Thanksgiving Day may feel different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it can still taste as good as always. Whether your party is intimate or more grand, these Houston restaurants are open and ready to welcome dine-in guests for the holiday feast. Due to the current safety concerns, each location is following its own health protocols, in addition to those required by the state. Please contact the place you wish to visit to ensure measures meet your needs and expectations. For those who would prefer to enjoy their Thanksgiving meal at home, check out our list of to-go options. 

Downtown

Brasserie du Parc, 1140 Lamar: Tuck into the casual elegance of a French-inspired holiday meal from noon to 7:30 p.m. Afterwards, walk across the street to Discovery Green for a post-dinner, socially distanced park romp. The three-course menu  includes starter choices of butternut squash soup, a gingery shrimp salad and brie crostini with pears and arugula. There are four main courses including roasted turkey with traditional sides, seared Atlantic salmon with ratatouille vegetables, braised beef short ribs, and a fall vegetable risotto. For dessert, choose from the caramelized apple crêpe or pecan vanilla pie. Dine-in cost is $42 for adults and $20 for children (with a separate kid’s menu), plus tax and gratuity. To make reservations call (832) 879-2802.

East Downtown

Indianola, 1201 Saint Emanuel: This vibrant Gulf Coast spot is touting a holiday “buffet without the line” available on Thanksgiving from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Simply make requests to your server and round after round will come your way. Start with six appetizers such as boiled wild Gulf shrimp cocktail, Swedish meatballs and baked oysters on the half shell. Main selections include natural turkey with cranberry-citrus chutney and rosemary-shallot butter, glazed bone-in ham and Roast Natural Black Angus Beef Shoulder Filet with horseradish cream. There are seven sides, including roasted winter squash with sherry, maple and sage; cornbread dressing; green bean casserole and chop salad. For dessert, choose from pumpkin and pecan pies, Brown Butter Apple Crumble, Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake and chocolate chip cookies. The extensive spread is $55 per adult and $20 per child 12 and under (plus tax and gratuity) and free for children under 3. A limited number of reservations are available and you can make reservations online.

Galleria Area

Etoile Cuisine et Bar, 1101-11 Uptown Park: Gather at this sleek French bistro from noon to 7:30 for a special three-course holiday menu. First course selections include mushroom and leek velouté, goat cheese and arugula salad, and Gulf shrimp cocktail with avocado and grapefruit. Choose from four entrées such as free-range organic roasted turkey with an assortment of vegetables and braised beef short ribs alongside butternut squash and Cabernet syrup. Dessert options are pecan-vanilla pie and caramelized butternut squash rolled cake with orange blossom custard. The price is $56 per adult and $25 for child (with a kid’s menu) plus tax and gratuity. Call (832) 668-5808 to make reservations.

TRIBUTE at The Houstonian, 111 N Post Oak Lane: Enjoy Thanksgiving with a Gulf Coast twist at this luxury locale. The three-course prix fixe menu from executive chef Neal Cox includes starters such as smoked blue crab claws and “The” Southwest Caesar with pepitas, corn, black beans and cotija cheese. Choose the classic entrée of Post Oak Wood Grilled Turkey with bourbon whipped sweet potatoes, candied pecans, cornbread dressing, haricot vert, cranberry relish and turkey gravy or opt for something different with Snapper Pontchartrain or Texas black angus filet mignon. Sweet endings include choice of pumpkin pie, bourbon pecan pie and Cleo’s Chocolate Icebox Pie. Dinner costs $78 per person for non members, $68 per person for members and $34 for children 10 and under; tax and gratuity are extra. Seating options are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (713) 685-6713.  

Heights

Harold’s Restaurant, 350 W. 19th: Choose from meals for groups of two to four, or select individual servings. Mains include turkey breast, whole turkey or ham as well as a slew of handcrafted sides, including mashed potatoes, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce and green beans. There are desserts such as Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie and pumpkin pie, and drinks including wine, beer and cocktails. Individual meals are $24.95 plus tax, dinner for two adults is $49.95 plus tax, dinner for four adults is $99.95 plus tax and meals for children 10 and under are $14.95 plus tax. Call (713) 360-6204 for reservations.

