THE BEST THANKSGIVING DINNERS IN LONDON
Fancy celebrating America with a gluttonous nosh-up and maybe a dash of bourbon?
Hey, let's forget all that 'other stuff' that's happening across the pond right now - America is the home of large portions, smoked meat, Bourbon whiskey and rock 'n' roll, and for THAT, we'll always be grateful.
So whether you're an American in London or just fancy sending your thanks via a plate of grub, check our the best Thanksgiving Dinners in London this year.
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The Stafford
St James's
If you're ever in doubt as to The Stafford's position on those across the pond, just know that they've got a bar called American Bar (pictured above), which is one of the longest surviving US bars in London.
It launched in the Thirties, when the craze for American-style cocktails first hit these shores and even served as a club for GIs during World War II.
So if you're after an upmarket - but entirely authentic - experience, this is the spot for you. It's filled with memorabilia that has been donated over close to a century by American guests, so you'll have plenty to look at while you wait for your table next door in the Game Bird restaurant. And what of the grub? Well, you won't be surprised to learn that it's not burgers or chicken wings on offer at this 5-star establishment. This year, the three-course menu starts with Butternut squash velouté, sour cream and chive rye bread crouton. This is followed by Traditional Roast Turkey with garlic mash, sage and onion stuffing, green bean casserole and roasted pumpkin. For a sweet conclusion, the menu finishes with a Chocolate Pecan Pie with mocha ice cream.
Price £70pp - available for lunch and dinner on Thursday 28th November
The Stafford, 16-18 St James's Place, London SW1A 1NJ, Book Now
CUT at 45 Park Lane
Park Lane
CUT is a luxury steakhouse that's every bit as upmarket as you'd expect from a Park Lane venue by Wolfgang Puck. It's famed for offering some of the finest cuts of beef in London (hence the name).
But Exectuive Chef Elliott Grover won't just be turfing out steaks on Thanksgiving, giving guests the option of a traditional turkey, albeit a Norfolk Bronze variety brought down from East Anglia for the occasion.
The three-course menu starts with a choice of starters including a Bigeye Tuna Tartare, Dorset Crab & Lobster ‘Louis’ Cocktail, Prime Beef Steak Tartare. This is followed by mains, with a choice of Norfolk Bronze Turkey with the traditional sides of cornbread stuffing, cranberry compote and pigs in blanket, or a Grilled Cornish Dover Sole or an Australian Wagyu Beef, served with classic Thanksgiving sides for the table, including sweet potatoes with torched marshmallows, Roasted brussels sprouts with bacon and chestnuts and Green bean casserole topped with breadcrumbs.
If you've any room left after all that, there's an array of American Pies including a Key Lime, Pumpkin and Pecan.
Price £195pp - available for lunch and dinner on Thursday 28th November.
CUT at 45 Park Lane, London W1K 1PN, Book Now
PROMENADE at Dorchester
Park Lane
Across the road from CUT, The Promenade at The Dorchester is offering an equally belly-busting menu, with four-courses and live entertainment inside one of London's poshest hotels.
The menu, designed by Culinary Director Martyn Nail, starts with a selection of canapés on arrival before a choice of starters, including a Crab cake with sea herbs, a Grilled shrimp salad, or a Guinea hen salad. An intermediate course follows with a choice of either Clam chowder or Jerusalem artichoke velouté before mains including a Cambridge Bronze Turkey with all the trimmings, a Roasted seabass, a JD Bonded Bourbon braised ribs or a Butternut squash & smoked Applewood Wellington. The feast ends with a selection of desserts including a Caramel pie, a Pumpkin pie, or a Blueberry cheesecake.
If you're up for spending a little extra for a Thanksgiving feast (it only happens once a year, after all), Park Lane is looking like a fine destination for all you Americans out there.
Price £150pp / £75 per child (up to 12 years old)- available for lunch and dinner on Thursday 28th November.
The Dorchester, 53 Park Ln, London W1K 1QA, Book Now
NYnLON
Blackfriars
NYnLON wears its influences on its sleeve (NY 'n' LONdon, geddit?), so there's no surprise that it's catering to its American fanbase this Thanksgiving. Led by Head Chef Giuseppe Federico, the team has meticulously crafted a Thanksgiving Dinner Menu, exclusively available on the 28th and 29th of November. Keeping things traditional, guests can choose from a main of classic Turkey Crown, or Gruyere and Pumpkin Pie, alongside a selection of side dishes to share, including Truffle mac & cheese, Confit garlic and sweet potato mash, Root vegetables and Brussels sprouts with sage-infused brown butter and Charred tenderstem broccoli with chili and confit shallots. And it's not a proper Thanksgiving dinner without dessert, so throw a homemade Apple pie, served with warm custard and ice cream into the mix.
