Make Thanksgiving hassle-free this year. At San Diego’s premier restaurants, feel right at home with classic and modern dishes this holiday.
A Thanksgiving feast at Herb & Wood; PHOTO COURTESY OF JAMES TRAN
This year, live entertainment and lavish buffets make Thanksgiving memorable at Hotel del Coronado’s Southpointe ballroom. The sky's the limit at this seaside feast, fit with chilled seafood displays plus bountiful stations of charcuterie and artisanal bread. You'll also find vegan curries, arepas, fresh salads, slow-roasted turkey, Alaskan salmon, maple-glazed pork, fall-flavored sides and an incredible dessert buffet. Grab a plate! For reservations, click here.
The Thanksgiving buffet at Hotel del Coronado; PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
On Nov. 9 at 6 p.m., Chefsgiving returns to Pendry San Diego with nine notable chefs leading a Thanksgiving culinary journey. Each chef will whip up their unique take on a Thanksgiving dish, served family-style and paired with wine. Participating chefs include Michelin-starred chef Roberto Alcocer of Valle, executive chef Chris Gentile of Rancho Valencia Resort and Spa, Pendry San Diego pastry chef Evan Kenmore and more. A portion of each ticket sale will benefit the San Diego Food Bank. Book your reservation here before it sells out! On Thanksgiving day, celebrate the season with a three-course prix fixe meal at Provisional Kitchen—reservations are available here.
Doused in modern sophistication, Huntress is the perfect environment for Thanksgiving dining, serving up high-quality cuisine and cocktails for holiday lovers. Artful spins on classic dishes include pumpkin agnolotti and confit turkey leg crépinette with sour cherries and truffle jus, plus the fan-favorite green beans en croute with crispy prosciutto and onions. Click here for reservations.
The Mezzanine Bar at Huntress; PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Tucked away in North County San Diego, Rancho Bernardo Inn is serving up Thanksgiving from day to night. From 1 to 4 p.m., gather at the Bernardo Ballroom for a delicious buffet of feasting classics with cocktails, beer and wine included, or head to AVANT between 4 and 8 p.m. for a four-course Thanksgiving meal prepared by chef de cuisine Sergio Jimenez. Book your Thanksgiving buffet here. For the four-course dinner, click here.
Enjoy Thanksgiving inside AVANT's cozy main dining room. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Those who celebrate Thanksgiving know that the time spent with family and friends is just as important as the food! At Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa, indulge in a raw bar, a carving station and a scrumptious dessert bar. Pre- or post-meal, gather on the outdoor lawn for games, face painting, a petting zoo and more family-friendly activities. Want to bring the feast home? The resort is offering take-home Thanksgiving options as well, available through their online order form. For in-person reservations, call 858.759.6246.
At The Winery Restaurant & Bar in La Jolla, pair your wine with a delicious feast filled with a traditional-inspired Thanksgiving menu. This three-course prix fixe includes enticing items such as pumpkin and ricotta ravioli with white truffle oil chantilly, zinfandel-braised short ribs, jumbo wild white shrimp and a sweet finish of streusel pumpkin pie or caramelized pecan chocolate cheesecake. Grab your reservation here!
Paradisaea—nestled inside Bird Rock’s 1949 piano building—is a cozy, yet elevated spot for a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner. This year’s prix fixe menu focuses on seasonal ingredients and California flavors. Warm Parker House rolls with pumpkin butter, fresh pan-seared scallops, roast turkey breast with chorizo stuffing and a mouthwatering caramel pecan tarte are just a few of the enticing options from the specialty Thanksgiving menu. Host your holiday California-cool style. For reservations, click here.
Pacific Beach’s JRDN, a premier beachfront restaurant, is crafting a three-course Thanksgiving menu feaaturing all the classics with a seafood twist. Try rich and creamy pumpkin lobster bisque or pomegranate-glazed pork belly to start. Entrees range from the traditional turkey dinner to sesame soy-glazed salmon. Sides of sherry creamed mushrooms, garlic mashed potatoes and balsamic-glazed carrots pair perfectly with any main. Finish the meal with carrot micro sponge cake with earl gray anglaise, just one of the many dessert options. Book your reservation for this exciting take on everyone’s favorite feast here.
Chef Jason Neroni of The Desmond has got you covered this holiday season. Situated inside the Kimpton Alma San Diego, this chic eatery is offering both dine-in and takeout options for its deliciously decadent Thanksgiving lineup. Indulge in braised Morrocan meatballs with tajin and semolina polenta or bucatini with Maine lobster and uni butter. You'll also find elevated classics, including cider-brined turkey and garlic confit whipped mashed potatoes topped with tangerine cranberry chutney. For dessert, indulge in the gianduja chocolate budino with flambé bananas. Delicious! Grab your reservations here. For takeout, orders can be placed via email at [email protected].
