We personally can't imagine skipping our mom's classic holiday stuffing for a fancier restaurant version, even if it came drenched in truffle oil and served atop the Naked Chef himself. But if there's one thing we've learned over the years, it's that no matter how much therapy you've endured, how many times you've explained what "vegan" means to your hapless relatives or how well you think you've brined that bird, things can and will still go awry on Turkey Day. And some of us are just too lazy to cook. So rather than ending up in Denny's like the sorry dad in The Santa Clause, you can stash away this info on restaurants serving up truly happy meals on Thanksgiving. (You'll probably want to make a reservation for the big day in advance--just in case. And here's the Denny's restaurant locator if you forget to plan ahead.)
Gobble-gobble goodness, after the jump...
The Super Fancy Thanksgiving: Asana
(776 Boylston Street, Boston MA; (617) 535-8800; $75 for three courses)
Brand-new Mandarin Oriental eatery Asana hosts its first Thanksgiving this year, and we're guessing it will come off far more competently than this Bostonist's first attempt at cooking the big meal. The menu, which you can view here, features three courses for $75. Diners can choose between the traditional butternut squash side or a duck foie gras, and main courses include options for salmon and edamame and vegetarian risotto alongside the traditional turkey/stuffing/cranberry combo. For dessert, choose apple pie, pumpkin pie, a chocolate napoleon, or a slice of cheese and an apple (a boon for those of us who suffer through the apple pie vs. pumpkin pie debate every year).
The (Almost) Guilt-Free Thanksgiving: The Fireplace
(1634 Beacon Street, Brookline MA; (617) 975-1900; Menu options a la carte)
Sure, maybe the pioneers ate turkey for the first Thanksgiving, but they probably didn't look like the miserable factory-farmed poultry you see in supermarkets today. On Thanksgiving, The Fireplace, one of the few restaurants in Boston certified by the Green Restaurant Association, will be serving free-range, grain-fed Broad Breasted Whites from Bob's Turkey Farm in Lawrence, MA. The birds are glazed in cider and served with stuffing. The Fireplace also offers steak, poultry, and fish options for your Thanksgiving dinner, and a hearty veggie ravioli dish for those who wish to skip the bird altogether. Order four kinds of stuffing for two, including a cornbread stuffing made with sausage from New Hampshire and a sweet stuffing made with brioche, apple, sage and onions. For sides, there's about a dozen choices, from classic Boston baked beans to Ben Maleson's locally-foraged mushrooms. Your Jewish mother will probably find something else to make you feel bad about, but at least Al Gore can't come down on you too harshly for your food choices this year. See the full menu here.
The Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving: Upstairs on the Square
(91 Winthrop Street, Cambridge, MA; (617) 864-1933; 3 courses, $68 adults, $34 children under 12)
With Alice-in-Wonderland-style decor, eye-catching baubles, roaring fireplaces, and zany color schemes in its cozy dining rooms, not to mention a staff that's friendly and virtually unflappable, Upstairs on the Square is a genuinely kid-friendly destination on most days of the year. Plus, no one does themed dinners like Upstairs, which seems to thrive on excuses to whip up pun-tastic dishes for every occasion. But rest assured, the food is decidedly adult this year, with pumpkin soup garnished with fried sage, farm-raised Vermont turkey with cornbread and pecan stuffing, and a trio of pies for dessert (or an old-fashioned ice cream sundae, for the kids among you).
The Destination Thanksgiving: Blue Sky
(2 Beach Street, Saco ME; (207) 363-0050; 3-course meal with self-serve side dishes, prices vary by entree)
So your roommate ruined the oven by burning her pot brownies inside, and the only chairs in your house are the scabies-infested armchairs you garbage-picked from Allston in September. Your parents never have to know about your sorry lack of domestic graces if you can convince them to take a scenic drive to Lydia Shire's breezy new restaurant, Blue Sky, in York Beach, Maine. Their Thanksgiving menu, viewable here, is served from 12-7pm on T-day, with entree options like muscat-injected turkey, Nantucket Bay scallops with Locke-Ober's spinach, and hand-rolled pappardelle pasta with pumpkin brittle. Everything comes with a side of cranberry sauce, made with Shire's father's recipe. Most importantly, all diners have the option to head to the side dish bar for Maine mashed potatoes and candied sweet potatoes (the best part, in this Bostonist's humble opinion).
Photo of Broad Breasted White turkey from Bob's Turkey Farm.
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