From The Hartford Courant
Thanksgiving is anything but normal in 2020, but Connecticut restaurants are adjusting, many offering to-go meals for families to enjoy at home. But for those who want the full holiday experience, dining rooms are open with limited seating due to coronavirus restrictions. Reservations are strongly recommended.
The Kitchen, 559 Broad St. Hartford, is offering a variety of Thanksgiving packages from $45 to $225, for pick-up and delivery on Nov. 25. The menu includes traditional Thanksgiving fare, from appetizers and side dishes to a full Thanksgiving feast. A la carte items are available as well, from quiches and soup to pies and other desserts. Orders must be placed by Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. Order online at kitchencafe.org/holiday-ordering or call Alyson Perri at 860-727-8752. Featured photo on newsroom page.
Black-Eyed Sally’s, 350 Asylum St., Hartford, offers its Cajun-fried turkey dinner for $120, which includes a 14 to 16-pound turkey and a choice of two sides (stuffing, potatoes, mac and cheese, collard greens, green beans, red beans, and rice with sausage, cornbread, and honey butter). Turkey gravy and cranberry sauce are included. The deadline to order is Nov. 21; pickup is Nov. 25 from noon to 8 p.m. Food comes with reheating instructions. 860-278-7427, blackeyedsallys.com.
The Capital Grille, with Connecticut restaurants in Hartford and Stamford, offers a package of Thanksgiving sides, including brioche stuffing, pecan-crusted sweet potatoes with hot honey, cranberry-pear chutney, French green beans with Marcona almonds, and mashed potatoes. Sides serve four to six people for $125 and come prepared and ready to be reheated. Pickup is available on Nov. 24 and 25. The restaurants are also open for Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 26 at 11 a.m., offering a prix-fixe turkey dinner ($43 for adults, $15 for children) along with the full dinner menu. thecapitalgrille.com.
Millwright’s, 77 West St., Simsbury, offers a prix-fixe Thanksgiving menu from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a choice of first course and entrée and a selection of mini holiday desserts for the table. Entrées include organic roasted turkey (roast breast and confit leg and thigh), maple-glazed ham, smoked beef sirloin, and slow-roasted salmon. Sides, including cornbread stuffing, roasted Brussels sprouts, winter squash, cheesy loaded mashed potatoes, and cranberry sauce, will be shared family-style. $59, $29 for children under 12.
Millwright’s also offers a to-go menu for four people for $135, with choice of the above proteins, salad, sides, and desserts. Add an extra protein for $45. Pickup is on Thanksgiving Day. 860-651-5500, millwrightsrestaurant.com.
Union Kitchen, 43 LaSalle Road, West Hartford, offers a Thanksgiving to-go package for $135, with sliced dark and white meat turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, fennel stuffing, cornbread and cranberry sauce, plus baked brie and shrimp cocktail to start and choice of pecan chocolate chip bars or apple pie for dessert. Portions are packaged for four people. Add-on options are available. Orders must be placed by Nov. 17 at noon. 860-598-8000, unionkitchenct.com/thanksgiving-togo.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 44 S. Main St., West Hartford, offers Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a choice of salad or lobster bisque to start and an entree of herb-roasted turkey breast, petite filet mignon, or bone-in ribeye (with sides to share.) Choose pumpkin cheesecake or carrot cake for dessert. Entrees are $49 to $74; a kids’ menu for children 12 and under is $23.
Carryout options including a 3-course family menu for four or more guests ($45 per person) and a large-party menu for 12 guests, which includes roasted turkey breast, salads, sides, and desserts. 860-676-9463, flemingssteakhouse.com.
Republic, 39 Jerome Ave., Bloomfield, offers a $190 Thanksgiving dinner to-go for 7 to 9 people, with a whole roasted turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, whipped potatoes, salad, maple glazed sweet potatoes, and pumpkin cheesecake or apple pie. Orders must be placed by Nov. 23. 860-216-5852, republicct.com/thanksgiving-dinner.
Mill on the River, 989 Ellington Road, South Windsor, offers a $44.95 prix-fixe menu from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Dinner includes a choice of soup or salad, an entrée, and a dessert. Entrée selections include roast turkey with stuffing, gravy, sweet peas, potato puree, and cranberry sauce; honey-glazed Virginia ham, garlic, and rosemary pork loin, baked stuffed shrimp, and grilled salmon. Featured appetizers, seasonal side dishes, and select entrees and desserts are extra. An 18% gratuity will be added to all checks. Items are available for children 12 and under, for $18.95. 860-289-7929, themillontheriver.com/thanksgiving.
