NYC's Best Restaurants For Thanksgiving Dinner
Going out for Thanksgiving dinner is amazing: you get all the camaraderie and none of the clean-up. Here are our choices for the best restaurants serving dinner on the big day. It's not too late to make a reservation! By Jessica Allen/John Friia
Asiate
80 Columbus Circle
New York, NY 10023
212-805-8881
www.mandarinoriental.com
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People can experience a luxurious and elegant Thanksgiving dinner at Asiate in Mandarin Oriental New York with their three-course lunch and four-course dinner options. The $145-per-person dinner includes Smoked Nantucket Bay Scallops with cauliflower chawanmushi, capers and vintage soy, Porcini Bisque and Heritage Turkey with grilled sweet potato puree, foie gras stuffing and cranberry sauce. Not only will diners rave about the cuisine, but will be speechless of the views overlooking Central Park and the skyline.
Park Avenue Autumn
360 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10010
212-951-7111
www.parkavenyc.com
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Transforming with the change of seasons, Park Avenue Autumn is the popular NoMad restaurant that changes its name and menus to suit the seasons. Executive Chef Zene Flinn crafted a mouthwatering four-course Thanksgiving dinner that brings the ingredients of the fall to each plate. For $85 per person, people can order some of their signature dishes, including Carnival Squash and Ricotta with pears, pancetta and burnt honey, as well as traditional turkey with sausage stuffing and cranberry sauce. The holiday meal is not complete without a sweet touch, including Candy Apple Crostata, with maple bourbon pecan ice cream, or Sticky Toffee Pudding, with caramelized bananas and vanilla ice cream.
Jams
1414 Sixith Avenue
New York, NY 10019
212-703-2007
www.jamsrestaurant.com
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As the annual Thanksgiving parade passes along Sixth Avenue, people can enjoy a breakfast buffet at Jams located in 1 Hotel Central Park. With Jonathan Waxman at the helm, the restaurant's holiday buffet is $35 per person, which includes Spiced French Toast Skewers with maple syrup and pecan crunch, as well as a Tuscan Kale Frittata, with kabocha squash and goat cheese. People spending the day at the hotel can indulge on the pre-fixe dinner for $75 per person, which includes their Roasted Turkey Breast with braised turkey leg, sourdough bread pudding, orange cranberry sauce and giblet gravy.
The Late Late
159 East Houston Street
New York, NY 10002
646-861-3342
www.thelatelate.com
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While many New Yorkers will be celebrating Thanksgiving with their families, there are some that will not be able to travel home. The Late Late, a Lower East Side hot spot, is hosting their Third Annual Ex-Pat Thanksgiving Feast. For $50, guests will be given a two-hour open bar and a traditional Thanksgiving plate. Throughout the evening, there will be a DJ spinning the sounds people are thankful for this year.
Miss Lily's
Various Locations
www.misslilys.com
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Miss Lily's is offering a unique holiday dinner at their East Village and SoHo locations. The traditional Thanksgiving spread includes jerk-style turkey, stuffing, mac n' cheese and vegetables. Continuing the Caribbean style, Miss Lilly's serves exotic cocktails to wash down all the turkey, including the "Tempted to Touch" with hibiscus lemonade, soju, mint and bitters.
The Ribbon
20 West 72nd Street
New York, NY 10023
212-787-5656
www.theribbonnyc.com
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Head to the Upper West Side for The Ribbon's Thanksgiving dinner. Offering beloved holiday favorites, The Ribbon serves Rotisserie Turkey that is served with Roasted Yams, Brussels Sprouts, Traditional Stuffing, Gravy, Mashed Potatoes and Cranberries. Diners can also order Arctic Char with Orange Braised Endives as well as dessert specials like fried to order Apple-Cinnamon Donuts. People can pair one of their seasonal cocktails with the meal, including the Spiced Apple cocktail with rum, rye, fresh pressed apple juice, clove syrup, lime juice and garnished with spices.
