Maybe you don’t want to cook on Thanksgiving. Maybe you can’t.
Or maybe the thought of cleanup is enough to drag the joy right out of the holiday.
There will be no shortage of restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Polk County. Here’s a look at some of them.
Antojitos Navideňos Restaurant
Antonitos Navideños Restaurant, a Lakeland based restaurant known for serving up Puerto Rican dishes, will be open on Thanksgiving and serving up a $25 per person meal special. Diners will have to make five choices from entries of fried turkey or roasted pork, and picking vanilla or pumpkin flan for desert.Website: https://www.facebook.com/antojitospuertoricancuisine
Reservations: none needed
Cost: $25 per person Thanksgiving Day special
Time: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Club at Eaglebrooke
The Club at Eaglebrooke will be hosting a Thanksgiving Day Brunch on Nov. 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring chef-inspired favorites, traditional holiday classics and a selection of desserts. Menu includes a carving station, salad and seafood bar, entrees and desserts.
Website: www.eaglebrooke.com/events/the-club-at-eaglebrooke-thanksgiving-day-buffet-1
Reservations: Required, email reservations@eaglebrooke.com
Cost: $69 per adult, $20 per child ages 6 to 12
Time: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cozy Oaks Restaurant
This Lakeland hometown diner tucked in at 1201 E. Orange Street is open on Thanksgiving Day serving its regular menu along with an affordably priced Thanksgiving special plates starting at $13.99 for ham, stuffing and two sides, $15.99 for turkey stuffing and two sides.
Website: www.cozyoaksrestaurant.com
Reservations: Not required, walk-in welcome
Cost: Varies base don item, Thanksgiving plates start at $13.99
Time: Open 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Glory Days Grill
This sports bar and grill with locations in Lakeland and Winter Haven will be open Thanksgiving Day serving up its regular menu featuring Gobbler Plate, including turkey, stuffing, green beans, a roll and cranberry sauce, and its Turkey Day dry rubbed wings. Website: www.glorydaysgrill.com
Reservations: Not required
Cost: Varies based on menu item
Time: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Harborside
Enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner while looking out over Winter Haven’s waterfront at Harborside. The restaurant will be open on Thanksgiving Day serving its three-course menu along with a limited a la carte menu. Reservations are recommended.
Website: www.harborsidefl.com/news-item/holiday-schedule
Reservations: Recommended, in groups of 2 to 10
Cost: Varies
Time: Open 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Nineteen61
One of Downtown Lakeland’s most popular restaurants, Nineteen61, will be open on Thanksgiving Day to host its first Thanksgiving buffet.Tickets are paid at the door on Thanksgiving Day. Any reservations canceled within 48 hours will incur a $50 charge. While a full menu doesn’t appear to be posted, the restaurant’s website teases carving stations to include turkey, lechon (a Spanish-style slow-roasted pork) and porchetta (Italian pork roast), indicating it will be a flavorful multicultural fusion.
Website: www.nineteen61.com
Reservations: resy.com/cities/lakeland-fl/venues/nineteen61/events/61-thanksgiving-brunch-2025-11-27
Cost: $89 per adult, $45 for children ages 3 to 13, under 3 are free
Time: Seatings every 15 minutes from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Terrace Grille
The Terrace Grille will host its annual Thanksgiving Grand Buffet on Nov. 27, reservations required, with multiple seatings from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This year’s menu consists of a raw bar, featuring Alaskan snow crab, salads, charcuterie, a carving station with turkey and roasted prime rib, main buffet and dessert. Website: www.terracegrillelakeland.com/event/thanksgiving-grand-buffet
Cost: $125 per adult, $45 for children ages 5 to 12, children age 4 and younger free excluding tax and tip
Time: Seats available every 30 minutes from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Big Tom’s Diner
This family-run diner known for its generous portions will be open on Thanksgiving Day serving up a three-course specialty menu starting with soup or salad, a main dish of turkey, ham, salmon, prime rib or sirloins with traditional fixings followed by dessert for $21.99 a person. Reservations are encouraged.
Website: www.facebook.com/BigTomsDiner1
Cost: $21.99
Time: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., hours may vary due to holiday
National or chain restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day
Own or operate a restaurant that will be open on Thanksgiving Day that isn’t on our list? Contact swalsh@theledger.com to be added.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Don’t want to cook? Polk County restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving
Reporting by Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
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