Market Grille, 110 Buckland Hills Drive, Manchester, offers a $37.95 fixed-price Thanksgiving menu from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with a choice of soup or salad, main course, and dessert. Entree choices include roast turkey dinner with stuffing, sides, and gravy; pistachio-crusted scallops, seared Atlantic salmon, grilled filet medallions, linguine primavera, and more. Other entrees are available for an upcharge of $4 to $6. Select appetizers and seasonal side dishes are priced a la carte. The restaurant also offers to-go holiday meal options. 860-644-1011, marketgrillct.com.
Bear’s Smokehouse in Hartford, South Windsor, Windsor, and New Haven offers several Thanksgiving take-out options, including whole smoked turkeys, turkey breasts, smoked glazed hams, brisket, baby back ribs, and Impossible meatloaf. Other items include sides, stuffing and breads, salads, appetizers, sauces and gravies, and desserts. A “Bear Feast” for 6 to 8 people includes one 12- to 14-pound smoked turkey and several sides for $170. Order by calling 860-785-8772 ext. 4 or emailing holidays@bearsrg.com. Info: bearsbbq.com/holiday.
Metro Bis, 690 Hopmeadow St., Simsbury, offers a prix-fixe Thanksgiving dinner from 12:30 to 4 p.m., with soup, salad, entrée choices of roasted turkey with sides or autumn risotto with butternut squash, and dessert. $60; $26 for children 10 and under. Children under 3 are free.
The restaurant’s Thanksgiving to-go options include a complete Thanksgiving meal for $29 per person, raw and cooked turkeys, assorted sides, and several pies. To-go orders must be placed by Nov. 20 and picked up between 1 and 7 p.m. on Nov. 25. 860-651-1908, metrobis.com.
Avon Old Farms Hotel, 279 Avon Mountain Road, Avon, offers Thanksgiving dinner with limited seating between 1 and 5 p.m., featuring a prix-fixe menu with soup or salad and entree choice of roasted turkey with gravy, sliced prime rib or fall salmon, with assorted side dishes. The cost is $59.95 for adults. 860-269-0240, avonoldfarmshotel.com.
The Simsbury Inn, 397 Hopmeadow St., Weatogue, offers Thanksgiving dinner with seatings at noon, 2:30 p.m., or 4 p.m. The prix-fixe dinner includes soup, salad, choice of entree (herb buttermilk brined turkey breast with smashed potatoes, cornbread dressing, and vegetables; roasted sirloin strip with wild mushroom gravy; honey glazed salmon with pomegranate salsa, braised wild mushroom stroganoff with butternut squash ravioli) and choice of dessert. $59.95, $18.95 for children 7 to 12, free for children 6 and under. Masks must be worn coming and going to the restaurant. 860-651-5700, simsburyinn.com.
J. Gilbert’s, 185 Glastonbury Blvd., Glastonbury, offers a prix-fixe meal from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a choice of soup or salad and an entree of roast turkey with mashed potatoes, cornbread, and sausage stuffing, gravy, candied sweet potatoes, green beans with pecans and cranberry sauce. Dessert options include pumpkin pie, creme brulee, chocolate velvet cake, and berries and cream. Cost is $42; kids 12 and under are $21. The regular menu is also available.
J. Gilbert’s also offers a family-style carryout meal for $175, serving 4 to 6 people. 860-659-0409, jgilberts.com/glastonbury/menus/Thanksgiving.
Rooster Company, 1076 Main St., Newington, offers a family-style Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The menu includes carved white meat turkey with gravy and a variety of side dishes: Brussels sprouts, Parker House rolls, kale Caesar salad, cornbread and Italian sausage stuffing; mashed potato, green beans, and beets. Desserts are priced a la carte. Cost is $40; $15 for children 10 and under. A carryout dinner for $135 feeds four adults. 860-757-3969, roostercompany.net.
