From Friendsgivings to seasonally-inspired menus, here are the best places to celebrate Thanksgiving in San Diego.
Edited by Brooke Knetzger.
Friendsgiving: Sun Printing Workshop at the Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
Nov. 23. Come together with friends and family at Inn at Rancho Santa Fe, for a colorful and characterful take on Friendsgiving, featuring a sun printing workshop with Kelsey + Zivi of Describe the Fauna and a local Friendsgiving feast with locally inspired twists on traditional Thanksgiving staples. Tickets include Friendsgiving dinner, two glasses of wine, sun print workshop and parking at the hotel. Noon-5 p.m. $96. 5951 Linea Del Cielo, Rancho Santa Fe. Tickets
The Westgate Hotel
Nov. 28. The Westgate Hotel offers two experiences for family and friends to feast. The Traditions of Thanksgiving Buffet will be in the charming Le Fontainebleau Room from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The buffet is $99 per person; $40 for children 4-12; and complimentary for children under 3. Guests may add bottomless house wine or champagne for an additional $20. For those seeking a more formal atmosphere, The Westgate Hotel will also offer a four-course prix fixe menu in the grand Westgate Room, highlighting the time-honored classics of a Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. $79 per person, $40 children 4-12, free for children under 3. Visit website or call for reservations. 1055 2nd Ave., Gaslamp, 619.238.1818. westgatehotel.com
Second Thanksgiving Dinner at Primavera
Nov. 28. Primavera Ristorante will celebrate full hearts and full stomachs at its second annual prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner. The specialty three-course menu, featuring Italian twists on traditional Thanksgiving dishes, is priced at $69.95 per person. A specialty cocktail will also be available for the celebration. Menu items include bruschetta al salmone, smoked salmon, chili tomato pesto, Spanish olives, fresh mozzarella and avocado; Mary’s organic turkey breast roulade stuffed with bacon, sausage, fresh herbs, portobellini, roasted chestnut cornbread stuffing and cranberry gastrico de mirtillo. Dessert offerings include pumpkin spice cheesecake. 932 Orange Ave., Coronado, 619.435.0454. primavera1st.com
Thanksgiving in Spain at Cafe Sevilla
Nov. 28. Celebrate Thanksgiving “in Spain” with your family and friends this year! Head to the Gaslamp hotspot for a delicious three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving menu from 4 to 11 p.m. Enjoy Thanksgiving classics with a Spanish twist like butternut squash soup, roasted turkey breast and pumpkin pie with cinnamon ginger whipped cream for dessert. Menu is priced at $39.50 for adults and $19.50 for kids (two courses). There will also be live music from 7:30-11:30 p.m. 353 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp, 619.233.5979. Call for reservations. cafesevilla.com
The Duck Dive
Nov. 28. Celebrate Thanksgiving at the beach with The Duck Dive’s $15 Traditional Turkey Dinner with pumpkin pie, which will be served all day long (until supplies run out). Through November, PB’s premier beach lounge and eatery will also be holding a Holiday Toy Drive, with all donations going to the Foster Kids of San Diego and the Polinsky Center. In exchange for bringing in a new unwrapped toy, you will get a Jameson Irish Coffee, a combination of Jameson Whiskey, hot coffee and fresh cream float, sprinkled with ground nutmeg. $1 From each cocktail on Duck Dive’s holiday featured menu will be donated to San Diego Foster Angels. 4650 Mission Blvd., Pacific Beach. theduckdive.com
Thanksgiving at Bleu Bohème
Nov. 28. Bleu Bohème, located in Kensington, will celebrate Thanksgiving by offering a decadent three-course prix fixe holiday dinner and specialty cocktail. Menu highlights include soupe de citrouille, a pumpkin-hominy soup with crispy parsnips and chive crème fraiche; boeuf au Roquefort – boneless short ribs braised with blue cheese-red wine sauce, served with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, roasted cipollini onions and haricots verts; and mousse au chocolat, dark chocolate mousse with seasonal red berries. Don’t forget to try the Thanksgiving-inspired pumpkin pie martini. $65 adults; $19.95 children. Noon-8 p.m. 4090 Adams Ave., Kensington, 619.255.4167. bleuboheme.com
The Marine Room
Nov. 28. Enjoy a festive à la carte menu with choices to please everyone on your guest list. The traditionalist will enjoy the Marine Room’s Double Barrel Ale brined free-range turkey breast, and the more adventurous guests will savor their Rose Harissa spiced Maine diver scallops, almond tatsoi-crusted barramundi, and black muscat braised Colorado lamb osso bucco. For dessert, try the five-spice pumpkin torte or salted caramel cheesecake. 2000 Spindrift Drive, La Jolla, 858.459.7222. marineroom.com
