Washington, D.C. 2014 Thanksgiving Dining Guide:

It’s almost time for Turkey Day, and if you’re not the type to spend 12 hours in the kitchen baking, basting, mixing, mashing, and who knows what else, then it’s time to find your alternatives.

Right here we have a huge collection of different Thanksgiving dining choices in Washington, D.C. this year. This includes both restaurants who are open on Thanksgiving and offering special menus, as well as restaurants offering take-home, pre-made feasts for you and the family to enjoy from your own house. Just remove the packaging and pretend you made it all yourself.

Dine Out in D.C. for Thanksgiving

Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner

The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner is offering several options, including a Thanksgiving dinner to-go (details in the section below), and their Thanksgiving Day Brunch, with seatings from 10:30am to 3pm. The cost is $125 for an adult and $40 for children ages 4-12.

Believe us, this is more than your standard brunch, it’s a whole Thanksgiving feast. Enjoy all your favorite brunch items and delicious Thanksgiving fixings, along with live musical entertainment and special activities for the youngest brunch guests.

America Eats Tavern

Enjoy an “America Eats Thanksgiving” from chef José Andrés, also at the Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner. José and the team have composed a traditional Thanksgiving menu with a contemporary touch, celebrating holiday classics alongside the native ingredients of Virginia.

Dine from 11am-7pm on Thanksgiving day, and order Thanksgiving specials a la carte in addition to the regular menu.

Specials include Roasted Virginia Turkey, with rye-whiskey infused turkey breast, served with all the sides you need – (Mashed Potato, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Turkey and Turkey Croquettes, Sweet Potato Fritters, Turkey Gravy, Cranberry Sauce), Virginia Oyster Stuffing, Green Been Casserole, Sweet Potatoes with House-Made Marshmallow, Bourbon Corn Pudding & Pumpkin and Dutch Apple Pies.

Blue Duck Tavern

Stick with the hotel theme but switch to the Park Hyatt Washington at 24th & M Street NW, to enjoy farm-fresh options to tempt the palate. Guests are invited to gather and celebrate as newly appointed Executive Chef Ryan LaRoche and Chef de Cuisine Brad Deboy artfully prepare holiday dishes that reflect the all-American spirit of Blue Duck Tavern.

Thanksgiving breakfast a la carte will be available from 6:30-10:30 am. Then “brunch into dinner” service will be available from 11:30 am-9 pm. Guests opting for the Thanksgiving, three-course holiday meal will enjoy a bountiful selection of starters placed throughout the open-air kitchen for guests to help themselves to their first course.  Starters will include seasonal salads, breads, meats, and cheese to be followed by a choice of plated entrées and side dishes showcasing produce from regional farms. Seasonal desserts, on display in the Pastry Pantry, will complete the Thanksgiving feast.

The holiday menu costs $100 per person for adults and $45 for children between six and 12 years of age. Children under six are free.

Nage Bistro

Nage Bistro will be featuring a sumptuous Thanksgiving buffet crafted by Executive Chef Dwayne Motley showcasing his Southern favorites. Menu highlights include Cajun Deep Fried Turkey; Brown Sugar Glazed Ham; Cornbread and Andouille Stuffing; Mac and Cheese; Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes; Green Beans with almonds; Braised Collard Greens; Cranberry Sauce; Parker House Rolls, and Turkey Gravy. To complete the meal, dessert options include Apple Cobbler; Sweet Potato Pie and Pecan Pie.

The Thanksgiving menu will be served from 11:30am-6pm, and costs $38 per person, and $19 for children under 13. Don’t stop there, either. Guests who dine at Nage Bistro at the Thanksgiving buffet will be able to fill a  take-home box to enjoy leftovers the next day for just $12.

