Area Restaurants Offer to Cook the Turkey
Restaurants around the DMV are giving diners plenty of reasons to give thanks this holiday by offering a cornucopia of culinary offerings to make Thanksgiving memorable. From classic American to Italian and Indian fare, Thanksgiving takes on an international flare for the feasting. Best of all, there are no dishes to wash.
1789 Restaurant, 1226 36th St. NW, will serve a classic three-course Thanksgiving dinner from noon-9 p.m. in addition to its seasonal a la carte menu. The three-course menu, priced at $58 per person, begins with a choice of beet salad with pickled red onions, pomegranates, bitter greens and goat cheese or butternut squash soup with roasted apples and fried sage. A traditional turkey with roasted breast, confit leg, sausage-sage stuffing, pommes purée, cranberry sauce, fall roasted vegetables and pan-dripping gravy is the featured main course. There will also be a selection of desserts including pumpkin pot de crème with maple sponge and whipped crème fraîche; apple tarte tatin with Granny Smith apples and ceylon cinnamon ice cream as well as pecan pie macaroon with bourbon caramel cremeux and butter pecan ice cream.
701 Restaurant, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, will dish up a classic Thanksgiving feast with a three-course, prix fixe holiday menu from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. for $55 per person. Starters include porcini mushroom soup with sherry, hazelnut and anise; holiday vegetable harvest with sunflower seed streusel, pumpkin puree and pomegranate vinaigrette; rutabaga tortelloni with apple, smoke, Brussels sprouts and a thyme emulsion; or caramelized scallops with cauliflower, preserved tomato, kale and choron emulsion. Main course options include Pennsylvania turkey with cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, cranberry relish and gravy; sablefish with sunchokes, oyster root, oyster mushrooms and watercress; quince brined pork tenderloin with pommes Anna, roasted turnip and hibiscus jus; Applewood smoked yam with toasted spice crust, braised endive, sunflower jus and ash; salmon with chanterelles, allium and apple glaze; and sage butter roasted New York strip steak with pumpkin, charred baby kale and truffle madeira jus. A live jazz duo of piano and bass will be performing during Thanksgiving service.
Ardeo+Bardeo, 3111 Connecticut Ave. NW, will feature a three-course menu from noon-9 p.m. priced at $45 per person and $25 for children younger than 10. The menu includes roasted pumpkin soup with sunchoke, lump crab salad, crispy pancetta and spiced almonds; crispy Brussels sprouts with apricot, pomegranate molasses and orange yogurt; roasted turkey duo with cranberry-apple stuffing, sweet potato purée, parsnip textures and herb giblet gravy; braised short ribs with butternut squash spaetzle, charred cippolini onions, jalapeño and port wine reduction; grilled swordfish with wild black rice, roasted delicate squash, broccolini, cardamom-carrot vinaigrette; and roasted pumpkin agnolotti with smoked black trumpet mushrooms, sage brown butter and truffle pecorino. The dessert menu includes pumpkin roll with pumpkin seed brittle, Nutella gelato, orange and caramel; pecan pie with apple butter gelato and five-spice crumble; and chocolate pistachio torte with milk chocolate glaze, strawberry coulis, toffee gelato and whipped cream.
Bibiana Osteria-Enoteca, 1100 New York Ave. NW, will offer an Italian twist on Thanksgiving from 1-8 p.m. with a prix fixe menu priced at $55 per person. Starters include casseruola, roasted broccoli and cauliflower, crispy kale, verjus and lavash; bombolini, black truffled potato “arancini” with concord grape, parsnip purée and walnut; polpette d’agnello, black garlic polenta, black currents and pinole; as well as zuppa di castagne, toasted chestnut & shallot, pancetta and chili oil. Entrées include gnocchi di patate dolci with sunchoke, duck confit, onion ash vinaigrette, charred cranberry and stuffing; tortellini di ducca with sage brown butter, herb salad, honey crisp apple and amaretti; “porchetta” di tacchino with confit sweet potato, chestnut and oyster bread pudding and cranberry mostarda; and brasato di manzo with truffled potato purée, roasted root vegetable and natural jus. Dessert options include baba al rum; crostata with heirloom pumpkin and milk gelato; or seasonal panna cotta with rye short bread cookie, brown butter chantilly and pomegranate seed.
