Let's face it, sometimes a "home-cooked" meal in a restaurant is better than anything we can whip up at home. Thanksgiving dinner is one of the most difficult, time-consuming and stressful meals to make if you don't normally cook meals at home.
But there's one thing to be thankful for this year, and that is that you can have a wonderful and delicious home-cooked meal without the stress and anxiety of burning the turkey, messing up the gravy or serving cold food that should be hot. Here's a running list of places to dine in Houston on Thanksgiving Day. You can't go wrong with a home-cooked meal by a professional on Thanksgiving.
Open on Thanksgiving Day:
024 Grille 945 Gessner, 281-501-4300
At just $35 per person, 024 Grille at the Westin Houston offers a Thanksgiving Day menu of one first course, one entrée with three sides and one dessert. The classic Boston bibb lettuce and heirloom tomato salad with bacon and smoked blue cheese sounds like a winner in my book. Try something other than turkey and choose their prime rib or Cuban-mojo roasted pork leg with the traditional green bean casserole, or adventurous truffle mac and cheese. It'll be hard to choose just one dessert when you have choices like pumpkin crème brûlée or a simple pecan pie with vanilla ice cream.
Bistro Alex 800 Sorella Court, 713-827-3545
The Brennan's family restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner this Thanksgiving Day. Sample their holiday-related specials for lunch and dinner.
Bistro Provence 13616 Memorial between Wilcrest and Kirkwood, 713-827-8008
You don't have to eat turkey at Bistro Provence for Thanksgiving dinner. Try their roast beef or Nova Scotia grilled salmon, served with delicious French sides like cauliflower puree or maple roasted potatoes. Choose from a petit chocolate pot de crème or pumpkin bread pudding after this three-course French dinner.
benjy's on Washington 5922 Washington, 713-868-1131
This modern-style restaurant offers a three-course dinner from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $38 per person. Just like with their daily menus, benjy's offers bold ingredients to change each item from a typical Thanksgiving dish into a delicious and enticing plate of food. Choose from their chilled roasted beef salad with truffled potato, arugula and a mustard vinaigrette, or their roasted pork rack with a maple cranberry compote. Every main entrée comes with green bean casserole, challah dressing and mashed potatoes. Complete this delicious meal with Mom's Chocolate Cake and you'll be sleeping like a baby for the rest of the day.
Boston Market All locations
Although every day is like Thanksgiving at Boston Market, they are one of the only chain restaurants open on turkey day. You can dine in or take your feast to go. Choose from a variety of meal packages to help you have the best Thanksgiving dinner. This year, Boston Market offers sweet potato cheesecake, spinach-stuffed portobello mushrooms and mashed potatoes five ways along with their everyday menu.
Branch Water Tavern 510 Shepherd, 713-863-7777
If you're not into the sit-down-and-order style of service, bring your family to Branch Water Tavern for a buffet-style Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. It's only $40 per person and kids under 12 get in for half price. Choices include pork roast, roast turkey, oyster stuffing, orange glazed carrots, sweet potato gratin, a cold buffet of salads and seafood cocktails, and a dessert buffet with bread pudding, brownies and classic pies.
Haven 2502 Algerian Way, 713-581-6101
This year at Haven, you and your family can dine in (reservations required), or order by Monday, November 19, to pick up by Wednesday. If you choose to dine in, enjoy Chef Randy Evans's Modern Texas Cuisine featuring a three-course menu of house-made turducken terrine, a variety of meats and fish paired with potatoes, sausage dressing, cornbread pudding and risotto.
Houston Texans Grille 12848 Queensbury Lane, Suite 208, 713-461-2002
For all you die-hard Texans fans, visit Houston Texans Grille for tailgate grub and cheer on the Houston Texans as they play the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. No need to worry about tryptophan making you sleepy, because there's no turkey served in this tailgate Thanksgiving Day meal.
Hugo's 1600 Westheimer @ Mandell, 713-524-7744
There's no rule against eating authentic Mexican food on Thanksgiving Day. Hugo's offers a delicious menu filled with ceviches and a variety of tamales, served with authentic accompaniments like mole cornbread and, of course, guacamole. Wrap up this Mexican feast with a classic tres leches dessert or a delicious flan de queso.
L'Olivier 240 Westheimer, 713-360-6313
Have a French-style Thanksgiving dinner with the delicious offerings from L'Olivier. Choose from an array of appetizers, entrées and side dishes, including baked brie and corn soufflé. Add their apple wheat rolls or French baguette and a pumpkin roulade to complete your Thanksgiving feast. Call or e-mail [email protected] by Thursday, November 15, for reservations.
Line & Lariat 220 Main, 713-224-4266
Visit the Hotel ICON's restaurant for a prix fixe dinner on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. for $27 per person ($12.99 for kids ages six to 12, free for kids under five). Executive Chef David Luna has created a menu that starts with roasted butternut squash soup and candied spiced pecans, followed by an arugula salad, then a roasted turkey dinner with cornbread dressing, gravy and roasted cranberry relish. Finish this meal with either pumpkin pie or a bourbon pecan pie and caramel ice cream. Reservations are required.
Mockingbird Bistro Wine Bar 1985 Welch, 713-533-0200
Dine in for a three-course menu featuring unconventional entrées like sea bass and grilled prime rib eye, all paired with delicious elegant side dishes. End your Thanksgiving dinner with their classic crème brûlée or pumpkin cheesecake with huckleberry sauce. You can also order one of their four packaged meals, or build your own a la carte by Thursday, November 22, before 2 p.m. Dining-in reservations are required.
Monarch Bistro at Hotel ZaZa 5701 Main Street, 713-527-1800
Join the Monarch Bistro for a four-course Thanksgiving Day meal for just $55 per person. From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., you and your friends and family can sophisticatedly dine on roasted squash soup, quail with cornbread sage sausage and cherry stuffing, the classic turkey with giblet gravy or smoked duck breast with shepherd's pie, and finish with a twist on pumpkin pie: pumpkin panna cotta.
Philippe Restaurant + Lounge 1800 Post Oak Blvd., 713-439-1000
From noon to 8 p.m., French Cowboy Chef Philippe Schmit will feature his take on Thanksgiving dinner: sweet potato flan, coleslaw with horseradish, braised collard greens with bacon and almonds and chocolate pecan pie. Philippe's also offers to-go dinners including a 12-pound whole cooked turkey serving 12 to 14 people. Orders must be placed Thursday, November 15, by 5 p.m.
Quattro at Four Seasons Houston Hotel 1300 Lamar, 3rd floor, 713-276-4700
Whether you prefer brunch or dinner, Quattro at the Four Seasons has you covered. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy their brunch buffet for $79 per person, but kids under five eat free. Starting at 5:30 p.m. until 10 p.m., you and your family can dine in for Thanksgiving dinner featuring an antipasti buffet of various cold salads, cheeses and fruits, followed by plated entrées and an assortment of desserts, all for $58 per person. Reservations are required.
Roost 1972 Fairview, 713-523-7667
Roost will be open for Thanksgiving dinner at 4 p.m. serving its latest regular local/seasonal menu, plus a few special dishes just for Thanksgiving: seared allspice duck breast with roasted beet and rye bread panzanella; honey-brined turkey breast with sweet potato purée, braised greens, jalapeño cornbread and cranberry chutney; and an appetizer of country fried local quail, butter biscuit, cream gravy and sweet pickled jalapeños. Reservations are required, and parties of six or more are subject to a credit card deposit.
Head to the next page to see which restaurants are offering holiday meals to take home.