Have a Festive Thanksgiving in Lincoln Square

Thanksgiving (November 23) is fast approaching, and for those who haven’t yet made plans, now is the time to figure out how to celebrate the festive holiday. With the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade passing through (see the route here), the Big Apple Circus performing at Damrosch Park, and movies showing at Film at Lincoln Center (along 65th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue) and AMC Lincoln Square 13 (1998 Broadway at W 68th Street), Lincoln Square is the perfect place to enjoy Thanksgiving Day. The district is full of dining, catering, dessert, and decor options, too, and we’ve done most of the research for you. Restaurant reservations typically fill up fast, so don't delay!

Parade Views

For great views of the parade without the worry of chilly weather, stop by The Shops at Columbus Circle (10 Columbus Circle) on Thanksgiving morning. While the stores will be closed, the building will be open and offers amazing views of the route. Tartinery, on the third floor of The Shops, will allow customers who spend a minimum of $38 to enjoy the views from its cafe-bar area for 90 minutes. 

Dining In

If you want a hassle-free holiday with no cooking or clean-up required, book a table at one of the many restaurants in Lincoln Square offering a Thanksgiving menu.

Café Fiorello (1900 Broadway at W 63rd Street) will offer a traditional feast with all the trimmings from 1:15pm until close for $85 per person, as well as the full a la carte menu. If you’d rather have a meal earlier in the day in preparation for dinner at home, you can also enjoy the a la carte brunch menu from 10:00am - to 1:00pm. Make your reservation here.

Lincoln Ristorante (142 W 65th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue) offers less traditional options for your Thanksgiving meal. Instead of a roasted turkey breast, guests can order Berkshire pork, swordfish, or one of two pastas for their second course, starting at 12:00pm until 8:00pm. See the full menu here or make a reservation. 

If you want your holiday favorites but with a French twist, book a table at Bar Boulud (1900 Broadway at W 64th Street). From 12:00pm until 8:00pm, Executive Chef Daniel Guzman and Executive Pastry Chef Courtney Bratton will prepare a three-course prix-fixe with your choice of an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. Adults will pay $110 per person, while children under 12 are $45.

Boulud Sud (20 W 64th Street at Broadway), another one of Chef Daniel Boulud’s restaurants, also has reservations for Thanksgiving available from 12:00pm to 8:00pm. Adults can dine for $150 per person, while kids under 12 can dine for $65.

If you’re looking for a Kosher meal, Noi Due Carne (141 W 69th Street at Broadway) will serve Thanksgiving Day specials, including roasted maple brined turkey, roasted butternut squash soup, and pumpkin pie by Executive Chef Beau Houck. You can make a reservation for a time between 2:00pm and 10:00pm.

At Atlantic Grill (50 W 65th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West), you can enjoy a three-course prix-fixe menu for $125 per person or House Favorites for Two. Pumpkin soup, turkey special, pumpkin pie, and pecan tart add a festive touch to the restaurant’s typically seafood focused menu.

Rampoldi (49 West 64th Street at Broadway), Lincoln Square's newest restaurant, will also offer Thanksgiving Day meals. The prix-fixe menu will cost $150 per person and feature a blend of French and Italian flavors by Chef Antonio Salvatore. There is some availability between 12:15pm and 8:15pm, so reserve your seat today.

The three-course Thanksgiving menu at Porter House Bar and Grill (10 Columbus Circle) includes filet mignon and rib eye steak as second-course options in addition to turkey. Adults can eat for $165 per person, while children under 10 can eat for $75. You can make a reservation between 1:00pm and 6:00pm.

Just outside of the district at Robert, the restaurant atop the Museum of Arts and Design (2 Columbus Circle), you can hear live music by Scott Gordon from 12:00pm to 3:00pm and Kate Cosco from 3:00pm to 6:00pm while you eat from their Thanksgiving menu. Reservations are going quickly, so book yours soon. Meals are $130 per person, while children under 12 cost $65. 

Jean-Georges is completely booked for the holiday, but Nougatine (1 Central Park West between Broadway and W 61st Street) and The Smith (1900 Broadway at W 63rd Street) each have a few availabilities left. If you want to get notified about reservation openings at Jean-Georges, check out their Resy. There are a few time slots available for Nougatine’s 3-course prix-fixe menu for lunch and dinner at $188 per person, but the Thanksgiving Breakfast with a view of the parade is sold out (click the link to sign up for notifications on availability). The Smith will offer a three-course dinner for $78, but it only has outside tables available. Try to snag one of its remaining reservations here. 

Catering Your Meal

Just because you prefer Thanksgiving at home, it doesn’t mean you have to do the cooking yourself. 

Le Botaniste (156 Columbus Avenue at W 67th Street) is offering an exclusive Thanksgiving menu that consists of delicious plant-based versions of the Thanksgiving classics. It proves that you can serve healthy and planet-friendly dishes while sharing a memorable and delicious holiday feast. The meal serves four and costs $220. You can order it online any time before Monday, November 20, but be sure to select "schedule for later" for Wednesday, November 22, after 4:00pm. You can either pick it up or have it delivered after 4:00pm on the 22nd.