Dine oceanside at the Catamaran Resort Hotel’s beloved Oceana Coastal Kitchen. Choose from the luxe Thanksgiving Champagne brunch and cruise, or the three-course dinner with optional wine pairing in the evening. Enjoy a holiday brunch buffet of bread and pastries, artisanal meats and cheeses, seafood bar, pork loin carving station and fresh seasonal desserts—alongside seasonal drink selections and plenty of hot cocoa! Three-course dinner highlights include Dungeness crab cakes with red pepper emulsion, turkey with all the fixings and a delicious slice of pumpkin cheesecake. Reservations for both events can be made here.
Feast by the sea at Oceana Coastal Kitchen. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Whether enjoying dinner or brunch, have Thanksgiving your way at Bahia Resort Hotel’s Dockside 1953. The fall-inspired brunch menu will feature a seasonal bakery station, stacked with pumpkin scones and apple-zucchini bread, a savory breakfast station, made-to-order eggs and omelets, plus all the Thanksgiving classics. Finish the meal with a lovely cruise featuring live entertainment and a dessert bar. Those looking for a dinner option will love the three-course meal teeming with heirloom carrot and tomato bisque, herb-crusted beef tenderloin and the choice of a pumpkin tart or apple pie. For reservations, click here.
Hop on the complimentary holiday catamaran cruise after Thanksgiving brunch at Oceana Coastal Kitchen or Dockside 1953. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Executive chef Kelli Crosson of The Lodge at Torrey Pines' A.R. Valentien is curating an unforgettable three-course feast for those seeking a cozy atmosphere with sweeping views of the Torrey Pines Golf Course. Begin with maple and sage pistou pumpkin soup before a first-course choice between an autumn salad, duck pate, applewood-smoked ruby trout or hand-rolled potato gnocchi with cipollini onions. Looking for something a bit different than turkey? Main entree options span from the traditional roasted bird to osso bucco, caramelized sea scallops and even crispy-skin black cod. Be sure to leave room for dessert! For reservations, call 858.777.6635.
Thanksgiving is all the rage at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa! Head to the elegant Costa de la Luna for a chef-curated Thanksgiving brunch buffet beginning at 11:30 a.m.—fit with a fresh seafood bar, carving stations and more. For dinner, VUE is serving up a Thanksgiving feast featuring pumpkin cheesecake mousse and an oven-roasted turkey, or join Bob’s Steak & Chophouse for a special prix-fixe dinner menu on this special holiday evening. For brunch reservations, click here. To book reservations at VUE, click here, and for Bob’s Steak & Chophouse, click here.
Huddle into Bleu Bohème's rustic oasis this Thanksgiving. Owner and executive chef Ken Irvine is dishing up a three-course holiday feast with deliciously unexpected options—plus a sinfully sweet pumpkin pie martini. Starters include pumpkin hominy soup and a fresh beet salad followed by a classic Diestel Farms turkey cooked two ways—roasted or confit. Fill your plate with accompaniments such as pommes purée and a selection of root vegetables. End on a sweet note with brioche bread pudding, crème brulée and much more! Call 619.255.4167 for reservations.
Dig into Bleu Bohème’s French-inspired three-course feast. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
For a Thanksgiving filled with opulent culinary creations, dine at Adelaide inside L’Auberge Del Mar. Beginning at 11 a.m., take a seat next to breathtaking seaside views before a buffet feast of deliciously tempting options. From a raw seafood bar and an abundant charcuterie station to a carving station and a sweet tooth-satisfying dessert bar, everyone will leave full and happy. Book your reservations here.
Luxe outdoor seating at Adelaide inside L'Auberge Del Mar; PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAND
Spend the holiday Italian-style at Little Italy’s vibrant culinary gem, Herb & Wood. Presented by chef Carlos Anthony, indulge in the ultimate four-course meal featuring focaccia with whipped butter and plum and thyme honey, venison carpaccio, warm squash salad and a seven-spiced swordfish—all in addition to a selection of fabulous family-style sides. And for dessert... Grab a fork for the date sticky toffee pudding! Reserve your table here.
Experience Thanksgiving Fillipino-style at Animae, hosted by executive chef Tara Monsod. Paying homage to her cultural background, this multi-course Thanksgiving meal is full of flavor and exciting twists on the holiday classics. Try ube pan de sal with sweet miso golden beets, mussel ginataan with kabocha squash and miso oil, plus sides of maple-soy sweet potato puree and Szechuan-charred broccolini. Finish with a delectable red bean tarte by executive pastry chef Laura Warren. Book your Thanksgiving reservation here.
Charred broccolini at Animae; PHOTO BY JAMES TRAN
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