Looking to ditch the cooking and cleaning? Here's where to go for Thanksgiving on Cape Cod

Frankie Rowley, Cape Cod Times
·7 min read

Thanksgiving, a time for gathering with loved ones, eating good food and watching a football game or two. Traditionally, Thanksgiving dinner is an at-home event with hours spent fussing about in the kitchen making sure the turkey is golden, the potatoes are mashed and the casseroles all make it into the oven.

What if instead of worrying about all the basting and sauteeing, you left the cooking and the cleaning in someone else's hands? If the idea piques some interest, here are some places to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner on the Cape where the only thing you have to worry about is finishing the food on your plate.

Where to snag a reservation for Thanksgiving Dinner on Cape Cod

Wequassett Resort

The Wequassett Resort is hosting a three-day Thanksgiving celebration. On Wednesday, the resort will kick the festivities off with a Homecoming party at the Outer Bar and Grille with complimentary light bites and drinks.

On Thursday, Turkey Day celebrations commence with their Gala Buffet at Twenty-Eight Atlantic and the Pavillion. In true New England fashion, a raw bar full of oysters and lobsters will be at the buffet alongside some traditional favorites like turkey, gravy and cranberry sauce.

But if Thanksgiving food isn’t your cup of tea, fresh, made-to-order pasta and some Asian cuisine like Korean meatballs and shrimp tempura will also be available.

For the little ones, a kid's menu will also be available.

Once you're done at dinner, head out to the Outer Bar and Grill to watch the football and enjoy some snacks, turkey sandwiches and booze from the bar.

On Black Friday, the festivities dwindle down with an a la carte brunch at Twenty-Eight Atlantic, fit with some healthier foods and juices plus brunch cocktails.

To attend the Wequassett Resort's Thanksgiving celebration, reservations can be made online for the Gala Buffett and Friday Brunch. Plates for the Gala Buffett are $195 per adult, $100 per child (age six to 12), $50 per toddler (age three to five) and children two and under eat for free.

Private dining options at the Pavillion are available for the Gala Buffet for an additional fee. Guests who opt for private dining will receive the same buffet foods as those in Twenty-Eight Atlantic but service will be family style and the turkey will be carved. A complimentary overnight accommodation will be included with the fee.

If you’re looking to make a night or two out of your time at Wequassett, all stays throughout November are 20% off.

For more information about reservations, festivities and accommodations, visit www.wequassett.com/experience/thanksgiving-with-wequassett/.

Chatham Bars Inn

Chatham Bars Inn is hosting two Thanksgiving dinners at their on-site restaurants Stars and the Sacred Cod Tavern.

Stars will host their annual Grand Buffet equipped with Thanksgiving favorites, seafood and caviar, soups and an “Asian Station” like the one at Wequassett Resort. The desserts will also be plenty as the buffet will have a confection station and dessert bar.

There are three seatings throughout the day. The first seatings will take place between 11 and 11:30 a.m., the second between 1:30 and 2:00 p.m. and the third between 4 and 4:30 p.m.

An original Norman Rockwell painting over the fireplace in the Stars Dining Room at the Chatham Bars Inn.
An original Norman Rockwell painting over the fireplace in the Stars Dining Room at the Chatham Bars Inn.

To dine at Stars, plates are $185 per adult, $70 per child (age 5 to 12). To book, call the dining concierge at 508-945-6732.

At the Sacred Cod Tavern, a three-course menu of autumnal and New England fare will be served, along with traditional Thanksgiving dishes. Dinner will be served from 1 to 9 p.m. Plates cost $93 per adult, $45 per child (age 5 to 12). Reservations can be made by calling the dining concierge at 508-945-6732.

Bettini

Perched overlooking the Edgartown lighthouse and harbor is Bettini, the on-site restaurant at the Harbor View Hotel on Martha’s Vineyard. For Thanksgiving, Bettini is serving a four-course festive menu fit for lovers of land and sea.

Dinner will be served from noon to 7:00 p.m. Plates are $140 per adult, $70 per child 12 and under. Reservations can be made over the phone — 508-627-3761 — or by email at bettini@harborviewhotel.com.

Pelham House

Overlooking Nantucket Sound, join the staff at Pelham House for Thanksgiving Dinner in the Sea Level Ballroom. Their menu sticks to the classics, offering carved turkey and pumpkin pie but there are a few unexpected Thanksgiving dinner dishes like monkfish and braised beef short ribs.

