BY KAREN YOUNG
We all have visions of that perfect Thanksgiving in a house full of family and friends, but every once and again it’s nice to let someone else do the cooking and cleaning. Although many restaurants are closed, here are a select bunch serving up a special holiday menu.
STUDIO CITY
Bistro Garden is preparing a special menu from 2pm to 8 pm. The three course meal will start off with corn and pumpkin breads, followed by a choice of Butternut Squash Soup, Hearts of Romaine and Arugula with Montrachet Goat Cheese Walnut Cake, Pears and Dried Cranberries, Duck Confit Ravioli or Home Cured Gravlax. Choose from main courses of Traditional Roast Turkey , Grilled Filet Mignon, Black Peppercorn Sauce or Broiled Lake Superior Whitefish. Dessert choices are the famous Chocolate or Pumpkin Soufflé with Whipped Cream, Warm Apple Tart Tatin with Vanilla Ice Cream, Berries Bistro with Florentine Cookies or Warm Pecan Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream. Coffee and Tea are included. $58 per adult, $38 Children 12 and under. Vibe: Old school elegance and fine dining with the most beautiful dining room in the San Fernando Valley.
Pinot Bistro’s three-course service begins at 2 pm. Start with a Amuse Bouche of Brown Butter Sage Gougers. The First Course Selection is Roasted Pumpkin Soup, Smoked Salmon with a Buckwheat Blini and Egg Mimosa, Wild Oregon Forest Mushroom Risotto or Wild Arugula salad. Main course selections are Roasted Turkey, Braised Beef Short Ribs Bourguignon, Pan-Roasted Cod or Duck Confit. Choose Apple Pie, Warm Pumpkin Cake or Pumpkin and Hazelnut Religieuse all topped with an assortment of ice creams for dessert. $45 adults / $15.95 for children under 12. Vibe: A classic, sophisticated bistro ambiance found on a street in the center of Paris.
Wine Bistro is offering a three course prix fixe: Choose from a first course of Butternut Squash Soup or Sweet Corn and Bell Pepper Torte Mache. The main course is Free Range Roasted Turkey with Brioche and Sage Stuffing, Idaho Whipped Potatoes and Country Cranberry Sauce. Top off the meal with a choice of Pecan, Pumpkin or Apple pie served with Dandy Don’s French Vanilla Ice Cream. Prix fixe $ 27 per person. Vibe: Owner JB Tourchon always makes this wine bar and restaurant lively, while the booths make it warm and inviting.
UNIVERSAL CITY
California Canteen is offering special dishes for Thanksgiving, alongside the regular menu. Roasted Pumpkin and Apple Bisque, Crab Cake Salad with Corn and Cranberry relish, Sage Roasted Turkey Breast With Chestnuts, Sausage and herbs stuffing served with Mashed sweet potatoes and Cranberry Pear relish, Roasted Pork Loin with Port wine sauce and Mashed sweet potatoes, Pumpkin Creme Brulee and Cinnamon Apple Tart Tatin A La Mode Prices: $6-$20. Vibe: Casual neighborhood bistro where you might walk into off of a side street in Nice.
Henry’s Hat ‘s special three course prix fixe at $20 per person is quite the deal. Start off with a choice of Organic Baby Greens Salad or Organic Baby Spinach Salad, followed by a first course of Herb Roasted Turkey Breast and Thigh with Sage and Peppercorn Dressing,Red Onion and Cranberry Marmalade, Stewed Green Beans with Shallots,Roasted Brussel Sprout and Butternut Squash and Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Classic Cornbread Stuffing with Herbes de Provence. For dessert, choose from Peanut Butter Chocolate Mousse Pie, Classic Pumpkin Pie, or All American Apple Pie. $20 per person. Vibe: Fun, casual gastropub with flat screen TVs, board games, chess and checkers.
SHERMAN OAKS
Mistral will serve from 2-8:30 pm. Start with Amuses of Grilled Shrimp Potato Pancakes with Quince-Cranberry Chutney followed by a choice of Mushroom Soup, Japanese Pumpkin Ravioli or a Salad of Mixed Greens. The entree choices are Traditional Roast Turkey with Stuffing, Gravy and Fresh Cranberry Jam, Mashed Potato, Roasted Sweet Potato with Marshmallows, Glazed Carrots, Green Beans, Brussels Sprout; Prime Filet Mignon, Caramelized Shallots, Mushroom and Herb Sauce Mashed Potato, Glazed Carrots, Green Beans, Brussels Sprout; or Pan Roasted Lake Superior Whitefish, Dijon Mustard Sauce, Parsley Potatoes, Garlic Spinach. Tempting dessert choices are Chocolate Soufflé, Pumpkin Pie or the Mistral Signature Brown Sugar Cheesecake with Compote of Berries. $54 per person. Vibe: Upscale, dark, sophisticated bistro found in Paris.
