Treat Yourself to a Relaxing Thanksgiving by Leaving the Cooking to the Pros | A Roundup of More Than Twenty Turkey Day Offerings All Around San Diego

November 16, 2014

We’ve made it through the masquerading madness of Halloween, which means the holiday season is officially upon us and Thanksgiving will be here before you even have time to clean those decorative cobwebs out of your house. Now, before you start to have a mental breakdown just thinking about the last minute cleaning, the impossible multitasking of cooking and your relative’s signature dry, burnt turkey, we have a roundup of San Diego’s best bars, restaurants and hotels who are eager to keep your stress levels low and thankful meter sky high by doing all the cooking for you this Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is almost here and if laboring in the kitchen all day doesn’t sound like your ideal holiday, leave it to the professionals to prepare a festive and delicious Thanksgiving meal! From special buffets to easy catering options, we’ve included the top restaurants in San Diego to celebrate the holiday.

Keep this Thanksgiving meltdown-free by staying out of the kitchen, and dining in where the professionals spoil you with impeccable homemade dishes. All you have to do is dig in! For those who participated in the madness of Thanksgiving Eve parties, nothing says speedy recovery better than a classic, three-course Thanksgiving feast. That’s why Pacific Beach Alehouse is ready to kick off Turkey Day celebrations at 11am on Thursday so you can get your fix of comfort food before you even have time to feel hung over in the morning. Better yet, this beachside bar opens at bright and early at 9am on Black Friday so you can refuel after the morning shopping mania.

Pacifica Del Mar has created a three-course, seasonal feast set to the stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Warm up with starters like Autumn Squash Soup with herbed mascarpone and spiced apples or Japanese Clam Chowder. Dig into hearty traditional dishes and signature staples like Oven Roasted Turkey, Pan Roasted Sea Bass and Sugar Spiced Salmon with Chinese beans, garlic mashed potatoes and mustard sauce. End the dinner with a slice of Pacifica’s Homemade Pumpkin Pie with vanilla bean whipped cream and cranberry coulis. The meal is $40 per person with the turkey entrée and $50 for other choices. Pacifica will also offer a three-course children’s menu for kids 12 and under for $16. Dinner will be served from noon to 9pm.

Early birds should flock to barleymash for its traditional, family-style Thanksgiving feast, starting at 2pm. For $39 per adult, dinner comes complete with all your holiday cravings, made with the restaurant’s signature ‘barley’ touch.

Sophistication meets comfort in the form of a three-course Thanksgiving dinner at Cusp Dining & Drinks. Guests will be greeted with a selection of hors de oeuvres followed by choices like Butternut Squash Soup with fried sage and candied chestnut cream and Roasted Free Range Turkey with chive whipped Yukon potatoes, molasses glazed brussel sprouts, sausage wild rice stuffing and cranberry sauce. Seasonally-themed desserts like Cranberry Ginger Pie and Pumpkin Pie will also be included. Dinner is $50 per person and will be served from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Cusp will also offer a two-course meal for kids 10 and under for $20.

Hosting holiday dinners at home just got easier with Brazen BBQ’s Thanksgiving take-out menu. From the Brazen Smoked Turkey to freshly baked cornbread, Brazen has got your Turkey Day feast covered. All you need to do is order, relax and dinner will be served. What’s a Thanksgiving meal without a table full of desserts to end the night? Get creative with your sweet cravings and jazz up your dessert options this Thanksgiving with Le Parfait Paris’s delicate, artful pastries. Swing by for desserts before your family gets into town. Shhh. We won’t tell them you didn’t make those macarons and delish desserts yourself.

True North Tavern also welcomes early diners on Turkey Day by opening from 5pm till close. With live music performances and the laidback vibe, it’s the perfect spot for you and your family to enjoy a Thanksgiving sans chaos.

Everyone knows thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without some football games blastin’ in the background. Have your classic holiday feast served fresh and steamy hot to you while you enjoy the game on any one of Tavern’s 42 inch HD TVs. Drop by to feast at 6pm and stay till as late as 2am to wash down the delicious, hearty dinner with Tavern’s signature selection of craft brews.

It’s that time of year again when everyone is thinking about Thanksgiving dinner, and most importantly, who will be cooking it! Get out of the kitchen and have Bottega Americano do all the work with their new Thanksgiving to-go menu. The brand new foodery, recently named one of the top 10 new restaurants, is offering a crowd-pleasing Thanksgiving to-go menu featuring modern versions of American holiday favorites and Italian specialties including everything from the turkey to pumpkin pie and several new unique dishes in between.