Bindaas, 3309 Connecticut Ave. NW and 2000 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, is offering an exotic Thanksgiving addition to its a la carte menu from 5-10:45 p.m. The menu includes turkey meatballs with cranberry korma sauce served with smoked butternut squash, chili garlic green beans and saffron pulao. It is priced at $16.The special turkey dish is priced at $16, excluding gratuity and tax. The complete a la carte menu is also available on Thanksgiving Day.
The Black Squirrel, 2427 18th St. NW, has been offering a Thank You Thanksgiving Buffet since 2008. It is a festive tradition that draws large crowds to the Adams Morgan bar. The traditional menu includes turkey, ham, stuffing, cranberries, gravy, string beans, macaroni and cheese and plenty of desserts for only $13 per person, with drinks available for an extra cost. The all-you-can-eat meal begins at 11 a.m. and last until the food runs out.
BLT Steak, 1625 I St. NW, will serve a three-course prix fixe holiday menu for $82 per person of $40 for children younger than 12 from 3:30-9 p.m. The meal features a choice of starters from chestnut and celery root soup with Honey Crisp apple and sage; kabocha squash risotto with saffron, pumpkin seeds and pecorino cheese; or gem salad with parsnips, squash and cider vinaigrette. Main course selections include dry-aged roasted prime rib with confit garlic jus and caramelized bread pudding; arctic char with Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi and cranberries; or roasted turkey with chestnut-sage stuffing, cranberry-grenadine sauce and rosemary gravy. Family-style sides include chestnut-sausage stuffing, Brussels sprouts with cippolini, bacon and honey, creamed spinach, mashed potatoes and sweet potato gratin. Dessert choices include cranberry spiced bread pudding with walnuts and cranberry coulis; pumpkin tart with maple ice crea,; or velvet chocolate rocky road with maple ice cream.
The Bombay Club, 815 Connecticut Ave. NW, will offer a variety of Thanksgiving Day specials in addition to the full a la carte menu from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-930 p.m. Dishes include butternut squash samosa priced at $9 and turkey cranberry tikka with Brussels sprouts poriyal and sweet potato bhaji, priced at $25. For dessert, there will be pumpkin crème brûlée for $9.
Café Dupont in the Dupont Circle Hotel, 1500 New Hampshire Ave. NW, will offer a three-course, prix fixe menu for $55 per person from 4-9 p.m. Starters include a choice of butternut squash soup with pomegranate drizzle and spicy pecans or warm root vegetable salad with rutabaga, parsnips, butternut squash, mixed fall greens and whole grain mustard vinaigrette. The main course is traditional slow-roasted turkey with turkey jus or maple and orange glazed ham with fresh orange and parsley. Both are served with sides including Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, green beans, mashed sweet potatoes and apple-sage stuffing. Dessert is the choice of sticky pumpkin pudding with crème fraiche or Bartlett pear and pecan pie with salted caramel and vanilla ice cream.
Central, 1001 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, will serve a Thanksgiving dinner from noon-8 p.m. The three-course prix-fixe menu is $58 for adults and $28 for children younger than 12. Appetizer options include a choice of warm spinach salad with mushrooms, red onion and garlic croutons; French onion soup with Swiss cheese gratinee; goat cheese Caesar salad with tomato, garlic and croutons; pumpkin soup with fried egg, prosciutto and scallions; and burrata with eggplant caponata, prosciutto and raisin-balsamic. Entrée choices include turkey with mushroom stuffing, cranberry sauce, potato gratin and gravy; seared salmon with butternut squash, apple and broccolini; hanger steak with frites and peppercorn sauce; duck leg confit with roasted chestnut risotto and poached plums; or saffron risotto with roasted winter vegetables, pesto and black truffle dressing. Dessert includes pumpkin pie with vanilla mascarpone and cranberry confit; almond bread pudding with brown butter rum sauce and whipped cream; Michel’s chocolate bar with hazelnut sauce and chocolate pearls; or vanilla or chocolate ice cream.
