Cooking a Thanksgiving feast is for the birds.
Ditch the dishes and make reservations at San Francisco restaurants that are open for Thanksgiving lunch and dinner, serving up traditional feasts and cultural fare. There's little doubt that the master chefs at Lily, Terrene, or 3rd Cousin can do a turkey—or smoked duck, glazed ham, and roasted pork loin—way better than you can at home.
Prefer a cozy holiday in? Several SF restaurants are offering full Thanksgiving meals (as well as lots of à la carte sides and desserts) for takeout and delivery.
Happy Turkey Day!
Where to Eat Out on Thanksgiving in San Francisco
Chef Michael Rosenthal’s mouthwatering spread at La Société Bar & Café.
(Audrey Kuhn)
3rd Cousin (+ Takeout)
Book a warm, neighborly meal made exquisite by chef Greg Lutes at Bernal Heights’ 3rd Cousin. The three-course, farm-to-table meal ($139/adult, $49 kids under 12) will include cream of potato and cauliflower soup, herb roasted turkey or beef ribs with sausage stuffing, and a vegetarian lumachal pasta with di Napoli squash and chanterelle mushrooms. Four classic pies, one of which is gluten-free, top off the meal. Add wine pairings for $59 per person. // Reservation required; 919 Cortland Ave (Bernal Heights), 3rdcousinsf.com
The InterContinental offers two styles of Thanksgiving festivities for your style of crowd. Come early for a family-style brunch ($122/ person) at the casual Bistro 888 with herb-roasted turkey, grilled halibut, roasted veggies, and mashed potatoes to share—plus a whole selection of desserts. Dinner at the more upscale Mediterranean Luce ($225/person) features four courses with sophisticated touches, like truffle-forward green bean salad and roasted turkey breast, topped off with a poached pear and whipped goat cheese tart. // Reservation required for brunch and dinner; InterContinental San Francisco, 888 Howard Street (SoMa), lucewinerestaurant.com
Bombay Brasserie + Campton Bar and Bistro
Indian-meets-French newcomer Bombay Brasserie is debuting a three-course prix fixe menu ($65/person) that’s heavy on the classics with the option to mix things up. Start off with roasted butternut squash and lentil soup to prime you for roast turkey and fan-favorite sides—or opt for tandoori-spiced butternut squash, sprouted mung bean, and pomegranate chaat. Head to the adjacent Campton Bar and Bistro to eat early (noon) or book your reservation starting at 2pm. //Reservation recommended; Taj Campton Place, 340 Stockton St. (Union Square), tajcamptonplace.com
Brenda’s French Soul Food (+ Takeout)
Brenda's French Soul Food's ever-popular Thanksgiving meal kit and dine-in options are back to celebrate the holiday with Creole style. Pre-order the five-person meal ($235), which includes brined turkey breast (and roasting instructions), butter-whipped potatoes, braised collard greens, Andouille-cornbread dressing, gravy, cranberry compote, biscuits, and peach jam. Thanksgiving day, the restaurant will be serving up their deep-fried turkey cutlet dinner (plus classic brunch dishes) from 11am to 4pm. // Reservation required for dine-in; Place an orderfor pick up on Nov. 26 (also available in Oakland); 652 Polk St. (Tenderloin), frenchsoulfood.com
The Cavalier
Dine in style without having to lift a finger at The Cavalier’s Thanksgiving Day celebration. The London-inspired brasserie offers a choose-your-own adventure of a decadent prix-fixe menu. Start with a Cavalier salad, seafood bisque, smoked duck, or beef tenderloin carpaccio. For your turkey fix, order the herb-marinated breast with thyme and rosemary gravy; opt for braised beef short rib if you want some red meat. Top it off with a choice of apple, pumpkin, or pecan pie, or chocolate delice. And for a uniquely luxe spin, add caviar service. Opt for lunch (11am to 3pm) at $125 per person or dinner seating (3:30pm to 7:30pm) at $150 per person. // Reservation recommended; 360 Jessie St. (SoMa), thecavaliersf.com
International Smoke (+ Takeout)
Michael Mina and Ayesha Curry's barbecue venture brings the fire to Thanksgiving dinner ($125/adults, $49/kids 12 and under) this season. Go for roasted turkey, or buck tradition and opt for St. Louis style pork ribs. BBQ-inspired sides include mac ‘n cheese, garlic streusel, and bacon-loaded sweet and sour brussels sprouts—buffet-style means you don’t have to make tough choices. Top it off with pumpkin pie, apple cobbler, or a dark chocolate parfait. Their take-home kits lean more traditional ($326, serves 4-6) with a whole roasted turkey, appetizers, and pie, with the delightful addition of tea. // Reservation required; Pre-order for pickup Nov. 27-28; 301 Mission St. (SoMa), internationalsmoke.com
When you need a stylish space with ample room to bring the family, dial up this brasserie at the Hyatt Regency in downtown SF. Chef Michael Rosenthal will serve up a classic Thanksgiving dinner ($65/person) of roasted turkey with roasted honeynut squash, pommes puree, and green bean and mushroom gratin, followed by a maple and walnut tart for dessert. //Reservation recommended; 50 Third St. (SoMa), lasocietecafe.com
