We're only a few days into November, sure, but it's never too early to start planning your annual Thanksgiving feast. In fact, if you're hoping to leave the cooking to the professionals this year, it's best to plan ahead, as in, right now. Here are the best Houston restaurants offering full dinners, side dishes and a la carte items to take home for your holiday meal. Many of these spots require a few days to a full week's notice, so do act accordingly.
The Houston Press will continue to update this list with the best bets for take-home Thanksgiving dinners and sides over the next couple weeks. Have at it.
Best Take-Home Dinners
Ouisie's Table, 3939 San Felipe
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While the restaurant is actually closed on Thanksgiving day, the kitchen does offer Southern-inspired traditional dinner options that can feed 10 to 20 people, which you can order now through November 16, and pick up on Wednesday, November 22, the day before Thanksgiving. The menus include prime rib, roasted turkey or honey-glazed ham with the works in the $175 to $350 range. Each meat order includes a choice of two sides, biscuits, and one dessert. Sides and desserts are also available a la carte in catering-sized portions. Full menu here. 713-528-2264 to place order.
Revival Market, 550 Heights
All Thanksgiving Pre-Orders must be placed by 4 p.m. on Friday, November 17, and a non-refundable $25 deposit will be taken for each protein ordered. This Agricole Hospitality gem in the Heights has a lot to offer for Thanksgiving with smoked turkey, whole duck or sliced duck breast, bone-in or bone-out ham, and a wealth of holiday sides in sizes that can feed a family of four or up to 16 guests. Along with all that, it also offers housemade cooking aids such as rendered lard, pie shells and stock. Full menu/ordering form here.
Brasserie du Parc, 1440 Lamar Street
While Brasserie du Parc will be open for Thanksgiving from noon to 7:30 p.m. with a special menu, it also does holiday foods to go as well, including turkey dinner per person with all the fixings for $18. Larger orders of Turkey and all the fixings go for $120, and there are also pies and soups available. Place orders by November 20. More information at 832-879-2802.
Laurenzo's, 4412 Washington
Switch up your main course with prime rib from Laurenzo's. The eatery is offering two different family prime rib meal packages including house made au jus, creamy horseradish sauce, fresh baked bread, and two sides including creamed corn, garlic mashed potatoes, mac and cheese or butter peas at $274.99 (feeds up to 12) or $499 (feeds up to 24). There's also a honey-glazed spiral cut ham dinner that feeds up to 15 for $175.99.
Add-ons also include quarts or half gallons of queso or guac ($18/$30) and key lime pie ($30). All orders are due in (and pre-paid) by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 15 with pick-up by 5 p.m.on Wednesday, November 22. Call 713-880-5111 to place your order.
EXPANDRainbow Lodge, 2011 Ella
The restaurant will be open on Thanksgiving Day with a three-course meal, but is also offering holiday meals for take home. Turkey orders must be placed before November 21. A 16 pound bird with gravy will set you back $89, and a 20 pound bird with gravy is $120. Classic sides go for $3.50 per person (minimum of four people), packed bulk. If you're a procrastinator numerous roasted meats, game birds and Lodge Classics including the smoked duck gumbo are also available with only 48-hour advance notice needed. The eatery also offers mini snack packs with turkey, dressing and gravy for $5 each to dine-in customers. Info and ordering available at 713-861-8666 or info@rainbow-lodge.com.
Best Sides
Underbelly, 1100 Westheimer
Underbelly is preparing everything but the turkey, and orders for all appetizers, sides and desserts need to be in by Sunday, November 19, with pick up availalable on Wednesday, November 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Highlights include Shepherd family rum sausage, Redneck Cheddar mac and cheese, One Fifth bacon sausage and Underbelly's beloved vinegar pie. The restaurant will also offer a day after gumbo that you can just throw your turkey into, heat and enjoy. Done and done. Online ordering available here.
Killen's Steakhouse, 6425 W. Broadway in Pearland
If you're okay with cooking the bird, but just want to elevate your dinner with decadent and traditional sides, Killen's Steakhouse will offer its luxurious potatoes au gratin, broccoli cheese risotto, creamed corn and macaroni and cheese for take home. Two desserts, creme brûlée bread pudding and carrot cake will also be available.
