Book now: These Jersey Shore restaurants are open on Thanksgiving or offer dinner to-go
Juicy turkey with crispy brown skin, savory stuffing with sausage and apples, decadent pumpkin pie — sounds delicious, doesn’t it?
The bad news? Someone has to cook this Thanksgiving feast.
The good news? It doesn’t have to be you.
Chefs at the Shore are already planning holiday meals for us to enjoy in their restaurants or at home. They will cook traditional dinners with all the trimmings, plus their own twists on holiday dishes.
Here’s what’s on the menu this Thanksgiving, and if you plan to dine out, call now for a reservation — they go fast.
Go out to eat (or take it home with you)
These restaurants are happy to welcome your family to their dining rooms. Some will offer buffets, while others will serve prix fixe, multiple-course Thanksgiving feasts.
Avenue, Long Branch
Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t usually come with an ocean view, but you’ll get that — and French flavors — during a holiday meal here. Avenue, on the boardwalk in Pier Village, will serve a three-course meal ($65) from noon to 6 p.m., and dishes include macaroni gratin with Mornay sauce and breadcrumbs, foie gras with caramelized figs, a Thanksgiving entree of turkey with apricot stuffing, haricot vert, sweet potato puree and gratin Dauphinois, and a nut-based vegetarian roast served with stuffing, cranberry compote, cauliflower gratin and carrots. For dessert, pumpkin cheesecake and toffee pudding.
Go: 23 Ocean Ave., Long Branch; 732-759-2900, leclubavenue.com.
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Buckalew’s Restaurant and Tavern, Beach Haven
How does a walk on the beach after Thanksgiving dinner sound? Buckalew’s Restaurant and Tavern on Long Beach Island will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 24, and will serve its regular menu – think clams casino, New England clam chowder, chicken pot pie, lobster grilled cheese – plus a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.
Go: 101 North Bay Ave., Beach Haven; 609-492-1065, buckalews.com.
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CJ McLoone's, Tinton Falls
CJ McLoone's will serve a Thanksgiving Day buffet from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., including chafing dishes filled with oven-roasted turkey, stuffing and sweet potato mash, a honey-glazed Virginia ham carving station, and other displays ($36.95 per adult, $14.95 per child ages 3 to 12). Dessert includes pumpkin pie and apple pie.
Go: 560 Shrewsbury Ave., Tinton Falls; 732-268-7802, cjmcloones.com.
Drifthouse by David Burke, Sea Bright
This oceanfront spot will serve dinner in house and at your house this year.
Dine in from noon to 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, and start the meal with appetizers like tuna carpaccio with shaved artichoke, arugula and crostini, or burrata with roasted beets and pecans. Entrees include choices like roasted turkey with stuffing, green beans, sweet potato puree, cranberry orange compote and giblet gravy, and butternut squash gnudi with Tuscan kale and brown butter. Desserts include seasonal pies, cake and ice cream (starting at $65 per adult, $35 per child 10 and younger).
If you and your family want to eat at home, pick up to-go orders between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Enjoy a whole roasted turkey, stuffing, green beans, sweet potato puree, cranberry orange compote and giblet gravy ($300, serves eight to 10 people).
Go: 1485 Ocean Ave. North Suite 2225, Sea Bright; 732-530-9760, drifthousedb.com.
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The GOAT by David Burke, Union Beach
This Italian-American bistro will serve a full Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. ($58 for adults, $25 for children 12 and younger). The cost includes one appetizer, like beet, goat cheese and bacon salad; an entree, like Barolo-braised lamb shank with butternut squash, kale, mushroom farotto and almond gremolata; and dessert.
Add-ons at an extra cost include a selection of sharable plates, like clothesline bacon (maple black pepper-glazed bacon hanging from a mini clothesline, $16), and sides like roasted local mushrooms and spinach (with butter, thyme and shallots for $8).
Go: 1411 Route 36, Union Beach; 732-264-5222, thegoatbydb.com.
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The Grapevine Restaurant, Tuckerton
Diners can have Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings — roasted turkey with gravy, mashed potatoes, sausage and apple stuffing, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and warm rolls ($24) — at The Grapevine Restaurant, which is taking reservations from noon to 6:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving. Walk-in dining is also an option: Owner Michael Leising said he will always find a place for customers.
The Thanksgiving Day menu will have a la carte options, too, including prime rib, chicken dishes and some appetizers. But Leising said on Thanksgiving, nearly all orders are turkey dinners. The meal is available for takeout as well, and the restaurant also offers a complete Thanksgiving dinner to-go that feeds eight to 10 people ($190).
Go: 364 E. Main St., Tuckerton; 609-296-7799, thegrapevinenj.com.
