Turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, ham, dressing/stuffing—Chicagoland restaurants are offering dinners and specials featuring the traditional and the untraditional. Items below are for dining in and/or pick-up. (Remember that the big day is Thursday, Nov. 28.)
—Naperville restaurant Ramsay’s Kitchen will offer an app of potato leek soup with bacon lardons or a harvest salad with goat cheese and spiced marcona almonds, paired with a fresh Napa Valley 2021 Chardonnay; a roasted turkey plate with potato purée, haricot vert, bacon vinaigrette, chicken sage dressing, cranberry jam and turkey gravy, paired with a Côtes du Rhône 2021 Grenache; and pumpkin butterscotch budino with candied pecans, chantilly cream and biscoff cookie crumbs, paired with the 20 year tawny Fonseca from Portugal.
—Frontier Chicago is offering Thanksgiving items so you can look like the ultimate caterer. (Orders must be placed by Friday, Nov. 22, at 8 p.m. Items can be picked up Wed., Nov. 27, 3-7 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 28, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.)
Options include a half-turkey for $59, a 15-lb. turkey for $107 and a 20-pounder for $117. Sides include five-cheese mac ($54), cornbread stuffing ($54) and buttered rolls ($18/dozen), among others.
Frontier will also allow you to host a Friendsgiving during the entire month. The cost is $39/person (for a minimum of six people). RSVP here.
—Publican Quality Meats (PQM) and Publican Quality Bread (PQB) are offering pick-up options for Thanksgiving.
Regarding PQM, pre-order sustainably raised Slagel Farms-sourced turkey and ham, with add-ons like brine kits, turkey gravy, pork and duck rillettes, and more. Sides include garlic mashed potatoes, cornbread and sage butter stuffing, classic cranberry sauce and more. Desserts include pumpkin pie, Dutch apple pie, cinnamon rolls and more. Get all the info here; you can pick up at PQM or utilize local Chicago delivery on Nov. 25-27.
And you can load up on PQB’s specialty breads. Offerings include oat dinner rolls, cornbread and a pumpkin cheesecake with oat crust that serves eight to 10 people plus full hearth loaves. Ordering and pick up is available at both locations in West Town and Oak Park, or you can order here.
—Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille (Oak Brook, Schaumburg and Vernon Hills) is offering to-go options for Thanksgiving. Order now to pick up on Nov. 27 or 28.
Savor an individual sliced, smoked turkey breast meal—complete with soup or salad, entrée and sides—for $49 per person. Alternatively, feast family-style with its Thanksgiving meal for four, priced at $149. Also, you can dine at Perry’s on the big day during 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
—Don’t be fooled by Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar’s name. It has options for Thanksgiving, too.
Heritage is holding its 5th Annual Thanksgiving To-Go. Place your pre-order now for the whole meal or a dish to pass before Nov. 25 at 5 p.m., then pick-up your items on Nov. 27 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The full menu is here, but some items include Everything Spiced Shrimp Cocktail with horseradish beet cocktail sauce; smoked turkey breasts and confit leg; and sweet potato casserole with pecans and burnt meringue.
—Give thanks while celebrating Thanksgiving with Chef Steve Chiappetti’s all-day holiday buffet at Hotel EMC2’s signature Italian American restaurant, the Albert.
Guests will experience multiple stations filled with house-made crostini and flatbreads, cured meats and cheeses, vibrant salads, carving stations, homemade pies and cakes, and more. Reservations are available now at OpenTable.
—The Gold Coast spot Chicago q is offering Thanksgiving catering. (Orders must be placed by Nov. 25 for pickup on Nov. 27, 4-8 p.m., or 28, at 8 a.m.-noon.)
Choices include a smoked full turkey ($165), prime rib ($300), a turkey dinner for two ($130), kale salad ($45), sweet potato casserole ($40) and pumpkin pie ($30), among other selections. Call 312-642-1160 or email q@latsko.com to order. The full menu is at here.
—On a different tip, Cesar’s Killer Margaritas will have its Annual Turkey Drive on Nov. 23 at 9 a.m.
The Chicago pickup will be at Northeastern Illinois University Parking Lot, 5480 N. St Louis Ave., while the Wheeling pickup will take place at St Joseph The Worker, 181 W. Dundee Rd. Last year, Cesar’s was able to provide Thanksgiving dinners to 2,000 families in need; this year, with the help of donations, the restaurant aims to double that impact and feed 4,000 families.
—Suburban barbecue spot Q-BBQ (La Grange/Oak Park/Naperville) has a Thanksgiving family pack, with whole smoked turkey or turkey breast with cranberry BBQ sauce; mashed potatoes; cornbread stuffing; Mac-Q-Roni with Cornbread Crumbles; signature Brussels sprouts; Western Salad; and homemade pumpkin pie. The place also had a la carte catering options.
