Thanksgiving to-go and restaurant options for 2020 in Hampton Roads
Thanksgiving is strange this year. Many who might otherwise wander off to dine with family are now looking for other options to eat their turkey at home, or to find socially distanced meals still available during the pandemic.
For those not cooking for the holiday, here are a few spots where you get your Thanksgiving feast on anyway, from take-home microwaveable turkey dinners to take-home prime rib feasts for the family. The list, needless to say, is far from exhaustive — and only options still available as of press time are included.
Staple restaurants
Todd Jurich’s Bistro, long a Norfolk Thanksgiving destination, will indeed be open from noon to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving. But for those reluctant (or unable) to score a reservation, you can also order a full meal for two or four to go, to be picked up Wednesday. This will include a brined turkey ready to hit the oven and a world of classic sides, with still more sides and appetizers as options. Full to-go dinner $90 for two or $160 for four. 150. W Main St., Norfolk. Reserve tables or to-go dinners at 757-622-3210.
At the Oceanfront, The Shack is offering a brined, herb-stuffed, 12- to 14-pound turkey for the downright economical price of $40, with options on fixins from she-crab soup quarts ($16) to sweet potato casserole for eight ($18). 712 Atlantic Ave, Virginia Beach, 757-319-5146. Check out the menu and order before Nov. 23 at theshackvb.com/thanksgiving.
In Newport News, Schlesinger’s Steakhouse won’t leave you hanging on their annual turkey day dinners, with both dine-in and to-go options. Three-course meals with four sides, a starter and dessert run $33 for ham, $36 for turkey, and $42 for prime rib or sea bass. 1106 William Styron Square, Newport News. Order by Nov. 25 at 757-599-4700. Dine-in also available at comparable pricing, reservations recommended.
Can’t decide among steak, ham or turkey? The Butcher’s Son in Chesapeake or Virginia Beach will serve you all three, on a $55 platter with sides and dessert — for either dine-in or takeout. Kids eat for $15. 500 S. Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake, 757-410-5466; 1556 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach, 757-500-7550, butcherson.com. Call ahead to reserve dine-in or takeout.
Going big but staying home on the Peninsula? At Second Street Bistro in Williamsburg or Newport News, a prime rib dinner for four will run you $185 with four sides and dessert included, or $130 if you prefer turkey breast or ham. 115 Arthur Way, Newport News, 757-234-4448; 140 Second St., Williamsburg. Menu at secondst.com. Order by Nov. 23.
In central Virginia Beach, Old Beach Tavern will send you out with a meal for four for a cool $99: a whole turkey, stuffing, collards, cranberries, pumpkin pie, you name it. Order by Nov. 23 at oldbeachtavern@gmail.com or 757-498-1112. 3020 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, oldbeachtavern.com.
The hotel Thanksgivings
Couldn’t get a reservation on any other day this year? On Thanksgiving Day, seats are still open as of press time at Orion’s Roof at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront Marriott, with a special a la carte menu including Peking-style roast duck and dessert sushi. 4201 Atlantic Ave., Virginia Beach, Follow reservations link atorionsroofvb.com.
Across the street, the Hunt Room will be open for regular business hours, with a traditional $75 prix-fixe Thanksgiving meal alongside the regular menu. 4200 Atlantic Ave., Virginia Beach. Reservations at 757-333-6727 or huntroomvb.com/reservations.
At The Main in Norfolk, spacious upper-deck restaurant Grain will offer its annual all-day Thanksgiving brunch buffet with a raw bar, prime rib, pork loin and a whole bunch of sides. Live music will play in the afternoon. On the bottom floor of The Main, Saltine will be open for business as usual, with added turkey day specials. 100 E. Main St, Norfolk. $37 for adults, $17.50 for kids younger than 12. Reservations for Grain at opentable.com/r/grain-norfolk. Reservations for Saltine at bit.ly/BookSaltineOTTO.
In Virginia Beach, Founders Inn and Spa will be running a social distanced, daylong buffet with turkey, pot roast, brisket and a world of oysters, but this year it’ll run a little differently: Guests will be called up to the buffet one at a time, with gloves and wax paper provided to keep utensils sanitary. 11 am to 8 p.m., 5641 Indian River Road, Virginia Beach. $39.95 adults, $18.95 children ages 5 to 12. Reservations at 757-366-5777.
