Thanksgiving is a big deal—to prepare and to eat. If you’d rather let someone else do some (or all) of the cooking, these area restaurants have got you covered. Here’s where to find a traditional turkey feast with all the trimmings, plus creative twists on some holiday classics that you can add to your table this year.
Ambar
Order by Nov. 26, 4 p.m.
The Clarendon location of this Balkan eatery has a takeout menu ($89.99 per couple) that features Thanksgiving-inspired specials. Find creamy pumpkin soup; roasted turkey with garlic butter, rosemary, gravy and cranberry sauce; truffle mashed potatoes; Brussels sprouts with garlic yogurt and bacon; and raspberry cake and baklava. // 2901 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Busboys & Poets
Order by Nov. 22
The special Thanksgiving To-Go Menu has a feast that feeds 10-12 people for $279.99. It comes with a whole roasted cajun turkey and three of these sides: garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potato hash, mac and cheese, cider-braised collard greens, and French green beans. It also includes a homemade pie (sweet potato, pecan or pumpkin). // 4251 S. Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
Earl’s Sandwiches
Order by Nov. 15, 12 p.m.
A Clarendon staple for almost 20 years, this popular lunch spot goes beyond sammies for the holidays, offering a specialty menu that includes whole roasted turkeys in sizes that serve 10-22 people and cost $69.99-$109.99. You can also get white and dark meat sliced, or just the breast, all priced at $18.99 per pound. For beef lovers, there’s roasted eye round for $17.99 per pound. Accompany your main of choice with sides such as bread stuffing with fresh thyme and roasted garlic mashed potatoes (both $8.99 per pint). Of course, if you still want a sandwich, a special this month is the Early Thanksgiving, which is grilled brioche with roasted turkey, stuffing and gravy. // 2605 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Ellie Bird
Order by Nov. 24
The Falls Church restaurant that has racked up accolades such as Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington’s 2024 RAMMY Award for New Restaurant of the Year, The New York Times’ Best Restaurant List and the Best of Arlington’s Best New Restaurant of 2024 since it opened in Founders Row in 2023 has two Thanksgiving packages for takeout. Everything But the Bird serves four to six eaters for $185 and comes with sides such as a baby greens and spinach salad, pommes puree with gravy-glazed carrots and parmesan sweet potato cornbread with maple butter. The Works bundle has all of that plus a roasted turkey breast with cranberry relish for $240. Wine flights are also available to go. // 125 Founders Ave., Falls Church
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Epic Smokehouse
This steakhouse says it brings “an added kick to the traditional Thanksgiving fare.” That includes a $199 turkey dinner (a whole smoked turkey, cranberry sauce, herb stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes and creamed corn) and a $360 prime rib dinner, which comes with the restaurant’s signature 7-pound smoked meat and four sides. A third option is a honey-glazed ham ($150). All meats and sides are available a la carte, too. // 1330 S. Fern St., Arlington (National Landing)
Founding Farmers
Pick up two kinds of holiday meals from the Tysons outpost of this popular chain. Get a complete dinner for four with turkey, salmon, prime rib or a veggie loaf, accompanied by soup or salad and dessert. You can also order a la carte. Options include skillet cornbread, Seven Cheese Macaroni, cornbread stuffing and cranberry relish. Got a houseful of guests to feed? The restaurant also has assorted items for brunching and snacking, including house-made granola and yogurt, two kinds of quiche, and house-crafted artisan chocolate. See the full menu here. The other holiday meal offering is a ready-to-eat, hot Thanksgiving dinner that includes all the fixin’s you’d get in the restaurant: three courses and all the sides. // 1800 Tysons Blvd., Tysons
Harvey’s
Chef Thomas Harvey’s “Everything But the Turkey” menu has sides, desserts and drinks to accompany your meal. Choose from traditional or cornbread and sage sausage stuffing ($28 and $30, respectively), garlic scallion mashed potatoes ($30), and sauces including cranberry ($20) and barber ($15), made with honey butter hot sauce and caramelized onion aioli. Sweets include Chef Emily’s apple and pumpkin pies ($25). Add on bottles of red and white wines and cocktail kits, such as the Paper Plane ($95), which makes eight glasses of bonded bourbon, Aperol and Amaro Nonino. // 513 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Joon
Not a 2024 James Beard Foundation “Best Chef” Award semifinalist but want to present a Thanksgiving feast that seems like you are? Chef Chris Morgan has got you covered with a meal for six from this Persian-centric restaurant that The New York Times recently named one of the country’s best. The $280 includes a spatchcocked brined and roasted turkey and side dishes such as cardamom spiced sweet potato casserole with brown butter streusel. A la carte dessert options include a Brûleed Pumpkin Spiced Custard Tart with candied Cara Cara orange slices ($100) and the Joon Roulette ($75), a rolled sheet cake with pistachios and rose petals with a rosewater Chantilly cream filling served with a side of glazed apples and dulce de leche. // 8045 Leesburg Pike, Tysons
Lebanese Taverna
In Lebanon, it’s common to serve meat on spiced rice at holiday times, and LT’s curated Thanksgiving menu honors that tradition. Choose from halal-certified roasted leg of lamb ($225), halal-certified roast turkey ($225) and regular roast turkey ($195), all of which come with spiced rice. Other sides include roasted za’atar potatoes ($48), bulghur pilaf ($45) and arnabeet ($48), a dish of fried cauliflower with tahini-pomegranate sauce. For dessert, there’s a pistachio-crusted cheesecake ($60). // 5900 Washington Blvd., Arlington (Westover); 2001 International Drive, Tysons Galleria, McLean; and 1101 S. Joyce St., Arlington (Westpost)
Northside Social
In addition to its pie offerings, Northside Social is prepping a medley of savory takeout side dishes to complement your turkey. Among them: sage, butternut squash and goat cheese quiche ($35); ham, spinach, gruyere and caramelized onion quiche ($35); butternut squash soup ($18/quart) and a pan of eight dinner rolls ($11). Need something to wash all that down? Get growlers of tea and coffee ($20) or boxes of hot tea, coffee and cider ($29.50). For a more complete meal, check out the Thanksgiving To Go menu at sister locations The Falls and Liberty Tavern. // 3211 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon), and 205 Park Ave., Falls Church
The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner
Order by Nov. 25, 5 p.m.
