Cooking Thanksgiving dinner can turn your kitchen into a war zone. Between basting the bird, timing the sides, and fielding questions about when dinner will be ready, the holiday can feel more stressful than celebratory. East Sacramento restaurants are stepping up to save the day with options that let you enjoy the feast without the fuss.
Restaurant Dining for the Full Experience
Want the whole Thanksgiving experience without touching a single pot? The Firehouse Restaurant in Old Sacramento is serving a three-course menu from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on November 27, 2025. Their menu features roasted turkey with merlot-cranberry relish and roasted garlic carbonara for $99.95 per person (kids 12 and under eat for $45.95).
Grange Restaurant and Bar inside the Citizen Hotel brings upscale comfort to downtown. Open 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., they’re offering Fairytale Pumpkin Soup, roasted turkey, prime rib, or golden potato gnocchi for $98 per person (kids’ menu is $27). The warm atmosphere makes it feel like home, just with someone else doing the dishes.
Looking for a buffet? The Delta King riverboat serves up a spread from noon to 6 p.m. featuring turkey, prime rib, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and pumpkin pie for $70 per adult and $28 for kids.
For steak lovers, Morton’s The Steakhouse is offering a four-course feast for $69 per person from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., while Ruth’s Chris Steak House serves their three-course Thanksgiving menu for $52 per person (kids $19).
Takeout for Home Comfort
Sometimes you want Thanksgiving at your own table without the prep work. Sellands Catering offers traditional dinner packages for four people at $285, including herb-brined turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and your choice of pie. Pick up on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at any Sellands location.
Hawks Provision & Public House delivers classic dishes with creative twists, including truffled chicken, brussels sprouts with bacon, and wild mushroom soup. Orders must be placed by Wednesday, November 19, with pickup on Wednesday, November 26, between noon and 6 p.m.
Want something different? Allora Sacramento is taking Thanksgiving Italian with Take & Bake lasagna options for 2 to 4 people. Place orders by Monday, November 24, and pick up on Wednesday, November 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Community Tables for Everyone
The holiday spirit shines brightest when everyone has a seat at the table. Sacramento State’s ASI Food Pantry hosts Friendsgiving Feast with a free lunch buffet, crafts, music, and games for students. The CSU Sacramento community can pre-register for this warm gathering.
Book Now or Miss Out
Here’s the reality: Thanksgiving is one of the busiest restaurant days of the year. Most spots require reservations made weeks in advance. If you’re planning to dine out, call today. Takeout orders fill up fast, too, with many restaurants cutting off orders in mid-November.
OpenTable makes booking easy for participating restaurants, while others prefer direct phone reservations. Don’t wait until the week before and discover everything’s booked.
This year, give yourself the gift of a relaxed Thanksgiving. Whether you’re sitting down at a riverboat buffet, heating up a gourmet meal at home, or gathering with your community, Sacramento has options that turn the holiday back into what it should be: quality time with the people you care about, great food, and zero kitchen disasters.
Sources: visitsacramento.com, firehouseoldsac.com, grangesacramento.com, hawksprovisionpublichouse.com, deltaking.com, mortons.com, ruthschris.com, sellands.com, allorasacramento.com, asi.csus.edu
Header Image Source: mortons.com
