Via Bay news 9
TAMPA BAY, Fla. — Thanksgiving is fast approaching, and fans of the traditional holiday have some choices to make in the shadow of the pandemic. Hold the annual family gathering? Hunker down with the nuclear loved ones?
If you’re planning to play it safe and crank back your culinary revelry this Thanksgiving, there’s the additional option of not even having to dirty up the kitchen at all, while experiencing some of the best food Tampa Bay has to offer.
What You Need To Know
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- Due to COVID, many families aren’t planning on traveling or holding large gatherings for Thanksgiving
- Many Tampa Bay restaurants offer dine-in or pick-up options for entire Thanksgiving meals
Here are 15 great Bay area restaurants that will do the cooking for you, either in their house, or to take home to yours.
4 Rivers Smokehouse (Pick-up) For some, grabbing a whole lot of goodness from the menu this revered barbecue chain crafts especially for Thanksgiving has become a family tradition. Start with the whole roasted turkey and work your way through to the Sweet Shop Pies, but get your order in by noon on November 23. Multiple locations.
400 Beach Seafood & Tap House The popular upscale Beach Drive foodie destination is offering a three-course Thanksgiving meal that includes butternut squash bisque, roasted turkey or grouper, and pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. $39.95 per person; $17.95 for a smaller meal for children under 12. 400 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg.
Bizou Brasserie The first of many restaurants on this list located in upscale hotels, Le Meridien’s Bizou is putting out a Thanksgiving menu that includes “all of your favorites,” as well as a special starring sliced oven-roasted chicken breast, garden vegetable casserole and more. 3-8 p.m. 601 N. Florida Ave., Tampa.
The Black Pearl (Pick-up) Downtown Dunedin’s famous Black Pearl is where its owners, The Feinstein Group chain of local restaurants, will be offering its special takeout selections for the holiday. 315 Main St., Dunedin.
Cassis St. Pete Reservations are required at this downtown St. Pete favorite for tasty American fare informed with classic European technique; they’re offering Thanksgiving dinner special in addition to their full regular menu. 170 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg.
Castile Head out to the Hotel Zamora on St. Pete Beach for a sumptuous, classic four-course Thanksgiving dinner at $65 per person, or go with a lighter plate of turkey and fixins for just $26. 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 3701 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach.
The Columbia (Pick-up) For some, Thanksgiving—along with several other holidays—at Ybor City’s storied Columbia Restaurant is a foregone conclusion. Once again, the historic Spanish and Latin-themed eatery is offering a special meal, but just for pick-up. A whole roasted turkey, stuffing, veggies and even their revered 1905 salad will be available curbside the day before Thanksgiving at all Columbia locations for $149.95. But hurry—orders must be placed by 2 p.m. Thursday, November 19. Multiple locations.
The Don CeSar This world-famous pink beachfront luxury hotel boasts a number of highly-rated dining options, and several of its best-loved—from the more casual Sea Porch Cafe to award-winning fine-dining flagship Maritana, will be serving special Thanksgiving meals. And be on the lookout for the King Charles Brunch, too; it’s a traditional seasonally-themed take on Tampa Bay’s favorite pre-COVID social meal. 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach.
Eddie V’s Prime Seafood This hotspot near International Plaza is taking reservations for a classic Thanksgiving meal in-house right now, and will also offer pick-up of its sides on November 23 and 24. 4400 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa.
Fenway Hotel One of the newer (or should we say more newly redeveloped) luxury hotels in the Bay area, Dunedin’s Fenway will augment the highly-rated dishes of its HEW Parlor & Chophouse with a three-course meal in celebration of Thanksgiving. Reservations are highly recommended. 453 Edgewater Dr., Dunedin.
Flor Fina This recently opened restaurant at Ybor City’s new Hotel Haya specializes in contemporary Latin flavors and seafood, but they’re whipping up a three-course $65 prix fixe meal for the occasion that, yes, includes turkey. 1412 E. 7th Ave., Ybor City.
The Galley It’s a favorite downtown St. Pete hangout and watering hole that also just happens to have a great slate of elevated bar food on its menu. The kitchen is reaching out even further for Turkey Day, Twenty-five bucks will get you the only buffet-style Thanksgiving stuffer on this list, anytime between 3 p.m. and 3 a.m., but you probably shouldn’t wait too long if you really want to get your fill. 27 4th St. N., St. Petersburg.
Ocean Hai Clearwater Beach’s Wyndham Hotel is home to this restaurant known primarily for its sushi and cutting-edge takes on Asian flavors. On Thanksgiving, they’ll be adding their spin on a four-course prix fixe stuffer. 100 Coronado Dr., Clearwater Beach.
Parkshore Grill Another Beach Drive favorite and sister restaurant to the aforementioned 400 Beach, Parkshore offers highly-rated upscale dishes on the regular; for Thanksgiving they’re offering two additional menus, one for those who don’t want to have to loosen their pants and an all-out full-scale Thanksgiving meal. Reservations are highly recommended. 300 Beach Dr. NE, #104, St. Petersburg.
Rusty Pelican This beloved annual tradition requires a $25 deposit per person up front and won’t let you linger all afternoon at the table holding your gut, but it isn’t a buffet. You’ll get your own portions of all the classic Bird Day fixins. 2425 N. Rocky Point Dr., Tampa.
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Head east on I-4 to enjoy your choice of Thanksgiving flavors and styles from the Seminole Hard Rock’s multiple restaurants. Fine-dining establishments Cipresso, The Rez Grill and Council Oak Steaks & Seafood will reportedly all be putting their signature twists on the tastes of the day. 5223 Orient Rd., Tampa.
