If you’re lucky, you’ll be digging into your Thanksgiving meal at someone else’s place this year, where your only labor requirement is clearing the table and loading the dishwasher. But if it’s your turn to host the soiree, make it easy on yourself! Order sides or entrees for pick-up, or relinquish cooking duties altogether and make a reservation to dine in.
Here are 14 local restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner. And, to perk up your holiday weekend, we’ve thrown in a few bonus activities.
Ambar
Dine-in or takeout
Dine-in hours: Thursday, Nov. 25 | Brunch, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and dinner, 4:30-10 p.m.
Place takeout order by: Monday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m.
Balkan food emporium Ambar is offering both a brunch and dinner dine-in option for the holiday. For $39.99, patrons can get unlimited small plates from Ambar’s regular brunch menu and sip brunch drinks for 25 cents each. At dinner time, choose an unlimited number of items from the regular and Thanksgiving menu for $49.99. And for $99, pick up a takeout feast for two: turkey, gravy, squash potage, green bean casserole, twice-baked potato, squash salad, pita and cornbread, and pumpkin mousse—plus a bottle of wine. // 2901 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Celebrity Delly
Takeout or delivery
Place takeout order by: Wednesday, Nov. 24 at 4 p.m.
Snag Thanksgiving dinner for five for $39.99 per person (your order will be a minimum of $200, but you can add people at the per-person rate after that). Here’s the meal: an oven-roasted turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans almandine, stuffing, dinner rolls and butter, cranberry sauce and apple pie. // 7263A Arlington Blvd., Falls Church
Earl’s Sandwiches
Takeout only
Place takeout order by: Monday, Nov. 22 at noon
You already may have felt the Thanksgiving spirit at Earl’s, where their “early Thanksgiving” sandwich loads brioche with roasted turkey, stuffing and gravy, accompanied with cranberry relish. But they’re also offering a full Thanksgiving spread: three sizes of whole turkey ($59.99-$99.99); sliced turkey or eye round of beef ($12.99 and $17.99 per pound); five sides (including pumpkin jalapeño soup); and sauces. // 2605 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Essy’s Carriage House
Dine-in only
Dine-in hours: Thursday, Nov. 25 | Noon – 9 p.m.
Cherrydale mainstay Essy’s will be hosting locals and out-of-towners this Thanksgiving, with a substantial dine-in meal for $42. Start with spiced pumpkin soup and house salad; choose roasted turkey, salmon or London broil for your entree; enjoy stuffing and mashed potatoes on the side; and top it off with a choice of four desserts. //4030 Langston Blvd., Arlington
Greens N Teff
Takeout only
Place takeout order by: Sunday, Nov. 21
This recent addition to Columbia Pike offers vegetarian-only Ethiopian fare, such as lentil stew, vegan minchet and gomen. For Thanksgiving, the eatery is offering larger portions of many of its menu items to accommodate large parties. //3203 Columbia Pike, Arlington
Lebanese Taverna
Takeout only
Place takeout order by: Sunday, Nov. 21
Choose menu items a la carte from this Arlington staple, such as Lebanese-style, whole-roasted turkey (14-16 pounds, $180); leg of lamb (serves 8-10, $180); or organic whole chicken ($39). Sides include roasted za’atar potatoes, mudardara, and arugula and orange salad. But the showstopper might be baklava-crusted pumpkin cheesecake ($45). // Pick up at Lebanese Taverna-Tysons (2001 International Drive, Unit 1402, Tysons), Lebanese Taverna-Westpost (1101 S. Joyce St., Arlington) or The Market (4400 Old Dominion Drive, Arlington)
Liberty Barbecue
Dine-in or takeout
Dine-in hours: Thursday, Nov. 25 | 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Place takeout order by: Wednesday, Nov. 24 at 4 p.m.
Liberty Barbecue has not one but two menus for late November: On their Thanksgiving Day menu, find a “family bundle” option ($220) of whole turkey, stuffing, red-bliss mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potato puree, gravy and cranberry relish. Or, get just the highlights in the form of either their Thanksgiving platter or a la carte options. The restaurant also has a Thanksgiving weekend menu that includes a Big Boy BBQ bundle ($350.99) loaded with smoked meat, deviled eggs and other sumptuous savory items. // 370 W Broad St., Falls Church
Liberty Tavern
Dine-in or takeout
Dine-in hours: Thursday, Nov. 25 | Noon – 8 p.m.