Cafe Louise, 1156 New Britain Ave., West Hartford, offers a full slate of Thanksgiving catering options, including appetizers, sides, whole turkeys, and desserts. Complete Thanksgiving packages are available for two, four, or eight people, with white and dark turkey meat, three sides, stuffing, gravy, cranberry chutney, and pie. Orders must be placed by Nov. 23. Pick up at the cafe Nov. 25 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. 860-561-0160, cafelouise.com.
Ted’s Montana Grill, 500 Evergreen Way, South Windsor, offers dinner at the restaurant from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a special roast turkey feast for $29 per person, featuring garlic mashed potatoes, herb dressing, carrots, squash casserole, cranberry sauce and apple pecan crisp. A limited menu also includes crab cakes, cedar plank salmon, bison brisket or meatloaf, filet mignon, and Delmonico ribeye, along with burgers.
Ted’s also offering takeout packages for 4 to 6 people ($120) or 8 to 10 people ($230) with roasted turkey and gravy, herb dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, buttered carrots, squash casserole, yeast rolls with whipped butter and apple crisp. Orders should be placed before Nov. 20 and picked up before 11 a.m. on Nov. 26. 860-648-1100, tedsmontanagrill.com.
All of Maggie McFly’s locations in Connecticut will be open for dine-in between noon and 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, with a prix-fixe 3-course turkey meal and sides for $24.99 (adults) and $10.99 for kids under 12. A catering package serves four, with fresh roasted turkey, a quart of asiago mashed potatoes, buttered corn, housemade apple stuffing, housemade cranberry sauce, turkey gravy, 8 dinner rolls, and a choice of pumpkin and apple pie. Reservations are required; catering orders must be placed by noon on Nov. 24 and picked up anytime after 11 a.m. on Nov. 26. maggiemcflys.com/thanksgiving.
Union Street Tavern, 20 Union St., Windsor, offers a Thanksgiving takeout feast with slow-roasted turkey breast, gravy, cranberry sauce, rolls, salad, and your choice of 5 sides. $50 feeds 2; $90 feeds 4 to 6. Add a liter of UST’s signature fall sangria for $15. Orders must be placed by Nov. 22 for Nov. 25 pickup. 860-683-2899, unionstreettavern.com.
Que Whiskey Kitchen, 461 Queen St., Southington, will offer smoked whole turkeys for $49 and a full Thanksgiving dinner carryout kit for $119, with a whole smoked turkey, gravy, stuffing, sides, and a bottle of cabernet sauvignon (feeds 6 to 8 people.) Other options are available, including a la carte side dishes for $10 to $35. Pre-orders are required. 860-783-6056, .qwhiskeykitchen.com.
River: A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar, 100 Great Meadow Road, Wethersfield, hosts Thanksgiving dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., with a four-course prix-fixe menu for $45. Entree choices include apple herb-brined turkey with sausage stuffing, garlic and scallion potato, roasted shallot gravy, green beans with fried onion and cranberry-orange compote; along with pan-seared Asiago salmon, grilled vegetable ravioli primavera, and prime rib with potato, vegetable, Yorkshire pudding, and creamy horseradish sauce.
River also offers to-go packages, including full meals for 8 to 12 guests with a 14 lb. whole turkey or 10 lb. boneless turkey breast ($150-$175); and turkey breast and prime rib meals for 5 to 7 guests ($95-$140.) Dessert add-ons, serving four guests, include apple crisp, pumpkin pie, and NY-style cheesecake with strawberry compote ($18 to $25.) Order by Nov. 18. 860-257-3344, riverontheriver.com.
Stone Row Kitchen + Bar, 948 Main St., Willimantic, offers an a la carte takeout Thanksgiving menu, including roast turkey with herb butter and pan gravy, cornbread stuffing, potato puree, roasted Brussels sprouts, barbecue carrots, maple and brown butter sweet potatoes, cranberry relish and a dessert box. 860-423-4243, stonerowkb.com/collections/thanksgiving.
Fire at the Ridge at Powder Ridge Mountain Park, 99 Powder Hill Road, Middlefield, hosts a four-course plated Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The meal includes a choice of clam chowder or fall salad, peel-and-eat shrimp, roasted turkey with stuffing and sides, and pumpkin or apple pie. $34 for adults, $19.99 for children 12 and under (does not include shrimp.)
Fire at the Ridge also offers a Thanksgiving to-go package for $129 (feeds up to six) with soup, salad, complete turkey dinner, shrimp, and a choice of pie. The deadline to order is Nov. 23. 860-852-5444, fireattheridge.com.
Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, 2 Bridge St., Old Saybrook, features a prix-fixe dinner available from 12:30 to 8 p.m. The meal includes a choice of starter, salad, entree, and a dessert sampler. Entrees include traditional turkey dinner, French-cut chicken breast, pistachio-crusted swordfish, maple-ginger glazed duck breast, burgundy braised short rib, and butternut squash ravioli ($59 to $69.) saybrook.com/event/thanksgiving2020
The venue also offers to-go packages, featuring carved turkey dinners with assorted sides for two ($69) and dinners with whole roasted turkeys for 6 to 8 or 8 to 12 people ($175; $225.) Sides, soups, desserts, and raw bar items are also available. saybrook.com/eat-drink/curbside_takeout.
The Griswold Inn, 36 Main St., Essex, serves Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a prix-fixe menu featuring soup or salad and dessert. Main course options ($38 to $48) include butter-basted carved turkey with stuffing and cranberry chutney, slow-roasted beef tenderloin, seared salmon or pumpkin risotto. All entrees are served with sides, including whipped potatoes, haricot verts, maple butternut squash, and breadbasket.
A to-go menu is available, with a $120 dinner that feeds four. The meal includes roasted turkey with stuffing, cranberry chutney, and a choice of three sides. Featured desserts are $7 by the slice. Place orders by 8 p.m. on Nov. 20. 860-767-1776, griswoldinn.com.
Water’s Edge, 1525 Boston Post Road, Westbrook, hosts a three-course prix-fixe Thanksgiving dinner, including a choice of starter, entree, and dessert. Entrees ($40 to $49) include a turkey dinner with sides, king-cut prime rib, grilled pork chop, pan-seared salmon, and pumpkin ravioli.
To-go meal options are available: $79 for two people with sliced turkey breast or $325 (feeds 6 to 8, with a whole turkey) including gravy, sides, rolls, and pumpkin pie. 860-399-5901; watersedgeresortandspa.com.
Shell & Bones, 100 S. Water St., New Haven, is open for dinner from noon to 8 p.m. and features a la carte specials in addition to the regular menu: cider-brined roasted turkey dinner with dried cherry and pistachio brioche stuffing; rack of lamb with pomegranate, and roasted butternut squash with orange essence, brussels sprouts, golden raisins, cauliflower-apple puree and toasted pepitas ($26 to $36.)
For takeout, a carryout package is available for four ($139) with an optional wine add-on (including two bottles) for $179. The menu includes forest mushroom bisque, choice of one entrée (cider-brined turkey or roasted butternut squash), and pumpkin cheesecake. All orders must be placed and fully paid by phone by Nov. 23. 203-787-3466, shellandbones.com.
Madison Beach Hotel, 94 West Wharf Road, Madison, will offer a plated Thanksgiving brunch from noon to 8 p.m. with entree choices of roast turkey dinner, herb-crusted rack of lamb, roast prime rib, seafood Thermidor, pan-seared scallops, acorn squash ratatouille, or duck a l’orange. The cost is $56 per person. 203-350-0014, madisonbeachhotel.com.
Viron Rondo Osteria, 1721 Highland Ave., Cheshire, offers a to-go Thanksgiving dinner special serving six, with a choice of roast turkey or pineapple-glazed ham and assorted side dishes. Cost is $160; orders must be placed by Nov. 24 at noon. The restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day with its full dinner menu, and reservations are strongly recommended. 203-439-2727, vironrondoosteria.com.
The Cottage, 256 Post Road, Westport, serves a prix-fixe menu from 2 to 7 p.m., with options like herb butter roasted turkey, king salmon baked in cedar paper, wild mushroom porridge, and cider-braised beef cheeks. Cost is $95 for adults, $45 for children 12 and under. A $95 deposit is required. 203-557-3701, thecottagewestport.com.
Little Pub, with locations in Fairfield, Greenwich, Old Saybrook, Stratford, and Wilton, offers a variety of takeout Thanksgiving dinners feeding two or four people, with entrees of turkey, smoked ham, or ribeye roast. The dinners include potato, vegetable, bread, and brown butter cakes with sauteed cinnamon apples for dessert. Two-person meals are $60 to $65; four-person meals are $115 to $125. littlepub.com.
Leeanne Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@courant.com.