Thanksgiving options better than ever at local restaurants
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Want to let someone else do the cooking this Thanksgiving? Seems like options get better every year for eating out on Thanksgiving. If you have a favorite hotel restaurant, chances are it will be open. But even non-hotel restos are serving up traditional – and non-traditional – Thanksgiving feasts. Consider a road trip, too. A jaunt to Healdsburg and lunch at Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen (60-hour Pork Belly Napoleon – yes, please!) might be just the thing.

Here’s a selection of spots that will do the cooking for you, grouped by stand-alone restaurants and those in hotels:

RESTAURANTS

LarkCreekSteak
This popular spot in the Westfield San Francisco Center will offer a special prix fixe three course menu with multiple options. For starters, choose from a Little Gem Wedge, Sonoma Liberty Duck Terrine or Roasted Pumpkin and Hazelnut Soup. Entrees include Roast Turkey with Fennel Sausage Cornbread Stuffing, Certified Angus Prime Rib or Wood-Grilled Fish. Desserts include Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie, Bread Pudding or Apple-Cranberry Crisp. LarkCreekSteak will offer two seatings - 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The price is $49 per person; $24 for children 10 and under; 3 and under are free. Reservations: (415) 593-4100 or www.larkcreek.com.

Epic Roasthouse
Epic Roasthouse on San Francisco’s waterfront is offering a multi-course Thanksgiving dinner. Dishes include Dungeness Crab Cocktail With Avocado, Pomelo and Cucumber Salad and Meyer Lemon Aioli And Radishes; Caramelized Butternut Squash Cannalloni With Prosciutto, Huckleberry Relish and Blood Orange Vinaigrette; Pan Roasted Maine Scallops with Ragout of Sunchokes and Ciopollini Onion, Foie Gras Sauce and Fennel-Pear Salad; Wood Oven Roasted Branigan Turkey with Andouille Stuffing, Ginger Sweet Potato Puree, Black Pepper Cranberry Sauce; and Pumpkin Gnocchi with Chanterelle Mushrooms, Spinach and Chestnut Sage - Brown Butter; Desserts Include Warm Apple Tart With Tahitian Vanilla Whipped Mascarpone; Persimmon Pudding Spiced Pecans With Van Winkle Bourbon Ice Cream And Caramel Sauce. The cost is $85.00 per person (12 and under $40), not including tax or gratuity. A supplemental wine pairing is $35. Epic Roasthouse hours are 1:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Reservations: www.EpicRoasthouseSF.com.

Iluna Basque
The restaurant owned by the most adorable recent Top Chef contestant will be open from 4pm until 11 pm Thanksgiving day, serving its regular menu, plus some thanksgiving specials. Reservations: www.ilunabasque.com.

Pican
Oakland-based Pican serves California-inspired Southern cuisine and was recently honored by the 2010 Michelin Guide in its Bib Gourmand category. Reservations and details are available by calling 510-834-1000 or visiting .

Sakoon
This could be the deal of the day. Sakoon, the stylish new Indian restaurant in Mountain View which has garnered excellent reviews, is serving a $14.95 Thanksgiving buffet, from noon to 3 pm. Here’s a list of dishes. For dinner, they’ll be serving their regular a la carte menu (5 pm-10 pm). Reservations: (650) 965-2000.

HOTEL RESTAURANTS

Americano
Executive Chef Paul Arenstam will follow his “Slow Food” philosophy for the traditional dishes he’ll be serving family-style on Thanksgiving Day. The three-course dinner will have starters that include Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Toasted Almonds, Crème Fraiche and Dungeness Crab; Pear Salad with Little Gem Lettuce, Arugula, Gorgonzola Cheese and Riesling Vinaigrette; and Sausalito Springs Watercress Salad with Fuyu Persimmon, Ricotta Salata Cheese and Pomegranate Vinaigrette. The main course includes a Family-Style Thanksgiving Platter filled with All-Natural Heritage Turkey, Brussel Sprouts with Lemon Confit and Chestnuts, Hog Island Oyster and Fennel Sausage Stuffing, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, and Cranberry-Orange Relish. The sweet finish is a sampler of seasonal desserts. Americano will offer three separate seatings on Thanksgiving Day at 2, 4 and 6 p.m. The cost is $85 per adult and $35 per child (under 12). Wine pairings are available for an additional $25. Reservations: www.americanorestaurant.com.

