There’s a lot of stress that comes with holiday hosting — cleaning and decorating the house, preparing an elaborate meal, and washing piles upon piles of dishes. To avoid the commotion and enjoy the holiday with a nice meal that you’re not responsible for preparing, make a reservation for Thanksgiving dinner at one of these seven NoVA restaurants.
2941
This three-course prix fixe offers an elevated take on the holiday meal. Choose an appetizer like a tuna tartare or mushroom raviolini. For an entrée, you can get turkey breast on its own or pair it with butter-poached lobster in the Earth & Ocean. Vegetarians can opt for a spinach tagliatelle “carbonara” with king oyster mushrooms. 2941 Fairview Park Dr., Falls Church, $105 per person
BARCA Pier & Wine Bar
Instead of prix fixe, this waterside tapas restaurant will offer Thanksgiving specials in addition to its regular menu. Try the turkey kofte with mint, cinnamon, cranberry chutney, and garlic yogurt or the crispy brussels sprouts with sweet potatoes, Aleppo-cinnamon honey, and whipped feta. Wash it all down with a warm cider spiked with Catoctin Creek whiskey. 2 Pioneer Mill Way, Alexandria, prices vary
Founding Farmers
Founding Farmers will offer a Thanksgiving prix fixe at all of its locations. The turkey is sourced from a sustainable farm in Pennsylvania that has provided the turkey for the White House Thanksgiving for 50 years. Or to mix things up, opt for an alternate entrée like fried chicken, salmon, or veggie loaf. Main courses are accompanied with all the classis sides, and there’s a list of 10 different desserts. Take home the leftover kit with turkey breast, stuffing, potatoes, and gravy for an extra $75 (serves four) so you don’t miss out on leftover sandwiches. Seatings 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Multiple area locations, $45 per person, $20 for kids 12 and under
Gadsby’s Tavern Restaurant
You can choose to either fly solo in the restaurant or eat family style in the 19th century ballroom. Either way, you’ll have a choice of a turkey-and-ham dinner with all the fixings or an herb-crusted rockfish filet with potatoes and vegetables, and pecan or pumpkin pie for dessert. Restaurant seatings are at 12 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Ballroom seatings are at 12 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m. 400 Cameron St., Alexandria, $68 per person, $34 for kids 12 and under
L’Auberge Chez François
Enjoy seven courses at this special holiday experience. Start off with bread and an amuse-bouche, then an appetizer like la cassolette de joues de boeuf — Wagyu beef cheeks with wild mushrooms — or a Roquefort cheese tart. The turkey is from Whiffletree farm and prepared with a family recipe, but other entrée options include seafood, streak, and lamb delicacies. Seatings 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m., 3 p.m.–4:30 p.m., 6 p.m.–8 p.m. 332 Springvale Rd., Great Falls, $122–$132 per person, $75 for kids 12 and under
Sfoglina Pasta House
The holiday menu at this Italian spot is simple and streamlined, but no less decadent. Go for either a turkey dinner with stuffing, green beans, and whipped potatoes, or a pasta with butternut squash, sage, and toasted walnuts. For dessert, indulge in a personal pumpkin pie with vanilla Chantilly cream. Seatings 2 p.m.–8 p.m. There’s also a Thanksgiving box for two or four that you can pick up for $145 or $275. 1100 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, prices vary
Trummer’s
Trummer’s will host a family-style Thanksgiving meal with an autumn kale salad, sweet potato casserole, and pretzel bread stuffing. You can choose two entrées to share with the table, like turkey, porchetta, branzino, or butternut squash risotto. Desserts are pumpkin pie and a bourbon pecan bread pudding with whiskey caramel and vanilla ice cream. Trummer’s will have meals to go that you can pick up on November 23. 7134 Main St., Clifton, $90 per person, $39 for kids 12 and under
Feature image of Founding Farmers by Ken Fletcher
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