—Northbrook’s popular Prairie Grass Cafe has a Thanksgiving To Go a la carte menu. (Orders are needed by Nov. 21 to ensure pickup, which is on Nov. 28, noon-2 p.m.)
Options include a whole roasted turkey ($240; serves 10 to 12 people), homemade sausage-and-giblet stuffing ($28), butternut squash-and-sweet potato puree ($24), local cranberry sauce ($18), double chocolate cake ($85) and many other options.
—Paramount Events—a woman-owned and green-certified business—have catering options available for drop-off.
Select options such as roasted turkey; holiday stuffing with butternut squash,wild mushrooms, and savory herbs; brûléed sweet potatoes; housemade dinner rolls and more. Homemade pies and crumbles, including gluten-free options, are also on offer. No matter the size, Paramount Events will bring it all directly to your doorstep, ready-to-serve. Some minimum per-person requirements apply; other items are available a la carte.
To order, contact DropOff@paramounteventschicago.com or call 773-880-8068.
—The lauded Basque-inspired restaurant Asador Bastian will be open for Thanksgiving.
The menu ($165/person) includes a harvest plate with manchego-laminated brioche; a choice of apple walnut salad, red-crab tartlet or roasted foie gras; a choice of arroz cremoso, salt-roasted carabineros or Iberico pork cheek; a choice of turbot, txuleton or black truffle heritage turkey; and spiced cranberry Gateau Basque. Sides include grilled cabbage, bone-marrow potato puree and dressing. (RSVP at the link above.)
—The Southern spot Briny Swine Smokehouse & Oyster Bar, located in Lincoln Park, has pick-up options for Thanksgiving. (Orders are due Nov. 22 for pick-up on Nov. 27, noon-8 p.m.)
Choices include whole smoked turkey; ham by the pound; sides like bourbon brown sugar sweet potatoes, cornbread stuffing, collard greens and mac & cheese; or desserts like banana puddin’ or bourbon apple cobbler. Items are available a la carte or as a family meal for $225, serving six to eight people. Order online at Toast. All items will be packaged and come with a full set of instructions.
—Fioretta will celebrate Thanksgiving with a four-course tasting menu of traditional Thanksgiving entrees and Fioretta classics served from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For the first course, guests can choose from seasonal burrata, meatballs, shrimp scampi, or butternut squash soup. The second course offers a choice of Fioretta chopped salad or Caesar salad. For the third course, diners have options including hand-cut filet mignon, Schuster Farms organic turkey with wild rice stuffing, or macaroni alla vodka along with a variety of substitutions, enhancements and sides. For dessert, guests may select from olive oil cake, tiramisu, lemon meringue pie or a variety of sorbettos. Priced at $95 per person; you can RSVP here.
—Soul & Smoke offers a Thanksgiving spread that’s easily heated at home for anyone who prefers not to cook from scratch. Customers can choose from a full Thanksgiving dinner package that feeds six to eight people or build their own spread with a variety of options, including mains like Cajun smoked or herb roasted turkey breast, holiday ham, confit duck quarters, and sides such as traditional herb stuffing, candied yams, green bean casserole, cauliflower au gratin and more.
Also, customers are encouraged to give back this season with the option to purchase Thanksgiving meals for donation. The goal is to provide at least 10 families with a full Thanksgiving feast.
—River Roast is back with Executive Chef Jason Qureshi’s signature Thanksgiving spread.
The dine-in menu ($75/person and $35/child for those 6 and younger) includes herb brined-and-roasted turkey breast; charcuterie and cheese; “carrots and dirt”; whipped Yukon potatoes; pumpkin pie and various mini-sweets; and other items. River Roast’s Thanksgiving menu is also available for carryout through Tock. Orders must be picked up on Wed., Nov. 27, between 12:15 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.
—Robert’s Pizza & Dough Co.’s Thanksgiving Pizza ($30) returns for a limited time through Dec. 1
The seasonal pie is topped with roast turkey breast, ‘za stuffing with pork sausage, fresh cranberry sauce, sweet potato puree, fresh mozzarella, asiago cheese and mushroom gravy. Also, Robert’s Pizza offers whole apple pies for pre-order to enjoy with your family on Thanksgiving. The pie features Robert’s special za dough with an apple filling. Choose from a 10” pPie ($35), which serves up to eight, or a 14” pie ($65), which serves up to 12; pie orders must be placed by Monday, Nov. 25, for pick-up by Wed., Nov. 27.
—The Hyde Park spot Virtue is sold out for Thanksgiving—but sister restaurant Mustard Seed Kitchen is still serving dinners without dessert.
For $269, the Thanksgiving package, which serves four, includes half a roasted turkey, turkey gravy, mac and cheese, collard greens, cranberry sauce and dinner rolls. Pick-up is on Nov. 27 only, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Additional side options include shrimp mac, Caesar salad and chicken gumbo, among other things. See the full menu here.
—LM Restaurant Group restaurants will be offering Thanksgiving dine-in options.
