Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Connecticut

Connecticut restaurants will fill your plate this Thanksgiving! Photo courtesy of Artisan in Southport
Connecticut restaurants will fill your plate this Thanksgiving! Photo courtesy of Artisan in Southport
10/27/23 - By Jennifer Coe

Has your family decided to go easy this year and find a restaurant open on Thanksgiving 2023? This tasty food-centric holiday will bring families together again as everyone is looking forward to relaxing with some good food and stimulating conversation. We don't blame you if you aren't looking forward to actually cooking that meal so there are many restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Connecticut serving up delicious and creative, inspired holiday meals. Many of these restaurants are open on Thanksgiving and offer special pricing for kids.

Mommy Poppins recommends making reservations ASAP, as seating can fill up very quickly. And if you're looking for a few extra laughs over the long Thanksgiving weekend, check out 25 Thanksgiving Jokes for Kids They'll Gobble Up.  And have fun throughout the season with 50 Thanksgiving Crafts, Games, and Activities for Kids and Families.

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Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving Near Hartford

Image of Thanksgiving buffet - Restaurants open on Thanksgiving in Connecticut 
These Connecticut restaurants have so much to offer for Thanksgiving 2023. Photo courtesy of  the Avon Old Farms Hotel 

Seasons Resaurant and Tap Room — Avon

Take in autumn colors at the picturesque Avon Old Farms Hotel. Then enjoy their Thanksgiving buffets, either breakfast or lunch. Choose from fresh pastries, smoked bacon, and sausage, or create something special at the chef's omelet station. If you come for lunch, dig into the amazing plates like porchetta, whipped potatoes, and chicken cacciatore. You can choose either slow roasted turkey or prime rib at the carving stations.  Finish your meal with fresh baked pies and a selection of gluten free and vegan desserts. Adults are $74.95 per person, children 5-12 are $24.95, and children 4 and under are free. The Thanksgiving buffet is available from 10 am to 3 pm.

Millwright's  Simsbury

What a beautiful place to have a memorable holiday dinner! Reserve seats early enough, and you could request to sit near the outdoor waterfall. Enjoy a pre-fixe Thanksgiving menu, including 3 courses and a dessert. Choose from sunchoke and apple soup, organic roast turkey, maple-glazed ham, and so much more. All the traditional sides are available such as winter squash, cornbread stuffing, and brussels sprouts. Adults are $80 per person, and children 10 and under are $40. Seatings are available from 11 am to 5 pm. 

Photo of bowl of bisque-Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Connecticut 
Try the butternut squash bisque! Photo courtesy of the Mill on the River.

Mill on the River — South Windsor

This is another stunning place to eat by rushing water, where families up to 8 can enjoy a pre-fixe menu. Consider wearing elastic waistband pants! There are fun appetizers like Maryland crab cakes and calamari. Try a tasty soup or salad, and then (I know!) your main course: either turkey, ham, Prime Rib, salmon, shrimp, or rigatoni al vodka. Select from seasonal side dishes, and top it all off with a cup of coffee and a piece of apple, pumpkin or pecan pie. Advance reservations by telephone are required, and no reservations will be taken online; $49.95 per person.

The Nutmeg — East Windsor

A pleasant place to eat (as well as a banquet facility), the Nutmeg can accommodate large family groups. The Thanksgiving menu includes traditional Fall soup and a gluten free chilled seafood station. Move on from there to Garlic Herb Brined turkey, Cheddar Crumb Crusted Cod or veal stew. There's also candied carrots, herbed stuffing and cheese tortellini. Reservations required; $74.95 for adults, $23.95 for children (6-12 years old) and children under 5 are free. Seatings are from 11 am to 5 pm. 

 Image of restaurant decorated for Thanksgiving in Connecticut.
The Simsbury Inn will offer a number of stations for its Thanksgiving Buffet. Photo courtesy The Simsbury Inn, Facebook

Simsbury Inn — Simsbury

The Simsbury Inn is offering a relaxed, buffet-style meal. Start with something from the Fall soup station followed by a taste of seafood. Wander over to the baked brie display, where you can get warmed brie topped with honey and cranberries. Then dive into the dinner portion of the buffet, with turkey and gravy, crab cake crusted salmon, and maple glazed pork loin. The sides include piles of mashed potatoes and haricot verts (that's a fancy way to say green beans). There's more at the carving station and even a pie bar on the dessert menu. Call to reserve your table; adults are $68.95 per person; children age 5 and over $23.95. Seatings are 11:30 am and 2 pm. 

Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Connecticut - Fairfield

Cafe on the Green — Danbury

Overlooking the Richter Park Golf Course, families can enjoy an affordable, straight-forward holiday meal. Four courses are available for Thanksgiving Day, including dessert. Sink your teeth into a wonderful shrimp cocktail or penne ala vodka appetizer and then choose from rack of lamb, salmon, pan seared red snapper, or a traditional turkey breast with stuffing, sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce. And there are so many desserts to choose from: chocolate mousse cake, carrot cake, apple pie, and more. $75 per person.

 Image of table with autumn decoration - Restaurants open on Thanksgiving in CT
The Thanksgiving decor is gourd-geous at these Connecticut restaurants. Photo courtesy of Artisan in Southport

Artisan — Southport

Find New England-inspired American cuisine with an on-the-water appeal. Artisan is offering a pre-fixe Thanksgiving meal that starts with cauliflower and pear veloute, chilled seafood or a Fall chicory salad amongst other things. For your main entree, there are several things to choose from, including Angus steak and apple cider brined Amish turkey. Finish your meal (if you can!) with a choice of Pearamissu, carmelized apple pie, or vanilla ice cream with Oreo crumbles. All of this is $90 for adults $55 for "young" adults; the kids menu is $20.

Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Connecticut - Litchfield 

Hopkins Inn on Lake Waramaug — Warren

Sitting on the north end of beautiful Lake Waramaug, Hopkins Inn will be full of scenic autumn colors. Families can soak in the view and take part in a traditional Thanskgiving Day meal with some German touches. Enjoy hearts of artichoke or Bundnerteller for an appetizer. The main course selections include roast turkey, veal piccata, sea scallops, or Wiener Schnitzel. End your holiday meal with one of 14 (!) desserts, from a Linzer torte to a Toblerone sundae. Call for reservations; $70 per person.

Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Connecticut - New Haven

Stonebridge Restaurant —  Milford

Celebrate the holiday with family at a place that knows how to handle large groups. Enjoy a starter of fresh herb soup or garden salad and then dive into your roast turkey, honey glazed ham, or hazelnut-crusted salmon. Enjoy a cup of coffee with some apple or pumpkin pie or a slice of cheesecake. $49.95 per person.
 

Photo of pumpkin pie-Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Connecticut 
Save room for the sumptuous Thanksgiving desserts offered at Connecticut's restaurants. Photo courtesy of The Wharf Restaurant

The Wharf Restaurant — Madison

The Wharf is serving a Thanksgiving buffet again this year, and there are so many delicious choices! The food stations create so much diversity for a holiday menu. Start with a soup or salad, and check out the raw bar. Get a slice of turkey or Prime Rib from the carvery. End your meal at the sweets station, of course! Make reservations online; $95 per adult; $45 per child ages 3-10 years old. Children 3 and under are free. Reservations are required.

Founders House — Milford

Enjoy an affordable Thanksgiving meal at Founders House. Start with a sweet potato bisque or or sweet potato salad with avocado. Then pull up your seat to eat the roasted turkey, honey bourbon glazed ham, slow roasted prime rib, or baked stuffed shrimp. Finish your meal with pumpkin pie. While there, order a special Thanksgiving drink like the Apple Cider Mule, the Shelby, or a Pumpkin Rum Martini. The meal is $39.95 per person. Founders House is also offering "Heat and Eat" Thanksgiving dinner packages for pick-up by 11:30 am Thanskgiving Day.  

Fresh Salt — Old Saybrook

Fresh Salt will be seating families on Thanksgiving Day from 11am to 5pm for an amazing holiday meal. The theme for the meal is "Harvest Table" and includes a smoked meat and cheese sampling and a Caprese salad to start. It then moves on to an "Autumn" salad of your choice followed by your desired entree. Choose from Creole sole, lemon fennel chicken or seafood cannelloni. Or you can head over to the carvery for your traditional turkey. Adults meals are $99.95 and children are $49.95.

Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Eastern Connecticut

The Captain Daniel Packer Inn — Mystic

Have your Thanksgiving 2023 dinner at a 250-year-old historic inn. Enjoy the prix fixe menu which includes pumpkin bisque, cinnamon creme fresche, and stuffed portabello mushrooms, to start! After you have had your salad course, dig into traditional roast turkey with herb sausage stuffing and mashed potatoes. Try their cauliflower steak for a vegetarian option. Some items can also be prepared gluten free. Serving noon to 8 pm; $65 per person.

Photo of Griswold Inn-Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Connecticut 
These seats will be full once the Thanksgiving carving stations are ready! Photo courtesy of the Griswold Inn

The Griswold Inn — Essex

This is one of the oldest continuously operated inns in Connecticut. Seatings will be available at the The Griswold Inn from 11a to 7pm. The Inn will be offering a vast menu for the holiday, starting with a bread display, salads with field greens, goat cheese, spiced pecans, and asparagus. For your entree, you may choose from five different choices at the carving station, like herb-roasted turkey, prime rib, pork loin, or baked cod. Pumpkin pie, chocolate torte and snickerdoodle bread pudding await you at the end of your meal. Adults are and afforable $62 and children under 12 are $25. 

Hilton Mystic — Mystic

If you family is interested in a brunch instead of a dinner, Hilton Mystic is serving Thanksgiving at two seatings, 11:30 am and 12 and 12:30 pm. Come to the ballroom with family and relax while the meal is served. Start with the charcuterie board including soppressata, smoked cheeses, pickled veggies and then request a warm bisque. Enjoy the carvery which offers turkey, prime rib, salmon and homemade cranberry sauce. A children's menu is available. Meals are $83 for adults and $39 for children. Maximum table size is 10. 

The Spa at Norwich Inn - Norwich

Gather the family to enjoy a Pre Fixe meal served at the Spa at Norwich Inn. Start with a Thanksgiving egg roll or shrimp and lobster bruschetta, then dig into a traditional turkey, boneless short ribs, or grilled salmon. Then save room for a pecan pie dessert. They have a very comfortable children's menu, including all the kid-faves like hot dogs or chicken fingers. An affordable $69 per person with children 5-12 for $19.95. 

Order Thanksgiving Takeout in Connecticut

Milwright's — Simsbury

Milwright's is offering take-out as well, if you'd rather eat at home. Roast turkey or salmon? The maple glazed ham or sirloin? You choose. Throw in a side of cranberry sauce, and cheesy mashed potatos. $220 feeds a family of four. Orders must be picked up Thanksgiving Day from 10 am to 1 pm. 

Photo of smoked turkey-Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in CT
Order a whole smoked turkey for Thanksgiving takeout. Photo courtesy of Bear's Smokehouse

Bear's Smokehouse — Windsor, Hartford

Try Bear's for something different this Thanksgiving. This smokehouse has a huge menu of offerings, from whole smoked turkey or smoked glazed ham to baby back ribs. There are sides like mashed sweet or red potatoes, macaroni with loads of great cheese, roasted carrots, and more. Choose from 3 salads to share with your guests. Pick up in four different Bear's locations.

Anthony's Ocean View — New Haven

Enjoy the holiday and let Anthony's put the meal together for you. The all-inclusive spread includes turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, and apple or pumpkin pie. The cost is $325 to feed your group; pick up is on November 22. 

Bridge House Restaurant — Milford

The take-out menu for Thanksgiving 2023 is already up and includes enough food for groups of 8-12 or 15-20. The menu includes a 16-20 lb. turkey, sausage stuffing, Red Bliss smashed potatoes, and more. For dessert, your group can dig into a full size pumpkin pie. Add a bottle of Pinot too. Heat and eat helps guarantee a relaxed holiday!

Love it Vegan - Torrington

Love it Vegan calls it "ThanksLIVING". They offer several plates for a vegan Thanksgiving, including maple bacon cupcakes, squash soup, macaroni and cheese, and more. Email the restaurant to make your preorder. 

Cracker Barrel - Various

Yep, you can get down-home, tasty country grub for Thanksgiving. Cracker Barrel's Heat n Serve Feast in groups of 4-6 or 8-10, complete with turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, rolls, sweet potato casserole and more. Extra sides are available too. $109.00 and up. Pre-order today.

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