Lily on Clement (+ Takeout)
Lily's four-course Thanksgiving menu ($88/person) is a mashup of festive Vietnamese and American delights inspired by chef Rob Lam’s mom. Curry pumpkin soup sets the stage for elevated takes on classics, which includes a salt-baked turkey breast over a hash of sweet potato and with a confit turkey leg first dry-cured then slow-poached in duck fat. The sweet potato pie hails from Oakland and is “knock you out” good. The restaurant is open from noon to 8pm on Thanksgiving Day or you can take the whole thing to go. // Reservation required; Pre-order for pickup on Nov. 27-28; 225 Clement St. (Inner Richmond), lilyonclement.com
Lord Stanley
The boundary-pushing restaurant is leaning French this Thanksgiving, with a four-course menu ($150/person or $210/person with beverage pairing) that leads with duck à l'orange and follows with a vanilla crémeux with persimmon and candied pecan that may make you forget about pie altogether. Upscale your day with caviar or Wagyu add-ons. They also offer to-go persimmon galettes for anyone who wants to spice up their dessert. // Reservation required; 2065 Polk St. (Russian Hill), lordstanleysf.com
One Market
Like options? One Market's four-course menu ($95/adults, $49/kids 10 and under) lets you choose one of three dishes for each course. For our main, we're liking the roasted Diestel turkey with cornbread-sausage stuffing—but you can also opt for pork loin, branzino, or a sumptuous veggie squash offering. Top it off with pumpkin tart, chocolate bread pudding, or an apple hand pie à la mode. The restaurant is open from 1pm to 8pm on Thanksgiving Day. //Reservation required; 1 Market St. (FiDi), onemarket.com
Orafo
This Thanksgiving, indulge in three California-Italian-inspired courses at Orafo at the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero. The memorable meal ($135/person) leads with turkey roulade or porcini and ricotta stuffed agnolotti for the vegetarians in the house and wraps up with pumpkin spiced mille-feuille for dessert. // Reservation required; 222 Sansome St. (Financial District), fourseasons.com/embarcadero
Park Chalet + Beach Chalet
Celebrate Thanksgiving in beautiful Golden Gate Park. The three-course prix fixe ($85/adult, $37.50/kids under 12, two-course menu) includes roasted turkey, pan seared bass, or farro and delicata squash risotto with butternut squash soup or radicchio endive salad, and pumpkin cheesecake or apple crisp. A selection of add-on starters (think crab and shrimp cake, oysters, and buttermilk fried calamari), and holiday cocktails like glogg and hot buttered rum will make the day all the more joyful. // Reservation required at Park Chalet (noon to 6pm) and Beach Chalet (9am to 9pm); 1000 Great Hwy (Outer Richmond),parkchalet.com
Terrene
The 1 Hotel’s lush, sustainably-minded restaurant Terrene is cooking up a Thanksgiving feast from 4pm to 10pm that tastes good and does a little good, too. A four-course prix fixe menu ($115/person) highlights local produce purveyors. It kicks off with sweet potato pavé and za’atar parker house rolls, with a main course of turkey breast roulade served with cornbread stuffing, smashed potatoes, and persimmon mostarda. Enjoy these options à la carte as well. A portion of the proceeds from the evening’s celebration will be donated to the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. // Reservationrecommended; 1 Hotel San Francisco, 8 Mission St. (Embarcadero), 1hotels.com
Tommy’s Joynt (+ Takeout)
Old-school SF favorite Tommy’s Joynt doesn't take reservations, but it is the only place in town to get a last minute holiday meal with all the fixings ($32/person). Both the restaurant and the to-go window will begin serving a feast of ham or turkey with stuffing, candied yams, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, salad, and pumpkin pie at 11am on Nov. 28. Get in the to-go line by 5pm or the dine-in line by 8pm and they’ll make sure you get fed. // Pre-orders accepted online; 1101 Geary Blvd. (Tenderloin),tommysjoynt.com
Between 12:30pm and 8pm on Thanksgiving Day, Villon will bring their holiday feast to life. Enjoy a seasonal four-course menu ($150/person, $55/children under 12) that includes roasted pork belly with grits or stuffed squid, shrimp and scallop mousse; traditional turkey and fixings or roasted cod with sunchokes and brussels sprouts; and olive oil cake or pumpkin tart. The optional wine pairing will run you $65/person. Table service is available both indoors and on the heated patio. // Reservation required; 1100 Market St., Proper Hotel (Civic Center), properhotel.com
San Francisco Restaurants Offering Takeout + Delivery on Thanksgiving
Take-home kits from Dalida add sumptuous Mediterranean flair to a Thanksgiving feast.
