Apple crumble pie at Unconventional Diner. Photo by Hunter Knight Douglas.
Ever since the pandemic, restaurants have been going all-in on holiday carryout packages. Here’s how to celebrate while avoiding the kitchen on Thanksgiving day (Thursday, November 26).
Pregame with a charcuterie board:
The charcuterie board at District Larder. Photo by Scott Suchman.
District Larder
821 Upshur St., NW
Besides family-style turkey dinner packages that feed four to six, Petworth’s new-ish deli and butcher shop is offering a $90 charcuterie board of its housemade pates and salamis, plus cheese, crostini, and pickles. Order for pickup here.
Order turkey dinner for two:
Sides from Unconventional Diner’s Thanksgiving spread. Photo by Hunter Knight Douglas.
Unconventional Diner
1207 Ninth St., NW
The eclectic Shaw dining room‘s Thanksgiving package for two ($111) features roast turkey and gravy; mushroom/sage stuffing; cornbread; pumpkin pie, and more. There are a la carte sides and whole pies ($25 to $40). Go for maple-bourbon pecan, apple crumble, or pumpkin, or get all three for $90 (although I’d opt for the chocolate cake—it’s the best in the city). Order for pickup on Wednesday or Thanksgiving day.
Barbouzard
1700 K St., NW
This glam, Riviera-inspired restaurant might not scream traditional Thanksgiving, but Cedric Maupillier has put together a classically elegant dinner-for-two package ($120). You get eleven choices from a long list of items, including roast turkey, squash-and-celery-root veloute, and pumpkin cheesecake. I’d throw in one of the excellent baguettes ($6), which are baked in-house. And you can also get sides, condiments, and dessert a la carte. Order by Monday, November 23, for pickup Wednesday or Thanksgiving day.
Turkey with curry sauce at Sorn Thai. Photo courtesy of Sorn Thai.
Sorn Thai
6224-E Old Dominion Dr., McLean
Turkey with curry sauce? Sign me up. This pretty Thai dining room from the owners of DC’s Donsak is offering just that—a half bird ($70 for 3 lbs.; $120 for 5 lbs.) marinated in Thai herbs and served with a ginger-and-tamarind-laced curry, plus grilled asparagus and potatoes with onions and bell peppers. Order by November 20 at 3 PM for pickup on Wednesday. Call 703-564-0630 or email sornthaiva@gmail.com.
Sfoglina
4445 Connecticut Ave., NW; 1099 New York Ave., NW; 1100 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
It’s not easy to do takeout pasta well, but Fabio Trabocchi’s more casual Italian restaurants tend to pull it off. Their $175 dinner for two includes butternut squash tortellini plus salad, rosemary bread, olive-oil poached turkey breast with stuffing and a couple sides, and a pumpkin torta with brown sugar/pecan caramel. Order by November 22 for pickup or delivery on Wednesday.
Order turkey dinner for the whole fam:
Casa Teresa’s Spanish-accented Thanksgiving package. Photo courtesy of LeadingDC.
Casa Teresa
919 19th St., NW
At this Spanish dining room inside the Square food hall, you have a choice of two packages sized for eight. The traditional turkey feast ($575) includes an herb-brined whole turkey, stuffing, olive oil mashed potatoes, salad, and a choice of two sides (say, butternut squash soup or Brussels sprouts with bacon and maple butter). An upgraded version ($725) offers all that plus butter rolls, a whole Basque cheesecake, and a bottle of vermouth with cocktail garnishes. A la carte add-ons include batched martinis, wine packages, alternative entrees (Stuffed lobster!), and pies. Order by Friday, November 20, for pickup Tuesday or Wednesday.
Blue Duck Tavern
1201 24th St., NW
If you’re after a classic all-American spread, this West End restaurant is offering dinner for six to eight ($595). It includes a 12- to 14-pound turkey from Green Circle farms, braised collards, buttery mashed potatoes, maple-glazed yams, giblet stuffing, two loaves of bread, and either an apple or pumpkin pie. Order by Sunday, November 15, for pickup on Wednesday or Thanksgiving day.
Not big on turkey? Joon’s Thanksgiving package can be had with bone-in lamb shoulder. Photo by Rey Lopez.