New York Yankees Steakhouse
7 West 51st Street
New York, NY
646-307-7910
www.NYYSteak.com
Nothing says an American Thanksgiving than celebrating at a traditional New York steakhouse. The New York Yankees Steakhouse is offering a traditional three-course holiday meal for $65 per person, which includes mushroom risotto, New York Yankees Signature ribeye, pumpkin pie and butternut squash bisque. Before heading finishing the meal, diners can indulge in pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream or apple crisp with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Delmonico's Kitchen
207 West 36th Street
New York, NY 10001
212-695-5220
www.delmonicoskitchen.com
Chic and stylish collide with historic roots at Delmonico's Kitchen, located just steps away from the finish line of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. For $80 per person, patrons can dig into signature dishes and holiday favorites, including Autumn Butternut Squash Risotto, Organic Salt Water-Brined Roast Turkey and their renowned Delmonico's Baked Alaska.
Bustan
487 Amsterdam Avenue
New York, NY 10024
212-595-5050
www.bustannyc.com
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Thanksgiving is receiving a Mediterranean makeover at the Upper West Side's Bustan. Combining holiday staples with exotic flavors, Bustan is serving up butternut squash soup with pistachio crusted goat cheese and apple crostini, and sweet potato latkes with seasoned Lebanese strained yogurt. Heartier dishes include the Berkshire pork belly terracotta, prepared famously in a bread dome and baked in the taboon. The turkey receives Bustan's particular brand of Mediterranean flair, served with pita and Jerusalem artichoke stuffing, cranberry-pomegranate relish & veal demi-glace gravy.
Betony
41 West 57th Street
New York, NY
http://www.betony-nyc.com
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While you might blow your budget at Betony, you'll get a meal to remember for years to come. The space itself is majestic and lovely, while the food . . . well, the modern American dishes on offer will make you ignore the space. On Thanksgiving, the restaurant has a three-course or four-course meal, with unlimited accompaniments and desserts. That's right: unlimited. Better bring out your nicest elastic-waist pants for this one. Reservations can be made between 1 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Hill Country
30 West 26th Avenue
New York, NY
http://www.hillcountryny.com
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Barbecue for Thanksgiving? Sure, why not? On Thanksgiving Day, you can nosh on such dishes as pit-smoked turkey with pan gravy, beef brisket, pork spare ribs, stuffing made with Texas toast, green bean casserole, skillet cornbread, sweet potato bourbon mash, and cheddar mac and cheese. For dessert? A big slice of bourbon pecan pie, pumpkin pie and heaping portions of banana pudding. Dinner service begins at 12 p.m. and goes until 8 p.m.
Meadowsweet
149 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY
http://www.meadowsweetnyc.com
Mom and grandma might be excellent cooks, but does either have a Michelin star? If a gourmet meal is what you're after, then Meadowsweet is where to go. The three-course dinner includes crispy baby artichokes, scallops, tajarin and black truffle, pan-roasted cod, duck breast, venison, roasted turkey, and a pecan pie tart, fresh from the kitchen helmed by Polo Dobkin, who received a 2015 and 2016 Michelin star. Dinner runs from 2 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Rock Center Cafe
Rockefeller Center
20 West 50th Street
New York, NY
https://www.patinagroup.com/rock-center-cafe
Whether you plan to skate or just watch, park yourself at Rock Center Cafe and enjoy a Thanksgiving feast. The views of the iconic skating rink simply can't be beat. Oh, and the restaurant's decorations featuring prints by Andy Warhol ain't so bad either. The three-course menu includes Atlantic salmon, short ribs, pasta, seafood stew, and, of course, turkey. There's also a separate (cheaper) menu for children.
John Friia is a freelance journalist and native New Yorker writing about food, drinks and lifestyle. You can follow his adventures on Instagram.
Jessica Allen blogs at We Heart New York.