Roasted turkey surrounded by herbs and spices, bowls of buttery mashed potatoes, cheesy mac and cheese and fluffy dinner rolls cover our Thanksgiving tables every year, yet we never seem to appreciate the time and skill it takes to craft the perfect dinner.
We’re all too busy scarfing down slices of juicy turkey and spoonfuls of savory stuffing to realize how much of a pain it is for the chefs in our families to make the traditional dinner every year.
They have to deal with the constant nagging from hungry guests who want the dinner to magically appear on the table at the snap of their fingers and they have to be quick on their feet, pivoting when a pie is baked for too long or a sauce splits.
Instead of dealing with the stress of fixing a burnt apple pie this year, let the professionals deal with it.
Below is a list of local restaurants who are making the perfect turkey dinner with all the fixings, so you can take a break and have a relaxing holiday.
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Bashful Bandit BBQ
Get a 12-15-pound smoked turkey ($100) or a 7-pound brisket ($190) this Thanksgiving courtesy Bashful Bandit BBQ and available for pick-up between 9-11 a.m. Thanksgiving morning. A pint of barbecue sauce is $8!
For more information, see their Instagram and call 520-526-2368 to order.
Blue Willow
Local favorite Blue Willow is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thanksgiving Day with a set $48 menu that includes herb-roasted turkey breast, sage stuffing, roasted Brussels sprouts, cranberry-apple relish, mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, Hawaiian sweet rolls and pumpkin pie. Reservations are required.
If you'd rather dine at home, order by Nov. 25 for food to-go. Menu items are available a la carte.
For more information, see their Facebook page or call 520-327-7577.
Brother John’s Beer, Bourbon & BBQ
You can always count on Brother John’s to be open on Thanksgiving. This year, their dining area will be open from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and reservations are recommended. For $72, you’ll have three courses, which include starters like salads and squash soup, main courses like smoked turkey, ham and brisket and pumpkin and apple pie for dessert.
If you'd rather enjoy your meal at home, they are also offering Thanksgiving pick-up. You can buy a feast for six that includes a smoked turkey breast and all the usual fixings. You can also buy the smoked turkey breast or the sides separately.
For more information on their Thanksgiving menus, check out their website.
Charro Steak & Del Rey
Charro Steak will be serving up a three-course meal this Thanksgiving from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. First up is their salad which includes organic baby spinach, grilled butternut squash and marinated pink onions topped with candied Sahuarita pecans, mesquite-smoked goat cheese and an agave vinaigrette. For the entrée, they will be making a 100% all-natural, cage-free turkey featuring Chef Gary Hickey’s smoked ancho gravy and cranberry compote. To go with the turkey, they have various sides such as Chef Carlotta Flores’ corn tamal stuffing, roasted poblano mashed potatoes and ancho gravy and esquites Mexican-style street corn.
If you’ve saved room from dessert, you’ll get to pick from their pumpkin and hazelnut tamales and their homemade chocolate tres leches cake.
For more information on their menu, check out their website.
Cielos at Lodge on the Desert
From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, Cielos will be offering a buffet with loads of dishes that include ham, turkey and honey chipotle salmon, in addition to prime rib, pork loin, salads and a slew of sides.
The buffet is priced at $79 for adults and $29 for kids ages 12 and under. Kids ages 5 and under dine for free.
For more information on their menu, check out their website.
Cup Café
Who wouldn’t want to celebrate Thanksgiving in a place as cool as Hotel Congress?! The Cup Café will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., serving guests a three-course meal. For $65, you can choose from starters like soups and salads. Then you’ll move onto the main course, with choices like turkey, prime rib and vegetarian plates. Finally, you get to end your meal on a sweet note with either a slice of pumpkin pie or a chai tres leches cake.
For more information on their menu, check out their website.
Dedicated
Dedicated is known for their delicious gluten-free treats, but they also have savory options you can enjoy this Thanksgiving! They have breakfast options such as pumpkin bread, honey whipped cream cheese, cinnamon pull aparts and quiche. For the dinner table, they will be making turkey meals for two, dinner rolls, stuffing mix and gravy. The best part: they have vegan and plenty of gluten-free options!
You must place your order by noon on Nov. 25.
For more information on their menu, check out their website.
Feast
For over 20 years, Feast has been saving our holidays with their delicious meals. This year is no different. Since they are closed Thanksgiving Day, they are asking customers to place an order by Nov. 23 and they will have your meal ready on Nov. 27, complete with reheating instructions.
This year, the menu includes dishes like turkey breasts, legs and thighs, mashed potatoes, gravy, two types of stuffing, winter squash stew, roasted beets and bourbon pecan pie.
Check out their website for more information or call 520-326-9363 to place an order.
Flora’s Market Run
Whether you only have a small group for Thanksgiving or a huge one, Flora’s Market Run has you covered. You can buy a dinner for 4-6 guests for $145, a dinner for 8-10 guests for $225 or just the sides for $60.