LM’s two bistro concepts located in downtown Chicago, Grant Park Bistro and River North Bistro, will each be offering buffets at 3-7 p.m. for $55 per person. Evanston Corner Bistro will offer its buffet at 2-6 p.m. for $49 per person. LM’s Midwest-inspired restaurant Land & Lake Rosemont will offer a buffet fat 3-7 p.m. for $45 per person. At all locations, buffet pricing is not inclusive of tax and gratuity; also, kids 12 and younger dine for just $25 each.
The seasonal menu offers a number of holiday favorites such as roasted butternut squash soup; buttery mashed potatoes; roasted fennel and turkey sausage stuffing; roasted turkey with bourbon & herb gravy and house made cranberry sauce and traditional pumpkin pie. Diners will also be treated to a number of other delightful dishes such as roasted salmon with pistachio gremolata; slow-cooked New York strip steak with herb jus, and green bean salad with cranberries, toasted almonds, farro and fried shallots.
—Lake View restaurant mfk will have Thanksgiving to-go items for pick-up at its site, 432 W. Diversey Pkwy., on Nov. 27, 12-9 p.m.—so order now!
Items in the holiday package include a 10-to-12-pound cider-brined turkey, burnt pumpkin cheesecake, sweet potato bravas, Albondigas stuffing (with pork-and-veal meatballs/sausage and sourdough croutons), and sherry-glazed Brussels sprouts and Calvados cranberry sauce.
—At The Smith, diners can enjoy a special three-course prix fixe menu featuring a choice of turkey prepared three ways—roasted breast, braised leg, or turkey pot pie—as well as options for non-turkey lovers, including butternut squash Milanese, roasted salmon and red wine-braised short rib. Priced at $82 per person, the menu includes dishes like butternut squash soup, ricotta gnocchi and tuna tartare.
Desserts feature devil’s layer cake, sticky apple toffee pudding and pumpkin cheesecake. Additional fixings for the table include apple brioche stuffing, crispy Brussels sprouts and cranberry orange jam.
—I|O Godfrey will celebrate Thanksgiving this year with a special dinner buffet served at 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The buffet will start with soup options including roasted butternut squash and potato leek, along with a selection of salads. At the carving station, guests can enjoy turkey, prime rib and salmon. The sides include traditional favorites and creative twists like mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts, cornbread stuffing, creamed cipollini onions, bacon collard greens, asparagus with parmigiana and lemon, bourbon-glazed carrots, beets with goat cheese, cranberry sauce, sweet potato purée, creamed corn, haricots verts, and mac & cheese. Desserts include pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple-and-pear crumble, tiramisu and chocolate-covered strawberries.
This massive dinner is priced at $65 for adults and $15 for children under 12. RSVP here.
—Central Park Bar invites Chicagoans who stick around for the Thanksgiving holiday to enjoy seasonal drinks from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
New cocktails include the Apple Bottom, with 360 Red Delicious Vodka, Gypsy Apple Pie Vodka, Villon Spiced French Liqueur, Linie Aquavit and lemon juice; and the Dakota, with Rittenhouse Rye, Marie Brizard Jolie Cherry Liqueur, Pierre Ferrand Dry Curaçao, Pernod and agave nectar. For the fall and winter season, Central Park Bar’s outdoor bar has been enclosed and heated. Guests can play bumper pool, document the evening with a booth pic, or head just outside to enjoy the fire pit (weather permitting).
—How sweet it is! Cindy’s Rooftop is back with its Annual “Pie in the Sky” Thanksgiving Pie Sale, and all items are available for pre-order.
Online orders are being taken through Nov. 23 for pick-up on Nov. 26-27, 4-9 p.m. Pies include pumpkin cheesecake, sweet potato pie, Dutch apple pie and bourbon pecan pie, and each item is $28.
—And the sweet offerings continue with Sweet Mandy B’s.
Classic nine-inch pies that serve six to eight people will be available with flavors including apple streusel with fresh apple pie filling, pumpkin, pecan, chocolate cream, banana cream and key lime pie. Thanksgiving-themed specials will include pumpkin and turkey cut-out cookies, mashed potato and turkey leg decorated cupcakes, and six-inch Thanksgiving cakes decorated with a turkey (limited quantities in store; custom orders welcome). There are also pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin pie, individual pumpkin cheesecakes, pumpkin whoopie pie, pumpkin bread and more. (I sense a theme here.)
Placing orders early is recommended by calling Lincoln Park at 773-244-1174 and Streeterville at 312-255-1632.
—Last, but certainly not least, Delightful Pastries will once again have Thanksgiving pies, quiches, breads and soups to order.
Pie flavors include pecan, bourbon chocolate pecan, pumpkin and cranberry fudge. Other goodies perfect for the holiday include housemade cranberry pear sauce, pumpkin roll, cream of butternut squash soup, pecan cranberry sourdough and much more. The full menu is here.