For many home cooks, the arrival of late November brings a familiar wave of dread: the prospect of spending days scouring the supermarket aisles, prepping a dozen intricate dishes in a cramped Manhattan kitchen, and facing an overwhelming mountain of pots, pans, and plates long after the guests have gone home. Fortunately, New York City residents looking to bypass the culinary stress this holiday season have an abundance of top-tier options. From renowned gourmet markets and neighborhood provisions shops to Michelin-starred dining rooms and classic barbecue joints, some of the city’s finest establishments are rolling out comprehensive Thanksgiving dinner packages and a la carte catering menus designed to make the holiday effortless.
Whether the goal is to sit back, stuff oneself with pie, and fall asleep by 8 p.m., or to supplement a home-cooked main with a few professionally crafted sides and appetizers, the city’s culinary scene offers something for every palate and budget. To help streamline the planning process, here is a comprehensive look at the best places across New York City to order Thanksgiving dinner and catering for the holiday feast.
Citarella
For those who prefer a staggering array of choices without sacrificing gourmet quality, Citarella stands out as a premier destination. The renowned gourmet market offers an extensive Thanksgiving a la carte catering menu available for both pick-up and local delivery. The options range from a classic turkey roast and whole filet mignon to multiple handcrafted stuffing varieties—including chestnut, sausage, and wild rice.
Indecisive diners will find plenty of temptation among an impressive variety of sides, eliminating the difficult choice between pumpkin and mushroom risotto or sweet potatoes with praline when both can easily grace the table. For hosts who find an overwhelming number of a la carte choices too daunting, Citarella also provides a chef-prepared Thanksgiving feast featuring all the essential highlights of a traditional holiday meal.
Bklyn Larder
Neighborhood provisions shop Bklyn Larder is pulling out all the stops this season with a carefully curated full spread. The offering centers around a boneless, brined turkey "roll" accompanied by sausage stuffing, complemented by comforting seasonal sides like roasted fall squash, mashed potatoes, gem salad, and macaroni and cheese.
While diners are strongly encouraged to pick up one of the shop’s expertly curated cheese platters to start the evening, households will need to look elsewhere for the final course, as traditional holiday pies are not included on the menu this year.
Four & Twenty Blackbirds
Unsurprisingly, this cult-favorite, sister-owned pie shop has mastered the art of the holiday grand finale. Four & Twenty Blackbirds has built its reputation on exceptional Thanksgiving desserts, offering variations such as salted-caramel apple, brown-butter pumpkin, and their signature salty honey pie.
The seasonal menu also features a decadent bittersweet chocolate pecan pie, providing a rich and satisfying conclusion to the holiday meal.
Pig Beach
For those seeking a smoky twist on tradition, Pig Beach offers a whole smoked heritage turkey prepared by a barbecue master and drizzled with garlic-herbed butter. The feast is rounded out with traditional accompaniments including cranberry sauce, rich gravy, and a green bean casserole topped with crispy onions.
Priced at $295 for a spread that comfortably feeds 12 people, Pig Beach represents one of the more accessible Thanksgiving catering options in New York City. The only real dilemma for hosts ordering from this Brooklyn barbecue staple is choosing between the key lime pie and the chocolate pecan pie for dessert.
Aquavit
Diners looking to elevate their holiday celebration to fine-dining levels can turn to Aquavit, a Michelin-starred restaurant offering a sophisticated heat-and-eat Thanksgiving kit. The upscale spread highlights fennel- and caraway-spiced turkey breast, smoked turkey leg, rye and brioche stuffing, green bean casserole, and sweet potato puree.
The culinary team ensures the dessert course matches the main meal with options such as classic pumpkin pie, milk bread, and chocolate truffles. Because of the gourmet nature of the fare, this option is best suited for more intimate gatherings, with a holiday feast for four priced at $595.
Carmine’s
Families looking for classic, hearty comfort food will find a reliable option in Carmine’s. The family-style Italian restaurant is dishing up a traditional, heat-and-serve Thanksgiving feast designed to feed six to eight people.