Charlie Palmer Steak House, 101 Constitution Ave. NW, is serving a three-course prix fixe dinner for $75 for adults and $25 for children younger than 12 from 2-8 p.m. The first course includes a choice of Bibb lettuce and endive salad with bacon, crispy shallots, grape tomatoes, red onion and upper ranch dressing; baby beets with Mandarin orange, goat cheese, walnut pistou and frisee; roasted organic butternut squash soup with pumpkin seed brittle, maple crème fraiche; Hamachi crudo with Calvisius caviar, pickled shishito peppers and kumquat; country-style terrine of pork with arugula, picked red onion, mustard and crostini; or torchon of foie gras with sweet potato preserves, salt and toasted brioche. Entrées include sage roasted free-range turkey with smoked giblet gravy, herb-glazed halibut with ginger-carrot puree, baby bok choy and apple cider jus; pumpkin agnolotti with roasted pear puree, broccoli rabe, pistachios and sage brown butter; bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin with fennel puree, chorizo and banyuls emulsion; filet mignon with roasted shallots; and dry-aged, bone-in N.Y. strip or cowboy cut ribeye with garlic confit. Family style sides include cranberry and apple relish; Yukon gold potato puree, roasted Brussels sprouts with lemon, mint and pecorino; and cornbread and andouille sausage stuffing. For dessert, choose from pumpkin cheesecake with walnuts, figs and cinnamon cream; apple cranberry cake with salted caramel and ginger ice cream; warm chocolate tart with milk chocolate ice cream and cranberry compote; or peanut butter and chocolate terrine with N.Y.-style nuts, sweet cream and peanut anglaise.
The historic Hay-Adams’ Top of the Hay, 800 16th St. NW, is serving a holiday buffet from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. priced at $120 for adult and $60 for children 12 and younger. Musical entertainment will be provided by Tom Vogt. The buffet includes carved free range heritage whole turkey with sweet and chestnut stuffing, Brussels sprout gratin, corn pudding, sweet potato purée with spiced cranberries, traditional turkey gravy and Fuji apple and cranberry chutney; dry-aged New York strip steak with assorted fall root vegetables and Merlot red wine sauce; gemelli pasta with lamb ragout and tomato sauce; veal piccata with baby spinach, lemon segment and capers; wild corvina with eggplant caviar and roasted tomato; root vegetable and farro salad with banyuls vinaigrette; Maine lobster salad with shaved vegetables and citrus dressing; roasted acorn squash with Portobello mushroom, apple, radicchio and pumpkin seeds; grilled royale trumpet salad with red grapes and Boston lettuce; and grilled green asparagus salad with chopped egg and herb dressing. The dessert offerings include chai tea spiced layer cake; Dutch Granny Smith apple pie; kabocha pumpkin pie; lemon and ginger baby bundt cakes; chocolate crepes with cranberry mousse; and Georgia pecan pie. Adults will also receive a glass of complimentary Champagne.
Honeysuckle, 1990 M St. NW, is offering a special holiday a la carte menu. The menu includes an old-fashioned turkey dinner with milk poached turkey breast, sausage stuffed leg, sweet potato fondue, smoked bacon stuffing, Brussels sprouts, cranberry shrub and herbed turkey gravy for $32; Carolina mountain trout with butternut squash, country ham, shishito peppers, watercress and sage butter for $31; brioche crusted halibut with cauliflower, mushroom, country sausage, salsify puree and huckleberry agrodolce for $31; braised beef short ribs with mushrooms, cured radish, herbs, maple and ginger for $38; and slow-roasted Icelandic char with buttered baby shrimp, cauliflower fondue, salted almonds, fennel and smoke roe for $30. Starters are $16-$18 and additional sides are $12.