Valley Inn Restaurant and Bar is serving up a Traditional Thanksgiving three course dinner from 3-9 pm. Choose from a Garden Salad or Homemade Soup of the Day, followed by choice of entree: Traditional Roasted Turkey With Apple Bread Stuffing Served with homemade mashed potatoes, orange glazed yams, green beans with toasted almonds and cranberry relish or Baked Honey Glazed Ham With Raisin Rum Sauce and Served with homemade mashed potatoes, orange glazed yams, green beans with toasted almonds. The featured dessert is Homemade Pumpkin Pie. Coffee included. $29.95 per person. Children’s Menu.(11 years old and younger) Traditional Roasted Turkey $14.95, Penne Pasta with Marinara Sauce 7.95 Mini Hot Fudge Sundae 4.95. Vibe: Classic comfort, a newly decorated dining room full of cozy booths and a real deal bar.
The Odyssey in Granada Hills is featuring a Champagne Brunch Buffet that runs through the day from 9am-8pm. The all-you- can-eat buffet features salads, a carving station, pasta and omelette station, chilled seafood station, entree station and dessert station. Adults $36.95, Children $15,95. Early Bird Special From 9am – 10am, take $5 off. Vibe: This large restaurant, known for its buffets, is perfect for those with large and diverse appetites.
CALABASAS
The Saddle Peak Lodge is offering the most extravagant take on Thanksgiving with a five-course meal with wine pairings for each course. First Course (choice of one)Pumpkin and Parmigiano Reggiano soup,Roasted apple salad,Mixed baby greens, Jeio prosecco brut N.V. or 2009 Curran grenache rose. Second Course (choice of one) Seared diver scallops,Grilled quail, Roasted baby beets, 2007 Lincourt Chardonnay or 2000 Vita Nova Sangiovese; Main Course (choice of one) Duo of Diestel Farms turkey, roasted breast, Roasted Angus prime rib, Pan roasted Scottish salmon, Seared New Zealand elk tenderloin, 2006 Gamay Noir or 2007 Hedges Red Blend For dessert, choose from Pumpkin pie, Apple cinnamon bread pudding, Chocolate hazelnut tart, plus Bert Simon Beerenauslese or Dows 10 yr Tawny Port. Look at the menu on the website for a more in depth description. $90 for adults, $45 for children 12 and under (choice of two courses).$40 additional wine pairing. Vibe: A sophisticated, cozy and romantic restaurant perfect for those who appreciate a unique selection of meat and fine cuisine.
WOODLAND HILLS
Villa Piacere is offering their regular menu as well as a Traditional Roasted Turkey dinner. Start off with a Mixed Greens or Caesar Salad followed by Fresh baked turkey, apple-walnut and raisin stuffing, seasonal vegetables, sweet potaoes, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce & gravy, Pumpkin Pie. Adults $26/Children $13. Vibe: It’s all about the beautiful patio. Perfect for family or romance.
GLENDALE
Palate Food + Wine has a four course Harvest Tasting menu $48 per person;children under 12 years $25. Choice of Blue Hubbard Squash Soup or Spiced Pumpkin Seed Aillade. Select an appetizer choice of an Autumn salad, Country Terrine or Cured Salmon. Main course choices are Diestel Farm Turkey Roasted Breast, Petrale Sole or Roasted Heritage Pork Chop. Dessert choices are Pumpkin Pie, Banana Bread Pudding or Chocolate Pudding. Vibe: Urban cool and sleek with a New York/San Francisco feel—seasonal cuisine and creative preparation is the centerpiece here.
Other restaurants in the 818 open on Thanksgiving Day: Il Tiramisu, Chablis Food + Wine, Larsen’s Steakhouse, Ruth Chris Steakhouse, Daily Grill, Bucco Di Beppo, 94th Aero Squadron, Bistro Ka, Black Angus, Gyu-Kaku, Marrakesh, Monty’s Steakhouse, Tour Eiffel, Zin Bistro.
Karen Young is the Founder/Editor of My Daily Find. Got a suggestion, idea, comment? Email: karen@mydailyfind.com