NYC’s best spots for Thanksgiving takeout

Life is stressful enough without having to also prepare an elaborate meal in a tiny New York City kitchen. Instead, order from one of the many restaurants offering special Thanksgiving takeout dinners and desserts. A few classic, comforting choices, like the Turkey Day feast with all the fixings from Bubby’s and an Italian spread from Tino’s Deli to less traditional options, including Kubeh’s Middle Eastern-inspired meal and spicy fried chicken from Pecking House. Don’t skip dessert, be it a jumbo chocolate turkey or a chocolate babka pie.

Bubby’s

A New York City staple since it opened (on Thanksgiving Day 1990!), Bubby’s never disappoints, especially if you’re looking for classic comfort food. For a Turkey Day feast, Bubby’s is selling a $200 take-out meal for two with deviled eggs, market salad, pickled vegetables, and buttermilk biscuits as starters, a turkey and ham for the main, and cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, candied sweet potatoes, roasted seasonal root vegetables, cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes for sides. And for dessert, one slice each of Apple Whiskey Crumble, Pumpkin Praline, and Sour Cherry pies. Whole pies are also available a la carte for $50. The meal, intended to serve two, comes cold with heating instructions. Pick-up is on November 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Carmine’s

What better place to help you with the big meal than a restaurant known for big portions? Beloved family-style Italian restaurant Carmine’s is ready to help you feed family and friends with their huge feast that comes with an 18-pound roast turkey with all the trimmings, like sausage and sage stuffing, cranberry sauce, caramelized Brussels sprouts with bacon, baby carrots with dill, and more. The $395 package serves six to eight people. For $30 extra, add either pumpkin or apple pie. Pick up from Carmine’s in Times Square or the Upper West Side on November 27 and November 28.

Citarella

Leave the holidays to the professionals. A New Yorker favorite for over a century, gourmet market Citarella is more than prepared to handle your Thanksgiving dinner. The packages, either $299 for four people or $499 for eight, come with roasted turkey, pumpkin bisque, autumn lasagna, sauteed brussels sprouts, string beans, cranberry conserve, chicken bone broth, turkey gravy, glazed sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, wild rice stuffing, cornbread, and pumpkin pie. The market also offers add-ons, like caviar, a cheeseboard, and cannoli dip. Place orders by email, in-store, or by phone. Orders must be placed by 11/22.

Dickson’s Farmstand

This popular butcher shop in Chelsea Market can meet all of your meat needs. From fresh turkey, ready-to-roast dry-brained turkey, turkey legs, bone-in heritage ham, and cured fresh boneless ham, Dickson’s Farmstands offers plenty of options for the centerpiece of dinner. The shop also sells gravy, a stuffing kit, cranberry-apple sauce, mac and cheese, and more. Place your order before it all sells out here.

Dinosaur BBQ

Treat yourself and your dinner guests to some of the best barbecue in the city. New York-founded Dinosaur BBQ, which has locations in Harlem and Gowanus, is selling a Thanksgiving dinner that includes a pit-roasted turkey, homemade turkey gravy, cornbread stuffing, whipped sweet potatoes, and two homemade pies (pumpkin, key lime, or chocolate icebox). The 8-12 person package costs $260 and the 3-5 person package costs $135. The last day to order is November 20; pick-up times are Tuesday, November 26, and Wednesday, November 27.

Edy’s Grocer

Keep it “zesty” this holiday. Greenpoint’s Edy’s Grocer is a Lebanese market and deli known for its imported groceries from across the Middle East, including spices, oils, sweets, and more, as well as house-made items like mezze and cheeses, baked goods, and sandwiches. For Thanksgiving, Edy’s Grocer is offering a complete Thanksgiving dinner, with a sumac-spiced confit and sous-vid turkey breast and legs, maple pumpkin dip, fig jam “stuffing,” orzo mac n’ cheese, a harvest Fatteh, and a tahini apple pie. The full feast costs $400 and feeds 6 to 8 people. You can also order menu items a la carte. Orders can be picked up or delivered on Monday, November 25, and Tuesday, November 26.

Kubeh

Another untraditional Turkey Day feast comes from Kubeh, a Middle Eastern restaurant in Greenwich Village. Serving four guests, the $248 Thanksgiving package includes the bird with gravy, along with butternut squash soup, caramelized onions, labneh and candied walnuts, cranberry sauce, stuffing, vegetables, and mashed potatoes. A la carte options include Brussels sprouts with date butter and Aleppo pepper and basmati rice with sauteed cranberries. Orders must be placed by November 20.

Pecking House

If you don’t like turkey, consider ordering from Pecking House, a popular pandemic-era fried chicken pop-up that now operates full-time restaurants in Prospect Heights and Chinatown. The Pecking House menu melds the styles of Nashville hot chicken and Sichuan fried chicken. Catering packages include 12 chicken pieces (or cauliflower) with five flavor choices (chili, homestyle, salted egg, garlic and herb, or extra hot) for $60 and a tray of 48 chicken wings for $65. Sides include cheddar cornbread with apple honey, butterbean salad with black vinegar, dirty fried rice, charred cucumbers with ginger, and Yukon gold potato salad. Place your order here; pick it up by the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Pig Beach

For smoked meat fans, try Astoria’s Pig Beach. The award-winning barbecue joint is offering a Thanksgiving feast fit for 10 to 12 people for $275. The package includes a 16- to 18-pound whole smoked turkey, cranberry, turkey gravy, a choice of two sides (mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, or classic stuffing), and a choice of one pie (key lime or chocolate pecan pie). All Thanksgiving pre-orders must be picked up on Wednesday, November 27 from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Items are heat-ready and come with instructions.

