Not everyone wants to cook on Thanksgiving. If you’d rather skip the kitchen, many of Sarasota and Manatee’s most popular restaurants — including at least one legendary one — will be open for the month’s big holiday.
Several restaurants will serve turkey dinners with traditional Thanksgiving sides, while some will offer other options including seafood dishes fitting the Florida setting. In addition to dine-in, some restaurants will have to-go Thanksgiving options such as family feasts, individual meals, or pies for dessert.
Here are restaurants in Sarasota-Manatee that’ll be open Thanksgiving Day, listed in alphabetical order. Details are subject to change, especially as restaurants tend to sell out spots quickly, so reservations are highly recommended (and even required at some restaurants.)
Beach House Waterfront Restaurant
Details: 200 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach; 941-779-2222; beachhousedining.com
Located smack dab on Bradenton Beach and offering toes-in-the-sand dining with gorgeous Gulf views, Anna Maria Island dining icon Beach House will be open from noon to 7:30 p.m. It will feature a cold buffet (oysters, poached shrimp, crab claws, smoked salmon, several salad options), a hot buffet (citrus-brined whole turkey with gravy and cranberry sauce, seared mahi mahi with mango salsa, toasted coconut and piña colada butter sauce, roasted fall squash, and blistered green beans with herb-garlic butter), and a dessert display with assorted cakes and pies. The cost is $65 per adult and $20 per child under 12, with reservations strongly encouraged.
Bevardi’s Salute
Details: 23 N. Lemon Ave., Sarasota; 941-365-1020; salutesarasota.com
Occupying a prime spot in the heart of downtown Sarasota — with both indoor and expansive patio seating — this Italian restaurant will be open from 1 to 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, serving a three-course prix-fixe menu ($49.95; $24.95 for children under 12). The meal features slow-roasted turkey with sausage-mushroom-sage stuffing, green beans almondine, roasted honey-glazed sweet potatoes, Parmesan mashed potatoes, pan gravy, and Chianti cranberry sauce. Start with butternut squash bisque or a baby spinach salad, and finish with warm apple pie and vanilla ice cream or classic pumpkin pie.
Café on St. Armands
Details: 431 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota; 941-388-4415; cafeonstarmands.com
The rebranded version of Café L’Europe, since being acquired by Oysters Rock Hospitality, will be open on Thanksgiving. Café on St. Armands is offering a traditional turkey dinner with a Mediterranean twist ($38), which can be enjoyed indoors or at shaded sidewalk seating right on the Circle. The meal includes herb-marinated turkey with gravy, Tuscan-style sourdough stuffing, orange zest and mint cranberry sauce, buttery green beans and carrots, garlic mashed potatoes, and confit tomato pie with mascarpone and seasoned phyllo. The menu will also feature Mediterranean-inspired starters, cocktails, and kid-friendly options, including a kids’ turkey plate ($16).
Café Gabbiano
Details: 5104 Ocean Blvd., Siesta Key; 941-349-1423; cafegabbiano.com
The Italian restaurant in Siesta Key Village — which was undergoing an impressive renovation during our visit about a week ago — will offer a menu featuring a turkey dinner with garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy, along with other entrée options such as Allen Brothers filet mignon and honey truffle salmon. The restaurant will also offer a to-go Thanksgiving dinner serving six to eight people, available for pickup from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Columbia Restaurant
Details: 411 St. Armands Circle, Sarasota; 941-388-3987; columbiarestaurant.com
The legendary Sarasota location — anchoring St. Armands Circle since 1959 — of the even more famous Tampa restaurant founded in 1905 will serve its regular dinner menu of standout Spanish-Cuban cuisine, as well as a Thanksgiving meal featuring sliced roast turkey, a family-recipe stuffing and sides ($34 for adults, $9 for children 12 and under). The meal also includes your choice of soup or salad, with the option to substitute Columbia’s famed 1905 Salad for $4 and to add pumpkin pie or flan for $8. Columbia is also offering Thanksgiving takeout bundles serving up to 10 people for $195. Call the restaurant by 2 p.m. Nov. 20 to place your order and pick it up on Nov. 26 between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Duval’s Fresh. Local. Seafood.
Details: 1435 Main St., Sarasota; 941-312-4001; duvalsfreshlocalseafood.com
The downtown Sarasota seafood restaurant located right on Main Street offers a Thanksgiving feast dine-in option ($54.95 for adults, $30.95 for children under 10) featuring herb-and-butter-roasted turkey with pan gravy, brown sugar and mustard-glazed ham, house salad, cornbread, rolls, sides, and desserts. Customers can also order individual Thanksgiving dinners for takeout or free local delivery, or a family-style meal serving four to six people ($209.25). For something different, try entrées such as pan-roasted local Gulf fish, a seafood sampler, or a grilled six-ounce filet (all market price), which come with salad, cornbread, rolls, and dessert and are available for dine-in, takeout, or delivery.
Euphemia Haye
Details: 5540 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key; 941-383-3633; euphemiahaye.com
The recently saved Longboat Key dining landmark will be open from 2 to 9 p.m., serving its full à la carte menu, daily specials, and a Thanksgiving Day turkey special. If you’d like to buy one of Euphemia Haye’s ever-popular pies for your own celebration at home, to-go orders must be prepaid and placed by Friday, Nov. 21. However, because only a limited number of to-go orders will be accepted, it’s recommended to order at least a week in advance.
