Joe Allen
One of the most highly anticipated comebacks of the year arrives just in time for Thanksgiving. A theatreland favourite is being reborn through the intervention of Russell Norman: who has been brought onboard by existing owners Tim Healy and Lawrence Hartley. Under chef Gary Lee, former executive chef at the Ivy, the menu is evolving to reflect 21st century tastes - and offers something that tastes as good as the interior looks.
Starters: Sweetcorn soup with cornbread muffins, steak tartare, beetroot, feta and orange dandelion salad
Talking Turkey: Roast Turkey crown from Billfields of London, reared by the Caldecott family on their 40-acre farm in Wythall, Worcestershire.
Alternatives: New York strip steak, crusted cod fillet in southern shrimp gumbo
Notable sides: French beans sautéed in bacon and burnt onion butter, sesame and honey roasted carrots, cauliflower cheese
Desert: Baked cheesecake, peanut butter and jelly ice-cream sandwich, pumpkin crème brûlée.
Available 25 November. Price: £65 per person. joeallen.co.uk
Davies & Brook
One of the most gifted chefs of his generation, Michelin starred Daniel Humm began his career in Claridges at the age of 15. Thirty years on, his flagship in Claridges felt like a triumph - a collection of bold ideas and the perfect level of high-low execution. Given that he is now leaving at the end of the year - the classiest mutual uncoupling imaginable due to Humm’s request for the entire restaurant to become plant based - this is one you need to book immediately.
Starters: Tagliatelle with white truffle butter (£45 supplement), Roasted beetroot salad, foie gras torchon with black truffle and apple, scallop with clementine and tarragon.
Talking Turkey: Roasted, with chestnut stuffing and rilete.
Alternatives: Poached lobster tail with swede and glazed pear (£15 supplement), grilled beef fillet with mushroom and beef jus
Sides: Brussel sprouts and Lardons, potato mousseline, cranberry sauce, roasted pumpkin
Desert: Pumpkin pie with maple ice cream or pecan pie with malt ice cream.
Available 25 November. Price: £155 per person (plus wine pairing from £105-£145) daviesandbrook.co.uk
Galvin Bar & Grill
Only opened at the end of September on Neptune's former site, Galvin Bar & Grill has already established itself as one of the loveliest new restaurants in London, offering traditional British cooking with a French accent. But, for one night only, they are also offering a surprisingly comprehensive Thanksgiving Dinner, overseen by Adam Gray, a particularly talented chef best known for his cooking at Rhodes Twenty Four at Tower 42.
Starter: Delicia pumpkin soup with grilled ceps, Spenwood cheese and cornbread, Heritage beetroot salad with goats cheese, maple dressing and crispy shallows
Talking Turkey: Roast Mywood Farm free-range turkey
Alternatives: Grilled Pumpkin, winter leaves, smoked almonds and pomegranate.
Notable sides: Sweet potato gratin, maple glazed bacon and cranberries.
Desert: Pecan Pie with Bourbon ice cream
Available 25 November. Price: £48 per person. kimptonfitzroylondon.com
Oblix At The Shard (pictured above)
With some of the best views in the whole of London, Oblix is offering a luxurious take on Thanksgiving - with the key aspect being sharing. Only available, between four and eight people, ordered in advance, executive chef Marcus Eaves is offering a stellar selection - and one can finish the night with some of the best cocktails in the city.
Starter: Seared Severn & Wye smoked salmon, jumbo prawn cocktail
Talking Turkey: Rotisserie turkey with chestnut and truffle stuffing
Alternatives: Grilled Pumpkin, winter leaves, smoked almonds and pomegranate.
Notable sides: Baked gratin potatoes, Green beans wrapped in pancetta, Baked sweet potatoes, crushed butternut squash, Brussel sprout tops
Desert: Caramelised pecan pie with bourbon ice cream.
Available 25-28 November. Price: £97 per person. oblixrestaurant.com
Smith & Wollensky
Despite its formidable American credentials, this Westminster steakhouse seems to fly slightly under the radar at the moment (although we did enjoy its cameo in the recent Thom Sweeney autumn campaign). It is the kind of clubby, high-end restaurant that fits a really special occasion.
Starters: Split pea soup with bacon, peppered goats cheese with tender stem broccoli, pomegranate & pecan salad, oak Smoked Scottish Salmon, USDA prime sirloin carpaccio.
Talking Turkey: Roast free-range bronze turkey, chestnut and pork stuffing, pigs in blankets.
Alternative: Pan-fried stone bass fennel, pearl barley and samphire velouté, beetroot wellington, USDA prime sirloin (£21 supplement), USDA Fillet (£43 supplement).
Notable sides: Buttered green beans, creamed corn with bacon, spring onion whipped potatoes.
