Thanksgiving Dining Guide | Feast at These SD Restaurants

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with friends and family…not be stuck in the kitchen all day! Ditch the aprons this year and leave the cooking to the culinary pros at some of San Diego’s best restaurants. From waterfront dining to take-home feasts, everyone’s taste buds will raise a glass to you this year.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lakehouse Resort

Lakehouse Resort, San Marcos

Enjoy an unforgettable holiday feast amidst beautiful views and a calming atmosphere at Lakehouse Resort! Nestled on the shores of Lake San Marcos, Lakehouse is offering the perfect setting to spend Thanksgiving with your loved ones with a Thanksgiving Day Buffet and live music from 12pm to 5pm at The Grill, the resort’s main dining outpost. Enjoy Thanksgiving day fare, including Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Butternut Squash with candied pecans, dried cranberries, fresh sage and balsamic reduction, Mediterranean Orzo Salad with cherry tomatoes, basil, feta cheese, kalamata olives and lemon herb vinaigrette, Shrimp Cocktail,Oven Roasted Turkey, Apple Cider and Clove Glazed Ham, Citrus Maple Glazed Salmon and more. The buffet will also feature various seasonal sides, including Roasted Garlic Red Bliss Mashed Potatoes, Sausage Sage Stuffing, Lemon Oregano Oven Roasted Seasonal Squash, Green Bean Casserole and Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Glazed Yams. Save room for dessert and choose from Pumpkin Pie, Assorted Cakes, Cookies and Bars to complete your Thanksgiving feast! The buffet costs $85 for adults and $25 for children under 12. Reservations can be made through OpenTable.

Photo Credit: Diana Rose

Draft at Belmont, Mission Beach

Gather with loved ones and celebrate Thanksgiving with breathtaking ocean views at Draft, one of Belmont Park’s quintessential dining destinations. Enjoy a buffet of Thanksgiving classics while catching the excitement of the annual Thanksgiving football games displayed on the 31-foot LED TV. Menu highlights include Roasted Turkey with cranberry sauce, classic gravy and sausage-apple stuffing, Honey Baked Ham with orange and pineapple glaze and Prime Rib with au jus and horseradish. Plus, enjoy a variety of gourmet side dishes including Whipped Red Mashed Potatoes with roasted garlic and cheddar cheese,Green Bean Casserole with wild mushroom cream and crispy onions, Roasted Brussel Sprouts with bacon and balsamic glaze, Maple Glazed Baby Carrots with maple and honey roasted, garlic crunch and more. To top off this Thanksgiving feast, enjoy a selection of desserts including Pumpkin or Apple Pie, Seasonal Cookies and Assorted Pastries. Reservations are required and can be made via OpenTable. Seatings are available from 12pm to 5pm, $65 per adult and $25 for children 12 and under.

Photo Credit: James Tran

Herb & Wood, Little Italy 

Herb & Wood is offering multiple ways to enjoy a next level Thanksgiving meal from Chef Carlos Anthony. Come into the Little Italy restaurant to enjoy a four course meal or bring home a vibrant feast to feed up to eight people. Those dining in with indulge in their choice of first courses like Focaccia with whipped ricotta and plum & thyme honey or Venison Carpaccio, second courses like Warm Lentil Salad with honey nut squash, pomegranate and turmeric yogurt or Seared Scallop, and mains like Turkey with truffle butter and cream truffle gravy or Seven Spiced Swordfish, in addition to family style sides and choice of Pumpkin Mousse Pie or Date Cake Sticky Toffee Pudding. Seatings are available from 1-7pm, priced at $92 per adult and $38 per child.

Impress guests at home with Herb & Wood’s Thanksgiving takeout. For $500, feed up to eight people with a drool-worthy feast complete with Truffle Rubbed 17 lb Turkey, Winter Greens Salad, Truffle Gravy, Champagne Cranberries, Whipped Potato, Green Beans with Guanciale, Herbed Stuffing, Carrots, Parker House Rolls, and Pie from Executive Pastry Chef Laura Warren.

Photo Credit: Dustin Bailey

Animae, Downtown 

Indulge in a Thanksgiving meal at the captivatingly elegant Animae, where Executive Chef Tara Monsod will be preparing a luxurious multiple course meal that pays homage to her Filipino American heritage alongside inspired dishes from across Asia. Start the meal with Ube Pan De Sal, Sweet Miso Golden Beets and fresh Hamachi Tataki before enjoying mains like Mussel Ginataan with kabocha squash, sea beans, annato oil and bread with family-style sides like Sweet Potato Puree with maple soy butter and sesame and Animae’s signature Charred Broccolini with szechuan ginger oil, cashew crumble and sesame puree. The meal comes to a sweet ending with Red Bean Tart crafted by Executive Pastry Chef Laura Warren. Reserved via OpenTable, seatings are available from 3pm to 8pm on November 23rd, priced at $110 per adult and $42 per child.

Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos

Vistal, Downtown 

Vistal, the InterContinental San Diego’s signature restaurant, will be offering Thanksgiving dinner for hotel guests and visitors alike. Featuring an expansive and elevated Thanksgiving buffet, the dinner will highlight all of the Thanksgiving classics, including a full carving station featuring Whole Roasted Turkey with a rosemary-fennel sausage focaccia stuffing and a chestnut-leek & apple polenta stuffing, and Pepper Crusted Prime Rib with horseradish cream, green peppercorn cognac sauce, and brioche rolls. Plus, enjoy an elaborate Cold Seafood Display and Antipasti Display, along with Short Rib Tortellini, Roasted Porchetta, Roasted Salmon, and seasonal sides including Crab Stuffed Artichokes and Sweet Potato Casserole Croquettes. Satisfy your sweet tooth with classic Thanksgiving desserts like Apple Crumble, Pumpkin Pie, and Pecan Walnut Caramel Pie, plus some signature favorites including Fresh Macarons, Sweet Potato Panna Cotta, and Chocolate-Hazelnut & Berry Filled Beignets. Enjoy your meal with a bottle of wine from Vistal’s special Thanksgiving-themed menu surrounded by loved ones, all while soaking in Vistal’s stunning views of the San Diego bay. Reservations are available from 2pm to 7pm on Thanksgiving day, priced at $105 for adults and $65 for children.

Thanksgiving at Home:

Photo Credit: Chris Costa

Ranch 45, Solana Beach

Guests can assemble their own unique Thanksgiving meal from Ranch 45. The Solana Beach restaurant and butchery has got all your at-home feast needs covered. Main course choices include Herb Crusted Prime Rib, Braised Short Rib, Smoke Turkey Legs, 45-Day Aged Ribeye, and Smoked Cornish Game Hen along with a selection of salads, soups and signature sides. Finish off the meal with something sweet such as Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Cheesecake, or Apple Crisp. Pre-orders must be placed before Sunday, November 19 at 4pm for pick-up on Wednesday, November 22.

Photo Credit: Kimberly Motos

The Wise Ox, North Park and La Costa 

Thanksgiving just got easier! The Wise Ox, Chef Brad Wise’s premium butcher & sandwich shop with locations in North Park and La Costa, will allow guests to build their own Thanksgiving feast to take home, complete with all the fixings. Reserve a sought after Diestel turkey ahead of time via The Wise Ox website, then head to the shop to pick it up along with housemade extras such as gravy, beef butter, pork butter, Santa Maria seasoning, Rib Roasts, and Italian Sausage. To top it all off, Chef Jeremy Harville, TRUST Restaurant Group’s executive pastry chef, will be baking delectable pies that will be available for purchase at The Wise Ox. Pop them in the oven and impress loved ones with a restaurant quality meal right at home.