feast features nearly 50 dishes, including Cajun corn salad, vegetable crudités, sushi rolls, crab claws, turkey, salmon with cranberry-almond basmati rice, omelets, waffles, jerk chicken with dirty rice, garlic and shallot whipped potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes with marshmallow, green beans, broccoli and rice casserole, eggs Benedict, and biscuits and gravy. Desserts include carrot cake, chocolate cake and white chocolate bread pudding, as well as pumpkin, pecan, French apple and buttermilk pies. Hours are 11 am-3 pm. Price is $60 for adults, $24 for children ages 5-12 and complimentary for children younger than 5. Call 214-224-3152.
La Popular Tamale House
Onf of three free Thanksgiving offerings (along with Norma's and Slow Bone), La Popular serves lunch with turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing and tamales. 1-3 pm.
Malai Kitchen
Whole coconut cream pie with fixings, including tamarind caramel sauce and coconut gelato, for $35. Must order at least 24 hours in advance; call 214-599-7857. The restaurant is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, so orders must be picked up the day before. Thanksgiving, orders must be placed by 10 pm November 25 and picked up by 10 pm November 26. Available through January 1, 2015.
Slow Bone
Free Thanksgiving lunch includes fried and barbecued turkey, dressing and sides. 1-4 pm.
Norma's Cafe
Oak Cliff Norma's annual free Thanksgiving dinner includes turkey and dressing with gravy and cranberry sauce; mashed potatoes; English peas; salad; rolls; fruit and dessert. Sponsors include Ben E. Keith, Oak Farms Dairy, Classic Caps and Embroidery, Centennial Radiator Service, Hiland Dairy, Community Coffee, Emergency Ice, Varidoc, Evan’s Engraving, Admiral Linen and Uniform Service, and Freedman Meats. 11 am-1 pm.
Pecan Lodge
Thanksgiving to-go includes smoked turkey, smoked ham with apricot-molasses glaze, beef tenderloin, whole brisket, ribs or handmade smoked sausage links ($27-$179). Last day to order is Thursday, November 20. Orders must be picked up Wednesday, November 26 from 11 am-4 pm.
Pyramid Restaurant at Fairmont Dallas
In addition to brunch favorites such as omelets, waffles and granola parfaits, the Thanksgiving menu offers turkey with cornbread and chorizo stuffing, flat iron steak, pumpkin flan, petite pecan pies and more. Everyone gets a complimentary mimosa or sparkling wine. Prices are $69 for adults, $49 for seniors, $35 for children 6-12 and free for kids 5 and under. Seating times are 11 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm and 2 pm. For reservations, call 214-720-5249. Thanksgiving to-go meals with turkey, traditional sides and desserts begin at $130 for four.
Smoke
Thanksgiving feast includes choice of prime rib, ham with red eye gravy or smoked turkey with mushroom-marjoram gravy, and a family-style spread of fixings. A la carte options include scallops, pork spare ribs, clams and cabbage, lettuce and fennel salad and more. Dessert includes apple cobbler, buttermilk-pumpkin pie and Key lime meringue pie. 11 am until 8 pm. $30 per person. Call 214-393-4141.
Stampede 66
Thanksgiving to go dinner includes smoked turkey, brisket, chorizo stuffing and gravy and barbecue sauce. Side dishes include green beans with tomatillo butter, whipped sweet potatoes, cranberry mojo and pull-apart rolls. Whole pies in either apple-cream cheese or pumpkin-pecan are available for an additional $38. Last day to order is November 21 at 5 pm. Pick-up is Tuesday November 25 from 3-8 pm or Wednesday November 26 from 3-10 pm. Call 214-550-6966.
Texas Spice at Omni Dallas Hotel
Brunch runs from 10 am-1:45 pm and includes mimosas, sangria or bloody Marys, with a seasonal menu including turkey, Texas hog, butternut squash soup, local cheese and sausages, plus traditional breakfast and children's menu items. Dinner from 6-10 pm includes the existing menu as well as a special turkey dinner with stuffing, butternut squash soup, and apple or pumpkin pie for dessert. Adults are $55, and children 5-12 are $19.
Toulouse
Special a la carte menu for Thanksgiving includes porcini porri, arugula salad, risotto with butternut squash, leg of lamb stuffed with prosciutto, and branzino with cauliflower au gratin and Brussel sprouts. Dessert includes pumpkin cheesecake or flourless chocolate cake. 11 am-8 pm.
III Forks
Steakhouse hosts a four-course feast, with choices for each. Dishes include tomato soup; III Forks signature salad; turkey with cranberry-orange relish; sausage sage cornbread dressing; creamed potatoes; maple-glazed yams; tenderloin with whipped potatoes, creamed corn and sugar snap peas; and flounder with basmati rice and butternut squash with apples. For dessert, there's pumpkin pie torte, chestnut ice cream with chocolate Grand Marnier glaze, chocolate pecan pie or chocolate caramel crunch cake. Meal is served 11 am-8 pm. Price is $45.95 for adults and $16.95 for children.
Urban Rio
Take-out holiday dinners include the signature Shea's tamale pie casserole and Mexican lasagna featuring corn tortillas layered with cheese, picadillo beef, refried beans, peppers and onions. Orders are available for pick-up or delivery (for an additional fee) and must be made at least 48 hours in advance. The final day for ordering for Thanksgiving is Monday, November 24, for pick-up on Wednesday, November 26.
