Gobble, Gobble! Dine-In or Take-Out on Thanksgiving Day . . . You Pick!
by Debra Flanagan
Tired of cooking the turkey every year? Put your feet up and let these Chicago restaurants serve up Thanksgiving dinner for the whole family
Thanksgiving is a time for family, friends and feasting—not freaking out about meal planning or burnt birds. Skip the hassle of time-consuming food prep by treating yourself and your loved ones to a Thanksgiving dinner that didn’t come from your kitchen.
Even better, there’s plenty of options on how to make the most of this special holiday meal. You can order provisions to-go, have Thanksgiving dinner catered, or do one better . . . and dine out. From smoked turkeys to pumpkin pies to all the traditional fixins’, Chicago’s best chefs have you covered. You only need to decide one thing: dine at your table or theirs?
Grocery Stores That Provide Thanksgiving Dinner in Chicago
Eataly Thanksgiving might not be an Italian tradition, but Eataly believes in giving thanks for bountiful harvests and fresh ingredients. Their turkeys are organic and raised humanely, so you can bring the signature Italian quality to your Thanksgiving feast. Complement your meal with their curated salumi & fromaggi board of cured meats and cheeses, freshly baked bread, or go for a selection of fresh seafood platters. Complete the meal with housemade Torta di Mele (apple tart) or Tiramisù della Nonna.
Pre-order before Nov. 19 by emailing Eataly at chi-catering@eataly.com. Available for pick up only November 23 & 24.
43 E. Ohio St. River North Online: eataly.com
Whole Foods Whole Foods has catered Thanksgiving meal packages for up to 12 people. They even have a vegan option for four. Meals includes sides such as green beans with roasted shallots or cranberry orange sauce. Order must be placed at least 48 hours in advance of pick-up.
Restaurants Open for Dine-In Thanksgiving Dinner in Chicago
Alinea
For the first time, world-renown Alinea is offering a Thanksgiving Dinner for either four or eight people. Indulge with baked brie en croute, roasted garlic and sage stuffing, cranberry and orange compote, and more. Be even more decadent by adding on French Winter Truffle Mac & Cheese.
Farmhouse Evanston Farmhouse is known for their hearty Midwestern comfort food, making them a great Thanksgiving Day option. Their Thanksgiving Buffet will run from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and includes classics like turkey, ham, buttermilk smashed potatoes, green bean casserole, maple candied yams and more. $44 per person, $21 for children 10 and under.
I|O Godfrey I|O Godfrey at The Godfrey Hotel invites guests to enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving buffet featuring staffed action stations. This festive meal prepared by Executive Chef Alfonso Martinez offers something for everyone. $59 for adults. $15 for kids. Additionally, I|O is offering Thanksgiving To-Go for those doing home celebrations for 8-10 people. Thanksgiving To-Go orders must be placed in advance by Nov. 23rd.
Maggiano’s
Enjoy Thanksgiving family-style at Maggiano’s. Maggiano’s is serving up a three-course menu plus balsamic tomato bruschetta compliments of the chef, two pasta dishes, and two additional sides. Add a pitcher of sangria or rum punch!
Various locations throughout Chicagoland Online:maggianos.com
River Roast What could be better than feasting riverside for Thanksgiving? River Roast will be serving up a spectacular Thanksgiving dinner featuring herb brined & roasted turkey, grilled carrots, stuffing with house sausage, whipped Yukon potatoes and more! Finish it off with carrot cake, apple cobbler or pumpkin pie. $75 per person. Kids under 10 eat free.
RPM Steak
RPM Steak‘s special Thanksgiving Feast features local turkey breast, halibut, or a prime mid-west strip steak alongside traditional holiday sides and pecan pie. The four-course holiday spread is $105 per person.
The Smith Indulge in a three-course prix fixe menu with a choice of turkey three ways—roasted breast, braised leg or turkey pot pie, along with other options for non-turkey lovers. Dinner is $75 per person and includes fixings for the whole table.