Ardeo+Bardeo

Enjoy a sumptuous three-course menu from Executive Chef Matt Kuhn, featuring some of the finest flavors of the harvest. Menu highlights include Sweet Potato & Apple Soup with toasted hazelnuts, spiced crème fraîche and bacon-apple jam; Smoked Turkey Rillette with cranberry-fig compote and rustic bread; Roman Style Gnocchi with honey mushrooms, sage-walnut pesto, roasted sweet potatoes and truffle pecorino; Roasted Turkey Breast with grain mustard – potato puree, leg confit, farro-oyster mushroom “stuffing” and sage jus; Pan Roasted Diver Scallops, and more.

The dessert menu will feature classics taken to delicious new heights. Highlights include Buttermilk Doughnuts with bourbon-apple butter and maple mascarpone; Pumpkin Arborio Rice Pudding with fall fruit compote and candied walnut; Chocolate-Peanut Torte with banana caramel and vanilla Chantilly cream, as well as Meyer Lemon Cake with citrus olive oil and dark chocolate ice cream.

The Thanksgiving menu will be served from 11am-8pm and is priced at $55 per person. Ardeo+Bardeo will also feature an extensive list of wines by the glass for this delicious day of gathering.

Dino’s Grotto

Dino’s is serving up a family-style Thanksgiving meal on Turkey day. You’ll enjoy a traditional Italian antipasto platter, with cooked & pickled veggies, cheese, salami etc, Ribolita “Stuffing Soup”, bread soup with sausage, onions & “gravy” stock, Turkey Bolognese, Rolled Stuffed Turkey Breast with greens, cheese prosciutto, served with pan gravy & cranberry relish, as well as maple sweet potatoes & greens

The dessert is a Semolina Cheese Cake with kabocha & cranberry drizzle.  For those needing vegetarian, gluten free or pork free meal, no worries, Dino’s still has you covered!  The meal is $49 per person and $19 each for kids under 13, and reservations are available from 12-8:30pm.

DBGB

Daniel Boulud’s DBGB Kitchen & Bar is hosting a Thanksgiving day meal from 12pm-9pm. Chef Ed Scarpone is preparing a prix-fixe menu for $65 per person, or $35 for children, offering three courses and their own unique rendition of traditional Thanksgiving favorites.

Start with Squash Soup, Tuna Tartare, Kale Salad, Fall Pork Pate, or for an extra $10, Foie Gras Terrine, move to your entree of either Roasted Turkey, Atlantic Salmon, Fluke Grenobloise or Mushroom Risotto, or for a $15 supplement, Bone-In Ribeye, and end with Pumpkin Pie, Apple Tarte or Chocolate Pecan Sundae.

BLT Steak

BLT Steak DC is inviting you and your family to enjoy their special prix-fixe Thanksgiving menu from 3pm until close. The Thanksgiving menu melds the restaurant’s affinity for meat with inventive twists on classic Thanksgiving dishes, for a holiday feast that both carnivores and traditionalists will enjoy.

Served family-style, BLT Steak DC’s Thanksgiving Day menu will be available for $68 for adults and $40 for children, including starter, entree, sides and dessert options.

Starters include Celery Root Soup, Kabocha Squash Risotto, and Gem Salad, entrees include Roasted Turkey, Dry Aged Roasted Prime Rib and Striped Bass, sides include Chestnut-Sausage Stuffing, Vegetarian Stuffing, Brussels Sprouts, Creamed Spinach, Mashed Potatoes, and Sweet Potato Gratin, and finally, finish it all off with Cranberry Spiced Bread Pudding, Pumpkin Tart and Velvet Chocolate Rocky Road.

The Oval Room

Executive Chef Tony Conte is preparing a three-course holiday menu offered from 12-8:30 pm., priced at $50 per person, serving up flavors of the season in an innovative fashion.

The menu that includes Burrata with persimmons, crunchy Serrano and vincotto, as well as the Crudo of Nantucket Bay Scallops with cranberry, crispy rice and Asian pear. Main courses include Free Range Turkey with chestnut stuffing, cranberry sauce and sweet potato puree; Butter Poached Maine Lobster with matsutake vinaigrette and toasted pearl pasta, as well as All Natural Beef Filet with salsify and fall spiced red wine butter.  To complete the meal, dessert options include Chocolate Espresso Cake with malt chocolate ice cream; Cheesecake with brown butter apples, and Pumpkin Crème Brûlée.

