First and foremost, after the past couple of years of constant "once in a lifetime" turmoil, take a moment and give thanks for making it to this moment--it's no small feat!
So here comes Thanksgiving 2022! Finally, after 2 years of Covid disrupting our beloved holiday, it finally feels like we can return to normalcy. And as always my advice: don't cook! With inflation, even if you can get supplies to CIY (Cook It Yourself) they will crush your wallet so you might as well pay a REAL chef to do all the heavy lifting!
Then there is just the stress of CIY. Don't get me wrong--I love the Thanksgiving meal as much as anyone. It's a joyous union of about 8 of my favorite comfort foods all at the same table. Succulent turkey, savory stuffing, tart cranberries, buttery mashed potatoes--all of it comes together in one of the year's most delicious and nostalgic flavor profiles. But the 8-10 hours (when you factor in the shopping, cooking, and cleaning dishes) never seem worth it for the 30-45 minutes of gorging on the meal (and then the glorious tryptophan nap). And in a year where Thanksgiving has finally been released from the dark Covid cloud, I make an especially impassioned annual pitch for you to leave it to the pros!
Below is a list of places to dine in or take out options that will create gastronomic joy and most importantly render stress obsolete. Besides the list below, Open Table or Resy are great to lock in dine-in plans. Either way, leave the cooking and cleaning to the experts and enjoy!
Dine In
Three Arches will be offering a special
prix fixe menu for Thanksgiving that
will be offered from 3 pm to 8 pm (last seating at 8 pm). Three
Arches will serve a limited regular menu for those guests who do not wish to
participate in the prix fixe - at the bar only - until 10 pm. A credit card
will be required to make reservations HERE,
(cancellation policy: a 50% no-show charge will be applied; 25% charge for any
reservations canceling within a 48-hour window).
5Church both Midtown & Buckhead locations will be offering a full dine-in buffet from 11 am-8 pm on Thanksgiving Day! Pricing: $70/adult, $20/child (12 & under). For reservations visit 5church-atlanta.com
Rowdy Tiger Whiskey Bar and Kitchen will be open on Thanksgiving from 7 am-12 am Have a choice of herb-roasted turkey or slow-roasted molasses glazed ham complete with mashed sweet potatoes, cornbread dressing, roasted carrots, and cranberry compote for $35 a person. Finish with mouth-watering peach crisp or banana pudding at $10 a serving. End the evening with panoramic city views on the Rowdy Tiger rooftop to take in the beauty of Midtown Atlanta.
Dantana's will be open on Thanksgiving from 4 pm-10 pm. Starting on Monday, November 21st through Friday, November 25th, enjoy seasonal desserts and cocktails with a traditional turkey leg dinner. Sip on a Smoky Pear Margarita, or cozy up with a Salted Caramel White Russian. After a tasty turkey leg, end the evening on a sweet note with a sweet potato pie, pumpkin cheesecake, or apple empanadas complete with vanilla ice cream. Note: the downtown location is not open any longer so this is just Buckhead.
Nagomiya offers an authentic nine-course Thanksgiving meal for $90 per person. Sit back and enjoy as your table fills with soup, chawanmushi, sunomono, tempura, 7pcs premium nigiri, and a delectable Japanese sweets platter. Indulge in Manaka matcha wafer, chestnut mont blanc, and three kinds of swiss rolls: chocolate, green tea, and strawberry. Thanksgiving Day Hours: 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
The Select Restaurant + Bar in Sandy Springs offers an escape to a 1920s French atmosphere with a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Bring the whole family for applewood smoked ham, butternut squash soup, and mac & cheese among other delicious options. $79 per adult and $37 for children aged 6-12. If you'd rather have the feast at home, the same menu is available for takeout. Must preorder at least 24 hours in advance. Pickups end at 10:30 am on November 24th and come with reheating instructions.
South City Kitchen in Buckhead + Midtown is open Thanksgiving 11 am - 7 pm and will feature roast turkey breast with cornbread dressing, giblet gravy, garlic collards, mashed potatoes, and orange-cranberry relish. Kids' chicken fingers and grilled cheeses will also be available. Order the dinner to-go and receive buttermilk biscuits, corn muffins + whipped butter, green salad with locally grown Muir and butter lettuces, young kale, benne seed vinaigrette + pecorino romano, and oven-roasted turkey breast with giblet gravy + cranberry sauce.
Botica
will be open regular hours on Thanksgiving and Chef Mimmo will be serving his
Smoked Turkey Taco as a special for $4.
Lazy Betty, South Main Kitchen, and Hampton + Hudson, all offer everything from pies and desserts to full meals. Click here for more information.
Ruth's Chris is offering Thanksgiving dine-in.
Magnolia Room Cafeteria is open on Thanksgiving
Cattle Shed in Alpharetta is open for Thanksgiving
This is a great list from Eater Atlanta.
Bring It Home
Murphy's in the Highlands has been my go-to for the past few years. Thanksgiving To-Go will be available for pickup on Wednesday, November 23rd between 11 am and 6 pm in front of the restaurant. Order incredible turkey and fixings and add wines from Murphy's wine store to round out the meal! Order here!
McDaniel's QN2 offers a chance to BYOT where they'll cook it for $1.75 a pound or you can order a whole turkey smoked and brined for $7.99 a pound and grab some of their incredible sides.
The Castellucci Hospitality Group (The Iberian Pig Buckhead + Double Zero + Sugo) is closed on Thanksgiving but offers a"one-click" Thanksgiving dinner package to just the turkey or family-style sides, choose what's best for you + your crew from this modern Spanish tapas restaurant. Desserts include gateau tres leches and the classics of apple pie and pumpkin pie. Order online by Nov. 20 and pick up on Nov. 23 from 10 am-4 pm.
Drawbar in West Midtown lets your order your dinner for two at $130.00 and enjoy a harvest salad, dinner rolls, various side options, dessert, and a choice of protein. Protein options include citrus roasted chicken with heirloom tomato pan jus, half a citrus roasted turkey with orange cranberry sauce, and rosemary prime rib loin with horseradish sauce for an additional $30. Imagine the nap after eating all of that. Preorder by November 15 and pick up your warm meals on Thanksgiving from 10 am-2 pm
Old Vinings Inn is offering Thanksgiving to go. Serves 4-6 people, $225. Includes 10-12 pound herb roasted turkey, artisan greens salad, green bean casserole, whipped potatoes, cranberry relish. thyme gravy, and parker house rolls & whipped butter. Orders placed by 3 PM Sunday, 11/20 will be available for pick up Wednesday 11/23. 6% tax and 15% service charge added to all orders. Reheating instructions are provided at the time of pick-up. Credit card required at time of order, non-refundable after 11/16/22