Thanksgiving: Order up!

For those of you who plan to let others do the heavy lifting this Thanksgiving, Richmond restaurants are ready and willing to help you out — some the day of and some that will even come to you! Take a look-see…

November 24, 2010; 9:00 PM • by Holly Gordon

I’ve done every iteration of Thanksgiving there is: the big extended family from multiple states; the nuclear family; the stepkids; one with orphan friends; alone where I tried to cook on my own (and failed miserably); out at a fancy restaurant with a friend’s (or boyfriend’s) family who adopted me for the day. This year I’ll be joining forces with close friends, and we’ll be cooking for ourselves, which I’m looking forward to greatly.

For those of you looking to let others do the heavy lifting this year, Richmond restaurants are ready and willing to help you out. I’ve tried to compile as many Thanksgiving dinner options for you as possible — if you want to dress up and go out, if you just want to reheat at home, and even if you want your meal brought right to your door!

Amuse in the VMFA is open Thanksgiving Day for a meal costing $48 per person (plus tax) followed by a gallery tour. Appetizers include scallops, spinach salad with roasted pumpkin, or butternut squash bisque with maple crème fraiche. Entrees include roasted turkey breast with fixings, grilled pork loin with mashed sweet potatoes, or shrimp and sauté of kale. Desserts are apple-cranberry strudel, pumpkin pie with maple whipped cream, or molasses ginger pound cake with raspberries and fresh cream. Call 804-340-1580 to make a reservation.

BokaTruck will be running Thanksgiving specials for the next few weeks, wherever the truck is summoned. Dishes include herb-turkey confit with candied cranberries, butternut squash-bacon “risotto”, fish with persimmon chutney, and more, in tako, torpedo, burrito, quesadilla, or dumpling form. However, Boka will be closed Thanksgiving Day. Call 703-303-5384 or follow on Twitter @BokaTruck to find them.

Bouchon will offer a French twist on Thanksgiving from noon to 8pm. Join chef Francis and bartender Olivier for a classy and intimate dining experience. Adults are $38, children $15. Call 804-225-9116 for reservations.

Ellwood Thompson is closed Thanksgiving Day, but they are offering an extensive take out menu of local-organic and free-roaming turkeys, all-natural ham, local-organic ducks, and organic, farm-raised Scottish salmon. Eight types of side dishes are $6.99 per pound, and six kinds of homemade soups are $10.99 a quart. Vegan cakes, homemade pies, and homemade breads are also available. Call 804-359-7525 or stop by their website for more info.

Globehopper Coffeehouse & Lounge will also be closed Thanksgiving Day but will be open Black Friday to prep you for holiday shopping, serving up hot-off-the-cast-iron poffertjes and offering the last days of their homemade Pumpkin Redux Signature Beverage. Call 804-523-8083 for details.

(Lemaire and TJ’s at the Jefferson Hotel are already booked. No surprise there.)

Olio provides all of their Thanksgiving dishes in no-fuss, no-cleanup reheatable containers with full reheating instructions. All are made 100% from scratch and to order, and they are open to special needs or requests. Orders should be placed by Friday, November 19th, for best selection. Raw turkeys are also available upon request. They also offer boneless roasted turkey breast for $8 per pound. Most classic sides are $6 a pound. Desserts are $14.95. Orders may be placed by info@oliorichmond.com, calling 804-355-5182, or faxing 804-355-5184.  All orders may be secured by a credit card, and may be picked up all day Wednesday the 24th (other arrangements can be made as well).

Omni Hotel Richmond‘s 
Thanksgiving Day brunch features fancier takes on classics but also an omelet and waffle station, seafood display, carved-to-order station, five kinds of dessert, and a children’s buffet. Adults are $35.95, seniors are $28.95, and kids age 6 to 12 are $15.95. Children under 12 free. 20% gratuity added to all checks. Call 804-344-7000 to make a reservation.

Tarrant’s will be open their regular hours with regular menu, plus Thanksgiving specials and a turkey dinner for $21.95. Call 804-225-0035.

The Tobacco Company has a surprisingly affordable Harvest Dinner at $24.95 for adults and $11.95 for children 12 and under — your choice of roast turkey breast or cherrywood baked ham and all your favorite sides, including Southern cornbread stuffing. Other menus items are also available that day. Call 804-782-9555 for a reservation.

Urban Farmhouse will deliver from 6:30am to 1pm on Thanksgiving Day, as long as you put in your order ahead of time. They’re also currently sponsoring a canned food drive for St. Paul’s Church. Keep an eye out for their new menu the Monday after the holiday. Call 804-325-3988 with questions or to place your order.

Know of any other Richmond restaurants catering to the culinarily-challenged/lazy/burnt out this Thanksgiving? Email us at info@rvanews.com to fill us in!

November 24, 2010 9:00 PM 0