Thanksgiving is the perfect time to spend with friends and family, getting together for a great meal and enjoying a day away from the stresses of work. However, for many of us, the process of cooking a huge meal, entertaining guests, and spending the rest of the day elbows-deep in dishes can put a damper on those plans for a peaceful holiday. This year, sensible people in San Francisco will leave the stress to someone else, opting instead for a meal at one of the city’s countless world-class restaurants. Don’t know where to go? Our top picks are sure to please even the pickiest palates:
Anzu
Feast on some of the best food San Francisco has to offer by heading to Anzu this Thanksgiving. Start with a bowl of lobster and tarragon bisque, order a round of oysters for the table, relish the complex flavors in the five-spice pork loin, and round out the meal with a traditional slice of pumpkin or pecan pie.
Parallel 37
Located inside the Ritz-Carlton hotel, Parallel 37 serves up amazing food and ambiance in equal measure. Enjoy creative starters, like butternut squash soup with Tahitian vanilla and black truffle gnocchi before diving into a traditional turkey dinner with sweet potatoes and cranberries. Make sure you leave room for dessert: pumpkin pie, chocolate toffee pecan pie, and pear apple cinnamon pie are all on the menu to satisfy that sweet tooth.
Balboa Café
Make this Thanksgiving memorable with an Italian-inspired meal at Balboa Café. Dishes like Dungeness crab cakes with avocado-jalapeño sauce, filet mignon with Brussels sprouts and red wine sauce, and, of course, the traditional turkey and stuffing dinner, are sure to hit the spot for everyone in the family.
Bluestem Brasserie
Enjoy a Thanksgiving meal at Bluestem’s spacious, light-filled South of Market location. Served from 2 PM to 8 PMon Thanksgiving Day, Bluestem’s holiday meal is as decadent as they come, with treats like filet mignon and chocolate chestnut torte gracing this charming eatery’s menu, starting at just $75 per guest.
Michael Mina
For a modern take on your Thanksgiving favorites, head to Michael Mina. Start out with a course of Osetra caviar, savor the fall flavors of butternut squash soup with shaved truffles and chestnuts, dig into a turkey dinner with Brussels sprouts and foie gras stuffing, and top it all off with a piece of spiced pumpkin cake.
Make this Thanksgiving more fun, less stressful, and an easier endeavor all around by letting one of San Francisco’s incomparable eateries take care of your holiday meal for you. Whether you’re dining in Dogpatch or having a meal in the Haight, this might be your best Thanksgiving yet.
