Photo: Ion Sokhos
For a holiday, Thanksgiving can sure feel like a lot of work. Want to skip the shopping, cooking and cleaning this year? Then make a dinner reservation instead. There's a meal out there to suit every budget, from affordable family-friendly buffets to formal feasts. Read on for a sampling of Thanksgiving offerings.
9543 Culver Blvd., Culver City; 310-845-1700
This Culver City American is offering a three-course prix fixe organic feast featuring dishes like Weiser Farm butternut squash soup, Babe Farms little-gem-lettuce salad, slow-roasted turkey with sage and chestnut stuffing, herb and wild peppercorn tofu and a plethora of sides and pies (1–7 PM; $55 per adult; $30 per child under 12).
12950 Ventura Blvd., Studio City; 818-501-0202
This upscale Continental goes all-American with its three-course fixed-price Thanksgiving meal with dishes like cream of wild mushroom soup, arugula salad, butternut squash ravioli, turkey with stuffing, grilled filet mignon and poached Alaskan salmon, and a dessert selection that includes the house signature soufflés, both chocolate and pumpkin (2–8 PM; $58 per adult; $38 per child under 12).
2025 Ave. of the Stars, Century City; 310-551-3334
All afternoon, this hotel Californian will offer its annual "Turkey Tales" buffet that includes oysters, oven-roasted turkey, herb-crusted prime rib, scalloped corn casserole, freshly shucked blue points and citrus-marinated shrimp (noon–7 PM; $65 per adult; $28 per child five–12; free for children under four).
4451 Admiralty Way, Marina del Rey; 310-823-6395
It’s a dockside Thanksgiving with live jazz at this Marina del Rey Cal-Med, which is offering a three-course prix fixe of dishes ranging from Maine diver scallops with parsnip puree to an applewood-smoked free-range turkey with brioche and celery stuffing (1–7 PM; $68 per adult; $25 per child).
3801 E. PCH, Corona del Mar; 949-760-0331
This Corona del Mar restaurant will serve a traditional three-course feast built around oven-roasted free-range tom turkey, though roasted prime rib will be available as well (11 AM–8:30 PM; price ranges from $32–$45 depending on choice of entree).
133 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills; 310-289-7755
This Brazilian churrascaria is celebrating the holiday with its usual menu of beef, beef and more beef for those who like to feel stuffed, but don’t want to do it with tryptophan-heavy turkey (11:30 AM–10 PM; $42.50 per person for lunch, $56.50 for dinner).
8225 Beverly Blvd., West Hollywood; 323-655-6566
Once again, Suzanne Tracht's Beverly Boulevard New American is celebrating the holiday by offering a three-course meal including chestnut soup with chickpeas, oyster stew with Chinese celery and turkey with five trimmings served family-style (1–8 PM; $85 per adult; $40 per child 12 and under).
502 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica; 310-917-6671
Chef-owner Raphael Lunetta is offering a Thanksgiving meal of sweet corn chowder with king crab, pancetta-wrapped day boat scallops, butternut squash soup with duck confit, and a choice of turkey, osso buco and wild striped bass; his pumpkin pie comes with a honey mascarpone cream (2–8 PM; $68 per adult; $35 per child).
1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice; 310-399-5811
Chef-owner Joe Miller takes both a traditional and an alternative approach to Thanksgiving with a four-course meal that ranges from mustard and bay leaf–brined Shelton turkey to eastern cod and from sweet potato soup with dried cranberries to crisp pork belly and beans (1–9 PM; $58 per adult; $20 per child).
100 N. La Cienega Blvd., Beverly Hills; 310-652-2827
If what you want for Thanksgiving is prime rib, you can get it to eat-in or to-go throughout the day from this La Cienega Boulevard legend. But for those who can't bear to venture off the traditional path, there's also an option for a full feast, priced at a reasonable $29 per person, including salad, turkey, potatoes, pudding and stuffing. Another $5 gets you prime rib (12:30–8:30 PM).
1104 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica; 310-395-0881
For those who want to spend Turkey Day at the restaurant that ranks at the top of our Food Ratings, Josiah Citrin's esteemed French-American is offering a three-course repast that includes seared foie gras with an allspice-currant reduction, and lobster ravioli (with shaved white truffles for $48 extra), and of course, roast turkey served with your choice of three sides. The full menu is available here (3–7:30 PM; $89 per adult; $42 per child eight and under).
330 S. Hope St., Los Angeles; 213-680-0330
For those who demand a taste of tradition, the meal is as traditional as could be at Joachim Splichal's Downtown beefery, which in addition to the regular menu will be serving a three-course turkey dinner with all the trimmings (4–9 PM; $32 per person).
877 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles; 213-972-9279
This classic Downtown coffee shop is planning a complete Thanksgiving dinner for its customers priced at a reasonable "under $20 per person" (starting at 11 AM).
141 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles; 213-972-3331
For those who want their Thanksgiving to exude gourmet elegance, Patina is offering a four-course prix fixe including smoked striped bass, Pacific opaka fillet with polenta fries and, yes, a turkey with the fixings (noon–8 PM; $55 per adult; $30 per child).
419 Cold Canyon Rd., Calabasas; 818-222-3888
This rustic American high above the hills of Malibu will serve a four-course menu including free-range turkey prepared two ways (braised, roasted), pan-roasted Scottish salmon, New Zealand venison loin, grilled quail with bacon fricassee and more. The full menu is available here (noon–8 PM; $90 per adult; $45 per child).
111 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach; 562-499-2533
This New American at the Renaissance Long Beach Hotel is offering a three-course meal including pumpkin soup with spiced pumpkin seeds, roasted heritage turkey and Suzanne Tracht's signature pot roast (11 AM–6 PM; $52 per adult; $26 per child).