Food

The Best Places to Eat in L.A. on Thanksgiving If You Don’t Feel Like Cooking at Home (2015)

November 10, 2015 by Christina Champlin

Slaving over a hot stove for hours and cooking frantically for family and friends can leave you completely frazzled.

Even just the thought of the clean-up is enough to make you want to throw your hand up and opt for a rotisserie chicken from Ralphs.

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It doesn’t have to be this way, Angelenos.

This holiday celebrate Thanksgiving stress free and pay a visit to one of the many wonderful restaurants offering pre fixe menus, decadent buffets and even full catering menus for those who wish to stay in.

There’s something for everyone on this list from traditional, vegan, Indian to even a FREE meal!

Rundown starts below, in no particular order, numbered only for reference.

Happy Thanksgiving!

1. Scarpetta at Montage Beverly Hills

Scarpetta will treat holiday patrons to a decadent buffet this Thanksgiving with a selection of seafood crudi to start (think- oysters, shrimp and snow crab legs), and entree items to follow like turkey,prime rib, leg of lamb and Scott Conant’s famous spaghetti. Patrons can also booze it up on bottomless mimosas, bloody marys and bellinis for an additional $22.

Price: Adults, $108. Children 5-12 , $38.
View the full buffet menu here.

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2. Terrine

Chef Kris Morningstar is at it again with his infamous all you eat feasts, for Thanksgiving the menu will include turkey and traditional Thanksgiving sides served buffet style. The outdoor patio at Terrine also makes for a beautiful holiday setting.

Price: Per Person, $45.

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3. Cleo

Award-winning Chef Danny Elmaleh will be serving up a Thanksgiving dinner with a Mediterranean twist fit for a queen. Cleo’s annual Cleopatra’s Feast will feature a holiday menu of mezzes served family-style and your choice of specialty salads, entrees, sides and desserts. Items include: crispy spiced lentils, sauerkraut & parsnip latkes, slow roasted spiced lamb shoulder, roasted turkey with a fried leg, just to name a few.

Price: Per Person, $65
View the full menu here.

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4. Huckleberry

Santa Monica’s beloved neighborhood café and bakery Huckleberry will cater your holiday with a special Thanksgiving carry-out menu. Items include comfort dishes like braised organic turkey thighs, Bartell Ranch beef brisket, cornbread pudding with butternut squash, and caramelized onions. Save room for one of Zoe Nathan’s famed desserts, like the maple walnut pie and take & bake items which come in a Pyrex baking dish like caramel apple cranberry pie and coffee cake. Additionally, Milo & Olive’s signature fresh-baked breads, such as cranberry walnut and brioche dinner rolls can be added to any catering order. Huckleberry is taking orders now through Friday, November 20 at 7:00pm by calling 310-451-2311 after 2:00pm.

View the entire catering menu here.

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5. Jar

Chef Suzanne Tracht will be serving up a Thanksgiving feast that will include; chestnut chickpea soup and oyster stew for starters and a family style dinner of turkey, cranberry relish, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato au gratin and a choice of pumpkin pie or apple pie for dessert.

Price: Adults, $90. Children 12 and under, $45.
View the full menu here.

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6. Descanso Gardens

Enjoy a Thanksgiving brunch buffet at the beautiful Descanso Gardens as Patina chefs create a lavish holiday buffet with tasty traditional favorites as well as vegetarian options. Book early for this on as seating is limited. Reservations are required with a reservation deadline on Thursday, November 19.

Price: Adult Members, $57. Children Members 12 and under,$24. Adult nonmember $66. Child nonmember $28.

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7. Sambar

Chef Akasha’s Indian hot spot in Culver City will be serving a Indian fusion buffet this Thanksgiving. Expect items like roasted turkey breast porchetta, turkey tikka masala, basmati rice biryani, curried cauliflower, candied yams with pineapple & ginger, cranberry chutney, mango cheesecake and more to be served.

Price: Adults, $48. Children 12 and under,$12.
View full buffet menu here.

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8. Viviane

Chef Michael Hung’s newest restaurant Vivianne in Beverly Hills will introduce their very first Thanksgiving meal this Holiday. The prix-fixe menu of shared plates will include turkey, French green beans, smoked potato purée, brioche with wild mushroom, roasted sugar pumpkin and a cranberry compote. Caramel pear tartine and cookies will be served for dessert.

Price: Adults, $68. Children 3-12 , $25.

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9. Esterel

Esterel will create a Thanksgiving buffet mixing American and French influences. Under Executive Chef Victor Boroda’s execution, guest will dine on items like short ribs, poached steelhead salmon, sherry glazed cremini mushrooms, creamed Kennebec potatoes, pickled cranberries and a full service turkey carving station.

Price: Per Person, $55
View the full buffet menu here.