The centerpiece is a massive 16- to 18-pound turkey accompanied by a host of classic sides, including Brussels sprouts with applewood smoked bacon, sautéed green beans with julienned red peppers, baby carrots with fresh dill, sausage and sage stuffing, and mashed potatoes with gravy. Pies are also available for an additional fee for those who prefer to leave the baking to the professionals.
Bubby’s
For households where dessert takes precedence, Bubby’s delivers with an extraordinary lineup of pies, including pumpkin caramel praline, Michigan sour cherry, and local apple whiskey crumble.
Beyond the bakery offerings, Bubby’s provides a full Thanksgiving Day pick-up spread featuring deviled eggs, pickled market vegetables, flaky buttermilk biscuits, turkey with giblet gravy, glazed ham, and an assortment of classic sides. A complete holiday feast for two is available for $200.
Virgil’s Real Barbecue
Southern-inspired comfort food takes center stage at Virgil’s Real Barbecue, which offers a heat-and-serve holiday feast feeding up to eight people.
The centerpiece of the meal is a 16- to 18-pound turkey, smoked to perfection and served alongside giblet gravy. The generous spread is completed by traditional fixings such as sweet potatoes with marshmallows and maple syrup, cornbread and sausage stuffing, and freshly baked buttermilk biscuits.
Butterfield Market
An Upper East Side staple known for its fine selection of freshly prepared foods, Butterfield Market delivers an exceptional holiday catering menu. The comprehensive seasonal menu allows hosts to choose from four different stuffings, two distinct preparations of sweet potatoes, and several main courses, including a vegan turkey option.
Appetizers and desserts range from butternut squash bisque and shrimp cocktail to traditional apple, pumpkin, and pecan pies. Customers can opt for a complete feast scaled for six or 12 guests, or curate their own menu through a la carte ordering.
Farm to People
Farm to People caters to both adventurous home cooks and those looking to bypass kitchen preparation altogether. For those who prefer to roast their own bird, the market offers pasture-raised, organic, and heritage-breed raw turkeys in a wide range of weights.
For hosts seeking a hassle-free meal, the market provides prepared dishes such as sausage and herb stuffing, a vegetarian-friendly mushroom and leek stuffing, string bean almondine, wild rice pilaf, and buttery mashed potatoes. Fresh pies from Four & Twenty Blackbirds round out the a la carte offerings, allowing hosts to customize their holiday spread precisely to their needs.
BLACKBARN
Located in the NoMad neighborhood of Manhattan, farm-to-table establishment BLACKBARN specializes in rustic, seasonal fare that translates effortlessly to the holiday table. Their Thanksgiving pickup menu offers two distinct tiers of feasts: a standard option starting at $540 for four to six people, and a premium option starting at $605.
Both packages include roast turkey, sausage and apple stuffing, roasted Brussels sprouts, maple-glazed sweet potatoes, green beans, giblet gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and rum butterscotch bread pudding. The premium tier includes additional touches such as mushroom toast and apple pie.
Isle of Us
This popular Upper East Side marketplace and cafe offers a flavorful holiday feast for four available for pick-up and local delivery. The roasted turkey breast features a signature all-purpose seasoning blend and is served with house-made gravy.
The menu is particularly notable for its health-conscious and vegetable-forward side dishes, making it an excellent choice for households looking to lighten the traditional holiday menu or accommodate vegan and vegetarian guests. Standout side options include green beans with herb butter, spiced squash, fingerling potatoes, and turmeric rice with black lentils.
Take Care
Situated within the Shelburne Sonesta New York Hotel near Bryant Park, modern American restaurant Take Care offers two distinct Thanksgiving catering packages: a classic turkey dinner or a vegetarian-friendly spread featuring a house-made nut roast loaf.
Both main dishes are accompanied by mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, brioche stuffing, cranberry sauce, and gravy, with a mushroom-based gravy provided for the vegetarian option. Meals are available scaled for four or eight people, with optional add-ons including extra sides and pumpkin pie.
