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When it comes to planning a meal while traveling, none are quite as hard to coordinate as on holidays, especially food-centric celebrations like Thanksgiving. Fortunately, if you're visiting Charlotte, North Carolina, this holiday season, there are plenty of restaurants in the metro area serving Thanksgiving dinner, with everything from Southern to American cuisine, and you can even dine in a haunted historic Irish pub.
If you'd enjoy the holidays a lot more leaving the cooking to someone else, check out these great places to eat in 2019. Note that reservations book up fast over the week of Thanksgiving, so make sure you book your table well in advance, especially if you have a large dinner party. Also, in the event that your favorite restaurant is all filled up, put yourself on the waiting list and make a backup dinner reservation elsewhere.
5Church
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5Church Charlotte
This upscale and contemporary American restaurant is serving a three-course prix-fixe Thanksgiving dinner in 2019. Executive chef Jamie Lynch will be serving traditional favorites and seasonal concoctions. You can also purchase a two-course wine pairing for an additional fee.
Stoke
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Stoke Charlotte
Stoke, which has taken wood-fire and Southern cooking to whole new levels, is serving a prix-fixe 2019 Thanksgiving Day dinner. Reservations are strongly encouraged; there are three seatings throughout the day for this four-course meal. Led by Chef Tim Groody, the team at Stoke prepare cuisine made with locally-sourced ingredients that offer a new twist to meals that might be served on southern American farms for the holidays.
Chillfire Bar & Grill
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Chillfire Bar & Grill
Located approximately 30 minutes (26 miles or 42 kilometers) north of Charlotte, the small town of Denver, North Carolina, is home to a hidden gem of a restaurant that will be serving a traditional Thanksgiving meal in 2019. Expect all the must-have holiday staples alongside modern twists provided by the chefs at Chillfire. This restaurant prides itself on locally-sourced ingredients, some from nearby towns including Moorseville, West Jefferson, Andrews, Seven Springs, and Boone.
Ri Ra Irish Pub
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Rí Rá Charlotte
There's no cozier atmosphere than an Irish pub, and Ri Ra is one of the best you can find outside Dublin, Ireland. Cozy as it may be, Ri Ra Irish Pub, located in a former textile mill, is also a spooky place to spend your holiday: It's known as one of the most haunted and oldest buildings in Charlotte. Ask the employees about all the paranormal happenings in the pub and the chalk-written alphabet on the upstairs wall. On Thanksgiving Day in 2019, Ri Ra will serve a holiday menu for lunch and dinner.
Red Rocks Cafe
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Red Rocks South Park
Red Rocks Cafe isn't just a fantastic American restaurant; it's also a bakery and a bar. Founded in 1992, the eatery has two locations to choose from in the Charlotte area, one in South Park, and the other in nearby Birkdale Village in Huntersville. Both offer Thanksgiving meals this holiday season. On the menu, you'll find innovative tweaks to a traditional Thanksgiving turkey platter, which includes side dishes and desserts at either location in 2019.
Sullivan's Steakhouse
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Sullivan's Steakhouse
When it comes to traditional Southern steakhouses, there's none quite like Sullivan's in the Charlotte area. Although it may be a small chain of restaurants (with locations across the U.S.), the selection and prices are unbeatable. Sullivan's Steakhouse is serving up a classic Thanksgiving feast in 2019, complete with roasted turkey and other holiday treats. If you would rather have one of Sullivan's great steaks, you can also order off the full dinner menu.