No muss and fuss for you if you celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas out of the house. Here in Orlando, restaurants in probably every hotel will be serving up a turkey dinner on November 28, and most chain outlets will be open too, especially in the tourist corridor. Ditto minus the guaranteed turkey on December 25. If you want a meal with more character – the real kind, not the Mickey kind – check out these venues. I’ll keep adding on to the curated list.
(Scroll down to find the Christmas Orlando 2019 section.)
Thanksgiving in Orlando 2019
DoveCote Restaurant
This sophisticated chef-owned brasserie in the heart of downtown Orlando will serve a Thanksgiving buffet from 11:30am to 5:30pm. $59.95/$29.95. You can also order a meal to go. Turkey with “fixins” are $129. The link with details is worth checking out.
Paddlefish
Levy Restaurants operates this massive seafood restaurant at Disney Springs, and this year it will offer a traditional turkey dinner with herb-roasted turkey breast, chourico (I guess that’s Brazilian chorizo sausage) cornbread stuffing, whipped potatoes, green beans, cranberry relish and pan gravy. $34/$17.
The Alfond Inn
Boutique hotel The Alfond Inn will host a Thanksgiving buffet with seatings at 1pm and 4pm. The main dishes are roasted turkey with cranberry sauce, herb-garlic stuffed prime rib with horseradish sauce, Parmesan-crusted salmon with rustic tomato sauce, and grilled chickenw tih mushroom ragout. $69/$29 5-12, free parking. Click here to see the full menu and buy tickets.
The Ravenous Pig
Pick up a turkey dinner at this Winter Park gastropub the day before Thanksgiving, then heat and eat it at home. Options include an uncooked turkey breast for four to six people with gravy and cranberry mostarda $(20); whole uncooked turkey for 8 to 10 people, $45; and sides of herb brioche stuffing, mashed potatoes with brown butter, sweet potato casserole with marshmallow fluff, and green beans with mushroom gravy for $15 apiece. A pumpkin pie for 8 to 10 is $24. Order by November 25 at 5 p.m.
Ellie Lou’s Brews & BBQ
Ellie Lou’s is one of those Orlando secrets, a humble little barbecue restaurant with great food and friendly service. It sells Thanksgiving foods to-go before the actual day. You’ll be able to pre-order and pick up a dinner of whole smoked turkey or smoked tavern ham, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, pecan-cornbread stuffing, sweet potato casserole, citrus-cranberry relish, turkey gravy and challah dinner rolls. The price is $130 for five to seven people. Sides alone, and desserts, are available a la carte. Ocoee. 407.347.9515
Cafe Tu Tu Tango
If you’re willing to let the kitchen be creative on Thanksgiving, head to International Drive for a tapas meal with five specialty items. From noon to 9pm, you can order turkey papas rellenas, an autumn salad with apple cider gastrique, duck flatbread with cranberry gastrique, turkey chorizo tacos with smoked sweet potatoes, and pumpkin flan. They range in price from $7 to $12.
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House
Thanksgiving at Del Frisco’s is a bargain, sort of. The chain steakhouse known for top-quality beef and sides has a Thanksgiving menu that’s reasonably priced. Each diner receives a harvest salad or butternut squash soup to start, followed by slow-roasted turkey breast with apple-sausage stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes and chateau potatoes, thin green beans, pan gravy and cranberry relish. Choose pumpkin cheesecake or pecan pie a la mode for dessert. It’s $49. Click here for reservations.
Raglan Road
With its music, dancers, beers and upscale Irish foods, Raglan Road is always fun. The Disney Spring restaurant adds more reasons to visit on Thanksgiving. The key is a special Thanksgiving menu available from 11am to 11pm: butter- and herb-roasted turkey, garlic-mashed potatoes, duck fat “roasties” (I’m thinking roasted potatoes), honey-glazed carrots, bacon-braised Brussels sprouts, sausage-and-walnut stuffing, red wine jus and cranberry sauce. $28.95/$14. Live entertainment 4:30pm to 12:45am. Dine indoors or out.
