[Updated November 2019]

When normally Thanksgiving means spending time in the kitchen and around the dining room table with family and friends, sometimes you’re traveling or you don’t want to dirty a bunch of dishes!

So, I’m providing you with Thanksgiving Day Meal solutions here! 

Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving

These restaurants are offering either brunch, lunch, dinner, a la carte, or prix fixe menus.
Be sure to make these reservations ASAP as they will book up!

Alamo Drafthouse {Various Locations}

Avoid the awkward family talk by going to a movie together AND eating Thanksgiving dinner! Movie-goers can order a Herb Roasted Turkey Breast Dinner with Green Bean Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Dinner Roll, Cranberry Sauce, and Pecan Pie with Whipped Cream. In order to include this meal, after you select your seat for the movie on Thanksgiving Day, you’ll be able to add the Turkey Dinner option to your order. You’re able to add additional orders if you’re looking forward to the leftover turkey sandwiches between your Black Friday battles. 

Offers: Thanksgiving Day Meal
Price: $20.00 per meal
Hours: Varies

Arlo Grey {In The LINE Austin Hotel}

The stunning restaurant, Arlo Grey, inside of the LINE hotel, is offering a prix fixe Thanksgiving menu with Tempura Squash Salad, Whole Wheat Spaghetti, Whole Roasted Pheasant, and Fluffy Pumpkin Cheesecake at $65 a person.

Offers: Prix Fixe Thanksgiving Dinner
Price: $65.00 per person
Hours: 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Phone: 512-478-2991
Address: 111 E. Cesar Chavez Street, Austin, TX 78701

Cannon and Belle {in Hilton Austin}

The farm-to-table and refined restaurant inside the Hilton is offering a Thanksgiving Day Brunch Buffet from 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM! There’s an array of traditional Thanksgiving Day favorites, some with modern twists. Everything on their buffet list sounds delicious, like Bourbon Pineapple Glazed Ham and Andouille Sausage and Herb Stuffing!

Offers: Thanksgiving Day Brunch Buffet
Price: $55.00 for Adults (+ $5.22 fee)  | $29.00 for Children (+ $3.57 fee)
Hours: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tickets: HERE
Phone: (512) 493-4900
Address: 500 E 4th St, Austin, TX 78701

Caroline Restaurant

Caroline Restaurant offers a twist on the traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner. They are offering a Roasted Turkey dinner [$21] with Baked Bread Pudding, Cheddar Mac and Cheese, Heirloom Carrots & Brussels, and Cranberries-Jalapeno Relish. This can also be paired with a starter of Poblano-Chipotle Grilled Sweet Potatoes [$9] that include Chicken Chiccarones, Corn Salsa, and Almond-Chili Salt. Lastly, Caroline Restaurant has a special Thanksgiving cocktail, Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice [$10] made with Tito’s vodka, Pumpkin Spiced Espresso, Sweet Potato Foam, Coffee Liqueur, and House-made Marshmallows.

Offers: Thanksgiving Dinner Meal
Hours: 10:00 AM - Midnight (or until sold out)
Menu: HERE
Phone: 512-982-6766
Address: 621 Congress Ave Suites 101, Austin, TX 78701

Corner Bar {in JW Marriott}

Another restaurant in a hotel in downtown, Corner Bar is offering Thanksgiving Day Dinner from 11AM - 10PM. The prix-fixe meal includes Smoked Turkey, Mashed Potato, Cornbread Stuffing, Roasted Harvest Vegetables, Roasted Acorn Squash and Spinach Salad, and Pumpkin Cake.

Offers: Thanksgiving Day Meal
Price: $42.00 for Adults | $18.00 for Children
Hours: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Phone: (512) 608-4488
Address:  110 E. 2nd Street, Austin, TX 78701

More Information HERE

Group Therapy {in Hotel ZaZa}

On the seventh floor of the newly opened Hotel Zaza, is a restaurant named Group Therapy. With a view overlooking the hotel’s pool and downtown Austin, the restaurant offers breakfast and dinner menus plus an all-day brunch on weekends. 

For Thanksgiving, Group Therapy is offering a four-course-fixe-prix Thanksgiving menu or separate items including Roasted Beets, Forest Mushroom Soup, Smoked Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Cranberry Sauce, Pan-Seared Sea Bass, with Pumpkin Pie as the dessert. 

Offers: Thanksgiving Day Dinner
Price: $60.00 per person
Menu: HERE
Phone: (888) 880-3244
Address: 400 Lavaca St, Austin, TX 78701
Website: https://www.hotelzaza.com/austin/dining/group-therapy

Hoover’s Cooking

The iconic soul food spot, Hoover’s, is offering a Thanksgiving menu giving diners the option to choose your entree, with offers of Turkey, Smoked Ham Steak, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Smoked Brisket, and more. Along with your entree, you receive two sides, which are traditional sides like Mashed Potatoes and Gravy alongside nontraditional sides like Caribbean Rice or Okra. With the one entree and two sides, you will also get Cornbread Dressing, Cranberry Sauce, Caribbean Fruit Salad, and a Hot Bread Basket.

