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Boston Thanksgiving Dinner 2012

Best Places to Eat Thanksgiving Dinner in Boston

Thanksgiving 2012 Date:   Thursday, November 22 

Boston Thanksgiving dinner choices get better every year! 

There's no easy answer to the question, "Where is the best place to eat Thanksgiving dinner in Boston?" - it all depends on what you like.  

If you're planning Boston travel over Thanksgiving, you may staying at one of the many Boston hotels serving Thanksgiving dinner - be sure to check for special packages including dinner and perhaps other goodies such as tickets or discounts.  

Additionally, many other Boston restaurants serve Thanksgiving dinner, offering everything from fancy sit-down dinners to more lavish Thanksgiving buffets featuring tons of traditional as well as innovative choices. 

With top Boston restaurants and our talented chefs competing to see who can offer the best feast, you'll find plenty of choices!

Most important tip:  Make your reservations EARLY!!!

Please note:  Prices currently shown are from last year to give you an idea of general price ranges - please check back in October 2012 for updated prices.

Find out about more Thanksgiving weekend events

Boston Hotels Serving Thanksgiving Dinner

Most Boston hotels serve Thanksgiving dinner.  You'll typically find a mix of Boston locals as well as tourists, especially at those in the "destination" category - much easier than cooking this big, fancy meal at home! 

Like a number of other Boston restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner, hotel restaurants typically offer a prix-fixe menu, although usually with plenty of choices. 

Cafe Fleuri and BOND at the Langham Hotel

At the luxurious Langham, you can choose from two great choices: a lavish Thanksgiving Day brunch at Cafe Fleuri ($72 per adult, $30 for children 5-12, 4 and under complimentary) at 11am, 11:30am, 12 noon, 1:30pm, 2pm, and 4pm (617-451-1900 for reservations) or a 3-course prix-fixe dinner ($60 per adult) in the hotel's BOND restaurant/lounge at 6pm and 8pm (617-956-8756).  

Location:  250 Franklin St, Boston's Financial District.  Hotel Reservations:  Reviews and Rates

Beacon Hill Bistro at Beacon Hill Hotel

Even though Beacon Hill Bistro is part of Beacon Hill Hotel, it enjoys national fame for its cuisine while remaining a neighborhood favorite - quite a feat to pull off!  On Thanksgiving this year, Chef Richmond Eades will offer a delicious 3-course prix fixe menu ($57 per person) plus wine pairings from Beacon Hill Bistro's excellent cellar.  Location:  25 Charles Street, Beacon Hill.  Dinner reservations:  617-723-7575.  Hotel reservations:  Reviews and Rates

Boston Thanksgiving Brunch at Seaport Hotel's Aura

The Seaport Hotel's Aura Restaurant offers a wonderful Thanksgiving brunch featuring a huge range of options - everything from quiche Lorraine and eggs Benedict from the regular brunch menu to roast turkey breast, stuffed pork loin, cranberry-glazed turkey legs, turbot, and all the traditional accompaniments.

Best of all, kids may skip all of this and head right to the macaroni and cheese!  

A huge dessert buffet rounds out the feast.

By the time you've finished this memorable meal, you'll be giving thanks for Chef Rachel Klein's great Boston Thanksgiving cuisine!

Photo courtesy of Seaport Hotel.

Noon-4pm ($70 adults, $24 kids, children under 6 free).  Location:  One Seaport Lane, South Boston Waterfront ; Dinner reservations:  617-385-4300.  Hotel: Reviews and Rates

Brasserie Jo at The Colonnade - Thanksgiving Dinner with French Flavors

Enjoy a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner at popular French restaurant, Brasserie Jo at the Colonnade Hotel across from Prudential Center, or order the French version featuring turkey breast roulade and turkey leg confit.  ($7 soup, $19 American or French turkey entree with all the sides, $9 dessert).  Location:  120 Huntington Ave, Back Bay.  Dinner reservations:  617-425-3240.  Hotel reservations:  Rates and Review

Millennium Bostonian Hotel's North 26 - Thanksgiving Buffet

Celebrate the Thanksgiving Harvest Season at North 26 throughout November with the $26 Chef's Choice 3-course dinner.  On Thanksgiving Day, North 26 offers a delicious buffet from 12 noon - 5pm ($49 adults, $20 children).  Location:  26 North Street, Historic Downtown Boston.  Dinner reservations:  617-557-3640.  Hotel reservations:  Reviews and Rates

More Boston Thanksgiving Hotels

Thanksgiving Dinner at the Taj Boston Hotel

Thanksgiving Buffet at Omni Parker House Hotel

Ritz-Carlton Boston Common Thanksgiving Buffet Dinner

Boston Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner

In addition to hotel restaurants, many other Boston restaurants serve Thanksgiving dinner, and the numbers seem to grow each year. 

