Here are the Fort Collins area restaurants staying open for Thanksgiving

Erin Udell, Fort Collins Coloradoan

November 14, 2023 at 11:56 AM·5 min read

Enjoy a feast this Thanksgiving without doing the grocery shopping, food preparation or even the dishes.

Several Northern Colorado eateries will be open for the holiday, with some serving up special one-day menus filled with classic, comforting Thanksgiving dishes.

Here are the restaurants open Thanksgiving Day in and around Fort Collins.

Northern Colorado restaurants with special Thanksgiving menus

Cracker Barrel

5800 McWhinney Blvd., Loveland

Looking for some good old fashioned comfort food? Cracker Barrel will be open its regular hours (7 a.m. to 9 p.m.) this Thanksgiving, with its traditional "turkey 'n dressing" meal hitting tables starting at 11 a.m. To lessen your wait, join the restaurant's online wait list at crackerbarrel.com.

The Emporium: An American Brasserie

378 Walnut St., Fort Collins

The Emporium's prix fixe Thanksgiving menu is back, with your choice of seasonal starters, sides, entrées and desserts available from noon to 8 p.m. The meal is $65 per person and $30 for children. Reservations can be made at opentable.com, by calling The Emporium at 970-493-0024, or by inquiring via a contact form on the restaurant's website. For a full look at the menu, visit emporiumfortcollins.com/menus.

Ever Open Cafe

1422 N. College Ave., Fort Collins

Ever Open Cafe is open its regular hours (6 a.m. to 8 p.m.) on Thanksgiving Day. The longstanding North Fort Collins cafe will start serving its $19.99 Thanksgiving dinner at 11 a.m.

FoCo Cafe

225 Maple St., Fort Collins

FoCo Cafe, a nonprofit restaurant that opened with its unique pay-what-you-can model exactly nine Thanksgivings ago, is back with another Thanksgiving lunch this year. Its holiday menu will feature traditional, vegan and gluten-free options, which can be enjoyed for takeout or as a sit-down meal from noon to 3 p.m. Sit-down meals will be first come, first served and will operate on the cafe's pay-what-you-can model. You can also pay it forward by donating money to cover someone else's Thanksgiving meal or order the eatery's Thanksgiving meal to-go ahead of time.

Feel like hosting (but not cooking)? Here's where to order premade Thanksgiving meals in Fort Collins, Loveland

Golden Corral Buffet & Grill

1360 Sculptor Drive, Loveland

Take a spin around Golden Corral's holiday buffet, featuring turkey, ham, beef roast and classic sides and sweets. The Loveland buffet will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thanksgiving Day.

Jay's Bistro

135 W. Oak St., Fort Collins

Jay's Bistro is gearing up for Thanksgiving with its special holiday meal, featuring turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, a roll and choice of dessert for $55 per person. If you're feeling a bit nontraditional, take your pick from the range of other appetizers, soups, salads, entrees and sweets on the Old Town eatery's Thanksgiving menu. Jay's Bistro will be open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. Space is limited. To inquire about reservations, call 970-482-1876.

Papa's Table

3728 Cleveland Ave., Wellington

Papa's Table will be serving up its special three-course holiday menu from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. The menu includes a choice of soup or salad, a choice of turkey, ham, swordfish or New York strip steak entrees, traditional Thanksgiving sides and pie for dessert. Meals range from $35 to $40, with a turkey or ham kids plate option for $18. Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling the restaurant at 970-568-4139.

The Stanley Hotel

333 E. Wonderview Ave., Estes Park

Celebrate at The Stanley this Thanksgiving. The hotel's Cascades Restaurant & Lounge will be dishing up a special three-course Thanksgiving dinner, including traditional turkey entrée options as well as seared halibut or cherry-stuffed pork loin. Dinner will cost $99 for adults and $30 for children ages six to 12, with kids ages five and under eating for free. Cascades will be open from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit stanleyhotel.com/holidays. To reserve a spot, call 970-577-4001.

Holiday pie guide: These Fort Collins-area bakers, shops have you covered for Thanksgiving

Fort Collins restaurants offering regular menus on Thanksgiving

Bawarchi Biryani Point

1611 S. College Ave., Fort Collins

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9:15 p.m.

Brothers BBQ

501 S. Taft Hill Road

Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Family Kitchen (formerly Crossroads Tavern & Grill)

4455 Fairgrounds Ave., Windsor

Hours: 4 p.m. to midnight

Denny's

420 Centro Way, Fort Collins

Hours: 24 hours

Hibachi Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Restaurant

1051 W. Horsetooth Road, Fort Collins

Hours: 3-9 p.m. (Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling 970-377-0812.)

IHOP

1502 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins

Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Kentucky Fried Chicken

1227 E. Magnolia St. and 4001 S. College Ave., Fort Collins

Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Masa Hibachi Steakhouse & Sushi

2400 E. Harmony Road, Fort Collins

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

McDonald's

Various locations in Fort Collins

Hours: Hours vary by location; call ahead to double check if your local McDonald's is open Thanksgiving Day

Red Lobster

3301 S. College Ave.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tony's Bar & Rooftop

224 S. College Ave., Fort Collins

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Waffle House

3850 E. Mulberry St., Fort Collins