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 refined jacket-required feasts. Read on for a sampling of Thanksgiving offerings.
775 Washington St.; 212-924-9700
After the Macy's parade, head down to Jonathan Waxman's West Villager for an Italian twist on the classic Thanksgiving dinner – think winter greens salad with shaved beets and capers, crispy gnocchi with turkey breast, sweet potatoes, roasted cauliflower, pomegranate-cranberry sauce and more. Vegetarian options are available (3–8 PM; $65 per person).
25 W. 56th St.; 212-332-0500
At Waldy Malouf's Midtown New American, the regular menu will be replaced by a four-course prix fixe that includes pumpkin-apple soup, Northern Atlantic blue point oysters and New York State "Bourbon Red" heirloom turkey (1–8 PM; $79 per adult; $35 per child under 10; free for children under four).
1430 Sixth Ave.; 212-521-6125
Laurent Tourondel's swanky New American in the Ritz-Carlton Central Park is hosting a three-course holiday prix fixe with starters like white mushroom risotto (white truffles are an additional charge), goat-cheese-and-duck-confit salad and main courses such as roast turkey and bacon-wrapped salmon. Desserts include apple cake and hazelnut-pumpkin pie (1–9 PM; $95 per adult; $55 per child under 10).
Craft, 43 E. 19th St.; 212-780-0880
Craftsteak, 85 10th Ave.; 212-400-6699
Tom Colicchio's Flatiron flagship and Chelsea steakhouse are going family-style for Thanksgiving. The amuse, first course, side courses and dessert will all be served communally, but each diner will get to choose between traditional turkey or Scottish salmon for the main course (2–8 PM; $115 per adult; $65 per child under 11).
11 Madison Ave.; 212-889-0905
Once again the only Danny Meyer restaurant open for the holiday, this Madison Square Parker will be serving a four-course prix fixe in its art deco halls all day. Included are starters like foie gras torchon with Honey Crisp apples and cinnamon meringue, big eye tuna with pickled butternut squash and pumpkin seed oil and desserts such as Bosc pear tart with chestnuts and bourbon, and a white chocolate crémeux with cranberry confit and cocoa. Main course choices include turkey with butternut squash and cornbread stuffing or seared skate, plus a slew of sides for the whole table (1–8 PM; $135 per person).
31 Great Jones St.; 212-253-5700
At this always bustling NoHo spot, the Thanksgiving dinner features three courses for each diner as well as cranberry relish, Brussels sprouts with pearl onions and garlic mashed potatoes to share. Main courses include a roast turkey with giblet gravy and cornbread stuffing and a red-wine-and-port-braised beef short rib, not to mention various desserts and vegetarian options (2–8 PM; $60 per adult; $30 per child under 12).
5 E. 20th St.; 212-460-9100
Though the details are still being decided, Cyril Renaud's Flatiron French goes American for the day, serving the traditional turkey in its two Thanksgiving prix fixe menus that are both available all day (12:30–9 PM; $85 per person for three courses; $102 per person for five courses).
30 W. 26th St.; 212-255-4544
Order your whole pit-smoked turkey to go at this bustling Chelsea roadhouse. Dishes can be purchased à la carte or as part of a packaged meal including choice of sides, cornbread and pie. Orders must be placed by November 24th (pick up between 9 AM–noon; $175 for a five–eight person meal; $255 for a nine–12 person meal; download an order form PDF here or request one by calling 212-255-4544).
38 MacDougal St.; 212-475-7500
At this SoHo New American newcomer, the key word on Thanksgiving will be tradition. The restaurant is planning a four-course prix fixe traditional turkey dinner with all that it entails (2–8 PM; $50 per adult; $25 for children 12 and under).
Le Cirque, 151 E. 58th St.; 212-644-0202
Osteria del Circo, 120 W. 55th St.; 212-265-3636
Celebrate the holiday with the Maccionis – Le Cirque is offering a turkey-loving four-course menu all day (noon–8 PM; $105 per person), while the more family-oriented Osteria is doing the same and has a children's menu on hand (1–9 PM; $68 per adult; $25 per child under 12).
60 Thompson St.; 212-219-2000
This hip SoHo Thai is offering a twist on the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Dishes included in the four- and five-course menus are corn-and-dashi soup with chile oil and scallions, turkey osso buco in massaman curry with traditional trimmings and hazelnut-and-maple cake with burnt-honey ice cream (4–10 PM; $45 for four courses; $55 for five courses).
207 Second Ave.; 212-254-3500
David Chang's people will cook your Thanksgiving dinner, but you'll have to eat it at home because they only do take out for the holiday. Serving up to eight people, the Momofuku dinner may not have any turkey, but it does feature bo ssäm (a whole slow-roasted pork shoulder), apple stuffing, fried Brussels sprouts, sweet potato pureé and cashew-blondie pie ($285; to see the full menu click here; to order call 212-228-0031 or e-mail catering@momofuku.com).
160 E. 46th St.; 212-883-7373
At Ken Aretsky’s Midtown chophouse, Thanksgiving is served as a three-course prix fixe; dishes include sea-salt-cured Hudson Valley foie gras, mushroom-and-beluga lentil soup, roast turkey with fixings, roast salmon, pumpkin pie and apple strudel (2–6 PM; $85 per adult; $40 per child).
1032 Lexington Ave.; 212-717-5252
The three-course menu at this Upper East Side bistro and patisserie is capped by seasonal creations such as roasted pears with maple syrup and crème fraîche ice cream (noon–7 PM; $62 per person).
70 Prince St.; 212-219-8570
Peter Hoffman's SoHo New American is offering a four-course Greenmarket-inspired menu with traditional and less-traditional options including entree choices like turkey, venison and fish (2–7:30 PM; $85 per person).
156 E. Second St.; 212-477-7600
At this East Village Italian, the communal tables will be covered by a Thanksgiving feast of butternut squash soup, sweet mashed potatoes, homemade sausage and porcini mushrooms, chestnuts and raisins, cranberry relish, pumpkin pie and, of course, turkey and gravy; take out and delivery is available too (1 PM–midnight; $34.95 per person).
1 E. 15th St.; 212-647-1515
This French-American oasis off Union Square is featuring a three-course menu, with the chef still deciding upon the dishes. A turkey, however, is assured (noon–9 PM; $75 per person).