Let someone else cook: Indy restaurants offering Thanksgiving dinner for dine-in or to-go
Bradley HohulinThere are plenty of reasons you might not want to shoulder the load of a Thanksgiving feast this year.Whatever yours is, Indianapolis has plenty of restaurants eager to do the heavy lifting for you. Whether you need to fill your table or leave the dishes to someone else, these restaurants have you covered.
Thanksgiving dine in and to-go dinners
The following restaurants will open their dining rooms for Thanksgiving meals and offer a carry-out option.
Bob Evans
Multiple locations, bobevans.com. Hours vary by location.
Bob Evans will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner Thanksgiving day. Diners can choose from a variety of hot Thanksgiving platters for dining in as well as cold-packed Farmhouse Feasts for carry-out. Full menus can be found and online orders made at bobevans.com/thanksgiving.
Buca di Beppo
35 N. Illinois St. and 6045 E. 86th St, bucadibeppo.com. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
This Italian eatery blends American fare with its traditional cuisine in its Thanksgiving feast. Sliced white meat turkey is served with gravy, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, spicy Italian sausage stuffing, a seasonal vegetable, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Buca di Beppo offers similar menus for catering and pick-up. Depending on party size, each diner eats from $22.5 to just over $30. Reservations and orders can be placed at bucadibeppo.com/holiday/thanksgiving.
The Capital Grille
40 W. Washington St., thecapitalgrille.com. Open 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Rhode Island-based eatery will offer turkey with brioche stuffing, French green beans and cranberry-pear chutney for each guest with mashed potatoes for the table. Adult meals cost $50 and children’s meals cost $20. Pecan-crusted mashed sweet potatoes can be added for $14 and pumpkin pie cheesecake for $12. A takeout version of the meal, which serves four and includes rolls and mashed sweet potatoes, can be ordered by Nov. 21 for $135 at thecapitalgrille.com/events/thanksgiving-dinner-menu.
Cracker Barrel
Multiple locations, crackerbarrel.com. Hours vary by location.
Cracker Barrel will begin serving its turkey n’ dressing meal on Thanksgiving Day starting at 11 a.m. The meal features turkey, a choice of two traditional sides and buttermilk biscuits or corn muffins for $13.99. Cracker Barrel also offers three different sizes of Thanksgiving dinners for carry-out to be eaten immediately or reheated later. Orders can be made at crackerbarrel.com/holiday/Thanksgiving.
Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant
3815 E. 96th St. and 8696 E. U.S. Hwy 36, Avon, chwinery.com. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Illinois-based winery will feature a traditional meal of slow-roasted turkey with pan gravy, butternut squash soup, stuffing, roasted green beans and carrots, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and pumpkin praline cheesecake from Eli’s Cheesecake in Chicago. The feast is $34.99 per adult and $14.99 for children 12 and under. A slightly modified version of the meal is available in a heat and serve package for takeout that serves six for $199.99. Reservations and orders can be placed at chwinery.com/thanksgiving.
Eddie Merlot’s Prime Aged Beef and Seafood
3645 E. 96th St., eddiemerlots.com. Open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Fort Wayne-based steakhouse will offer a three-course turkey dinner with a choice of soup or one of three salads; an entrée — roasted turkey, sage stuffing and cranberry relish — a choice of two traditional sides; and either carrot cake, triple chocolate cake or crème brûlée with pumpkin spice crème. Eddie Merlot's will also offer a similar three-course take-home meal serving five to 10 diners. Adults dine for $49, children for $24. Reservations and pre-orders can be made at eddiemerlots.com/promotions/thanksgiving-2023.
HollyHock Hill
8110 N. College Ave., hollyhockhill.com. Open 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Ninety-five years after it started serving special dinners out of a country cottage, HollyHock Hill will offer a complete Thanksgiving meal for $39.95 per adult and $20.95 per child under 12 on a reservation basis. After a starter of pickled beets and biscuits with apple butter, diners can enjoy turkey, a variety of traditional sides and pumpkin pie. The same meal is available for carry-out if pre-ordered before Thanksgiving day. Reservations and orders can be made on the restaurant’s website.