Iron Whale, Asbury Park
From 11 a.m. to 8 p.m on Thanksgiving, Iron Whale will serve a four-course, prix fixe, family-style Thanksgiving meal ($44 per adult, $18 per child ages 3 to 11). Start with a butternut squash salad with goat cheese, candied pecans and cranberry vinaigrette, then choose an entree to share, like sliced turkey breast with gravy, grilled salmon with pomegranate gremolata, or sauteed shrimp with sundried tomatoes and pancetta over potato gnocchi.
Sharable sides include cornbread stuffing with sausage and apples, orange cranberry relish, maple-roasted sweet potatoes and blood orange-glazed baby carrots. For dessert, try pumpkin bread pudding with vanilla gelato; warm apple caramel crumb with salted caramel gelato; or sweet potato pie with maple whipped cream.
Go: 1200 Ocean Ave. Suite 504, Asbury Park; 732-361-5185, ironwhalenj.com.
Red Horse by David Burke, Rumson
This steakhouse will serve a Thanksgiving Day dinner from noon to 8 p.m. ($95 for adults, $45 for children 10 and younger).
Go: 26 Ridge Road, Rumson; 732-576-3400, redhorsebydb.com.
Robinson's Ale House
Each Robinson Ale House location is doing something different for Thanksgiving.
In Red Bank, an a la carte menu will be offered in-house, with bites like roasted brussels sprouts with cranberries, bacon and pumpkin seeds, and main courses like a roasted turkey dinner with apple stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potato, haricot verts and gravy. The restaurant is also catering a package that includes roasted turkey breast with gravy, apple and walnut stuffing, candied yams, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and a pie (serves four to six people, $159.95).
The Robinson Ale House inLong Branch will serve a buffet from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. ($39.94 per adult, $14.95 per child ages 4 to 12). Dishes include turkey, cornbread stuffing, maple whipped sweet potatoes, Boursin cheese creamed corn, desserts and finger foods.
The Asbury Park restaurant will also serve a buffet from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with similar dishes to those at Long Branch plus herb-crusted roast beef and spiral ham carving stations ($42.95 per adult, $14.95 per child).
Go: 26 Broad St. in Red Bank, 732-383-8219; 68 Ocean Ave. North in Long Branch, 732-222-2212; 1200 Ocean Ave. North in Long Branch, 732-774-1400; robinsonsalehouse.com.
The Rum Runner, Sea Bright
This seafood joint will shift gears for Turkey Day, with a massive buffet (that features seafood, too). The display will include salads like the Fall Harvest, with butternut squash, apples, pomegranate seeds and apple cider vinaigrette, plus a raw bar with shrimp, clams and oysters ($44.95 per adult, $19.95 per child ages 3 to 12).
Chef-attended stations will include a macaroni and cheese bar, and a carving station with brown sugar-glazed spiral ham. Other dishes include roasted turkey, roasted salmon, baked Brussels sprouts, sourdough stuffing and more.
Go: 816 Ocean Ave. North, Sea Bright; 732-842-2894, mcloonesrumrunner.com.
Salt Creek Grille, Rumson
Salt Creek Grille has been serving Thanksgiving dinner for more than 20 years, and the tradition continues in 2022. The meal includes a prix fixe meal of butternut squash soup, all-you-can eat roasted turkey with gravy, apple rosemary stuffing, candied yams, roasted green beans, and apple or pumpkin pie ($37 per adult, $16 per child). Other options, which come with the sides and dessert, include filet and shrimp linguini, ponzu salmon, grilled pork chop, and cauliflower steak ($21 to $46).
Go: 4 Bingham Ave.; 732-933-9272; saltcreekgrille.com/rumson.
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Order dinner in advance
If you want to enjoy a family dinner at home on Thanksgiving, all you have to do is pick it up from these restaurants.
B2 Bistro + Bar, Red Bank
Cater your whole Thanksgiving table at B2 Bistro + Bar, which will serve a deboned turkey seasoned with Herbs de Provence and Dijon mustard (serves four to six, $350, or eight to 10, $450). Sides are included, like mashed potatoes, sausage stuffing with carrots and sweet sausage, roasted squash and Brussels sprouts with cranberry and pecans, spiced cranberry sauce and turkey gravy. Top it off with an old-fashioned pumpkin pie.
Orders must be placed by Thursday, Nov. 17. Pickup will be Wednesday, Nov. 23.
Go: 141 Shrewsbury Ave., Red Bank; 732-268-8555, b2bistro.com/red-bank.
