Putting together a Thanksgiving feast is not for the faint of heart. Why not outsource a few dishes—or the entire meal—to the pros? Washington’s chefs are eager to brine your birds, dish up your sides, prepare your pies, and, in one case, fry turkeys for free.
901 New York Ave., NW
The feast: Take home a whole Southern-style feast or just the bird from this Louisiana-inspired eatery. The Cajun-style turkey, with your choice of giblet or eggplant gravy, comes with four sides—think sweet potato purée, oyster stuffing, or collard greens—plus a pumpkin or pecan pie and biscuits with house-made pepper jelly.
Serves: Eight for $175; individual sides $12 each; 16- to 18-pound turkey $105.
Details: Place your order by 5 on November 20 pick up between 11 and 1 on November 27.
3201 New Mexico Ave., NW
The feast: This Italian four-course meal includes butternut squash half-moon pasta, and a sausage and chestnut-stuffed turkey, with an apple bread pudding to top it all off.
Serves: Portions vary by order, $35 per person.
Details: Place your order before November 25 to have your feast ready for pickup on November 26.
Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery
1515 N. Courthouse Rd., Arlington
The feast: Grab Louisiana-style sides, sweets, and snacks to round out your meal, from spicy candied pecans to bourbon-chocolate chip pies, buttermilk biscuits, and a range of savory dishes (dirty rice and mac and cheese should do just fine).
Serves: Prices and portions vary by order.
Details: Order by phone 48 hours before pickup, which is offered before 1 on November 26. Orders placed before Thursday, November 13, receive a 10-percent discount.
4883 MacArthur Blvd., NW
The feast: One of the largest Thanksgiving catering restaurant menus boasts everything from fresh turkeys to seasoned birds, spiral-cut ham, oysters, starters such as mini crabcakes, sides, and dessert.
Serves: Prices and portions may vary by order.
Details: Order between now and November 23 to have your feast scheduled for pick up on November 26.
1201 24th St., NW
The feast: Take the Thanksgiving meal up a notch with this gourmet spread, including a 10- to 12-pound roasted free-range turkey, freshly baked bread, and four sides, such as cornbread stuffing with chorizo and cauliflower gratin, and—if you still have room—both an apple and a pumpkin pie.
Serves: Six to eight ($350).
Details: Place your order online by November 21 at 5, and your feast will be ready for pick up November 26 from 1 to 5, or November 27 from 11 to 2.
301 Water St., SE
The Feast: Buttercream Bakeshop’s pastry chef/owner Tiffany MacIsaac teams up with Ice Cream Jubilee for a sweet Thanksgiving pop-up. Pies, take-and-bake scones, ice cream sandwich kits, and more can be preordered, and you can also snag pints of festively flavored ice cream such as salty apple-cinnamon and pumpkin-honeycomb.
Serves: Prices and portions vary by order.
Details: Pickup on Thursday, November 20, from noon to 7; Tuesday, November 25, from noon to 6; Wednesday, November 26, from noon to 3:30. See page for preordering information.
425 Seventh St., NW
The feast: A traditional family-style affair to-go (or eat-in), which includes an 18-pound bird and sides like sweet potatoes with marshmallows.
Serves: Eight for $239.95 (or about $30 per person).
Details: Call for pick-up and order information.
Multiple Locations
The feast: Dine on a spread of orange-glazed turkey with chicken sausage and sour cherry stuffing, roasted garlic and buttermilk mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, green beens with caramelized shallots, port wine cranberry sauce, and a pumpkin pie.
Serves: Serves four ($120).
Details: Order online for pickup at any Chef Geoff’s location on Thanksgiving Day between noon and 5.
800 16th St., NW
The feast: Display a pretty pie from pastry chef Josh Short, which comes with a marble-and-glass display stand and recipe. Choose from three options: a Virginia sweet potato and italian meringue tart, Texas pecan tart with Catoctin Creek brandy cream and chocolate leaves, and Virginia honey-apple tart with cranberries, rolled oats streusel, and caramel.
Serves: Eight, depending on slice size, for $50 (includes the stand).
Details: Place orders the evening prior to pickup, November 27 through 30.
410 Seventh St., NW
The feast: Choose between two BBQ pick-up packages: the “rancher’s feast,” which includes five house sides, a nine-inch pie, and a pit-smoked turkey, or the “governor’s banquet,” which adds three additional sides, a pie, and skillet cornbread to the deal. Items are also available a la carte.