The Meat Hook

Since 2009, the Meat Hook has been serving high-quality pasture-raised meats from small family farms in New York and Pennsylvania, making it an easy go-to for any holiday meal. The butcher shop sells fresh, hormone-free turkeys from a farm in Interlaken, starting at $9.49 per pound. In addition to a full bird, other poultry options include turkey breast, a pair of turkey legs, a heritage chicken, duck, and duck leg confit. Grass-fed beef and lamb and pastured pork, are also available if poultry isn’t your thing. The last day to order for Thanksgiving is November 21. Pick-up is available in Williamsburg, Caroll Gardens, and Hudson.

Tin Building

Feeling fancy this holiday? Check out the Thanksgiving menu from the Tin Building by Jean-Georges. The Seaport marketplace is offering a one-stop shop for an at-home holiday feast curated by Jean-Georges. For $568, the Turkey Dinner package includes an organic roasted turkey, chestnut stuffing, Brussels sprouts, delicata squash, mashed potatoes, roasted mushroom, macaroni and cheese, cranberry compote, pumpkin pie, and assorted dinner rolls. “Celebration platters,” like a $145 baked lasagna and $165 charcuterie tray, and a variety of desserts can also be purchased a la carte. The full turkey dinner can be delivered warm on Thanksgiving Day or picked up. Place orders (before November 26 at 6 p.m.) here.

Tino’s Deli

Bring a taste of Arthur Avenue to Thanksgiving dinner this year. In the Bronx’s Little Italy, longtime Italian grocery Tino’s Deli offers a package that serves 10 ($499.95 plus tax) and one that serves 15 to 20 ($699.95 plus tax). The smaller option includes a tray of sliced turkey, baked ziti, or stuffed shells, sausage stuffing, corn, garden salad, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, a dozen dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie. If you’re flying solo this holiday but still want a festive meal, Tino’s sells an individual dinner for $39.95. Orders must be placed by Friday, November 22.

Virgil’s Real BBQ

Virgil’s Real BBQ, located on the Upper West Side and in Times Square, is cooking up a barbecue-inspired Thanksgiving dinner. At the center is a 16- to 18-pound smoked turkey, surrounded by sides like cornbread and sausage stuffing, candied Brussels sprouts, and buttermilk biscuits. The to-go feast costs $395 and feeds between six and eight people. Add a pumpkin or apple pie for $30. Quantities are limited so book now.

Pies, pastries, and other sweet treats

Agi’s Counter

Popular Crown Heights restaurant Agi’s Counter, which serves Jewish and Eastern European dishes, is selling cheesecakes this Thanksgiving. The two options include New York style with blueberry coriander compote and red currant marble. The $65 dessert can only be picked up between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. from November 25 through November 27.

Bien Cuit

Known for its delicious French pastries, particularly croissants, Brooklyn bakery Bien Cuit has two fun pie options for Thanksgiving, a maple vincotto pumpkin pie and an apple toffee pie. Both cost $55. Non-pie options include buttermilk biscuits, pain au lait rolls, pecan brown sugar shortbread, and a viennoiserie selection. For pickup on Thanksgiving Day, order by Sunday, November 24. Locations are on Smith Street in Cobble Hill, Franklin Avenue in Crown Heights, and Grand Central Terminal.

Breads Bakery

You can never go wrong with Breads Bakery, a go-to for handmade bread and babka for over a decade. Thanksgiving pies from Breads Bakery include pumpkin pie, apple crumb, pecan, babka, and cherry, priced between $42 and $44. Orders must be placed by November 22 to be picked up between November 25 and November 27. For delivery nationwide, Goldbelly is selling two pies from Breads Bakery, one chocolate babka pie and one pecan pie, for $100.

Li-Lac Chocolate

Impress everyone on Thanksgiving with this jumbo chocolate turkey from Li-Lac Chocolate. The bird stands 10 inches and contains 3.5 pounds of milk or dark chocolate. The gluten-free, kosher, handmade turkey can serve about 25 people. The edible bird costs $110. Li-Lac Chocolates, which turned 100 years old last year, also offers a 20-piece Thanksgiving chocolate gift box and Thanksgiving nonpareils.

Magnolia Bakery

Would you like some pudding with that pie? Magnolia Bakery is selling a Thanksgiving Sampler Pack that includes its famous banana pudding plus your choice of apple crumb, pecan, or pumpkin pie for $80. Pies can be bought separately for $30 each and there are special Thanksgiving-decorated cupcakes (a dozen costs $53).

Salt & Straw

The city’s newest ice cream shop is ready to make your holiday feast even sweeter. Portland’s Salt & Straw, which opened its first New York shops on the Upper West Side and in the West Village this year, is known for its unique ice cream flavors. The Thanksgiving Series includes five courses of holiday-inspired flavors like Parker House rolls with salted butter cream, sweet potato casserole, turkey stuffing and cranberry sauce, mom’s mango pie, and pumpkin spiced tiramisu. The five-pint package costs $65.