Thanksgiving Feast at Raymond 1886. Photo credit: acuna-hansen.
Thanksgiving is around the corner. If your favorite thing to make for dinner is reservations, see below for our list of some of our favorite places for autumnal feasting in LA, no cleanup required. Whether you’d like to dine by a pool beneath swaying palms or in a K-Town dive with a nautical theme… at one of Eater’s Best 11 Restaurants in the country or you’d like an assortment of vegan options… we have you covered.
Bridgetown Roti
We’re big fans of Bridgetown Roti’s Caribbean flavors at The LA Beat, and we’re not the only ones: Eater just named them one of the 11 Best Restaurants in the entire country. Bridgetown’s Thanksgiving specials include jerk turkey legs ($20), whole macaroni and cheese pies ($35), and vegan or protein mini patties ($28-52).
Cafe Gratitude
Plant-based sides and pies, all made in-house, can be ordered from Cafe Gratitude for pick up at any location (Arts District, Larchmont, or Venice) on Wednesday. Truffled Porcini Gravy ($18), Cranberry Roasted Butternut Squash and Garnet Yams ($35), French Lentil and Butternut Squash Loaf ($35), and Maple Miso Brussels Sprouts ($35) are among the Thanksgiving specials offered.
Castaway
Burbank’s Castaway restaurant features stunning views of Downtown LA and the San Fernando Valley. A favorite for decades — particularly since its $10 million overhaul a while back — Castaway is now as noted for its food as for its views. Castaway’s elaborate Thanksgiving brunch begins with a platter laden with seafood, charcuterie, ricotta tartine, and more. Main course options include three types of eggs benedict, turkey, chicken & waffles, and more. Finish with an elaborate, four-item dessert platter. Brunch is $89 for adults and $35 for children.
555 East
An elegant Long Beach steakhouse with vintage charm — think plenty of wood, leather, and velvet banquettes — 555 East is offering a special Thanksgiving menu this year. The three-course meal, $68, includes your choice of clam chowder of mixed greens, roasted Diestel Family Ranch turkey or Nueske’s applewood-smoked spiral ham, and pumpkin cheesecake or chocolate cake for dessert. Kids under $12 are just $25.
Mezcal highball at Gracias Madre. Photo by Karin E. Baker for The LA Beat.
Gracias Madre
The elevated Mexican cuisine at this plant-based West Hollywood restaurant is so delicious, you won’t miss the cheese or the crema. Thanksgiving offerings to go from Gracias Madre include holiday tamales by the dozen (with poblano rajas, jackfruit, or guajillo, $54), pesto brussels sprouts ($30), trio of braised beans with kale ($25), roasted yams ($30), and more. Gracias Madre also offers house-made zero-waste canned cocktails include mezcal, Palomas, and margaritas.
Georgia’s Restaurant
Enjoy a soulful, Southern-style Thanksgiving dinner at Georgia’s Long Beach location. On Thanksgiving, Georgia’s roasted turkey dinner plates ($25) are available for dine-in from 10 a.m., while Family Dinner Plates ($125, serves 4 to 6) will be available for takeout while supplies last.
HMS Bounty
Located inside the unmissable Gaylord Building, which opened in 1924, this beloved, old-timey K-Town dive boasts “food and grog for the weary sailor.” This Thanksgiving, the HMS Bounty offers complete dinners for just $16.99. Served with your choice of roast turkey, baseball steak, or the fresh catch of the day, dinner will be served from noon to 10 p.m.
Meat on Ocean
With huge windows and great ocean views, Santa Monica’s Meat on Ocean is a surf-and-turf steakhouse perfect for a special outing. MOO’s Thanksgiving menu this year is a three-course meal with your choice of clam chowder of mixed greens, roasted Diestel Family Ranch turkey or Nueske’s applewood-smoked spiral ham, and pumpkin cheesecake or chocolate cake for dessert. The meal is $68, while kids under $12 are just $25.
Pumpkin Soup, Raymond 1886. Photo credit: Fried Chicken Sandwich Studios.
Mi Piace
Venture to Old Town Pasadena and savor Mi Piace‘s Italian cuisine this Thanksgiving. Specials include a dinner of organic roasted turkey with whipped potatoes, haricot vert, cranberry sauce, roasted yams, and chanterelle-chestnut stuffing; Kurobuta Pork Chops with red rutabagas, spiced apple chutney and balsamic morel glaze; and pumpkin cheesecake. Mi Piace’s cocktail options include The Italian Job (bourbon, vermouth, amaro, toasted pecan bitters, and applewood smoke) or the Ciao Bello (espresso liqueur, Galliano, almond milk, and espresso).