Legal Sea Foods will offer its full menu for traditionalists as well as turkey breast with sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, butternut squash and cranberry sauce priced at $24.95 per person and $8.95 for children 12 and younger. The Thanksgiving menu is available at three DMV locations: noon-9 p.m. at 704 Seventh St. NW; noon-8 p.m. at Tyson’s Galleria in McLean, Va.; and 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Va. The Crystal City location is closed Thanksgiving day.
Nopa Kitchen + Bar, 800 F St. NW is offering a three-course menu from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. priced at $50 per person. First course options include duck liver mousse with savory gingerbread and huckleberry jam; spiced squash and pear Soup with maple crème fraîche, pumpkin seed oil and brown butter breadcrumbs; turkey meatballs with ancient grains, dried cranberry, sage and turkey jus; and venison carpaccio with truffled pecorino, cress, beet dijonaise, caperberries and sage breadcrumbs. Main course selections include pasture-raised turkey duo with turkey schnitzel, cranberry turkey sausage, purple barley and truffle oyster mushrooms; salmon with parsnip duo, pickled beets, tatsoi and a Meyer lemon horseradish emulsion; ancient grains risotto with winter greens pesto, hazelnuts, fall vegetables, crispy parsnips and pecorino; and Chilean sea bass congee with Carolina gold rice, beech mushrooms, peanuts, winter radish, bok choy and a chili rice broth. Desserts include maple roasted kabocha squash with brown butter pastry creme, cranberry compote and a sage ice cream; apple and herbs de Provence bread pudding with candied walnuts and maple ice cream; seasonal sorbet; and a cookie plate with chocolate chip cookie, oatmeal raisin cookie, house-made Twix, chocolate hazelnut truffle and butter mints.
Osteria Morini, 301 Water St. SE, is serving a three-course family-style menu from 3-9 p.m. for $59 per person. Appetizers include a choice of burrata with charred rapini and fig agrodolce; polpettine, prosciutto and mortadella meatballs with Pomodoro and parmigiano; or cacio e pepe with romaine, capers, focaccia and anchovy. Entrées include gnocchi with brown butter, delicate squash, sage and balsmaico; branzino with chickpeas, charred broccoli, Taggiasca olives and bagna cauda; slow-roasted turkey breast with focaccia and turkey leg stuffing and marsala. All come with potato puree and crispy Brussels sprouts with pancetta and cippolini onions. Dessert options include pumpkin pie with vanilla sable crust, gingerbread and whipped cream; Tahitian vanilla cheesecake with apple compote and polenta cake crumble; or vanilla gelato.
The Oval Room, 800 Connecticut Ave. NW, is serving a three-course holiday menu from noon-8 p.m. for $55 per person. The menu includes foie gras crème brûlée with maple granola, toasted chestnuts, golden raisins, fried sage and red wine apple butter; burrata di puglia, with roasted red kuri squash, toasted pine nuts, pomegranate, pineapple sage and mugolio; Italian chicory with sharp provolone cheese, red walnuts, shaved fennel, olive oil croutons and anchovy dressing; and toasted chestnut velouté with duck confit, foie gras, maple butter, cranberry and pumpkin seed gomashio. Main courses include turkey with oyster-chorizo cornbread stuffing, roasted Brussels sprouts, cranberry relish and giblet gravy; pumpkin swordfish with brown butter sweet potatoes, spiced pecans, dried cherries, honey-crisp apples, baby kale and Meyer lemon; acquerello risotto with black trumpet mushrooms, winter truffle, toasted alba hazelnuts, celery root and aged pecorino cheese; and pan-roasted Magret duck Breast with coconut grits, sweet and sour beets, baby bok choy and pomegranate molasses. Dessert options include warm amaretti bread pudding with toasted chestnuts, Amarena cherries, eggnog ice cream and cognac anglaise; bourbon chocolate pecan bar with Valrhona bittersweet chocolate and salted caramel ice cream; or local Honeycrisp apple and quince tart with brown butter streusel, whipped crème fraîche and cinnamon ice cream.