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10. Geoffrey’s Malibu

The three course Thanksgiving meal by Chef Bijan Shokatfard will include creamy butternut squash and port poached pear salad for starters, a second course of roasted turkey roulade stuffed with a spinach pudding, slow braised lamb shank or pan seared day boat scallops and ending the meal on a sweet note, patrons have a choice of pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate crunch bars or a poached pear tart. The iconic ocean views are free of charge.

Price: Adults, $60. Children 12 and under,$45.
View the full menu here.

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Delicious Geoffrey's Roast Turkey Roulade stuffed with Spinach Bread Pudding Served with all trimmings and traditional relish.

A photo posted by Geoffrey's Malibu (@geoffreysmalibu) on

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11. BOURBON STEAK

BOURBON STEAK is offering guests a festive three-course meal. Select from a menu of staters that include butternut squash soup with toasted cinnamon roll croutons and seared Nantucket Bay scallops with black truffles. For the main entree, items like braised Brandt short rib, lobster pot, and roasted heritage turkey with sage stuffing and cranberry compote can be found on the menu with three shareable family style sides for the table. S’mores with graham cracker ice cream and marshmallow fluff and pumpkin cheesecake with almond & pepita granola help end your meal on a sweet note.

Price: Per Person, $59 with a wine pairing option for an additional $25.
View the full menu here.

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12. Tavern

Brentwood’s Tavern will offer both take out and dine in options this Thanksgiving. The menu includes a persimmon and pomegranate arugula salad, turkey breast and a stuffed leg with mashed potatoes and gravy, sourdough stuffing with turkey sausage and more. In addition there will also be a vegan and vegetarian menu which includes sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, fingerling potatoes, stuffing and wild mushroom persillade. End the meal with decandent desserts, like a slice of pumpkin pie with brown sugar whipped cream or a candied pecan tart with vanilla ice cream.

Price: Adults, $70. Children 12 and under, $35.
View the full menu here.
View the take out menu here.

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13. Wally’s Beverly Hills

Chef David Feau will prepare a traditional Thanksgiving feast ready to take home and serve. Items include a 16lb-18lb turkey, green bean ragout, truffle mashed potatoes, pumpkin gratin, choice of vegetarian or meat stuffing, pan roasted Brussels sprout salad, along with gravy and cranberry sauce- serving up to 12 people for $300. The meal also comes in a half sized portion that serves up to six people for $180. Wally’s is taking orders now and all orders must be placed at least 48 hours in advance of November 26.

Price: 8-9lb turkey meal $180. 16lb-18lbs turkey meal $300.

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14. Café Gratitude DTLA

Guests will receive a free composed plate of Chef Dreux Ellis’ plant-based takes on favorite Thanksgiving dishes on a first come, first serve basis from 11:00am – 3:00pm (or while still available). The plated feast includes: red lentil butternut squash holiday loaf, raw stuffing made of pecans, apples and cranberries, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, persimmon & pomegranate salad, a slice of pumpkin pie and a apple and pomegranate spritzer. Best deal in town!

Price: Free!

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Cafe Gratitude Free Thanksgiving Plate

Credit: Cafe Gratitude

15. Tanzy

Anyone who prefers to go out to dinner can head over to Tanzy in Westwood for a three-course Thanksgiving meal. Menu items include parsnip & apple soup, endive & arugula salad, herb roasted turkey, three pumpkin pie and a pink lady apple crisp. The meal will also include a gift from the chef. Families who wish to extend their holiday outing can go see a movie at iPic Theaters next door!

Price: Adults, $40. Children 12 and under,$20.

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16. The Pikey

Chef Ralph Johnson, is throwing a holiday feast this Thanksgiving with a choice of roasted organic turkey breast or rolled and stuffed confit turkey legs and wings served with bountiful sides. The Thanksgiving feast will go until 2:00am!

Price: Per Person, $4o.
View the full menu here.

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17. Mélisse

Chef Josiah Citrin will create a 3-course Thanksgiving meal featuring items like pumpkin soup, lobster ravioli, roasted dry-aged prime rib, portabello mushroom “steak”served with three traditional Thanksgiving sides and plenty of pie options for dessert.

Price: Adults, $95. Children 8 and under, $42.
View the full menu here.

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18. Crossroads

Chef Tal Ronnen’s upscale vegan restaurant, Crossroads will serve a four-course Thanksgiving day meal comprised of a butternut squash bisque, Autumn chop salad, rosemary & hazelnut scaloppini, stuffing, mashed potatoes, Brussel sprouts, sweet potato biscuits and a option of pumpkin pie or apple cobbler for dessert.

Price: Per Person, $75.
View the full menu here.

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Where are your favorite spots in eat in L.A. on Thanksgiving? Let us know in the comments below!

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