Black Squirrel
This divey gastropub hosts an annual Thanksgiving buffet. The event is dubbed a ‘Thank You Thanksgiving’ to give back to locals and regulars who support the bar. The all-you-can-eat buffet costs a mere $10. Buffet-style meals often lead to gluttony, but there will be plenty of craft beers to wash down all that stuffing you devoured. Black Squirrel’s Thanksgiving roast is ideal for those seeking a laid back, community-centric holiday. No reservations required.
Black Squirrel, 2427 18th St NW, Washington, DC, USA, +1 202 232 1011
Equinox
This upscale restaurant, popular with politicians, offers a Thanksgiving oyster roast. The health-conscious feast’s menu includes grilled quail salad, rosemary duck sausage, and grilled mushroom tart for the vegetarians. The cider-beer brined turkey will be complemented with a selection of aged cheeses. Famed Chef Todd Gray is know for sourcing his food seasonally and regionally in an effort to be more sustainable, only procuring humanely raised meat from local suppliers. The cost is $70 for a three-course meal.
Equinox, 818 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC, USA, +1 202 331 8118
Founding Farmers
This famed farm-to-table restaurant is a District favorite. The DMV chain sources ingredients from hundreds of local farms across the nation, working hard to ‘direct our purchasing power where it aligns with our values.’ Last year’s Thanksgiving menu included seasonally inspired crème fraiche and roasted pumpkin seeds. A three-course meal costs $35.
Founding Farmers, 1924 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC, USA, +1 202 822 8783
Nopa Kitchen + Bar
This trendy, minimalist establishment specializes in American eats meeting experimental flavors. Some more eclectic dishes include deviled eggs with basil mousse, frittatta rancheros with queso fresco, and duck liver mousse. Their decadent Thanksgiving feast will offer curried coconut and squash soup, roasted pear streussel, and grilled Spanish octopus. The main dish is a cornucopia of turkey – roasted turkey complemented with turkey schnitzel, cranberry turkey sausage, and truffled oyster mushrooms. The avant-garde flair will set you back $50.
Nopa Kitchen + Bar, 800 F St NW, Washington, DC, USA, +1 202 347 4667
Dino’s Grotto
This rustic Italian eatery, nestled among U Street’s row houses, will host a family-style Thanksgiving brunch. For $45, dine on decadent black Spanish turkey – a specific breed of bird that was popular in the DMV area with colonial settlers in the 18th century. The bird is the direct descendant of Mexican turkeys stolen taken by Spanish settlers to Europe and then introduced into North America when the colonies were established. The meat is known for its richness. Other dishes included are a veggie minestrone with sage and heirloom squash risotto.
Dino’s Grotto, 1914 9th St NW, Washington, DC, USA, +1 202 686 3308
By Kate McMahon