Guide To Madison Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner
The cult of Thanksgiving continues to grow. Once upon a time a Butterball, stuffing, canned cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie would cut it. Now, we have the likes of Martha Stewart and Sam Sifton to thank for raising our expectations. As the pressure to deliver a picture-perfect, culinarily aware feast mounts, the time available to cook such a meal continues to dwindle.
Eating Thanksgiving dinner out should not be considered throwing in the towel. In fact, this way, you don’t have to worry about towels — or aprons, or two ovens, or getting the gravy to thicken.
The top, the tower of Pisa of area Thanksgiving dinners, is at the Edgewater Hotel. In fact, there’s really two meals here: a four-course prix fixe dinner 2-7 p.m. in the Statehouse restaurant ($65), and a lavish Thanksgiving brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom ($48/adult, $20/children 5-12). And by “brunch” we mean: You will not have to eat again for a month.
The brunch stars turkey and ham, with almost countless sides, from made-to-order cinnamon chestnut waffles to beet salad and leek mac ’n’ cheese. The prix fixe dinner includes scallops, quail, “turkey porchetta,” salmon, and some inventive re-creations of conventional sides and pies. (Toasted miso marshmallow on your pumpkin pie, anyone?) Reservations are required and are going fast, according to the hotel; call 608-535-8186.
The Capitol Chophouse at the Monona Terrace Hilton is serving a family-style Thanksgiving brunch 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Turkey and prime rib are the centerpieces, with a bread basket from Batch, the expected sides, and apple crisp or pumpkin pie. $35/adults, $11/children aged 8-15; reservations 608-255-0165.
The Fitchburg and Hilldale locations of the Great Dane Pub will be open for Thanksgiving buffets 11 a.m.-7 p.m. (last seating at 5:30 p.m.), $25/adults, $10/children 6-12.
Kevin Beier, kitchen manager at Hilldale, says the buffet will start with turkey, garlic mashed potatoes, herbed stuffing, green bean casserole and sweet potatoes. Veggie lovers will have plenty to choose from, too, with squash, glazed carrots, squash ravioli in sage cream sauce, pumpkin bisque and roasted squash soup. Those who prefer a diverse plate will encounter what Beier describes as an “impressive meat carving station with ham, beef, prime rib, herbed mustard-rubbed leg of lamb.”
The Danes also offer plated turkey dinners with one refill beginning in the early evening (5:45 p.m. at Fitchburg; call Hilldale for time). That’s $15/adults, $9/kids 12 and under.
Reservations are “very much suggested,” says Beier. “We save a space in the restaurant for walk-ins, but that usually fills up fast and has a wait for a good portion of the day.” Call 608-442-9000 (Fitchburg) or 608-661-9400 (Hilldale).
The Green Owl Cafe will hold its now-traditional untraditional five-course vegan dinner at noon on Thanksgiving, $35/adults, $20/children under 12. A tofu “turkey” with miso glaze and Italian “sausage” dressing will join mashed potatoes and hen-of-the-woods mushroom gravy, salad, carrot soup and more vegetable sides. Reservations via greenowlcafe.com, or call 608-285-5290.
Liliana’s in Fitchburg will also have a three-course vegan Thanksgiving meal, featuring butternut squash soup, seitan turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and stuffing, as well as pumpkin pie, for $25, but on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Reservations are strongly suggested; 608-442-4444.
Twist Bar and Grill at the Radisson, 517 Grand Canyon Drive, will host a buffet on Thanksgiving from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Unexpected bonus — kids get free pool time until 5 p.m. (though remember to wait an hour after eating before swimming!). In addition to turkey and ham, there will be flank steak, honey butter chicken, pork loin, salmon and all the expected sides, including bread pudding with rum sauce. It’s $24/adults, $16/seniors and $9 for kids ages 5-12.
There will be plenty to eat at Samba Brazilian Grill — grilled turkey and Thanksgiving sides will be added to its already lavish grilled meats and buffet spread. It’s open 11 a.m.-8 p.m., $33.
Other options? Yes. You are wondering about Quivey’s Grove. It’s open, but at press time, was booked solid.
Essen Haus has its family-style dinner with turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and the rest, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., $22/adults, $8/children 6-10. Reservations: 608-255-4674.
The Dorf Haus in Roxbury continues its Thanksgiving buffet tradition of donating 15% of proceeds to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to honor restaurant founder Betty Maier. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., $17.25/adults; $6/children 5-l0 and $3 for all other tots. Reservations: 608-643-3980.
The Old Feed Mill in Mazomanie will serve 11 a.m.-4 p.m., $21/adults, $19/seniors, $11/children under 12, with the traditional turkey and sides, joined by bourbon-smoked pork, pot roast, mushroom strudel, kale slaw, pumpkin and apple pie and bread pudding. Reservations at 608-795-4909.
Lake Windsor Golf Resort’s buffet runs 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with turkey and ham, all the sides, pies and a pastry table. Adults $28, seniors $25, kids 4-10 $12. Reservations: 608-846-4711.
Rex’s Innkeeper in Waunakee holds its Thanksgiving buffet 11 a.m.-2 p.m., $16/adults, $8/children 10 and under. Reservations: 608-849-5011.
Fitzgerald’s, 3112 Parmenter St., Middleton, holds a Thanksgiving buffet 11 a.m.-3 p.m., $18; a carryout option is $17.
Claddagh Irish Pub, Granite City, Tully’s II, Quaker Steak and Lube and Northside Family Restaurant will serve Thanksgiving dinners. And they’ll serve their regular menus as well, so anybody who still wants a cheeseburger will be accommodated.