Can’t make it to a family reunion? Don’t worry. West Coast Tavern is giving you a reason to remain thankful and satisfied this holiday weekend with their Thanksgiving menu that’s proportioned perfectly for single servings. Starting at 6pm, you can grub on your favorite holiday picks till midnight!

Of course, if you prefer to dine in the comforts of your own home with grub-friendly clothing, there are several options that take the stress out of Thanksgiving with their authentic take-out menu. With a wide variety of Mexiterranean dishes, Romesco is opened on Thanksgiving for take-out and makes the perfect place to pick up some savory tapas to spice up your home-cooked Thanksgiving feast.

This year, Waters Fine Foods & Catering is making Thanksgiving even easier for you. Maybe you just want a couple side dishes to go with your turkey or maybe the turkey is something you don’t want to risk burning - with a full Thanksgiving On-The-Go menu available, you can pick and choose want you’d like to add to the Thanksgiving table this year. Waters has it all, snacks, sides, turkey, dessert - even the wine! Orders must be placed by 4pm on Friday, November 21 and picked up after 2pm on Wednesday, November 26. Orders may be placed at the Bay Park (619.276.9336), Solana Beach (858.509.9400) or Downtown (619.696.7555) locations.   

As the time to gather and give thanks with family and friends is near, Mister A’s invites guests for an unforgettable Thanksgiving feast.  On Thursday, November 27 between noon and 8:30pm Mister A’s will offer a prix fixe menu priced at $59.50 per adult and $20 per child. The special menu will feature a large selection of seasonal dishes like Organic “Diestel” Turkey and Chino Farms Butternut Squash Risotto served alongside all the traditional fixings thoughtfully created by Chef Stephane Voitzwinkler. Thanksgiving will also be the first day in which the holiday lights atop the building shine.

Whisknladle Hospitality is offering a take home turkey dinner with all the fixins for 8 people at the price of $280 that includes 14-16lb Diestel Farms Turkey, Cornbread Stuffing, Prepkitchen Beet Salad, Braised Swiss Chard, Sweet Potato Buttermilk Biscuits, Butternut Squash Puree, Haricot Verts Gratin, Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, Rosemary Mushroom Gravy, and a Pumpkin Pie. To place your order, email [email protected] or call (619) 415-7101.

Mille Fleurs invites guests to join them for a farm-to-table inspired Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, November 27 between 1:30 and 7:30pm. Chef Martin Woesle has prepared a prix fixe and a la carte menu to reflect the season’s freshest fare. For those enjoying the four-course prix fixe menu, priced at $69.50 per adult and $25 for children, they will offer an annual favorite: Oven-Roasted Diestel Farm Turkey served alongside Yukon gold potato puree, cranberries, gravy and more. In addition, a tempting selection of seasonal dishes will also be offered on their a la carte menu.

Hotel del Coronado’s holiday programs will kick off Thanksgiving weekend, beginning with dinner in the oceanfront Ballroom and magnificent Crown Room on November 27. The elegant buffet, similar to The Del’s legendary brunches, will be a lavish feast with all of the trimmings and live musical entertainment. Get lost in this endless buffet and a delectable assortment of over 20 desserts. And at 1500 Ocean, newly appointed Chef de Cuisine, Meredith Manee, has put her on spin on some Thanksgiving classics. Highlights include a perfectly seared Blue Cheese Crusted Filet Mignon accompanied by mushroom bread pudding, asparagus and a fig port demi-glace.The Del’s outdoor and oceanfront ice skating rink is also celebrating it’s 10th anniversary this year and opens Thanksgiving Day!

Bake Sale has introduced butter-crust pumpkin pies available now through the end of the year. The pies will be available to pre-order for Thanksgiving through Monday, Nov. 24, and will be ready for pick-up by noon on Thursday, Nov. 27. Hand-formed brioche dinner rolls will also be available to order for $10 per dozen.

Tucked away on a lush 18-hole golf course, Rancho Bernardo Inn is tranquil oasis offering multiple options for Thanksgiving this year. For the true foodies, the on-property restaurant, AVANT  is offering an elevated 3-course Thanksgiving menu from 2 to 7pm. With sophisticated offerings by Chef Tomas Baistrocchi, AVANT is the perfect choice for food-lovers who want a break from the kitchen. For fun with the whole family, the Aragon Ballroom will serve Thanksgiving classics with a special holiday buffet from 11am to 3pm. The entire family will be entertained, as the event is featuring live music on the terrace and a petting zoo and pony rides on the lawn. For Thanksgiving sweets to-go, patrons can delight in delicious mini-pies by Chef Margaret Nolan, the well-known pasty expert.