Nearby DIG (100 W 67th Street at Columbus Avenue) has both vegan and meat Thanksgiving options. You can order some classic sides, including house made stuffing, or items from their regular catering menu, with classics like mac & cheese and golden brussels sprouts.

For those who can't imagine Turkey Day without real turkey, you can get everything you need for the quintessential holiday table, including an all-natural roasted turkey, brined and fully cooked, from Épicerie Boulud (1900 Broadway at W 64th Street). You can order the complete Thanksgiving dinner, which serves six to eight people and costs $450, until Monday, November 20 at 5:00pm and then pick it up at the restaurant between 10:00am and 4:00pm on Wednesday, November 22. You can also individually order a turkey, sides, or pies.

From the kitchen of Momofuku Noodle Bar Uptown (10 Columbus Circle) to yours, enjoy Holiday Bo Ssäm—a pineapple glazed tender pork shoulder dusted with fall spices—at home alongside Thanksgiving sides. The pick up pack includes scalloped potatoes with pecorino and gruyère, long bean and mushroom casserole, and a mixed salad along with a dozen King’s Hawaiian rolls with garlic butter and sauces. Pineapple bread pudding is the special dessert. This $425 meal pack feeds up to ten people and is available for pick up on Thursday, November 23 from 1:00pm until 4:00pm. Place your order here.

Lincoln Square’s local grocery stores also offer catering, whether you want to order a complete dinner or just pick and choose your sides and desserts. At Gourmet Garage (155 W 66th Street at Broadway) you can order from the regular Thanksgiving menu or the Kosher Thanksgiving menu until November 18. Whole Foods Market (10 Columbus Circle) catering is available for pickup between November 17 and 23, and you must place your order a minimum of 48 hours ahead of your pickup date and time.

Don't forget that if you decide to cook all or part of your meal, Gourmet Garage and Whole Foods Market have all the ingredients you need. If you prefer locally grown produce, try shopping at the Richard Tucker Park Greenmarket (W 66th Street & Broadway). Usually open every Thursday from 8:00am till 3:00pm, it will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and instead open on Wednesday, November 23. The Greenmarket is also open on Saturdays, in case you prefer to shop in advance.

Delectable Desserts

While some people see turkey as the star of the Thanksgiving meal, others have a soft spot for dessert. Thankfully, Lincoln Square isn’t lacking in that department either.

While most are looking for the classic pumpkin pie, Breads Bakery (1890 Broadway at W 63rd Street), famed for its babka, offers the staple in addition to an apple crumb pie, vegan blueberry pie, babka pie, and pecan tart. They also carry seasonal goods for the main course, including harvest babka (with sweet potato, red onion, and gruyère cheese), two types of rolls, breads stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Thanksgiving pre-order is open now for Tuesday, November 21 and Wednesday, November 22. 

Maman (152 Columbus Avenue between W 66th and W 67th Streets) can also provide your Thanksgiving dessert. You can pre-order pies, pumpkin bread, cornbread, and more through November 19 by contacting pies@mamannyc.com. Note that you must give 72-hour notice for all orders. A limited number of pies and Thanksgiving specials will be available in store from November 15 through November 22 on a first-come, first-serve basis.

While Jean-Georges (1 Central Park West between Broadway and W 61st Street) is already booked up for Thanksgiving Day, you can still order one of their pies for dessert. Options like spiced pumpkin, chocolate pecan, and caramelized apple are sure to be a hit.

Just steps outside the district on both ends, Magnolia Bakery (200 Columbus Avenue at W 69th Street & 1794 Broadway at W 58th Street) is offering limited-time pies and bundles perfect for Thanksgiving. Some items are available for pickup only and others for shipping only, but most are available for both.

Delightful Decorations and Home Accents

If you are looking to add some festive decorations to your dinner table and home, you can find what you’re looking for at several stores in Lincoln Square.

To ensure your tablescape is in tip-top shape, visit Thanksgiving Headquarters at Williams Sonoma (10 Columbus Circle), the Thanksgiving Shop at Pottery Barn (1965 Broadway at W 67th Street), and the Thanksgiving collection at West Elm (1870 Broadway at W 62nd Street). Raymour & Flanigan (1961 Broadway at W 66th Street) also offers fall décor, and Paper Source (10 Columbus Circle) has fun and whimsical fall decorations, holiday cards, stationery, and more.

Join us in giving thanks for these local Lincoln Square eateries serving Thanksgiving specials, offering catering, and dishing out desserts, as well as shops selling beautiful decor. This is not an exhaustive list of ways to celebrate Thanksgiving in Lincoln Square. If you know of any businesses, organizations, or promotions we've missed, please send us an e-mail at info@lincolnsquarebid.org. For more restaurants and shops in the neighborhood, visit our Neighborhood Guide. 

Photo 1- Credit: Bar Boulud
Photo 2 - Credit: Café Fiorello
Photo 3 - Credit: Le Botaniste
Photo 4 - Credit: Breads Bakery
Photo 5 - Credit: Williams Sonoma