To-go meals for one or two
Stuck solo or down to a couple on Thanksgiving during the pandemic? You can still get a turkey dinner to eat during your Zoom chat with the extended family. Star Spangle Catering in Virginia Beach offers pick-up of individual, microwavable turkey dinners with five sides for $20.20 apiece. 2500 S. Independence Blvd., Virginia Beach. Order by Nov. 22 at 757-471-2472. Pickup Nov. 24 or 25.
The Hound’s Tale in Williamsburg also will hook up singletons and pairs with Thanksgiving dinners: Four sides, your choice of pie, and options on leg of lamb, cornish hen or Edwards smoked ham. 515 Prince George St., Williamsburg. Order by Nov. 21 at 757-221-6678.
In Norfolk or Chesapeake, Mack’s Barge and Grill will offer a pick-up personal feast, at $25 a person for turkey breast, taters, beans stuffing and pie. 4300 Colley Ave., Norfolk, 757-578-2103; 801 N. Battlefield Blvd., Chesapeake,757-410-5790. Call in orders by the day before Thanksgiving, for pickup noon to 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.
Fixins for the feast
If you’ve got your meats, or if you didn’t want any meats, Stockpot in Norfolk and Virginia Beach will hook you up with creative and artisan sides for pickup, including miso-glazed sweet potato casserole, butternut squash soup, creamed local collards and bacon, and of course house-baked rolls and pies. 215 E Plume St., Norfolk, 757-227-3337 ; 700 19th St, Virginia Beach,757-995-7197. Menu at https://www.facebook.com/thestockpotnorfolk. To order, email amber@stockpotsoups.com by Nov. 19, and specify pickup location.
The delivered local dinner
Suffolk farm-to-stoop company The Neighborhood Harvest, which has been delivering local produce to area homes all through the pandemic, will also deliver you a full Thanksgiving dinner throughout the region. This includes a 14 to 16-pound, local (uncooked) organic turkey for $62.99, but also a whole host of desserts and pies from Baker’s Crust, and fins from stuffing to collards to mac and cheese and multiple preparations of potato. Order at theneighborhoodharvest.com. Turkey available for ordering Nov. 16 to 20.
Through their catering service Cuisine, Taste Unlimited will also offer massive Thanksgiving feasts, with a full meal for 6 priced at $199 — and plenty of a la carte options, with turkey or ham priced at $17.99 a pound. Pickup locations are all over Hampton Roads, or delivery on the south side for $25 extra. Check out menu and delivery options at cuisinecaters.com. Orders must be placed by Nov. 21.
The smoked turkeys
In Newport News, Smoke BBQ also has their usual array of Thanksgiving meats: smoked turkeys both large and small, prime rib, and hickory-smoked spiral hams. Sides can be yours by the quart or gallon. 10900 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, 757-595-4320. Orders must be in by Nov. 24. Menu at smokenn.com/thanksgivingdinner.
In Norfolk, Redwood Smoke Shack is sold out of its 13-pound smoked turkeys, but you can whole pork butts and briskets, plus an array of platters and sides. 2001 Manteo St., Norfolk, 757-624-1000. Order by Nov. 21 from the menu at toasttab.com/redwood-smoke-shack.
Prefer your smoke as cold as your revenge? In Suffolk, get a cold-smoked turkey from River Stone Chophouse for $60, plus an option on yeast rolls and sweet pastries and breads. 8032 Harbour View Blvd., Suffolk, 757-638-7990, riverstonechophouse.com.
The beer turkey
Virginia Beach’s New Realm Brewing will have a whole beer-brined 10 to 12-pound turkey, a dozen rolls, gravy, mashed taters, casserole and pie all ready for you for $180. Order in advance before Nov. 22, by e-mailing ctavarez@newrealmbrewing.com or call 757-302-8550. 1209 Craft Lane, Virginia Beach, newrealmbrewing.com.
The mighty turducken
Need your turkey stuffed with a chicken that’s been stuffed with a duck? Who doesn’t! In Suffolk, Vintage Tavern will feed your hankering for the whole aviary, with a $100 dinner that will feed four, including sides and pecan pie. 1900 Governors Pointe Drive, Suffolk, 757- 238-8808, vintagetavernvirginia.com. Call in your order by Nov. 18 for pickup the day before Thanksgiving.
Matthew Korfhage, 757-446-2318, matthew.korfhage@pilotonline.com
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