Where to take grandparents & baby for turkey dinner?
My parents are coming to town on Thanksgiving day and we're looking for a restaurant where we can have Thanksgiving dinner with them and our 1-year-old. She's generally good at restaurants but still a 1-year-old, and my father has problems hearing in noisy environments. Anyone know a restaurant that serves a traditional-ish Thanksgiving dinner (or at least vaguely autumnal), doesn't blast music and won't mind some food ending up on the ground (baby + holiday service = extra big tip of course)? The recommendations on this thread are long out of date.
Nov 3, 2017
Parent Replies
Boy, I would say buy the package from Whole Foods instead, and eat at home. Thanksgiving dinners in restaurants are crowded and expensive. I have been before to the Claremont and Yankee Pier and just don't think it's worth the money.
Just researched this last night myself. The Dead Fish in Crockett. I have friends who have been for there for Thanksgiving and enjoyed it. Also H’s Lordship in Berkeley does a Thanksgiving buffet that looks nice and easy to do with a baby.
We have a newborn, so we're skipping the family Thanksgiving this year in lieu of a quiet-ish night at home. We ordered a full, traditional meal from Rockridge Market Hall, with lots of leftovers, for about $100.
I recommend the Lake Merritt Hotel's Terrace Room. The dining room is gorgeous, the food is good, and the place is very accommodating to families. I have a soft spot for it, as it was the first restaurant my son ever visited (~ age 2 weeks). We had grandparents with us for that meal, too.
I haven't ever been there for a holiday meal, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't very nice. Here's a link to their plans for Thanksgiving 2017: http://www.theterraceroom.com/go/thanksgiving-2017/
Maybe the Claremont Hotel.
Hotel Mac in Point Richmond
Quinn's Lighthouse in Oakland
both lighthearted, fun, warm, family-friendly, and beloved by me.
Oh yeah! I've been meaning to try H's Lordship too!
And not to be "that mom," but you want to go OUT for thanksgiving (or dinner in general) while that baby is still tiny enough to sit in his/her little bucket seat / high chair and look cute. You can get that Whole Foods takeout (which is tasty! if they actually cook the turkey, which did not happen last year, BUT I DIGRESS) when the kids are bigger and can't be contained. It's crazy fun and sweet to be out on a holiday with the fam.