Turkey in roasting pan on table for holiday meal

Not cooking for Thanksgiving Day? Here are the restaurants that’ll be open

by Mary Staes | November 12, 2018

Not slaving over the stove on Thanksgiving Day? Well, we’ve gathered up a few options for you to still get in a good meal. You should definitely start whittling your choices down ASAP, because most restaurants require a reservation on holidays.

Messina’s Runway Cafe

The art deco-style cafe will be serving lunch at two times Thanksgiving Day: noon and 2:30 p.m. Their menu includes oyster dressing, a seafood bar, smoked duck, chorizo gumbo and pumpkin pie.

Messina's Runway Cafe
$$$$
Getting there
New Orleans Lakefront Airport, Terminal, 6001 Stars and Stripes Blvd Ste. 3, New Orleans, LA 70126, USA
Hours
Mon Closed
Tue-Sun 8 AM – 3 PM
More Info

Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise on the Creole Queen

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – AUGUST 1996: The Creole Queen Paddlewheeler on the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Waring Abbott/Getty Images)

This relaxing 2-hour cruise will feature a live jazz band for a little extra lagniappe, as well as a full Thanksgiving Dinner. If you want to do this option, be prepared to eat a little later. Boarding for the cruise starts a 6 p.m., and the buffet-style dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Prices are $89 for adults, $39 for kids 3-12. Children 2 years old and under are free. Drinks not included in dinner price. Click here for more information.

Paddlewheeler Creole Queen
Getting there
1 Poydras St, New Orleans, LA 70130, USA
Hours
Mon-Sun 8 AM – 3 PM
More Info

The Country Club

Better known for its pool, this Bywater getaway is also a bar and restaurant, hosting a special menu on Thanksgiving. For starters, there’s smoke rabbit and mushroom gumbo, crispy gulf oysters and crab beignets. Main course options include a roasted turkey plate, char grilled filet mignon or pan roasted shrimp. All of the menu items are a la carte, so you can go as small or fancy as you’d like. Click here for more information.

The Country Club
$$$$
Getting there
634 Louisa St, New Orleans, LA 70117, USA
Hours
Mon-Sun 10 AM – 11 PM
More Info

Ralph’s on the Park

A local go-to for special occasion’s, Ralph’s sits across the street from picturesque City Park. A three-course Thanksgiving menu will be served from 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Appetizers include turtle soup and turkey and andouille gumbo. Main courses feature a turkey entree with oyster dressing, giblet gravy, cranberry compote and roasted sweet potatoes. If turkey will put you to sleep, there’s also redfish, veal and crabmeat or pecan striped bass. Click here for a full menu or to make reservations.

Ralph's on the Park
$$$$
Getting there
900 City Park Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119, USA
Hours
Mon-Tue 5:30 – 9 PM
Wed-Thu 11:30 AM – 2 PM, 5:30 – 9 PM
Fri 11:30 AM – 2 PM, 5:30 – 9:30 PM
Sat 10:30 AM – 2 PM, 5:30 – 9:30 PM
Sun 10:30 AM – 2 PM, 5:30 – 9 PM
More Info

Landry’s Seafood House

Another choice if turkey isn’t your thing, Landry’s on the Lakefront will be featuring a maple-glazed salmon, along with it’s regular menu of fresh seafood.

Landry's Seafood House
$$$$
Getting there
8000 Lakeshore Dr, New Orleans, LA 70124, USA
Hours
Mon-Thu 11:30 AM – 9 PM
Fri-Sat 11:30 AM – 10 PM
Sun 11:30 AM – 9 PM
More Info

If you know a place that’ll be open Thanksgiving Day, give us a shout at [email protected] or on social media @VeryLocalNOLA on Twitter and Instagram.

 

 

 

 

Stream original series on the Very Local app

What is Very Local?

Very Local is your best source for shows about local communities, bringing you 24/7 access to news from your trusted local news source, weather updates, and more. The Very Local app also brings you fresh, untold stories from your city and communities like yours, with exclusive original shows and local stories specific to where you live. Get the channel to stream Very Local free on Roku or Amazon Fire TV.

Follow Very Local on Facebook and @VeryLocal on Instagram for more

Mary Staes

Mary Staes

Mary Staes is Digital Content Lead for Very Local. She works with our freelancers and crafts content for our social media platforms and website. Before Very Local, she worked with CBS affiliate WWL-TV as a web producer and weekend assignment editor for about 4 years. She has also handled broadcast coverage for 160 Marine Reserve training facilities while she served as an active duty Marine. As a native New Orleanian, she takes being "very local" to heart. She loves being intertwined with the culture and figuring out how there are less than two degrees of separation between us all, whether we're natives or not.

Download the Very Local app to stream all of the Very Local original series for FREE!

Download the Very Local app to stream all of the Very Local original series for FREE!