Thanksgiving - Dining Out & Take-Out

Thanksgiving is a challenge even for the most gifted chef.  We all need a little help or the entire night off.   When you consider that some of the finest chefs in New York are cooking, it's tempting to dine out.  Whether you're cooking, going to a friend’s, or dining out, there are tons of options... 

Dining Out:

Back Forty

Phone: (212)388-1990

Address: 190 Avenue B

www.backfortynyc.com

(Photo Credit: Tina Rupp)

Comfort and hospitality are essential to Thanksgiving and this East Village eatery is wonderful at both.  Chef Peter Hoffman has created a 3-course dinner that sounds delicious: cornmeal-dusted oysters, roasted heritage turkey with chestnut turkey sausage stuffing and pumpkin fregola risotto.  Everything's served family style, so you'll really feel at home. 

Market Table

Phone:(212)255-2100

Address: 54 Carmine St.

www.markettablenyc.com

Chef Mikey Price is great at putting creative twists on comfort food classics, which makes it a good option for Thanksgiving.   They're offering a $75, three-course dinner with roasted duck and kale soup or gnocchi with braised lamb.  Of course, there's turkey and an array of sides all served family style.  And if you don't want to take the turkey route, there's also seared halibut and a pork porterhouse.  For dessert, guests have their choice of  pumpkin pudding with gingersnaps and spiced cream or a sticky toffee pudding cake. 

 

Inside Park (at St. Bart's Cathedral)

Phone:(212)593-3333

Address: 109 East 50th St., at Park Ave.

www.insideparknyc.com

How often can you eat Thanksgiving dinner in a landmark historic church?   That's exactly where you'll dine at Inside Park at St. Bart’s, offering a classic  feast with all the trimmings.  As for your leftovers, you get to take them home and reheat them the next day.  It's almost like eating at home without the hassles that come with cooking. 

 

Dressler

Phone: (718)384-6343

Address:149 Broadway

Not many restaurants can claim a gorgeous space and great food, but Dressler pulls it off seamlessly.  Even better, the New American menu is very affordable and they're offering a just as affordable Thanksgiving menu.  There's a warm artichoke heart salad, roasted turkey breast with cornbread & chestnut stuffing, or saddle of venison.   

Counter

Phone:(212)982-5870

Address:105 First Ave.

www.counternyc.com

Don’t think we forgot the vegetarians.  Counter didn't.  They're preparing a vegetarian dinner with an optional wine pairing.  On the menu is spiced pumpkin soup, herb-roasted seitan, wild mushroom cornbread stuffing.  For dessert, there's a pumpkin cheesecake or a pecan cinnamon streusel.

 

DIY Thanksgiving at Home - Turkeys & Sides

Brooklyn Fare
Phone: (718)243-0050
Address: 200 Schemerhorn St.
www.brooklynfare.com

• If your live in the city, chances are you're a little tight on oven space.  That means you're totally justified to buy a bird or at least a few sides and try a new restaurant all at the same time.  Chef Cesar Ramirez just resurfaced at Brooklyn Fare where you can pre-order a turkey, duck, or even  lamb chops. As for sides, there a bunch, including brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes with maple syrup, and cranberry chutney to name a few.  

 

Brooklyn Kitchen

Phone:(718)389-2982

Address:616 Lorimer St.

www.thebrooklynkitchen.com

• You can order an organic, local turkey from Brooklyn Kitchen.  Sizes range from 10 to 20 pound birds and come from small farms in Lancaster County, PA.   Or you can order a wild turkey, stuffed with county sausage and bourbon butter brine.  All you have to do is pop it in the oven.

 

• You can also wander through one of the city's Greenmarket to pick up a free-range, all natural turkey.  DiPaolo Turkey Farms and Quattro Game Farm both offer locally raised turkeys sold by the pound. 

Hill Country
Phone: (212)255-4544
Address: 30 West 26th St.
www.hillcountryny.com.

• If you’re a Texas ex-pat you can get that down home Lone Star experience by ordering your turkey from the barbeque masters at Hill County.  Your pit-smoked turkey will be accompanied county sides like skillet cornbread, texas toast stuffing, and sweet potato bourbon mash.  Make sure to save room for a gingersnap pumpkin pie.  Thanksgiving packages are available for 5-8 or 9-12 people and can be picked up on Wednesday or Thursday, November 25-26.  Orders must be placed by November 23 by phone or online at
  

 

Thanksgiving Sweets:

Sugar Sweet Sunshine

Phone:(212)995-1960

Address:126 Rivington St.

www.sugarsweetsunshine.com

• If you have a sweet tooth and you haven't been to this Lower East Side bakery, you're missing out.  Either way, it's the perfect occasion to stop by and pick up their sublime pumpkin eggnog pudding.   It’s available only during the Thanksgiving/Christmas season, so don't wait too long or you'll have to wait til next year.   

 

Sweet Melissa Patisserie
Phone: (718)855-3410
Address: 276 Court. St (Brooklyn)
www.sweetmelissapatisserie.com

• If you're sick of the traditional pumpkin pie, Sweet Melissa's baking a ginger Custard pumpkin pie.  If pumpkin is not your thing, they offer a mouthwatering selection of holiday pies from Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie to a Pear Cranberry Pie with a homemade Gingersnap Crumble. 

City Bakery

Phone: (212)366-1414

Address: 3 West 18th St.

• This bakery doesn't need our praise, but it's well-deserved.  Have you tried their hot chocolate or chocolate chip cookies?  They're dangerous.  City Bakery also makes some of the best holiday pies and crumbles in NYC.   You can pick one up at their Flatiron flagship or at one of the smaller Birdbath Bakeries.