St. Louis Dining: Thanksgiving menus range from $29.95 to $125
Restaurants across the region are preparing for a surge in holiday diners, with options spanning smokehouse takeout to Ritz-Carlton buffets and prices starting near $30 for adults.
By Martin Reynolds ·
Residents of St. Louis and surrounding areas face a crowded calendar of holiday meals this Thursday, November 26. Restaurants and smokehouses have released their Thanksgiving offerings, creating a market where the cost of a full plate varies by nearly $100 depending on the venue and format. Diners can choose between sit-down feasts and carryout packages, with most establishments requiring advance reservations or pre-orders.
The price point for a standard adult entrée at a sit-down restaurant starts at $29.95. A Greek restaurant in the area offers a full dine-in Thanksgiving feast, including turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and pie, for that amount. Children eat for $14.95. This establishment operates from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and reservations are made by phone. It is one of the few venues currently listed as sold out.
At the higher end of the dine-in spectrum, a Sorrento-inspired restaurant inside the Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, charges $125 for adults to enjoy a Thanksgiving brunch buffet. The buffet runs from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and features traditional holiday and Italian favorites. For dinner, which begins at 5:30 p.m., guests can order a tableside turkey ballotine for an additional $55 per person. Reservations for this venue are available through OpenTable or by calling 314-719-1496.
For those preferring to eat at home, several smokehouses and butcher shops are selling pre-cooked meals. Pappy’s family smokehouse offers Thanksgiving packages starting at $29.49. These include smoked turkey, ribs, smoked chicken, or meat combinations, with some packages adding sides and sauces. Pickup for these orders is required by Wednesday, November 25. Orders are placed online.
A catering outfit named Butler’s Pantry provides a full entertaining spread for 10 to 12 guests. The price for a buffet with one protein is $700, while a buffet with two proteins costs $825. This package includes meats, sides, salads, vegetables, and desserts. Pickup is available by November 25 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., with delivery also an option. Customers can order online or by calling 314-664-7680.
Several venues are offering hybrid menus or specific dietary options. Frida’s provides both a traditional roasted turkey dinner and a vegan turkey seitan dinner for one. The vegan option includes sides such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, and green bean casserole. The cost is $40, with pickup available on November 25 between 11:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.
A winery restaurant named Defiance is hosting a family-style feast with classic holiday dishes. The venue is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the last seating at 5:30 p.m. Adults pay $52, children 12 and under pay $26, and children 7 and under eat for free. Reservations are required and must be booked through the website of Chandler Hill.
The availability of these meals is strictly time-bound. Most carryout locations require pickup by Wednesday, November 25, or early Thursday. Dine-in options generally operate between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. All listed establishments advise securing reservations early, as several high-volume venues are already reporting limited availability.
