Thanksgiving weekend is one of those times of year that tends to sneak up on us. If you’re like us and are pressing pause on cooking the full meal deal, but also haven't yet decided how to celebrate the upcoming annual tradition, the clock is ticking, but there are still plenty of options to choose from in Vancouver.
Whether you plan to feast with family and friends in the comfort of your own home or you prefer to be pampered by the professionals elsewhere, many of the coastal city's favourite restaurants and chefs have created takeout packages and multi-course menus that keep you well-fed and entertained.
From Potluck Hawker Eatery's creative multi-course takes on turkey dinner to Railtown's popular dinner package, here are 14 Vancouver eateries serving up some interesting Thanksgiving fare this week.
Cardero’s
Cardero’s has crafted a delicious three-course Thanksgiving dinner menu that comes complete with either a butternut squash soup or a rustic kale salad, followed by an oven-roasted turkey with mashed potatoes, pork and herb stuffing, autumn vegetables, cognac pan jus, cranberry orange sauce, and a pumpkin cheesecake with chantilly cream and caramel sauce for dessert.
For takeout, the Coal Harbour hotspot has created a turkey takeout package for two that features a kale salad, turkey with traditional side dishes, and two slices of pumpkin cheesecake for dessert.
Orders and reservations can be made online.
Cibo Trattoria
Chef Jesse Zuber and the Cibo Trattoria team have created a rustic, multi-course Thanksgiving menu that will be available to diners from October 10 to 12.
Guests will be treated to an antipasti of pork-stuffed tortellini in a toasted sage and rosemary-infused broth to start, followed by a traditional turkey dinner with all the usual fixings, and a pumpkin pie with roasted heirloom pumpkin mousse, spiced chantilly, and butter crumble.
Five Sails
This year, Five Sails Restaurant is continuing its annual tradition of cooking up an elegant autumn dinner that is, well, anything but traditionally "Thanksgiving". Chef Pascal Georges and his culinary team have created a multi-course menu that includes pumpkin veloute to start, followed by a duck duo (seared duck breast and duck leg ballotine) served with Yukon gold espuma, beet puree, and white asparagus.
Five Sails has also partnered with the adjoining Pan Pacific Hotel to offer guests a staycation over the Thanksgiving period at a reduced rate. Reservations can be made online.
Glowbal
Glowbal Restaurant Thanksgiving at Home package is a reasonably priced option at $35 per person. The package can be scaled to the size of your group, but includes four salads to start, followed by a roasted boneless turkey breast, turkey leg roulade, and a large assortment of traditional side dishes. For dessert, a classic pumpkin pie with mascarpone cinnamon cream.
Additional seafood offerings are available upon request. Orders can be made online.
H Tasting Lounge
H Tasting Lounge is providing both takeout and dine-in options this Thanksgiving. For takeout, the Westin Bayshore restaurant has prepared a Thanksgiving turkey takeout package for six to eight people, or a Thanksgiving carvery to-go for two.
On October 11 and 12, H Tasting Lounge is hosting a traditional Thanksgiving feast priced at $29 per person that features a Rossdown Farms free-range turkey breast, cranberry compote, root vegetable pave, and thyme juice with the option to add a pumpkin white chocolate cheesecake with spiced cream and candied pecans.
H Tasting Lounge and The Westin Bayshore are also offering a staycation package that includes an overnight stay and a takeout or dine-in Thanksgiving dinner for two. Orders and reservations can be made online.
Notch8 at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Vancouver’s Notch8 restaurant has prepared a terrific to-go holiday dinner package that serves up to 10 people, featuring a whole roasted, free range Fraser Valley turkey, preserved fruit bread stuffing, rosemary honey roasted root vegetables with bee pollen butter, a pumpkin cranberry cheesecake tart, and much more.
For diners who prefer to be pampered over the weekend, the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver restaurant is offering a three-course family style Thanksgiving menu on October 11. The menu begins with herb and olive focaccia, roasted butternut squash soup, and fall greens salad, followed by the Fraser Valley turkey with all the fixings, and pecan and pumpkin tarts for dessert.
Orders and reservations can be made online. Fans of the Fairmont Hotels group can also check out the Fairmont Waterfront and Fairmont Pacific Rim for other unique Thanksgiving dine-in and takeout options.
