Eat the Food, Leave the Dishes: 10 Thanksgiving Hotspots

Thanksgiving is synonymous with gathering friends and family for a glorious feast that inevitably becomes the motivation of New Year’s resolutions nationwide. If you’re anything like me, you tend to postpone the consequent cleanup of said feast until you’re shooing stray cats out of the kitchen with a broom. For those looking to enjoy all the feasting without accumulating piles of dirty dishes, here are 10 local restaurants that have you covered. Seats fill up quickly, so be sure to make a reservation in advance.

Blue Boar Inn
1235 Warm Springs Rd., Midway
T. 888.650.1400
Holiday hours: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
An excellent destination for diners who want to be transported to another world for dinner, The Blue Boar Inn’s hunting-lodge feel and top-notch menu are sure to create a unique experience. For residents of Salt Lake City, it’s tough to beat a drive through the autumnal fireworks of the Wasatch Mountains to some seriously gratifying food as a well-spent Thanksgiving.

Faustina
454 E. 300 S., SLC
T. 801.746.4441
Holiday hours: 3 p.m. – 9 p.m.
One of my more memorable Thanksgiving experiences was spent at Faustina with my wife. They offer a five-course meal that consists of traditional holiday fare that has been prepared with a sophisticated eye. It was just the right mix of familiar flavors mixed with the great atmosphere of a consistently impressive restaurant. Their meal typically comes with an optional wine tasting, which is one of the restaurant’s trademarks.

Franck’s
6263 S. Holladay Blvd.,
Holladay
T. 801.274.6264
Holiday hours: 5 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
If you’re looking to get a bit spendy this holiday season, Franck’s is well worth it. Offering some of the finest French-inspired cuisine in the state, Franck’s features several options for those seeking haute cuisine for Thanksgiving. Their Meatloaf, which consists of braised pulled pork, chicken and beef, has become a comfort food legend at the restaurant—and that’s just the beginning.

The Garden Café at The Grand America
555 S. Main St., SLC
T. 801.258.6807
Holiday hours: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. (reservations required)
The Grand America offers one of the most sumptuous Thanksgiving dining options in town. For those after a holiday breakfast, The Garden Café offers a fully stocked breakfast buffet from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Perhaps the most popular option is The Grand Brunch, which offers a ramped-up turkey dinner, along with other dishes from all over the world. Lastly, for those after a romantic dinner, The Grand America will also feature a Prix Fixe Dinner in The Grand America Ballroom. The menu includes dishes like Lobster Pot Pie and Slow-Roasted Prime Rib, with a dessert buffet to boot.

Glitretind at Stein Eriksen Lodge
7700 Stein Way, Park City
T. 435.645.6455
Holiday hours: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. (reservations required)
The Glitretind offers a beautiful Thanksgiving buffet, and its location at the Stein Eriksen Lodge at Deer Valley offers some spectacular Fall ambience.

Ho Mei BBQ
3370 S. State St.
T. 801.486.8800
Holiday hours: 11 a.m. – 11 p.m.
If you’re in the mood for something less traditional this year, Ho Mei BBQ is the place to go. Boasting a huge menu of Chinese favorites—including a few items that will daunt even the most adventurous diners—Ho Mei is perfect for a large group seeking a unique culinary experience for the holidays. All of their food is served family-style, so my recommendation is to try a little bit of everything—and if you’re absolutely dying for some poultry this year, their Roasted Duck is more than enough to satisfy.

Left Fork Grill
68 W. 3900 S., SLC,
T. 801.266.4322
Holiday hours: Breakfast, 6 a.m. – 11 a.m.; dinner, 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
One of the best things about Thanksgiving is having pie for dessert, and Left Fork Grill has built a solid reputation as one of Utah’s premier pie destinations. Look for traditional favorites like pumpkin and pecan, but don’t feel limited—they’ll have a wide variety to choose from. Before the dessert course, however, Left Fork Grill will be serving Meatloaf, Bone-in Ham Steak and Turkey with Stuffing.

Log Haven
6451 E. Millcreek Canyon Rd., SLC
T. 801.272.8255
Holiday hours: 1 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (reservations required)
Not only is Log Haven situated in one of the most beautiful locations around, but they’ve been priding themselves on their cuisine for upward of 80 years. Diners at Log Haven can enjoy a four-course meal on Thanksgiving, and to get in touch with the holiday’s rustic origins, I recommend dining outside among the trees of Wasatch National Forest.

Oasis Café
151 S. 500 E., SLC
T. 801.322.0404
Holiday hours: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Diners at Oasis Café have been enjoying its Mediterranean cuisine for years, and the menu offers several options for vegetarians and vegans. They’re open for brunch this Thanksgiving, which could facilitate an early start on some Black Friday shopping.

Tucanos Brazilian Grill
162 S. 400 W., SLC
T. 801.456.2550
4801 N. University Ave., Provo, 84604
T. 801.224.4774
Holiday hours: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
For those who view Thanksgiving as an excuse to ingest as much meat as possible, Tucano’s is a perfect holiday destination. As is the tradition with Brazilian grills, their churrasco dinner selection offers diners a continuous supply of grilled delights. The draw of Tucano’s on Thanksgiving is for customers to try familiar holiday entrées that have been prepared with some Brazilian flair. For example, their Bacon-Wrapped Turkey and Sugar-Glazed Ham are great ways to mix tradition with diversity.