A number of Boston restaurants offer only a prix-fixe menu, usually with a couple of main course options in addition to roast turkey. 

Wine pairings may also be available; if so, they can be a great deal.

Hampshire House Prix-Fixe Thanksgiving Feast

Located in a Beacon Hill mansion upstairs from the original Cheers, Hampshire House offers special occasion dining only - including a sublime Thanksgiving Dinner.  The special 3-course prix-fixe menu includes your choice of a first course, main course including roast turkey, oven-roasted salmon and halibut, and grilled beef tenderloin with shrimp, and of course your choice of a traditional dessert.  12 noon - 6pm ($55 per person).  Location:  84 Beacon Street, Beacon Hill.  Dinner reservations:  617-227-9600

For more Thanksgiving options, check out Hampshire House's sister restaurant, 75 Chestnut

For a very different and unique-in-Boston dining experience, check out Hampshire House's occasional Dining in the Dark

Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse Thanksgiving Menu     

Davio's is where to go for flavorful free-range organic roasted turkey from Vermont, with all the traditional veggies, challah bread herb stuffing, homemade gravy, and cranberry apple chutney.  Best of all, you can get a turkey sandwich on your way out to enjoy on Friday.  12 noon - 8pm ($45 adults, $13 children under 12, $10 desserts, $12 turkey sandwich to go).  Locations 75 Arlington Street, Back Bay; 236 Patriot Place (next to Gillette Stadium) in Foxborough  Dinner reservations:  617-357-4810 (Boston); 508-772-7730 (Foxborough)

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Legal Seafood Thanksgiving Dinner     

Legal Seafood offers both traditional roast turkey or slow-roasted turkey breast with a special sausage stuffing for Thanksgiving dinner - but perhaps even better, you can also opt for stuffed lobster - or any of their other regular delicious offerings.  12 noon - 8pm in most Boston locations - check when you make reservations. 

Boston and Cambridge locations and reservations:
- Legal Harborside: 270 Northern Ave, South Boston Waterfront, 617-477-2900
- Long Wharf: 255 State Street, Downtown Waterfront, 617-742-5300
- Park Square: 26 Park Plaza, Park Square, Boston, 617-426-4444
- Prudential Center, Back Bay, Boston, 800 Boylston St, 617-266-6800
- Charles Square: 20 University Road at the Charles Hotel, Harvard Square, Cambridge, 617-491-9400
- Kendall Square, 5 Cambridge Center, Kendall Square, Cambridge, 617-864-3400

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Avila Turkey DInner

Known for its modern Mediterranean menu, Avila will offer a special Thanksgiving menu featuring roasted Vermont free-range organic turkey, challah bread herb stuffing and all the traditional vegetables, and yummy dessert choices including apple pie, pumpkin pie, and praline chocolate mousse. 

A kids menu for diners under 12 features turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy - but no veggies - every child's dream!  12 noon - 8pm ($45 adult, $13 children under 12, desserts $10, turkey sandwich to go $13). 

Location: One Charles Street South, Boston's Park Square neighborhood next to the Theatre District.  Dinner reservations:  617- 267-4810.

Top of the Hub Thanksgiving Feast

Panoramic Boston views from the 52nd floor of Prudential Center provide a sensational backdrop for Top of the Hub's Thanksgiving dinner. 

