November 21, 2023 – With Thanksgiving just days away, local chefs are already prepping so you don’t have to cook. Options range from a seafood feast at Wild Fish in Pacific Grove to a lavish buffet at Monterey Plaza Hotel to premium smoked turkey to go at The SmokePoint in San Juan Bautista. Here are some of our top picks:
Estéban – At the center of old Monterey, savor a 3-course Thanksgiving dinner on Estéban’s Mediterranean garden patio or to go. Start with squash and roast pepper bisque or spinach salad, followed by turkey with all the trimmings and your choice of pumpkin or apple pie for dessert. $78 per person and $38 for children.
Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa – Executive chef Michael Rotondo is pulling out all the stops with a lavish buffet including roast turkey, prime rib and holiday sides, along with seasonal salads, a raw bar with oysters, prawns and crab, cheese and charcuterie, and an abundance of festive desserts. $135 per person and $49 children ages 6-13.
Pacific’s Edge – Enjoy a bountiful 3-course tableside menu with spectacular views at Hyatt Carmel Highlands. First course is either oyster Rockefeller with creamed spinach or butternut squash bisque or spiced farro with Salinas Valley greens, followed by your choice of turkey, ham, seafood or vegetarian entrée for $85 per person.
Portola Hotel & Spa – Give thanks and celebrate at Portola Hotel’s annual Thanksgiving buffet, which includes tables of California cheeses, salads and peel & eat shrimp. At the carving table find turkey, prime rib and country ham, and finish with a selection of pies, cookies and tarts. Adults $89.95, seniors $79.95 and children ages 6-12 $39.95. Or go the more casual route and enjoy a Thanksgiving Plate at Peter B’s brewpub ($34.95) and have a local craft beer alongside.
Sea Root – The Thanksgiving buffet at Hyatt Regency Monterey includes shrimp cocktail and Waldorf salad, a carving board with turkey and ham, the chef’s hot line with Pacific salmon, soup and sides and a delicious selection of desserts, along with live music from 4pm to 7pm. Adults $79 and ages 6-12 $35.
The Smoke Point BBQ – Chef Jarad Gallagher of The Smoke Point BBQ in San Juan Bautista, says it’s not too late to order Thanksgiving meals for pickup on November 23 (in SJB only). But, you’d best shake a tail feather, as orders close at 8pm on Wednesday, Nov 22. Dinners include premium smoked turkey (they use only American Heirloom birds from Diestel), mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, peas, carrots, cranberry sauce, salad, dinner roll, & pecan bar for $28/pp. Note: The Hollister location of SmokePoint will be expanding hours as of Friday, Nov 24, to mirror those of SJB. Both locations will be open Wednesday through Sunday, from noon until 8pm.
Wild Fish – For those who don’t want turkey, Wild Fish is offering at 4-course seafood Thanksgiving with roasted cured swordfish roulade with fermented greens and a side of wild mushroom pudding for $85. The meal can be made vegan with an entrée of roasted eggplant and cauliflower gratin. Wine pairings are also available.
Wild Plum – Chef Pamela Burns still has full turkey dinners and menu items from sides to pies available available to go. Order soon and leave at least part of the cooking to Wild Plum.
About the author
At Edible Monterey Bay, our mission is to celebrate the local food culture of Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey Counties, season by season. We believe in sustainability, and we believe everyone has a right to healthful, clean and affordable food. We think knowing where our food comes from is powerful, and we hope our magazine, website and newsletters inspire readers to get to know and support our local growers, fishers, chefs, vintners and food artisans.