Rasika Penn Quarter, 633 D St. NW, will serve turkey tikka masala, broiled turkey breast simmered in a sauce made with onion, tomatoes, ginger, green chilies and fenugreek, served with Brussels sprout pulao, smoked butternut squash and cranberry dal will be available for $20 along with its regular a la carte menu from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and from 5-10 p.m.
Rasika West End, 1190 New Hampshire Ave. NW, is offering a special Thanksgiving dish in addition to the a la carte menu from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. The restaurant will offer turkey salli, diced turkey breast cooked in an onion-tomato sauce flavored with malt vinegar, jaggery and cranberries, topped with straw potatoes and served with Brussels sprout patia, butternut squash masoor and jeera pulao for $20.
The St. Regis, 923 16th St. NW, is offering a three-course prix fixe menu from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5:30-10 p.m. for $79 per person with wine pairings available for $19 or $39 per person. Appetizers include kale salad with squash, dried cranberries, candied pecans and citrus vinaigrette; local beets with pickled red onions, burrata, frisse and smoked bacon vinaigrette; chestnut veloute with caramelized apples and seared foie gras; pumpkin sage gnocchi with Peekytoe crab and brown butter; or seared scallops with local carrot puree, chorizo, garlic chips and preserved lemons. Entrée selections include turkey with potato and wild mushroom gratin, cranberry relish and caramelized onions; poached cod with Brussels sprouts, sweet potato chips and roasted garlic cream; filet mignon with traditional garniture; veal chops with lardons and rutabaga, braised Swiss chard and béarnaise; or braised short rib with Jerusalem artichoke, kabocha squash puree and red wine jus. Desserts include pumpkin cheesecake with yogurt mascarpone, huckleberry gelee and pumpkin compote; southern pecan pie with caramel and bourbon ice cream; seasonal ice creams and sorbets; and artisanal cheeses. Grilled white asparagus, pommes frites, Brussels sprouts, truffled mashed potatoes and black garlic broccolini can be added for an additional charge.
Station 4, 1101 4th St. SW, will serve a three-course, prix fixe dinner for $46 for adults and $14 for children 12 and younger from noon-10 p.m. The menu begins with an amuse-bouche of pumpkin hummus with cranberries and pita bread followed by starters such as turkey bisque with harvest vegetables, garnished with pomegranate seeds; butternut squash crostino with homemade ricotta cheese, caramelized nuts and aged balsamic; and baked acorn squash caprese salad with fresh mozzarella, basil, extra virgin olive oil and grape syrup. Main courses include roasted turkey, sliced turkey with rustic stuffing, green beans, roasted sweet potato purée and cranberry sauce; seared salmon with apple-cranberry relish, polenta and Brussels sprouts; butternut squash gnocchi with hazelnuts, sage butter and pecorino; and N.Y. strip steak with asparagus, potatoes au gratin and gravy. Dessert includes crème brûlée, apple tartlet or pecan pie.
Succotash, 915 F St. NW or 186 Waterfront St. in National Harbor, will serve a three-course family-style meal for $46 for adults and $23 for children 12 and younger ($42 and $21, respectively at National Harbor). Starters include bacon deviled eggs with caviar; Bibb salad with goat cheese, spiced pecans and bourbon vinaigrette; and cornbread caked with sorghum-pumpkin butter. The main course is brined, smoked turkey breast with oyster-sage cornbread dressing, sweet potato-rosemary puree with brown butter, butternut mac ‘n cheese; charred green beans with shallots and shaved chestnuts, cranberry-ginger sauce and truffle-turkey gravy. Dessert is pumpkin chess pie with cinnamon ice cream. For $78 for adults and $39 for children 12 and younger at the Penn Quarter location, you can add raw oysters with bourbon-brown butter, lobster mac ‘n cheese, mashed potatoes with shaved truffles, duck fat-roasted Brussels sprouts, maple-lemongrass caramelized carrots and chocolate orange truffles.
Editor-in-Chief Mark Heckathorn is a journalist, movie buff and foodie. He oversees DC on Heels editorial operations as well as strategic planning and staff development. Reach him with story ideas or suggestions at dcoheditor (at) gmail (dot) com.