From stuffing to sides to pies, these Raleigh restaurants and bakeries will help you with an all-star holiday menu.
by Addie Ladner and Isabella Sherk

The countdown to Thanksgiving is on! Below, we’ve rounded up 15 Raleigh restaurants, bakeries and wine shops to fill out your holiday menu, whether you’re looking to supplement your menu with appetizers, sides, desserts—or the turkey itself. Say you’re looking to cook less after months of COVID-19 meals, or just want to take the pressure off the big day, consider these spots to order Thanksgiving foods.

For seafood starters 

For many of us here in the south, Thanksgiving means smoked oysters by a fire with dozens of friends and family nearby. We might not be able to gather in large crowds this year, but Locals Oyster Bar can set you up with ocean fare to add to your meat and veggie-forward dishes. Think take and bake smoked oysters, roasted oyster kits, cheesy crab potatoes, milk bread rolls, and much more, perfect as appetizers or later in the day when you want a light dinner. Their farmers markets boots are offering a special pre-order period for Tuesday and Wednesday markets before Thanksgiving. Order by Sunday Nov. 21 for Tuesday orders, Monday Nov. 22 for Wednesday orders. View their menu here. 

For the turkey and fixins’

Hummingbird is offering classic Thanksgiving dishes with their New Orleans spin, available for order through PoshNosh, their catering service. They’ve got: 12-14 lbs of turkey, andouille gravy, mashed potatoes, Cornbread boudin stuffing , braised greens, apple pecan slaw, chocolate pecan chess or sweet potato meringue pie. The coast starts at $270. Place your order by 3p.m. on Thursday, November 18 and pick-up at the PoshNosh kitchen between 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24. Email sales@poshnoshraleigh.com to reserve a meal. 

Capital Grill in North Hills is a suite of sides to accompany your Thanksgiving main meal so literally all you have to do is focus on the bird. They are brioche stuffing, housemate gravy, mashed potatoes, pecan-crusted sweet potatoes with hot honey, French green beans, cranberry-pear chutney, and seeded rolls. Get the details here.

Mandolin is offering a classic complete farm-to-table meal for four to eight people with everything from the turkey to the sides like green bean casserole to rolls and cranberry sauce and your choice of chocolate, pumpkin or apple pie. (And while you’re setting the table, consider one of Lizzy Fowler’s floral arrangements featuring blooms from the restaurant’s Mandolin Farm.) Order here by Nov 12th for pickup on the 25th. 

Mitchell Casteel is offering a “Thanksgiving Family Experience.” Along with a turkey, they have some elevated sides and desserts to go with it like brandied apricot stuffing, green beans with hazelnuts, and an autumn squash gratin. There’s also options to order things a la carte. Place your order by phone 919-847-0135 by 5 p.m. on Nov. 19. See more of their menu here.

The Pit, while offering a dine-in Thanksgiving meal, is also offering an at-home one. The feast includes everything from start to finish: spinach salad, smoked and glazed ham, pit-cooked sliced turkey, chopped whole-hog barbecue, dressing, cranberry chutney, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, gravy, mac & cheese, Hawaiian Rolls, and pie options. Order by Nov. 19 for pick-up on Wednesday Nov. 24 and Thursday, Nov. 25. Order here.

Irregardless is offering vegetable forward mains and sides for Turkey day this year with options for a group between 4 and 8 people. Along with a slow roasted turkey, they’ve got a lentil and mushroom Shepards pie as a main dish alternative and a handful of scrumptious vegan sides like creamed spinach and cauliflower casserole. For desserts you’ve got your pick between white chocolate cranberry bread pudding, pumpkin spice cheesecake or an apple and fig crisp. View the entire menu here.

GRAVY wants to put an Italian spin on your Thanksgiving. They’re offering a complete Thanksgiving package with turkey Breast glazed with balsamic peach reduction, Roasted blend of seasonal winter root vegetables and squashes, chocolate cakes with caramel filling topped with pecans and all sorts of add-on options like deviled eggs and sweet potato casserole. Cost is $80 for 2 or $150 for 4. Order by Tuesday, November 16 for pick up on Wednesday, November 24.

Catering Works‘ Fig Market can set you up with a show-stopping Thanksgiving table from the turkey to the classic sides and desserts like sweet potato casserole and pecan pie. Delegate the roasting so you can enjoy the hosting and toasting! Non-traditional items are available too. Order here by Friday, Nov. 19 at 12 p.m. for pickup or delivery on Wednesday, Nov. 24.

Plates Kitchen on Glenwood South is offering a Thanksgiving feast for 6 to 8 people this year. It includes a roast turkey breast and leg confit, smoked gravy, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, sweet Potato casserole, herb stuffing, cranberry sauce, roasted brussels sprouts & cauliflower, Union Special baguette with house butter, and your pick of figgy pudding or pecan pie. Order by phone (919-828-0018) or email: info@plateskitchen.com until Monday, Nov 22 at 5:00 p.m for Nov. 24 pick up. Get details here.

Zest Cafe and Home Art has “everything but the bird” this Thanksgiving. From appetizers like the pimento cheese ball to desserts like carrot cake and pumpkin pie, Zest’s menu has options to choose from as your menu evolves. Order via phone (919.848.4792) by Saturday Nov. 20 to pick up Wednesday Nov. 24. Get details here.

Longleaf Swine has a southern Thanksgiving menu that covers every item on your list, including turkey breast, sides like sausage balls, pimento mac and cheese and collard greens and pie for dessert. Add some pulled pork and slaw for the next day. Order here. 

For pies, breads and breakfast

Yellow Dog Bread Company again has an extra festive and inventive dessert and bread menu this Thanksgiving. If you’re in charge of dessert this year, pick up their pecan or cranberry apple pie. Go ahead and get the pumpkin walnut bread or pecan coffee cake for your morning brew the next day since you might be too tired to cook. Add some of their rolls for alongside the turkey and gravy. Order by noon on Nov. 22 give them an old-fashioned phone call at 984 – 232- 0291 or stop by and see them on Person St. Check their instagram for menu updates

La Farm. What happens when a french baker takes to an American Thanksgiving menu? Think decadent, perfectly executed desserts and breads like brioche buns and fall harvest bread, almond apple tart, pumpkin sweet bread and more. Get the details here

Boulted Bread is offering items especially for Turkey Day like an assorted pastry box, brown butter muscadine pie, grits dressing, sweet potato pie and of course their beloved classics like morning buns, scones and more. Order here for pickup on pick-up from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov 24. 

Union Special has a host of sweet treats and carb-forward creations to add to your main meal. Go traditional with chocolate cheese or pumpkin pie or try the lemon shaker for something different. Order the blue corn or chocolate chip cookies for the kids and don’t forget their Parker House rolls. Order here for pick up on Nov. 23 or 24.

…and don’t forget the wine!

Let the pros do the work for you: several of our local wine shops, including Wine Authorities, Short Walk Wines, and Raleigh Wine Shop, are offering pre-packaged bundles of wine (say, a mix of reds, or a spectrum of colors to suit all tastes) to drink along with Thanksgiving and fall meals. Browse the options online, or give them a call to pull something together that will pair perfectly with, say, a Southern American meets Southern Italian meal.

This article was originally published in November, 2020 and was updated November, 2021.