10 Phoenix restaurants to dine out on Thanksgiving

Not everyone feels right at home in the kitchen preparing for the year’s biggest meal. And several Valley restaurants make sure no one has to. 

On Thanksgiving Day, Phoenix restaurants will serve extravagant buffets and elegant prix-fixe dinners offering all the favorites plus a few creative and international spins. 

Here’s where to dine out on Thanksgiving Day for all of the fun and none of the fuss.

Caffe Boa

398 S. Mill Ave., Tempe
This longtime downtown Tempe restaurant is known for its Mediterranean cuisine and impressive wine list. This Thanksgiving, its getting ready to celebrate with a three-course dinner ($59 per person) from 11 a.m. to close. At Caffe Boa, start with your choice of an heirloom green salad with bacon, apples, walnuts and raisins, or pumpkin soup topped with pecorino, pickled onions, Slovenian pumpkin oil and pepitas. A classic turkey feast follows, featuring Two Wash Ranch heritage turkey accompanied by mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce and a Noble Bread roll. Finish with a slice of harvest pumpkin pie or pecan pie.

J&G Steakhouse 

The Phoenician
6000 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale
Whether you’re an early riser or prefer to sleep in, J&G Steakhouse has you covered with elaborate brunch and dinner options. 

Seatings for the brunch buffet ($175 per person or $87 for ages 3 through 12) are available from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Highlights include a chef’s carving station featuring Thanksgiving classics such as herb roasted turkey breast and brown sugar glazed ham with butter whipped potatoes and dried apricot and chicken sausage stuffing, a chilled seafood and raw bar, hand rolled sushi and sashimi, an array of breakfast and brunch favorites and artisanal pastries and sweets.

For those who prefer feasting at dinner time, a three-course menu ($75 per person) will be served from 5 to 9 p.m. Butternut squash soup with oyster mushrooms is the opener before the main course of roasted turkey, served with mushroom and chestnut stuffing, mashed Yukon gold potatoes, caramelized Brussels sprouts and cranberry sauce. Kabocha pumpkin cheesecake with honey ice cream and ginger sauce is the exclamation point on the meal.

Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse

7212 E. Ho Hum Road, Carefree 
Indulge with the all-you-can-eat buffet ($85 per person, $40 for ages 12 and younger) at Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse. Go back for seconds, thirds or more to a smorgasbord that boasts traditional smoked dark and white turkey meat and a prime rib carving station. Pair your selection with Keeler’s chopped salad, shrimp cocktail, grilled Atlantic salmon, stuffing, cranberry sauce, turkey gravy, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, asparagus, green beans and an assortment of Keeler’s pastry chef’s desserts. The buffet will be offered from noon to 7 p.m.

Le Âme 

The Global Ambassador
4360 E. Camelback Road
Savor the holiday amid Parisian ambiance with a three-course menu ($165 per person, $55 additional for wine pairing) at Le Âme, served from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Shareable starters for the table include duck spring rolls with carrot, mushroom, ginger and plum sauce; French chopped salad; shrimp cocktail and tuna ponzu; and a baguette with salted butter and olive oil. 

For the main course, customers have a few choices. Opt for the truffle roasted turkey with brioche stuffing, butter whipped potato, truffle turkey jus and cranberry Grand Marnier sauce; butternut squash ravioli with sage, slow-roasted grapes and saba; grilled lamb chops with truffled hash brown, pecorino and crispy brussels sprouts; an 8-ounce filet au poivre served with frites; sole meunier with parsley, lemon and brown butter; or Ora King salmon with potato crust, glazed candy-striped beets, bok choy and sauce vin blanc.

Finish with apple tarte tatin with salted caramel ice cream, maple pumpkin créme brûlée with mascarpone chantilly, profiteroles with French vanilla ice cream and warm chocolate ganache or carrot cake with maple cream cheese frosting and brown sugar caramel.

Litchfield’s

The Wigwam
300 E. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park
A three-course prix-fixe menu ($119 per person, $30 for ages 4 through 12) awaits diners from 2 to 6 p.m. at the resort’s signature restaurant, Litchfield’s. Sparkling wine and a chef’s charcuterie bite get the party going. Freshly-baked soft rolls and holiday butter accompany every starter selection including Litchfield’s chopped salad, roasted squash soup or gourmet mac and cheese with a four-cheese sauce, charred broccolini and herb crust. Next, choose one of the main course options: house-cured Karobuta ham served with heirloom bean cassoulet, maple-roasted yams, brussels sprouts and lardons with a honey mustard glaze; organic turkey breast accompanied by apple-sage dressing, green beans, maple roasted yams, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, giblet gravy and orange-cranberry relish; pan-roasted trout with wild rice pilaf, chestnuts, Brussels sprouts, and maple-jalapeño marmalade; or the Cedar River prime rib served with mashed potatoes, port pearl onions, grilled asparagus and fresh horseradish purée with a peppercorn steak glaze finish. 

