Eatery Row is an occasional series here at Dandelion Chandelier assessing the best restaurants for a romantic night out, an important business lunch, cocktails with friends, or a luxurious holiday meal. We only recommend establishments that we’ve personally road-tested and enjoyed. We’ll let you know if a hot place actually lives up to the hype, and whether a classic is still maintaining its high standards. Because an essential element of luxury is knowing that you’re in really good hands.
Planning to spend Thanksgiving in New York? Excellent idea! It’s one of the most festive and joyful days in the entire year in the city. There’s a legendary parade, wonderful window-shopping, world-class food options, and a plethora of ways to burn off the calories afterward. We’ve shared our insider views on how to celebrate a luxurious Thanksgiving and how to experience autumn in New York like a luxury insider. For those planning to be in the city and not inclined to cook, we asked our new Food Editor to share her inside insights on the best restaurants for a memorable Thanksgiving dinner in New York City. Rest assured, there are plenty of options, from upscale takes on a traditional turkey dinner to non-traditional adventures. Plus truffles! Vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, food allergies, picky eaters in the party – one of the joys of New York is that there’s a perfect restaurant somewhere in the city for everyone. Here are the Food Editor’s thoughts on eight outstanding options for Thanksgiving dinner in New York:
If you’re looking for a truly memorable Thanksgiving meal, our pick is Eleven Madison Park. How could it be a bad idea to celebrate at the best restaurant in the world? Chef Daniel Humm plays with the traditional holiday flavors and ingredients, while breathing new life into them. There are only a few tables left, so book yours soon! $245/person for their take on the traditional Thanksgiving feast.
For a somewhat more traditional family-style dinner, Tom Colicchio’s Craft restaurant has you covered. The first course is more adventurous than what we’re used to at home, with options like wagyu carpaccio or sea scallops with black truffles, but that’s not a bad thing! The main courses and sides fall in more familiar holiday territory, with an all-natural, free range turkey, beef striploin, or salmon accompanied by mashed sweet potatoes, roasted autumn vegetables, and cranberry sauce. $150/person or $75/child under 12 for a three course menu; 3-course vegetarian menu available for $110/person.
Feeling like a break from tradition this year? Maialino has you covered. Danny Meyer’s excellent Roman restaurant in the Gramercy Park Hotel has a traditional menu for the nostalgic members of your group, but also offers a menu of Maialino classics, including braised pork and stracciatella (Roman egg drop soup). There’s a children’s menu also offered for the smaller ones in your group. $115/person for either the 4-course Italian-American Thanksgiving menu or for the 4-course Maialino Classics menu; $65 for the 4-course kids menu.
Are you staying in SoHo? We have you covered. Andrew Carmellini’s perennially hip restaurant, The Dutch, is also serving Thanksgiving dinner. You get your choice of fun starters, which include a dozen Blue Point oysters, New England clam chowder and truffle gnocchi among other options – perfect if you’re celebrating with varied palates. This is followed by their modern take on the classic turkey and fixings, with a choice of four different pies for dessert. $125/person for the 3-course menu; $55/child under 10.
If you plan to be in SoHo, but prefer an iconic New York City restaurant to celebrate Thanksgiving, Balthazar is your best bet. Balthazar has been a see-and-be-seen spot in the city for twenty years, serving reliably good French fare. Their Thanksgiving menu has two options for each course, which may seem toned down compared to other spots, but they know what works. This will be a meal after which you will have the energy to take a stroll and perhaps have another cocktail in the neighborhood. $72/person for the 3-course menu.
If you’re planning to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and will be spending time on the Upper West Side, Boulud Sud is a the way to go. There are a plethora of options for each of three courses, which include some traditional options as well as some fun new plates. And, since it’s truffle season, guests have the option of having white alba truffles shaved over house made gnocchi, fettucine, or soft scrambled eggs as one of their first courses. It’s hard to think of a more luxurious way to start Thanksgiving dinner! $89/person for the three course prix fixe, plus supplements of $30 for 3 grams of shaved alba truffles, or $50 for 5 grams.
For the Brooklyn-based crowd, there are plenty of fun options. Meadowsweet in Williamsburg serves a three course menu with traditional items, as well as non-traditional options for the folks who aren’t jazzed about turkey. Meadowsweet also offers vegetarian and vegan menus if you’re going meat-free this year. $95 3 course Thanksgiving menu; $45 kids under 12.
A little further south in Brooklyn is Vinegar Hill House, between DUMBO and Fort Greene in the Vinegar Hill neighborhood. Vinegar Hill House is known for their wonderful wood-burning oven, where they turn out delicious roast meats. For Thanksgiving, they’re serving a three course traditional tasting menu which will fill your desire for a home-cooked traditional holiday meal. $95 traditional Thanksgiving prix fixe.
If you have little ones in tow – or just someone in the group who’s young at heart – a fun Thanksgiving Eve activity is take them for a stroll in Central Park to see the giant balloons being inflated for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The best place to view Hello Kitty, Angry Birds, and other favorite giant balloons is between 77th St and 81st St along Central Park West, starting at 3:00p and finishing around 10:00p.
Forks in the air! Happy eating, and from all of us at Dandelion Chandelier, Happy Thanksgiving.
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