The H Cuisine
Let’s talk Turkey turkey. The H Cuisine, a Mediterranean restaurant that also serves hefty steaks, will plate up the signature holiday fowl on Thanksgiving. The two-course meal starts with a salad with lemon-oil dressing, then features a plate of roasted dark turkey meat with herbed rice pilaf and charred vegetables. $39.95/$15 12 and under.
Terralina Crafted Italian
Well, yea, it’s Italian, but it’s big and it’s family-friendly and it’s right at Disney Springs with its free parking. Terralina Crafted Italian, another Levy full-service restaurant in Orlando, is adding a traditional Thanksgiving dinner to its regular menu on November 28. Each plate comes with herb-roasted turkey breast, pancetta-apple stuffing, whipped Yukon Gold potatoes, green beans, cranberry relish and rosemary pan gravy. It sounds like all you need, IMO. $33/$16 Reservations.
Orlando Meats
And hey, if you want to roast the best turkey ever, reserve a heritage bird from Orlando Meats, a butcher and cafe. It will sell 10- to 12-pound Black Heritage turkeys from Joyce Farms for $5.95/pound. No antibiotics, humanely processed. Click here for details and to order.
Wine Bar George
If you’re more into quality than quantity – and you’re nut for wine – consider a Wine Bar George visit for your Thanksgiving meal. The Disney Springs wine bar will offer a traditional turkey plate with mashed potatoes, stuffing, seasonal vegetables and cranberry sauce ($34/$16 9 and under) and a short ribs option with mashed red potatoes and caramelized vegetables ($39) in addition to the regular menu. Pumpkin apple crumble ($8) is the specialty dessert. As always, 140 wines will available by the ounce, glass or bottle. Reservations
Canvas Restaurant & Market
Out in Lake Nona on the eastern end of town, Canvas will serve a three-course dinner, and the price depends on which entree you choose: cider-brined slow-roasted turkey with sausage stuffing, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, green beans, citrus-cranberry sauce and turkey gravy ($32) or chili-rubbed Australian Wagyu strip steak with butternut squash hash, corn, black beans and avocado crema ($70). Everyone gets either a salad or Fairytale pumpkin bisque (such a nice name) and pumpkin pie. Children can have a simpler menu for $12. The regular menu will also be available. Reservations
Swine & Sons
The artisan Winter Park deli will sell Thanksgiving foods to go in advance. Heat-and-eat brined and smoked turkey, and herb-rubbed smoked pork loin, are the centerpieces. Add on starters and sides like toasted almond and apricot stuffing, loaded fingerling potato casserole, and ham-biscuit sliders, or buy only them. Click here to see the full menu and prices. Order by November 22, 2019, for pick-up on November 26 or 27. 407.636.3664, catering@swineandsons.com
4 Rivers Smokehouse
If smokey flavors make you happy, consider ordering your Thanksgiving 2019 meal from the 4 Rivers Smokehouse closest to home. Order by November 23 and you can have whole smoked turkey, smoked Angus brisket, boneless leg of salmon, smoked salmon and/or prime rib for your holiday table, as well as sides and pies. A $52.50 “fixins” basket for four to six people includes a quart each of items also available individually – mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato casserole, cornbread stuffing and southern green beans, plus a pint of cranberry chutney. Entree prices vary.
Cuisiniers Catering
As always, Cuisiniers will cook up a wide variety of Thanksgiving dishes. The fresh free-range turkey with herb mirepoix, stuffed and ready to roast, plus two quarts of gravy is $6.25/pound plus tax. Add on the house bloody mary mix, roasted heirloom carrots, cranberry relish with oranges, mac ‘n’ cheese or any number of other sides and pies. Order the turkey by November 15, the rest by November 20. Delivery to most areas is $45. Email me for the full menu or contact Cuisiniers at 407.975.8763 or info@cuisinierscater.com.