Backstreet Cafe, 1103 South Shepherd
Each year, Hugo Ortega's laid back cafe offers a variety of it most popular items to go, and orders need to be placed by Monday, November 20, with pick up on November 22. This is the place to grab sides, as there's an abundance to choose from including wild mushroom soup, corn pudding, scalloped potatoes, wine poached pears stuffed with blue cheese and dried fruit, and of course, glorious desserts such as the chocolate pecan pie or pumpkin cheesecake.
Best Specialty Items
Etoile Cuisine et Bar, 1101-11 Uptown Park
Etoile will also be open from noon to 7:30 p.m. with a special menu, but also offers specialty take home orders that must be placed by November 20. While the restaurant will also offer complete meals of oven-roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry jam, stuffing, brussels sprouts, green beans and mushroom casserole, brandy gravy for $190 (add in a pie and a quart of soup with your meal for $240) what you really want to order here is the house specialty, the foie gras “au torchon’’ for $100. It's a showstopper More info at 832-668-5808.
Hugo's, 1602 Westheimer
Huge Ortega's award-winning restaurant offers a wealth of options, and orders must be placed by Monday, November 20 for pick-up on Wednesday, November 22. Rather than full meals, a la carte options of family sized dishes are offered, including entreméses such as red snapper ceviche with totopos, plato fuertes including numerous tamale, chile relleno and enchilada options, and crazy good sides such as the mole cornbread. Full menu/online ordering here.
Kenny & Ziggy’s, 2327 Post Oak Boulevard
This beloved New York deli offers a take-home menu including a special meal package that feeds 14 to 16 people for $275 plus tax, and some pretty special side items available a la carte as well — kasha varnishkas, mini potato pancakes, rugalach, and chopped chicken livers are worth seeking out. Orders must be in on November 15. Pick up is between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Wednesday, November 22.
Dish Society, 5740 San Felipe, 23501 Cinco Ranch, 12525 Memorial
The locally-sourced farm-to-table favorite will offer a few sides and salads, including the truffled macaroni and cheese and a red wine poached apple pecan salad, but if you're looking for great brussels sprout options this is the place, with balsamic brussels sprouts laced with crisp bacon and its lovely signature brussels sprout salad with kale, quinoa, dried cherries, raisins, almonds and shaved parmesan, as well.
Hopdoddy, 4444 Westheimer, 5510 Morningside, 142 Vintage Park
The Austin-based and Houston-embraced burger fave will sell six packs of its stuffing-infused buns, perfect for building your own post-Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich, or maybe some form of epic holiday breakfast sandwich. Go crazy, y'all. The buns are baked in-house daily and will only set you back $6 for six buns. Guests can preorder buns online between November 13 and 19 and schedule their pickup between November 20 and 22.
Best Tamales
Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen, 6401 Woodway, 1140 Eldridge Parkway
Syvlia Casares' incredible tamales by the dozen are available in pork or chicken varieties for $20 per dozen, and you'll get an extra 12 tamales free when you order 5 dozen tamales. Sylvia’s will also offer take-home chile con queso, chips and salsa, Fajitas, and incredible enchiladas, $38 per dozen (shrimp, crab or fajita enchiladas are are $42 per dozen). You can even bring a pan for your enchiladas to be placed in. All orders need at least three days in advance notice.
Killen’s Barbecue, 3613 E. Broadway;
Killen’s Barbecue stuffs housemade masa with a Snake River Farms chopped brisket mixture for its signature brisket tamales, available for pick-up orders on the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving for $20 per dozen. If you're dining in, the tamales are also available Thursday to Saturday during the holidays.
Molina’s Cantina, 7901 Westheimer, 3801 Bellaire
Houston's beloved Tex-Mex eatery will offer its iconic traditional pork tamales for a special price, just $10.95 per dozen. Or go for broke with Molina's Thanksgiving fiesta — fajitas, enchiladas, Jose’s Dip, taquitos and all the fixings.
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