There are lots of reasons not to host or cook for Thanksgiving on Nov. 27. Ungrateful and unhelpful relatives, hard-to-find ingredients, so much time spent in the kitchen you can't even enjoy the holiday... the list goes on.
However, these 11 Central Jersey restaurants are ready to do the cooking, baking and cleaning for you.
Although they can't stop the political table talk or cellphone usage, these restaurants can offer turkey with every possible trimming − and you don't even have to set the table.
Catherine Lombardi, New Brunswick
Diners can dine at their Italian grandma's place on Nov. 27 at Catherine Lombardi. The New Brunswick restaurant is offering a Thanksgiving feast with Italian touches from 2 to 7 p.m. Named for the co-owner's grandmother, Catherine Lombardi will serve a three-course prix fixe menu for about $80 per person, as well as the regular a la carte menu.
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Visitors can first choose a salad or one of five pastas including orecchiette with hot or sweet sausage and garganelli with truffle cream, prosciutto and asparagus. Then, they'll be able to chow down on family-style turkey with all the fixings. Dessert options include zabaglione with fruit, pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate chip cookies, tiramisu, and hazelnut bread pudding.
Go: 3 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick; 732-296-9463, stageleft.com/event/112725-thanksgiving-catherine-lombardi/.
Forsgate Country Club, Monroe
For 100 years, Forsgate Country Club has been the Central Jersey spot for fine dining and golf. The landmark also celebrates Thanksgiving each year by opening its dining room to members and non-members for a holiday buffet. The Thanksgiving buffet at Forsgate Country Club includes roasted turkey and traditional side dishes, plus additional entrees, sides, salads and desserts.
Member pricing for noon and 3 p.m. seatings is $50 per adult and $24 per child aged 4 to 12. Non-member pricing for 1 and 4 p.m. seatings is $56 per adult and $27 per child aged 4 to 12. Kids under age 3 eat for free. Reservations must be made by noon Nov. 24.
Diners can also enjoy a Forsgate feast at home with the club's Thanksgiving takeout menu. A 4-6 person meal is $285 and an 8-10 person meal is $445. The meal includes a 20-pound roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy, cornbread stuffing, Brussel sprouts with caramelized onions and bacon, buttered smashed potatoes, wild rice pilaf with roasted butternut squash and dried cherries, and apple or pumpkin pie. A la carte selections also are available. Takeout orders must be placed by noon Nov. 20 and will be available for pickup before 11:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving.
Go: 375 Forsgate Dr., Monroe; 732-521-0070, forsgatecc.com.
The Frog and the Peach, New Brunswick
From noon to 7 p.m., New Brunswick landmark restaurant the Frog and the Peach will again spend Thanksgiving with its favorite people − its diners. An $80 three-course prix fixe menu will be available for parties of eight people or less.
The menu includes appetizer options such as venison tartare and pumpkin ricotta gnocchi and six entree options including free-range turkey with black truffle stuffing, glazed butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, cranberry compote and apple brandy gravy. Dessert options include a "tasting of chocolate" delight with milk chocolate layer cake, bitter chocolate marquise and white chocolate profiterole.
A three-course prix fixe is also available for $42 for children ages 6-12. The menu includes options like macaroni and cheese, roast turkey with stuffing, grilled hanger steak, creme brulee and peach sorbet.
Go: 29 Dennis St., New Brunswick; 732-846-3216, frogandpeach.com/thanksgiving-menu/.
Grain & Cane, Berkeley Heights
Grain & Cane in Berkeley Heights is a farm-to-table restaurant featuring dishes that nod to family tradition with regional flair. This year, it is celebrating Thanksgiving with dine-in and takeout options.
The eatery will serve its regular dinner menu with Thanksgiving specials including turkey with "robuchon" mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy and cranberry jam; and red wine braised short ribs with polenta, Brussels sprouts, baby carrots and pearl onions.
The Thanksgiving takeout package option is $200, or patrons can order items a la carte. Orders must be placed by Nov. 21 and picked up between noon and 6 p.m. Nov. 26.
Go: 250 Connell Dr., Berkeley Heights; 908-897-1920, grainandcane.com/thanksgiving/.
Grain House at Olde Mill Inn, Basking Ridge
Both the Grain House and the Old Mill Room at the Olde Mill Inn in Basking Ridge will host a Thanksgiving buffet on the holiday for $84 per adult or $30 per child aged 4 to 11 years. Seating runs 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Olde Mill Room and 11:45 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. in the Grain House.
The buffets will include a dozen stations including Goffle Farm turkey with mashed potatoes, gravy, focaccia stuffing, orange-scented cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, and caramelized Brussels sprouts glazed with balsamic, dried cherries and pistachio. At the chopping block station is mushroom-crusted prime rib and Goffle Farm turkey legs, upon request.
A station for kids will include dishes like meatball marinara with melted cheese, chicken tenders, french fries and crusted mac and cheese.
Dessert options are bananas foster, assorted pastries, cakes, pies, cobbler, cookies, and brownies.
Landmark Tavern at Ryand Inn, Whitehouse Station
Set in the hills of Whitehouse Station, 220-year-old equestrian estate the Ryland Inn has been revived to bring modern refinements to the property’s old-world and equestrian charm. That will be on full display on Thanksgiving, when the Landmark Tavern at the inn will serve a prix fixe meal from 1 to 7 p.m. for about $80 per adult and $30 per child under 12.
Options include autumn squash soup; pumpkin arancini; herb-roasted turkey with sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, giblet gravy and cranberry sauce; lasagna; sweet potato bread pudding; and honey crisp apple tarte tatin. Upgrades include a raw bar and cowboy ribeye steak.
