Give thanks and celebrate with family and friends this holiday season. Use our Orange County guide for the best places to spend Thanksgiving.Turkey Trot
Run the race before you stuff your face! Join the 36th Annual Dana Point Turkey Trot for the most scenic trot through Dana Point and Doheny State Beach. Enjoy a 2-day health and wellness expo, a costume contest and more as you race against the clock. Check website for registration details. Golden Lantern and Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.1555. turkeytrot.com
St. Regis Monarch Beach
Partake in an extravagant Thanksgiving tasting menu at Michael Mina’s acclaimed Stonehill Tavern featuring holiday favorites and delectable cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Raj Dixit. $75 for three courses; $105 for five courses. Wine pairings available. Motif Restaurant’s Executive Chef Frederic Castan will be creating his own spin on traditional classics with a menu that is sure to entice you as well. $115 adults; $35 children. One Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, 949.234.3200. stregismb.com
Vue
Feast on a buffet including a display of salads, roasted pumpkin bisque and a carving station with roasted Tom turkey and slow roasted prime rib of beef; entrees such as char-crusted pork loin and Skuna Bay salmon; a gourmet macaroni and cheese station; cheese and bread display; fresh berries and tropical fruit and of course, an abundant pastry table complete with freshly baked pies, carrot cake, pumpkin cheesecake and a chocolate fountain. $95 adults; $40 children 6-12. Complimentary parking for Thanksgiving Champagne Buffet. Vue at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point, 949.487.7516. lagunacliffs.com
Greenleaf
Greenleaf makes it easy to enjoy traditional Thanksgiving dishes without the typical calories with special Thanksgiving catering menus available for pick-up or delivery. Standouts on the menu include roasted turkey breast with garlic and rosemary, whole grain stuffing with vegetables an fresh herbs, agave roasted yams, butternut squash soup with green apples and broccoli with shaved garlic. Dishes are priced per pan while soups and sides are priced per person. A pre-fixed family meal option ($100) is also available, which serves 4-6 people. Greenleaf 17th St., 234 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, 949.200.3950; Greenleaf SoCo at South Coast Collection, 3321 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 714.862.2480. greenleafchopshop.com
Lark Creek Newport Beach
Enjoy a farm-fresh Thanksgiving with a special three-course meal from Chef John Ledbetter with a menu offering selections such as heirloom squash salad, Mary’s air chilled turkey with mashed potatoes, gravy, herb stuffing and rapini or pan seared Day Boat sea scallops with wild mushroom and pumpkin risotto. Desserts include pumpkin cheesecake and the signature Lark Creek butterscotch pudding. $45 adults; $19 children 4-10; free for children 3 and under. Fashion Island (below Island Cinema), 957 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.640.6700. larkcreeknb.com
Pinot Provence
Leave the stress of cooking to Chef Alfonso Ramirez and indulge in his three-course meal with choices such as brown butter butternut squash with truffle infused Chantilly crème; roasted turkey with cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans, crispy stuffing cake and homemade gravy; maple glazed pork belly with chestnut puree, roasted endive and juniper pork sauce; lamb loin with cannellini beans, braised lamb shoulder, braised swiss chard and lamb jus and pumpkin pie with pickled dried fruit, piloncillo Chantilly and brioche crostini. $45 for three courses; $19 for children under 12. 1-9 p.m. 686 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, 714.444.5900. patinagroup.com
Catal Restaurant & Uva Bar
Spend time with friends and family while dining out instead of cooking all day! The three-course menu features pumpkin arancini with apple-dried sherry slaw and sage gastrique; slow-roasted cider-brined turkey with cranberry ginger relish, haricots verts, mushroom sausage stuffing and gravy; farro risotto with spiced yam, roasted mushroom and herbed-brown butter nage and caramel pretzel bread pudding with stewed apples, caramel apple ice cream and kettle corn caramel. $38 for 3 courses; $19 for children under 10. 12-10 p.m, 1580 Disneyland Drive., Anaheim, 714.774.4442. patinagroup.com
Tangata
For a relaxed setting, visit Tangata, located in the mission-style courtyard at the Bowers Museum. Enjoy a delicious lunch buffet with all the fixings including roasted Brussels sprouts salad with carmelized red onions, shaved parmesan cheese and horseradish vinaigrette; bourbon-brined turkey, slow roasted-free range with sage gravy; apple-sage stuffing with maple bacon, ciabatta bread and fresh herbs and a chef’s assortment of seasonal pies and petits fours. $42 adults; $19 children under 12. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.550.0906. patinagroup.com
Montage Laguna Beach
Give thanks this season while celebrating at Montage Laguna Beach. Enjoy seaside ambiance with a chef’s holiday inspired tasting menu at signature restaurant Studio. $125 person or $200 with wine pairings. 9 p.m. Alternatively, dine at The Loft with a four-course prix fixe menu. $95 adults; $35 children 4-12. Noon-10 p.m. The resort will also feature a masterpiece buffet with live musical entertainment, a decadent pastry lounge and complimentary family photographs. $110 adults; $40 children 4-12. Noon-5 p.m. 30801 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.6140. montagelagunabeach.com
Canaletto
Celebrate Italian-style with a four-course family style meal of butternut squash and russet potato soup; a frisee, radicchio and endive salad with toasted walnuts, red grapes and Gorgonzola cheese; roasted turkey breast with traditional bread stuffing, cranberry sauce, turkey gravy, mashed potatoes, baked yams and haricots verts and traditional pumpkin pie for dessert. $39 adults; $18 children under 12. A la carte menu also available. 545 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.640.0900. ilfornaio.com
Island Hotel Newport Beach
Savor everything from breakfast selections to a carving station, traditional holiday side dishes and an assortment of desserts with live entertainment in the ballroom. $79 adults; $19 children. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 949.760.4920. islandhotel.com
21 Oceanfront
Enjoy a lavish three-course meal with choices such as spiced pumpkin soup, calamari fritti, herb roasted free range turkey, prime rib au jus, Skuna Bay salmon and pecan pie. $55 adults; $20 children 2-10. 2-8 p.m. 2100 W. Oceanfront, Newport Beach, 949.673.2100. 21oceanfront.com
Scott’s Restaurant & Bar
Festive classics and seasonal signatures will be served this holiday. Enjoy an entrée and dessert for $35. Starters, extra sides and desserts are available a la carte. Complimentary corkage on any bottle of wine you’d like to sip with your meal. 4-9 pm. $12 children 12 and under. 3300 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.979.2400. scottsrestaurantandbar.com
Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern
Stop by JFAT after you run the Dana Point Turkey Trot as the bar will be open at 6 a.m. serving bloody mary’s, mimosas, bellinis and a full compliment of cocktails along with a handful of brunch specials including the FATwich, breakfast flatbread, eggs Benedict and the garden scramble. The dining room opens at noon offering a three-course Thanksgiving menu featuring home cooked dishes with a twist such as acorn squash, chipotle and honeycrisp apple bisque; smoked salt and pepper roasted prime rib served with buttery mashed potatoes, maple-bacon Brussels sprouts, famous creamed corn and butternut squash, cornbread-pinenut stuffing and traditional southern pecan pie with bourbon whipped cream for dessert. $38 adults; $18 children. A la carte items available upon request. 6 a.m.-7 p.m. 25001 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.388.8900. j-fat.com