Where to Dine Out in Philly This Thanksgiving
Skip the hosting this year and let these restaurants handle your Thanksgiving feast.
Here’s where you can enjoy Thanksgiving without all the stress. / Photograph of Red Owl Tavern’s Thanksgiving spread, by Chris Devern
While we love it, Thanksgiving involves so much: prepping, cooking, carving, serving, socializing, doing dishes, and fighting off the tryptophan sleepiness. Maybe this year you want to streamline the holiday — and give yourself a bit of a break — by going out to eat instead. Thankfully, there’s no shortage of restaurants in the city where you can choose the experience you want to have, whether that’s a traditional turkey-and-trimmings dinner or a luxe brunch or a raw bar.
Here’s where you can enjoy all the feasting without the hassle.
a.kitchen, Rittenhouse
a.kitchen will be serving a three-course feast featuring Sweet Amalia oysters, Heritage turkey, braised short rib, sausage and escarole stuffing, roasted Brussels sprouts, pumpkin pie, and more. $125 per person; book here.
Aqimero at the Ritz-Carlton, Center City
From 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Aqimero will host a five-course brunch featuring a raw bar, assorted toasts, a kale salad, choice of entree, and dessert. One mimosa or bellini is included. $95 for adults, $45 for kids under 10; reserve here.
Assembly Rooftop Lounge, Logan Circle
If you want to spend Thanksgiving watching the parade, head to Assembly’s watch party and brunch buffet. The event, which runs 8 a.m. to noon, includes panoramic views of the floats, a full buffet, mimosas, Bloody Marys, and hot cocktails from the open bar. Starts at $165 per person; reserve here.
Bank & Bourbon, Market East
Enjoy all the trimmings — and then some — with Bank & Bourbon’s lavish Thanksgiving menu. It features a carving block with various proteins, a bunch of accompaniments, salads galore, desserts, and seafood, cheese, aged ham, and veggie displays, plus wine pairings on offer. $99 for adults, $25 for kids 12 and under; book here.
Chez Colette at Sofitel, Rittenhouse
Chez Colette’s epic brunch buffet includes a glass of champagne, a raw bar, a cheese display, a carving station, traditional sides, and plenty of desserts. $68 per person; book here.
CO-OP Restaurant and Lounge, University City
CO-OP in University City will have a three-course meal boasting Caesar salad or tomato bisque to start, a traditional turkey with fixings for the main course, and your choice of apple or pumpkin pie for dessert. $50 per person; reserve here.
Dim Sum House by Jane G’s, Rittenhouse and University City
If you’re done with turkey but still want a special-occasion centerpiece, call ahead to reserve a King Crab cooked three ways, or stay on the bird theme with a crispy duck served with fresh bao buns, all served with a full menu of wine, beer, and cocktails. Pay for what you order; book here or here.
Dolce Italian, Center City
Dolce is making Thanksgiving an all-day affair, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets. Breakfast (7 to 11 a.m.) sees Belgium waffle and omelet stations, plus egg white frittatas, smoked salmon flatbread, bacon, and sausage, while lunch and dinner (noon to 7 p.m.) lean more into Thanksgiving traditions with carving stations, stuffing, mac ‘n’ cheese, whipped potatoes, cranberry sauce, and more. Breakfast: $29 for adults, $16 for kids under 12; Lunch and dinner: $80 for adults, $40 for kids under 12; reserve here.
Fork, Old City
Fork will be open for Thanksgiving with a four-course prix fixe menu. The lineup includes yellowfin tuna crudo, turkey with star anise cranberry sauce, a whole trout, and assorted pies from High Street. $110 per person; book here.
Jansen, Mt. Airy
The Mt. Airy hotspot is offering a chef’s tasting with butternut squash soup or a gem salad with manchego, roasted delicata, candied walnuts, and radicchio, followed by roasted turkey, stuffing, potato mousseline, green beans, cranberry sauce, and gravy. Pumpkin cheesecake to finish, of course. $85 per person; reserve here.
Lacroix, Rittenhouse
Head to the Rittenhouse Hotel’s luxe restaurant for an opulent Thanksgiving Day brunch. It’ll be buffet style, featuring carving stations and Thanksgiving staples, plus, our favorite, the pastry room. $150 per person; reserve here.
Parc, Rittenhouse
Parc will be open all day on Thanksgiving, serving its regular menu. There may not be turkey, but a gigantic seafood tower is arguably more festive than a bird. Pay for what you order; reserve here.
Patchwork, Rittenhouse
Hyatt Centric’s restaurant will have a buffet-style Thanksgiving dinner with
roasted turkey, manicotti pomodoro, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, apple crumble, and more. $64.95 for adults, $44.95 for kids; reserve here.
PJ Clarke’s, Washington Square West
PJ Clarke’s will be open all day and night — seatings run 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. — for Thanksgiving. The prix fixe menu boasts pumpkin soup, oysters, traditional sides, dessert, and your choice of roasted turkey, salmon, or prime rib for the main course. $65 for adults, $45 for kids; book here.
Red Owl Tavern, Old City
Red Owl Tavern will host a grand Thanksgiving buffet with two seats: 2 to 4 p.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Highlights include smoked wagyu brisket, turkey (of course), sweet potato mash, mac n’ cheese, and a whole lot of desserts. $95 for adults, $35 for kids; reserve here.
Square 1682, Rittenhouse
Square 1682’s à la carte Thanksgiving feast will fill you up with bread service, brioche stuffing, green bean casserole with fried onions, carrots, cornbread, sweet treats, and your choice of flank steak, turkey, or braised short rib as a main. There’s also a three-course tasting menu, so you can pick a dish from each course. Tasting menu starting at $60 per person; reserve here.
The Twisted Tail, Headhouse Square
The Twisted Tail will be open noon to 10 p.m. with a family-style meal with sides like Caesar salad, honey-roasted sweet potatoes, and cornbread stuffing. Guests will choose their own entree — from roasted Lancaster turkey with cranberry to prime rib and horseradish — and end the night with pumpkin, pecan, or apple crumb pies. There’ll also be live music from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. $55 per person; book here.
Urban Farmer, Logan Circle
Join Urban Farmer for a three-course dinner. Starters include red kuri squash soup, chilled shrimp, and a harvest salad, followed by entrees like roasted turkey, salmon, and prime rib, plus sides served family-style. Top it off with pecan chocolate, pumpkin, or apple pies. $120 for adults, $60 for kids; book here.