Father Joe’s Villages Thanksgiving Day 5K Run & Walk
Nov. 28. Bright and early on Thanksgiving morning, hundreds of San Diegans will suit up in festive attire and running shoes and head to Balboa Park for the 18th Annual Thanksgiving Day 5K. Walk or jog the iconic route through Balboa Park to reach a family-friendly festival at the finish line. 6:30-11 a.m. Spreckles Organ Pavilion, 1549 El Prado, Balboa Park. Register
Farmer’s Bottega
Nov. 28. Make your way to Mission Hills for a three-course farm-to-fork Thanksgiving dinner at Farmer’s Bottega, hosted from 4 to 9 p.m. and priced at $60 per person. The robust menu will feature a selection of the restaurant’s specialty dishes intermingled with Turkey Day classics, including items such as Burnt Carrots, prepared with local avocado, red onion, cilantro and feta, all tossed in citrus thyme vinaigrette, Butternut Squash Ravioli, topped with brown butter sage and fresh parmesan, and Julian Apple Pie served with vanilla ice cream. Wine-o’s can enjoy a wine pairing for only $15 more. Be sure to bring the kids along for a $15 three-course kids menu! 860 W. Washington St., Mission Hills, 619.458.9929. farmersbottega.com
Mille Fleurs
Nov. 28. For an elegant farm-to-table Thanksgiving meal, Mille Fleurs has prepared an outstanding three-course prix fixe menu. With selections like Squash Soup made from locally-sourced produce, oven-roasted Mary’s Farm turkey, and a slice of pecan pie for dessert, you can share a delicious Thanksgiving meal without the hassle of cooking. Show your thanks to your loved ones and to local farms by dining at Mille Fleurs. 12:30-7 p.m. $74.50 pp. 6009 Paseo Delicias, Rancho Santa Fe, 858.756.3085. millefleurs.com
Feast & Fareway
Nov. 28. Dine at Coronado’s Feast & Fareway this Turkey Day, and enjoy prime views and an expertly plated Thanksgiving Day dinner along the Coronado Golf Course. Idyllic for families seeking a traditional Thanksgiving meal, this picturesque dining destination will feature a plateful of all the classics from 2 to 6 p.m. Protein options include Roasted Turkey, Prime Rib and Fish, accompanied by a selection of Mashed Yams, Mashed Potatoes or Mac ‘n’ Cheese, plus a variety of vegetable options, including Green Bean Casserole, Roasted Carrots and Brussels Sprouts. Pricing is $45 for adults and $15 for kids. If a Turkey Day brunch is on the docket, rest assured the location will offer their regular breakfast/lunch items from 7 a.m.-1 p.m. 2000 Visalia Row, Coronado, 619.996.3322. feastandfarewaycoronado.com
Rancho Bernardo Inn’s Thanksgiving Offerings
Nov. 28. Savor a specially crafted 3-course Thanksgiving menu at Rancho Bernardo Inn’s signature restaurant, AVANT. You’ll find nothing short of a lively social dining scene with the finest California cuisine with a strong focus on artisanal foods and seasonal garden-to-table offerings. Cognac Pumpkin Soup, Cranberry Cornbread Turkey and Hazelnut Cheesecake are only a few of AVANT’s delicious Thanksgiving offerings. Spending the holiday at home? Don’t forget to order a to-go pie from the inn’s Cafe Granada. 2-7 p.m. $85 adults, $40 children. ranchobernardoinn.com
Nonna
Nov. 28. Focusing on traditional Sicilian comfort food, the Busalacchi family pays homage to the respected matriarch of all Italian families, the grandmother. Open on Thanksgiving from open-8:00pm– let Nonna do the cooking for you! Located inside of Nonna, Cafe Zucchero, the all-day cafe, will be serving up coffee and Italian pastries within the restaurant and will have holiday cookies for sale, 1.25lb of assorted cookies including fig, pignoli, sesame seed, amaretti, biscotti and more for $15. Reservations are recommended for dining. 1735 India St., Little Italy, 619.531.1731. nonnasd.com
Thanksgiving Feast at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
Nov. 28. Celebrate Thanksgiving in style and sophistication at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse on the waterfront downtown. Executive Chef Brian Christman will showcase a premium three-course menu where guests can choose an appetizer, entrée and dessert. The menu stars Thanksgiving Day favorites such as Slow Roasted Turkey Breast with Apple-Sausage Stuffing and all the trimmings, plus seasonal dessert options like the Pecan Pie À La Mode. Thanksgiving Day service will begin at 11 a.m. and runs until 9 p.m. $59. delfriscos.com
Mister A’s
