The Ultimate Thanksgiving Dining Guide
It’s hard to believe, but no sooner do we stash away our Halloween costumes than it’s time to start thinking about Thanksgiving. Not that you need to worry if you don’t have standing plans to dine on turkey and mashed potatoes at a family member’s house. Letting a great restaurant prepare a holiday feast for you is hardly a cop-out… although you’ll need to hurry if you want a shot at a table. So call in those reservations asap for Kabocha Squash Ravioli at Marc Forgione’s eponymous eatery in Tribeca, Turkey & Pretzel Dumplings at Prime Meats in Brooklyn, or a very un-Thanksgiving (albeit delicious) meal at hotspot, Pearl & Ash, with Pork Meatballs and Fluke with Sunchokes!
Market Table
With its open kitchen and artisanal ingredients lining the walls, this utterly homey, West Village spot is almost like eating at home without having to cook… or clean. You can order popular dishes this Thanksgiving, like Beet Salad with Horseradish Crème and Applejack Braised Pork Shoulder with Antebellum Grits, or go with chef David Standridge’s special set menu for $85 per person (only $25 per child). Try the Warm Sweet Potato Salad with Hazelnut Brown Butter, and Roasted Turkey with Cornbread Dressing, Wilted Greens and Giblet Gravy, followed by Pistachio Cheesecake with decadent Dark Chocolate Sauce.
Read MoreRestaurant Marc Forgione
Sure, Iron Chef Marc Forgione has two, brand new restaurants you’ll want to check out for dinner (the Laotian Khe-Yo and modern steakhouse American Cut), but we think his original, modern-rustic Tribeca eatery is the perfect place to spend Thanksgiving. For $95 per person, you’ll enjoy Kabocha Squash Ravioli with White Rabbit Bolognese or Smoked Lobster Bisque with Foie Gras Butter, Roasted Organic Turkey Breast with Dark Meat Ballotine or Cedar Planked Black Pearl Salmon, and Apple Pie Soufflé or Banana Pecan Pie Bread Pudding for dessert. And the family-style sides sound especially appealing, like Maple Whipped Sweet Potatoes, Baby Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, and Pink Peppercorn-spiced Cranberry Sauce.
Pearl and Ash
If you’re not a stickler for the expected holiday fare like turkey and candied yams, you’ll dig the globally inspired small plates at Bowery hotspot, Pearl and Ash. At $68 per person, the unique Thanksgiving menu will feature some of chef Richard Kuo’s signature dishes, like Fluke with Sunchoke and Pomegranate, Pork Meatballs with Shitake Mushrooms, Bonito and Soppressata, and Poached Egg with Trumpet Royale, Maitake, and Wakame. While the traditionalists in your family will probably prefer Kuo’s one night only special; a Roast Chicken (not turkey) for Two with Stuffing, Squash, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy and Green Beans, followed by Pumpkin and Fruit Pies.
Prime Meats
If you’re an adamant traditionalist, you’ll appreciate the affordable, $48 three-course prix fixe at the sleek Brooklyn tavern, Prime Meats. You’ll choose from starters inspired by traditional flavors and autumnal ingredients, like Finger Lake Farm Butternut Squash Soup or a Fall Mix Green Salad with Julienned Apples, Pumpkin Seeds and Walnut Vinaigrette, and then tuck into an Slow Roasted Turkey with all of the trimmings (think Pretzel Dumplings, Glazed Sweet Potatoes, Haricot Vert, Brussels Sprouts and Cippolini Onions). Conclude your all-American meal with a slice of classic Pumpkin Pie or ramekin of warm Apple Cranberry Cobbler.
City Grit
Let’s face it: For many of us, the most stressful aspect of the holidays is spending it with our crazy families. That’s where Sarah Simmons’ culinary salon, City Grit, comes in. Known for hosting themed, collaborative dinner parties with toques, like John Besh, Sean Brock and April Bloomfield, City Grit is throwing a “Friendsgiving” bash on November 23rd. For $65 per person or $455 for an 8-person table, Chef Mary Francis-Heck will serve up Southern-inspired renditions of classics such as Cranberry Sauce, Stuffing and Sweet Potatoes. And you know what the best part is? No drunken uncles around to share your most embarrassing childhood stories.
Read MoreThe Stanton Social
In addition to their fashionable, tapas-style plates, like Crabcake “Corn Dogs” and mini Lamb Souvlakis, the clubby The Stanton Social on the Lower East Side is offering a special Thanksgiving menu from 4 to 10pm. Chef Chris Santos will prepare traditional dishes with a sweet and sexy twist, like Oven Roasted Organic Turkey with Honey and Cider Butter, Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato Ravioli, Spiced Pecan and Sage Cornbread Stuffing, Pumpkin Soup Dumplings, and Skillet Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta, Chestnuts and Mustard. Craving cranberry sauce? Try the Cranberry Flower cocktail, with Hendricks Gin, fresh Lemon, Lemon Syrup, and Cranberry Compote.
Read MorePicnic
At the recently opened East Village eatery, Picnic, Chef Nicholas Nostadt is serving up a family-style Thanksgiving inspired by his midwestern roots… at a decidedly un-New York price of only $40 per person. Menu highlights include Granny’s Espresso-Glazed Sticky Rolls, Bacon-Braised Turkey Leg Confit in Cranberry BBQ sauce, Elk Sausage Stuffing with Celery Root, Field Carrots, and Hen of the Woods Mushrooms, Autumn Harvest Mash with Turnips, Kobacha Squash, Smoked Cheddar and Red Skinned Potatoes, and Pumpkin Mousse with Gingersnaps and Bourbon Whipped Cream. (Sounds like a bargain, no?!) Yum!
The Purple Yam
For an entirely unexpected take on Thanksgiving fare, check out the fun Filipino spread at The Purple Yam in Brooklyn. Chef and owner Romy Dorotan (formerly of Cendrillon in Soho) is offering a special, un-Thanksgiving a la carte menu replete with exotic flavor and spice. Instead of Butternut Squash Puree, you’ll dine on Fish Curry Soup. Instead of whole roasted Turkey, order Chicken slow-cooked in Bamboo Tubes or Quail Adobo braised in Coconut Vinegar, Garlic and Chilies. And forget about Pumpkin Pie: Unique dessert options include Persimmon Bread Pudding with Chocolate Ice Cream or Bibinka – a Rice Cake steamed in Banana Leaves.
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