Maggiano’s Little Italy
3550 E. 86th St., maggianos.com. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The upscale family-style eatery will offer a dine-in feast as well as cold and hot carry-out meals. The dine-in option includes a choice of salad, complimentary balsamic tomato bruschetta, a choice of turkey, ham or branzino, a choice of two pastas, two traditional sides and a choice of two desserts from a list that includes pumpkin praline cheesecake, warm apple crostada and tiramisu.
Carry-out bundles feature an abridged version of the dine-in meal and serve four to five people. Cold-prepared bundles to reheat at home cost $210 and are available for pick-up Nov. 21 and 22. Hot bundles can be picked up Thanksgiving Day for $220. Orders must be placed before 8 p.m. the night before pick-up. Orders can be made at maggianos.com/thanksgiving2023.
McCormick and Schmick’s
110 N. Illinois St., mccormickandschmicks.com. Open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Butternut squash soup or seasonal salad precedes sliced roast turkey with cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, butternut squash casserole and seasonable vegetables. Adults dine for $38, children for $15. Reservations strongly suggested. A full to-go feast serving four to six people can be pre-ordered as well at mccormickandschmicks.com/event/thanksgiving.
Rick’s Café Boatyard
4050 Dandy Trail, ricksboatyard.com. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Guests at the Eagle Creek Reservoir eatery can purchase a complete feast featuring turkey breast, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, green beans with caramelized onions, sage stuffing, cranberry sauce, freshly baked bread and pumpkin pie. Meals cost $33 for adults and $16 for children 10 and under. Rick’s will also offer a family-style, carry-out version of the meal in two sizes — $175 generously feeds four and $300 generously feeds eight. Family-style meals can be pre-ordered by emailing courtney@ricksboatyard.com.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
45 S. Illinois St. and 2727 E. 86th St, ruthschris.com. Open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Ruth’s Chris’ Thanksgiving fare starts with a choice of chicken and andouille sausage gumbo or mixed green salad. The $47.95 adult entrée features oven-roasted turkey with giblet gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, honey-glazed baby carrots, sausage and herb stuffing and Ruth’s cranberry relish. Diners can choose between pumpkin cheesecake and chocolate bourbon pecan pie. For $16.95, children 12 and under receive a Thanksgiving dinner and a carrot cupcake.
Ruth's Chris will also offer four side dishes, two salads and two desserts for carry-out in full and half orders. Each half order serves six to eight guests costing between $24 and $57, while full orders cost between $45.95 and $99.95 per item. Reservations and orders can be made by selecting your preferred location at ruthschris.com/promotions/thanksgiving.
Seasons 52
8650 Keystone Crossing, seasons52.com. Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
A classic Thanksgiving meal features roasted turkey with pan gravy, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, brioche sage stuffing, green beans, mashed butternut squash and cranberry relish. Dessert is pumpkin pie mini indulgence, a short glass filled with layers of pumpkin mousse and ginger snap crumbs topped with a whole gingersnap cookie and whipped cream. Adult meals are $40 each; children’s are $18.
Seasons 52 offers a to-go version of this meal, plus a mixed greens salad. The meal serves four to six people and costs $225. Reservations and orders can be placed at seasons52.com/events/traditional-thanksgiving-dinner.
Weber Grill
10 N. Illinois St., webergrillrestaurant.com. Open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Weber’s in-house three-course turkey dinner begins with a salad or butternut squash soup. The entrée includes smoked turkey with grilled sausage stuffing and gravy, roasted fall vegetables, cranberry sauce and either maple whipped sweet potatoes or roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Dessert includes pumpkin mousse tart with whipped cream, candied pecans and pumpkin pie caramel. Adults eat for $39.95, children under 12 for $15.95. Reservations are encouraged.
A slightly modified version of the dine-in menu is available in to-go platters feeding 4-10 customers. Prices vary with the size of the platter and the number of menu items. Full menus, reservations and pre-orders are available at webergrillrestaurant.com/thanksgiving.
Carry-out only
The following restaurants will not be open for Thanksgiving, but will offer carry-out meals.
