Thanksgiving is going to look very different this year. With the coronavirus pandemic ongoing and cases on the rise throughout the country, many people are choosing to stay closer to home, nixing their travel plans and opting for smaller gatherings in place of large turkey day blowouts.
Restaurants across the Tampa Bay area are handling the 2020 holiday season a little differently, too: While many are still offering dine-in options, a large number of spots are offering full Thanksgiving Day meals for takeout.
Smoked turkey is a big theme this year. So is holiday booze to-go. And unless you’re a seasoned vet with the smoker or a skilled at-home mixologist, why not leave that to the pros? Whether you’re celebrating an intimate evening at home alone or hosting a larger group, these restaurants will have you covered.
Bayou Market and Cafe
Make it a Cajun Thanksgiving with a full takeout menu from this St. Petersburg restaurant and caterer with Louisiana roots. Cajun deep-fried turkeys can be preordered until Nov. 20 and picked up hot on Thanksgiving Day between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Turkeys weighing 10 to 12 pounds are $55 each, and larger birds — 14 to 15 pounds — are $70. The restaurant is also selling sides like green bean casserole and corn bread dressing for pickup. Orders can be placed by phone or by emailing the restaurant at orders@bayoucatering.com.
6630 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. 727-914-7500. bayoumarketandcafe.com.
Beans & Barlour
There’s no turkey to be had here, but the St. Petersburg cocktail and ice cream shop has plenty in the way of dessert for the big day. The shop’s signature boozy and nonalcoholic ice cream flavors can be ordered by the pint and include whiskey bacon and pecan, strawberries and cream, almond joy, whiskey and Irish cream, and mint champagne sorbet, among others. Cakes include a key lime martini version and a boozy chocolate Oreo cake. Custom orders for cakes can also be made in advance. Orders need to be placed by Nov. 22 and can be picked up on Nov. 25 between 4:30 and 9 p.m. at the First Avenue N storefront.
538 First Ave. N, St. Petersburg. 727-440-4540. beansandbarlour.com.
The Black Pearl
The folks behind Dunedin’s the Black Pearl, Living Room on Main and Sonder Social Club are offering a takeout feast that includes meals priced at $35 per person. Dinners include an herb butter-basted turkey, port wine cranberry sauce, sweet potato souffle with toast marshmallow anglaise, sweet onion sage bread pudding, haricot verts with porcini mushroom bisque and fried onions, mashed potatoes, gravy and ciabatta rolls with olive oil. For an additional $8 per person, there’s a choice of either a molten chocolate cake or pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. If your holiday table is in need of some extra cheer, there are also batched cocktails, which serve four people, including the tequila-based Mexican Holiday ($22) and the Brown Derby ($23), made with Old Grand-Dad Bonded bourbon, lemon, honey and grapefruit. Orders can be made by calling any of the restaurants and must be placed by 6 p.m. Nov. 20. Pickup is available on Nov. 25 at the Black Pearl between noon and 8 p.m.
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Explore all your options315 Main St., Dunedin. 727-734-3463. theblackpearldunedin.com.
The Columbia Restaurant
All locations of the iconic Tampa Bay restaurant will be serving to-go Thanksgiving meals for curbside pickup. The meals, which cost $149.95, feed 10 people and include a 12-pound roasted Vermont turkey; stuffing made with Italian sausage, ground beef, chopped chicken livers, apples, water chestnuts and raisins; the restaurant’s signature 1905 salad; sauteed carrots and green beans; sweet potato casserole; whipped russet potatoes; cranberry sauce; giblet gravy; and a loaf of Cuban bread. A choice of dessert includes either a pumpkin pie or key lime pie. Diners can reserve their meals by calling the restaurant and must place their orders by 2 p.m. Nov. 19. Orders can be picked up on Nov. 25 between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Multiple locations. columbiarestaurant.com.
Deviled Pig
The Tampa smokehouse is serving their smoked turkeys with a quart of gravy for $79.99. Those looking for a smaller order can opt for the sliced smoked turkey breast, which is priced at $17.98 per pound. Additional sides are sold in two sizes: large, which feeds two to three people ($6.99), and party size, which can feed 15 to 20 people ($35.99). Sides include smashed red potatoes with garlic and cream; collard greens with bacon; jalapeno mac and cheese; and Southern coleslaw. Diners can order by phone or email at info@deviledpig.com. The last day to order is Nov. 23, and orders can be picked up from noon to 6 p.m. Nov. 25 or 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 26.
