Thanksgiving Guide 2012

Thanksgiving! Thank goodness some bars are open!

Turkey Day brings mashed potatoes and stuffing as far as the eyes can see! It also brings grouchy in-laws, Turnpike traffic, and sinks full of dirty dishes. Thanksgiving can be overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be. Try keeping your stress level low with a helpful bottle of wine. (Read Joe Appel’s story on French wine pairings for Thanksgiving dinner in the Portland Press Herald.)

For more help on handling the holiday, check out the roundup of restaurants offering Thanksgiving dinners and bars that have generously chosen to stay open. And after dinner — or in lieu of it — you can always hit the movie theater or the bowling alley.

Thanksgiving dinners | Open bars | Things to do

 

Let someone else cook

Five Fifty-Five, Portland
Thanksgiving a t Five Fifty-Five is sure to be local – their menu hints at what’s to come, based on what will be fresh on Turkey Day. But imagine things like “figs in a blanket,” truffled lobster mac & cheese, and the splendor of turducken. Reservations are recommended: 761-0555. FMI: fivefifty-five.com

Seasons Grille and Bar, Portland
Seasons will be open 11 am-4 pm for the Seasons Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet ($23 adults, $18 seniors, kids under 12 half price). Reservations are recommended: 775-6538. Buffet includes mapled mashed turnips, wild muchroon and cornbread stuffing and the classic roast turkey with gravy and cranberry sauce: www.seasonsgrille.com

Rosie’s Restaurant and Pub, Portland
Rosie’s in open regular hours (regular hours?!?) 11 am-1 am and will dish out their annual “awesome Thanksgiving dinner.” Enough said.

Saltwater Grille, South Portland
Saltwater Grille is offering a Thanksgiving buffet from noon-4 pm for $36.99. Reservations recommended: (207) 799-5400. The menu (including butternut squash, turkey, and scallop casserole): www.saltwatergrille.com

Sea Glass Restaurant, Inn by the Sea, Cape Elizabeth
Sea Glass will serve up a three-course prix fixe menu from 11 am-9 pm. $62 per person. Dishes include lobster bisque, vegetarian pumpkin risotto, slow-roasted farmed turkey and white chocolate cheesecake. Menu: http://www.innbythesea.com. Reservations: (207) 799-3134.

The Inn at Brunswick Station, Brunswick
There are seatings from 10 am to close for the family-style Thanksgiving Dinner The Inn at Brunswick Station ($26 per person, $20 for seniors, $12 kids 12 and under). Feast on pineapple-glazed ham or turkey, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and a fine selection of desserts. Menu: www.innatbrunswickstation.com For reservations: 207-837-6565.

Harraseeket Inn, Freeport
Hit the Harraseeket for a Thanksgiving Day spread like you’ve never seen before (check out the menu here). Seatings from 11 am-4:30 pm ($60 per person for adults, $30 children ages 5-10, children 4 and under free). Reservations are required: (207) 865-9377

Pier 77, Cape Porpoise Harbor, Kennebunkport
Restaurant open noon-5 pm servering the regular menu plus turkey, lamb and glazed ham specials.
Menu: pier77restaurant.com. Reservations recommended (207) 967-8500

Maine Street Grill, Standish
Open for dinner on thanksgiving (the bar, too!) and serving up the classic Thanksgiving fare. Reservations recommended: (207) 648-7211

Camden Harbour Inn, Camden
Natalie’s Executive Chef Geoffroy Deconinck is featuring a gourmet Thanksgiving menu with dishes including a wild mushroom soup with pumpkin seeds, scallion and sourdough croutons or pan-seared scallops, braised endives and black truffle sauce. Main course of roasted Maine lobster with winter truffle crust, celery root, rutabaga and shellfish foam or roasted turkey breast, wild rise, confit leg, squash and house-made cranberry marmalade. FMI:  www.camdenharbourinn.com or (207) 236-7008.

There’s always Chinese
If you want to avoid the whole turkey scene altogether, there’s likely an open Chinese food joint nearby. Check www.chineserestaurant.net for a roundup.

The rare open bar on Thanksgiving

Maine Street Grill, Standish
Taking reservation, on special thanksgivin dinner -
Open 11 am to 10 p.m.

Gritty McDuff’s, Portland
Open at 7 pm for drinks – the kitchen will be closed

Joshua’s Restaurant and Tavern, Brunswick
Open all day

Rosie’s Restaurant and Pub, Portland
Open 11 am to 1 am Also serving an “awesome Thanksgiving dinner.”

Ruski’s, Portland
Open 7 am to 1 am They’re ALWAYS open!

The Brunswick Oceanside Grill, Old Orchard Beach
Open at 3 pm

Brian Boru, Portland
Open at 5 pm

Stretch it out before you stretch your pants

Greener Postures Yoga is offering Thanksgiving-morning yoga sessions at both of their studios (one in Falmouth, one in South Portland). Sessions are 7:30-8:30 am and 9-10:15 am and are by donation. It’s a perk for folks without a ton of funds, but the money goes to local foods banks and to victims of Sandy – so don’t skimp! FMI: www.greenerposturesyoga.com

 

 

Run like the wind! Or like a fattened turkey being chased through a field Thanksgiving morning!

Thanksgiving is already a race for some of us (who will get to the potatoes first? Who will successfully devour pie piece No. 1 and still be hungry for pie piece No. 2?) but some folks still like an added physical challenge (not including wrestling Aunt Sharon for the last of stuffing). The Greely HS Turkey Trot 5k starts at 8 am, so you can fit in a run and still have a nap before dinner. FMI: running4free.com/a>

 

Bowlers know “turkey” as three strikes in a row

You fall into a tryptophan coma after Thanksgiving dinner every year. And while turkey-induced slumber is swell, so are strikes, spares and fountain Cokes. Spare Time in Portland will be open from 5-11 pm so you can have your turkey and then get another turkey. Special bowling rates, too! One-hour lane rental for $19.99, 2-hours for $29.99 and shoe rentals for $3.29. And yes, the bar will also be open. FMI:
Spare Time Portland

 

From pumpkin pie to Life of Pi

For some families, heading to the movies on Thanksgiving is a time-honored tradition. For some individuals, avoiding Thanksgiving dinner by hiding out in a dark movie theater is also a time-honored tradition. See what’s showing (including new releases Life of Pi and Red Dawn: Browse all movies