The Grub House
1953 N. College Ave, grubhouseindy.com.
The comfort food joint will offer a 25-person Thanksgiving feast for $425. The meal includes a choice of either sliced ham or turkey with fried chicken, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, southern green beans, deviled eggs and a selection of rolls. Sweet potatoes and collard greens can be swapped in, each for a $75 upcharge. Pies and cakes can be purchased separately, and orders can be made by emailing thegrubhouse2014@gmail.com or calling (317) 554-9271.
His Place Eatery
6916 E. 30th St., hisplaceeatery.com.
The soul food restaurant promises to bring his place to your place this Thanksgiving with a $129 pick-up meal serving six to 10 people. Each order includes smoked turkey breast or ham, cornbread muffins and a choice of two sides from mashed potatoes, green beans and stuffing. Additional sides and desserts are available for purchase. Place orders by calling (317) 545-4890 before 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17.
Love Handle
877 Massachusetts Ave., facebook.com/lovehandleindy.
The Mass Ave eatery will offer regular and large Thanksgiving Heat 2 Eat meals for order until 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19. The regular meal serves two to four for $125, while the large serves up to eight for $195. Each meal includes a choice of meat from whole smoked chicken, roast pork belly, beef brisket, smoked beef tongue and smoked turkey thighs, plus four sides: carrot parsnip pudding, corn pudding, garlic mashed potatoes and Meemaw’s brown gravy. Desserts including espresso maple cheesecake with pecan topping can be purchased separately. Orders can be placed by emailing cbenedyk@yahoo.com or calling (317) 384-1102.
Metro Diner
Multiple locations, metrodiner.com. Hours vary by location.
The upscale diner will offer a heat-and-serve feast including a choice of ham or turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, steamed green beans or roasted sweet corn, cornbread stuffing or mac and cheese, cranberry sauce and Hawaiian dinner rolls. The meal, sold cold, feeds one for $16.49, four for $61.99 or eight for $119.49. Preorders must be made by Nov. 21 for pick-up on Nov. 23 at metrodiner.com/holiday-feast.
Sahm’s Catering
Sahm's will offer a holiday catering menu with two different packages. Both feature a choice of meat, pasta or vegetable entrée, plus three sides and bread. Desserts can be added for $2.99 per guest and whole pies can be added for $25 each. Meals for one to two diners range from $17.49 to $22.49 depending on the package. Pick-up is available at the five Sahm's restaurants around central Indiana — Big Lug Canteen, Half Liter and three Sahm's locations. Orders can be placed at ezcater.com/brand/pvt/sahms-catering.
Shapiro’s Delicatessen
808 S. Meridian St., shaprios.com.
The Indianapolis staple will offer more than 20 pounds of Thanksgiving fare this holiday season. For $150, you can purchase an eight-serving meal including a 12 to 14-pound roasted turkey with house gravy, three pounds of stuffing and three pounds each of three traditional sides of your choice. Desserts are available for an additional price. Email orders@shapiros.com before Friday, Nov. 17 to place your order.
Dine-in only
The following restaurants will offer dine-in Thanksgiving feasts, but do not have carry-out options.
Matt the Miller’s Tavern
11 City Center Dr., Carmel, mtmtavern.com. Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
An upscale buffet will feature turkey and pork loin carving stations with several traditional sides and some unexpected extras such as shrimp cocktail, cinnamon biscuits with whipped honey butter and jalapeño cheddar cornbread. Desserts include pumpkin, chocolate cream and apple pie.
There is also a kids’ station featuring chicken tenders, mac and cheese, tater tots, applesauce and Oreos. Coffee, tea, soda and iced tea are included, plus a $10 Bloody Mary Bar. Adults dine for $39.95 and kids age four through 10 cost $14.95, while children under four accompanied by an adult eat for free. Required reservations can be made on the Tavern’s website.
The Oceanaire Seafood Room
30 S. Meridian St., theoceanaire.com. Open 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.
For $50, each guest can enjoy a 12-ounce herb-roasted turkey breast with turkey gravy, cranberry sage stuffing, cranberry chutney, green beans almondine, creamed corn and mashed potatoes. Guests can make reservations at www.theoceanaire.com/event/thanksgiving-2023.
Contact dining and drinks reporter Bradley Hohulin at bhohulin@gannett.com. You can follow him on Twitter @bradleyhohulin.