Feeling guilty because you’d rather watch football than brine a turkey? Don’t. Thanksgiving at home isn’t for everyone. For those with small or far-flung families—or for those who can’t mash a potato to save their lives—there are more options than you may think when it comes to restaurant dining on Thanksgiving. Long Island has some great holiday haunts willing to serve you and yours this season and here are some of our favorites.
This hotel-cum-restaurant is open 365 days a year to accommodate overnight guests, so it should come as no surprise that they also honor the holiday with a cozy Thanksgiving feast. The wood-beamed “home” was converted from a personal residence to a restaurant and inn years ago and it still maintains its domestic charm, from the low raftered ceilings to the many fireplaces. Meals are multi-course and price fixe and offer up everything from oysters to sausage stuffing—without any of the dirty dishes left in the sink for later in the evening. Reservations are required, and you should make them well in advance, as this is the go-to destination for East Enders on the holiday.
The 1770 House, 143 Main Street, East Hampton, (631) 324-1770, call for hours and reservations.
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As with most years, Roslyn’s critically acclaimed Thyme will be open both for Thanksgiving dinner (1 to 8 p.m.) and for post-Thanksgiving brunch (11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Reservations are required. The restaurant has been offering Thanksgiving dinner for years, with menus that include shrimp cocktail, roast turkey, sweet potato casserole with marshmallows, cornbread, and pumpkin pie. Added bonus: If you’re keen on staying home but less keen on the actual cooking, Thyme offers a catering menu, with packages that accommodate up to 12 people, filled with an abundance of choices to make your at-home holiday restaurant-worthy.
Thyme, 8 Tower Place, Roslyn, (516) 625-2566, open 1 to 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Jedediah Hawkins Inn and Restaurant
Looking for a charming North Fork destination for your holiday meal? Jamesport has it all, from quaint rooms to delicious food. Jedediah Hawkins is a towering Victorian building in shades of yellow and green that screams: Come inside! The holiday menu is prix fixe and offers a choice of appetizers, entrees, and desserts (children are discounted). Wine pairings, though extra, are worth the expenditure. Turkey haters have tons to choose from in the entrée department—there are fish and beast options suitable for all palates. And when that tryptophan sets in, you can head to your room and give thanks for the fact that you don’t have to drive home. Rooms start at $350. Availability is extremely limited.
Jedediah Hawkins Inn and Restaurant, 400 S. Jamesport Avenue, Jamesport, (631) 722-2900, call for hours and reservations.
This glass-walled, gigantic mid-Island eatery may not be what you’re thinking when you think Thanksgiving, but I can’t think of a better way to eat through the holidays than in Tom Schaudel’s house. This iconic chef has been showing Long Island what’s delicious for decades. And he believes in the importance of a delicious restaurant Thanksgiving. Traditionalists can enjoy butter-basted turkeys with the appropriate trimmings, while the nouveau-minded can spring for short ribs, gnocchi, or a plethora of other fine offerings. Seatings are staggered, and you’ll need to book your table in advance. Don’t skip the sweet potato pie.
Jewel by Tom Schaudel, 400 Broadhollow Road, Melville, (631) 755-5777, seatings available at 2, 4, and 6 p.m.
The water-adjacent Mill Pond House has an air of occasion about it. This is the kind of restaurant for a holiday fête. It makes sense, then, that the House opens its doors to turkey lovers every year for a feast on the pond. There are tablecloths and candles and a turkey dinner, of course, and a chocolate peanut butter tart that you may want even if that pumpkin dessert is calling your name. Vegetarians will feel right at home here, where there are many options available for the meat-averse, including a stand out pumpkin ravioli.
Mill Pond House, 437 E. Main Street, Centerport, (631) 261-7663, call for hours and reservations.
Oyster Bay offers up one of the best Thanksgiving deals on the Island: $42 for three courses, options for which include steamed mussels, spinach and truffle baked oysters, five-spice duck ravioli, roasted organic turkey with sausage stuffing, seared Atlantic cod, and a local duck breast. This inventive, delicious menu breathes new life into Thanksgiving dining clichés. Traditions are great, but so are steamed mussels on Thanksgiving. And catering packages are also available (as is an ample slice of pumpkin pie at meal’s end).
Wild Honey, 1 East Main Street, Oyster Bay, (516) 922-4690, call for hours and reservations.
