A Last-Minute Guide to Dining In Brooklyn on Thanksgiving
If you eat out, you won’t have to chop this.
Being that Brooklyn is so thickly settled by transplants, it’s not a given that everyone can make it home for the holidays. But if you’re left floundering for backup at the last minute (and when it comes to Thanksgiving, any post-Halloween plans qualify as last minute), you’re right to assume that your options are dwindling by the day. So save yourself the stress of finagling a ten-pound turkey into your toaster oven, and check out our guide to quality restaurants gamely hosting the big meal (that haven’t taken the opportunity to price gouge), as well as options for celebrating in your apartment without so much as chopping an onion or dirtying a dish, from a barbecue blowout courtesy of Hill Country, to a meat-free feast from The Cinnamon Snail.
If you eat out, you won’t have to peel these!
WHERE TO DINE IN
Vinegar Hill House: Considering how long it takes to wind your way to secluded, public transit-deprived Vinegar Hill, you might as well be going over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house. It’s astonishingly easy to forget you’re in Brooklyn as you totter down the cobblestone streets, in search of dishes cooked in cast iron over an open fire—and if staunchly traditional heritage cuisine is what you’re after, the prix fixe at Vinegar Hill House (for $85pp), won’t disappoint. Think roasted turkey with mushroom, giblet and chestnut stuffing, sweet potatoes with orange preserve and cardamom, and brussels sprouts with bacon and apple, accompanied by brioche rolls, cranberry chutney, and pecan and pumpkin pies with whipped cream.
72 Hudson Avenue, Vinegar Hill
Palo Santo: Tucked into the ground floor of an elegant Park Slope brownstone, dining at Palo Santo already feels like you’re visiting some bougie, erudite relative (we have a few). Except the convivial, pan-Latin restaurant itself isn’t quite so buttoned up, which is well reflected in the unusual five-course Thanksgiving menu—choose from options like fried avocado tacos, rock shrimp chowder, turkey mole poblano and spicy chocolate torte, for $75pp.
652 Union Street, Park Slope
iCi: Also nestled in a graceful 19th century townhouse, complete with ivy-cloaked backyard and lush parlor on the second floor, iCi has brought the South of France to a stately corner of Fort Greene. So for a très jolie Thanksgiving, make reservations for their $65pp holiday spread, featuring olive oil whipped brandade, Violet Hill Farm turkey, poached pear with cranberry compote, and mignardises (assorted tiny pastries and sweets). Also consider springing for the thoughtful beverage pairings, which include muscadet or Farnum Hill cider, followed by sherry, rose and pinot noir.
246 Dekalb Avenue, Fort Greene
Frankie’s 457/Prime Meats: The Franks are hosting Thanksgiving at both of their Carroll Gardens restaurants this year, each serving identical menus for $51pp. So it’s up to you if you’d rather dine on butternut squash soup, turkey with pretzel stuffing and apple pie crumble at Frankie 457’s glossy tin and brick flagship (if the weather holds, it also boasts a super-sized backyard), or Prime Meats’ Teutonic, dark wood-paneled speakeasy, where extra credit goes to their notable cocktail program.
457 Court Street and 465 Court Street, Carroll Gardens
If you order from Hill Country, your dinner will look like this
WHERE TO TAKE OUT
Hill Country Brooklyn: As long as you place your order by the end of this week, you won’t even need to lift a finger when it comes to food prep this Thanksgiving. Available for take-out in two sizes—The Ranchers Feast for 5-8 ($210) and The Governors Banquet for 9-12 ($300)—Hill Country’s all-in assortment includes a whole pit-smoked turkey, skillet cornbread, sides like Texas toast stuffing, green bean casserole and Longhorn cheddar mac & cheese, and bourbon pecan, caramel apple streusel or classic pumpkin pie for dessert.
hillcountrybk.com
Farm to People & Quinciple: Among the many benefits of Farm to People and Quinciple’s recent merger, is the fact that you can now get your entire Thanksgiving shopping list delivered straight to your door. So if the only thing keeping you from preparing the spread yourself is the thought of braving the holiday-induced crush at grocery stores, know that a press of a button will result in pasture raised turkeys, fresh from the farm sweet potatoes and sprouts, and a “Thanksgiving Bundle” of sauces and such, including pumpkin butter, maple walnuts and vanilla bean-speckled marshmallows.
farmtopeople.com
The Farm on Adderley: In addition to serving a three-course prix fixe for $55pp in the restaurant, The Farm on Adderley is also offering entire meals to go. So instead of defaulting to an at-home repast of Marie Callender pot pie, choose between starters like celery root soup and smoked duck with Muscat grapes, mains such as roasted Lancaster turkey and vegetarian shepherds pie, and sweets including chocolate bread pudding with banana cream and an apple upside down tart.
thefarmonadderley.com
The Cinnamon Snail: Taking charge of the Thanksgiving meal is tough enough, but what if you’re dealing with the dietary needs of a group of picky vegans? If you touch base with Cinnamon Snail by November 20th, they’ll happily do the heavy lifting for you, and will prepare animal and/or gluten-free feasts for only $23pp, featuring pecan sage crusted seitan, rosemary roasted root vegetables, and parsnip bread pudding, along with a la carte extras like white truffle mac & cheese and maple butternut squash soup. There’s even a line of Thanksgiving donuts, including mulled cider, bourbon fig, pumpkin pie, spiced rum, and rosewater toasted pistachio with a cardamom glaze!
cinnamonsnailthanksgiving.formstack.com
