Pumpkin Agnolotti at db Bistro Moderne
Don’t know where to celebrate Thanksgiving this year? Head to some of Miami’s top restaurants for a Thanksgiving feast like you’ve never had before.
Quattro Gastronomia Italiana: This Thanksgiving, opt for an Italian spread at Quattro Gastronomia Italiana {1014 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach; 305.531.4833}, right on Lincoln Road. Start with antipasti like Crema di Zucca, or pumpkin soup with Mascarpone mousse, and follow it up with a savory main — like Braised Turkey Breast stuffed with focaccia, ground beef, ricotta cheese, and pistachio. For a sweet ending, go for the Torta di Noci Pecan. It’s a butter pecan pie topped with a heaping scoop of sweet vanilla ice cream.
Paris 6: Paris 6 {2200 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.363.6806}, Miami’s own 24-hour French bistro, is celebrating its first Thanksgiving, and it wants you to celebrate with them! Make your reservation for Thanksgiving Day, and be the first to taste some of the restaurant’s signature dishes that have yet to debut, like the Gnocchi de Brie et Crevettes a “Bruno Gissoni.” Perfect for a cozy fall holiday, Paris 6 features a beautiful decor, French trimmings and an intimate ambiance, making it the ideal setting for a quiet “getaway” with your closest family and friends.
Seaspice: This Thanksgiving, head to Seaspice {422 NW North River Drive, Miami; 305.440.4200}, one of the Miami River’s hottest restaurants and lounges, for a luxe fall feast. In addition to special dishes on the menu—like the fall-inspired Autumn Soup, Turkey Roulade and Molten Dulce de Leche Cake—Seaspice’s beloved a la carte menu will also be available for guests to order from.
Palme D’Or: Looking for a haute holiday celebration? Look no further than Palme D’Or {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.913.3200}. Priced at $125+ per person, this five-course tasting menu includes Chef Gregory Pugin’s indulgent French cuisine, like smoked salmon with potatoes and Osetra Caviar, Poached Alaska King Crab with cauliflower and curry sauce, and Seared Alaskan Black Cod. For the cherry on top of it all, order a dessert that’s perfect for the fall season. The La Noix de Peccan, creamy pecan pie topped with vanilla pumpkin ice cream, is just that dish.
Fontana at the Biltmore: For an Italian option in mainland Miami, The Biltmore Hotel’s Fontana {1200 Anastasia Avenue, Coral Gables; 305.913.3200} is offering an $85 four-course meal befitting a lavish Thanksgiving. Start with dishes like Burratina with porcini, fresh figs, chestnut honey, Italian San Daniele prosciutto, and Spanish Iberico ham, and move on to a haute twist on Italian classics, like Veal Tortellini in fontina cheese fondue. Of course, a more traditional Thanksgiving dish is on the menu, so guests craving turkey can order the herb-marinated, slow-roasted organic turkey with sweet potato soufflé, sausage stuffing wrapped in savory cabbage, French beans, cranberry sauce, and pan gravy. And because no celebration is complete without dessert, Fontana has plenty to choose from. Get in the fall spirit with the Torta di Ricotta e Zucca, Crema alla Canella e Semi Tostati, which tops a pumpkin cheesecake with cinnamon Chantilly and toasted pumpkin seed.
Vagabond Kitchen and Bar: Head to Vagabond Kitchen and Bar {7301 Biscayne Boulevard, MiMo; 786.409.5635}, on November 24, and for just $45 per person, you can enjoy Chef Roberto Dubois’ prix-fixe Thanksgiving dinner. Start with butternut squash soup with crispy bacon and goat cheese, and move on to dishes like seared diver scallops with sweet potato purée and roasted almonds, and deep-fried turkey breast with dark meat confit and traditional stuffing. Pair these mains with sides like rose petal baby carrots with crispy shallots and bacon and Brussels sprouts with cranberries and butternut squash, and follow it all with either pumpkin cheesecake or pecan pie. It’ll be a Thanksgiving feast in MiMo like you’ve never had before.
Azul: This Thanksgiving, reserve your spot at Azul for a taste of Chef Benjamin Murray’s four-course prix-fixe menu. In line with the flavors of the season, guests can expect fall favorites like Sweet Potato Ravioli with roasted chestnut, pedro ximenez, and brown butter, and a confit fried turkey leg. This meal is priced at $105 per adult and $70 per child age 12 and under.
