The Thanksgiving Rundown

Relax and enjoy an exquisite, three-course Thanksgiving menu of seasonal specialties from Aujourd’hui and chef Ed Gannon. Highlights from the Thanksgiving Day menu, which will be served from 11:00am-8:00pm, include pumpkin soup with cinnamon sugar straws; grilled swordfish with whipped sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts and smoked onions, chestnut-Madeira emulsion; grilled saddle of lamb with acorn squash, macomber turnip and rosemary potatoes, roasted shallot jus; a vegetarian Thanksgiving assiette, and executive pastry chef Tim Fonseca’s warm chocolate truffle tart with maple-walnut ice cream, bourbon crème anglaise. Dinner costs $75 per person and $38 for children under 12. Call 617.351.2037 for reservations and more information.

Chef Robert Fathman has put together a special three-course Thanksgiving Day prix-fixe menu that will be served at Azure from 11:30am-4:00pm. For $50 per person (excluding liquor, tax and gratuity) choose from appetizers like roasted pumpkin soup with spicy chorizo nuggets of love, fried sage, maple cream; or crispy skinned duck leg with white beans, arugula salad and double blanched garlic. Entrees range from the more traditional like roast turkey breast stuffed with figs and cipollini onions, turkey confit stuffing, orange-cranberry sauce, brussel sprouts and maple glazed yams to the slightly-more-out-of-the-ordinary like sautéed parmesan crusted skate with crabmeat-soubise stuffing, celery root puree and “hashed” fall vegetables. Choose from desserts like warm cardamom pear soup or individually sized pumpkin, pecan and apple pies. For reservations, call 617.933.4800.

Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro will be open for lunch from 11:30am–1:00pm and then again from 1:00-9:00pm serving a special $39 three course Thanksgiving menu. Chef Bejamin Knack will be offering choices like gnocchi with butternut sqush, sage and brown butter; Long Island duckling with lady apples wild rice and cider glaze; and bourbon bread pudding. For traditionalists, there’ll be a roasted turkey breast with autumn vegetables, traditional stuffing and cranberry compote; and pumpkin pie. Call 617.723.7575 for reservations.

Grill 23 & Bar will be open from 1:00-10:00pm on Thanksgiving and offering their a la carte menu as well as a specially designed four-course prix fixe menu for $60 per person. Chef Jay Murray has come up with some seasonal specialties for the holiday menu: maple roasted butternut squash soup with Maine lobster, golden raisins & toasted almonds; crisp autumn greens with Rawson Brook goat’s cheese & crispy bits; and cedar roasted turkey with traditional Thanksgiving accompaniments; and pumpkin tart with vanilla steeped cranberries. Call 617.542.2255.

Thanksgiving dinner at The Harvest will be served from 1:00-8:00pm and guests can have either three courses for $55 or four courses for $65. Chef Eric Brennan’s offerings for the afternoon and evening include butternut squash bisque with foie gras-black truffle butter dumpling; New England clam chowder; and warm Vermont cheddar charlotte chipotle spiced three bean salad. Entrée items include roast free range turkey with chestnut-cornbread dressing, honey sweetened cranberries, maple sugar baked acorn squash, buttermilk mashed potatoes and smoked giblet gravy; and braised lamb shank with autumn root vegetables, delicata squash polenta. For dessert, choose among desserts like pumpkin pie with cranberry coulis and spiced syrup; double chocolate tart with espresso cream and candied orange zest; and apple pot pie with burnt sugar ice cream. Call the Harvest at 617.868.2255 for reservations.

There is a Thanksgiving celebration to please every palate and every schedule at Le Méridien. From a bountiful brunch buffet in Café Fleuri, to an elegant four-course dinner in Julien, to an expertly prepared Turkey-Take-Out meal serving up to 10 people, the culinary team at Le Méridien, led by executive chef Daniel Kenney will go to any length to ensure that your Thanksgiving celebration is memorable. The cost of the Thanksgiving Day brunch in Café Fleuri is $55 for adults, including a glass of sparkling wine, $20 for children 12 and under and free for children four and under. The cost for dinner in Julien is $71 for adults, $29 for children 12 and under and free for children four and under. Turkey-Take-Out allows for pick-up on Thanksgiving Day between the hours of 9:00am and 2:00pm. Orders will be taken until November 24th or while supplies last. So call

After last year’s inaugural and extremely successful Thanksgiving at L’Espalier, chef Frank McClelland and company have decided to celebrate the holiday this year with a special six-course menu. On the menu for the afternoon and evening roasted Long Island cheese pumpkin, French butter pear and Maine lobster; roasted cod loin in wild mushroom, Wellfleet clam and house smoked bacon; Pot roasted goose in young turnips and pearl onions with apples and sage fritter; pomegranate jus and L’Espalier’s Thanksgiving Grand Dessert (roasted pumpkin crème brulée, cranberry pecan tart, dark chocolate mousse cake) just to name a few. There will be four seatings throughout the afternoon and evening, the first at 12:30. The cost is $75 per person; add $113 for the vintners tasting. Space is extremely limited, so call 617.262.3023 for more information and to make reservations.

It’s your last chance to have Thanksgiving dinner at Maison Robert; they’ll be closing their doors in February. Join them in the Main Dining Room between 1:00 and 8:00pm for a four-course menu from chef Ken Duckworth. Dinner costs $75 per person ($29 for children under 12) and will feature choices like smoked wild salmon terrine with salmon roe, petite herb salad; grilled quail with curly endive, quinoa and pomegranate; roast turkey with apple sage stuffing, creamed kale, cranberry relish; and warm upside-down apple tart with Chantilly cream. Call 617.227.3370 for reservations and additional information.

Ristorante Marino will be celebrating the holiday with some additions to Luigi Marra’s regular menu. Look for specials like veal scaloppini stuffed with spinach and mozzarella in a mushroom sauce served with homemade spinach gnocchi tossed with sundried tomatoes and gorgonzola cheese. Thanksgiving purists needn’t worry ‘though. Among the specials: natural raised turkey with chestnut stuffing served with whipped potatoes, roasted acorn and butternut squash and cranberry sauce. Make your reservations – any time between 12:00-9:00pm – by calling 617.868.5454.

Sandrine’s will be offering a holiday prix fixe menu on Thanksgiving from 12:00-8:00pm for $47 per person. Choose from chef Raymond Ost’s Alsatian-influenced appetizers like pumpkin and butternut squash veloute; and Alsatian oysters with fresh spinach, crispy lardons. Entrée options include maple roasted turkey chestnut stuffing, haricot vert, yellow beets, buttermilk mashed potatoes, giblet gravy & fresh cranberry & plum relish and Chilean sea bass fall vegetables, pumpkin puree, Riesling sauce. Save room for pastry chef Lee Napoli’s Pumpkin Trio. Call Sandrine’s at 617.497.5300 for more information.

For Tosca’s Thanksgiving celebration chef Kevin Long has added some specials to the menu that’ll keep everyone happy. Flash seared Cape Cod bay scallops over Yukon potato mousse with upland cress and pancetta vinaigrette; maple sugar brined turkey breast with fresh cranberries, smoked bacon stuffing and Yukon mashed potatoes; gently smoked pork porterhouse chop with crisp potato, mustard greens and whole grain mustard gravy. They’ll be accepting reservations between 12:00-7:00pm. Call 781.740.0080 for reservations and additional information.

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