Skip grocery shopping, defrost, slice, smear, mash, heck, eat at a local restaurant on Thanksgiving.
Several regional restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving and ready to serve you. Be sure to book as soon as possible because seats are limited.
Here are some choices for Thanksgiving dinner.
Celebrity chef David Burke, a resident of Fort Lee, has just opened this amazing restaurant in Morristown Green. It has several bars and huge French doors, allowing diners to gaze at the green outside. Thanksgiving Day is approaching, you will have seven kinds of appetizers and seven kinds of main dishes for you to choose to enjoy the feast, in addition to free popcorn and corn bread for you to enjoy before the heavy meal.
Time: 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm; last booking 7:45 pm
Go to: 67 E. Park Place, Morristown; 973-829-1776, 1776bydb.com.
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The amazing French restaurant Brasserie Memere recommends booking for Thanksgiving dinner as early as possible. The first dish included a choice of Poire et gromage, foie gras and snails. The second: choose roast turkey, Scottish salmon, duck sauce or beef tenderloin. The meal ends with pumpkin spice caramel pudding, kouignn amann or pot de creme.
Time: noon to 8 pm
Go to: 107 VerValen St., Closter; 201-660-8822, brasserie-memere.com.
Chef Bryan Gregg previously worked at Cafe Chameleon in Bloomfield and recently took over the kitchen of this high-end new American restaurant at the Westin Governor Morristown. Thanksgiving’s prix-fixe 3-course menu includes appetizer options such as gem lettuce with smoked blue cheese, late autumn pumpkin soup with crispy turkey skin, and crab cakes with mustard sauce for an extra $8. Main course options include grilled chicken with Parisian gnocchi, 8 ounces of beef tenderloin with roasted potatoes (additional $10); and fried salmon with Brussels sprouts. For dessert, choose pumpkin puree, hot chocolate brioche and apple shortbread.
Book as soon as possible, Greg recommends. "We started filling up," he said.
Opening hours: 12:30 noon to 7:30 pm
Cost: US$67 for adults; US$34 for children under 11 years old. Does not include taxes and gratuities.
Go to: 2 Whippany Road, Morristown; 973-451-2619, bluemorel.com/events.
A year ago, chef Jonathan Kavourakis was the former chef and partner of the New York City Road Group Hotel Group. He opened the American bar and grill The Brookdale in Bloomfield (Bloomfield) , This is his first restaurant. Kaourakis is now ready to offer a Thanksgiving feast at his new location, either family style or individually, if you prefer. Dig a plate of roasted turkey and cornbread filling, yes, turkey gravy with broccoli souffle, sweet potato casserole with roasted marshmallows and cranberry sauce.
Time: 2pm to 10pm
Cost: US$44 for adults, US$22 for children under 12
Go to: 1099 Broad St. Bloomfield; 973-323-1680, thebrookdale.com.
This quaint local likes to offer Thanksgiving dinner every year. Start with fruit salad or chicken pasta soup. Main course options include stuffed turkey or roast beef with Yorkshire pudding. Each meal comes with candied sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, mashed radish, green beans, cranberry sauce, cranberry sauce, rolls and fruit buns. Dessert: pumpkin, minced meat, pecan or apple pie.
Cost: USD 34 for adults; USD 22 for children.
Go to: 39 W. Clinton St., Dover; 973-328-938, charlotteswebinn.com.
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Crystal Springs Resort offers a variety of Thanksgiving meals at its Emerald Ballroom Crystal Tavern, Springs Bistro, Diamond Ballroom, Kites American Grill and Black Bear Golf Club.
The most hearty meal is Crystal Tavern’s 3-course dinner, which includes a traditional turkey dinner main course ($72 for adults and $38 for children aged 4 to 11), served from noon to 10pm. The most affordable is the casual Kites Grill. Its 3-course dinner lasts from noon to 10pm (US$45 for adults and US$25 for children).
Cost: Varies, please refer to the website for details.
