Even though Dr. Bonnie Henry has told British Columbians we can still go ahead with our at-home celebrations - gathering at the table with our tiny bubble of loved ones - it's clear that our "Turkey Day" is going to go down a lot differently.
With smaller gatherings in, massive family feasts are out. So long to those long tables loaded with potluck holiday dishes, or piles of sides and a turkey that feeds 20 people. Will that mean more holiday cooks stepping out of the kitchen and heading to their phones or laptops to order up a take-out feast for two, four, or six?
If you count yourself among those skipping the cooking, here are a slew of Vancouver restaurants that will do the cooking for you, whether you choose to dine-in (tables of six or fewer only) or do take-out. Thanks to Vancouver's diverse dining scene, Thanksgiving offerings include everything from tried-and-true classics to veggie and vegan feasts, to meals featuring flavours from Latin America or Asia. There's even a Turducken - because why not?
Happy gobbling!
Juke
Photo courtesy Juke Fried Chicken
Juke Fried Chicken has their Turducken Feast back on for this holiday. The Turducken Feast is available for $159 plus tax, feeds four hungry adults and includes a full turducken — a three-in-one showstopper of a centrepiece that features roasted turkey, duck and chicken — an array of hearty, homespun (and, in true Juke fashion, gluten-free) sides, as well as detailed written and video instructions from Juke Chef and Co-Owner Bryan Satterford. The sides include Scalloped Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts with Bacon Jam, Roasted Squash with Carrots and Pumpkin-seed Dukkah, Jalapeño Cornbread with Whipped Schmaltz, Honey and Thyme, Cranberry Sauce, Turkey Gravy. Orders can be placed online. Order online and pick up between Oct. 9-11.
H Tasting Lounge
The Thanksgiving Turkey Takeout (traditionally offered through H2 Rotisserie & Bar) has returned, with a decadent feast fit for 6-8 people. The menu includes: Rossdown Farms free-range turkey breast and confit thigh; Bayshore honey and herb glazed winter vegetables; roasted garlic and parmesan brussels sprouts; goat cheese and chive mashed potatoes; fig and brioche stuffing; sage pan gravy and cranberry relish; and, house pumpkin pie stacked with caramel rum whipped cream – all for $325. Those with fewer guests to feed can partake in the festivities with a Thanksgiving Carvery To-Go, available for $45 per person (two-person minimum required). Available for pick-up on October 11 and 12. Book your order through Tock.
Dine-In Thanksgiving Feast: On Oct. 11 and 12 you can opt to dine-in for Thanksgiving. For $29, you'll enjoy roasted Rossdown Farms free-range turkey breast, cranberry compote, root vegetable pave, and thyme jus. For an additional $11, satisfy your sweet tooth with pumpkin white chocolate cheesecake topped with spiced cream and candied pecans. Reserve your table through Tock.
JOEY
Let JOEY do all the work, and you get all the credit. Get all the tried and true Thanksgiving classics with an elevated twist. JOEY's Thanksgiving 2020 kit serves up to six people with optional add-ons including sommelier-recommended wine pairings. The kit includes: Fall kale salad; Warm dinner rolls with creamy butter; Oven-roasted turkey breast with turkey gravy; Caramelized apple & sage stuffing; Cranberry sauce with orange zest; Roasted garlic mashed potatoes; Butter glazed harvest carrots and yams; Steamed broccoli and cauliflower with currants and almonds; Freshly-baked apple and bourbon cherry pie; and Maple syrup ice cream. Pre-order online by October 4 and you can schedule a pick-up for anytime Oct 9-12.
El Santo
Photo courtesy El Santo
New West's El Santo has two take-home Turkey Day meals on offer - one is a vegetarian option as a nod to their just-shuttered Amaranthus. The meal kits include all the fixings as well as simple heating instructions for pick up in-restaurant on Sunday, Oct. 11. Both options generously feed four with a high probability of leftovers - exactly what Thanksgiving is all about. For $150 plus taxes, the meat option features an achiote-rubbed turkey galantine with sides including house-made chips and salsa; Amaranthus’ fried Brussels Sprouts with gremolata and pumpkin seed hummus; creamy mushroom risotto; and crispy potato pavé. For dessert it's churros with dulce de leche.
