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“The Strong Buzz Guide to a Stress-Free Thanksgiving Dinner”

The holidays can be stressful. For New Yorkers, the prospect of walking into a cramped and hot kitchen with piles of dirty dishes looming is enough to put the kibosh on planning Thanksgiving dinner. But there’s a reason we love New York. Whether you’re looking for a traditional turkey dinner, an ethnic twist to the meat-and-potatoes menu, a vegetarian alternative, a cozy restaurant space to gather, the options are plenty, or a fully-made dinner to go, we’ve got your Thanksgiving answers. At The Strong Buzz we’ve done the homework so you can sit back and enjoy the food and drinks with family and friends. All you have to do is dial a few digits or click the mouse a few times. No sweat!

—Bao Ong

James
Where: 605 Carlton Ave., at St. Marks Ave., Prospect Heights, Brooklyn
What’s for dinner: This gem in the trendy Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn lures local residents as well as Manhattanites with its seasonal-American fare. Owners Bryan Calvert and Deborah Williamson will hold three seatings (2, 5 and 8 p.m.) for a three-course prix fixe with dishes to share ($75). The menu – with its Old-World European influences – includes roasted turkey with turkey confit with cranberry relish and sweet potato puree, grilled quail with sage polenta and balsamic reduction and pumpkin cheese with cinnamon crème fraiche. If the initial rave reviews are any indication, reservations are encouraged.
Phone: 718-942-4255
Web site: www.jamesrestaurantny.com
 
Bombay Talkie
Where: 189 9th Ave., near 22nd St.
What’s for dinner: You don’t have to go to Mumbai (as Bombay is known today) to put an East Indian twist on Thanksgiving. Bombay Talkie creator/owner Sunitha Rao melds her New York City sensibilities with her Indian roots at this sleek Chelsea restaurant. For $50 a person, a prix fixe menu includes items such as curried yams and a turkey breast rubbed in garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander and chili.
Phone: 212-242-1900
Web site: www.bombaytalkie.com

Spitzer’s Corner
Where: 101 Rivington St., at Ludlow St.
What’s for dinner: Despite the Lower East Side’s quick ascent from edgy artist quarters to yet another gentrified Manhattan neighborhood, some still embrace its colorful history of immigrants and the working class. So it’s only fitting that chefs Wayne Nish and Sung Park stuck to a traditional prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner – at only $24 a guest, the same price Manhattan was purchased for circa 1624. This popular American gastropub plans to serve free-range turkey breasts with all the trimmings (house-made stuffing, maple-glazed sweet potatoes and yams, pumpkin pie).
Phone: 212-228-0027
Web site: www.spitzerscorner.com

Beacon
Where: 25 W. 56th St., between 5th and 6th Avenues
What’s for dinner: Chef and co-owner Waldy Malouf is giving Thanksgiving a homey feel. Literally. The four-course menu ($79 per person excluding beverage, tax and 20 percent service charge; children age 5 to 8 eat for $38 and children under four are free) features a New York state “bourbon red” heirloom turkey. But if you can’t stand to see another turkey, you’re in luck because this restaurant specializes in open fire cooking and other options include wood-roasted herb crusted salmon and a Catskill mountain trout.
Phone: 212-332-0500
Web site: www.beaconnyc.com
 
Telepan
Where: 72 W. 69th St., near Columbus Ave.
What’s for dinner: Chef Bill Telepan rolled out a menu for his mother’s birthday this month by re-creating some of her favorite dishes. She’d be proud of this Thanksgiving menu, too. With his focus on fresh and local ingredients, Telepan is offering a three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner ($79 per person, $40 for children 12 and under) with the classic turkey offerings but also adds special touches like the seared duck breast with pomegranate, black and gold rice, duck confit and baby turnips.
Phone: 212-580-4300
Web site: www.telepan-ny.com
 