Joon
8045 Leesburg Pike, Vienna
Persian rice dishes and sides are actually perfect for a Thanksgiving table. This Tysons restaurant’s turkey sofreh package for four to six ($350) comes with either an 18-pound turkey with herb butter or a whole bone-in lamb shoulder, plus dips, cardamom-spiced sweet-potato casserole, Persian slaw, and a choice of rice dishes (go for the sour cherry version). Add on batched fig old-fashioneds or espresso martinis ($65), wine, and extra appetizers. Order by Thursday, November 19, for pickup Wednesday.
A Thanksgiving plate at L’Auberge Chez Francois. Photo courtesy of L’Auberge Chez Francois.
L’Auberge Chez Francois
332 Springvale Rd., Great Falls
The dinner for eight ($489) at this 72-year-old Alsatian-inspired cottage relies heavily on the recipe book of late proprietor Francois Haeringer. It includes a 16- to 18-pound turkey from Warrenton’s Whiffletree Farm with giblet gravy, plus chestnut/pork stuffing, sautéed Brussels sprouts, candied sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, and a pumpkin-mousse gateau. Order by November 20 for pickup on Thanksgiving day.
The Nest by Ellie Bird
125 Founders Ave., Falls Church
Need a super-size option? Chef/owner Yuan Tang of Ellie Bird and Rooster and Owl is offering a full dinner for 20 ($1,145). There’s turkey, rosemary gravy, a choice of sides, sticky toffee pudding, and pumpkin bread pudding. On the smaller end, grab fried turkey or fried chicken for four ($65), plus plenty of a la carte sides. And don’t sleep on the pineapple buns with miso butter ($20 for a half dozen). Order here for pickup Tuesday or Wednesday.
Turn your turkey into Komi-style pita wraps:
Gemini
1509 17th St., NW
There aren’t a ton of Thanksgiving choices at Johnny Monis and Anne Marler’s snug Dupont wine shop/pasta bar, but I’d build an entire meal around his mascarpone-stuffed dates ($18), a long-running hit at his former restaurant, Komi. Another offering for fans of the late tasting room’s DIY pita sandwiches: packages with their fixings ($48): sourdough pita, tzatziki, onion mustard, and pickled Fresno peppers (you provide the meat). Order here for pickup Wednesday.
Dig into Kevin Tien’s Louisiana-meets-Vietnam feast:
Moon Rabbit
927 F St., NW
Kevin Tien’s package for four ($295) adds accents like lime leaf, curry, and lemongrass to traditional holiday dishes. Spiced turkey with hot garlic gravy is the star, and you’ll also get tomato bread with canh chua (sweet-and-sour) butter, gingery mashed potatoes, bun bo hue green beans, jambalaya, roasted butternut squash with candied pepitas, pumpkin cake, and more. Order here for pickup at the Penn Quarter restaurant on Wednesday.
Keep it casual with barbecue:
2Fifty’s meats can be reheated at home. Photo courtesy of 2Fifty.
2Fifty
4700 Riverdale Rd., Riverdale Park; 414 K St., NW
While the mega-popular barbecue destination has sold out its Thanksgiving pre-orders, you can still get heat-and-serve packs of its whole Wagyu or prime brisket ($215 to $295), smoked chicken ($22), duck ($45), and turkey breast ($75). Order here for pickup in Riverdale Park or Mount Vernon Triangle.
Federalist Pig
1654 Columbia Rd.. NW
Adams Morgan’s beloved barbecue carryout is packing up a variety of to-go options. The biggest package involves a whole spatchcocked smoked turkey ($299) with slider rolls, cranberry barbecue sauce, six sides, and two desserts. You can also opt for a smaller version with a half turkey ($199), or a variety of sliced meats ($175). Desserts, also available a la carte, go beyond the usual, with offerings like Oreo pudding bowls and cinnamon-roll-topped apple pie. Order by November 20 for Tuesday or Wednesday pickup.
Smoked turkey, sides, and pie at Silver and Sons. Photo courtesy of Silver & Sons.
Silver and Sons
5362 Westbard Ave., Bethesda
There are dinners for four ($210) or eight ($410) at Jarrad Silver’s Jewish/Mediterranean barbecue operation. The packages are centered around a 10- to 12-pound Earth n’ Eats farm turkey and include the usual trimmings plus challah rolls and dessert (or, get the bird on its own for $175). If you’re not feeling turkey though, the pomegranate-glazed lamb shoulder ($75 for two pounds) sounds pretty tasty. Order for Wednesday pickup in Rockville, Bethesda, or Northeast DC.
