Restaurants Open for Thanksgiving on Long Island 2012

Thanksgiving is a feast usually prepared and served in our homes.  But sometimes it is really lovely to take a break from the hot kitchen and let some one else do the cooking, cleaning, and moving furniture around.  Especially if you have spent the past weeks dealing with the aftermath of Sandy.  Many restaurants are back in business and eager to do the cooking for you.  From seaside dining to historical locations, from Gold Coast mansions to humble pubs, Long Island has it all.  The restaurants listed here are only a small sample of the options out there.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Ponder the Mayflower and watch the waves as you dine:
(Yes, these all survived Sandy!)

The Sea Grille at Gurney's Inn
290 Old Montauk Hwy.
Montauk
631–668–2660
Gurney's Inn, a friendly seaside Montauk institution, offers a three–course prix fixe menu with many entree choices, including lobster, in addition to the traditional turkey. They also offer a "Little Pilgrims" menu with turkey or prime rib. Cost is $28 to $40 for adults depending on choice of entree and $19 for children.  Seatings begin at 1pm with the last seating at 9pm.  Reservations required.

Hither Hills State Park next door at 164 Old Montauk Highway, is a wonderful place to work off the feast with a beach walk or a romp through their excellent playground. It is open year round, even on holidays, even after Sandy. For park information call 631–668–2543

The Rams Head Inn
108 Ram Island Dr.
Shelter Island
631–749–0811
Take a short ferry ride over to beautiful Shelter Island and drive along the scenic causeway to this lovely old hotel and restaurant perched on a hill overlooking Coeckles Harbor. The Inn is offering a full Thanksgiving buffet at a cost of $45 for adults and $25 for children ages 8 and under. After dinner stroll down the lawn to the waterfront or enjoy the swings. You can also park along the causeway and take a long ramble on the beach. Seashells and an amazing variety of rocks from all over NY State (the island is a glacial morraine) abound. Menu

The Soundview Restaurant 
58775 Rte. 48
Greenport
631–477–0666
The Soundview Restaurant has a magnificent view of Long Island Sound and serves a traditional Thanksgiving prix fixe meal. The Town Beach, just a minute west up the road, has a divine all ages swing set that looks out to sea.  Costs are $34.50 adults and $18.95 children. Seatings are from 1–7pm on the hour. Online Menu

Enjoy a little piece of 1800's American history:
The American Hotel 
49 Main St.
Sag Harbor
631–725–3535
Celebrate in the historic whaling town of Sag Harbor and stroll past the windmill to beach or the town dock afterwards. The American Hotel, built in 1846, offers a three–course prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner with many options and complimentary non–alcoholic beverages. Costs are $75 for adults, $35 for children. Open from 1pm with the last seating at 8:30pm. Menu

Southampton Publick House
40 Bowden Square
Southampton
631–283–2800
This charming and historic microbrewery, in business since the 1800's, offers a traditional three–course prix fixe menu. Seatings are hourly from 1–7pm. They also offer their prix fixe menu for take out!  Costs are $29.95 for adults and $14.95 for children under 10. Menu

Jamesport Manor Inn
370 Manor Lane
Jamesport
631–722–0500
This reconstructed 1850's Victorian mansion on the North Fork offers a three–course prix fixe Thanksgiving dinner, featuring local and organic ingredients, with a special children's menu. Costs are $60 for adults and $30 for children under 12. Reservations may be made by calling the number above or at opentable.com. Menu

Experience the luxurious English lifestyle the Pilgrims were complaining about:

Glen Cove Mansion
200 Dosaris Lane
Glen Cove
516–674–2955
Dine in Georgian–style splendor then explore 55 acres of landscaped gardens and grounds at this magnificent 1910 mansion designed by James Adams Plat. They offer a grand buffet with options for every palate inspired by historic menus of the Gold Coast era. Seatings are at 1pm and 4pm. Costs are $50 for adults including a glass of champagne or a mimosa, and $25 for children ages 4–12. Children 3 and under are free. Menu

The Rose Hunt at Fox Hollow 
7725 Jericho Tpk.
Woodbury
516–921–1415
Enjoy a huge prix fixe International Thanksgiving Buffet in the ambience of an English country estate and then take a walk to explore the extensive grounds. Two–hour seatings at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm.   Three–hour seatings may be available at 1pm and 4pm for groups of 10 or more. The buffet is completely refreshed before each seating. Cost is $44.95 for adults and $22.50 for children under 10. There is also a la carte dining.  Menu

Enjoy a spacious and elegant hotel:
Carltun On the Park
Eisenhower Park
East Meadow
516–542–0700 ext 1
The Carltun, right on Eisenhower Park, has multiple Thanksgiving offerings. In their Drawing Room they offer a full Thanksgiving Buffet while in their elegant Palm Court and cozy Wine Cellar they offer a four–course prix fixe dinner with a special four–course children's menu. The Carltun also features a well respected and extensive wine list. Seatings for the Buffet start at 12:30pm and costs are $42 for adults and $25 for children ages 3–10. Costs for the prix fixe menu in the Palm Court and Wine Cellar are $59 for adults and $30 for children and reservations begin at noon.  

Rein at the Garden City Hotel 
45 Seventh St.
Garden City
516–877–9385
Rein, a well known venue for families in Garden City, offers a four–course prix fixe Thanksgiving feast. Costs are $64 for adults and $33 for children ages 12 and under. Children ages 2 and under dine free.  Reservations can be made online at opentable.com  Menu

Or just keep it hearty and simple:

Ben's Delicatessens
140 Wheatley Plaza, Greenvale (516) 621–3340
7971 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury (516) 496–4354
County Glen Shopping Center, 59 Old Country Road, Carle Place (516) 742–3354
These down to earth classic Kosher Delis are offering take out or eat in prix fixe Thanksgiving menus with a "Kids Turkey Feast" option.  Seatings are offered at 1pm, 2:15pm, and 5pm with a 7pm seating available in Greenvale and Woodbury. Costs are $19.99 for adults and $9.99 for children. The take–home dinner for 10 is $169.99.