Grove
Details: 10670 Boardwalk Loop, Lakewood Ranch; 941-893-4321; grovelwr.com
The prominent Lakewood Ranch restaurant located right off Main Street will offer a traditional Thanksgiving dinner featuring turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato and broccoli casseroles, green beans, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie ($45 for adults, $22 for children under 10, available from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the Grove restaurant). It will also host a buffet with turkey, prime rib, mussels, chicken pasta, fresh salads, and more ($60 for adults, $25 for children under 10, available from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the ballroom). Customers can also order Thanksgiving dinners to go as individual meals ($45) or family feasts serving four to six people ($170), with pickup from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. All prices are before tax.
Harry’s Continental Kitchens
Details: 525 Saint Judes Drive, Longboat Key; 941-383-0777; harryskitchen.com
Another Longboat Key landmark with a rich history, Harry’s will be open 1-8 p.m. Thanksgiving, with indoor and outdoor seating. The three-course Thanksgiving dinner features fresh-roasted turkey with apple-walnut stuffing, giblet gravy, cranberry relish, fresh green beans almondine, and mashed Idaho and sweet potatoes ($59 per person, $74 with wine pairings, $42 entrée only.) Another option is Thanksgiving to-go from Harry’s Deli for $36 per person. Order by Nov. 24 and pick up on Nov. 26 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. (The deli is closed Thanksgiving.)
Mattison’s
Details: Multiple locations; mattisons.com
Acclaimed local chef and restaurateur Paul Mattison will offer Thanksgiving dining at all three of his namesake restaurants. City Grille in downtown Sarasota and Riverwalk Grille in downtown Bradenton will feature a traditional Thanksgiving feast of oven-roasted turkey, sweet potatoes, truffle mashed potatoes, giblet gravy, apple-walnut stuffing, maple-ginger roasted vegetables, and cranberry relish ($41.95). Mattison’s Forty-One on South Tamiami Trail will serve a buffet with multiple stations, including oven-roasted turkey and prime rib carving stations, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. ($68.90 for adults, $34.50 for children 12 and under). There’s also a Thanksgiving to-go option, with a turkey feast that serves up to eight people for $295.
Michael’s on East
Details: 1212 S. East Ave., Sarasota; 941-366-0007; bestfood.com
The Sarasota fine-dining staple renowned for its steaks, wine collection, and desserts will be open from 1 to 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, offering a traditional turkey dinner or à la carte favorites, with live music and outdoor dining available. Call-in reservations are required, and a credit card is needed to hold the reservation. Customers can also order family-style Thanksgiving feasts serving up to 10 ($429) or six ($329), whole turkeys ($195 for 15-pound, $245 for 20-pound), individual traditional turkey dinners ($44), or roasted prime rib of beef ($58) with multiple sides, as well as housemade holiday pies ($38). Orders must be placed by Nov. 25, with pickup from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
Palmetto Marriott Resort & Spa
Details: 600 U.S. Highway 41, Palmetto; 941-304-3456; facebook.com/palmettomarriott
The hotel with spectacular views of the Manatee River that opened last year will host a Thanksgiving Day buffet from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. featuring dishes such as carved prime rib and slow-roasted turkey with gravy and cranberry sauce, butternut squash ravioli, and truffle mac and cheese with turkey confit; sides such as pumpkin risotto, maple-glazed Brussels sprouts, and sweet potato casserole; desserts such as pumpkin pie cheesecake, maple pecan pie tarts, and warm crepes; and beverages including bottomless mimosas, soft drinks, and coffee. The buffet costs $80 for adults and $35 for children ages 5-12, with a 20% gratuity added to all checks. Reservations are required.
Phillippi Creek Oyster Bar
Details: 5353 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota; 941-925-4444; creekseafood.com
The popular Sarasota waterfront restaurant open since 1979 will offer a Thanksgiving meal ($39.95, $19.95 kids age 12 and under) with oven-roasted carved turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, croissant sage andouille stuffing, sweet potato cobbler, broccoli au gratin, sage gravy and Valencia orange cranberry jam. For dessert, add pumpkin pie ($9.95) or creme brulee cheesecake with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream ($11.95.)
Pier 22
Details: 1200 First Ave. W., Bradenton; 941-748-8087; pier22dining.com
Downtown Bradenton icon Pier 22 — offering indoor and patio seating right on the Manatee River — will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving. With a menu similar to its sister restaurant, Grove in Lakewood Ranch, Pier 22’s holiday menu will include a traditional Thanksgiving dinner featuring fresh-roasted turkey, house-made stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potato and broccoli casseroles, green beans, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie ($45 for adults, $22 for children under 10). Thanksgiving family meals serving four to six ($170) and individual meals ($45) will also be available for pickup from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. All prices are before tax.
The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota
Details: 1111 Ritz Carlton Drive, Sarasota; 941-309-2000; opentable.com
Downtown Sarasota’s most opulent hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, will host a traditional Thanksgiving feast ($175 for adults, $60 for children 12 and under) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring chef-attended action stations in its stately Grand Ballroom. The brunch experience includes live entertainment and activities for all ages. Reservations are required and can be made through The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota’s OpenTable page, with all bookings requiring credit card authorization to confirm.
Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Wade Tatangelo is Audience Director for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Florida Regional Dining and Entertainment Editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Popular Sarasota and Bradenton restaurants open Thanksgiving for dine-in or takeout
Reporting by Jimmy Geurts and Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
