What Hartford-area restaurants are serving for Thanksgiving? – Hartford Courant

Thanksgiving Day is upon us, the day to cook a feast and gather the family around. Increasingly, however, families are opting to let someone else cook the feast so everyone can appreciate the family time without cooking all day, cleaning up the mess or figuring out the leftovers.

Restaurants all over Connecticut are open for the holiday. Many offer a dine-in prix fixe meal with several entree options. (Translated: You don’t HAVE TO eat turkey if you don’t want to.) Other restaurants offer buffets, takeout options of an entire meal or just a takeout turkey, letting you cook the rest.

All of the dine-in restaurants require reservations. They fill up early, so act fast. Most prices listed don’t include tax and gratuity. Most restaurants have deadlines for cancellation. Check websites for specifics.

Carryout requires advance ordering. Orders must be placed by specific dates so restaurants can prepare. Orders can be picked up the day before Thanksgiving, with reheating instructions, or day-of.

This list is not all-inclusive, but it can be edited to add restaurants not on the list.

Mill on the River, 989 Ellington Road in South Windsor: Thanksgiving dinner is served 11:30 am to 5:30 pm, for $49.95 per person for a three-course meal. This price is good for parties of up to eight. Parties nine or larger can do the holiday buffet. In addition to turkey, entrees are ham, redfish, prime rib, pork loin, rigatoni, salmon, shrimp, eggplant and, for $7.95 more, sirloin or filet mignon. themillontheriver.com/thanksgiving.

Market Grid, 110 Buckland Hills Drive in Manchester: Thanksgiving dinner is served 11:30 am to 6 pm for $44.95 per person for a three-course meal. In addition to turkey, entrees are prime rib, scallops, chicken, pork chop, salmon, vegan linguine, rigatoni, cod and, for $5 more, filet medallions. marketgrillct.com.

Metro Bis, 690 Hopmeadow St. in Simsbury: Thanksgiving dinner is served noon to 8 pm for $60 per person for a three-course meal. Children 10 and younger are $30, and children 3 and younger are free. In addition to turkey, entrees are short ribs, risotto and salmon. metrobis.com/thanksgiving-at-metro-bis-2.

Fleming’s Prime, 44 South Main St. in West Hartford: Thanksgiving dinner is served 11 am to 8 pm for $53 per person for a three-course meal with turkey as the entree. Other entrees are filet mignon ($68, $28 for kids) and bone-in ribeye ($78). For kids, mac and cheese is another entree option, for $16. The entire dinner menu is also available for a variety of prices. flemingssteakhouse.com.

Cafe Aura, 45 E. Center St. in Manchester: A three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving turkey dinner will be served noon to 6 pm, at $55 per person. In addition, an a la carte dinner menu will be offered, including entrees lobster gnocchi, seafood ravioli, truffle pappardelle, risotto, salmon, New York strip, filet mignon, short ribs, halibut, duck and branzino. cafeaura.com.

River: A Waterfront Restaurant and Bar, 100 Great Meadow Road in Wethersfield: An a la carte Thanksgiving menu will be offered 11:30 am to 6:30 pm Entrees include turkey ($27), eggplant parmesan ($20), short rib ravioli ($26), salmon ($30) , lobster ravioli ($40) and New York strip ($45). riverontheriver.com/thanksgiving-day-menu.

Millwrights, 77 West St. in Simsbury, offers a three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving meal, with seatings at 11 am and 1, 3 and 5 pm, for $72, $36 children younger than 12. Entrees include turkey, ham, New York strip, salmon and roasted squash. millwrightsrestaurant.com.

Artisan, 1 Memorial Road in West Hartford: A three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving diner is offered noon to 7 pm, for $79, $39 for 12 and younger, $17 for a kiddie menu. Entrees include turkey, halibut, New York strip and butternut squash. artisanwesthartford.com/menus/thanksgiving.

Gelston House Restaurant and Inn, 8 Main St. in East Haddam: A Thanksgiving prix fixe menu will be served 11 am to 7 pm, for $39.95. Children’s menus available for those younger than 12. Entrees include turkey, chicken, short ribs, cavatappi and cod. gelstonhouse.com.

Abigail’s Grille and Wine Bar, 4 Hartford Road in Simsbury: Thanksgiving dinner will be served 11 am to 6 pm, for $49.95 a person. Entrees are turkey, redfish, scallops, prime rib, rigatoni and lobster pasta. abigailsgrill.com.

Captain Daniel Packer Inne, 32 Water St. in Mystic: A prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner is offered for $58. Entrees include turkey, short ribs, duck risotto, salmon and veggie stir fry. danielpacker.com/menus/thanksgiving.

At Villa Louisa, 60 Villa Louisa Road in Bolton, has an all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving buffet with two-hour seatings at 11 and 11:30 am and 1:30 and 2 pm Price is $39.95, $19.95 10 and younger, 3 and younger free. Entrees include chicken casserole, turkey with gravy and pumpkin ravioli. The buffet also includes salads, pastries, quiche, potatoes, stuffing, squash, carrots, prime rib and desserts. avillalouisa.com.

Seasons Restaurant and Tap Room at Avon Old Farms Hotel, 279 Avon Mountain Road in Avon: A Thanksgiving buffet is offered for $68.95 a person, $21.95 for ages 5 to 12, 4 and younger free. Hours are 11:30 am to 3 pm Offerings are breakfast favorites, turkey, prime rib, shrimp, pumpkin ravioli, pork loin, salmon, and a variety of sides, appetizers and desserts. avonoldfarmshotel.com.

