These Jersey Shore restaurants are cooking Thanksgiving dinner — so you don't have to

Sarah Griesemer, Asbury Park Press
·4 min read

Imagine a Thanksgiving where all you have to do is sit down and eat — no roasting, basting, carving, mashing or baking required.

You don't have to set the table or do the dishes, either.

Many Shore restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving, serving traditional turkey dinners with all the trimmings and even holiday brunch. Reservations are already filling up, so if you plan to dine out, book a table now.

American Cafe, Freehold Borough

The restaurant is serving a Thanksgiving buffet from 1 to 6 p.m., with a menu of turkey and all the sides ($66; $32 for children 12 and younger).

Go: Reservations required by calling 732-431-3220; 18-20 E. Main St., Freehold Borough; americanhotelsnj.com.

Let's talk turkey! These Jersey Shore restaurants are making Thanksgiving dinner to go

B2 Bistro + Bar, Berkeley Township

Seatings begin at 11 a.m. for the holiday meal at B2 Bistro + Bar, which will serve a buffet featuring turkey, prime rib and ham carving stations; the traditional trimmings; an omelet station; and a dessert station, among other dishes ($45; $21 for children ages 5 to 12; free for children younger than 5).

Go: Reserve by calling 732-269-3000; 125 Bayview Ave. in the Bayville section of Berkeley Township; b2bistro.com.

Blend on Main, Manasquan

Let chef and owner Lou Smith cook your Thanksgiving dinner at his Manasquan restaurant, Blend on Main.
Let chef and owner Lou Smith cook your Thanksgiving dinner at his Manasquan restaurant, Blend on Main.

Chef Lou Smith's Thanksgiving offering will be a homestyle buffet of "all the holiday favorites with a sweet ending," with seatings from 1 to 5:30 p.m. ($49.95 per person).

If you can't have Thanksgiving without leftovers, pre-order a tray from Smith's kitchen ($23 per person).

Go: Reservations required by calling 732-223-0030; 152 Main St., Manasquan; blendonmain.com.

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The Gables, Beach Haven

This historic inn and restaurant will offer a four-course meal of traditional Thanksgiving dishes and holiday desserts, as well as a menu including beef, fish, pork and vegetarian entrees, from 1 to 7 p.m. ($125 per person).

Go: Reservations required via OpenTable or by calling 609-492-3553; 212 Centre St., Beach Haven; gableslbi.com.

More: Gobble gobble: 5 must-try Thanksgiving sandwiches at the Jersey Shore

The Lobster Shanty, Point Pleasant Beach

Enjoy a holiday meal with a view of the Manasquan River at The Lobster Shanty, which will serve a buffet featuring lobster bisque, butternut squash soup, carving stations, hot entrees and sides, plus pies, cakes, and an ice cream sundae bar ($45; $20 for children younger than 12).

Go: Reservations required by calling 732-899-6700; 83 Channel Drive, Point Pleasant Beach; thelobstershantynj.com.

Our House Restaurant, Farmingdale

This homey restaurant will serve a buffet featuring butternut squash soup, hot entrees, side dishes, and carving, pasta, cold and dessert stations from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. ($34.99; $19.99 for children 12 and younger).

Go: Reservations required by calling 732-938-5159; 420 Adelphia Road, Farmingdale; ourhouserestaurant.com.

Oyster Point Hotel's Pearl Restaurant & Lounge, Red Bank

Enjoy a Thanksgiving brunch buffet along the Navesink River at Oyster Point, where the menu includes a carving station, a potato and toppings bar, a raw bar, entrees, and desserts including ice cream and waffles, plus pie ($72.95; $24.95 for children 2 to 12). Seatings are from noon to 5 p.m.

The nearby Molly Pitcher Inn, a sister business to Oyster Point, is offering brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Go: Reservations required via OpenTable or by calling 732-530-8200, ext. 161, for Oyster Point, 146 Bodman Place in Red Bank, or 732-747-2500, ext. 505, for Molly Pitcher Inn, 88 Riverside Ave, in Red Bank; theoysterpointhotel.com, themollypitcher.com.

More: Jersey Shore Most Influential 2024 — Food: Marilyn Schlossbach shapes dining at the Shore

Rosie's, Ocean Gate

The first-floor dining room at Rosie’s in Ocean Gate.
The first-floor dining room at Rosie’s in Ocean Gate.

Rosie’s, which will be open from 2 to 8 p.m., will serve a prix fixe Thanksgiving menu in addition to a limited regular menu. Holiday dishes include soup or salad and choice of turkey, prime rib, pork chop or filet mignon with mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, cranberry sauce and cornbread. For dessert there are mini pies, pumpkin creme brulee, and chocolate lava cake ($49.95 per person).

Go: Reserve at 732-998-8314; 401 Monmouth Ave., Ocean Gate, rosiesoceangate.com.

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Sweet Jenny's, Barnegat

Sweet Jenny's in downtown Barnegat will serve a Thanksgiving meal for the holiday.
Sweet Jenny's in downtown Barnegat will serve a Thanksgiving meal for the holiday.

This restaurant in downtown Barnegat will serve Thanksgiving meals beginning at 11 a.m., along with its regular menu. The holiday meal includes soup or salad, roasted turkey breast, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, and a slice of apple or pumpkin pie ($21.99 per person).

Go: Reserve by calling 609-698-2228; 688 East Bay Ave., Barnegat; sweetjennysrestaurant.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, follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner