While the turkey-gobbling holiday will undoubtedly continue to look and feel different this year due to ongoing COVID concerns, a few L.A. area restaurants are opening up their doors and patios for a distanced alfresco Thanksgiving dinner; lunch, or brunch… if for a bit of normalcy and cooking reprieve for those who don’t relish the thought of slaving before a stove all day.
Forget the hours spent tending to the turkey and prepping the sausage-and-sage stuffing. Instead, take advantage of the temperate evenings in Los Angeles and spend the holiday on a patio with pies, prix-fixe menus, and family-style feasts, whether it be turkey-centric, vegetarian, or even vegan. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find it on our list of the best places to nab a Thanksgiving meal around Woodland Hills, like you’ll find a clean, unused kitchen when you return home.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
Located at 6373 Topanga Canyon Boulevard, is conveniently situated north of the 101 Freeway near the Warner Center Business Complex. It offers an outstanding choice when you want to enjoy an exceptional prime steak, glass of wine, handcrafted cocktail – or a lavish Thanksgiving dinner. Experience a memorable Thanksgiving crafted with care around a luxuriously dressed table in this most elegant of L.A. restaurants while you spend more time focusing on what matters most this year – one another. Fleming’s is open early at 11 am on Thanksgiving Day.
Boasting three locations throughout Los Angeles in Larchmont, Abbot Kinney, and the Arts District, is the brainchild of Kim Malek and cousin Tyler. Both of whom worked hard to create an ice cream shop where moments of happiness and connection to the community at large were the priority. While it may be a unique proposition to feature an ice cream business on a list of Thanksgiving dinner restaurants to try, bear with us for a moment. Salt and Straw features ice cream in special Thanksgiving-themed flavors such as Sweet Potato Casserole with Maple Pecans, Buttered Mashed Potatoes, and Gravy; California Acorn and Chestnut Stuffing; Salted Caramel Thanksgiving Turkey and Spiced Goat Cheese and Pumpkin Pie. Beyond just making these incredible flavors available for the season, Salt and Straw is donating one dollar for every pint purchased to a regional food bank providing dessert to families in need on Thanksgiving.
Located at 12051 Ventura Place in Studio City, serves locally sourced, fresh, and delicious food and libations. This Thanksgiving will be welcoming friends and family for a celebratory feast like no other – all while offering pre-prepared items for pickup for those who wish to dine at home, every dish specially prepared for enjoying in the comfort of one’s abode. Tuning Fork’s standard menu has been the talk of the town amongst Woodland Hills locals, and for a good reason: here, you’ll find everything from incredible entrees and burgers to homemade soups, sides, munchies, pizzas, salads, and desserts. Reservations are recommended to ensure a table is always available at this most popular of L.A. eateries.
Located at 4222 Vineland Avenue in North Hollywood, has been described as a unique neighborhood gathering place that showcases L.A.’s diverse flavors, all amidst a setting as casual and comfortable as an evening at an old friend’s house. Here, the man behind the food is executive chef Larry Greenwood, whose rise through the culinary ranks started from his humble beginnings as a line cook. In his native Calgary, Alberta, he evolved to sous chef and, ultimately, executive chef – a position he had held at some of Los Angeles’ top restaurants for more than a decade. Interestingly enough, The Front Yard runs a resident restaurant at The Garland Hotel. So this Thanksgiving will be offering a lavish buffet spilling over with holiday classics, all inspired and influenced by the Los Angeles culture at large. Regardless of whether it’s a holiday or not, the menus of The Front Yard are designed to be shared – whether it’s a flatbread to split between family and friends or a lunch meeting amongst colleagues over cocktails. Indeed, there is truly something here for everyone.
Thanksgiving has always been just as much about the food as it is about the people we share it with. If you’re like us and would instead focus on family and friends this year (and not the shopping, preparation, and cleanup that goes hand-in-hand with Thanksgiving dinner). One of the aforementioned Woodland Hills restaurants is your sure-fire bet for a memorable meal.
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