Thanksgiving Dinner in San Diego

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Listen up San Diego, Thanksgiving is only days away. Although it may appear to be summer outside, it is officially fall. And that means it's time to start thinking about what's really important - what's for dinner? Due to a lack of cooking skills, a fear of dirty dish piles, or perhaps just plain laziness, many of us will seek out a pre-cooked Thanksgiving meal this season. Here are a few San Diego restaurants to keep in mind when perusing for your perfect Thanksgiving fix.

Hotel Del Coronado
The Del offers extravagant dining in the oceanfront ballroom, the Crown Room, or at 1500 Ocean. The Ballroom and Crown Room buffets offer the traditional Thanksgiving feast plus chilled salads, cheeses, pastas, seafood, ham, prime rib, and festive sweets. Beverages are included, excluding alcohol. Price is $75 plus tax and gratuity for adults, $34 plus tax and gratuity for children ages 6 to 10, and free for children younger than 5. Both restaurants will be open from 12pm to 6pm.

The 1500 Ocean offers a prix-fixe menu served from 4pm to 9pm. The price is $68-$82 plus tax and gratuity for adults, and $34 plus tax and gratuity for children.

Island Prime
Island Prime is the place to go to for a Thanksgiving fine dining experience. Savor a crispy wedge salad with blue cheese or butternut squash soup with toasted pepitas for your first course. Second course options include turkey, pork chop, prime rib, lamb, salmon, and filet mignon. For dessert, enjoy chocolate pecan pie, sweet potato pie, or mascarpone apple crumb cake.

The cost is $49.95 for adults, and $12.95 for kids 12 and under. Island Prime will be open from 1pm to 7 pm on Thanksgiving Day.

Nick's
Head down to Pacific Beach and enjoy a more casual Thanksgiving. Football fans will love watching the game on dozens of TV screens all day long, and you can choose your favorite from the regular menu, or savor turkey-with-all-the-fixings for a hearty meal. Nick's will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 11am to 1am. For reservations.

Terra Restaurant
Terra Restaurant, located in Hillcrest, will serve a full menu on Thanksgiving Day with special dishes prepared by Executive Chef Jeff Rossman and his team of culinary artists.

The meal is priced at $39.00. The restaurant will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 12:30pm to 8:30pm.

Thee Bungalow
Thee Bungalow, a cozy restaurant known for its select wines and French cuisine, will serve San Diego Thanksgiving dinner from 1pm to 8pm on November 22. This country-style bungalow has four separate dining rooms, providing an intimate setting for large groups of guests. The prix-fixe meal offers three courses, with your choice of salad, soup, pastry, or salmon for the first course; turkey, sirloin, sea bass, or goose for the second; and for dessert, choose from pecan crusted pumpkin cheesecake, crème brulee, or chocolate mousse.

The meal is $39.95. Thee Bungalow will also prepare a Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Year's Eve dinner, (for those who like to plan ahead!)

The Sea Lodge Hotel
The Sea Lodge Hotel, which has a spectacular ocean view, will open its Thanksgiving buffet from 11am to 8pm on Thanksgiving Day. The line-up includes baby iceberg and arugula salad, New England clam chowder, forest mushroom and fingerling potato salad, star anise-scented duck confit, Baja-style rock shrimp, American cheeseboard, crab claws, peel-and-eat shrimp, creole-spiced tom turkey, prime rib, pork top loin, pasta station, and delectable desserts and pies. Diners can also bring the Thanksgiving feast home with "Thanksgiving To Go." The meal is $41 for adults, $18.95 for children younger than 12, and $3 for children younger than 6.

A.R. Valentien

Situated on the 18th hole of the Torrey Pines Golf Course, this restaurant at the Lodge at Torrey Pines provides a cozy setting for a Thanksgiving meal. The three-course menu includes roasted turkey with traditional fixings, and more specialty items such as Brie Soup. A.R. Valentien will be open from 12pm to 9pm on Thanksgiving day. Adult meals are $75, and kids under 12 eat for $30. For reservations, call 858.777.6635.

Hornblower Cruise
What could be more memorable than sailing on a yacht while enjoying Thanksgiving dinner with loved ones? Bring the whole family aboard and admire the beautiful sunset while enjoying a buffet that features traditional Thanksgiving dishes. The buffet is $69.72 for adults, $42.94 for children ages 4 to 12, and $67.72 for seniors. The ship will board at 3pm on Thanksgiving day, and sail from 3:30pm to 6pm. For reservations, call 619.686.8700.

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