The 4-course prix-fixe menu offers four entree selections, including traditional roasted turkey, sweet potatoes, and dressing, but the hazelnet-crusted salmon, smoked rib eye, and slow-roasted pork loin sound equally tempting.  11am - 8pm, with live jazz from 4pm - 8pm ($62 adult, $25 children).  Location: 52nd floor, Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston Street; Back Bay.  Dinner reservations:  617-536-1775  More about Top of the Hub

Photo courtesy of May Wong

L'Espalier Thanksgiving Dinner

In keeping with L'Espalier's usual fine cuisine, the special 4-course Thanksgiving feast (including a vegetarian option) will be a meal to remember forever.  In addition to roasted free range Vermont turkey with special gravy and stuffing, you can choose other main course options (including vegetarian), along with superb choices for all other courses, all with special gourmet flourishes.  At $85 per person, this meal is actually a bargain; optional wine pairings will add to your pleasure.  1pm - 8pm.  Location:  774 Boylston St, Back Bay.  Dinner reservations:  617-442-4200

Thanksgiving Dinner at the Taj Boston

The Cafe at Taj Boston's 3-course Thanksgiving dinner for $80/person lets you choose an appetizer, entrée and dessert. 

For appetizers, choose from wild mushroom soup with truffle essence and shaved cured duck . . . sweet potato gnocci with spinach, prosciutto, and butternut squash coulis . . . baby lettuce with chevre, truffles, and white balsamic vinaigrette.

For your entrée, you can select apple cider-brined turkey with mushroom chestnut stuffing and onion sage gravy, lemon glazed grilled salmon with potato fennel puree, a vegetable medley, or grilled beef tenderloin with gratin potatoes and huckleberry juice.

And for dessert, start dreaming now about pumpkin cheesecake with a ginger spice crust or maple pecan tart with rum ice cream and chocolate sauce. 

This is the perfect way to jump-start your holiday shopping on Newbury Street on Friday . . . or just enjoy a relaxing, stress-free holiday weekend.  Hours: 12 noon - 9pm ($80 per person); Location: 15 Arlington Street, Back Bay, Boston; Reservations: 617-536-5700

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Boston Thanksgiving Musical Celebration at The Beehive

Thanksgiving dinner at The Beehive offers lots of traditional and innovative Thanksgiving choices, with plenty of delicious meat-free options for vegetarians.

This South End "cafe des artistes" offers an a la carte Thanksgiving menu so that you can mix and match to please your palate.  For the main course, choose from roasted farm raised turkey with mushroom brioche stuffing, prime rib with parsnip mashed potatoes, grilled wild Alaskan salmon, Moroccan Couscous (chicken/lamb or vegetarian) and a vegetarian Thanksgiving plate. 

In keeping with The Beehive's tradition of featuring local musicians, enjoy live jazz featuring female vocalists from noon - 1pm.

Hours: 1pm - 10pm, with a closing time of 2:30am. (Appetizers, not including raw bar $10-15; main course choices $21-30; children's items $8-12).  Location:  541 Tremont Street, South End.  Dinner reservations:  617-423-0069 

Deuxave's Thanksgiving Dinner 

Deuxave brings its contemporary American Nouveau Cuisine to traditional turkey to showcase local ingredients in a special 3-course holiday meal.  11am - 8pm ($75 per person; children's menu available).  Location:  371 Commonwealth Ave.  Dinner reservations:  617-517-5915

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Sel de la Terre - French Provençal Cuisine for Thanksgiving

Sel de la Terre offers a mouth-watering 3-course menu with French Provençal flavors - choose traditional roasted turkey with a stuffling-like bread pudding, sweet potato puree, and gravy for your main course, or go for the confit duck leg, vegetarian squash risotto, or salmon entrees.   11am - 11pm ($58 per person; half portions available for children at half price).  Location:  774 Boylston St, Back Bay; Dinner reservations:  617-266-8800

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Boston Thanksgiving Dinner at 75 Chestnut

Thanksgiving dinner at 75 Chestnut, a cozy slightly-off-the-beaten path neighborhood spot in Boston's Beacon Hill, will remind you of the delicious down-home meal that your mom might have made - if your mother is an accomplished chef.

You'll start with pumpkin bisque topped with roasted pecans and chevre.  Next comes the oven-roasted turkey - traditional enough until you taste the fabulous walnut stuffing, giblet gravy, and cranberry orange sauce.  Garlic mashed potatoes, butternut squash puree, and string beans with julienned veggies round out the main course.

Finish with your choice of desserts - apple and cranberry cobbler with cinnamon gelato, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and rum raisin pudding decked out with fresh berries and chocolate sauce.  12 noon - 6pm ($55 per person).  Location:  75 Chestnut Street, Beacon Hill.  Dinner reservations:  617-227-2175 - call after 5.