The children's menu offers choices such as Caesar salad, carrots and celery with ranch dressing, autumn squash soup, turkey, pasta with butter or pomodoro sauce, lasagna, chicken fingers and french fries, and vanilla or chocolate ice cream.
Go: 115 Route 28, Whitehouse Station; 908-534-4011, bylandmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Ryland-Inn_Thanksgiving_2025.pdf.
Moghul, Edison
Interested in starting a new tradition − with a bit of spice? Thirty-year Indian restaurant Moghul in Edison is serving Thanksgiving fare with a twist this holiday. The noon to 3 p.m. Thanksgiving lunch buffet costs about $29 per adult and $18 per child aged 5 to 10 years.
Options include a carving turkey station, live chaat and dosa stations, chicken sukka, beetroot tikki, tandoori chicken, tawa mix vegetables, dal bukhara, paneer lababdar, kathal dum biryanai, kashmiri goat rogan josh and veg nargisi kofta. There also is a salad bar and dessert bar including pumpkin payasam and gajar halwa.
Moghul is also offering a $170 takeout package and $160 vegetarian takeout package, both which feed 5-6 people. Orders must be placed by Nov. 23 for pickup on Thanksgiving.
Go: 1655 Oak Tree Road, Edison; 732-549-5050, moghul.com.
Orchard Park, East Brunswick
Celebrity chef David Burke's first Central Jersey restaurant is offering Thanksgiving dinner at a French country estate from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a three-course prix-fixe menu for $98 per adult and $55 per child age 10 and under.
The Orchard Park Thanksgiving menu includes options like turkey, shrimp stuffed sole, fig and mascarpone ravioli, short rib, roasted acorn soup, lobster dumplings, pumpkin risotto, pumpkin cheesecake, apple dumplings and pecan tarts.
Orchard Park is also offering takeout packages, including a half-turkey for 4-6 people for $225 or a whole turkey for 6-10 people for $450. Both packages include sides like gravy, cornbread apple and sage stuffing, mashed potatoes, popovers, cranberry relish and green beans, and a choice of either apple, pecan or pumpkin pie with whipped cream and berry sauce.
Go: 670 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick; 732-554-5714, orchardparkbydb.com/thanksgiving/.
Red Horse by David Burke, Bernardsville
The Red Horse, David Burke's modern steakhouse in the former Bernards Inn, will serve a $95 three-course prix fixe Thanksgiving meal from noon to 8 p.m on the holiday. Children 10 and under will dine for $47.50.
Options include butternut squash bisque, lobster dumplings, clothesline bacon for two, slow roasted turkey with traditional sides, merguez-braised lamb shank, warm apple crisp and triple chocolate mousse pie.
The Red Horse will also offer takeout packages, including a half-turkey for 4-6 people for $225 or a whole turkey for 6-10 people for $450. Both packages include sides like gravy, cornbread apple and sage stuffing, mashed potatoes, popovers, cranberry relish and green beans, and a choice of either apple, pecan or pumpkin pie with whipped cream and berry sauce. Pickup is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving.
Go: 27 Mine Brook Road, Bernardsville; 908-766-0002, redhorsebydb.com/restaurant-bernards/thanksgiving/.
Stage House Tavern, Mountainside, Scotch Plains and Somerset
The family-friendly Stage House Tavern always has a holiday gathering vibe throughout its three locations. On Thanksgiving, patrons can dine from buffets for about $55 per adult with varied prices for children at the Somerset and Mountainside spaces. The Scotch Plains restaurant is also offering a three-course prix fixe menu for $55 per adult and $22 per child.
Seatings are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Somerset. Kids ages 6-12 dine for $30 and kids ages 2-5 dine for $15. The Somerset location is offering takeout pakcages. Packages are $70 for two people, $280 for 6-8 people, $420 for 12-14 people, and $540 for 16-18 people. Pick up on is Nov. 25 or 26. Delivery is available for $25 within a 10-mile radius.
Mountainside guests can dine from noon to 6 p.m. Takeout packages are $200 for 4-5 people, $400 for 8-12 people, and $500 for 14-18 people. Orders must be placed by noon on Nov. 21.
The Scotch Plains location's prix fixe menu offers selections such as lobster bisque, mussels fra diablo, a roasted turkey platter, flounder Florentine, braised short ribs, warm brownie sundaes and cheesecake.
The Scotch Plains restaurant is offering a takeout menu for $225 for 4-5 people, $450 for 10-12 people, and $575 for 12-16 people. Orders must be placed by noon on Nov. 21.
Go: 1099 Route 22, Mountainside, 908-731-0366. 366 Park Ave., Scotch Plains, 908-322-4224. 1719 Amwell Road, Somerset; 732-873-3990. stagehousetavern.com.
Stone House at Stirling Ridge, Warren
The Stone House at Stirling Ridge in Warren remains a popular venue for weddings, but it also shines on holidays when it offers a contemporary and sophisticated take on classic fare. The upscale New American restaurant on 10 acres is featuring a three-course prix fixe meal from 1 to 7 p.m. for $79, $30 per child under 12 on Thanksgiving.
The menu will feature options such as herb roasted turkey with sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes, brussels sprouts, giblet gravy and cranberry sauce; and roasted salmon with charred scallion vinaigrette, pea shoots and heirloom baby carrots vin blanc. There are also upgrades including a raw bar and a cowboy ribeye steak.
The children's menu includes options like Caesar salad, turkey, pasta with butter or pomodoro sauce, lasagna, chicken fingers and Ffench fries, and vanilla or chocolate ice cream.
Go: 50 Stirling Road, Warren; 908-754-1222, bylandmark.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/SH-Thanksgiving-2025.pdf.
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Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: [email protected] or. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.