Share a fresh-baked cookie and treat plate with your tablemates and choose a dessert all for yourself. There’s pumpkin cheesecake topped with vanilla bean whipped cream and spiced pumpkin seeds. But the honey crisp apple galette composed of buttery puff pastry, caramel sauce and topped with vanilla ice cream or Maker’s Mark chocolate pecan cake embellished with mint chocolate chip ice cream, make a strong case for bucking tradition.

Palo Verde Restaurant

The Boulders Resort & Spa
34631 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Scottsdale
Enjoy a four-course dinner ($108 per person or $55 for ages 12 and younger) served from 1 to 8 p.m. at the resort’s signature Palo Verde Restaurant overlooking the scenic duck pond and ancient rock formations. Begin with a fall mixed lettuce salad or baby arugula salad. Fire-roasted corn bisque is followed by your choice of entree. Pick the garden herb-brined turkey with white garlic glazed yams, grilled broccolini, red wine cherry chutney and gravy; butter-basted prime beef tenderloin accompanied by toasted carrot puree, charred shallot, roasted baby potatoes and wild garlic beef jus; or sustainable steel head trout served with spiced pumpkin puree, local wheat berries, braised heirloom radish, organic globe carrots and brown butter beurre blanc. Decide between brown sugar pot de crème with spiced candied pumpkin and sweet pepitas or apple cider mousse brown butter cake embellished with cinnamon, caramel and orange cranberry compote for dessert.

Royal Palms Resort & Spa 

5200 E. Camelback Road
A glass of sparkling wine or a Royal Palms Mimosa welcome guests at the Royal Palms Resort & Spa’s banquet buffet ($175 per person, or $75 for ages 6 through 12) served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Highlights include: a carving station with roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham and herb-crusted prime rib; roasted pumpkin soup; cornbread stuffing; creamy garlic potatoes; a sushi station; chilled seafood display, Royal Palms spanish paella, house-made tamales; and a decadent pie bar.

The Italian Daughter

23655 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Two options await at the Italian Daughter. The Thanksgiving Feast ($85 per person) starts with a choice of soup, salad or burrata and butternut squash caponata. The second course features your choice of pasta: roasted pumpkin sacchetti with Frangelico cream sauce, pistachios and stracciatella; mafalde bolognese made with pork, veal and beef ragu; or tagliatelle and wild mushroom guanciale in a truffle cream. The main course is a classic turkey dinner with carved turkey breast, mashed potatoes, gravy, sausage stuffing, creamed corn, Tomaso’s brussels sprouts and sweet potato soufflé. End on a sweet note with salted caramel pumpkin cheesecake, Torta Della Nonna or tiramisu. 

For those craving tradition, the Classic Turkey Dinner ($55 per person) delivers with a carved turkey breast, mashed potatoes, gravy, sausage stuffing, creamed corn, Tomaso’s brussels sprouts and sweet potato soufflé. It comes with artisan cheeses, imported meats and a choice of dessert.  Both menus will be served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Three Thirty Three

430 N. Scottsdale Road, #101, Tempe
This new steakhouse on the shores of Tempe Town Lake aims to impress with a three-course menu ($135 per person) served from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Three Thirty Three brings its signature Asian flair to every course. Begin with your choice of cucumber avocado salad, whipped edamame, Wagyu short rib tacos or yellowtail sashimi. Ponder these main course dishes: five-spice herb-roasted turkey breast with stuffing and cranberry sauce, miso salmon, Wagyu braised short rib, coal-roasted truffle chicken or Wagyu New York strip. Pair your entree with a side of Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, truffle fries or miso butter mushrooms. For dessert, decide among carrot cake, bread pudding or chocolate cake. If you prefer to sip your sweet ending, opt for the espresso martini. Diners 12 and younger can feast on their own dinner ($45) composed of an A5 Wagyu cheeseburger with truffle fries, and chocolate cake for dessert.

Tia Carmen

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
5350 E. Marriott Drive
“Top Chef” alum Angelo Sosa offers his rendition on tradition at Tia Carmen’s Thanksgiving Grand Mercado ($169 per person, $49 for ages 5 through 12) served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Peruse and stroll among the banquet tables and stations flaunting just about every main dish, side, starter and dessert. Hit the carving station for herb-roasted turkey with roasted shallot gravy and cranberry citrus relish or prime rib with beef jus and horseradish cream. There’s also Wagyu tomahawk with bone marrow butter and Sosa’s signature aged tepary bean mole negro; and king salmon with guajillo chile honey mustard and triple citrus hollandaise. 

Also find salads, fruit, charcuterie, artisan breads, a raw bar and tamales. Sides include Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans and native grain fried rice with linguiça sausage, bacon, serrano chile and a sunny up egg. Tres leches French toast, pecanwood smoked bacon, Shreiner’s pork sausage and Aidell’s chicken sausage answer any brunch cravings. Desserts span pastries, pies, cookies and a gelato and sorbet station complete with cones, toppings and sauces.