UPDATE: This list is from 2014!
CLICK HERE to view the 2017 List!
Ah, Thanksgiving: traditionally filled with family, friends, food and the joy of continually mounting stress levels. If for whatever reason you’ve decided to stray from the whole ‘home cooking’ part of the holiday, we’ve got you covered: here’s a list of restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day where you can escape the pressure of roasting a bird, deep-cleaning the house and tolerating all 26 of your extended relatives at once. Just remember to give the front of house a ring as soon as possible – turkey day restaurant reservations fill up fast. (If there are restaurants that we’ve missed, feel free to add them in the comment section below!)
Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant – The elegant Cooper’s Hawk will be serving up a Thanksgiving feast for lunch and dinner, including slow-roasted Amish turkey, pan gravy, potatoes, herb stuffing, house-made cranberry sauce, and spiced pumpkin cheesecake with vanilla whipped creme. Wine flights will be available for $14.99 each.
Location: Easton Town Center, 4230 The Strand
Price: $24.99 adults, $9.99 children
Hours: 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
www.coopershawkwinery.com
Latitude 41 – A dinner buffet will be available at Latitude 41, including roasted turkey and spiced rubbed pork loin, Watershed bourbon glazed sweet potatoes, smashed red potatoes, butternut squash soup, roasted carrots, apple pie cheesecake, and more. This is probably the most sustainable buffet you can attend, with all-natural ingredients, locally sourced wine and spirits, and a decent selection of Columbus craft beers.
Location: 50 North 3rd Street
Price: $35 adults, $14 children
Hours: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
www.latitude41restaurant.com.
Hae-Paul’s – The Downtown Korean-American fusion restaurant will be open from Noon to 4pm for Thanksgiving Day service, featuring their standard menu: Jap Chae, Bulgogi, Korritos and Kimchee Burgers. Not your typical Thanksgiving meal, but delicious nonetheless.
Location: 79 South Fourth Street
Price: $10-15 per entree
Hours: Noon to 4pm
www.hae-pauls.com
The Barn – A Thanksgiving Celebration Buffet will be hosted at Cameron Mitchell’s newest restaurant in Gahanna. Their four carving stations (carving, main, cold and dessert) will include turkey, fried chicken, blackened catfish, corn on the cob, twice-baked potatoes, trout and crab dip, and more. Pair your dinner with one of their 50 top-notch bourbon selections and relax in their spacious wood-lined dining space.
Location: 1370 E. Johnstown Road
Price: adults $39.99, kids $19.99 (children 4 and under free)
Hours: Noon – 8 p.m.
www.thebarncolumbus.com
Buca di Beppo – Family-style Italian restaurant Buca di Beppo will be serving a traditional sit-down turkey and ham dinner, including mashed roasted garlic potatoes, spicy Italian sausage stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. If you’d rather take all of the above home, Buca’s Thanksgiving Feast To-Go will send you off with a festive “party pan” of food. Half a pan will serve 10 people for $159.99, while a full pan will feed 20 people for $299.99.
Location: 343 North Front Street
Price: $53.99 for small (serves 3), $98.99 for large (serves 6)
Hours: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
www.bucadibeppo.com
Lindey’s – If a fine dining experience is what you’re searching for on Thanksgiving day, look no further than the quietly elegant Lindey’s. Move from appetizers like oysters Rockefeller and butternut squash soup to entrees of sea bass in champagne caviar vinaigrette, sweet potato ravioli, or maple-brined turkey. Just a few of the sides included are apple rosemary brioche stuffing, cinnamon-roasted sweet potatoes, and roasted brussel sprouts.
Location: 169 E. Beck Street
Price: $18 – $37 per entree
Hours: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
www.lindeys.com
The Refectory – The Refectory’s prix-fixe French take on Thanksgiving dinner includes roasted turkey breast and braised turkey leg with brandy bordelaise, pan-seared hanging tenderloin, and sauteed Lake Erie walleye, among other delicious dishes. Choose a wine from their extensive cellar, which holds over 700 bottles, to complement your meal.