Desert: Pumpkin Pie with cinnamon whipped cream, apple and blueberry cobbler with vanilla custard, Oreo cheesecake.
Available 25 November. £69 per person. smithandwollensky.co.uk
Duck & Waffle
The pitch of “Friendsgiving” feels appropriate this year. Chef Elliott Grover manages to combine the best elements of a family thanksgiving - with the added bonus of not having to actually spend time with your family. A 24-hour restaurant with panoramic views over London, it is the sort of venue where you'll never be stuck for conversation.
Starters: Pumpkin soup with goats curd, maple glazed cornbread with harissa yoghurt.
Talking Turkey: Whole roasted bronze turkey, carved table-side, served with cranberry sauce, stuffing and gravy.
Alternative: Wellington Nut Roast.
Notable sides: Green bean casserole, roasted brussels sprouts, pigs in blankets with mustard aioli, roasted heritage carrots and sweet potato casserole - with marshmallows!
Desert: Pecan Pie with maple clotted cream
Available 25 November. £90pp including wine pairing. duckandwaffle.com
The Stafford
One might expect the hotel with one of the most respected American Bars in London to go big on Thanksgiving. As a former club for American and Canadian officers stationed overseas, this St James institution offers a genuinely warm welcome, impeccable staff and fuss-free refinement. Available both at the bar and within the hotel’s restaurant The Game Bird, their traditional menu feels simultaneously respectful but not overly formal - a palpable sense of fun, in a five star fine dining setting.
Starters: Fully loaded sweet potato soup with crispy bacon, rye croutons and sour cream.
Talking Turkey: Maple glazed roast turkey with caramelized onions
Alternatives: Squash Potato dumplings or Butternut squash gnocchi
Notable sides: Roasted squash, creamed sprouts, green beans casserole and garlic mash.
Desert: Pumpkin pie, buttermilk ice cream.
Available 25 November. £49.50pp, www.thestaffordlondon.com
Sunday in Brooklyn
The first international outpost of the cult Williamsburg neighbourhood brunch spot, Sunday in Brooklyn has been a huge hit in Notting Hill, powered in part by the pancakes served for brunch. Thankfully the relaxed all-day dining is equally good.
Starters: Grilled Padron peppers, Tear and Share Crudo, Baby back ribs
Talking Turkey: Turkey ballotine with pistachios and lardo,
Alternatives: Sunday Smash burger, Swordfish with charred broocolini (broccolini), Pork Secreto
Notable sides: Cornbread, brussel sprouts, long island potatoes, cranberry chutney, and gravy
Desert: Eggnog Soft Serve, Chocolate S’mores
Available 25 November. £24 for the main course, additional fee for other items. https://www.sundayinbk.co.uk/
STK Steakhouse
A high end party-starting international steak specialist may not be your initial choice for Thanksgiving but if you’re with your chosen family rather than your biological one - or frankly after 18 months cooped up inside, a vibrant evening on the tiles is exactly what is needed, STK makes an excellent choice. With two locations in the capital - one in theatre-land, the other in Westminster (if you are an MP, perhaps leave this one off your expenses) - both are offering Thanksgiving dinner this weekend.
Starters: Oysters on a half shell
Talking Turkey: Roasted free range turkey with cornbread and stage stuffing, as well as shallot and thyme confit thighs.
Alternatives: Black Angus Tomahawk, Loch Duart salmon, King Crab Linguini,
Notable sides: Sauteed green beans with crispy shallots, maple baked sweet potato, Yukon gold mash potatoes with parmesan crust.
Desert:Spiced Pumpkin pie with candied ginger cream and crunchy caramel honeycomb
Available 25-28 November. £49.50 for Thanksgiving main course, additional fee for other items. https://stksteakhouse.com/
The Big Easy
Sometimes you just need a fun affordable restaurant with a palpable sense of joy. As such booking a table at The Big Easy - particularly the enormous outpost at Canary Wharf - will ensure you can come together with your nearest and dearest to celebrate en masse. Expect big portions, craft beers and copious Yankophile revelry. Note: on the menu there is something called a "Turkey reload" - rather than some sort of arcane hunting term, this is, in fact, just a way of offering second helpings.
Starters: Butternut Squash Soup, Big Easy Caesar Salad, Voodoo Chicken Wings
Talking Turkey: Southern Slow cooked turkey with cornbread stuffing and “jazzed up gravy”.
Alternatives: Chargrilled Vegetable Fajitas.
Notable sides: Grandma Emma's Spirited apple & cranberry chutney, mashed sweet potato, "Best Ever Green Bean Casserole".
Desert: Pumpkin Pie or (sadly not "and") ice cream
Available 25 November. £29.50 https://www.bigeasy.co.uk