For more Thanksgiving options, check out 75 Chestnut's sister restaurant, Hampshire House

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Boston Thanksgiving Buffets

Boston Thanksgiving buffet dinners attract lots of enthusiastic diners.  You can have a slice of turkey for the sake of tradition, and then move on to other offerings like prime rib and seafood. 

Thanksgiving buffets in Boston tend to be especially lavish, and are a holiday tradition with a number of locals. 

Lavish Thanksgiving buffet at Omni Parker House

Omni Parker House Hotel in Downtown Boston, home to Parker's Restaurant offers a lavish 3-course Thanksgiving Brunch Buffet, with 2 seatings:  12 noon and 2:30pm.

Creative starters, entree choices of slow roasted turkey with herb stuffing, glazed ham, herb-crusted sirloin, and pan-seared salmon, and pumpkin ravioli with sage-brown butter sauce - plus plenty of traditional accompaniments - roasted autumn veggies, glazed sweet potatoes, creamed onions, and garlic mashed potatoes.

The mouth-watering dessert buffet includes pies and pastries, petite fours, apple cranberry crisp.  Be sure to try the famous Boston Cream Pie, invented here.

Brunch seatings at 12 noon and 2:30 pm (Adults $52; children 12 and under $19).  Location:  60 School Street, Historic Downtown Boston.  Dinner reservations:  617-725-1660.  Hotel reservations:  Check rates

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Ritz-Carlton Boston Common Thanksgiving Buffet Dinner

The splendid Thanksgiving buffets at the Ritz have become legendary among fans who return year after year.  Hosted in an elegant ballroom overlooking Boston Common, the buffet Thanksgiving feast offers carving stations for roast turkey and prime rib, a seafood station loaded with shrimp and other succulent shellfish, arrays of veggies and stuffing, and an outstanding dessert table.  Extras include live jazz and a special dessert decorating table for children.  Seatings at 12 noon, 12:30pm, 3pm, 3:30pm ($95 adult, $45 children 12 and under).  Location: 10 Avery St, overlooking Boston Common.  Dinner reservations:  617-574-7184

Turner Fishseries Thanksgiving Buffet

Although Turner Fisheries' sumptuous Thanksgiving Day Buffet offers traditional favorites such as roast turkey and prime rib, the real stars are the festive preparations of fresh seafood.  11:30am - 5pm ($67 adults, $20 children 5-12, children under 4 free).  Location:  10 Huntington Ave, at the Westin Copley Place Hotel, Back Bay; Dinner reservations:  617-424-7425

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More Boston Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner Buffets

Millennium Bostonian Hotel's North 26's Thanksgiving Buffet

Hotels in Boston with Thanksgiving Packages

Midtown Hotel

When you stay 3 nights or more over the Boston Thanksgiving weekend period, you get Thanksgiving for free!  

Use special package discount code THANKS11 in the Special Request line when making your reservations.  To get this discount, reserve through the hotel's website.  But be sure to also check rates and reviews through discounters to make sure you're getting the best deal!  Althought the Midtown doesn't have its own restaurant, walk down the block to Brasserie Jo's, or across the street to Top of the Hub at Prudential Center.

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Forgot to make reservations?  Hate turkey?  Tired of Pie?
Go for Thanksgiving dinner in Boston's Chinatown

Maybe you simply forgot to make Boston Thanksgiving reservations . . . or you didn't realize frozen turkeys must be thawed days in advance . . . or you popped your beautiful bird into the oven but accidently hit "clean" instead of "bake" (lesson learned: no more wine while cooking!). 

Or maybe you simply loathe turkey.   Or cringe at the thought of cooking all day on a "holiday." 

You can still have a fabulous, easy meal.  Head to Boston's Chinatown, the area of Downtown more or less bordered by Hudson Street/Surface road to the east, Downtown Crossing to the north, Washington Street to the west, and Kneeland Street to the south. 

Basically, you can pick any of the Chinese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, or other Asian restaurants in the neighborhood and celebrate Thanksgiving with a delicious non-turkey meal.  Order from the extensive menus - or order off-menu by simply asking the waiter, "What's good, what's fresh, today?" to try the chef's choice.

More ideas at Boston's Dim Sum Restaurants

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About Cost Information for Boston Thanksgiving Dinners

Please note that meal prices on this page do not include taxes, tips, or beverages.  Furthermore, prices can (and do!) change without our knowledge, so please confirm costs when making reservations if this is an area of concern.

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