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Friday, March 29, 2024
A Thanksgiving season plating at Harvest in 2011 had all the savory flavors you’d expect on the holiday. (Photo: Harvest)

A Thanksgiving season plating at Harvest in 2011 had all the savory flavors you’d expect on the holiday. (Photo: Harvest)

If you’re in the area and need an emergency Thanksgiving meal – maybe you’re traveling, maybe your beautifully prepared meal suffered some completely unexpected disaster – you might consider making some phone calls and hope to head to Harvard Square.

Denise Jillson, executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association, gathered a list of Harvard Square restaurants open Thanksgiving that could make your day right (and possibly better than right) for less than $21.95 to upward of $75. And those options could include live music, the last holiday at a 31-year institution, a vegan feast or a seafood specialty like the Pilgrims probably ate.

But those phone calls are essential, as rounding up a full meal on Thanksgiving itself might be something to really give thanks for. Your options, according to Jillson:

bullet-gray-smallBeat Hotel, 13 Brattle St., has a Thanksgiving Americana Buffet & Music with a “down-home food buffet” from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. that includes live country, bluegrass and Americana music throughout. Adults will be charged $38 and kids 12 and under $19. Call (617) 499-0001.

bullet-gray-smallGrafton Street, 1230 Massachusetts Ave., has a three-course feast of traditional and seasonally inspired holiday dishes (a first course of sweet potato bisque, roasted pear salad, warm pumpkin bread or crab beignet; entrée of roast turkey, sweet potato ravioli, grilled salmon or cola-braised beef cheeks; and dessert of sweet potato pie or chocolate bread pudding) for $38 per person with an optional beer or wine pairing to complement each course for an additional $18 per person. Call (617) 497-04000.

bullet-gray-smallHarvest, 44 Brattle St., Harvard Square (on the walkway across the intersection of Church and Brattle streets), has a three-course prix fixe menu with a choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert for $68. An additional wine pairing will cost $15 for half glasses and $25 for full glasses. Call (617) 868-2255.

bullet-gray-smallLegal Sea Foods, 20 University Road, has Thanksgiving dinner options with shellfish and fish (as the first Thanksgiving likely had) or turkey with sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, butternut squash and cranberry sauce at $21.95 for adults and $7.95 for kids. Call (617) 491-9400.

bullet-gray-smallNubar, 16 Garden St., has a holiday buffet from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with traditional favorites including a carving station, salad station, dessert bar and more. The price is $42 for adults and $20 for kids (or free for kids under 5) and includes coffee, tea, soda or juice. Call (617) 234-1365.

bullet-gray-smallPark Restaurant & Bar, 59 JFK St., has Thanksgiving a la carte specials including a ricotta gnocchi appetizer; entrées of roast turkey breast, apple- and sage-stuffed native redfish or Thanksgivukkah meat pie. Call (617) 491-9851.

bullet-gray-smallRialto, 1 Bennett St., has a special three-course menu of traditional favorites with an Italian twist and local ingredients. The firsts include a choice of fluke crudo, autumn farm greens, house-cured prosciutto, squash soup and taleggio buckwheat lasagna; entrées are arctic char, pan-seared halibut, traditional New England turkey, venison two ways and osso bucco; extra trimmings (for $7 each) of Brussels sprouts, glazed sweet potatoes; creamed onions, mashed potatoes and green beans; and dessert choices of pumpkin ricotta torta, quince-cranberry bread pudding, almond apple crostata and chocolate toffee mousse. There’s also a kids menu that includes firsts of simple lettuces, grilled shrimp or squash soup; entrées of roast turkey, mac and cheese or braised beef; and desserts of pumpkin ricotta torta, almond apple crostata or chocolate cupcake. The meal goes from 1 to 7 p.m. and costs $75 for adults and $35 for children. Call (617) 661-5050.

bullet-gray-smallRussell House Tavern, 14 JFK St., has a locally inspired holiday menu featuring executive chef Tom Borgia’s creative take on Thanksgiving staples in a three-course prix fixe dinner for $45 per person with an optional $18 beer and/or wine pairing selected by bar manager Sam Gabrielli. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Call (617) 500-3055.

bullet-gray-smallTemple Bar, 1688 Massachusetts Ave., has Thanksgiving dinner with limited availability. Call (617) 547-5055.

bullet-gray-smallThe Red House, 98 Winthrop St.,  serves a Thanksgiving Day from 1 to 6 p.m for $45 per person (beverage, tax and gratuity excluded) and no substitutions. Call (617) 576-0605.

bullet-gray-smallTommy Doyle’s, 96 Winthrop St., has a Thanksgiving meal of toasted walnut soup with spiced pumpkin seeds, apple bacon and cranberry crostini with herbed goat cheese, a turkey confit pizza, a reuben Susan served with Sweet Fries and butternut squash and turkey hash with sage cream sauce. Call (617) 864-0655.

bullet-gray-smallUpStairs on the Square, 91 Winthrop St., is offering its final Thanksgiving dinner before the restaurant closes Jan. 1. From noon to 8 p.m. there’s a $72 prix fixe menu (half-price for children under 12) with full vegan and traditional menus. Call (617) 864-1933.