Eyes on the pies
9 delicious Austin places to get a to-go Thanksgiving feast
Who doesn’t love the traditional gathering of family from far and wide for a splendid Thanksgiving dinner? Maybe you can’t pull it off this year, though, for whatever reason — no time or money to travel, work commitments, new baby, old spouse, family feud — or you just want to do something different. Not that different, though. After all, Thanksgiving means turkey and fixings no matter what. Austin restaurants and grocers come to the rescue with high quality take-out for your feast.
Boiler Nine Bar + Grill
Boiler Nine Bar + Grill this year unveiled a new Thanksgiving to-go program featuring smoke-roasted turkey breast with honey lemon brine, beer braised brisket, or smoked pork loin. Sides include andouille sourdough stuffing with roasted mushrooms and jalapeños, mac and pimento cheese, mashed potatoes, and more. Also available is bourbon pecan pie and make-your-own-punch kits. Order à la carte or full dinners now through November 15; rush orders will be accepted November 16 and 17. Pick-ups are on Tuesday, November 21 and Wednesday, November 22 from 10 am to 8 pm at the restaurant with complimentary delivery to Seaholm Residences. All meals come with beer bread and IPA jam.
Dai Due
Save time, still get the credit! Located inside the celebrated restaurant, the Dai Due butcher shop offers items for you to cook at home, including brined turkeys, porchetta, and turducken sausage. The shop also sells homemade pie crusts, whole pies, and holiday mincemeat. All meats come from Texas sources, and many in the Austin area. Dai Due provides recipes on its website and the butcher is always happy to help. Call early, as items tend to sell out. Pick up starts Monday, November 20.
Fresa’s Chicken al Carbon
This South Austin spot offers homemade Thanksgiving dinners with turkey and sides — including poblano spinach gratin, sweet potato mash, mac-n-cheese, green beans, chorizo stuffing, roasted Brussels sprouts, gravy, and citrus-serrano cranberry sauce — all fully cooked with reheat instructions. Apple and pecan pies are available, too. Order online or by calling (512) 428-5082 through Monday, November 20. Items available for pick up on Wednesday, November 23 at Fresa’s 1703 S. First St. location, between 10 am and 5 pm.
Freedmen’s
This classic bar and smokehouse offers Thanksgiving dinner with a Texas barbecue twist. Choices include whole smoked turkey or smoked turkey breast, and sides including brisket burnt-end cornbread stuffing, smoked cheddar mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole by the half pint, pint, or quart. Order by November 16online or call (512) 434-0334. Pick up between 11 am and 9 pm on November 22.
Hyde Park Bar & Grill
Make a Hyde Park fried turkey the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving feast. This Austin favorite offers to-go turkey dinners with all the fixings: cornbread stuffing, giblet gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry relish, and fresh green beans, along with soup or salad. A vegetarian option with veggie stuffing and gravy available. Call (512) 458-3168, and your order will be waiting for pick up.
Hoover’s Cooking
Order Thanksgiving dinner by the plate or à la carte at this east side restaurant famous for home-style cooking. Plates include turkey and dressing or ham with two sides, cornbread dressing and homemade cranberry sauce, sweet potato biscuit, and cornbread muffins. Customers can also order a variety of mains, desserts, and sides including sweet potato biscuits, cornbread, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, and mustard greens. Call (512) 479-5006 by November 19 to place your order. Free delivery for parties of 20 and within a 10-mile radius.
Threadgill’s
Many longtime Austinites consider Thanksgiving at Threadgill’s more of a tradition than having the holiday at home. The restaurant’s take-home feast serves 10 to 12 people and includes a whole roasted turkey or spiral cut ham; two quarts each of cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes, candied yams and green bean casserole; one quart of gravy; one pint of cranberry sauce (turkey dinner) or Jezebel sauce (ham); two dozen yeast, cornbread or mixed rolls; and a pecan or pumpkin pie. Feasts come with heating instructions. Extra sides are available à la carte. Order online by no later than November 15.
Wheatsville Food Co-op
This Austin grocer offers a variety of prepared holiday dishes to create your holiday meal, from entrees — including locally and sustainably-raised turkeys — to sides and homemade pies, with vegan and gluten-free selections. Place orders through the catering team at the location where you want to pick it up (Guadalupe or South Lamar). Meals can be picked up Monday through Friday from 8 am to 6 pm right up until Thanksgiving Day.
Whole Foods Market
Entire Thanksgiving meals are available from Whole Foods Market include roasted turkey with pecan cornbread stuffing, creamy mashed potatoes, green beans with crispy garlic and parsley, organic cranberry orange sauce, organic holiday turkey gravy; or glazed ham with macaroni and cheese, green beans with crispy garlic and parsley (vegan), and roasted apples and parsnips (vegan). Entire vegan meals are also available. Call (844) 936-2428 to order by November 21.