(Isabel Baer)
Abacá
Flip the script on Thanksgiving with a Kamayan Box from Abacá ($260, feeds up to 4), which reflects a traditional Filipino way of eating and communal feast. This box is packed with hearty, inventive dishes: turkey roulade with Knorr gravy; a mussels, prawn, and tinapa seafood ginataan; grilled pusit, pork lumpia, Wagyu beef pares, and a beef kaldereta hand pie—along with glazed carrots and parsnips, bread pudding stuffing, charred cabbage, and more. Add-on desserts will truly wow a crowd: Try smoked ube pie with ube diplomat and ube crumble ($60) or a kalabasa cheesecake with coconut graham cracker crust, miso caramel, and kalabasa chip ($60). // Pre-orderfor pick-up Nov. 27 from 2pm to 6pm; 2700 Jones St. (Fisherman’s Wharf), restaurantabaca.com
Bi-Rite Market
Everyone's favorite local grocer knows their stuff when it comes to quality ingredients and prepared foods. Pick up their small ($200, feeds 4-6) or large ($300, feeds 8-12) meal kits that include turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, and a Bi-Rite Creamery pumpkin pie (with an additional apple crumble version for the large kit). Alternatively, order à la carte honey mustard-glazed ham, heirloom bean gratin, or even more desserts. // Pre-order for store pickup and delivery Nov. 22–28; 3639 18th St. (Mission), 550 Divisadero St. (NoPa) or 2140 Polk St. (Russian Hill); biritemarket.com
Che Fico
Give thanks with a bit of Italian seasoning when you order takeout from this popular Divisadero eatery. There are meal kits for omnivores ($350, serves 4) and vegetarians ($325, serves 4) alike, with entree options of bone-in heritage turkey breast or butternut squash lasagna and sides including brussels sprout casserole, sweet potato mash, braised heirloom carrots, and stuffing—plus a bottle of Ruby Blanca Barbera. Items may also be ordered à la carte.// Pre-order by Nov. 24 for delivery or pick-up Nov. 27 from 2pm to 6pm (also available in Menlo Park); 838 Divisadero St. (Fillmore), chefico.com
Dalida
Why settle for a traditional Thanksgiving tableau when you can upgrade to a delicious Mediterranean spread? Dalida’s take-home kits ($320, serves 4-6) are heavy on the options. As your base, choose between two meats—turkey breast roulade and smoked leg or a Berkshire pork collar souvlaki—or celery root steaks for your vegetarian friends. Sides include jeweled rice cooked in winter squash, skordalia mashed potatoes, chubby pita stuffing, and buikos with feta and dill. Up the ante by adding on baba ganoush, charred tomato ezme, beet fattoush, and even a ready-made cocktail punch. // Pre-order for delivery or pick-up Nov. 26-27 from 1pm to 4pm; 101 Montgomery St., Ste. 100, (Presidio), dalidasf.com
Jessie and Laurent
Snag your full spread from this beloved meal delivery service. The many, many options include oven-roasted turkey, honey smoked ham, Cornish hens, two types of stuffing, beef Bourguignon, turkey gravy, and pecan pie. // Available for delivery Nov. 20-26 throughout the Bay Area, jessieetlaurent.com
La Mar Cocina Peruana
If you’re looking for a coastal twist on Thanksgiving fare, La Mar offers two versions of a gourmet to-go feast. Their Lechon Asado package ($350, feeds up to five, $589, feeds up to 10) leads with an aji panca-cranberry glazed Frenched pork loin. For those who insist on turkey, the Pavo Asado package ($300, feeds up to five, $559, feeds up to 10) swaps pork for an organic turkey breast baked and seasoned with Peruvian spices and cranberry sauce. Each include the restaurant’s classic Papa Huancaina potato dish, corn empanadas, and arroz con frutos secos and a whole Peruvian chocolate cake filled with dulce de leche and fudge. // Pre-order for pickup from 10:30am to 1:15pm on Nov. 28; Pier 1 ½ (Embarcadero), lamarsf.com
SPQR
Once again, perennial favorite SPQR is putting their California-meets-Italy spin on Thanksgiving dinner. Their meal kit, a bountiful spread that includes turkey with black truffle gravy, mushroom filled crespelle with marsala crema, cranberry kumquat conserva, and both honeynut squash and pumpkin pie, comes in sizes just right for four to six ($355) or eight to ten people ($585). // Pre-orderfor pick-up Nov. 27 from 12pm to 6pm; 1911 Fillmore St. (Pacific Heights), spqrsf.com