3307 S Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa. 813-766-1188. deviledpig.com.
Dr. BBQ
Brown sugar-brined and smoked turkeys? Yes, please. The St. Petersburg barbecue joint is selling its smoked turkeys for $60, as well as a whole host of sides, most of which serve 10 people. Dishes include a whole brisket ($130); smoked Dr Pepper glazed ham ($90); hatch green chile mac and cheese ($30); smashed fingerling potatoes with barbecue butter ($40); roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon lard ($35); sage and sausage fennel stuffing ($30); green bean casserole with a wild mushroom bechamel and tobacco onions ($35); and burnt-honey candied yams with spiced pecans and marshmallows ($37). Dessert options include a banana pudding ($25) and peanut butter pie ($60). Orders can be placed through the restaurant’s website and can be picked up Nov. 25 or 26.
1101 First Ave. S, St. Petersburg. 727-443-7227. drbbqs.com.
Haven
The Tampa restaurant is doing curbside pickup for a full Thanksgiving spread, and guests have the option of choosing one of several packages. The Bird ($50), which serves four people, features 2 pounds of sage-roasted turkey breast; a pound of smoked and pulled dark meat; cranberry, orange and bourbon relish; and gravy. The Side Kicks package ($80) also serves roughly four people and features corn bread stuffing with confit chicken and herbs; macaroni and cheese with cheddar, fontina and Brie; slow-cooked squash with cinnamon streusel; roasted Brussels sprouts with brown sugar bacon and chestnuts; glazed root vegetables; and a green bean casserole with porcini mushrooms and crispy shallots. Several large-format desserts are available with separate pricing and include an ooey gooey butter cake ($18) and a macadamia chocolate pie ($35). The restaurant is also selling several wines by the bottle to-go as well. (Ask for the “Cranberry” juice.) Orders can be made by calling the restaurant and will be available for pickup on Nov. 25 from 1 to 7 p.m.
2208 W Morrison Ave., Tampa. 813-258-2233. haventampa.com.
The Library
The St. Petersburg restaurant is selling a multicourse meal that will feed four to six people for $180. Chef Rachel Bennett’s menu includes a whole-roasted turkey brined with citrus and sage and served with a white wine turkey gravy; Yukon mashed potatoes with black pepper and chives; haricots verts with shallots and buttered almonds; and a truffled mac and cheese with toasted biscuit bread crumbs. Diners can also order from a number of additional sides and other dishes, including a rosemary honey ham with black garlic mustard glaze ($32); sweet potato casserole with candied pecans and marshmallow streusel ($30); and a traditional pumpkin pie with whipped cream and candied pecans ($26). The restaurant is also selling several wines by the bottle. Guests should call the restaurant to reserve their meal.
600 Fifth St. S, St. Petersburg. 727-369-9969. thelibrarystpete.com.
M-N-M BBQ
Mike Silverstein’s long-running St. Petersburg barbecue business (and Saturday Morning Market mainstay) will be selling whole smoked turkeys for a hot pickup on Thanksgiving Day. The smoked turkeys, which are $64 each, can be reserved by contacting Silverstein through Facebook or by email at tampapigroast@gmail.com. The turkeys can be picked up outside Big T Printing (next door to where the M-N-M BBQ brick-and-mortar used to be) at 2801 16th St. N, St. Petersburg.
2801 16th St. N, St. Petersburg. mnmbbq.com.
Whiskey Cake
The Tampa restaurant at International Plaza is selling its Get Stuffed Thanksgiving Kit ($85), which serves four to six people and includes a choice of either a Duroc ham with glaze or a sous vide boneless turkey breast with turkey gravy. Sides include molasses-whipped sweet potatoes; creamed Brussels sprouts with bacon; smoked corn bread stuffing with local Andouille sausage; cranberry relish; and homemade rolls with a local honey butter. For an additional charge, guests can order extra sides or desserts, which include red chile and corn grits ($15), mac and cheese ($15), a whole or half whiskey cake ($57 or $29) and a bacon and bourbon pecan pie ($24). Diners can order their kit either by phone, email, social media or at the restaurant. The dinner kits can be picked up anytime between Nov. 18 and Nov. 25.
2223 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa. 813-535-9955. whiskeycake.com.