The vegetarian version of the Thanksgiving spread ($95) includes a caramelized sunchoke terrine, fried Brussels Sprouts with gremolata and pumpkin seed hummus, coffee roasted beets with pickled beet stems and a beet top chimichurri, crispy potato pavé with rosemary and thyme, creamy mushroom risotto, and churros. Upgrade your feast by adding the el Santo Tequila Kit, comprised of your choice of tequila, el Santo margarita mix, a bottle of Cointreau, a cocktail shaker, and house-made garnishes. Choose between the Cazadores Tequila Blanco or the Sombra Mezcal Artesanal priced at $100 and $130 respectively.
Order the take-home feast via email at [email protected] or by phone at 604-727-8176. Order cut-off is Thursday, Oct. 8 at 1 pm with pick-up available on Sunday, Oct. 11 from 2-5 p.m. For those who prefer to dine in, a plated individual version of the Thanksgiving feature, minus the mushroom risotto, will be available for dinner service on Sunday, October 11 at $28 and $26.
Dockside Restaurant
Enjoy delicious turkey and fixings with none of the prep and cleanup, and dine at Dockside at Granville Island. Served Oct. 10, 11, and 12, the $39.95 menu includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, gravy, and cranberry sauce. More portions of the sides, or additional ones, like Brussel sprouts or yams, are available as add-ons for $8-10. For dessert, house-made pumpkin pie for $8. To reserve, call 604-685-7070 or visit the Dockside website.
Belgard Kitchen
Enjoy Belgard's annual Thanksgiving feast in the restaurant or at home (as a meal kit). Trading their long-table "orphan's" dinner for some 2020-appropriate options, the Railtown eatery will dish up a sit-down meal for groups of up to six Oct. 10-12 featuring turkey two ways (stuffed and rolled breast and confit legs) with gravy and cranberry sauce; twice-baked rosemary and goat cheese bread pudding; mashed potatoes; roasted root veggies; pumpkin mousse with caramelized white chocolate. For the meal kits, Belgard has a $65 meal for two that has minimal prep, and stars the same dishes that are in the dine-in menu. Plus you can add-on beer or wine, or a donation to the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society or Mealshare. Order the kits online and pick up on Sunday, Oct. 11. Reservations for dine-in can be made through the restaurant’s website or through OpenTable.
Forage
Robson Street's Forage has been slaying the dine-in and take-out game, and they've got plenty of options for diners for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend - though they will be closed on the Monday stat for some well-earned rest. You can tailor your order her in several ways - go for a whole turkey and the trimmings to serve 12 to 15 people (in your bubble, right?) or order a smaller feast for dine-in ($62 per person) or take-out ($49 per person, two-person minimum). Reservations are strongly recommended for dining in.
Railtown
Photo courtesy Railtown
One of the city's long-standing champs of excellent to-go meal kits for holidays and special occasions, Railtown is doing its Turkey To-Go again this year. The heat-and-serve packages will be available for pickup and delivery Oct. 10-12. On the menu: Sage-Roasted Turkey complete with all the fixings, including Dried Apricot Chestnut and Brioche Bread Stuffing, Maple-Glazed Sweet Potatoes and an array of other traditional sides prepared to perfection. To finish, a house-made pumpkin pie complete with piped Chantilly cream.
Packages will be available in two sizes; the full package which includes a whole turkey feeds 8-10 for $339; and a half package that feeds up to 5 for $239. Add on additional sides or BC wines and craft beer. All orders must be placed by Wednesday, Oct. 7, at noon. Packages will be available for pickup from the 397 Railtown St. location, while delivery is offered throughout the Lower Mainland for an additional charge. Additionally, the team will be offering a ready-to-eat “Hot Pick Up” service available Sunday, October 11 and Monday, October 12, between 3-5 p.m. available for an additional $50 per package. As with previous holiday packages, partial proceeds from packages sold will go directly to Mission Possible, a non-profit organization that supports vulnerable community members in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
The Lazy Gourmet
Vancouver’s pioneering catering company has created a new Thanksgiving Menu, fit for two or small groups, and features a salad, sliced Herb de Provence Lemon Roasted Turkey or vegan Beet Wellington, all the fixings, and dessert. Orders can be made online, by calling 604-734-2507 or emailing [email protected] by Oct. 7, 2020, at noon. Pick-up and delivery options are available.