La Mar by Gastón Acurio: For a Peruvian twist on this American holiday, go to La Mar by Gastón Acurio {500 Brickell Key Drive, Brickell; 305.913.8358} for Executive Chef Diego Oka’s inventive cuisine. In addition to its a la carte menu, this Peruvian staple will offer four special dishes for just $32 each, like Arroz con Pato with cilantro rice, pan seared duck breast, kobocha squash, criolla, avocado, and seco sauce.
StripSteak by Michael Mina: The brainchild of celebrity chef and restaurateur Michael Mina, acclaimed modern American steakhouse, StripSteak by Michael Mina {4441 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 877.326.7412}, is serving a Thanksgiving dinner fit for its A-list guests. Priced at $75 per person, this family-style feast includes haricot vert salad with frisée, smoked bacon, truffle sherry vinaigrette, crispy shallots, and Fuji apple; a traditional slow-roasted and apricot-raisin stuffed turkey leg; and sides like mashed potatoes, glazed carrots, fennel sausage stuffing, Brussels sprouts, and giblet gravy. For dessert, indulge in a chocolate pecan tart with vanilla ice cream. Reservations are required, and are available between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.
db Bistro Moderne: On November 24, go to db Bistro Moderne {255 Biscayne Boulevard Way, Downtown Miami; 305.421.8800}, in the JW Marriott Marquis, for a lavish holiday feast. Highlighting Executive Chef Clark Bowen and Chef Pâtisserie Saeko Nemoto’s twist on local flavors, this menu lets guests choose from both a la carte and prix-fixe options. From the a la carte menu, choose between oysters, Red Alaskan King Crab, shrimp cocktail, charcuterie and artisanal cheese boards, and sides designed to share, like cranberry chutney and whipped sweet potatoes. On the prix-fixe menu, you’ll find seasonal dishes like pumpkin agnolotti with chestnuts, sage, and Brussels sprouts; pumpkin soup with caramelized apple and spiced crème fraîche; and for something more traditional, a roasted Thanksgiving Turkey with chestnut dressing, cranberry chutney Brussels sprouts, whipped sweet potato, and gravy. To keep the party going the next day, Chef Clark will even send you home with a complimentary turkey sandwich to go. The prix-fixe menu is priced at $65 per person, and a kids menu is also available for $35 per child.
Jaya at The Setai: This Thanksgiving, Jaya at The Setai {2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 855.923.7899} will host both a brunch and a dinner. Taking place from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the Thanksgiving Brunch with include traditional options like turkey, ham and a roasted honey glaze leg of lamb, coupled with Jaya’s famous Chinese Dim Sum menu, Indonesian Beef Rendang and Traditional Pad Thai. Come back later that night, from 7 p.m. – 10:30 p.m., and guests can get a four-course dinner that puts an Asian-inspired twist on your typical American Thanksgiving. Jaya at The Setai’s Thanksgiving Brunch is priced at $125 per person and $63 per child, and dinner is priced at $125 per person and $63 per child.
LT Steak & Seafood: Sitting right in the heart of Ocean Drive, The Betsy Hotel is an Art Deco staple. This Thanksgiving, its in-house restaurant, LT Steak & Seafood, is offering a three-course, prix-fixe dinner for just $80. Choose from options like Roasted Pumpkin Soup with hazelnut whipped cream, Joyce Farms Roasted Turkey with a turkey leg roulade, Sweet Potato Mash with crispy shiitake, Cornbread Chorizo Stuffing, Spiced Pumpkin Flan, and Dark Rum Pecan Pie.
Paris 6: Celebrating its first Thanksgiving, head to this 24-hour French Bistro to get a first taste of the restaurant’s yet-to-be-debuted signature dishes, like Gnocchi de Brie et Crevettes a “Bruno Gissoni.” Equal parts cozy and beautiful, Paris 6 {2200 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach; 305.363.6806} is the perfect “getaway” spot for those wishing to celebrate in Miami, in a not-so-Miami setting.
Seaspice: Head to Seaspice {422 NW North River Drive, Miami; 305.440.4200}, on the Miami River, for an indulgent thanksgiving-inspired feast. Order from the restaurant’s popular a la carte menu, or opt for a few Thanksgiving-only specials: like Autumn Soup, Turkey Roulade and Molten Dulce de Leche Cake, to name a few.
Happy dining!
By Jennifer Agress | Miami Editor