Seating for dinner begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m. Plates are $140 per adult and $60 per child (age 5 to 12). Reservations can be made online at www.pelhamhouseresort.com/thanksgiving/.

The rooftop at Pelham House Inn will host a welcome prior to their Thanksgiving dinner this year.
The rooftop at Pelham House Inn will host a welcome prior to their Thanksgiving dinner this year.

Prior to dinner, guests can enjoy a rooftop welcome with a raw bar, hand-rolled sushi and charcuterie. The party starts an hour before dinner.

Nantucket Hotel

If you find yourself on Nantucket this Thanksgiving, the Nantucket Hotel’s Thanksgiving feast is worth looking into.

Traditional and tasty, the Nantucket’s Thanksgiving feast consists of all the classics. Start off with a soup or salad, maybe even an oyster or two from the raw bar but save room for the mains and sides since that’s where the magic is. For mains, choose from turkey, salmon or prime rib and myriad sides — like stuffing and yams — to go with.

For dessert, there are three pies — pumpkin, apple and pecan — to choose from.

Reservations for the Nantucket’s Thanksgiving feast can be made online at www.thenantuckethotel.com/signature-experiences/thanksgiving-weekend/. Plates are $125 per adult, $44 per child and kids five and under eat free. Dinner is served from noon to 5:30 p.m.

Belfry Inn & Bistro

If you want to ditch the cooking and the cleaning, but don’t want to spend over $100 per person then the Belfry Inn & Bistro's Thanksgiving Dinner might be a good option for you.

Their Thanksgiving dinner costs $68 per adult and $25 per child if ordering from the kid’s menu. The menu consists of three courses, offering items like cider-roasted turkey, brandied lobster bisque and pumpkin creme brulee.

Chris Wilson, outside the renovated church that houses his fine dining restaurant and three-star Belfry Inn & Bistro, one of three restaurants he owns on Jarves Street in Sandwich Village.
Chris Wilson, outside the renovated church that houses his fine dining restaurant and three-star Belfry Inn & Bistro, one of three restaurants he owns on Jarves Street in Sandwich Village.

For the kids, their dinner consists of a soup or salad, some turkey and sides and dessert.

Reservations can be made online at www.exploretock.com/belfryinn/. A charge of $50 per person will be made in order to hold and guarantee all reservations. Dinner will be served from noon to 5 p.m.

The Pointe

What better way to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner than by gazing out over the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown? At the Pointe, the Crown Pointe’s on-site restaurant, their four-course Thanksgiving Dinner has options for everyone to have a happy Turkey Day.

Though small, their menu hits on all the staples. Start with a roasted butternut bisque followed by a pear and arugula salad. For mains, three options — a roasted herb turkey dinner, cauliflower steak and pan-seared salmon — are available. For dessert, it’s either pumpkin pie or cheesecake.

Reservations for the Pointe’s Thanksgiving Dinner can be made online at www.crownepointe.com/restaurants/about/.

Wild Goose Tavern

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly place to enjoy the holiday, consider making a reservation for Thanksgiving dinner at the Chatham staple, the Wild Goose Tavern.

Plates are $95 per adult, $50 for kids 12 and under and the menu is simple, yet tasty. Offering just entrees, sides and desserts, the Wild Goose Tavern’s Thanksgiving dinner checks off all the boxes with turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie and even cheddar biscuits while offering some out-of-the-box options like paella with chicken, shrimp and chorizo for the turkey-adverted.

Reservations for the Wild Goose Tavern’s Thanksgiving dinner can be made by calling the Tavern at 508-945-5590.

Dan’l Webster Inn

Last but not least on our list of Thanksgiving dinners is the Dan’l Webster Inn. Situated in Sandwich Village, the Dan’l Webster’s dining room looks out onto the village’s wooded landscape creating a cozy atmosphere to enjoy your Thanksgiving Dinner.

For a traditional turkey dinner, plates for adults are $51.95, $23.95 for children under 12 and $13.95 for children under four. However, substitutions for turkey can be made if you're not a fan or not a meat-eater.

Dinner will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and reservations can be made online at www.danlwebsterinn.com/dining/. or over the phone at 508-888-3622.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Where to eat Thanksgiving dinner on Cape Cod