Simsbury Inn, 397 Hopmeadow St.: A Thanksgiving buffet is offered with seating at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm, for $68.95 a person, $23.95 for ages 5 to 12, free 4 and younger. Offerings include waffles, a soup station, chilled seafood station, baked brie, a salad station, a pie bar, other desserts and entrees including turkey, salmon, pork loin, ham, leg of lamb and sirloin strip. simsburyinn.com/dining/thanksgiving-day-buffet.

The Nutmeg, 297 Main St. in East Windsor: A Thanksgiving buffet will be served 11 am to 5 pm for $59.99 a person. Starters include turkey, ham, roast beef and roast pork. thenutmegct.com/thanksgiving.

Fire at the Ridge, 99 Powder Hill Road in Middlefield: Thanksgiving buffet dinner is served 11:30 am to 5 pm for $44 per person. Children 12 and younger are $24 and children 3 and younger are free. Entrees include turkey, filet mignon, rigatoni, eggplant parmesan, chicken. fireattheridge.com.

The Wharf at Madison Beach Hotel, 94 West Wharf Road: Thanksgiving brunch buffet is served 11 am to 5 pm, for $109 per person, $59 for kids, younger than 5 free, tax and gratuity included. All reservations must be prepaid. The buffet includes soups, salads, a raw bar, omelets, prime rib, turkey, rack of lamb, seafood stuffed sole, chicken, ham, mac and cheese, roasted squash, cheeses and sweets. thewharfmadison.com.

Saybrook Point Resort & Marina, 2 Bridge St. in Old Saybrook: A Thanksgiving Day buffet is offered 11 am to 4 pm for $89.95, $39.95 for kids. Entrees include turkey, prime rib, ham, swordfish, chicken, pork loin and mushroom ravioli. Also included are salads, soups, cheeses, fruit, rolls. saybrook.com/eat-drink/thanksgiving-day-dinner.

Griswold Inn, 36 Main St. in Essex: A Thanksgiving buffet will be served 11 am to 7 pm, for $60, $24 younger than 12, 6 and younger free. Entrees include turkey, prime rib, pork loin, cod. griswoldinn.com.

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Bear’s Smokehouse BBQ, with locations in Hartford, South Windsor, Windsor and New Haven: Takeout orders can be picked up on Nov. 23 from 2 to 7 pm or on Nov. 24 from 9 am to 4 pm The “Bear Feast,” at $185, feeds six to eight people and has one smoked turkey (12 to 14 pounds), gravy, potatoes, mac and cheese, creamed spinach, stuffing, cornbread. A dessert can be added for $10. One whole smoked turkey a la carte, with gravy, is $90. A variety of other entrees, appetizers and sides can be ordered. bearsbbq.com/thanksgiving-ct.

The Kitchen at Forge City Works, 559 Broad St. in Hartford: A dinner box ($150) has turkey, stuffing, gravy, mac and cheese, collard greens, Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, corn muffins, maple chess pie and cookies. An appetizer box ($45) has empanadas, pork pinchos and Spanish meatballs. A breakfast box ($45) has squash-kale-goat cheese quiche, French toast bake and guava coffee cake. A full Thanksgiving feast has all items from all three of those boxes. It is $225. All feed four to six people and must be picked up on Nov. 24. kitchencafe.org/holidays.

Black Eyed Sally’s Southern Kitchen & Bar, 350 Asylum St. in Hartford: Cajun deep-fried turkey dinners (12 to 14 pounds) with gravy, cranberry sauce and two traditional side dishes, are $190. Pickup on Nov. 23 from 11 am to 5 pm blackeyedsallys.com.

Cafe Louise, 1156 New Britain Ave. in West Hartford: Thanksgiving dinner packages can be ordered for $85 for two people, $170 for four or $325 for eight to 10. All include turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberry chutney, pie and three sides. Breakfast packages are available with quiche, fruit salad and tea breads. Pickup on Nov. 23 from 10 am to 3 pm

Max Restaurant Group has Thanksgiving dinners to go, with pickups on Nov.23 from 10 am to 4 pm at Savoy Pizzeria, 32 LaSalle Road in West Hartford, and from noon to 4 pm at Max Fish, 110 Glastonbury Blvd. in Glastonbury. Dinners can also be delivered within a limited radius. Sliced ​​turkey dinners for two to four people ($159), six to eight ($249), 12 to 14 ($399) are available as well as whole turkey dinners for six to eight ($240) or 12 to 14 ($369). All-white-meat sliced ​​dinners for two to four ($169), six to eight ($259) or 12 to 14 ($399) also are available. Meals include turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce, stuffing, rolls, pie and a variety of family shares. Other entrees are short ribs, prime ribs and fluke. Turkeys are sold alone, from $89 to $175 depending on size, sliced ​​and type of meat. maxrestaurantgroup.com/maxtogo.

Millwrights, 77 West St. in Simsbury: A takeout meal that serves four costs $200, with a choice of turkey, salmon, ham and sirloin, plus biscuits, salad, Brussels sprouts, squash, mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing cranberry sauce, gravy and strudel. It can be picked up Nov. 24 from 10 am to 2 pm millwrightsrestaurant.com.

Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com.