These NYC restaurants will serve you a cozy Thanksgiving dinner

By Former Agent

If the idea of traveling for Thanksgiving brings to mind the dread of canceled flights, traffic jams, and family drama, why not treat yourself and stay put this year? Rather than scrambling to make last-minute travel plans at triple the regular cost, spend that time and money on a delicious meal with friends and family in town. Several restaurants across the city will happily prepare an elaborate meal for you and yours, so give thanks for the ultimate luxury: not having to do dishes!

Manhattan

Hearth (403 E 12th St., East Village)
$98 per person, optional $38 wine pairing, $49 for children age 12 and under
From 2-8:30 p.m., this homey Tuscan-American East Village restaurant is offering a three-course tasting menu. You’ll be treated to a selection for each course, including a full turkey dinner with all the fixings, though there’ll be fish and vegetarian options as well.

Carmine’s (locations in Midtown and on the Upper West Side)
$264.95-$274.95 dine-in or $259.95 take out/catering for a family-style dinner that serves 6–8
This classic Italian restaurant serves everything family-style — including Thanksgiving dinner. For less than $300, your family of six–eight people can enjoy an 18 lb. turkey, various vegetable sides, sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes, plus pie for dessert. For those who prefer pasta to turkey, the full Italian menu will also be available. If you’d rather take out than eat in, you can purchase the full Thanksgiving menu for $259.95. What could be better than enjoying a fully-catered turkey dinner in your sweatpants?

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Daniel (60 E 65th St., Midtown East)
$205 per person, optional $95 wine pairing
If ever there were an occasion to treat yourself to an expensive meal at a world-class restaurant, it’s Thanksgiving 2018! The three-course tasting menu includes such delicacies as pine nut crusted sea scallops and white truffle risotto and can choose salmon or lamb instead of turkey. All of the desserts are creative twists on traditional Thanksgiving sweets, like light crème fraîche mousse with butternut squash confit and huckleberry compotée. It won’t be cheap, but it’ll cost less than a flight home — and you’ll get to sleep in your own bed.

Candle Café West (2427 Broadway, Upper West Side)
$75 per person, optional $30 wine pairing
They say New York City has it all: including a traditional Thanksgiving dinner that’s completely vegan. The extensive menu includes everything from classic sides like Brussels sprouts to a choice of entrees including porcini-crusted tofu and cornmeal-pumpkin seed crusted tempeh. Most options on the menu can also be made gluten-free to accommodate all your food restrictions.

Bubby’s (Multiple locations in Manhattan)
$75 per person, $50 for children under the age of 10
If your brood is decidedly not vegetarian, head to this downtown favorite for a classic holiday menu, family-style. You can choose between roasted turkey and glazed ham, plus pick from a selection of sides including candied sweet potatoes, cornbread stuffing and mashed potatoes, then finish it all off with a seasonal pie. The best part is that the restaurant donates a portion of its Thanksgiving proceeds to the New York City Rescue Mission. Just make sure you make reservations ahead of time — tables at both locations fill up fast.

The Dutch (131 Sullivan St., Soho)
$130 per person, $60 for children age 10 and under
For those looking to class it up this holiday, head to this Soho joint where you can get a traditional Thanksgiving meal with an upscale flair. The main course is served family-style, and includes turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, Brussels sprouts, gravy and more. Each diner, however, can choose from a selection of appetizers like oysters, steak tartare or gnocchi with duck ragu and a skilled sommelier suggests a wine pairing for each course.

Boulud Sud (20 W 64th St., Upper West Side)
$105 per person, $45 for children under age 12
This uptown establishment puts a Mediterranean twist on their holiday meal, if you want to try something a little different his year. While you can order turkey and all entrees come with stuffing and cranberry compote, the prix fixe menu provides options like za’atar grilled Mediterranean sea bass, Egyptian lamb Cleopatra and a vegetarian pumpkin caramelle. The starters range from Italian fare like chicory salad to octopus and guinea hen, and desserts include an Italian apple cake and pumpkin bougatsa.

Momofuku Bo Ssam (East 13th
Street, 207 2nd Ave., East Village
)
$375 for a family-style dinner that serves 10
One of the best things about New York City is, of course, takeout! If you want to celebrate the holiday in the comfort of your own home but don’t want to cook a thing, order your meal from David Chang’s East Village restaurant. Since this is a Chang joint, you can expect a non-traditional menu including honey glazed pork shoulder instead of turkey, three different sides and a decadent sweet potato tres leches cake for dessert.

Queens

Marbella (220–33 Northern Blvd., Bayside)
$31.95 per person, $19.95 for children
This Spanish restaurant may offer the best Thanksgiving deal in all of New York City. You can enjoy a full turkey dinner plus appetizers like chorizo, fried calamari or baked clams and after dinner, you get a choice of pumpkin or apple pie, just like at your grandmother’s house.

Gastroteca Astoria (33–02 34th Ave., Astoria)
$49 per person
If some members of your party are craving turkey but others would prefer pasta, check out this Astoria Italian restaurant. You can enjoy the prix fixe menu which includes turkey or porchetta and sides, plus starters like pumpkin ravioli and a choice of pies for dessert. The regular menu will also be available, which includes a wide range of traditional Italian fare like pastas and parmiaganas. The best part? For just $10, you can drink unlimited house wine.

Brooklyn

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James (605 Carlton Ave., Prospect Heights)
$90 per person
This small Prospect Heights staple is doing seatings at 2, 4 and 6 p.m., so make your reservations ahead of time if you want to experience their 3-course prix fixe menu. You can choose from a range of entrees including a vegetarian risotto, fish, braised short ribs and, of course, turkey. They’re also offering appetizers like scallops, pork belly or roasted beets, a choice of classic sides for the table and a selection of desserts from wine poached pears and to flourless chocolate tart. In other words, there’s a little something for everyone.

The Farm on Adderley (1108
Cortelyou Rd., Ditmas Park
)
$65 per person
From 12-8:30 p.m., this local favorite is serving a tasting menu that includes everything from turkey to wild rice and chanterelles to venison mince pie. It’s a great option if members of your party are vegetarian or pescatarian, but be sure you’re committed to eating here before you make reservations because there’s a $10/per person non-refundable booking fee.

Palo Santo (652 Union St. Park Slope)
$75 per person, optional $25 wine pairing, $25 kids menu
At this Pan-Latin restaurant, you can expect a creative take on your holiday meal. From 2–8 p.m., they’re offering a 5-course prix fixe menu. While the menu isn’t available online yet, there will be turkey, meat, fish and vegetarian options, guaranteeing everyone in your party will have a satisfying meal.

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Buttermilk Channel (524 Court St, Brooklyn, Carroll Gardens)
$85 per person
If your group is full of turkey-lovers, this is the place for you. You can enjoy a 3-course tasting menu including a selection of vegetable appetizers and a full turkey dinner with all the fixings, plus a selection of pies from nearby favorite Four & Twenty Blackbirds. One thing you can give thanks for (besides not having to cook) is that 15% of the restaurant’s proceeds will be donated to Neighbors Together.

Vinegar Hill House (72 Hudson Ave., Vinegar Hill)
$85 per person
For those who wish they could make it home for the holiday this year but won’t be able to, this quaint little restaurant in one of Brooklyn’s most up-and-coming neighborhoods is the next best option. Like Buttermilk Channel, this establishment is offering a full turkey dinner, but they’ll also have a vegetarian option available. There’s also a selection of pies for the table, plus a homey atmosphere that’ll make you feel like you’re eating in a family home.

Where do you plan on eating Thanksgiving dinner? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. See more at Nooklyn Stories!

All illustrations by Reyna Clarissa.