14 DC Restaurants That Have Thanksgiving Dinner Covered This Year
From turkey with all the fixings and fanciful spreads to plant-based menus.
Skip brining a whole turkey or stressing about sides this year. Several of DC’s top restaurants will offer feasts of epic proportions this holiday with both dine-in or take-out service (just be sure to hide all those takeout containers and plate it like you made it).
No matter what your ideal Thanksgiving looks like, from vegan and vegetarian options to fried chicken instead of turkey, there is certainly a DMV restaurant that has got you covered with a picture-perfect spread. So, go ahead and toss tradition aside, and check out our list of all the best restaurants providing a Thanksgiving feast this year.
Beefsteak
This lunchtime staple may not be your first thought when selecting a Thanksgiving menu, but chef Jose Andres and John White want you to know that vegetables can take center stage on the Thanksgiving table. The vegetarian-centric spread includes a whole roasted cauliflower, veggie-based dips and spreads, and more. Order the entire feast for $150 or pick up some a la carte sides if you’re in a pinch.
Bistro Bis
James Beard award-winning Chef Jeffrey Buben and his team are serving up a Thanksgiving a la carte menu that includes heritage turkey breast with sweet potato puree and apple, fennel, and chestnut stuffing. The restaurant is also continuing its annual pie sale for $25.95 each with three flavors—lemon chess, bourbon pecan, and pumpkin spice—for pickup or delivery on Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 5 pm.
How to book: Via Tock
Café Riggs
For family visiting town, Riggs Hotel is one of the swankiest overnight stays, with a lobby bar and restaurant that caters to all of your Thanksgiving needs. Dinner is priced at $80 per head and includes your choice of starters and shareable dishes, including the traditional—thyme and mustard roasted turkey breast or slow-braised turkey thigh—or more succulent picks like brioche and foie gras stuffing and smoked duck.
How to book: Via SevenRooms
Fryer’s Roadside
Those looking for an early preview of what’s to come at this soon-to-reopen Silver Spring chicken shack can order a Thanksgiving spread courtesy of chefs Edward Reavis and Jennifer Meltzer. Each to-go meal is designed to feed a family of four and includes a choice of whole fried chicken or Maryland Southern Country fried chicken. Priced at $125, the menu also includes Hawaiian rolls, potato salad, mac ‘n cheese, garlic string beans, gravy, and banana pudding. Pre-orders must be placed by November 20 and will be available for pick up on Wednesday, November 23. Delivery is available for an additional charge.
The Irish Inn
This historic tavern located next to Glen Echo Park has been a family destination for decades, and it’s known for serving up a special Thanksgiving feast annually. The three-course option is priced at a very reasonable $60 per person with a kid-friendly two-course version for $30. Dishes include traditional American and Irish staples—from sliced turkey to salmon and Guinness beef stroganoff. Best of all, after consuming all those carbs, you can walk it off with a scenic stroll down the C&O Canal towpath, adjacent to the restaurant.
Lincoln
For an option that’s sure to please everyone at the table, head to Lincoln’s 12th annual feast. After choosing a starter course from options like French onion soup and lobster hush puppies, head to the carving stations to roast beef, honey-brined turkey, and quine and mustard-glazed wild salmon. Did we mention the unlimited sides? Delicious options include mac ‘n cheese, brioche stuffing, roasted cauliflower, and pumpkin spice cake for dessert. The restaurant can accommodate large groups and prices are $65 per adult and $25 for kids 12 and under.
Michele’s
For a more party-centric spot to celebrate both Thanksgiving Eve (aka Drinksgiving) and Thanksgiving, head to chef Matt Baker’s restaurant inside the Eaton Hotel. On Wednesday, quell your holiday nerves with a very fun Thanksgiving Eve throwback party in tribute to the early aughts. Bar Director Judy Elahi has created a menu of 2000s-priced cocktails, plus Y2k tunes to celebrate. The next day, you and your crew can cure that hangover with a three-course feast for $85 per person. Thanksgiving service runs from noon to 8 pm and includes hearth-roasted oysters, heritage turkey with wild mushroom stuffing, and glazed maple pork chops.