Melange at Le Meridien Pasadena-Arcadia
Le Meridien Pasadena-Arcadia is a newly opened, very stylish hotel featuring mid-century modern, Asian, and equestrian influences. It’s also home to Mélange, an Asian-European fine-dining restaurant. On Thanksgiving, visit Mélange for a luxurious three-course meal that includes a winter salad, sides (sweet soy green beans, wild rice salad medley, Kombucha puree, and grilled asparagus), and your choice of either a trio of turkey dishes (crispy turkey breast on kumquat compote with crispy leeks; turkey wheel with cranberry ginger sauce; and turkey karaage with spicy aioli) or a 6 oz. prime Black Angus filet with cognac-garlic jus. Dessert is pumpkin pie. These prix-fixe dinners are $75-95. Meals are also available to go — simply order by November 23 by calling 626.777.6699.
Ollo Malibu
Malibu’s much-loved eatery Ollo is offering dinner to-go this Thanksgiving. Serving two for $80, it features sliced Mary’s organic free-range turkey; stuffing; mashed potatoes; butternut squash with five-spice, creme fraiche, and pumpkin seeds; green salad with apples, goat cheese, pomegranate, and roasted almonds; cranberry sauce with star anise and orange peel; maple sweet potatoes with marshmallow gratin and pecans; and roasted root vegetables with honey glaze. Ollo won’t be open for dining on Thanksgiving but will be open for to-go pickups between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. You can order online or at 310.317.1444.
Playa Provisions
“Top Chef” winner Brooke Williamson is offering Thanksgiving dinner at her restaurant Playa Provisions. Start with chicory and apple salad, followed by a traditional Thanksgiving plate with white and dark-meat turkey and all the fixings (yams with Earl Grey marshmallows, green beans with almonds, potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce), and a choice of two desserts. You can make a reservation here.
Raymond 1886
Housed inside a historic Craftsman cottage in Pasadena, The Raymond 1886 is always a special place to dine or sip a cut-above cocktail. This Thanksgiving, visit for their traditional family-style feast. Start with butternut squash soup or arugula pear salad. Then, savor a main course: Mary’s free-range turkey breast, prime rib-style strip steak, pan-roasted Atlantic salmon, or stuffed roasted acorn squash. Sides include mashed potatoes, green beans with mushroom cream sauce and fried onions, roasted brussels sprouts, and dinner rolls with house-made butter. Dessert is pumpkin cheesecake or apple pie a la mode. Dinner is $95 for adults and $50 for kids 12 and under. The Raymond 1886 will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Image courtesy of Savoca.
Savoca
Savoca, the beautiful trattoria at the JW Marriott at LA Live Downtown LA, has a three-course dinner offering this Thanksgiving. Priced at $65 per person, dinner includes a starter (beet panzanella, zuppa di zucca, or duck confit ravioli), entree (classic turkey, beef filet, or branzino), and pumpkin cheesecake or chocolate pecan tart for dessert. For more information, call 213.765.8600.
Sugar Palm at Viceroy Santa Monica
Enjoy a glam Thanksgiving beneath swaying palm trees and near the swimming pool at Sugar Palm, Viceroy Santa Monica’s newly opened restaurant/lounge/bar. The three-course prix fixe meal begins with bread and butter with apple gorgonzola salad or butternut squash soup. Proceed to an entree (turkey breast, lamb osso bucco, or cauliflower steak), sides (brussels sprouts, creamed corn, and mashed potatoes), and dessert (Deconstructed Cheesecake, German Chocolate Cake, or vegan Pumpkin Spice Panna Cotta). You’ll also get a free glass of bubbly! Dinner is $95 for adults and $45 for children. Make reservations on Open Table.
Vegan Sunday Supper
Enjoy a plant-based Thanksgiving dinner with a lasagna from Vegan Sunday Supper. Their six-layer lasagna (serving 2-4 for $28.95 or 6-8 for $44.95) features vegan cheeses, sweet peppers, and plant-based Future Farms Sausage. These ready-to-bake gourmet lasagnas can be delivered anywhere in the country.
Veggie Grill
Get a 100% vegan, traditional-style Thanksgiving meal to-go at all Veggie Grill locations. Priced at just $75 and serving four, the meal includes turkey wellington with walnut mushroom stuffing, butternut squash and sage soup, roasted garlic mashed potatoes with porcini mushroom gravy, green beans with everything bagel butter, and cranberry sauce. Want dessert? Trays of carrot cake and chocolate spiced pumpkin cake are available at an additional cost.
