If there was ever a year to improvise Thanksgiving, it’s this year.
Not only are turkeys more scarce and more expensive due to avian flu, but as NPR recently reported, inflation is now at 7.7% and groceries are more expensive than they have been in years.
Rather than spending hundreds of dollars at the grocery store, then spending hours cooking dinner at home (and eating leftovers for a few weeks), many people seem to be opting to eat out this year. Such Utah dining landmarks as Snowbird Ski Resort, Provisions, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, Franck’s, La Caille and Log Haven have been booked for weeks.
Restaurants that encourage, rather than require, reservations are also booked, but you can try getting on the waitlist on Thanksgiving Day. The best bet may be to order a meal through a local restaurant or catering company to bring home, rather than dining in. At press time, places like Cuisine Unlimited, Gardner Village and Vessel Kitchen were still taking Thanksgiving meal pre-orders.
Here’s a guide to what’s available for those who want someone else to cook Thanksgiving dinner:
Arlo Restaurant • 271 N. Center St., Salt Lake City; 385-266-8845 or www.arlorestaurant.com • Arlo is offering a full Thanksgiving meal for $225 that serves 4-6 people. Pickups are on Thursday, Nov. 24, from 1 to 3 p.m. Meals must be pre-ordered online at arlorestaurant.com. Dinners include Parmesan-rosemary rolls; chicory salad; crispy crushed potatoes; Brussels sprouts; stuffing; cherry-walnut relish; turkey gravy; cranberry chutney; apple pie; and a spiced cider shrub.
Archibald’s • 1100 W. 7800 South, West Jordan; 801-566-6940 or www.gardnervillage.com/archibalds-restaurant • Archibald’s is offering meal pre-orders through Nov. 19. Due to supply chain issues, they are subbing in applewood-smoked ham in place of turkey. Also included are: mashed potatoes and gravy, honey-glazed carrots, a green salad, rolls, pumpkin butter and pumpkin pie cake. Additional sides can be purchased as well. Cost is $225; orders can be placed online at www.gardnervillage.com/archibalds-restaurant. Pickup is Wednesday, Nov. 23, noon-5 p.m., at The Gathering Place at Gardner Village.
Brio Italian • 80 S. Regent St., Salt Lake City (in City Creek Center), (801) 359-4401; or 6173 S. State St., Murray (in Fashion Place Mall), 801-262-6500; or www.brioitalian.com • Brio will offer take-out meals as well as Thanksgiving day service. (The Murray location seems to be full on Thanksgiving Day; the City Creek location appears to have openings on its schedule.) The dine-in menu includes sliced white turkey, gravy, garlic mashed potatoes and spicy Italian sausage stuffing, seasonal veggies, cranberry sauce, focaccia and pumpkin pie. Carryout meals come in two sizes: small (feeds up to three, $105) and large (feeds up to six, $192). Brio also offers Thanksgiving catering in two sizes (small, feeds up to 10, $330; large, feeds 20, $560). Pre-orders must be placed by 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 22, and can be submitted online at brioitalian.com.
Butcher’s Chop House • 751 Main, Park City; 435-647-0040 or butcherschophouse.com • They will serve their regular menu as well as a two-course dinner on Thanksgiving from 2-10 p.m. The menu features turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, garlic green beans, yams, cranberry sauce and pecan or pumpkin pie. Tickets are $55 or $38 for kids 12 and under (that doesn’t include the gratuity). Reservations are encouraged but not required; currently there are only open reservations for Nov. 23 or 25.
Cuisine Unlimited • 4641 S. Cherry St., Salt Lake City; 801-268-2332 or cuisine-unlimited.com • This catering company offers holiday meal kits that serve up to four, from $185, which can be built out by adding additional packages, including sides and desserts. Orders must be placed by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 21, with pickup on Wednesday, Nov. 23. All food is cooked and can be easily reheated, ideally in an oven.
Emigration Cafe • 1709 E. 1300 South, Salt Lake City; 801-906-8101 or www.emigrationcafe.com • Pago Restaurant Group is offering Thanksgiving meal kits, planned by executive chef Phelix Gardner. Dinners are fully cooked and only need to be reheated. Cost is $90 and feeds two. Dishes include honey-sage roasted turkey breast, Brussels sprouts, stuffing, potatoes, gravy and cranberry-orange chutney. Order online and pick up on Wednesday, Nov. 23, between 2-6 p.m.
Flanagan’s on Main • 438 Main St. Park City; 435-649-8600 or flanagansonmain.com • This pub will serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal including turkey breast, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, butternut squash and beet salad. Dessert is pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream. Cost is $50, $20 for kids 12 and under. Reservations are required.
Grid City Beer Works • 333 W 2100 S Expy, South Salt Lake; 801-906-8390 or www.gridcitybeerworks.com • Grid City holds its first annual Friendsgiving Dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 22, from 5 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $65 for a four-course dinner featuring fried green bean casserole balls, fried smoked corn stuffing balls, a spicy cranberry dipping sauce, paired with a hoppy seltzer or house pilsner; butternut squash soup in a bread bowl, paired with elderflower seltzer or yuzu wild rice lager; smoked turkey (including a vegan option), garlic mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, carrots and cranberry sauce paired with raspberry sage seltzer or imperial pale ale; a creme fraiche with cranberry sauce and a cranberry-ginger sorbet paired with rose seltzer or nitro honey cream ale; and pumpkin pie, paired with an aperitif seltzer or an imperial brown ale.
