[csinc]

Hello,

Does anyone know any restaurants that serve Thanksgiving dinner? Thanks!

-Adam

[kombuchakid]

Useful to have if you are invitng people over

[Wes]

Adam - many of the resturants in Soho are offering Thanksgiving dinner.. just take a stroll over there and you should have a few options. That is what I am planning on doing this afternoon.

Now if I could only find a way to tune in the Cowboys game..

[Wes]

Oh, you might want to check here as well:

Thanksgiving Dinner

[KnowItAll]

Al's Diner was terrible last year. Got an email that Red in IFC has a Thanksgiving special. 3 courses is $500 and includes 1 glass of wine.

[sylvesterjay]

Madison's is doing a 5 course for 3-400 bucks

[kombuchakid]

The Real Story of the First Thanksgiving
By Benjamin Franklin (1785)

“There is a tradition that in the planting of New England, the first settlers met with many difficulties and hardships, as is generally the case when a civiliz’d people attempt to establish themselves in a wilderness country. Being so piously dispos’d, they sought relief from heaven by laying their wants and distresses before the Lord in frequent set days of fasting and prayer. Constant meditation and discourse on these subjects kept their minds gloomy and discontented, and like the children of Israel there were many dispos’d to return to the Egypt which persecution had induc’d them to abandon.

“At length, when it was proposed in the Assembly to proclaim another fast, a farmer of plain sense rose and remark’d that the inconveniences they suffer’d, and concerning which they had so often weary’d heaven with their complaints, were not so great as they might have expected, and were diminishing every day as the colony strengthen’d; that the earth began to reward their labour and furnish liberally for their subsistence; that their seas and rivers were full of fish, the air sweet, the climate healthy, and above all, they were in the full enjoyment of liberty, civil and religious.

“He therefore thought that reflecting and conversing on these subjects would be more comfortable and lead more to make them contented with their situation; and that it would be more becoming the gratitude they ow’d to the divine being, if instead of a fast they should proclaim a thanksgiving. His advice was taken, and from that day to this, they have in every year observ’d circumstances of public felicity sufficient to furnish employment for a Thanksgiving Day, which is therefore constantly ordered and religiously observed.”

[Wes]

After enjoying Thanksgiving dinner, I'm pleased to bring you the following report:

Following my own advice, I strolled over to Soho to see if I could scrounge up some Thanksgiving dinner. (Sure, I could have cooked myself, but my wife is out of town, and I don't even have an oven).

Anyhow, I found two restaurants offering Thanksgiving-type meals. One was Cafe Nostra.. they had a set lunch with turkey and sweet potatoes (but no pie) for $78. The other.. the infamous Fat Angelos' Thanksgiving Dinner for $190. I settled on the Fat Angelos, since it seemed to be more of a complete dinner. Sure it has received some bad reviews, but I had to see for myself.

Seeing as how I am by myself for Thanksgiving I decided on takeout.. plus I wanted to watch some NFL football (courtesy of bittorrent). After ordering the dinner to go, I waited about 20 minutes for it to be prepared. (What, was the turkey still cooking??)




Well, as you can see from the photos, the dinner included:

-Salad
-2 Rolls
-Steamed Veggies
-Mashed Potatoes
-Candied yams (or are they sweet potatoes? Yes, I think they are).
-Turkey (of course)
-Stuffing
-Gravy
-Cranberry Sauce
-Pumpkin pie

Salad
The salad was decent.. it had some pale green lettuce with onion, olives, tomatoes, and italian dressing. The best part of the salad was the juicy red tomato.. four generous slices.
Rating: 3/5

Rolls
The rolls were huge. And tasty. Soft on the inside.
Rating: 4/5

Steamed Veggies
Included broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots steamed and coated with butter and lots of garlic. Fresh and tasty by my standards. And the wife is away, so I don't have to worry about the garlic.
Rating:4/5

Mashed Potatoes
Are they real or are they not real? Hard to tell. I'm going to go ahead and say real because there seemed to be bits of unmashed potato mixed in. Buttery flavor. Adequate, not exceptional.
Rating: 2.5/5

Candied Sweet Potatoes
They taste like they were baked in maple syrup. A little sweet for my taste.. and a not quite cooked enough. Not up to par.
Rating: 2/5

Turkey
There were very generous portions of almost everythinge except the turkey. There were 5-6 slices of breast meat with skin. I'd say it was a tad on the dry side, but I've been spoiled by southern fried turkeys.
Rating 2.5/5

Stuffing
This stuffing is the kind made from big pieces of bread. (Personally I favor the cornbread style stuffing). Anyhow, the flavor was good.
Rating: 3.5/5

Gravy
Standard gravy.. helped to moisten the rather dry turkey.
Rating: 3/5

Cranberry Sauce
Terrible. It had a bland, tinny flavor. Not nearly tart enough. Tasted like the can it came out of.
Rating: 0.5/5

Pumpkin Pie
A rather thin slice of pie with a tiny dab of whipped cream. Color seemed a bit off.. more brown than orange. Seemed underbaked.. mushy. Flavor was decent.. had some nice Thanksgiving spicyness.
Rating: 2.5/5


Overall, I'd rate the dinner at 2.5/5. You do get America-sized portions of everything except the turkey and pie, so it is enough for two people to split and be full, or enough for one person to eat most of themselves before passing out for the afternoon. Personally I would recommend this meal for someone such as myself who is looking for a full thanksgiving dinner at a reasonable price.

Excuse me while I pass out.