WASHINGTON — Thanksgiving is just around the corner, so if you are planning to dine out in D.C. for your holiday feast, the time to make a reservation is now.
Actually, Eater D.C. Editor Missy Frederick said the best time to book was “probably five minutes ago.”
Part of the reason for the rush is that not every D.C-area restaurant is open on Thanksgiving and tables fill up quickly, Frederick said.
While some of the open restaurants offer the classic turkey and buffet meal, she said, others put a twist on the traditional.
“Blue Duck Tavern is a great place if you want to find turkey along with a big buffet and lots of choices like that,” she said. “But other restaurants try to do a bit of a different spin. For example, you have places like Osteria Morini, which gives a more Italian spin on their Thanksgiving offerings. If someone really wants something different, they can go to the Bombay Club which has an Indian kind of take on Thanksgiving dinner. ”
Those eating out this Thanksgiving should be sure to check the restaurant’s menu for that day, Frederick said.
“A lot of places won’t offer their regular menu,” she said. “They’ll just have a prix fixe dinner.”
Having a nice meal at a restaurant on Thanksgiving doesn’t have to break the bank, either.
“If you look at Carmine’s, for example, in Penn Quarter, they offer a big feast for 8 people and it comes out to $250,” Frederick said. “But when you divide that up, that’s really only about $30 per person when you share everything, so that’s a pretty good deal.”
There also are pricier options, she said, but they don’t disappoint.
“You might go somewhere like Bourbon Steak, where it’s $115 per person for their dinner, or Blue Duck Tavern’s buffet is $110,” she said. “They’re both really nice spreads, but they are not the most budget friendly.”
Eater D.C.’s guide highlighting 20 D.C.-area restaurants that are offering Thanksgiving dinner this year can be found here.
WTOP’s Rich Johnson contributed to this report.