Each dinner will include an herb-brined turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean almondine, gravy, cranberry sauce and dinner rolls. You can also add a bottle of wine to the meal for $22 or a classic pie for $23.
Check out their Instagram post for more information on their menu or call 520-771-9141 to place your order. Make sure to call by Nov. 21!
Govinda’s
Govinda’s is making sure that everyone is included at their dinner table. From noon to 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, Govinda’s will be serving up vegan Thanksgiving favorites. Their menu features dishes like organic tofu turkey, mashed potatoes with a carrot cashew gravy, quinoa stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean almondine, rice pilaf and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.
You’ll also be able to enjoy live music while you eat your meal and visit with the guest of honor Sufi, their pet turkey.
For more information on their menu, check out their website.
Hammbone’s Meat & Three
While they will be closed on Thanksgiving, Hammbone’s Meat and Three boasts a regular menu of pot roast, ham, pork chops, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, squash casserole, gravy, dinner rolls and various desserts. They also always have weekly specials that are perfect for those who may have a big family but are on a budget. You can order food for pick-up the week of Thanksgiving.
For more information on their menu, check out their website.
The Horseshoe Grill
At the Horseshoe Grill, you’ll be able to pick something up that everyone will love. Not only will they make smoked turkeys, but they will also have prime rib, brisket and pulled pork. They will also have all the classic sides such as mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and stuffing. For dessert, you’ll be able to pick up one of their house-made peach cobblers.
For more information on their menu, check out their website.
Lovin’ Spoonfuls
This beloved vegan spot will be open on Thanksgiving from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For $32, you’ll be able to enjoy their traditional vegan prix fixe, which includes a mock turkey with mashed potatoes and a mushroom burgundy gravy, candied yams, stuffing, corn, green beans, homemade cranberry sauce, mixed green salad and a homemade pumpkin pie.
You will have until Nov. 22 to make a reservation to either pick up the meal or save your spot at the restaurant.
For more information on their menu, check out their website or call 520-325-7766 to make a reservation.
Maynards
For $105, you’ll be able to enjoy Maynards' prix fixe Thanksgiving menu. You’ll start with your choice of butternut squash bisque or a fall salad. Next up, you can choose between turkey, salmon, pork collar or butternut squash risotto. To go with your entrée, they will also be serving sides like yams, stuffing, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, giblet gravy and cranberry sauce.
Lastly, you’ll get pumpkin pie mousse or a pecan pie sundae for dessert.
Maynards also has a Thanksgiving dinner to-go option available for $325 that serves 4-6 people.
For more information on their menu or to place your to-go order, check out their website.
Omni Tucson National
Open from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, enjoy brunch with holiday favorites like turkey, ham, stuffing and potatoes. You'll also find breakfast staples, salmon, red snapper and tri-tip.
Brunch is priced at $89 for adults, $39 for kids ages 6-12 and free for kids ages 5 and under. Reservations are required.
For more information on their menu, check out their website. Call 520-297-2271 to make a reservation.
Tucson Racquet Club
The Tucson Racquet Club will be offering in-person dining on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. or you can pick up a meal on Nov. 27 for $23.99. On their menu this year is roasted or smoked turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce with orange zest and your choice between their freshly made pumpkin or pecan pie.
If you plan on picking up your meal, you must place your order by Nov. 18.
For more information of their menu, check out their Instagram or call 520-795-6960 to place an order or reserve your spot.
Pies and dessert
There is something hypnotizing about seeing a golden crust filled with gooey chunks of apple and cinnamon, complete with a dollop of fresh whipped cream.
No matter how full you might be, once the pies come out, you magically have room for more, filling your plate with slices of creamy pumpkin pie and nutty pecan pie. Before you know it, you’ve scarfed it all down and are back up for seconds.
My colleague Cathy Burch and I just wrote a story that gives the scoop on local bakeries who are making delicious pies you can buy to help you “cheat” your way through Thanksgiving. You should definitely give it a read, but here’s a quick roundup of bakeries offering pie for the holidays.
- Pau’s Pan Dulce: check out her Instagram to place an order
- Nadines Bakery: 4553 E. Broadway
- Gourmet Girls: 5845 N. Oracle Road
- Kingfisher: 2564 E. Grant Road
- Ajo Café: 3182 E. Ajo Way
- Village Bakehouse: 7882 N. Oracle Road
- Rosebud Bakery: 844 S. Sixth Ave.
- Houlden’s Rise Above: 5029 E. Fifth St.
- Sydney’s Sweet Shoppe: 8969 E. Tanque Verde Road
- Back Dough: 6260 E. Speedway
- Holy Focaccia: check out her Instagram to place an order
Jamie Donnelly is the food writer for #ThisIsTucson. Contact her via e-mail at jdonnelly@tucson.com