701 Restaurant

701 Restaurant will be dishing up a classic Thanksgiving feast with a three-course, prix fixe menu available from 11am-9pm.  This special meal is priced at $48 per person, and $24 for children 12 and under.

Executive Chef Benjamin Lambert will be preparing a variety of starters such as Potato Lemongrass Soup with mussels, cilantro, and chili threads; Crab Beignets with frisée and almond romesco, andDuck-Chestnut Meatballs with Brussels sprouts, green farro and quince ketchup.  For the main course guests can order Grilled Pork Loin with apple puree, Brussels sprouts, n’duja, cipollini onions and cider glaze; Roasted Turkey with sweet potato puree, stuffing, cranberry compote and gravy; Norwegian Salmon with mustard spaetzle, rapini, pecans and pomegranate molasses, as well as Orecchiette with wild mushrooms, Swiss chard, Oloroso sherry, brown butter and pecorino.

For the perfect ending, there is Sticky Bun Parfait; Chocolate Ingot; Pumpkin Butterscotch Mousse, as well as Honey Almond Dacquoise. Creating the perfect ambiance, 701’s live jazz duo of piano and bass will be performing during Thanksgiving service.

Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca

Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca will be offering an authentic Italian twist on Thanksgiving, with a prix fixe menu priced at $48 per person served from 12-8pm.

Executive Chef Nicholas Stefanelli’s tempting starters include Roasted Cauliflower Salad with pine nuts, golden raisins and anchovy cream; 45 Minute Egg with mushroom purée and a wild mushroom salad; Smoked Citrus Cured Swordfish Belly with lemon, mâche and trout roe, as well as Beef Tripe braised in tomato, parmigiano and black pepper. Entrées include Heritage Turkey Cooked Two Ways, roasted breast and braised leg, with potato mousseline, bread stuffing and cranberry sauce; Plancha Seared Diver Scallops with salsify purée and a brown butter vanilla sauce, and the Roasted Pork Loin served with polenta, Brussels sprouts and mustard sauce.

Guests can end their meal with tempting dessert options that include Persimmon Pudding with caramelized persimmon and walnut gelato; Quince Crostata with jasmine ice cream and huckleberry sauce, as well as Roasted Pumpkin Flan with coffee crème and hazelnut butter cookie.

Ulah Bistro

Ulah Bistro is offering a three-course prix fixe menu from Executive Chef Mehdi Lahlou. Standouts include Pumpkin Bisque garnished with blue crab meat; Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with endives, pecans, radish, blue cheese and a apple cider vinaigrette, and Roasted Turkey or Baked Whole Branzino accompanied by house-made cranberry sauce, traditional stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans and gravy. Finish with Bourbon Butterscotch Pudding or Pecan Pie.

The Thanksgiving menu will be served from 5-11pm, and is priced at $35 per person.

Station 4

Station 4 is offering a four-course prix fixe from Executive Chef Orlando Amaro, priced at $38 per person. The menu is served from 2-11pm.

Start with an amuse of Crab Fritters with pimiento cheese followed by a choice of starters such as Spiced Butternut Squash Soup with pecans and micro cilantro; Turkey Meatballs with Stilton cheese polenta and roasted grapes, or the Crab & Pumpkin Tartar with Maryland crab meat, dilled pumpkin and maple vinaigrette.  Main courses include Roasted Turkey, sliced turkey, rustic stuffing, green beans, roasted sweet potato puree and cranberry sauce; Atlantic Salmon with apple-cranberry relish, farro risotto, and Brussels sprouts; Butternut Squash Ravioli with caramelized apples, sage butter, goat cheese and walnuts, as well as Pomegranate Glazed Pork Tenderloin with couscous and roasted root vegetables.

