Thanksgiving Dining in OC

No time to cook a Thanksgiving feast this year? Let some of the local experts do it for you. Here’s a round up of some renowned restaurants at, or near South Coast Plaza offering Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, Nov. 27. If you simply can’t wait for Thanksgiving, there are some restaurants already serving turkey for the season.

Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza
The three-course menu with choices features favorites such as market oysters, Maine lobster chowder, and roasted heirloom beet salad; entree selections like slow-basted organic turkey, crispy skin Scottish salmon, and filet mignon. Desserts include roasted pumpkin tart and poached pear au gratin. For more information, visit here: charliepalmer.com/charlie-palmer-at-bloomingdales/menus/thanksgiving/
2 to 7 p.m.
$75 per adult, $25 per child under 12, exclusive of tax and gratuity.
714.352.2525

Leatherby’s Café Rouge
New this year offering Thanksgiving dinner. Enjoy choices from the three-course menu such as starters of modern beet salad or lobster coconut bisque. Guests may select organic free range roast turkey with all the trimmings, local halibut or braised natural beef short ribs. Dessert is either pumpkin pie or chocolate namelaka. For complete menu go to: patinagroup.com/restaurants/20/menus/Leatherbys-Thanksgiving-Menu.pdf
11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
$48 per person, $19 children 10 and under (two courses), exclusive of tax and gratuity.
714.429.7640

Pinot Provence
The three-course menu with choices includes seasonal favorites such as brown butter butternut squash soup, roasted turkey with all the trimmings, petite filet, scallops, duo of lamb, pumpkin pie and more. For complete menu, go to: patinagroup.com/restaurants/25/menus/Pinot-Provence-Thanksgiving2013-Menu.pdf
2 to 9 p.m.
$45 per person, $19 for children 10 and under, exclusive of tax and gratuity.
714.444.5900

Seasons 52
Seasons 52 will once again be open for Thanksgiving. A la carte menu will be offered along with a special turkey entree of roasted turkey and gravy, herbed stuffing golden mashed potatoes, butternut squash, French green beans and housemade cranberry relish.
11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
$27.95 for turkey entree, child's portion $12.95.
714.437.5252

Scott's Restaurant & Bar
The three-course dinner offers a variety of choices from Scott’s famous calamari, butternut squash soup, oven roasted turkey with all the trimmings, signature sea bass, salt crusted prime rib and pumpkin cheesecake to name a few. For complete menu, go to: scottsrestaurantandbar.com/menus/thanksgiving-menu/
3 to 8 p.m.
$50 per adult, $12 for children under 12, exclusive of tax and gratuity.
714.979.2400

The Capital Grille
In addition to the a la carte menu, the Capital Grille offers a traditional Thanksgiving entree with slow roasted turkey and all the delicious trimmings.
12 to 9 p.m.
$36 per adult for Thanksgiving entree; $15 for children 12, exclusive of tax and gratuity.
714.432.1140

Claim Jumper
The three-course menu at Claim Jumper features a choice of one entrée such as roasted turkey, broiled salmon or slow-roasted prime rib with a choice of soup or salad and dessert. Vegetarian entrees are priced at $16.99 per adult and $10.99 for children 12 and under.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
$22.99 to $33.99 depending on entrée, exclusive of tax and gratuity.
714.434.8479

Thanksgiving To Go

Pacific Whey Café
The “Big Package Turkey Dinner” at Pacific Whey features a 14-16 lb. slow-roasted turkey and all the classic sides, plus pumpkin pie for $245. The small dinner includes a 5-6 lb. turkey breast with all the trimmings and pie for $155.  Pick-up hours on Thanksgiving Day are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Take-out dinners must be pre-paid by credit card.
$245 for 8-10 guests.
$155 for 4-6 guests.
714.641.8811

Turkey Offerings on the Menu Now

Lawry’s Carvery
For a high-quality, quick bite Lawry’s offers its platter meal, which includes carved turkey, cranberry-pear relish, gravy and a choice of one signature side and Carvery coleslaw for $15.99. Lawry’s also offers three turkey sandwiches: the King of Clubs ($10.99), Turkey Classic ($9.99) and the Turkey Carver ($9.99). For menu, go to: lawrysonline.