Place takeout order by: Saturday, Nov. 20 at 5 p.m.
Put that turkey baster down and make a reservation at this Clarendon spot for a three-course Thanksgiving Day meal. The prix fixe menu ($49) offers several options for the first and second course—including butternut squash soup, herb-grilled branzino and autumn pasta—as well as three pie options and a la carte sides. And if you’d like to skip the cooking but dine at home, they’ve also got a pickup menu, with a customizable spread and to-go seasonal cocktails. // 3195 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
Lyon Hall
Dine-in or takeout
Dine-in hours: Thursday, Nov. 25 | Noon – 8 p.m.
Place takeout order by: Monday, Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.
Bring your family or friends to this brasserie for a three-course, prix fixe dinner ($55/person). The selection of a la carte sides includes pommes frites, which, let’s face it, should be part of every Thanksgiving spread. Choose from oysters, lobster bisque, charcuterie and other options for the first course, and try filet mignon or maple leaf duck breast for the main event. At dessert time, good luck steering clear of the crème caramel. // 3100 Washington Blvd., Arlington
Neighborhood Provisions
Takeout or delivery
Place takeout order by: Sunday, Nov. 21
Stock up on the necessities for cooking Thanksgiving dinner at home, or find what you need already prepared and ready to go via this online market from Neighborhood Restaurant Group (Rustico, Buzz Bakery, Evening Star). Prepared options include Thanksgiving dinner for two ($120), green bean casserole, smashed sweet potatoes with spiced pecans and brown sugar, Buzz butter biscuits, a Thanksgiving cookie-decorating kit and cocktail kits. And don’t forget about breakfast—they have take-and-bake and heat-and-serve options for that, too. // Pick-up locations vary.
Smokecraft
Takeout only
Place takeout order by: Saturday, Nov. 20 at noon
This Arlington Magazine Best New Restaurant 2021 winner isn’t messing around when it comes to their barbecue, or their Thanksgiving Day takeout options. Choose from smoked prime rib (4-5 pounds, $200), beef brisket (10-12 pounds, $225), smoked sausage and apple stuffing, mac and cheese, roasted rainbow carrots, chocolate cherry bread pudding and many more salivation-inducing options. // 1051 N Highland St., Arlington
Thompson Italian
Takeout only
Place takeout order by: Sunday, Nov. 21
This cozy Falls church eatery is ready to prepare large portions of their specialties and seasonal items—from eggplant parmesan, to kids mac and cheese, to pumpkin tiramisu—for your meal at home. And if you’re a fan of their neon “Pasta Power” sign, throw a custom hat with the phrase ($20) in your shopping cart. // 124 N. Washington St., Falls Church
TTT
Takeout only
Place takeout order by: Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 6 p.m.
Mexican outpost TTT has assembled a Thanksgiving Feast for two ($99), loaded with honey-glazed turkey, habanero gravy, a roasted squash empanada, mac and queso with chorizo, cornbread, churros and more. Plus, you get to pick out a bottle of wine or two to-go cocktails. // 2900 Wilson Blvd., Suite 103
2941 Restaurant
Dine-in or takeout
Dine-in hours: Thursday, Nov. 25 | 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Place takeout order by: Sunday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m.
Dive into a three-course, prix fixe meal ($90) at upscale 2941 in Falls Church. Consider butternut squash velouté or foie gras terrine for your starter, then move on to turkey paired with lobster or chestnut raviolini, among other options. For dessert, there’s a pumpkin spice pot de crème with your name on it. // 2941 Fairview Park Drive, Falls Church
… But wait, there’s more!
Here are a few Thanksgiving extras to liven up the meal and your holiday weekend:
◾️ Add some floral accents to your feast with a centerpiece from Urban Farmhouse.
◾️ Prep for parade day with a custom cocktail from Whino—the Macy’s Day Pear-ade, made with a blend of mezcal, spiced pear liqueur, lime juice and agave—during its extended happy hour from 3 p.m. – 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24.
◾️ Take a gelato break from the festivities with Thanksgiving-inspired flavors from Dolcezza. (… Did someone say sweet potato pecan praline?)