Tortoise Supper Club Have turkey or hand-carved prime rib, and save room for the iced oysters and decadent pumpkin pie, at Tortoise Supper Club's Thanksgiving Grand Buffet on Thanksgiving Day, 11:45 a.m.-8:15 p.m.
Wildfire
Enjoy a family-style Thanksgiving dinner featuring roasted turkey, glazed salmon, beef tenderloin and all the traditional side dishes. Gluten-free items will also be available. The meal costs $64.95 per person, and $29.95 for children 12 and under. If you’re entertaining family and friends at home, Wildfire is also offering a Thanksgiving Party Platter Menu of all your favorites for carryout.
Locations in Chicago, Oak Brook, Lincolnshire, Schaumburg and Glenview Online:wildfirerestaurant.com
Restaurants That Will Cater Thanksgiving Dinner in Chicago
BLVD Steakhouse Toss the apron and make room for BLVD. Chef Johnny Besch has prepared a special menu full of Thanksgiving favorites for pickup Nov. 23 with offerings like confit turkey legs, brussel sprouts, and PQB sourdough stuffing. Order via BLVD's tock.
FireLake Enjoy Executive Chef Leonard Ventura's delicious food at home. The special Thanksgiving to-go menu includes packages that serve up to 12 people and include turkey and ham, served with imaginative and traditional sides like fire roasted mushrooms with crispy shallots, maple glazed yam and apple, green beans, cranberry stuffing, cheddar herb mashed potatoes with cider gravy, and more.
Frontier A hot Wicker Park restaurant specializing in game, oysters and tap brews brings the bounty to your home with their Thanksgiving-to-go package. Executive Chef Brian Jupiter offers guests the option of ordering a whole smoked Amish turkey to-go. The antibiotic- and hormone-free turkeys are offered cooked and cooled. Available sides include five-cheese mac & cheese, traditional mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, Brussel sprouts and string beans. Orders must be placed by Fri., Nov. 18, with pick-up up to Thanksgiving morning from 9 a.m.-noon. Meals can also be enjoyed in-house.
Prairie Grass Cafe Prairie Grass is taking all the thinking out of Thanksgiving dinner with a preset family-style meal, with wine pairings if you'd like, available for pickup on Thanksgiving Day. Orders must be placed by November 18, but beware, they may sell out!
The Smoke Daddy
Whole turkeys at this Wicker Park and Wrigleyville BBQ bastion are slow-smoked until heady and crisp; opt for Southern-style pulled turkey if you prefer your birds on the tender side. Or, skip the turkey this year and go with a glazed ham. Since families can’t exist on meat alone, the restaurant has housemade cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes and turkey gravy at the ready, available by the quart. Orders are being taken through Nov. 18th for pickup on Nov. 22 & 23.
Weber Grill
Thanksgiving is finger-licking good when you’re greeted with a whole smoked turkey feast, and Weber Grill has flavor-filled party platters featuring all your fave fixins. We’re talking about maple whipped sweet potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, Weber sausage stuffing, and classic pumpkin or apple pie. Whole turkey orders must be placed by Friday, Nov. 18th. All other orders must be placed by Tuesday, Nov. 22nd. Pick-up with reheating instructions on either the 23rd, or Thanksgiving Day between 10am and noon.
And, if you want Weber Grill to do all the heavy lifting, the restaurants plan to be open and are accepting reservations for a three course turkey dinner. $39.95 for adults. $15.95 for children under 12.
Restaurants That Will Deliver Thanksgiving Dinner in Chicago
Fresh Picks In the spirit of their mission to make fresh, organic food readily available to everyone while supporting local farms, Fresh Picks is offering a Thanksgiving option. For those who would like to serve a locally grown feast, Fresh Picks features locally grown produce commonly found in holiday recipes. It's a great way to support local businesses, with the added benefit of skipping the grocery store lines. Plus, turkeys will additionally be available to order through two different Fresh Picks farms. Orders can be placed now!
Meal Village Meal Village offers affordable locally made, non-subscription-based comfort food on a same-day delivery basis. Look to them for all your made-from-scratch sides and sauces.