Offers: Thanksgiving Day Meal
Price: $22.00 for Adults | $9.95 for Kid’s Turkey Plate (12 years old and under)
Hours: 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Phone: (512) 479-5006
Address: 2002 Manor Road, Austin, TX 78722
Website: https://www.hooverscooking.com/#thanksgiving-section

Mattie’s

The gorgeous 19th-century home that houses Mattie’s is offering a Thanksgiving Day Brunch that will include a more nontraditional take on the holiday with a raw bar, a charcuterie spread, carving station, and more. There will be two separate seatings (11:00 AM and 1:45 PM) and they both include a drink from Mattie’s holiday menu. 

Offers: Thanksgiving Day Brunch
Price: $85.00 for Adults | $40 for Children (6 - 12 years old)
Phone: (512) 444-1888
Address: 811 West Live Oak St, Austin, TX 78704

Moonshine Grill

This very popular brunch spot is having a Thanksgiving Day Buffet, and calling it “All-You-Care-To-Eat.” In the usual Moonshine fashion, it’s first come, first served and they’re having it from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM. There will be the fare and favorites from Moonshine plus, Chicken Fried Turkey, Oven Roasted Turkey, Prime Rib, Green Chile Turkey Stew, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, plus desserts like Pumpkin Pancakes and Pecan Pie Tarts. 

Offers: Thanksgiving Day Buffet
Price: $28.00 per Person
Hours: 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Address: 303 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

OP Italian {in JW Marriott}

This upscale Italian restaurant is offering a special family style Thanksgiving Day menu with 2 courses plus dessert for with the options to add additional sides and courses for up-charges. 

Offers: Prix Fixe Thanksgiving Menu plus additional sides and courses for more $$
Price: $60.00 for Adults | $20.00 for Children (6 - 12 years old)
Hours:  11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Full Menu: HERE
Phone: (512) 608-4490
Address: 110 E. 2nd Street, Austin, TX 78701

Revue {in Fairmont Hotel}

Another restaurant in a local hotel, Revue in Fairmont, is having a Thanksgiving Buffet from 11am to last seating at 8pm. There are a LOT of options from brisket, to turkey, to a raw bar! If you’re looking for a lot traditional and nontraditional items, this meal is for you!

Offers: Thanksgiving Day Buffet
Price: $65.00 for Adults | $19.00 for Children (5 - 12 years old)
Menu: HERE
Tickets: Buy Tickets HERE
Hours: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Phone: 512-524-4813
Address: 101 Red River St, Austin, TX 78701

Second Bar + Kitchen

Second Bar is having its Thanksgiving Day Buffet and family style dishes in the Archer Hotel in Domain Northside. They’re offering starters, family style, carving stations, desserts, and bar buffet. 

Offers: Thanksgiving Day Buffet + Family-Style Dishes
Price: $55.00 for Adults | $27.00 for Children
Menu: HERE
Phone: (512) 836-5700
Address: 3121 Palm Way, Austin, TX 78758

Threadgill’s

An iconic Austin institution, Threadgill’s, offers a Thanksgiving Meal (from 10:30 AM - 10:00 PM) AND Holiday Food To-Go! They offer a whole holiday feast (for 8 - 10 people) or individual sides, whatever you need. 

Their Holiday Feast includes: Choice of whole roasted turkey OR spiral cut Ham, 2 quarts of cornbread dressing, 2 quarts of mashed potatoes, 2 quarts of candied yams, 2 quarts of green bean casserole, 1 quart of turkey gravy, 1 pint of cranberry sauce (for turkey dinner) OR jezebel sauce (for ham dinner), and 1 dozen rolls. All for $149.95.

Check out THIS LINK (https://www.threadgills.com/holiday-info) for all of the details of the sides and more. 

Offers: Thanksgiving Meal AND Catering/To-Go
Phone: (512) 451-5440
Address: 6416 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78752

* No need to make reservations, seating is first come, first served. A 10-minute text reminder will be set to your party when a table becomes available. 

T R A C E at the W

TRACE that boasts exquisite dining is offering a Thanksgiving prix fixe menu but with additional sides and wine pairings for additional charges. 

Offers: Thanksgiving Day Prix Fixe Meal
Price: $65.00 per person with optional sides + wine pairings
Menu: HERE
Hours: 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Phone: (512) 542-3660 
Address: 200 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX 78701
More Information HERE: http://www.traceaustin.com/thanksgiving

Urban an american grill {in Westin Domain Hotel}

Located a little more north, at The Domain, is urban which is the restaurant inside of the Domain’s Westin Hotel. This restaurant spotlights local fare but in an elevated taste. They are offering a Thanksgiving Day buffet featuring carving stations, festive side pairings plus a full dessert bar. 