1921 Mount Dora
It’s cozy, stylish and quirky at once, decorated with items from the neighboring Modernism Museum. For Thanksgiving, this restaurant featuring modern Florida cuisine will serve at traditional dinner from noon to 6. Choose from stuffed smoked turkey breast with turkey-apple sausage or citrus-honey glazed ham. Either will be served with milk buns and artisanal butter, grilled green beans with mushroom cream and crispy shallots, cornbread stuffing, and candied pumpkin with cranberries. A variety of pies and ice creams will finish the meal. $55. Reserve at 352.385.1921
Wolgang Puck Bar & Grill at Disney Springs
The bright New American spot will serve a four-course Thanksgiving 2019 dinner. Start with roasted pear and parsnip soup, then continue with Honeycrisp apple salad, and turkey with Yukon mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cranberry ranch, mushroom and leek stuffing, housemade gravy,and pumpkin pie. $49. You can get just the turkey dinner for $37; kids are $15. Click here for reservations.
Chez Vincent and Hannibal’s
The French Chez Vincent and its American lounge Hannibal’s share a space in Winter Park, and for Thanksgiving they’ll share a menu. Order a la carte. Choose from three soups ($.650 or $7), such as cream of butternut squash, and seven appetizers ($9 to $14), including sauteed frog legs or quail, crap cake or escargot. For the entree, choose a traditional turkey dinner with sauteed turkey breast, potato puree, vegetables, and a country Dijon sauce or a cranberry-Port wine sauce; it’s $24. Other options include rack of lamb, duck a l’orange, venison or trout almandine. Among the six desserts is pumpkin brulee. Kid meals go for $13. Email me for the full menu.
Chroma
Also owned by the Tavistock Restaurant Collection out in Lake Nona, the tapas-style Chroma will be open all day, and will offer Thanksgiving options in addition to its regular food. Choices: turkey roulade with brioche stuffing and turkey gravy ($15), lamb tenderloin with prosciutto, butternut squash mousse and red wine ($23), triple butter-mashed potatoes with roasted garlic, green onion and sea salt (9), and brioche stuffing with bacon and herbs ($7). Apple pie and pumpkin cheesecake will be available for $4.50 apiece from Thanksgiving through December 1. Reservations
Christmas in Orlando 2019
Wine Bar George
From 11 a.m. on, the Disney Springs wine bar that has wonderful food will serve special foods along with its 140 wines, all available by the glass and bottle, many also by the ounce. Toast the holiday with Santa Carota short ribs, red wine-braised chicken, and chocolate ginger cake with housemade peppermint ice cream, which is pictured at the top of this blog post. The short ribs are right above this paragraph. The regular menu will also be available.
Cafe Tu Tu Tango
Creative tapas restaurant Cafe Tu Tu Tango, on International Drive, hopes to lure revelers with short rib empanadas, turkey sliders and red velvet “flancocho,” among others. These items are $9 to $11. The regular menu will also be served. Nearby, the same owners will serve a three-course Christmas meal at Mia’s Italian Kitchen Orlando. Start with a salad or chevre-beet raviolo. Entrees are spaghetti al vino rosso, fennel-rubbed pork loin or chargrilled swordfish. For dessert, select tiramisu or pannetone bread pudding with vanilla gelato.
The Lake Nona Restaurants
Chroma, and Canvas Restaurant & Market, two Lake Nona restaurants, will both be open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Both will offer special holiday foods from December 23 through January 1. Canvas: scallop crudo and AACO Waygu strip steak. Chroma: Risotto with smoked and braised ham hock, Wagyu New York strip steak, oven-roasted sea bass, and mini pumpkin cheesecake and mini apple pie.
Paddlefish
Embrace the Disney Springs restaurant’s seafood specialty with a king and snow crab boil. It’ll have Dutch Harbor king crab, Canadian snow crab, sweet corn, red potatoes and cornbread. $60
Raglan Road
A stroll away, Irish megapub Raglan Road will offer its full menu plus a special one, the same as for Thanksgiving: butter- and herb-roasted turkey, garlic-mashed potatoes, duck fat “roasties” (I’m thinking roasted potatoes), honey-glazed carrots, bacon-braised Brussels sprouts, sausage-and-walnut stuffing, red wine jus and cranberry sauce. $28.95/$14. Live entertainment 4:30pm to 12:45am. Dine indoors or out.
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
The Orlando unit of this iconic steakhouse will searing its steaks from 3pm to 8pm on Christmas Day. Indulge in any kind of dinner you want, as many selections will be available. Prices are a la carte. Click here for reservations.