Blu Grotto, Oceanport
This Italian restaurant is serving Turkey Day classics, starting with roasted Bell & Evans turkey breast, turkey gravy, and turkey drumsticks cooked osso bucco style.
Sides include whipped sweet potatoes, Panettone turkey stuffing, maple-glazed Brussels sprouts with bacon, glazed baby carrots, cranberry sauce and a bread basket, with pumpkin or apple pie for dessert (serves eight to 10, $290; 12 to 16, $425; up to 20, $520).
Go: 200 Port Au Peck Ave., Oceanport; 732-571-7900, blugrottorestaurant.com.
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Cats Luck, Neptune City
Vegan lovers will enjoy this Thanksgiving meal. The Feast for One includes Cats Luck vegan turkey with gravy, rosemary garlic mashed potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, parsnips and yams, cranberry walnut mushroom stuffing, corn buttermilk biscuits, cranberry apple jalapeno sauce and a pumpkin apple oat bar ($30). You can also order food for someone in need. Each Community Plate purchased ($20) will be handed out at Asbury Park Food Not Bombs on Thanksgiving Day.
The restaurant will also offer its side dishes, plus other items like macaroni and cheese, a la carte. For dessert, try gingersnaps, pumpkin snickerdoodles, and apple cranberry crumble pie and smore's pumpkin pie.
Orders must be placed by Saturday, Nov. 19. Pickup will be from noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23.
Go: 40 Steiner Ave., Neptune City; 732-361-7294, catsluckvegan.com.
Drew's Bayshore Bistro, Keyport
Everything but the turkey is what you'll get from Drew Araneo’s Cajun and Creole-inspired restaurant, which offers a Thanksgiving menu of dishes like sweet potato bisque, cornbread and andouille dressing, pumpkin and goat cheese macaroni and cheese, Cajun turkey gravy and chipotle cheese grits (served in quarts and half trays, $20 to $65).
Araneo said that through the years, his stuffings, gravies and Voodoo shrimp — sauteed shrimp in spicy Worcestershire cream over jalapeno cornbread — have been the biggest sellers.
Orders must be placed by Friday, Nov. 18. Pickup will be Wednesday, Nov. 23.
Go: 25 Church St. Keyport; 732-739-9219, drewsbayshorebistro.com.
Fusaro Pizza and Pasta, Stafford and Lacey
No, we're not suggesting you serve pizza on Thanksgiving (although that's not such a bad idea).
Andy Costagliola's restaurant offers both Italian meals and traditional dishes for the holiday. Try a dinner of sliced roasted turkey with mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, string bean almondine, corn and gravy ($35 per person). Or skip the turkey and feed the family with trays of chicken — Parmigiana, Marsala, Murphy, scampi and francese), pasta, salads and sides with housemade rolls (feeds between eight and 40 people, $129 to $489).
Orders must be placed by Tuesday, Nov. 22. Pickup is "anytime before Thanksgiving Day," Costagliola said.
Go: 31 N. Main St., Manahawkin section of Stafford, 609-978-3888, and 725 S. Main St., Forked River section of Lacey, 609-693-3333; fusaronj.com.
Mutiny BBQ, Asbury Park
If smoked turkey breast, macaroni and cheese and cornbread casserole sound like your kind of Thanksgiving feast, get your order in to owner Tom Dunphy at Mutiny BBQ. His Thanksgiving to-go menu, which features dishes that will be hot upon pickup, also includes cider-brined pork loin and smoked beans, collard greens and mashed potatoes by the quart and by the tray ($18 to $90).
Orders must be placed by Monday, Nov. 14. Pickup will be Thursday, Nov. 24.
Go: 808 Fifth Ave., Asbury Park; 732-366-9985, mutinybbq.com.
Simply Southern, Belmar
Want some Southern style soul food for your Thanksgiving table? Well this spot, owned by former NFL player Rasheed Simmons and his mother Rita, will offer a dinner that starts with a roasted whole turkey, roasted turkey breast, smothered turkey wings, roasted whole herb chicken (all with cranberry stuffing), or orange-glazed honey ham (serves six to eight, $235).
The package includes one appetizer, like macaroni and cheese or sweet potato hush puppies, and three sides, including candied yams, collard greens and garlic mashed potatoes. Finish off the meal with bread pudding, banana pudding or sweet potato pie.
Go: 817 Belmar Plaza, Belmar; 732-243-9259, simplysoutherncomfortfoods.com.
Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, and for more Jersey Shore food news, subscribe to our weekly Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.
Gabriela L. Laracca joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2021 and eagerly brings her passion for cuisine and culture to our readers. Send restaurant tips to glaracca@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Thanksgiving: Jersey Shore restaurants open for dinner or takeout