Five Sails
Inspired by fine-dining traditions, Five Sails' signature Thanksgiving Dinner features premium dishes that showcase the finest fall bounty of the Pacific Northwest. Chef Pascal Georges and his culinary team will elevate the traditional Thanksgiving feast by preparing a multi-course menu that includes Pumpkin Velouté to start, followed by a Duck Duo (Seared Duck Breast and Duck Leg Ballotine) served alongside Yukon Gold Espuma, Beet Puree, and White Asparagus. Diners will end their evening on a sweet note courtesy of a velvety crème brulee from pastry chef Daria Meloma. Sit down in Five Sails' waterfront dining room on Sunday, Oct. 11 or Monday, Oct. 12. As seating is limited for Five Sails' Thanksgiving Dinner service, tables must be booked in advance with reservations available via Seven Rooms here.
Torafuku
Torafuku. Photo by Leila Kwok
Torafuku has a five-course Thanksgiving Turkey Set available Oct. 9-11 (note, not available for Monday, Oct. 12). The $100 meal is made fresh ahead of your pick-up time (5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday and Sunday, 5-5:30 p.m. Saturday due to on-site private event). Enjoy two appetizers showcasing fall flavours, Apple & Beets (pickled beets, honey crisp apple, candied walnut, house-made ricotta, peach vinaigrette) and Brussel Sprout Salad 2.0 (cauliflower, broccoli, miso garlic dressing, sage, almond). The main is a turkey breast with green beans, roasted almond, and leg confit on rice. For dessert: Pumpkin pie Brulee with chantilly cream. Order online here.
Fable Diner
Fable Diner will be offering a special Thanksgiving Dinner on Sunday, Oct.11 from 4 p.m. to close. The $20 classic turkey dinner includes turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, house-made cranberry sauce and gravy, and you can add a slice of pumpkin pie for only $5. Reservations are highly recommended. This dinner is also available all day for pickup on Fable Diner’s website through F1rstbite.
The Flying Pig
The Flying Pig is offering traditional Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner on Sunday, Oct. 11 at all its Vancouver locations. Enjoy Slow Roasted Free Range Turkey - white and dark meat, Brioche Stuffing, Peas and Carrots, Mashed Potatoes, house-made Cranberry Sauce and house-made Gravy for $29 per person. Reservations are available online and via phone.
Cibo Trattoria
Photo courtesy Cibo Trattoria
Cibo's Thanksgiving feast offers a trio of dishes available à la carte or as a three-course menu for $50 per person plus tax and gratuity, with a special feature cocktail available at both Cibo and its next-door sister hotspot Uva Wine & Cocktail Bar. The full menu includes an Antipasti of Tortellini in Brodo, Roasted Turkey, and all the fixings including Roasted Turkey, Brown Butter Brussels sprouts, Cranberry Sauce, Whipped Crème Fraîche Potatoes, Cotechino, Lemon Stuffing, and Pumpkin Pie for dessert featuring roasted heirloom pumpkin mousse, spiced Chantilly, butter crumble. Reservations can be made online.
Glowbal
Glowbal is offering Thanksgiving at Home for only $35 per person (minimum two guests/orders). Food will be in packages and fully cooked to be re-heated at home. The feast includes: Roasted Pears & Spinach Salad; BC Beet Salad; Ancient Grain Salad; Artisan Greens; Seasoned Turkey Breast with Turkey Leg Roulade, Traditional Stuffing, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce; Maple Glazed Root Vegetables; Broccoli & Cauliflower Casserole; Roasted Brussels Sprouts; Pumpkin Tart. Glowbal also has a Seafood Add On Package for $35 featuring a Lemon Butter Poached half Lobster Tail; 6 piece Poached Tiger Prawns Cocktail; 1/2 Cluster Snow Crab Legs; 4oz Smoked Salmon, Capers, Pickled onion; and 4oz Marinated Seafood Salad.
Honey Salt
Available from Friday, Oct. 9 to Monday, Oct. 12, Honey Salt will be offering a three-course prix fixe menu for $49 or available as a la carte as well. Start with Thai Spiced Kabocha Squash Soup, then enjoy a turkey entree: Turkey two ways (Roasted Breast and Dark Meat Roulade) with Brussel sprouts and smokey bacon, maple ginger glazed baby carrots, mashed potatoes and house-made cranberry sauce with stuffing and gravy. Finished with a house-made Pumpkin Pie with butter crust, chantilly & salt caramel. Guests can also enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving Family in the comfort of their homes with a take-home option. Give Honey Salt a call for bookings or orders at 778-370-8200.
Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts
This year, PICAchef is happy to offer a three-course Thanksgiving Dinner. Preorder by calling 604-734-4488 and let them know when you would like to pick up during Thanksgiving weekend. The menu is $39-41 per person (your dessert choice will affect the pricing) and includes: Thyme & Honey Brined Oven Roasted Turkey Breast; Maple Bacon Shredded Brussel Sprouts; Smoked Paprika Roasted Baby Carrots; Sage & Cranberry Walnut Stuffing; Nutmeg Duchess Potatoes; Classic Turkey Giblet Gravy; Orange Cranberry Sauce; Choice of Pies with Chantilly Cream (Pumpkin, Lattice Apple or Pecan). Individual Turkey To-Go Meals are available Oct. 7-11 in Blue Hat Bakery-Café (smaller portions of roasted turkey breast, veggies, potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce) as well as containers of Turkey Giblet Gravy and Orange Zest Cranberry Sauce in their convenient Grab ‘n Go fridge.
Sequoia Company of Restaurants (The Teahouse, Seasons in the Park, Cardero's, The Sandbar)
Four of Vancouver's favourite dining rooms are celebrating the Thanksgiving season a little differently this year. In addition to their traditional dine-in dinner services, The Teahouse, Seasons in the Park, Cardero's and The Sandbar will also be offering prepared 'Thanksgiving Dinner for Two' takeout meals available for pick-up on Sunday, Oct. 11 and Monday, Oct. 12. Place all orders and make dine-in reservations online.
- The Teahouse's Thanksgiving Dinner menu ($42 per person) begins with a choice of roasted butternut squash soup or autumn salad followed by traditional turkey served with mashed potatoes, chestnut stuffing roll, creamed corn and green beans, sage apple jus and cranberry sauce. For a sweet finish, guests can indulge in sticky sweet caramelized apple cheesecake with cranberry glaze and hazelnut crust. The Teahouse Thanksgiving Dinner for Two ($69) take-home option will include autumn salad, turkey and side dishes, and two slices of caramelized apple cheesecake.
- For Thanksgiving weekend, Seasons in the Park will be serving a special three-course Thanksgiving Dinner ($42 per person) that includes an appetizer choice of butternut squash soup or a harvest salad, a main course of oven-roasted turkey served with mashed potatoes, cranberry herb stuffing, autumn vegetables, cranberry sauce and pan gravy, and classic pumpkin pie with whipped cream for dessert. Those who want to enjoy Seasons' signature menu at home can pre-order a Thanksgiving Dinner for Two ($69), which features harvest salad, hand-carved turkey with potatoes and vegetables, and two slices of pie for dessert.
- Cardero's guests can enjoy a multi-course Thanksgiving Dinner menu ($42 per person) on the water with a choice of butternut squash soup or kale rustic salad to start; oven-roasted turkey accompanied by buttery mashed potatoes, pork and herb stuffing, autumn vegetables, cognac pan jus and traditional cranberry orange sauce; and pumpkin cheesecake with Chantilly cream and caramel sauce. Cardero's take-home Thanksgiving Dinner for Two ($69) will feature kale rustic salad, turkey and side dishes, and two slices of pumpkin cheesecake for dessert.
- The Sandbar is switching things up for the Thanksgiving weekend by offering a seasonal menu of traditional holiday fare. The Thanksgiving Dinner menu ($42 per person) begins with a choice of butternut squash soup or fall salad followed by the main course of oven-roasted turkey with sage au jus, garlic mashed potatoes, Brussel sprouts, candied carrots and stuffing accompanied by a pear and cranberry chutney. In true Thanksgiving fashion, guests will end the meal with a classic pumpkin pie topped with caramel sauce and Chantilly whip. Alternatively, diners can opt to enjoy The Sandbar's signature Thanksgiving Dinner for Two ($69) at home with a fully prepared package that includes fall salad, turkey with all the fixings, and a pair of pumpkin pie slices.