Time: Seats are available at different times from 11 am to 10 pm, depending on the option.
To: Various locations in Sussex County, including Hamburg, Franklin and Vernon, 855-977-6473, crystalgolfresort.com.
Faubourg is a well-ventilated modern French restaurant that will serve an a la carte menu on Thanksgiving, as well as some festive specialties. Mix your traditional Thanksgiving meal with crisp, paper-thin dragon fruit pie and hearty Coq au vin.
Time: noon to 8 pm
Go to: 544 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair; 973-542-7700, faubourgmontclair.com.
This is the 41st Thanksgiving that owner Salvatore Santonello will celebrate in his old-fashioned tavern. Santonello said that for those who don't like turkey and cranberries, regular menus of steak, lamb chops and burgers will be available. For those who want turkey or ham with all the ingredients, soup or salad, and free desserts, please come on Turkey Day and it will also be on hand.
Cost: Santonello has not yet determined the cost ("I don't know how much turkey will cost this year"), but said that last year's special meal cost was $21.95 per person. "It will be on the same stadium. I will not charge $50."
Go to: 601 County Road 565, Sussex; 973-875-9134, thelamppostinn.net.
This exquisite French restaurant (think white tablecloths and beautifully folded napkins) offers an elegant Thanksgiving dinner every year. Menu highlights include Hudson Valley foie gras, coq au vin and French apple pie.
Opening hours: Seating at 2, 2:30, 3, 3:30 and 4 pm
Go to: 416 Tappan Road, Northvale; 201-767-0063, madeleinespetitparis.com.
Indulge in McLoone's Thanksgiving buffet. A turkey and Virginia ham carving station will be established. Add maple leaf roasted pumpkin soup, truffle raw potatoes and cornbread filling.
Cost: USD 45 for adults; USD 20 for children (3 to 11 years old).
Go to: 9 Cherry Lane, West Orange; 862-252-7108, mcloonesboathouse.com.
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The filling dinner at the fine seafood restaurant Oceanaire includes roasted turkey breast, sage and cranberry fillings, sour cream mashed potatoes, cranberry chutney, gravy, green beans and cream corn.
Time: noon to 9 pm
Cost: USD 50 for adults; USD 18 for children
Go to: The Shops at Riverside, 175 Riverside Square, Hackensack; 201-334-8862, theoceanaire.com.
Chef and owner James Laird (James Laird) assures that in his elegant high-end French restaurant, turkey will appear on the special three-course menu. Soup-The same goes for festive pumpkin soup. (Laird is famous for his soups; he doesn't use cream or butter, but he manages to make the creamiest and silkiest soup you can imagine.) In addition to roasted turkey, there are also filet steak and roasted halibut For vegetarians, a risotto garnished with vegetables. Desserts include chocolate mousse cake and apple pie. This is the 26th Thanksgiving Day of the restaurant.
Time: 1pm to 7pm
Go to: 6 Roosevelt Ave., Chatham; 973-701-0303, restaurantserenade.com.
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Stern & Bow’s three-course meal is a bit New Orleans. Appetizers include New Orleans gumbo and char-grilled oysters. For your main course, choose turkey, brancino, steak or pasta. Dessert is pumpkin pie, brownie or bread pudding.
Time: Seats available at noon, 2pm, 4pm and 6pm
Go to: 171 Schraalenburgh Road, Closter; 201-250-3350, sternandbowrestaurant.com.
Ventanas: 200 Park Ave., Fort Lee; 201-583-4777, ventanasatthemodern.com.
Son Cubano: 40-4 Riverwalk Place, West New York; 201-399-2020, soncubanonj.com.
Molos Restaurant: 1 Pershing Road, Weehawken; 201-223-1200, molosrestaurant.com. Open from noon to 9 pm
What did we miss? If more restaurants open on Thanksgiving, please email kingr@northjersey.com and we will update our online list.
Rebecca King is a food writer for NorthJersey.com. For more information on where to eat and drink, subscribe and sign up for our North Jersey Eats newsletter today.