Price £99 for two people, Book Now
Available November 28th and 29th
NYnLON, 19 New Bridge St, London EC4V 6DB
THE K BAR
Kensington
OK, so Thanksgiving is usually about the food, but when your country is responsible for bringing Bourbon into this world, maybe it's time we ALL gave thanks to you. The K Bar in The Kensington Hotel is spending all of November celebrating Brown water and it'd be remiss of us not to let you know. Sink into a leather wingback chair and order one of three, limited edition Buffalo Trace cocktails, each priced at £17. Sipping on the good stuff in a leather chair, surrounded by wood panelling? Hell yeah, you just turned into Don Draper.
'Noyaux' is the perfect Autumn tipple, with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Chestnuts and Bitters. 'Louisville' will transport you to the deep South with Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon, Bacon, Maple and Bitters and 'Fortunella' is made up of Sazerac Rye, Camparo, Mancino Chinato and Kumquat.
K Bar and Townhouse, The Kensington Hotel, 109-113 Queen's Gate, London SW7 5LP, Book Now
Bloomsbury Club Bar
Bloomsbury
Also heading down the booze-route is Bloomsbury Club Bar, which has teamed up with Dutch Barn Vodka - curiously, a British brand made with British Apples and owned by the very-much British Ricky Gervais. Still, he's had a Hollywood makeover of late, so we'll allow it.
The cosy art deco bar in the bowels of The Bloomsbury Hotel has made a name for itself as a destination for music lovers and on Wedneday 27th November, they'll be handing over the stage to some good ol' American blues musicians to help you see in Thanksgiving in style. To lend an extra flavour of the Deep South, they'll also hand over a complimentary slice of apple pie with your vodka cocktails and when the clock strikes midnight it'll feel like you're kicking back in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
Wednesday 27th November, Reserve your table now
Bloomsbury Club Bar, The Bloomsbury Hotel, 16-22 Great Russell St, London WC1B 3NN
THE FRIENDS™ EXPERIENCE: THE ONE IN LONDON
Excel Centre
Ah, Friends. That magical sitcom that made us all think we could get jobs as waitresses, chefs, musicians, actors, copywriters and paleontologists and afford a New York loft apartment with our friends. Such wonderful, naive times.
Well, this winter The FRIENDS™ Experience: The One in London will allow you a little glimpse into that world and with tickets available for just £20, even we can afford it on our pitiful, London wages.
They're giving their New York-themed sets a festive twist, inviting fans to celebrate the festive season “Holiday Armadillo” style. Relive unforgettable holiday moments from the show, including Monica’s Christmas tree and Ross’s Holiday Armadillo costume. Additionally, visitors can indulge in a Thanksgiving and holiday-themed menu, which offers Thanksgiving and festive treats at FRIENDS™ Station, making it a perfect place to celebrate the festive season. Could that be any more American?
Tickets £20, Buy Now
The Friends Experience: The London One, Immerse LDN, ExCeL Waterfront, E16 1XL
BODEAN'S
Various Locations
It wouldn't be an American roundup without the finest purveyors of Stateside grub, Bodean's BBQ. The smokehouse launched way back in 2002 when Andre Blais saw a big ol' hog-shaped gap in the market and started firing up his Kansas barbecue for the good people of London. Having grown from one location to numerous spots across the capital, it's now the go-to place for everything Americana, from late-night Superbowl parties to Thanksgiving celebrations.
Their menu for this year depends on location, so pick your destination wisely and enter with an empty belly, because Bodean's doesn't do small portions.
The Tower Hill and Soho locations will be offering a full-blown three courser (£45pp), kicking off with a choice between Ranch Salad, Sweet Potato Soup or Pistachio Salsa Mac ‘n’ Cheese Balls with Diablo Mayo. From there, you'll be deep into the meat, with a sharing platter consisting of Smoked Turkey Drumsticks, Glazed Ham, Smoked Turkey Breast, Creamed Mashed Potato, Corn Bread Stuffing with Bacon and Sage, plus Carrots and Parsnips roasted with honey & fresh thyme and Pan Fried Greens.
Still got room for more? Yeah, course you have - you're American and you know how to do Thanksgiving! Have a Key Lime Pie or Pumpkin Pie and see it off with a Pickleback indluded in the price.
Oh, and wanna know something totally unexpected? There's a whole vegan menu, too, though you'll have to chow down in the fumes of meat - there's no escaping that at Bodean's.
The Camden and Covent Garden restaurants take a slightly different approach to Thanksgiving this year, offering a special Pilgrim Sandwich (£18.50), which promises "all the best bits of Thanksgiving in a bun." They're not wrong, either: Smoked turkey breast, crisp streaky bacon, cornbread stuffing, hash browns, cranberry sauce and gravy, all served with seasoned fries.
There's also a pumpkin tartlet on offer, at £6. Choose wisely, friends, and give your thanks to our American brothers and sisters.
Various Locations. Book Now
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