Luce

At this Michelin 1-star, Chef Dominique Crenn will offer a 4-course menu. See the full menu here. http://lucewinerestaurant.com/ Price is $65 per adult ($105 with wine pairing); $34 per child 4-12. The menu is available at lunch, 11am-5pm; or dinner, 5-8pm. Reservations: www.lucewinerestaurant.com. 

cityhouse
Executive Chef Brian Healy is offering a three-course dinner at the new cityhouse restaurant inside the recently-renovated Parc 55 Hotel. Dinner selections include Butternut Squash Bisque Cinnamon Foam, Banana-Nut Croutons; Salad of Roasted Baby Beets Wild Arugula, Satsuma Tangerines, Pomegranate-Truffle Vinaigrette; Roasted Tom Turkey Cornbread-Sausage Stuffing, Giblet Gravy, Candied Yams; and Salt-Baked Prime Rib with Classic Yorkshire Pudding, Horseradish Cream. The dessert course includes Maple Crème Brulee and Pumpkin cheese Cake. The cost is $49 per person; $65 with wine. Children (ages 5 to 12) may dine for $20 each. Reservations: 415-392-8000 or www.parc55hotel.com.
 
Dry Creek Kitchen
Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen will have a three-course “Craft Your Menu” for Thanksgiving with three seatings, starting at 2 p.m. The three-course dinner selections will include traditional Thanksgiving Turkey and accompaniments such as Ahi Carpiccio; Diver Scallop and 60 Hour Pork Belly Napoleon; Roasted Sugar Pie Pumpkin Soup; Black Angus New York and Red Wine Braised Short Rib; Butternut Squash Agnolotti; Double Cut Berkshire Pork Chop; Duo of Willie Bird Turkey, plus a selection of desserts. The cost is $65. Reservations.

Madera
Executive Chef Peter Rudolph starts the Thanksgiving tradition at the new Madera restaurant at Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park with a three-course holiday menu. Selections include Smoked Duck Breast, Heirloom Chicories, Persimmon, Kumquat Confit, Citrus Thyme Vinaigrette; Shaved Heirloom Apple, Celery Heart and Endive Salad, Manchego Cheese, Toasted Marcona Almonds, Almond Cream Vinaigrette; Gnoccho, Tomato Braised Pheasant Leg, Baby Carrots, Salsify, Nettles; Rotisserie Turkey Breast stuffed with Porcini and Turkey Sausage, Brussel Sprouts, Potato Puree, Gravy and Cranberry Mostarda; and desserts such as Crabapple Crostata, Toasted Pine Nut Frangipani and Andante Dairy Fromage Blanc. Madera is open from 11a to 9 p.m. and the cost of the Thanksgiving meal is $95 per person. Reservations: www.maderasandhill.com.

Aquarius
Aquarius, the newly opened modern American bistro in the landmark Santa Cruz Dream Inn, is offering a moderately priced three-course, prix-fix Thanksgiving dinner for $35 per person as well as a selection of a-la-carte items -- in a setting with panoramic ocean views and surfer-chic décor. First course options include organic greens with candied pecans, Point Reyes blue cheese and red wine vinaigrette or roasted butternut squash bisque with truffle crème fraîche; second course selections include herb roasted Diestel turkey or U.S.D.A.-certified Angus prime rib, both served with three accompaniments of the guest’s choosing; the pie course (!) features handmade pumpkin pie with cinnamon gelato, pecan pie with vanilla gelato, or chocolate custard pie with fresh whipped cream. Aquarius will be open on Thanksgiving from 2-9 p.m. Info and reservations: (831) 460-5012 or www.aquariussantacruz.com. 

 GOT A GREAT THANKSGIVING SPOT I DIDN'T LIST? LET ME KNOW AND I'LL ADD IT! JUST PUT IT IN THE COMMENTS BELOW OR TWEET ME AT WWW.TWITTER.COM/SFRESTONEWS