Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving Near Hartford

 
These Connecticut restaurants have so much to offer for Thanksgiving 2023. Photo courtesy of  the Avon Old Farms Hotel 

1. Seasons Resaurant and Tap Room — Avon

Take in autumn colors at the picturesque Avon Old Farms Hotel. Then enjoy the Thanksgiving buffets for breakfast or lunch. Choose from fresh pastries, smoked bacon, and sausage, or eggs benedict. If you come for lunch or dinner, dig into the amazing plates like acorn squash, whipped potatoes, and Peruvian roasted chicken. 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 $80 per person, children 5-12 are $27; children 4 and under are free. The Thanksgiving buffet is available from 10am to 3pm.

2. 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 $85 per person, and children 10 and under are $45. Seatings are available from 11am to 5pm.

3. 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 pumpkin bisque and a variety of salads. Move on from there to roast turkey, broiled seafood or mac & cheese. There's also pasta and roast pork. Reservations required; $70 per person. Seatings are from 11am to 5pm. 

 
The Simsbury Inn will offer a number of stations for its Thanksgiving Buffet. Photo courtesy The Simsbury Inn, Facebook

4. 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 and baked brie topped with honey and cranberries. Then dive into the dinner portion of the buffet, with turkey and gravy, cheddar crumb crusted cod, and veal stew. The sides include candied carrots. There's more at the carving station and even a pie bar on the dessert menu. Call to reserve your table; adults are $80 per person; children age 5 and over $27. Seatings are at noon, 1:30pm and 2pm. 

Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Connecticut - Fairfield

5. 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. Choose from rack of lamb, salmon, pan seared red snapper, filet mignon, 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.

 
The Thanksgiving decor is gourd-geous at these Connecticut restaurants. Photo courtesy of Artisan in Southport

6. 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 lobster bisque, chilled seafood or a Fall chicory salad amongst other things. For your main entree, there are several things to choose from, including Angus NY steak and apple cider brined Amish turkey. Finish your meal (if you can!) with a choice of panna cotta, carmelized apple pie, or a strawberry ice cream sundae. All of this is $95 for adults $55 for "young" adults; the kids menu is $20.

Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Connecticut - Litchfield 

7. 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 13 (!) desserts, from a Linzer torte to a Toblerone sundae. Call for reservations; $70 per person.

Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Connecticut - New Haven

8. Stonebridge Restaurant —  Milford

Celebrate the holiday with family at a place that knows how to handle large groups. Enjoy a starter of butternut squash bisque or garden salad and then dive into your roast turkey, honey glazed ham, or prime rib. Enjoy a cup of coffee with some apple or pumpkin pie or a slice of cheesecake. $65 per person.
 

 
Save room for the sumptuous Thanksgiving desserts offered at Connecticut's restaurants. Photo courtesy of The Wharf Restaurant

9. The Wharf Restaurant — Madison

The Wharf is serving a Thanksgiving buffet again this year, and there are so many delicious choices. The food stations will be dishing out holiday favorites from noon to 6pm. 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! $102 per adult; $45 per child ages 3-10 years old. Children 3 and under are free. Reservations are required.

10. 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 move on to 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 Crisp Apple Mule or a Pumpkin Pie Martini. The meal is $49 per person. Founders House is also offering "Heat and Eat" Thanksgiving dinner packages for pick-up on November 27.

11. Fresh Salt — Old Saybrook

Fresh Salt will be seating families on Thanksgiving Day from 11am to 5pm for an amazing holiday buffet. The fare includes a macaroni and cheese bar and a variety of autumnal salads. Moves on to the seafood and carving stations. Other entree options include maple glazed salmon, cioppino, and seared pork medalllions. Adult meals are $110 and children are $60.

Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Eastern Connecticut

12. The Captain Daniel Packer Inn — Mystic

Have your Thanksgiving 2024 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. Other entrees include short ribs, salmon, and butternut squash for a vegetarian option. Some items can also be prepared gluten free. Serving noon to 8 pm; $70 per person.

13. 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 seasonal salads and warm rolls. For your entree, you may choose from like herb-roasted turkey, prime rib, pork loin, or baked cod. Pumpkin pie, chocolate torte, apple pie, and bourbon-caramel bread pudding await you at the end of your meal. Adults are and afforable $65 and children under 12 are $25. 

14. Hilton Mystic — Mystic

If you family is interested in a brunch instead of a dinner, Hilton Mystic is serving Thanksgiving at three seatings, 11:30 am, noon, 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 enjoy a warm bisque. Enjoy the carvery which offers turkey, prime rib, and salmon, as well as delectable sides. A children's menu is available. Meals are $83 for adults and $39 for children. Maximum table size is 12. 

15. The Spa at Norwich Inn - Norwich

Gather the family to enjoy either the Thanksgiving brunch buffet or a prix fixe meal served at the Spa at Norwich Inn Kensington's Restaurant. The brunch buffet is available from 11am to 3pm for $55 for adults and $20 for kids 5 to 12 (under 5 are free). The prix fixe starts with potato gnocchi or frisee salad. Then dig into a traditional turkey, prime rib, or roasted salmon. Then save room for a pumpkin chiffon pie dessert. The prix fixe is an affordable $59 per person, and runs from 5:30pm to 8pm.

 
Save time and effort with Thanksgiving takeout from these CT restaurants. Photo courtesy of Canva

Order Thanksgiving Takeout in Connecticut

16. 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 smoked sirloin? You choose. Throw in a side of cranberry sauce, and cheesy loaded potatos. $245 feeds a family of four. Orders must be picked up Thanksgiving Day from 10am to 2pm. 

17. 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 and cheese, roasted carrots, and more. Pick up in four different Bear's locations from noon to 7pm on the day before Thanksgiving.

18. 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 $285 to feed your group; pick up is on November 27. 

19. 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 or 20-25 lb. turkey, cornbread sausage stuffing, Red Bliss smashed potatoes, and more. For dessert, your group can dig into a full size pumpkin pie. A heat and eat from Bridge House helps guarantee a relaxed holiday!

20. Love it Vegan - Torrington

Love it Vegan calls it "ThanksLIVING". They offer several plates for a vegan Thanksgiving, including maple bacon cupcakes, tofu turkey, macaroni and cheese, and more. Pick up is Wednesday, November 27. Email the restaurant to make your preorder. 

21. 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 and whole pies are available too. $125.00 and up. Pre-order today.