Ruthie’s All Day
3411 Fifth St. S., Arlington; 11951 Grand Commons Ave., Fairfax
Both locations of this nostalgic American restaurant are offering smoked turkey packages ($345) that serve eight to 10. You’ll get a whole bird, gravy and orange/ginger cranberry sauce, plus classic sides like candied yams and green bean casserole. There are several a la carte options, too, including cocktail hour-friendly pimiento cheese ($19) and deviled eggs ($9 for six).
Don’t skimp on sides:
The Duck and the Peach
300 Seventh St., SE
You can get a turkey-centric feast ($350) for five or six people at this Capitol Hill favorite, but also a lineup of just sides ($210). Think cranberry soda bread, roasted Brussels sprouts with pomegranate and mint, lemony green beans, goat-butter mashed potatoes, an elegant green salad, and more. Order by November 22 for pickup on Wednesday.
Buy all the pies!
Gwenie’s ube pie is bottom row, center. Photographs by Magdalena Papaioannou. Photo-illustration by Omari Foote.
Gwenie’s Pastries
Locations in Frederick, Rockville, Arlington, and McLean
This Filipino bakery’s swirly, purple-tinted ube pie is an unexpected—and beautiful—Thanksgiving confection. Call any location to pre-order.
Centrolina
974 Palmer Alley, NW
Another gorgeous option: this Italian restaurant’s kabocha/butterscotch meringue pie ($63.25). There’s lattice-topped apple pie ($63.25), too. Order for pick-up Wednesday or Thanksgiving day.
Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak, and Stone Crab
750 15th St., NW
The buzzy steakhouse is known for its key lime ($60.95), but also makes a terrific crumble-topped apple pie ($69.95), and a nice Boston cream version ($69.95). Order whole pies by Friday, November 20, for pickup Tuesday or Wednesday.
Rose Ave Bakery
2633 Connecticut Ave., NW
The excellent Woodley Park bakery is doing its own take on ube pie ($45). There’s also ube tres leches ($40) and pumpkin cheesecake ($85). Order for pickup Tuesday or Wednesday.
Elle
3221 Mount Pleasant St., NW
Sadly, pre-orders for this Mount Pleasant spot’s fantastic honey/goat cheesecake are sold out. You can still get chocolate/bourbon pecan pie ($46)—plus a bunch of sides and condiments—though. Order here for pickup Wednesday.
Stock up on bread for day-after sandwiches:
Bread Alley’s cranberry/walnut bread is also served at Le Diplomate. Photo by Sarah Gerrity.
Bread Alley
1250 Fifth St., NW
Stephen Starr’s tiny Union Market bread bakery is baking loaves of its herby, aromatic stuffing-flavored sourdough, and you’ll also find Le Diplomate’s famous cranberry/walnut bread. Pre-order for pickup at St. Anselm on Wednesday or Thanksgiving day. Also available in-store: seasonal pastries like apple-pie croissants and pumpkin bear claws.
Don’t forget about breakfast the next day:
Pastries at Breadfurst. Photo by Scott Suchman.
Breadfurst
4434 Connecticut Ave., NW
If you’re hosting a bunch of people, making a big Friday breakfast is probably the last thing you want to deal with. This ever-popular Van Ness bread bakery comes to the rescue with winning pastries, excellent granola, skinny Montreal-style bagels, and housemade Nova lox. It’d be my first stop for takeout apple pie, too: while pre-orders for pies have closed, they will be sold in-store on a first-come basis all week.
Get in the Thanksgiving spirit early:
Your Only Friend
1114 Ninth St., NW
There are few holiday treats I love more than a Thanksgiving sandwich, and the best I’ve found this year is on offer now at this Shaw sandwich/cocktail bar. A soft roll is loaded with smoked turkey, a hefty layer of boxed stuffing, mayo, cranberry sauce, and arugula. Plus, you get a little cup of gravy for dunking. Order here for delivery or pickup.
Executive Food Editor/Critic
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
Dining and Cooking