For dessert, enjoy traditional Thanksgiving favorites such as Pumpkin Pie with a ginger cookie and cinnamon gelato or Pecan Pie with vanilla gelato and chocolate sauce.

Chef Geoff’s

Chef Geoff’s is offering a three-course prix fixe for $39 per person from 1-7pm on Thanksgiving. The main event will include Maple Orange Glazed Turkey, with chicken sausage and sour cherry stuffing, roasted garlic and buttermilk whipped potatoes, traditional gravy, brussels and bacon, green beans, and port wine cranberry sauce. All of the Chef Geoff’s locations are getting in on the fun but may be offering different menus and specials. Check out all of the options online here.

Bastille

Bastille is offering a three-course prix fixe for $75 and includes a first course, entree and dessert, with an optional cheese course for an additional $13 and wine pairings for $19.

Start with ​Pumpkin Veloute with crème fraiche, toasted seeds and pumpkin oil; Local seafood chowder with scallops, oysters, clams and rockfish;  Roasted root salad; or Duck liver pate with crawfish beignets and remoulade aioli. Enjoy an entree of Virginia Turkey Breast, Angus Beef Pot Roast, Pork Roast with Smoked Sausage, or Blackened Chesapeake Flounder Filet. Finish off the meal with a Valrhona Tanori marquise with toasted hazelnut caramel, Gianduja ice cream and chocolate garnish; Gâteau aux épices, a stout spice cake with apple puree, apple cider ice cream and Ceylon cinnamon tuile; or Pumpkin bavarois with brown sugar crème Chantilly, braised golden raisins and bourbon caramel.

Fiola, Fiola Mare & Casa Luca

All three of Chef Fabio Trabocchi’s standout restaurants are offering prix-fixe dinners for Thanksgiving.

At Fiola, adults eat for $80 and kids for $28. Appetizers include Maine Belon Oysters, Burrata, Ahi Tuna Carpaccio, entrees include Virginia Country Ham, Acquerello Risotto, Spanish Branzino, Heritage Roast Turkey and Pine Roasted Rack of Lamb, and desserts include Warm Apple Crostate, Mascarpone Pumpkin Bar and Dark Chocolate Crema.

Fiola Mare is also offering its menu for $80 and $28. Many menu items are similar to what you’ll find at Fiola, but there are additional seafaring alternatives, including Grilled Wild Calamari and Frutti di Mare as an appetizers, and entrees such as Fiola Mare Lobster Ravioli and Grilled Turbot.

At Casa Luca, dine for $65 per person or $25 for children. Here, find antipasto, followed by  first course selections of Maine Lobster, Fall Chestnut Soup and Agnolotti of Virginia Country Ham, entrees including Roasted Heritage Turkey, Branzino al Forno and Lamb Shoulder Rack, and various sides and desserts.

Bonuses:

Pre-Thanksgiving Stretch Your Belly Party at Et Voila!

Don’t leave all the good eating until Thursday. The night before, start on your gluttonous feasting at Et Voila!, where they are hosting a Stretch Your Belly party for $29.95 per person. Enjoy unlimited Blue Bay Mussels with cream, endive, sweet potatoes, and dry vermouth paired with Belgian Fries and Affligem Blonde Ale, or choose the Carbonade a la Flamande, a traditional Belgian sweet-sour beef and onion stew paired with Belgian Fries and Gouden Carolus.

Post-Thanksgiving Black Friday Leftovers at BLT Steak

Fuel your Black Friday shopping at BLT steak, where they’re serving their signature fluffy popovers stuffed with all of their best Thanksgiving leftovers from the feast they hosted the day before. All day on Friday, November 28th, their warm, airy popovers will be served for $10 at the bar, or to go during lunch and dinner service, filled with dark and white turkey meat, cranberry chutney, potato puree and rosemary gravy.

Take-Home Feasts & Pre-Made Treats

Acadiana

Hang up your apron and bring home a Thanksgiving Dinner for Eight from Acadiana. It’s a Southern-style feast featuring a 16- to 18-pound roasted or fried Cajun-style Turkey, choice of Giblet or Eggplant Gravy, any four sides, a Pumpkin or Pecan Pie, and Acadiana’s Biscuits with House-made Pepper Jelly.

This savory and sweet spread is available for $175, or choose to bring home just the bird for $105. To order, call 202.408.8804 before 5PM on November 20. Pickup is between 11am-1pm on Thanksgiving Day.

Bayou Bakery

New Orleanian chef David Guas can fill your kitchen with an array of Louisiana-style fixings with sought-after pies starting at $20 that include Virginia Peanut, Sweet Potato, Market Apple Crumble, Classic Pecan, Bourbon Chocolate-Chip and Bacon& Cayenne.

Round out your meal with savory sides starting at $12, like Braised Collards or Dirty Rice by the quart, Buttermilk Biscuits by the dozen [petite or full-size, with or without ham]. Mac-n-Cheese can feed the whole family with 12-16 servings for $25 along with Savory Bread Pudding that serves up to 25 for $30.

Quick nibbles start at $10 per pint with Candied Spiced Pecans tossed in Creole seasoning or Cranberry-Orange Preserves to serve with Cornbread Muffins [$15 per dozen] made from cornmeal ground by George Washington’s Gristmill—a Bayou Bakery exclusive!

To order, call 703.243.2410 before November 24. Final pick-up is close of business Wednesday, November 26. Early birds who place their orders for savory sides & nibbles (pies not included) by Thursday, November 13 receive a 10% off discount.

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace will sell a selection of Pastry Chef Carri-anne Hamer’s pies, along with the restaurant’s popular Addie’s Rolls. Hamer’s selection of whole pies include Brazos River Bottom Pecan Pie ($30): Flaky Pie Crust, Bourbon and Rum Infused Custard, Brazos River Bottom Native Pecans; Apple Pie ($25): Flaky Pie Crust, Fuji Apples, Holiday Spice Blend; Sweet Potato Pie ($25): Flaky Pie Crust, Lightly Spiced Sweet Potato Filling and Key Lime ($25): Graham Cracker Crust, Florida Key Lime Filling. Each pie serves six to eight slices.

The buttery and addictive Addie’s Rolls, named after chef/owner Jeff Black’s grandmother, are part of the restaurant’s popular bread basket. Addie kept the recipe secret for entire life, but Black was able to obtain a version of it, which has been adapted for the restaurant. The rolls are available by the dozen for $8, are par-baked and come with full prep instructions.

All pie and Addie’s rolls orders must be received by Monday, November 24th. Pearl Dive will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, and all orders must be scheduled for pick-up on Tuesday, November 25th or Wednesday, November 26th. Orders can be placed online.

Ritz-Carlton Tysons Corner

The Ritz-Carlton’s Thanksgiving to Go option serves up to 6 individuals, and costs $295-$325 per order. Orders must be received by Monday, November 24th at 5pm, and pickup is day-of on Thanksgiving from 9am-4pm.

Take your choice of a turkey or a prime rib dinner, with all of the fixings and sides, for a truly decadent meal at home without the fuss.

Blue Duck Tavern

Those wishing to savor Blue Duck Tavern’s exceptional cuisine in their own home this Thanksgiving can call ahead and order their  feast to-go. Orders must be placed by November 21.

The star of the dinner for Blue Duck Tavern’s take-it-home Thanksgiving is a 10 to12 pound free-range roasted turkey. The feast will also include two freshly baked breads and four traditional sides from the restaurant’s menu. For the sweet finale, enjoy two seasonal pies included in the Thanksgiving package.

This feast is designed to feed six to eight and is priced at $350, plus tax. Orders must be placed by November 21 at 5 p.m., with pick-up available in the Pastry Pantry on November 26 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. or November 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Place your order online here.