Grub Steakhouse • 2093 Sidewinder Dr., Park City; 435-649-8060 or www.grubsteakparkcity.com • Grub serves a Thanksgiving meal from 2-7:45, including carved turkey, dressing, gravy, beans, mashed potatoes, citrus-cranberry relish, wild rice and mushroom soup and pumpkin pie or bread pudding. Cost is $41.75 for adults or $21.75 for kids 12 or younger. Again, reservations are recommended but not required — as of press time, only Nov. 23 and 25 were available.
Hill’s Kitchen Café & Catering • 1153 Center Dr Suite G160, Park City; 435-800-2870 or https://www.hills-kitchen.com • Hill’s Kitchen offers a dinner that serves eight for $325, with pickup available on Thanksgiving from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Pre-orders can be placed by calling 435-800-2870. The menu includes organic turkey, house-brined ham, rosemary-sage stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, Brussels sprouts, cheddar biscuits, mac ‘n’ cheese, refuel or Caesar salad, plus pecan, apple or pumpkin pie.
Hub and Spoke Diner • 1291 S. 1100 East, Salt Lake City; 801-487-0698 or www.hubandspokediner.com • This diner serves its traditional Thanksgiving buffet again this year. Cost is $44.99 for adults and $22.49 for kids. Reservations are recommended but no longer available; they will have open, first-come first serve spots on the patio. In addition to holiday fare like turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, green beans and stuffing, you can also order some of their regular favorites, including chicken and waffles.
Hyatt Regency Salt Lake City • 170 S W. Temple St., Salt Lake City; 801-596-1234 or www.hyatt.com • This new hotel is offering Thanksgiving Day meals at The Salt Republic, featuring a three-course prix fixe meal for $50 or $24 for kids 12 and younger. The meal starts with a pear and beet salad, followed by turkey and gravy, potatoes, stuffing, green beans and pumpkin mousse with Chantilly maple pecan crumble. Dinner hours are 5-10 p.m. Reservations can be placed online at www.exploretock.com/the-salt-republic-salt-lake-city.
KITA • 2417 W. High Mountain Rd., Park City; 435-513-7213 or www.pendry.com/park-city/kita • A few reservations were still available as of press time. The menu features sliced turkey breast, mashed potatoes, orange-cranberry chutney, cornbread stuffing, and sauteed green beans, followed by apple or pumpkin pie.
Little America Hotel • 500 S. Main St., Salt Lake City; 801-596-5700 or saltlake.littleamerica.com • The Grand Ballroom will host a Thanksgiving buffet on Thursday, Nov. 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., but reservations are sold out. The Coffee Shop will have a three-course holiday menu, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., at $49 (vegetarian), $52 (turkey), $55 (grilled salmon), $59 (prime rib) and $25 (children’s menu). The Lucky H will have a holiday buffet from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., at $64 for adults, $25 for children 5-12, and free for children 4 and under (taxes not included). No reservations for The Coffee Shop or Lucky H, it’s first come, first served.
No Name Saloon • 447 Main St., Park City; 435-649-6667 or www.nonamesaloon.com • This bar will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day, offering a free Thanksgiving buffet starting at 2 p.m., while the food lasts. You can also order off the regular menu.
Oasis • 151 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City; 801-322-0404 or www.oasiscafeslc.com • Oasis will have its regular brunch menu and takeout available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving.
Red Maple Catering • Park City; www.redmaplecatering.com • Deliveries are available the day prior or on Thanksgiving morning. All meals are fully cooked, and only require warming in the oven. This is one of the few places available offering a full turkey (this one is cider-brined), served with roasted apple-pan gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry-orange sauce, garden salad, potatoes, ciabatta sage stuffing, buttermilk biscuits, mac ‘n’ cheese, sweet potato casserole and pumpkin pie. All orders have a four-person minimum, and can be reserved at 801-742-1932 or sales@redmaplecatering.com.
Salt Box Eatery & Catering • Park City; riverhorse-salt-box.myshopify.com • This Park City catering company is offering dinner pre-orders that include a meat and cheese platter, butternut squash soup, turkey, honey baked ham, lamb leg, sage stuffing, mashed potatoes, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, mac ‘n’ cheese, pomegranate-cranberry jam, gravy and pecan or pumpkin pie. Pickup is Nov. 21-24 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Cost is per item and can be ordered online at riverhorse-salt-box.myshopify.com.
SLC Eatery • 1017 S. Main St., Salt Lake City; 801-355-7952 or slceatery.com • The restaurant is offering Thanksgiving meal pre-orders through Monday, Nov. 21, with pickups starting Tuesday, Nov. 22, from 3-5 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 23, from noon-4 p.m. Each dinner serves four. Choose from black sugar glazed turkey and turkey legs with sides ($160); black sugar glazed prime rib with sides ($190); black sugar glazed salmon with sides ($185); plus desserts, which include sweet potato pie or passionfruit curd tart. Appetizers can also be added to your order, which you can place online at slceatery.com.
Vessel Kitchen • Locations in Salt Lake City, Park City, Sandy and Midvale; www.vesselkitchen.com • This restaurant offers an “Everything But the Bird” dinner, which can be customized for vegan, vegetarian, keto or paleo eaters. Cost is $145 for a dinner serving four, with additional sides available (go to vesselkitchen.com/thanksgiving). Deadline for orders is Monday, Nov. 21, by 9 p.m., with pickups on Wednesday, Nov. 23. Choose your preferred pickup location when placing your order.
Zest • Salt Lake City; www.zestslc.com • Zest Kitchen & Bar is offering vegan and gluten-free Thanksgiving dinners for pick-up, including traditional offerings like stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce and potatoes, plus dishes like maple-glazed acorn squash with quinoa and roasted fennel bulb with crisp mandarin wedges, pepitas, tangy orange-carrot dressing. Orders can be placed online on Wednesday, Nov. 23.
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