Despite temperatures that feel more like spring than fall, Thanksgiving is approaching. Whether you’re looking to dine out, take and bake or supplement your Thanksgiving spread, restaurants around Madison have options to suit a variety of needs.
Planning ahead is crucial, as limited pickup times and reservations fill up quickly. Beyond traditional turkey-based meals, many international restaurants around Madison have confirmed they will be open on Thanksgiving. Among them: Swagat, Dhaba Kitchen, Taste of Sichuan, Hot Pot 608, Edo Japanese/Oishi, Madistan Indian Resturant, Rajni Indian Cuisine, Zen Ramen Lounge and RuYi Hand Pulled Noodle.
The restaurants below are not an exhaustive list. The days and hours listed were verified at the time of publication, but information is subject to change at the restaurant’s discretion. Double-check the schedule of anywhere you plan to order from — and don’t forget to be kind to the staff.
In addition to these specials, many grocers like Brennan’s Market are offering pre-made dishes, and many chain restaurants are open on Thanksgiving. Got a local Thanksgiving special that’s not listed here? Contact the Cap Times at lchristians@captimes.com.
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Cuts of roasted turkey are arranged in disposable baking pans as Thanksgiving meals are prepared in the kitchen at Heritage Catering in Fitchburg.
RUTHIE HAUGE
Heritage Catering
5957 McKee Road, Fitchburg
For years now, Heritage Tavern’s decadent Thanksgiving feast has set the standard for take-and bake dinners in Madison. This year’s menu serves five and is anchored by a deconstructed bird: juniper-and-herb roasted turkey breast, confit turkey thighs and smoked turkey drumsticks, in a riesling turkey gravy. There are lighter sides — a creamy apple/ market vegetable slaw, market greens — and more substantial ones, like a pecan/cherry stuffing with Willow Creek Farms Italian sausage and maple candied sweet potatoes in a cranberry gastrique. Round out the meal with brioche buns and pumpkin pie, all for $325. Those who want to do more of their own cooking can get just the main meat, like a brined free-range turkey, a bone-in half ham or a porchetta roast. Pick up in Fitchburg on Nov. 27.
Pasture & Plenty is located at 2433 University Ave. Go local with a turkey from Riemer Family Farm as part of the “local love” dinner crate from this cafe, meal pick up spot and makerspace on the near west side.
BECK HENRECKSON
Pasture and Plenty
2433 University Ave.
Go local with a turkey from Riemer Family Farm as part of the “local love” dinner crate from this cafe, meal pickup spot and makerspace on the near west side. A 14-15 lb. turkey comes with a brine kit as well as frozen, ready-to-heat sides including sourdough stuffing with apple, chard and sage, mixed squash and root vegetable gratin, green bean casserole with oyster mushrooms and caramelized onions, parmesan mashed potatoes with kale and roasted garlic and a pumpkin pie from Tart. The meal feeds 6-8 people and is $310. Frozen a la carte side dishes and bakery are also available. Dinner crates can be picked up starting Thursday, Nov. 21.
Cover pre-meal snacking with a “Native November” cheese board featuring native ingredients and supporting Indigenous producers. Created in partnership with Madison Cheese Boards and executive chef/ co-founder of Wild Bearies, Elena Terry, the boards feed 4-6. They cost $80 and 10% of the proceeds go back to Wild Bearies.
At Branch + Daughter in Windsor, pick up a fully prepared Thanksgiving dinner for $75 per person that comes with a choice of rosemary and garlic brined turkey or hickory smoked ham.
RUTHIE HAUGE
Branch and Daughter
6601 Traveler Trail, Windsor
This specialty market and deli in Windsor offers a fully prepared Thanksgiving dinner for $75 per person that comes with a choice of rosemary and garlic brined turkey or hickory smoked ham, plus dinner rolls, winter squash bisque, garlic and herb stuffing, candied yams with a brown butter rum sauce, a roasted vegetable medley and dessert.
Additional servings of proteins, as well as a wide selection of beef cuts, can be added on to the order. Pies and cakes are available for desser,t while specialty charcuterie boards in sizes suitable for one couple or a whole dinner party ($50-$225) take care of pre-meal snacking. Selected wines can be added to round out the meal. Pick up is Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 2-5 p.m. or Wednesday, Nov. 27 from noon to 4 p.m.
Beef Butter BBQ
3001 North Sherman Ave.
This northside restaurant will provide just the turkey or a whole meal, and has options for pick up ahead of the holiday for reheating or ready-to-eat on Thanksgiving itself. All orders must be submitted in advance — there will be no same-day purchases.
A 12-14 lb. Beef Butter BBQ smoked turkey picked up ahead of time with reheat instructions costs $69. Picking the bird up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving is $85. A full meal includes dressing, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy and cranberries, $129 in advance or $139 on Thursday. Both are meant to feed 4-6 people and should be ordered in advance through the catering section of Beef Butter’s website.
