JC Christensen (Nixon Mae Photography)
View More: https://nixonmaephotography.pass.us/thelocalthanksgiving2019
Festive spreads await at many restaurants, including The Local in Naples. Photo by Nixon Mae Photography
From take-home feasts to a notable absence of buffets, some things are staying the same while some are very, very different in this oddball of a year as our country continues to navigate the stresses of a global pandemic. One thing we can give thanks for is that there is no shortage of choices in Naples and Fort Myers when it comes to how you and your family can devour the turkey (and pumpkin cheesecake! and pinot noir!) of Turkey Day with the help of some of our key restaurants, hotels and specialty shops.
In addition to a four course prix-fixe menu for $75 per person being offered from 2 to 8 p.m., a limited number of curbside carryout meals to serve four to six people will be available for $299 plus tax (an optional wine add-on for take-out is $149 for two bottles and $199 for three).
On Turkey Day, the Bonita Springs dining room will be serving an a la carte menu from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. in addition to offering a complete take-home meal option.
Baleen at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Club
A $95 per person holiday-themed three-course prix-fixe is available at this upscale oceanfront destination from noon until 8 p.m. Reservations required, (239) 598-5707.
A three-course feast with both festive extras and regular menu items is being offered, with the per person price depending on the entrée choice (it ranges from $55 to $75).
On the Venetian Village waterfront, the restaurant has a pared-down a la carte menu available that includes a roasted turkey special.
Also in the Third Street South area, this restaurant will have a $28 fixed turkey dinner as well as a la carte selections available from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Bleu Rendez-Vous French Bistro
This lovely French restaurant on Sanibel Island will be open on Thanksgiving from 5 to 8 p.m. by reservation and serving its regular menu.
On Third Street South in Naples, this pretty courtyard restaurant will be open from 2 to 8 p.m. on Turkey Day.
A full festive customizable turkey menu is available for pick-up, drop-off or in-home service.
In Naples, this Third Street staple and its vine-covered patio will be open from noon to 8 p.m.
There’s a family turkey dinner package ($225 for four people) and an a la carte list with prices for trays and quarts of whatever tickles your fancy (orders must be placed by November 19, pickup on November 25 and 26).
Prices are based on the size of the whole turkey and how many it can feed; five sides included and more can be ordered.
Three-course holiday menu with a multitude of options is available for dine-in (2 to 8 p.m.) at $65 per person, or a take-out turkey-based menu is $59 per person and available for pickup the 25th or 26th.
Open for Thanksgiving, there will be a special turkey dinner ($19) in addition to the regular menu.
Starting on Wednesday, November 18, and running through Wednesday, November 25 (please note it is not open on Thanksgiving Day), the restaurant known for its use of nearby organic farms will be offering a special turkey feast for $24 featuring turkey, stuffing, potato gratin and cranberries.
A standby for holiday dining, this elegant spot in the Village Shops on Venetian Bay will be open on the 26th.
The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club
HB’s on the Gulf will have a special menu for the day ($44 for three courses) in addition to its regular menu; reservations will be limited to accommodate hotel guests, (239) 435-4347.
For every $299 feast that’s purchased to bring home and serve eight (including appetizers, sides and desserts), one turkey will be donated to St. Matthew’s House. Orders must be placed by the 22nd and picked up on the 26th.
The chic steak-and-seafood spot on Fifth Avenue South has a special prix-fixe holiday menu available ($42) as well as a nearly full selection of its a la carte hits, available for in-restaurant (12 to 9 p.m.) or take-home dining.
Continuing its tradition of being open 365 days per year, the restaurant will welcome holiday diners with its regular a la carte menu in addition to a themed prix-fixe. This year it is also selling a take-home feast for eight anchored by a 14-pound turkey, a plethora of sides, 2 quarts of butternut squash soup, pumpkin cheesecake and spiced apple cake for $450. (Both menus are posted on the restaurant’s website.)
Take-home feast, $475 plus tax for eight people, orders must be placed by November 20 and picked up on November 26, (239) 598-6644.
Both dine-in and take-out menus and turkey feasts available on Thanksgiving Day.
This charming inn on the waterfront in scenic Pine Island is having a special a la carte menu for the day that mixes its normal fare with Thanksgiving specials.
Order a build-your-own-feast online with a few easy clicks, from the hors d’oeuvres and soups down to two types of centerpieces and six desserts.
More To Give Thanks For
On Friday, 11/20, there will be a tasting themed “Staff Picks for Your Thanksgiving Table.”
The adorable sweet shop makes on-theme cakes, cookies and pies—and can customize recipes to any dietary restriction (vegan, gluten free, etcetera).
Preorder Thanksgiving-themed desserts and pies, plus any chocolates, by noon on the 23rd. Orders will be available for pickup from the Fort Myers, Estero and Naples chocolate salons from November 9 to 25.
The November flavor of the month is maple chocolate chip, for an extra sweet at your table or a fun hostess gift.
This boutique shop can do deliveries of its small-production vintages before the big day to spruce up your dinner offerings—or the shop can craft hostess gift baskets with charcuterie, cheese, chocolates, and more.