Nov. 28.This Thanksgiving, treat yourself to the high-end Thanksgiving feast that you deserve. Mister A’s has put a gourmet touch on all of the classics such as Butternut Squash Soup, Multicolored Beet Salad, Roasted Fresh & Organic Diestel Farm Turkey. With a belly full of delicious food and Mister A’s incredible view of San Diego, how could you be anything but thankful?! Noon-3 p.m., 4:45 p.m.-8:30 p.m. $79.50 pp. Twelfth Floor, 2550 Fifth Ave., Bankers Hill, 619.239.1377. asrestaurant.com
Serea
Nov. 28. Serēa, an innovative sea-to-table dining experience at the iconic Hotel del Coronado, invites guests to join the oceanfront destination for Thanksgiving dinner. In addition to their regular sustainable seafood menu, from 2- 9 p.m. Executive Chef JoJo Ruiz will be serving a special menu with seasonal ingredients that include; roasted honeynut squash with goat cheese mouse, pomegranate, honey tamarind glaze; duck tajin with dry apricot, lemon, olives, parsnip and fregola; and a chocolate profiterole puff ‘puff daddy’; with chocolate mousse, pink peppercorn carmel, and gold flakes. This specialty Thanksgiving menu is $95 per person, $30 for children 4-10 and complimentary for children 3 and under. 1500 Orange Ave., Coronado, 619.435.661. hoteldel.com
An Italian-American Thanksgiving at Cesarina
Nov. 28. Say “grazie” at Cesarina this year, where a specialty menu will be available a la carte alongside the regular dinner menu. Begin with seasonal Cavoletti e Zucca— roasted brussels sprouts and pumpkin with guanciale, balsamic reduction and cranberries. Two Thanksgiving-inspired pasta options include Lasagna Zucca e Tacchino—homemade lasagna with turkey shortribs and butternut squash— and Ravioli Patate e Taccino— sweet potato stuffed ravioli with homemade turkey sausage and cranberry. For a more traditional option, the Arrosto di Taccino headlines thinly-sliced roasted turkey with homemade turkey demi, sweet potato mash, fagiolini all’agro and cranberry sauce. 4161 Voltaire St., Point Loma, 619.226.6222. cesarinarestaurant.com
JRDN
Nov. 28. Dig in at San Diego’s favorite oceanfront setting and gather by the sea for a Thanksgiving feast at JRDN in Pacific Beach. Executive Chef David Warner and the JRDN team invite you to delight in a three-course, locally sourced dinner featuring all of the season’s favorites. Reservations are available from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. and pricing is $45-55 per person and $25 for children 12 years and under. To make reservations for Thanksgiving dinner, call or visit website. 723 Felspar St., Pacific Beach, 858.270.2323. t23hotel.com
619 Spirits
Nov. 28. Open on Thanksgiving from 11 a.m.-close, the theme of the night will be “Orphans and Misfits” where the distillery and tasting room will be offering a special menu of classic takes on Thanksgiving leftovers with dishes including turkey sandwiches, making the tasting room a destination for those looking for a non-traditional Thanksgiving spot. If you’re looking to cheer on your favorite football team, 619 Spirits will be tuned into the big games all day long, playing on the restaurants 120-inch projector. 3015 Lincoln Ave, North Park. 619spirits.com
Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa
Nov. 28. Guests will enjoy stunning views of Mission Bay and live acoustic guitar as they partake in the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa’s annual Thanksgiving brunch – featuring a carving station with roasted turkey and mustard-crusted pork, as well as a fully-stocked seafood station and decadent desserts. $62 per person, $25 for children 5-11, Free under 5. Noon – 4 p.m. 3999 Mission Blvd, Mission Bay. catamaranresort.com
Waterbar
Nov. 28. Soak in ocean views this Thanksgiving at Waterbar in Pacific Beach, as you dig into their Traditional Turkey Dinner priced at $21.95, available from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. The dinner includes carved turkey breast and braised dark meat, accompanied by cheddar mashed potatoes, green beans, chicken sausage stuffing, homemade gravy, cranberry sauce and a dinner roll. Other specials available that day will include The “Next Day” Sandwich, packed with turkey (white and dark meat), cranberry sauce, leftover stuffing, lettuce, tomato and gravy-soaked bread. For dessert, be sure to order a slice of Pumpkin Pie or Glazed Yams! 4325 Ocean Blvd, Pacific Beach. waterbarsd.com
Photos: The Westgate Hotel and JRDN courtesy Chemistry PR. Cafe Sevilla courtesy Cafe Sevilla. The Marine Room courtesy C3 Communications. Mille Fleurs courtesy Bay Bird. Nonna courtesy James Tran. Serea courtesy J Public Relations. Catamaran courtesy Evans Hotels.