Who says you must have turkey on Thanksgiving? Bend the rules and bring home a prime rib dinner ($490) instead. Of course, if you prefer the traditional route, there’s a turkey ($470) option, too. Both serve six people. // 1700 Tysons Blvd., McLean
Rocklands Barbeque & Grilling Co.
Order by Nov. 22, 2 p.m.
The 2024 holiday menu has a wide range of options. Apps include crab and artichoke dip ($125/quart) and whole brie with cranberry orange relish ($49.99). For the main event, select from whole smoked turkeys ranging from 12-22 pounds ($74.99-$119.99), whole honey-glazed spiral ham ($229.99), whole grilled side of salmon (market price) and whole grilled tenderloin of beef ($39.99/pound) or pork ($16.99/pound). Accompaniments include bacon and chive mashed potatoes, candied yams and cranberry orange relish. // 3471 Washington Blvd., Arlington (Virginia Square)
Ruthie’s All-Day
At this Best of Arlington 2024 winner, Arlington resident and chef Matt Hill is offering a Thanksgiving dinner package that serves eight-10 people for $325. It includes a whole smoked bird, gravy, sausage stuffing, orange-ginger cranberry sauce, milk bread rolls and two quarts of green bean casserole, candied yams, mashed potatoes or Ruthie’s mac and cheese. Just need protein? Get smoked turkey breast by the pound ($29), oak-smoked brisket by the pound ($34) or a full rack of spareribs ($38). Sides are available a la carte, too, as are two dessert options: apple pie ($32) and chocolate chip cookies ($12 for six). // 3411 Fifth St. S., Arlington (Arlington Heights Historic District)
Sloppy Mama’s BBQ
Founder Joe Neuman is giving patrons two opportunities to pick up Thanksgiving orders. Use this order form to pick up on Nov. 27 or this one to get it Nov. 28. Either way, you’ll get to choose from the Smokin’ Smorgasbord ($325 to feed 10), piled with a whole smoked turkey, sausage and cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, collard greens and more. If you’ve got a smaller crowd, Sloppy Mama’s has a smaller smorgasbord for $150 that comes with all the same sides but a smoked turkey breast. You can also build your own menu, selecting from turkey, brisket, ribs, mac and cheese, and mini pumpkin or apple pies. // 5731 Langston Blvd., Arlington
Smokecraft Modern Barbecue
Order by Nov. 24, 12 p.m.
You can smoke your own turkey with tips from chef Drew Darneille or let the experts do the work. This barbecue joint has a holiday menu that lets you build your own feast for large or small gatherings at your place. Find appetizers such as smoked butternut squash soup and a holiday salad with mixed greens, navel oranges, pomegranate seeds, goat cheese and toasted walnuts, and a slew of sides, including mac and cheese, bourbon mashed sweet potatoes and duck fat roasted potatoes. The main-dish list features a smoked whole turkey, spatchcocked half bird, smoked prime rib and Angus beef brisket. Stack your dessert table with pumpkin, pecan or apple pie or a chocolate cherry bread pudding. // 1501 N. Highland St., Arlington (Clarendon)
Thompson Italian
Order by Nov. 23
Focus on the main dish and leave the rest to this family-owned restaurant. The Everything But the Turkey Box ($225) feeds six to eight and includes classic sausage or vegetarian mushroom dressing, maple-glazed Brussels sprouts with cranberries and smoked pepitas, garlic and parmesan mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. Or get an Italian Supper Tray with some of the eatery’s family-style dishes, such as spicy pork meatballs, baked rigatoni, lasagna, and eggplant or chicken parm. // 124 N. Washington St., Falls Church
Urbano
Order by Nov. 27
Get a heat-and-serve meal kit ($185) to make at home from this Mexican restaurant at Mosaic District. It comes with a whole roasted turkey, green bean and garlic casserole, mashed potatoes, sausage and apple stuffing, cranberry orange relish, buttered dinner rolls, and chocolate cream pie with a graham cracker crust. Serve it family style to feed four to six people. // 2985 District Ave., Fairfax