Patrick Riha, center, greets guests at his Beef Butter BBQ at 3001 N. Sherman Ave. The former food truck’s northside restaurant will provide just the turkey or a whole meal for Thanksgiving.
SHARON VANORNY
The Old Feed Mill
114 Cramer St., Mazomanie
As has become tradition, this historic farm-to-table restaurant in Mazomanie will serve a Thanksgiving buffet on Thursday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Reservations are highly suggested. Buffet options will include roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham with pineapple sauce, pot roast, mushroom strudel, garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing and an autumn harvest salad as well as their famous bread pudding and a selection of desserts. The buffet costs $32 for adults, $30 for seniors and $15 for children under the age of 12.
Chef Lauren Montelbano makes hearty fall dishes without meat or dairy, like this polenta toast with radicchio, fried Brussels sprouts and “ricotta” seasoned with Umamier spice blend. Montelbano’s business, The Vibrant Veg, offers take-out Thanksgiving meals for pickup.
The Deliciouser/Mayra Linares
The Vibrant Veg
3226 Progress Road
Vegan chef Lauren Montelbano’s take-out Thanksgiving feast highlights some of the boldest flavors of fall. Start with a kale, radicchio and delicata squash salad wiht a vegan feta and fig dressing, followed by maple mustard Brussels sprouts with shiitake “bacon,” a chestnut, fennel and pepita stuffing and, for the main course, a vegetable lentil loaf with rosemary mushroom gravy. Finish with spiced pumpkin cake, topped with candied pecans. Meals start at $50 for one and go up to $380 for eight diners. Pick up at Kessenich’s on the east side on Thursday, Nov. 27, from 3-6 p.m.
Liberty Station
2161 Rimrock Road
Liberty Station, a small chain restaurant with a location on the south side of Lake Monona, will have a $50 three-course prix fixe menu for Thanksgiving with special shareables and cocktails. Diners choose from soup or choice of salad before opting for a traditional turkey dinner, smoked prime rib, brisket or pork shoulder meal. Dessert is a choice of an apple, pecan or pumpkin pie. A children’s menu is also available.
Liberty Station, a small chain restaurant with a location on the south side of Lake Monona, will have a $50 three-course prix fixe menu for Thanksgiving with special shareables and cocktails.
RUTHIE HAUGE
The Edgewater Hotel
1001 Wisconsin Place
The Statehouse, the Edgewater Hotel’s flagship fine dining restaurant, is taking reservations for a Thanksgiving meal from 11 a.m-7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. The full restaurant menu will be available, as well as an organic turkey plate with maple-glazed Nueske’s bacon or prime rib, both with sides.
The hotel is serving a meal in the Grand Ballroom from 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., with reservations required. The meal is $59 for adults, $35 for children ages 5-12 and free for ages 5 and under. The meal is served family style and includes a non-alcoholic drink station. In addition to 24-hour brined roast turkey with gravy, double-smoked, honey-glazed ham will be offered. Sides are set to include tart cherry and arugula salad with pistachio brittle, wild rice casserole, spiced cranberry-orange chutney and more. Pumpkin and bourbon pecan pie, as well as a toffee panna cotta with ginger snap cookies and a chocolate sundae for kids, round out the meal.
Additionally, customers can order a take-and-bake meal for four people for $280 or for two people for $150. The to-go meal comes ready-to-cook, while all other items are precooked and come with reheating instructions. Sides include garlic mashed Yukon potatoes, apple and walnut stuffing with sage, wild rice casserole and maple- glazed green beans. Add-ons or a la carte ordering of bread, appetizers and pies is also available. Pick up is from 2-5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Orders close Nov. 24 at 3 p.m.
Cuts of roasted turkey are arranged in disposable baking pans as Thanksgiving meals are prepared in the kitchen at Heritage Catering in Fitchburg.
RUTHIE HAUGE
Dorf Haus Supper Club
8931 County Hwy Y, Sauk City
Take a short drive north of the city for Dorf Haus’ unique blend of German restaurant and Wisconsin supper club in Sauk City. Dorf Haus serves a Thanksgiving lunch buffet. Service is 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. by reservation only. The buffet features roast turkey, baked chicken, honey-glazed ham, mashed potatoes, dressing, sweet potatoes, peppered corn, caramelized carrots, cranberries, salad, rolls, pumpkin pie and ice cream. Adults are $30, children ages 5-12 are $12 and under age 5 are $5.
For those making dinner at home, Dorf Haus offers a pre-order for dressing (4 lbs. for $26) and gravy (16 oz. for $6) that can be picked up Nov. 27 from 4-7 p.m. Call (608) 643-3980 to pre-order or make reservations. In honor of the owners’ mom Betty, 15% of Thanksgiving buffet proceeds go to pancreatic cancer research.
