No need to stress over preparing a holiday meal if you don’t want to. Plenty of restaurants in Arlington, Falls Church and McLean have special Thanksgiving menus that invite you to simply show up at your reserved time.
2941 Restaurant
The $110 three-course prix fixe menu at this fine dining destination in Falls Church has a decadent holiday menu starting with appetizers such as American Wagyu tartare, shrimp tempura and mushroom raviolini. Of course you can get turkey (in the form of a breast with mushroom stuffing and sweet potato puree, vegetable fricassee, cranberry marmalade, and gravy), but other options include grilled ribeye, Chilean sea bass and fall harvest pithiviers (a savory filled puff pastry). Top it all off with a pumpkin crème brûlée or chocolate pecan tart with maple gelato. // 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church
Ambar
The Balkan restaurant will offer festive dishes such as roasted turkey with garlic butter, gravy, cranberry chutney and mashed potatoes; turkey lasagna; and poached pear salad with pomegranate dressing. These seasonal dishes are available as part of Ambar’s unlimited small plates dinner for $54.99 per person. A takeout meal is also available for pickup. // 2901 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Copperwood Tavern
In addition to its regular menu, the tavern is offering a $31 turkey dinner that includes stuffing, green beans and cranberry sauce (mashed potatoes are extra). End the meal with a sweet treat such as triple chocolate cake; an ice cream flight with Swiss chocolate, caramel bourbon brickle and cherry stracciatella; or a cold brew espresso martini. Doors open at 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. // 4021 Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
Divan
This Persian-Mediterranean restaurant has a Thanksgiving menu that looks decidedly delicious. Get an oven-roasted turkey breast ($36) with garlic/parmesan mashed potatoes and a green bean and bell pepper medley, short rib osso buco on a bed of saffron risotto ($42), or a Persian take on the holiday bird in the form of a half young chicken dusted with sumac and serviced with zereshk basmati rice. // 1313 Old Chain Bridge Road, McLean
Eddie V’s
The Virginia location of this seafood chain is offering a traditional Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Nov. 28 for $50 per adult and $20 per child. It includes slow-roasted sliced turkey, French green beans with sun-dried tomatoes, brioche sage stuffing, cranberry chutney and house-made mashed potatoes. A pumpkin pie tartlet with pecan ice cream is the finishing touch. // 7900 Tysons One Place, McLean
The Falls
Fill up on lobster bisque, crab fritters, a turkey platter or rainbow trout, and a slice of maple-pumpkin, brown-sugar-pecan or apple-cinnamon pie. All of those items and more are part of the Falls Church restaurant’s second Thanksgiving celebration and $58 prix fixe menu. Feasts for four or 12, plus a la carte options, are also available for pre-order if you’d rather eat at home. (Sister restaurant Liberty Tavern in Arlington also has a dine-in holiday dinner option.) // 370 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Founding Farmers
The Tysons outpost of this sustainability-minded restaurant is offering a Thanksgiving menu with all the classics. For $47.50 per person ($22.50 for kids 12 and younger), you get butternut squash soup, farmers salad and a choice of roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham, Southern fried chicken or a veggie loaf. Sides include mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, green beans and cornbread stuffing. Select a dessert option from a choice of apple, pumpkin, apple cranberry, key lime, chocolate cream and other pies. // 1800 Tysons Blvd., Tysons
Lyon Hall
Kick off your Thanksgiving meal with oysters on the half shell as part of the $75 three-course prix fixe menu here. Other apps include lobster bisque and a seasonal pear and apple salad. For the main course, choices include turkey, as well as grilled branzino, a pork chop, or risotto with roasted pumpkin and Honeycrisp apple. Desserts include brown-sugar-pecan pie, maple-pumpkin pie and homemade ice cream. Sides such as roasted Brussels sprouts and green beans almondine are available for an additional cost. // 3100 Washington Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Nue
Go for another type of bird this season and reserve a honey-lacquered stuffed duck at this Viet-American restaurant in The Little City. Sourced from a family farm in New York, the ducks are raised naturally without steroids, hormones and antibiotics, and stuffed with savory sticky rice, cured duck egg and cherries. A $299 take-home meal is also available. // 944 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Sfoglina
The pasta house is celebrating Thanksgiving with a special menu from 2-8 p.m. Nov. 28. The three courses are Tortellini en Brodo ($26), herb-roased turkey breast with sage stuffing and whipped potatoes ($36), and Torta di Zucca (pumpkin pie) ($16). A takeout box is also available for pickup on Nov. 27 with the same items plus a warm rosemary bread loaf and salad. // 1100 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Rosslyn)
Texas Jack’s Barbecue
From 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Thanksgiving diners can enjoy a special menu of traditional and specialty items. Starters include nachos ($15) and crispy smoked wings ($11 for six), for instance. Get market-priced meats such as sliced turkey breast, beef short rib and Texas-style sausage. Sides range from cornbread ($3) to brioche stuffing ($7-$10) to Mexican street corn ($8-$11). Or take the guesswork out by going for a Thanksgiving medley ($54-$150) of meats and sides. Prefer to eat at home? Check out the Thanksgiving takeout menu. // 2761 Washington Blvd., Arlington (Lyon Park)