Offers: Thanksgiving Day Buffet
Price: $52.00 for Adults | $27.00 for Children (12 years old and younger)
Hours: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Address: 11301 Domain Drive Austin, TX 78758
Website: https://www.urbanatthedomain.com/

Bakery Goods To Order

Sugar Mama’s Bake Shop

1905 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704

Offers: Apple Brown Betty Pie, Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie, Classic Pumpkin Pie, Flourless Butterscotch Molasses Pie
Order Instructions: Order Online HERE and pick up the Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day.
Order Online HERE: http://www.sugarmamasbakeshop.com/Order.aspx?store=Thanksgiving

Texas French Bread

2900 Rio Grande St, Austin, TX 78705

This cozy bakery is offering a special holiday order menu with the classic, traditional Pumpkin and Pecan Pies but also Butter Cookie Tins and Tea Breads. 

Order Instructions: Send an email to info@texasfrenchbread.com with the items you’d like, the pickup time and date (remember, they’re closed on Thanksgiving day), and your phone number. Their team needs a 3-day window in order to guarantee your order and payment will be on pickup. 

Holiday Menu: HERE
More Information Here: https://texasfrenchbread.com/holiday

Sourduck Market

1814 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78702

This East Austin restaurant is offering bakery goods for Thanksgiving on pre-order. Items that are available to order are: Parker House Rolls, Chocolate Babka, Pecan Mesquite Pie, and Turmeric Sweet Potato Pie! 

Prices: Thanksgiving Breads $12.00 - $18.00 | Thanksgiving Pies $25.00 - $28.00
Order Instructions: Use the Order Online Option HERE or feel free to call-in as well. Pickup is on Tuesday, November 26 or Wednesday, November 27 after 11:00 AM. 
Phone: (512) 394-5776

Volunteering Opportunities

Lastly, I don’t want to miss the opportunity to talk about Volunteering. There are a lot of people out there who don’t have the funds to enjoy Thanksgiving or even the family to surround themselves with on this day of thanks. If you’d like to spend a part of your day giving back, check out some of these opportunities below: 

Austin Empty Bowl {Central Texas Food Bank}

6500 Metropolis Dr, Austin, TX 78744

When: Sunday, November 24 2019 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM

What: “Potters from all over Central Texas donate bowls of all sizes, shapes, and colors. Thirty restaurants and bakeries donate delicious soups and breads, while musicians donate their time and talent to entertain us. Then, on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, friends and families come together to purchase a bowl for $25 (or 2 for $40), have it filled with soup, and enjoy the music. The bowl is yours to keep, as a reminder of those whose bowls are empty. The proceeds go to Meals on Wheels Central Texas’ Meals for Kids, and the Central Texas Food Bank to help sponsor the Kids Cafe Program. Kids Cafe provides a safe, nurturing place where children receive a hot, nutritious dinner, as well as help with homework.”

Learn more here:  https://www.austinemptybowl.org/

Thundercloud Turkey Trot

The 29th anniversary of the ThunderCloud Turkey Trot is coming up and this is the largest five-mile run in Texas and one of the largest Turkey Trots in the entire nation with nearly 20,000 runners! 

“ThunderCloud has raised nearly $3.8 million for Caritas of Austin through the ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot. We donate 100 percent of the proceeds of the event to Caritas of Austin, a nonprofit organization that provides housing, employment, education, and food services to more than 20,000 homeless, working poor, and documented refugees in Travis County.

The ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot has grown exponentially in its quarter century, from 600 participants in 1991 to nearly 20,000 participants in 2018. Sign up with your family and friends this year to be part of this fun and healthy family tradition, and to help support our community.

Please note: All registrations are non-refundable. All proceeds from registration fees go directly to Caritas of Austin. Thank you for your support.

For information on packet pickup, parking and route maps, please visit the ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot webpage.”

Sign up to race HERE

There are still some spots remaining where you can volunteer at the Turkey Trot or during the days leading up to it. Check out those opportunities HERE .

HEB Feast of Sharing

This is Austin’s 30th Annual HEB Feast of Sharing, which is a culmination of a year‑round commitment H‑E‑B makes to fighting hunger. While a holiday meal is being served and enjoyed, there is also music, arts and crafts, and activities for the children.

There are few Volunteer opportunities available through the United Way, please visit HERE to see which might suit your schedule and abilities best and if it’s not available, you can add yourself to the waiting list in case you’re needed!

When: Tuesday, November 26 2019 4:00 to 8:00 PM
Where: Palmer Events Center - 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78704

Wherever you celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope that you have a safe and fulfilling holiday!!

Cheers!