Savoy
Where: 70 Prince St., at Crosby St.
What’s for dinner: If you’re looking for a cozy Thanksgiving gathering, a wood-burning hearth is perfect. Executive chef Peter Hoffman will offer a four-course menu ($85 per person, $50 for kids age 12 and under) that includes Peconic Bay scallops with Meyer lemon butter and brussels sprout leaves and a deep dish pumpkin pie in addition to a roast turkey breast with wild mushroom stuffing.
Phone: 212-219-8570
Web site: www.savoynyc.com
 
Fleur de Sel
Where: 5 E. 20th St., between Broadway and Fifth avenues
What’s for dinner: Anything in French sounds classy. Anyone who’s stepped into Fleur de Sel would agree with its gentle lighting, exposed brick walls and tasteful decor. Executive chef Cyril Renaud is offering three-and-five-course menus ($85 and $102 per person, respectively) with his French flair: a duck confit croquette with celery root veloute and apple salad, and a butter poached turkey breast with buckwheat galette stuffed with chestnuts and foie gras are just some of the offerings.
Phone: 212-460-9100
Web site: www.fleurdeselnyc.com

Pure Food and Wine
Where: 54 Irving Place, at 17th St.
What’s for dinner: For vegetarians and vegans, Thanksgiving can be a nightmare. Not so at Pure Food and Wine, where executive chef Neal Harden and pastry chef Jana Keith Jennings deliver some of New York’s best raw and vegan food. Guests can celebrate with a four-course menu focused on seasonal freshness in the dining room or in the tented and heated garden from 12:30 to 8:30 p.m. with reservations. You won’t have to worry about that post-turkey drowsiness when you can feast on treats like a trio of beet raviolis: golden beet with black pepper chevre, candy beet with cilantro walnut pesto and chiogga beet raviolis with cremini mushroom duxelle. A take-home banquet is also available for order.
Phone: 212-477-1010
Web site: http://purefoodandwine.com
 
Fireside
Where: 19 E. 52nd St., at Madison Ave.
What’s for dinner: The folks at Fireside know holding Thanksgiving in your miniscule New York apartment is virtually impossible, so they’re hoping you join them for a “Pilgrim Dinner” instead. At $58 per person (before tax and gratuity), diners can enjoy a four-course meal at the classy Omni Berkshire Place. Chef Sam DeMarco plans to offer the pilgrim dinner (including turkey with a chestnut brioche stuffing) family-style. And for those with a sweet tooth, the pie bar (offering pumpkin, apple and pecan) is a must.
Phone: 212-754-5011
Web site: www.fireside-nyc.com
 

 

Clinton St. Baking Company
Where: 4 Clinton St., between East Houston and Stanton
What’s for dinner: You’ve waited hours to snag a table for a weekend brunch to step into this cozy Lower East Side restaurant, where everyone seems to rave about the pancakes. You won’t have the time on Turkey Day but you can still devour the baked goods coming out of Neil Kleinberg and DeDe Lahman’s kitchen at your table. Thanksgiving to go options include: apple crumb, maple-bourbon pecan and pumpkin pies for $24 to $26 and serve six to eight. The popular mini-buttermilk biscuits are also available. Orders are being taken through November 25 and pies must be picked up by 10 p.m. Wednesday, November 26.
Phone: 646-602-6263
Web site: www.greatbiscuits.com

Hill Country
Where: 30 W. 26th St., between 6th Ave. and Broadway
What’s for dinner: Some patrons swear this barbecue joint comes straight out of Texas with its smoky brisket specialty. This year you can bring Hill Country’s dry rub barbecue from pitmaster Pete Daversa and executive chef Elizabeth Karmel to your table. The Thanksgiving Feast ($255, excluding tax) feeds 9 to 12 people and includes a 14 to 16 pound whole pit-smoked turkey with sides of sweet potato bourbon mash, a ginger snap pumpkin pie and more. A 10-pound turkey to feed a smaller crowd is also available (at $90) and sides can be ordered a la carte. Orders must be placed by Monday, November 24.
Phone: 212-255-4544
Web site: www.hillcountryny.com

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Posted: November 12, 2008

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