The Pembroke
Upgrade your boring dining room for a scenic overlook of Dupont Circle this holiday. The Pembroke has stunning views from inside the Dupont Circle Hotel and offers diners a four-course menu from chef Michael Sammour. Find traditional favorites, like turkey and stuffing, plus a raw bar with oysters, prawns, stone crab claws, and ceviche shooters. For those seeking to elevate their meal experience, a sommelier can pair each course with wine from more than 150 varieties. The meal is $90 per adult, $45 per child (7-12 years old), and free for children 6 and under.
Rasika
Both locations of this luxe Indian restaurant will be open on Thanksgiving for a price-fixed menu prepared by chef Vikram Sunderam. The meal begins with butternut squash pine nut tikki, followed by a “Raan-e-turkey” with drumsticks, pumpkin seeds, cashew nut, nutmeg, and saffron. Each three-course menu is topped off with a spiced pumpkin cheesecake.
Trummer's
Though it's only 45 minutes away, a trip to Trummer’s feels like an escape to the country. This award-winning Northern Virginia restaurant is serving up a family-friendly feast from the husband-and-wife team of Victoria and Stefan Trummer. Newly appointed executive chef Zach Ridenhour plans to serve a four-course menu featuring rotisserie turkey, spit-roasted porchetta, and whole-roasted branzino with sides like cranberry relish, sweet potato mousse, and cornbread dressing. Pastry chef Amanda Seiver also has planned popular staples with unique spins, like a pumpkin pie with candied pepitas and Chantilly cream, as well as a chocolate bourbon pecan pie with spiced caramel and whipped cream. The full dine-in menu is available for $87 per person and $39 for children under 12 from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Spice Kraft Indian Bistro
Savor a six-course feast from Spice Kraft Indian Bistro, available for dine-in, pick-up, or delivery on Thanksgiving Day. This expansive menu features turkey samosas with chutney, tandoor-roasted butternut squash shorba and saffron rice pilaf, plus a mini bottle of Champagne or a pumpkin-spiced lassi. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options as well, like lasooni cauliflower and spinach pakora chaat. Both the Arlington and Alexandria restaurants are open for service from noon to 3 pm on Thanksgiving.
How to book: Online
At Shaw’s home for modern American comfort food, you can dine in or take home a spread of cozy classics. The menu includes roasted turkey with garlic, orange, and rosemary; mushroom-sage stuffing; cornbread muffins; butternut squash veloute; and more—plus, guests who decide to visit the restaurant can add on menu favorites like the legendary pot pie poppers and burnt Basque cheesecake. The in-house meal starts at $50 per person, while the to-go option feeds two people for $90 and will be available for pick-up on November 22 and 23.
Xiquet
Why bother cooking up a feast when you’ve got the talent of chef Danny Lledó. He is offering a curated in-home dining experience for guests with either a whole or half heritage turkey, available with traditional accompaniments, dessert, and wine. Lledó will also be making a limited amount of his spit-roasted suckling pig, a Spanish delicacy, sold by the pound, as an additional indulgence.
How to book: Via Tock
Yasmine
The latest addition to Union Market is a Lebanese-style kebab shop run by Maydan veterans Gerald Addison, Chris Morgan, and Said Haddad. The trio has a special to-go Thanksgiving menu that serves four to six people and is priced at $250. Each spread includes plenty of pita and toum, plus bone-in turkey breast and drumsticks cooked in the style of farouj (brined, marinated in sumac, garlic, and olive oil, then slow-roasted). Plus, find other Lebanese staples like Lebanese rice and lentils with crispy onions and stewed chickpeas called Balila. Orders are available for pick-up on Thanksgiving Eve from 10 am to 2 pm.