The Commons will be open at 4pm on Thanksgiving Day to welcome both visitors and locals to celebrate their Thanksgiving with The Commons' Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner and watch the Seattle Seahawks take on the San Francisco 49ers at 5:30 pm. The Commons' Thanksgiving Dinner is composed of comfort traditions and holiday favorites with standouts off the menu including Herb Roasted Turkey paired with Charred Cherry Tomato Turkey Jus, Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, French Green Bean Casserole, Sourdough and Golden Raisin Stuffing and topped off with fresh pumpkin pie. Guests can enjoy the whole Thanksgiving experience and dinner from 4 to 9pm for $14.99 per person.

Located in the upscale San Diego community of Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, which just reopened last October following a $30 million renovation, will host an exquisite Thanksgiving buffet presented by Executive Chef Jarrod Moiles on Thursday, November 27. Featuring various stations including Charcuterie and Cheeses, Salads, Cold Seafood, House Made Pastas, a Carving Station and Desserts, guests will get the chance to indulge in Veladora's Coastal Ranch cuisine that blends the area's locally grown fruits and vegetables with unique combinations of flavors. Topped with live music and a most decadent dessert spread including the resort's classic Pumpkin and Pecan pies, it's just the way to celebrate the holiday. Rancho Valencia's Thanksgiving Day buffet will be offered from 1-6pm and costs $110 for adults and $45 for children 11 and under (kids under five are complimentary).

This Thanksgiving, feast on the good times with family and friends at Lael’s Restaurant at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. With an endless buffet, diners of every pallet are sure to be pleased. Beginning with a selection of fresh salads and soups including a Ginger Butternut Squash Bisque, an Autumn Cobb Salad and an International and Local Cheese Display, guests can also delight in a delectable Seafood Display with Alaskan King Crab Legs and Fresh Shucked Pacific Oysters, and Sushi on Ice with fresh Sashimi, and a Wakame and Tofu Salad with Papaya Vinaigrette. A live carving station including Whole Tom Turkey, Prime Rib and Cedar Salmon is also available for Thanksgiving diners, along with a Risotto station, Bacon wrapped roasted Chicken Breast, Ancho Chili braised Short Ribs and Miso marinated local Halibut. The over-the-top meal is finished off with a selection of sweet and savory desserts, from a Mini Pumpkin Creme Brûlée, a traditional Pecan and Pumpkin Pies and a Cinnamon Streusel Cake.

Guests can celebrate the season with THE US GRANT's San Diego Thanksgiving Buffet - a cherished holiday tradition that never ceases to amaze. A bountiful array of seasonal specialties and traditional holiday fare takes guests on an epicurean journey from the warm Spiced Apple Cider welcome to the all-encompassing housemade desserts, paired alongside a freshly brewed cup of specialty coffee and espresso. Along the way, savor fresh salads and soups, specialties from the Land and Sea, Chef Mark's family recipe Pierogi station, and of course, the traditional Holiday fare of slow roasted Turkey Breast with Stuffing and Gravy, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Acorn Squash and more. Live music completes the San Diego Thanksgiving holiday in style.
In addition, guests can savor a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, shared with friends and family in the comfort of their home, with the culinary expertise and perfection in planning by THE US GRANT. Let Executive Chef Mark Kropczynski prepare a gourmet ready-to-serve meal that includes traditional Turkey and Stuffing holiday fare as well as his own family-favorite Pierogi and decadent homemade Pumpkin Pie. On Turkey Day, simply follow the warming instructions prior to serving, and enjoy. Whether planning a gathering of four or forty, THE US GRANT San Diego Thanksgiving Catering allows guests to feast without the fuss! Advance order is required by 5pm on Friday, November 21 and pick-up will be arranged at your convenience on Wednsday, November 26.

Imagine the year’s most indulgent holiday without the stress of shopping, cooking or cleaning up the messy aftermath. The Wild Thyme Company offers homemade Thanksgiving dinner packages for 10 people that they’ll deliver right to your door or have ready for you to pick up the day before. Their “Everything but the Bird” package includes all the essentials done in Wild style, with dishes like Harvest Spinach Salad with dried figs, cranberries, poached pear, manchego cheese, pumpkin seeds and Spanish sherry vinaigrette, sweet potato casserole, stuffing, gravy, vegetables, rolls and Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake or Caramel-Apple Crunch Bars. Lemon-Thyme Roasted Turkey or Honey-Ginger Glazed Ham can be added for an additional charge. The Wild Thyme’s “Everything but the Bird” dinner package is $185 for 10 people. This year, you can also design your own menu from a list of a la carte dishes, put your feet up and let The Wild Thyme do the rest.