Ruby’s Diner
For holiday-inspired entrees, Ruby’s features a turkey dinner with hand-carved turkey breast and all the trimmings ($12.99) and a turkey pot pie with mixed vegetables in a creamy sauce ($10.99).  Ruby’s also offers a classic fresh roast turkey breast sandwich with tangy cranberry sauce ($9.49), and four turkey burgers, smothered with fresh toppings and sauces, all served on a grilled wheat bun (all $9.99).  The annual favorite, a creamy, frosty pumpkin spice shake, is back for a limited time and is available for $2.99 at Shake Happy Hour Monday-Friday, 3 to 5 p.m.
714.662.7829

Turkey Trot OC

The Orange County Rescue Mission will host its first annual Turkey Trot OC, a 5K run/walk, on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 27 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Orange County Rescue Mission’s Village of Hope in Tustin.

The goal of this event is to raise enough money to provide 50,000 meals to those less fortunate families and individuals throughout Orange County. Participants can walk or run side by side with formerly homeless individuals living at the Village of Hope, as well as other community members.

The Turkey Trot OC 5K will start and finish at the Orange County Rescue Mission’s transitional living facility, the Village of Hope, with a majority of the event taking place on Valencia Avenue along the former Tustin Marine Corps Air Station base.

A special post-run breakfast including delicious pumpkin pancakes with maple syrup, smoked bacon, and freshly ground coffee.

Register online for $30.  

The special VIP Registration includes reserved parking, priority check-in, Restoration Roasters coffee and a VIP table for the pancake breakfast.

For more information about the race and registration, interested individuals can visit TurkeyTrotOC.org or call 714.247.4374.

To donate directly to the Orange County Rescue Mission, individuals can visit RescueMission.org/Donate/

THANKSGIVING DINING IN OC!

By Sheryll Alexander

For those who aren’t prepared to cook Thanksgiving dinner or who just don’t feel like dealing with the mess, here’s some of the best Thanksgiving feasts in OC.

TAPS Fish House & Brewery

A fish house and brewery may not sound like the best place for Thanksgiving dinner (held from noon-8 p.m.), but actually TAPS has one of the best all-you-can eat buffets in OC. We love TAPS buffet brunch on Sundays, so a Thanksgiving brunch sounds like heaven, right? Just a few of the items include herb-brined turkey, braised turkey legs, honey-glazed ham, Prime roast beef, freshly-shucked oysters, mashed potatoes, gravy, gingered cranberries, roasted yams, bacon-braised collard greens, pumpkin bisque, sushi rolls, poached shrimp, curried potato salad, tiramisu, cheesecake, chocolate fountain, banana crème, pumpkin, apple and pecan pies. The cost is $39.99 for adults and $14.99 for children. Can’t make it to TAPS for the feast? Drop by and buy a “growler” or two of award-winning brewmaster Victor Novak’s pumpkin ale for your Thanksgiving table.

TAPS Fish House & Brewery, 101 E. Imperial Hwy., Brea, 714-257-0101, www.tapsfishhouse.com/brea/.

Claim Jumper South Coast Plaza

Claim Jumper is serving a three-course Thanksgiving dinner. Start with soup (New England clam chowder, potato cheddar, creamy chicken tortilla) or salad (house or Caesar). Next, choose from roasted turkey ($21.99), broiled salmon ($24.99) or slow-roasted prime rib ($29.99) with roasted vegetables and mashed potatoes, baked potato or sweet potato. End with lattice apple pie or pumpkin pie with whipped cream. The $10.99 children’s menu of turkey, chicken nuggets or macaroni and cheese also comes with mashed potatoes, soup or salad and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. For more details, visit http://www.claimjumper.com/include/files/ThanksgivingMenu.pdf

Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale's South Coast Plaza

Charlie Palmer is offering a three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner (held from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.) of New American comfort food dishes such as Maine lobster chowder, roasted beet salad, chestnut potato gnocchi, slow-basted organic turkey, red wine-braised beef cheeks, pan-roasted Sonoma chicken, oil-poached Scottish salmon and spiced pumpkin tart. The cost is $75 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under (tax and gratuity excluded). For full menu, visit http://www.charliepalmer.com/Properties/CharliePalmerAtBloomingdales/Menu/?MenuId=480.

Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale's South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714-352-2525, www.charliepalmer.com.

Sapphire Laguna

Chef Azmin Ghahreman always prepares Thanksgiving meals to eat out in his charming Crafstman bungalow or relaxing outdoor patio and to take home. This year, he’s preparing a three-course Thanksgiving meal with such dishes as salmon corn chowder, butternut squash and goat cheese tart, duck rielette, Kurobuta pork shank, herb-roasted Diestel turkey, beef tenderloin, classic pumpkin pie and apple-walnut streudel with raisin ice cream and sauce anglaise. The cost depends on the entrée choice and ranges from $45-$64 (exclusive of tax and gratuity). A children’s menu is available. Or, order a Thanksgiving meal to take home. For $345 (plus tax), Sapphire cooks up a 10-item dinner for 6-8 persons. This Thanksgiving Meal To-Go includes a whole roasted Diestel turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, chutney, gravy, rolls, three side dishes and one dessert. At Sapphire Pantry, order up a la carte menu items such as pumpkin ravioli, a shrimp Waldorf salad, artisanal cheese platters and pies (caramel apple, pecan and pumpkin).

 

Sapphire Laguna, 1200 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna, 949-715-9888, http://.www.sapphirellc.com/.

Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge

Leatherby’s, which is located inside a highly modern and sophisticated space at OC’s new concert hall, is featuring a three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner (from 2 p.m. to close) with  choices such as butternut squash ravioli, lobster bisque, organic free-range turkey breast and turkey leg confit with all the trimmings, beef tenderloin, salt-baked sea bass, apple pie and warm pumpkin cake. The cost is $48 for adults and $19.95 for children 12 and under (tax and gratuity excluded). For full menu, visit http://www.patinagroup.com/restaurants/20/menus/Leatherbys-Cafe-Rouge-Thanksgiving-menu-2011.pdf.

Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge, Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa, 714-429-7640, www.patinagroup.com.

Pinot Provence

The chic French country décor at Pinot Provence makes for a relaxing holiday and so does the three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner (held from 1-9 p.m.) with French-American comfort dishes such as pumpkin bisque, maple-roasted ham, basil risotto, brown butter Dover sole, old-fashioned turkey dinner with all the trimmings, pan-roasted hanger steak, black truffle pork sausage, apple pie Tatin, pecan cake and pumpkin pie cake. The cost is $45 for adults and $19.95 for children 12 and under (tax and gratuity excluded). For full menu, visit http://www.patinagroup.com/restaurants/25/menus/Pinot-Provence-Thanksgiving-menu-2011.pdf.

Pinot Provence, The Westin South Coast Plaza, 686 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, 714-444-5900, www.patinagroup.com.

Scott's Restaurant & Bar

Scott’s has that New Orleans vibe, so enjoy a three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner (held from noon-8 p.m.) with choices such as Scott’s signature calamari (yum!), an oyster trio, butternut squash soup, roast turkey with all the trimmings, slow-roasted Prime rib, glazed bake ham, pumpkin cheesecake and apple cobbler. Family-sized sides are  $9 extra and feature bakes yams and marshmallows, truffle macaroni and cheese, broccoli casserole, steamed asparagus, sautéed mushrooms and Brussels sprouts with bacon. The cost is $65 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under(tax and gratuity excluded). For full menu, visit http://freepdfhosting.com/7e28c5bb32.pdf.

Scott's Restaurant & Bar, 3300 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714-979-2400, www.scottsrestaurantandbar.com.

Sheryll Alexander runs a news media agency based in Costa Mesa, California. Follow her! @sheryllalexande