Just one more thing to be thankful for: a meal cooked by someone else. Forget slicing, dicing, basting, and clean-up thanks to these San Diego restaurants offering multi-course meals, prix fixe menus, and even buffets. They can’t guarantee an entirely stress-free turkey day, but at least someone else will do the dishes.
University Heights
Hope 46
Guests will walk away stuffed from this three-course meal including a choice of a winter harvest salad or roasted butternut squash soup; a choice of top sirloin, herb crusted turkey breast and thigh, or wild salmon; and a third course of either pumpkin pie or rustic fall apple tart. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Price: $49 for adults | $20 for children ages 3 to 11
Address: 2223 El Cajon Boulevard
Louisiana Purchase
Want to kick off the holiday early? Spend time with friends at Louisiana Purchase’s Friendsgiving Chef’s Table enjoying Chef Quinnton “Q” Austin’s take on Thanksgiving from the south.
Date: November 19
Time: 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Price: $100 per person
Address: 2305 University Avenue
Great Maple
Truck the whole family to this chic American eatery, where the following are on the menu: Spiced lobster bisque, marinated heirloom tomatoes, mini lump crab cakes, fresh roasted turkey, rosemary roasted prime rib, forest mushroom risotto, and sweet yams with toasted marshmallow. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: Brunch from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Dinner from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Price: $49 for adults | $15 for children 13 and under | $25 optional wine pairing
Address: 1451 Washington Street
La Jolla
The Marine Room
Options à la carte are endless at The Marine Room. Pick and choose appetizers, entrées, and sweets, including red walnut-crusted blue crab cake, Maine lobster bisque, ale-brined turkey breast, center cut filet mignon, heirloom carrot ginger risotto, gluten-free three-layered Callebaut chocolate mousse, salted caramel cheesecake, and espresso and vanilla bean cobblestone pie.
Date: November 28
Time: 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Price: Varies
Address: 2000 Spindrift Drive
Eddie V’s
Thanksgiving at Eddie V’s promises a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Got a picky eater who’s not in the mood for turkey? Their full dinner menu will be available as well. Reservations required.
Date: November 28
Time: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Price: $43 for adults | $15 for children
Address: 1270 Prospect Street
Mission Bay
Photo by Walter Wilson/Crave Imagery
Acqua California Bistro
All the fall flavors are found in this four-course meal: Spiced pumpkin soup, mushroom ravioli, butternut squash risotto, and of course roasted turkey. Reservations required.
Date: November 28
Time: 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Price: $63 for adults | $19 for children
Address: Hilton San Diego Resort and Spa, 1775 East Mission Bay Drive
Bahia Resort Hotel
Spend Thanksgiving at the Bahia, accompanied by live piano, views of Mission Bay, and festive fare—including two carving stations, salmon, pork loin, butternut squash ravioli, and seasonal desserts. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Price: $56 for adults | $25 for children ages 5 to 11 | Free for children under 5
Address: 998 W Mission Bay Drive
Pacific Beach
The Duck Dive
The Duck Dive’s traditional turkey dinner is served all day until supplies run out. Call to learn more about their holiday partnerships with Foster Kids of San Diego, the Polinsky Center, and San Diego Foster Angels.
Date: November 22
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Price: $15 for traditional turkey dinner
Address: 4650 Mission Boulevard
Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
Enjoy stunning views of Mission Bay and live acoustic guitar at the Catamaran’s annual Thanksgiving brunch buffet. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Price: $62 for adults | $25 for children ages 5 to 11 | Free for children under 5
Address: 3999 Mission Boulevard
Downtown
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
Del Frisco’s will showcase a premium three-course menu with favorites such as slow roasted turkey breast with apple-sausage stuffing and all the trimmings, plus seasonal dessert options like pecan pie à la mode. Reservations required.
Date: November 28
Time: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Price: $59 per person
Address: 901 Bayfront Court, Suite 105
Barleymash
Head down to the Gaslamp for a delicious three-courser. Pick your starter and dessert, then enjoy a main course of andouille-stuffed turkey roulade with garlic mashed potatoes, brown ale biscuit stuffing, Brussels sprout casserole and roasted baby carrots.
Date: November 28
Time: Begins at 2 p.m., call for availability
Price: $45 per person
Address: 600 Fifth Avenue
Hornblower
Take a three-hour cruise around San Diego Bay with a Thanksgiving dinner buffet, plus champagne, wine, cocktails and a DJ.
Date: November 28
Time: Boarding at 2:30 p.m.
Prince: $104 per person
Address: Board at 1800 N. Harbor Drive
Point Loma
Cesarina
Put an Italian spin on Thanksgiving with both Cesarina’s specialty and regular menus. They’ll be serving two Thanksgiving-inspired pastas including Lasagna Zucca e Tacchino and Ravioli Patate e Taccino. Or, go traditional with Arrosto di Taccino, thinly sliced roasted turkey with homemade demi, sweet potato mash, fagiolini all’agro and cranberry sauce. By the end, you’ll be saying “grazie“—guaranteed. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: Dinner served from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Price: Varies
Address: 4161 Voltaire Street
Vessel Restaurant + Bar
Vessel Restaurant + Bar will offer a family style buffet. Highlights include both traditional and non-traditional dishes from butternut squash bisque and whipped Yukon Gold potatoes to heritage roast turkey, stuffing, crispy BBQ baby back ribs, lobster rolls, and 1855 Black Angus prime rib roasts. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: $75 for adults | $25 for children 12 and under
Address: 1551 Shelter Island Drive
Adams Avenue
Et Voilà!
The French bistro guarantees something for everyone: adults, kids, wine lovers, and even those hard-to-please-around-the-holidays vegetarians. This three-course prix fixe dinner includes Thanksgiving classics as well as French dishes. For dessert, enjoy almond Tuile, raspberry coulis, pecan and cranberry tart, brown butter apple mousseline or cinnamon orange sorbet. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Price: $42 for adults | $19 for children | $18 optional wine pairing
Address: 3015 Adams Avenue
Blue Boheme
How about Thanksgiving en Français? All meals come with a starter, entrée, and dessert of choice. Indulge in classic wines or indulge in the special cocktail, The Pumpkin Pie Martini, crafted with Absolut vanilla vodka, pumpkin spice liqueur, Kahlua, butterscotch schnapps, and a crushed graham cracker rim. Reservations recommended.
Date: November 28
Time: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Price: $65 for adults | $19.95 for children 12 and under
Address: 4090 Adams Avenue
Multiple Locations
BoBeauOB | Photo courtesy of Cohn Restaurant Group
Cohn Restaurant Group
From smoked turkey breast to shrimp and bacon mac and cheese, Cohn Restaurant Group owns and operates over 20 restaurants participating in Thanksgiving fun, including: Coasterra, Island Prime C-Level, The Prado, Vintana, Indigo Grill, and BO-beau kitchen + bar. Check out Cohn Restaurant Group for more details. Reservations recommended.
Thanksgiving brunch at the Catamaran | Photo courtesy of Evans Hotels