Location: 1092 Bethel Road
Price: $39.95
Hours: reservations available 11:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
www.therefectoryrestaurant.com
Tucci’s – Dublin steak restaurant Tucci’s 3-course prix-fixe menu includes a nice selection of dishes, including pumpkin seed-crusted salmon, roast turkey, and pumpkin pie with bourbon whipped cream.
Location: 35 North High Street (Dublin)
Price: $35
Hours: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
www.tuccisdublin.com
Texas de Brazil – This Brazilian-American steakhouse chain will be open early offering a large Thanksgiving menu, including turkey carved tableside, along with their standard dinner menu.
Location: Easton Town Center 4040
Price: $31 – $60
Hours: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
www.texasdebrazil.com
Spagio – The seasonal Thanksgiving dinner menu at Spagio includes a variety of tasty dishes, including pumpkin and lobster bisque, an Amish farms oven-roasted turkey breast dinner, and sweet potato souffle.
Location: 1295 Grandview Avenue
Price: entrees $16 – $30
Hours: noon – 5 p.m.
www.spagio.com
Smith & Wollensky – Duck fat roasted veggies, herb-roasted turkey, and a variety of other traditional Thanksgiving dishes will be served at this Easton Town Center steakhouse alongside their regular dinner menu.
Location: 4145 The Strand West
Price: $49 adults, $20 children
Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
www.smithandwollensky.com
J. Liu – Check out J. Liu for an Asian-American inspired Thanksgiving. Pumpkin bisque, brined turkey and cranberry sauce will be served alongside crab rangoon, spicy chicken, and Lo Mein. The menu additionally caters to nut and gluten allergies.
Location: 6880 N. High Street (Worthington), 50 W. Bridge Street (Dublin)
Price: $10 – $40
Hours: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
www.jliurestaurant.com
Bel Lago Restaurant – Westerville’s waterfront Bel Lago will have a 3-course Thanksgiving feast with an entree choice of turkey or prime rib. Whipped potatoes, corn casserole, and pumpkin pies are also available.
Location: 170 N. Sunbury Road
Price: $32 – $36
Hours: 4 – 9 p.m.
www.bellagorestaurant.com
McCormick & Schmick’s – Upscale seafood chain McCormick & Schmick’s Easton Town Center location will serve a Thanksgiving roast turkey dinner featuring apple squash casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, veggies and cranberry sauce.
Location: 3965 New Bond St.
Price: $24.99 adults, $9.99 children
Hours: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
www.mccormickandschmicks.com
Mitchell’s Steakhouse – Reserve a spot at Mitchell’s and take a break from their usual steak offerings for a 3-course Thanksgiving dinner and their excellent wine list.
Location: 45 North 3rd Street
Price: $38.95
Hours: 4:30 – 10 p.m.
www.mitchellssteakhouse.com
Columbus Fish Market – The Columbus Fish Market will be taking a break from seafood and offering up a Thanksgiving feast including a starter, turkey with all the trimmings and delicious desserts like pumpkin creme brulee.
Location: 1245 Olentangy River Road (Grandview), 40 Hutchinson Avenue (Worthington)
Price: $27.99 adults, $6.99 children
Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
www.mitchellsfishmarket.com
China Dynasty – If high-quality buffet cuisine is more your Thanksgiving M.O. this year, head over to Upper Arlington for a massive Chinese-American spread that includes a herb-roasted turkey carving station alongside fried Japanese pumpkin and veggie tempura. Nosh on the egg rolls and sweet potato souffle and congratulate yourself on your dualistic holiday tastes.
Location: 1689 W. Lane Avenue
Price: $26 adults, $12.95 children
Hours: noon – 6 p.m.
www.chinadynasty-cmh.com
Where do you plan to spend your Thanksgiving this year? Share your story with us in the comments below!
Photo by M. Rehemtulla for QUOI Media Group via flickr.