Nuba
This year, Nuba is offering a selection of seasonal side dishes that are sure to make your Thanksgiving dinner one to remember. Sized to serve up to four, Nuba’s offers include onion walnut bread stuffing, Za’atar Brussels sprouts, pomegranate braised carrots, mashed parsnip, and pear and feta arugula salad, and roasted sweet potatoes with yam and pumpkin.
Orders can be made over the phone until Friday, October 9.
The Lazy Gourmet
One of Vancouver’s premier catering companies, The Lazy Gourmet, is providing plenty of options for guests this Thanksgiving.
Guests are able to choose from either a Herb de Provence lemon roasted turkey served with an arugula and romaine salad and all the usual fixings, or a vegan beet Wellington served with a dynamic array of traditional, vegan Thanksgiving fare.
For dessert, The Lazy Gourmet is offering an assortment of holiday-themed baked goods, such as orange almond pistachio cookies, mini cranberry butter tarts, and macadamia butter shortbread.
Parq Vancouver
The talented chefs at Parq Vancouver are offering guests a ready-to-serve Thanksgiving feast that includes a roasted maple brined turkey breast, a crispy confit turkey leg, cornbread stuffing, a selection of traditional sides, and a choice between a spiced carrot cupcake, a pumpkin cheesecake, white chocolate cookies, or an apple cranberry tart.
The JW Marriott restaurant is also offering a number of optional additions, such as country roast ham, braised beef, and sushi platters.
Orders can be made online until October 7.
Potluck Hawker Eatery
Potluck Hawker Eatery is celebrating its first Thanksgiving since opening its doors in Vancouver this summer, and chef Justin Cheung has created three Thanksgiving meal sets that sound deliciously outside of the norm.
The first set includes a Farmcrest chicken brined in coconut milk and spices, then fried and served whole, while the second features a fresh B.C. Dungeness crab coated in chef Cheung’s famous black pepper butter sauce. The third set is a surf and turf combo that features both of the aforementioned main courses. Each set comes complete with sauces, sides such as caramelized brussel sprouts with salted egg yolk polenta and brown butter cereal crumb, and a gula melaka leche flan for dessert.
Orders and reservations for dine-in options can be found online.
Railtown Cafe
Railtown Catering is back for its seventh annual Thanksgiving in Vancouver, once again offering its famous chef-curated turkey to-go packages. The packages are available in large and small sizes and each include a hand carved sage roasted turkey served with a selection of sides, such as wildflower honey ginger-infused cranberry sauce; dried apricot, chestnut and brioche bread stuffing; mesclun greens with candied walnuts, citrus, and sherry vinaigrette, and much more.
Both packages are customizable, enabling guests to add on a number of additional sides and beverages. Orders can be placed online.
The Teahouse
This year, The Teahouse has created a multi-course menu that provides guests with the option between a roasted butternut squash soup or an autumn salad, followed by a traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings, and a caramelized apple cheesecake with cranberry glaze and hazelnut crust for dessert.
The Teahouse’s takeout package features a hand carved turkey dinner along with a salad, mashed potatoes, chestnut stuffing roll, creamed corn, green beans, and the aforementioned apple cheesecake. Additional wine pairings are available upon checkout.
Orders and reservations can be made online.
Temper Chocolate and Pastry (desserts only)
Temper Chocolate and Pastry is taking care of all your decadent dessert desires this Thanksgiving with a brand-new lineup of housemade specialty items. Temper’s new seasonal offerings cover all the traditional Thanksgiving bases, from large and small sized pumpkin pies to pumpkin cheesecakes and scones, to fruit-based desserts and pumpkin lattes.
Orders can be placed on the Temper Chocolate and Pastry website from now until November 15.
The Sandbar
Although The Sandbar typically specializes in seafood offerings, the Granville Island eatery is switching things up this Thanksgiving by offering guests a traditional menu of seasonal holiday fare. Diners will be offered a choice of either butternut squash soup or fall salad, followed by a main course of oven-roasted turkey with sage au jus, garlic mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, candied carrots, a pear and cranberry chutney, and a classic pumpkin pie for dessert.
The Sandbar is also offering a takeout package for two that includes the fall salad, traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings, and a pair of pumpkin pie slices.