Memorial Area

Jonathan’s The Rub Memorial Green, 12505 Memorial: Soak up cozy vibes and enjoy elevated American fare at this family-owned locale on Houston’s west side. The set Thanksgiving dinner is available for dine-in from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (note that the regular menu will not be available). There are two protein choices: the herb-roasted turkey breast with herbed turkey gravy is $45 per person and the seared beef tenderloin with horseradish sauce is $58 per person. Children 12 and under can eat for $25; tax and gratuity are extra for all meals. Both entrées include seven family-style sides like ginger honey-glazed carrots, sausage and sage cornbread stuffing and green bean almondine. Add-ons include salad, soup and dessert priced separately plus cocktails like Hot Buttered Rum and a spiked Pumpkin Spice Latte. Reservations are recommended.

Midtown

Brennan’s of Houston, 3300 Smith: Relax in the plush dining room of one of Houston’s most elegant and iconic restaurants and enjoy an equally memorable meal. The three-course prix fixe Creole-inspired dinner is $62 per person. Starters include quintessential snapping turtle soup, Oyster Dressing On The Half Shell and Poached Pear and Pecan Butter with blue cheese crumbles. There are eight entrées each served with its own select sides. Mains include Texas Creole American Turkey with Holy Trinity Dressing, candied sweet potato, green bean casserole, giblet gravy and cranberry sauce; Wild Game Cassoulet made with confit duck leg, venison sausage, Brennan’s Bacon and Camellia red beans; and Lamb Shank with farro risotto, fall vegetables, mustard greens, preserved lemon and lamb jus. There is even an inventive vegetarian option of Cauliflower Burnt Ends “Turkey Dinner.” For dessert, choose from seven selections such as Fairytale Pumpkin Pie with bourbon whipped cream, sweet potato chips, pecan caramel and cayenne pepita brittle; Bayou Rum Carrot Cake with butterscotch caramel corn and Meyer’s rum cream cheese; or Robin’s Lemon Meringue Pie with limoncello blueberry coulis and candied lemon zest. Call (713) 522-9711 for reservations.

Upper Kirby

Cleburne Cafeteria, 3606 Bissonnet: Feel the love and taste of tradition at this family-owned eatery in business since 1941. It is serving dine-in guests from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Owner George Mickelis sources Willie Bird turkeys from Sonoma, California and prepares them with an old-school method, boiling and then roasting. In addition to turkey, there is ham and sides such as dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce, bread, baked squash, green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese, candied yams and mashed potatoes. Housemade desserts include whole cakes and fruit pies plus pumpkin and pecan pie, lemon pound cake and more. For more information visit the website or call (713) 667-2386.

Kiran’s, 2925 Richmond: Dine on upscale Indian-style Thanksgiving dishes in the Upper Kirby district. Kiran’s is sourcing organic, free-range turkeys from Amish and Mennonite family farms in Pennsylvania and, new this year, cooks them in a wood-burning oven tandoor-style. Meals are available for reservation-only from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and cost $85 per guest. Choose from four starters such as butternut squash and pear soup with sesame seed and kalonji brioche roll or jumbo lump crab Malabar with uttapam waffle and farm egg. There are three main courses: turkey with gravy, roasted garlic and sage stuffing, and orange-cranberry sauce; Tandoori Salmon with orange-cranberry chutney; and lamb shank with aloo methi. Choose two sides per person from six selections such as corn and shishito peppers with paneer and chaat masala, ginger-honey carrots, and wild mushrooms. The Vegetarian Thali is also available for a main course, and all tables receive Cashew, Apricot and Cranberry Pulao (a rice pilaf) with naan. There is a choice of four desserts, too, including pumpkin pie with cardamom cream and carrot cake with ginger-cream cheese icing. Call (713) 960-8472 or email [email protected] to make reservations.

Multiple Locations

Mala Sichuan Bistro, Multiple locations: Instead of turkey and stuffing, create a new tradition with meats, vegetables and noodles flavored with the sensational Sichuan peppercorn and other Asian spices. This year, there is an extra-special Leshan Sweet Skin Duck, available by request with 48-hour notice. Call the location you plan to visit to reserve the duck and to secure your table. 

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille, Multiple locations: Both the regular dinner menu and a Thanksgiving special are available for dine-in at this swanky restaurant with several locations throughout the Houston area. (Note that the regular family-style dinner will not be available for dine-in.) Holiday bites include a choice of butternut squash soup or Honeycrisp Apple Salad followed by smoked turkey breast with pan gravy and a slew of sides. The latter include mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, housemade bread, sausage and sage dressing and green bean almondine. It is available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and costs $45 per person. For reservations and more information visit the website or call the location you plan to visit.

Ellie Sharp