Serves: The rancher’s feast serves five to eight ($210), and the governor’s banquet feeds nine to 12 ($300).
Details: Call by November 22 to place your order for pickup on November 26 from 3 to 5, or Thanksgiving Day from 9 to noon.
Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab
750 15th St., NW
The feast: Leave dessert to Joe’s this year, choosing from their selection of ten pies, including sweet potato-pecan, pumpkin chiffon, and key lime.
Serves: Pies are $29.95 each.
Details: Place your order 24 hours prior to pickup.
2201 14th St., NW
The feast: Chef Mike Isabella caters a Mediterranean-style with spit-roasted rotisserie turkeys, lemony potatoes, charred Brussels sprouts, and Greek mac and cheese with feta and dill.
Serves: Turkeys, sides, and desserts ordered separately (prices vary).
Details: Place your order by November 23, and pick up on Thanksgiving Day between 9 and noon.
5520 Connecticut Ave., NW
The feast: Bring some southern comfort to the table with Macon Bistro & Larder’s “Thanksgiving kit,” which includes three sides, such as mac and cheese and collard greens. Biscuits and pies can also be added to the order.
Serves: Four ($40). Biscuits ($20) and pies ($25 each) may be added.
Details: Order over the phone by November 21 for pickup on November 25 or 26.
515 Eighth St., SE
The feast: Medium Rare owner Mark Bucher moves his free deep-frying turkey tradition to Barracks Row this year. Complimentary hot cider, coffee, and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade viewing will be available during your wait.
Serves: It’s BYO turkey (eight to ten pounds), and the frying is free. Just make sure it’s fully defrosted beforehand, and that you have a container to bring it home in.
Details: Stop by on Thanksgiving Day between 11 and 2 for first come, first fry service.
1612 14th St., NW
The feast: Pick up Addie’s dinner rolls or pies, available in flavors like Key lime, pecan, apple, and sweet potato.
Serves: 6 to 8 ($25-$30). Rolls are $8 for a dozen.
Details: Order online by November 24 for pickup on November 25 and 26.
963 Palmer Alley., NW
The feast: Get a taste of CityCenter’s new sweet shop prior to opening with pastry chef Meredith Tomason’s holiday catering lineup. Thanksgiving specials include a morning breakfast spread with the likes of pumpkin crumb cake and cider doughnuts, plus festive three-, six-, or nine-inch cakes such as a vanilla bean variety filled with cranberry compote and topped with orange-blossom icing.
Serves: Three-inch cakes are $6, six-inch cakes are $50, and nine-inch cakes are $70. Breakfast serves ten ($70) or 16 ($95).
Details: Orders must be placed by phone (202-499-0077) or e-mail (info@raresweets.com) by 4 on November 21.
Red Apron and Buzz Bakery
Multiple locations
The feast: Red Apron’s Nathan Anda has collaborated with Fields of Athenry to bring free-range heritage turkeys to your table, along with pork roast, charcuterie boards, and riffs on traditional sides such as garlic confit fingerling potatoes and cranberry mostarda. Sister bakery Buzz supplies the likes of bourbon-pecan pie.
Serves: The turkey ranges in size from eight to 20 pounds ($9 per pound). Buy it brined for $10 a pound. Price and portion for side items vary based on order.
Details: Preordering online (which ends at noon on November 25) is recommended. Pickup is available at Red Apron’s Union Market, Penn Quarter, and Mosaic District locations November 25 through 27.
2275 L St., NW
The feast: Choose from chef Ris Lacoste’s 19 sides and 11 sweets, available for pickup at her restaurant. Take home a quart of butternut squash soup or sweet potato and sherried onion gratin, or try a pumpkin, pecan, or apple pie.
Serves: Prices and portions vary by order.
Details: Fill out the online form or order by e-mail by November 23 to have your sides and sweets ready for pickup on November 25 to 26 from 2 to 5.
277 S. Washington St., Alexandria
The feast: Chef Cathal Armstrong offers a locally sourced, full Thanksgiving meal for those dining a deux. Pop the seasoned and stuffed turkey breast into the oven, and warm generous pints of mashed potatoes, bacon-roasted Brussels sprouts, green bean casserole, and more.
Serves: Two for $85 (note: wine sold separately).
Details: Pick up on November 25 or 26 between noon and close.
Caroline Cunningham joined Washingtonian in 2014 after moving to the DC area from Cincinnati, where she interned and freelanced for Cincinnati Magazine and worked in content marketing. She currently resides in College Park.
