Top Thanksgiving Restaurants in Philadelphia

It doesn't get much more traditional than this Old City eatery whose staff—dressed in period garb—serves up colonial food year-round. City Tavern's Thanksgiving feast, by Chef Staib, is a four-course meal served family-style with live musical entertainment on the side. Your roast turkey will be accompanied by sage and marjoram stuffing, sweet potatoes with apples, creamed green beans and cranberry relish. Try washing all that down with a glass of boozy eggnog or old-school wassail. Times for 2019 include early seating at 1:00 or 1:30 p.m., late afternoon seating at 4:00 or 4:30 p.m., and an evening seating at 7:30 or 7:45 p.m. Reservations are available online or by calling 215-413-1443. 

Kick the holiday classiness up a notch by booking a table at this beloved brunch spot. Foodies flock to this AAA Four Diamond Award restaurant every Sunday for its acclaimed buffet—a spread of multi-cultural flavors ranging from sushi to foie gras ice cream which are the culinary brainchild of renowned Executive Chef Jon Cichon. The stunning views of Rittenhouse Square from Lacroix's elegant dining room warrants "the memory of a lifetime," according to a Zagat review. On Thanksgiving, you can expect its famous brunch staples to be accompanied by familiar Turkey Day classics from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The meal runs $105 per person.

Now, let's talk dietary restrictions. Thanksgiving can be a dismal day for the vegan or vegetarian. If that's you and you're sick and tired of getting stuck with the same old lackluster side dishes, then allow Miss Rachel to cook you a vegan-friendly Thanksgiving dinner this year. Miss Rachel's Pantry is Philadelphia's all-vegan "sweet little restaurant" and you can order anything from the menu for Thanksgiving Day delivery or pickup. Orders need to be placed by Friday, November 22, 2019, by midnight.

The pilgrims came to America on big wooden boats, and this Thanksgiving, you can eat on one. Moshulu, a four-masted floating restaurant, will offer an a la carte Thanksgiving menu. The largest remaining original windjammer, Moshulu is docked in Penn's Landing adjacent to the museum ships USS Olympia and USS Becuna.

What could be more fun than having a celebratory cocktail around the firepits on the Deck Philly? Moshulu will be open from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving 2019 serving a holiday-inspired three-course prix fixe menu.

The Valley Green Inn, a National Historic Landmark, offers a classic and bountiful Thanksgiving buffet in a beautiful space along Wissahickon Creek. Its colonial ambiance is absolutely perfect for Thanksgiving. The inn will be serving from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on November 28, 2019.

Buffet offerings include a carving station with VGI traditional roast turkey breast, herb-roasted prime rib au jus, and smoked country ham with a maple-honey glaze. A selection of traditional sides and salads will be served as well as a selection of pies, cookies, cakes, and mini pastries that will top off the meal.  

Square 1682, inside the Kimpton Hotel Palomar, a block from Rittenhouse Square in City Center Philadelphia, serves up creative American cuisine that will give your Thanksgiving Day one delicious twist. You'll no doubt be treated to seasonings that come straight from Square 1682's own herb garden to celebrate this harvest festival. Square 1682, is cooking up a five-course meal for 2019 and even has vegan-friendly options.

Davio's, off Rittenhouse Row, is a Northern Italian steakhouse. But they are deviating from that menu for Thanksgiving and will instead be serving a traditional feast of free-range turkey, creamy potatoes, cranberry-walnut stuffing, roasted butternut squash, and plenty of pie. ​Davio's welcoming setting in a restored bank building will make a beautiful backdrop for a holiday celebration. They are serving from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

Bank & Bourbon is inside the landmark Philadelphia Savings Fund Society building that dates to the Great Depression of the 1930s. It's now the home of the Loews Philadelphia Hotel. Just as its name suggests, it is big on bourbon and craft cocktails. Bank & Bourbon is serving a three-course prix-fixe feast for Thanksgiving 2019. If you are not a turkey lover, you can have salmon, trout, or filet mignon instead. For an extra fee, wine pairings are available. Reservations are available on Thursday, November 28, 2019, from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.