Thanksgiving in Charleston: 20 Great Choices for Dining Out

Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away, so there’s plenty time to abandon plans to actually cook a turkey or battle traffic to get home. Presenting a [list] of restaurants that will be open, for those looking for a place to get ham and fixin’s prepared by some of the best chefs in the South. Plus, insight on who is serving prix fixe options and where to gorge on pie. If we left anyone out, leave it in the comments.

Note: Restaurants are not ranked. Did we miss your favorite spot? Show it some love in the comments or send us an email.

Super fancy resort The Sanctuary is hosting a “lavish buffet presentation” for Thanksgiving. For $76, you can have your fill of “seafood displays, live chef stations, holiday meats, and other traditional favorites.” If a sit down dinner is preferred, make a reservation at The Ocean Room for a fine dining Thanksgiving.

Nobody wants to attempt fried mac and cheese or boiled peanut hummus for the holiday, so let Magnolias take care of it. The menu has the traditional turkey with all the trimmings or alternatives like ahi tuna or fried chicken.

Who needs turkey when red wine braised lamb shank is an option? Blossom offers lots of non-traditional entrées, like mahi with butter-poached shrimp or braised beef short ribs. For the die-hard Thanksgiving fans, there will be a turkey plate.

Steakhouse Burwell’s opens on Thanksgiving Day from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a menu of caramelized parsnip soup, turkey, pork chops, lobster bisque — and, of course, steak.

Poogan’s Porch will be open on Thanksgiving Day and will serve an à la carte menu for lunch and dinner. They’re offering Southern favorites and some of the best biscuits around.

Poogan’s Smokehouse will stay open on Thanksgiving to serve barbecue plates, fried chicken, and elevated Southern fare in a relaxed atmosphere.

Hip hotel restaurant Drawing Room will open on Thanksgiving for those looking for contemporary American fare.

Thanksgiving is traditionally a sold out event at Peninsula Grill, but give the reservation line a try. Better yet, slide into the champagne bar if there’s a free seat.

Try to grab a seat at the bar at Hank’s Seafood for a Thanksgiving feast of the ocean’s bounty from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Visit Le Farfalle, from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., for a Thanksgiving Day feast from chef Michael Toscano. It will be an Italian twist on the holiday offerings, like pimento cheese arancini, roasted fall vegetables, or ricotta gnudi a la king with braised turkey thighs.

The reservations might be slim, but fine dining staple Charleston Grill puts on a “positively flawless” Thanksgiving. Dinner is served between 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at $99 a guest. Chef Michelle Weaver spins a menu of East Coast oysters, butternut squash risotto, crab cakes, turkey, beef tenderloin, and more.

Downtown restaurant 1KEPT keeps the lights on for Thanksgiving with offers of steak frites, pork portherhouses, shrimp and grits, and more.

Enjoy Thanksgiving high above the city at hip hotel restaurant The Watch. Linger in the sunset with a few drinks and friends.

5Church will be open with a large bar, low lights, and a comforting menu of modern American classics.

Henrietta’s will open the doors for Thanksgiving guests. Dine in style at the posh restaurant situated in the ultra slick Dewberry hotel.

For those craving steak instead of turkey, Halls Chophouse is open on Thanksgiving from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Enjoy the holiday with a cold martini and a medium-rare ribeye. The restaurant will offer turkey to the traditionalist however.

Upper King restaurant The Macintosh will open on Thanksgiving Day from 12 p.m to 8 p.m. offering an a la carte menu featuring traditional favorites alongside seasonally inspired specials.

Virginia’s will open on Thanksgiving Day for Southern favorites like deviled eggs, fried chicken, and stuffed flounder.

Enjoy Thanksgiving on Shem Creek at Tavern & Table. From 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., the restaurant will offer a three-course menu for just $50, as well as a two-course kid’s menu for only $18. Look for turkey, prime rib, and fried snapper on the entree list.

Hit up Morgan Creek Grill for a buffet of Turkey Day favorites, from noon until 4 p.m. Adults are $30 and kids are $10.