This Thanksgiving, skip the cooking and ditch the dirty dishes by dining out at one the South Sound’s many restaurants serving dinner on Thanksgiving Day! According to the National Restaurant Association, nearly 1 in 10 adults plan to dine out on Thanksgiving, and this year on Thursday, November 22, chefs from across the South Sound are ready to serve up everything from the traditional Turkey Day feast to deliciously different takes on the classics.

Thanksgiving at Pacific Grill
Pacific Grill’s delicious King Salmon dinner. Photo courtesy: Pacific Grill

Pacific Grill

Pacific Grill in Tacoma is famously open each year on Thanksgiving from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., dishing up a beautiful and festive spread. Its chef and owner, Gordon Naccarato, is a past winner of Food & Wine’s coveted Top Ten Best New Chefs in America. Calling his creations fun dining, rather than fine dining, Naccarato’s specialty is cooking up the perfect meal for sharing with friends and family or for a special occasion. Each Thanksgiving, Pacific Grill’s most popular menu item is its Thanksgiving Dinner Plate. Enjoy carved sage-roasted turkey served with all the trimmings. Wild mushroom stuffing, lumpy mashed potatoes, Grandma Wallsten’s famous gravy, and don’t forget the cranberry sauce with Grand Marnier and their green bean casserole served with crispy onions. Pacific Grill will also be serving up a number of other dishes, including some seafood favorites like their fresh King Salmon dinner and an Oyster Clam Bake.

Pacific Grill is located at 1502 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma. Call for reservations at 253-627-3535.

Cliff House

Cliff House provides its guests with an upscale and decadent Thanksgiving Dinner with panoramic views of the Puget Sound. Enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving plate with all the classics, or indulge in their prime rib dinner served with potatoes, au jus, horseradish and vegetables. Other menu options this Thanksgiving include crab-stuffed king salmon, Alaskan king crab legs, a surf ‘n turf dinner or butternut squash ravioli. And don’t forget dessert! Choose from pumpkin pie or warm apple pie alamode.

Cliff House is located at 6300 Marine View Drive, Tacoma, where reservations can be made online or by calling 253-927-0400.

Thanksgiving brunch at Sel
Sip and savor at Sel’s special Thanksgiving brunch. Photo courtesy: Sel Restaurant

Sel Restaurant

Sel Restaurant might not be open for Thanksgiving dinner, but this year the restaurant is offering a very special Thanksgiving brunch! Sel’s enchanting atmosphere combined with its fantastic menu is sure to start off your Thanksgiving holiday on the right note – from treats like avocado toast and brunch tacos, to a fresh and savory variety of open-faced omelets, eggs benedicts, and dreamy brioche French toasts. Enjoy the view of Commencement Bay from inside or warm up on their heated patio with their famous apple cinnamon mimosa next to the cozy fire pit.

Sel is located at 229 Saint Helens Avenue, Tacoma, and runs on a first-come first-serve basis. Parties of over five are encouraged to call ahead at 253-327-1015 to give the restaurant a heads up.

Brix 25°

Thanksgiving is the most popular day of the year at Brix 25° in Gig Harbor. Enjoy the classic Thanksgiving dinner options, which will include turkey and prime rib with all the fixings, crowd-pleasing crab dinner, along with a number of holiday specials and its full regular a la carte dinner menu.

Thanksgiving at Brix 25
Thanksgiving is the most popular day of the year at Brix 25 in Gig Harbor. Photo courtesy: Brix 25

Brix 25° is located at 3315 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor, and will be begin service at 1:00 p.m. and accept their last reservation at 7:00 pm. Call 253-858-6626 to make a reservation.

The Hub and Harmon

The Hub and Harmon restaurants will be celebrating Thanksgiving at all five of their South Sound locations this year. Whether you’re in Tacoma, Puyallup or Gig Harbor, choose from a number of Thanksgiving specials prepared for dining-in or carrying out. Tacoma’s Stadium District Hub and the Harmon Tap Room will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and offering there full menu, as well as a traditional turkey dinner for under $20. The Hub restaurants in South Hill and Gig Harbor will both offer a turkey dinner featuring carved turkey breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, along with cranberry sauce and fresh baked dinner rolls. Other Thanksgiving menu options this year will include a special turkey sandwich, cornbread sausage stuffing gratin, traditional pumpkin pie by the slice, and in true Hub style, a cranberry turkey brie pizza you won’t want to miss. 

Thanksgiving at the Hub
Dine in or carry out Thanksgiving specials that are sure to impress your guests from The Hub and Harmon Brewing restaurants. Photo courtesy: Gabriella Kinner

While The Harmon Brewing Company in Downtown Tacoma plans to keep their dining room and bar closed for the holiday, this year they will be open for Thanksgiving morning pick-up orders. Call ahead to order the perfect dish or side to bring to your Thanksgiving gathering. Each family meal includes all of the following, and individual dishes can be purchased a la carte.

  • Small Family (2-3 People) $67
  • Large Family (4-6 People) $132
  • Roasted Herb Turkey
  • Sourdough Stuffing
  • Green Bean Casserole
  • Mash Potato
  • Turkey Gravy
  • Garden Salad
  • Cranberry Sauce
  • Fresh Rolls
  • Pumpkin Pie

Guests can call the restaurant 253-383-2739 or email Chef Pedro to order and arrange pickup times.  The Harmon will be accepting orders until Tuesday, November 20, and guests can plan to pick up on Thanksgiving morning.

More Thanksgiving Dinner Choices

Other South Sound restaurants, ranging from fine dining to totally casual, that will be open for Thanksgiving dinner include: The Lobster Shop, Stanley and Seaforts, and Hob Nob in Tacoma, Crockett’s Public House and Black Angus Steakhouse in Puyallup, as well as the Tanglewood Grill in Gig Harbor.