Dolcezza Gelato

Are you tired of finishing the holiday feast with that played-out-overly-sweet-store-bought pumpkin pie? At Dolcezza, the last part of the meal is the most important part, it’s certainly the part that one remembers most as it seals the deal. We chose the flavors in this package with that in mind, choosing the flavors which would compliment any Thanksgiving meal, from the earthy, slightly spicy crookneck pumpkin to the bright, nutty pomegranate, trying to make sure you finish your family feast with finesse and style, as we like to do with every meal.

Dolcezza is introducing new seasonal flavors of gelato and a special Thanksgiving package priced at $60, which includes four pints of flavorful gelato and sorbetto as well as two-day airmail shipping throughout the Continental United States to ensure the product arrives properly frozen.

The package includes pints of Crookneck Pumpkin Gelato, Sweet Potato Pecan Praline Gelato, Pomegrante Sorbetto and Gold Rush Apple Sorbetto. Visit their online shop to purchase.

RareSweets

RareSweets owner and pastry chef Meredith Tomason has finalized a catering menu for Thanksgiving and the holidays, which features a variety of layer cakes in lieu of pies, seasonal cookies and baked goods and more. Many items on the menu are inspired by family and American heirloom recipes that have been reinterpreted for a modern palate. Place your order by 4pm on Friday, November 21st.

Options for Thanksgiving include a Pumpkin & Cocoa Cake (Spiced pumpkin cake covered in a light cocoa buttercream and topped with spiced pumpkin seeds), Orange Blossom & Cranberry Cake (Vanilla bean cake filled with tart cranberry compote and covered in an orange blossom icing),  Apple & Parsnip Cake (Combination of warm fall flavors including maple, apple, and parsnips baked into the cake, covered in Maple Buttercream), Fall Leaves Double Chocolate (Rich chocolate cake, covered in sour cream chocolate icing and topped with fondant fall leaves),  and a Thanksgiving Morning Breakfast, which includes an assortment of our breakfast items, including a pumpkin crumb cake to slice, banana chip bundt cakes, apple cider doughnuts, buttermilk biscuits with apple butter. Small $70 (serves up to 10), and Large $95  (serves up to 16).

Nage Bistro

Those wishing to savor Nage Bistro’s exceptional homemade pies in their own home this Thanksgiving can call ahead and order pies to-go. Guests have a choice of a nine-inch Sweet Potato Pie for $25, or a nine-inch Pecan Pie for $29.

Orders must be placed by November 24 and there is a maximum of eight pies per order. Pick-up available on November 25th or November 26th from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  To place an order, call (202) 448-8005.

Joe’s

Joe’s is offering their delicious pies available to-go. Try the pumpkin chiffon pie, old fashioned apple pie, their famous Joe’s key lime pie, or one of the the 10 total choices available. New this month and perfect for Thanksgiving is sweet potato pecan pie, featuring a traditional pie crust filled with a layer of sweet potato, laced with Jack Daniels, and topped with caramelized pecans.

Each one is available for $29.95. Order in advance before the holiday.

Ted’s Bulletin

Ted’s Bulletin is back with their Thanksgiving Pop Tarts, which are savory riffs on the classic treat, filled with turkey and house made stuffing, glazed with cranberry sauce and topped with sweet potato mash.

They are available one week only, from November 24th-28th, although not for pick-up on the 27th, as Ted’s is closed for the holiday. That means you can pre-order to pick them up any time that week when they’re open to bring back home. The Thanksgiving Pop Tarts cost $3.99 a pop, and will be available at all of their locations.

For a la carte dining with special Thanksgiving twists, additional spots getting in on the Turkey Day fun include nopa Kitchen + Bar, Legal Sea Foods, Rasika West End & Penn Quarter, The Bombay Club, City Tap House, Brasserie Beck, and assuredly, many, many others.

We never said we’d include them all — but if you know of any other great Thanksgiving dining specials in or around D.C. this year, be sure to let us know in the comments!