Bonfyre American Grille has a shaded patio and is located at 92601 W. Beltline Hwy.
RUTHIE HAUGE
Bonfyre American Grill
2601 W. Beltline Highway
This casual, upscale restaurant on the south side has Thanksgiving bundles available for pre-order and pick up on Wednesday, Nov. 27 from noon-8 p.m. The full meal comes with cranberry relish, turkey gravy, dinner rolls, three pounds of herb-roasted turkey breast and two pounds of bourbon-glazed ham.
Customers choose between butternut squash soup and an autumn salad. Then select three sides from options that include brioche stuffing with Italian sausage and sage, macaroni and cheese, candied sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts with bacon and onions. The bundles feed 4-6 people and are $165. Add a pumpkin pie for $20. All the bundle items can also be ordered separately for a build-your-own family-style meal, as well.
All locations of the Great Dane, a Madison-based craft brewpub, are open on Thanksgiving.
GREAT DANE PUB & BREWING COMPANY
Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company
Various locations: 123 E. Doty St. (downtown); 876 Jupiter Drive (east side); 357 Price Place (Hilldale); 2980 Cahill Main (Fitchburg)
The east side and downtown locations of the Great Dane are offering a pre-order meal for pick up between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Nov. 26 or Nov. 27. Customers can choose from a dinner plate with turkey, garlic mashed potato, cornbread stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, gravy and a slice of pumpkin pie ($20). A kids plate is available for $12.95. Orders must be placed by Nov. 24.
All locations of this Madison-based craft brewpub are open on Thanksgiving. The downtown and east side locations are open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. serving a limited menu and a plated turkey meal. The Fitchburg and Hilldale locations are open from noon until 10 p.m. serving a buffet from noon-5 p.m. before switching to the limited menu and plated turkey meal from 5 p.m. until close.
Green Owl Cafe
1970 Atwood Ave.
Vegetarians and vegans won’t be left out of the Thanksgiving festivities thanks to this east side staple cafe. The meals from Green Owl feature a tofu “turky” loaf, housemade seitan “ham,” mashed potatoes, golden gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, mac and cheese and pumpkin cheesecake. Order by phone at (608) 285-5290 through Nov. 20 or until sold out.
The meal is a fully vegan (but not gluten-free) take-and-bake Thanksgiving dinner that comes with reheating instructions for $45 per person in portions of one, two or four people. Pick up is Nov. 27 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Nov. 28 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The Wisconsin Union makes reheatable individual and family meals. Orders must be submitted online by Nov. 19 at 9 a.m.
MAI NGUYEN
Wisconsin Union
800 Langdon St.
The culinary staff at the Memorial Union makes sure no one — student or otherwise — misses out on a Thanksgiving meal by offering reheatable individual and family meals. Students paying with a WisCard receive special pricing for a turkey, ham or vegetable plate. Orders must be submitted online by Nov. 19 at 9 a.m.
Community members pay $18 for a plate, or can buy a meal for six for $175 that includes a choice of pie as well as servings of turkey, green beans, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls, cranberry relish and sweet potatoes. Additional group sides and whole pies are also available for order.
Pick up is in Tripp Commons Wednesday, Nov. 27, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The university also offers free meals for those experiencing food insecurity on campus. Those wishing to participate in or donate to this program can do so via union.wisc.edu.
The Fitchburg brewery Delta Beer Lab is holding a sixth annual community Thanksgiving, providing a free meal especially meant for those without somewhere else safe and comfortable to go.
COURTESY OF DELTA BEER LAB
Delta Beer Lab
167 E. Badger Road
This Fitchburg brewery is holding a sixth annual community Thanksgiving, providing a free meal especially meant for those without somewhere else safe and comfortable to go. Anyone planning to attend should register for a ticket online or by calling the brewery. (There is no cost, the tickets are for organizing and planning purposes.) The first 150 people with tickets will be given priority.
Donations are encouraged, and proceeds will go to community partners. All leftovers will be donated to a local shelter kitchen. The taproom will be open from 1-7 p.m. with food served from 3-5 p.m.
Donations are encouraged toward Delta Beer Lab’s community Thanksgiving meal, which is free. The first 150 ticket holders will have priority.
COURTESY OF DELTA BEER LAB
Slice’s Bar & Grill
2417 Pennsylvania Ave.
This local hangout continues the tradition of offering a free carryout Thanksgiving meal. Donations are requested and meals must be ordered by Tuesday, Nov. 26, by calling (608) 243-6925. Plates come with turkey and a choice of three sides from offerings that include mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole, collard greens and more. Donations collected will go to Christmas gifts for sponsored families.