Thanksgiving Dining Guide

BONGOS CUBAN CAFE

Thanksgiving from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bongos Cuban Café, along with its sponsors: AARP, Baptist Health South Florida, Sedano’s Supermarkets, Florida Blue, and the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust, will partner with local charities to feed the homeless and families in transition this Thanksgiving Day at the 6th Annual Bongos Cuban Café Thanksgiving “Feed A Friend.” Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Chapman Partnership and REMAR will invite guests to celebrate a day of thanks at a Cuban-American holiday feast. Over the last five years the event has served more than 10,000 meals to needy families. Be part of this amazing event and enjoy traditional American classics – roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and cranberry sauce in addition to a traditional Cuban-style lechon asado (roasted pork) and classic Cuban fixings – fried plantains and cassava (yuca) in mojo sauce. Live music and children’s activities including face painting and crafts will provide a sweet finish to a day of giving thanks. Celebrity volunteers will be on hand to spread holiday cheer and help serve in the food line. Cost is free.

Bongos Cuban Cafe
601 Biscayne Boulevard, Downtown Miami
786-777-2100

BLT STEAK AT THE BETSY SOUTH BEACH

Thanksgiving from 4 to 9 p.m.

BLT Steak’s Thanksgiving prix-fixe dinner features a choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert along with a variety of traditional accompaniments. For the first course, choose braised venison ravioli with French horn mushrooms, pickled mustard seeds and venison-thyme jus or butternut squash soup with bourbon vanilla crème fraiche and pumpkin spice croutons. Main course selections include grilled scallops with cauliflower purée, black trumpets and bone marrow gremolata; roasted prime rib of beef with natural jus and creamy horseradish; or smoked turkey breast with cornbread and chorizo stuffing, roasted shallots and thyme jus. Crispy Brussels sprouts, green bean casserole, mashed sweet potatoes and truffled macaroni and cheese will be served family style with all entrees. For dessert, indulge in pumpkin cheesecake with pecan gingersnaps and charred marshmallows or chocolate bread pudding with toasted hazelnut ice cream and butterscotch. Cost is $75 p/p (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity).

BLT Steak at The Betsy South Beach
1440 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach
305-673-0044

THE DUTCH

Thanksgiving from 1 to 9 p.m.

Chef de Cuisine Conor Hanlon at The Dutch has created a special Thanksgiving prix-fixe dinner priced at $45 p/p (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity), served individually or family-style. Choices include Roasted Turducken, Root Beer Whipped Sweet Potatoes, Classic Gravy, Pickled Cranberry Relish, Cippolini Onions and Confit Turkey Leg Stuffing; topped off with Pumpkin Pie with a Pretzel Crust and Cranberry Sorbet; Apple Pie a la mode; or Sweet Potato Pie with Rum Raisin Ice Cream from pastry chef Josh Gripper.

The Dutch
W South Beach Hotel & Residences
2201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach
305-938-3111

MEAT MARKET

Thanksgiving from 6 p.m. to midnight

A-la-carte Thanksgiving specials by chef Sean Brasel at the Meat Market will feature Bell and Evans fresh turkey leg roulade stuffed with brioche, Asian pear and lobster, served with a spicy pumpkin sauce, fresh cranberry gastric and bok choy ($32); a wood-grilled Bell and Evans fresh juniper and white cranberry-marinated sous vide turkey breast with sweet potato flan, braised beet greens and vanilla Jack Daniels sauce ($35); and a Mixed Grill of 3, a sampling of turkey leg and sous vide breast, along with house-made “ham” korubuta pork belly with orange and king crab salad and roasted macadamia nuts ($42). Save room for a chocolate chip pecan bourbon pie with sour cream ice cream ($12).

Meat Market
915 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
305-532-0088

TORO TORO AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL MIAMI

Thanksgiving from 2 to 10 p.m.
A family–style Thanksgiving prix-fixe dinner is offered by Toro Toro Miami, priced at $59 per person (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity). Chef’s selections include amuse bouche, followed by a first course salad, and a second course of pumpkin soup with pepitas, crispy prosciutto, guajillo chili dust and panela crema; a picadillo and choclo empanada basket; and foie panettone – seared foie gras, toasted panettone and pumpkin marmalade. For the main course, roasted turkey breast; braised turkey thighs; roasted honey chipotle ham and picanha will be accompanied by mole negro turkey gravy and Toro Toro cranberry sauce, accompanied by green beans with chile de arbol, queso fresco and crispy shallots; Yukon mashed potatoes; corn esquites – roasted corn, aioli, chili powder, queso fresco and panko; and chorizo stuffing with chorizo, cornbread and jalapeño. Desserts include pumpkin crema Catalana (Catalonian-style crème brûlée); apple empanadas with spiced apples and vanilla rum ice cream; and a sweet and savory chocolate mousse with dulce de leche, olive oil, sea salt and chili pop rocks.

Toro Toro at the InterContinental Miami
100 Chopin Plaza, Downtown Miami
305-372-4710

QUATTRO GASTRONOMIA ITALIANA

Thanksgiving from 4 to 11 p.m.

Quattro Gastronomia Italiana will offer a three-course Thanksgiving prix-fixe menu for lunch and dinner priced at $60 per person (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity). Begin with a choice of antipasti; crispy pancetta salad with baby Boston lettuce, grape tomatoes, candied walnuts and Blue del Moncenisio dressing or fontina fondue with quail egg and Altamura bread crostini. For the main course, choose between braised turkey breast stuffed with focaccia, Italian sausage and pistachio and served with sage mashed potatoes, multicolor cauliflower gratin and gravy; t-bone of lamb with pumpkin sauce and crispy truffle potatoes; or house-made mini pumpkin gnocchi with walnuts and creamy gorgonzola sauce. Decadent dessert options include a pumpkin tart with dry fruit marmalade and torun gelato or a zeppole with hazelnut, pistachio, honey and apricot dipping glazes.

Quattro Gastronomia Italiana
1014 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
305-531-4833

SUSHISAMBA MIAMI BEACH

Thanksgiving from 11:30 a.m. to midnight

SushiSamba locations in Miami Beach and Coral Gables will offer several a-la-carte Thanksgiving Day specials or regular menu selections. Begin with an autumn-inspired appetizer of braised short rib gyoza with kabocha purée, red shiso leaf and smoked ginger soy ($14); and entrée of mojo roasted organic turkey with linguiça quinoa stuffing and crispy Brussels sprouts ($24); and for dessert a kabocha cheesecake with candied cashews, bourbon caramel sauce and milk chocolate whipped cream ($11).

SushiSamba Miami Beach
600 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach
305-673-5337

SushiSamba Coral Gables
Westin Colonnade Hotel
180 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables
305-448-4990

SUGARCANE RAW BAR GRILL

Thanksgiving from 11:30 a.m. to midnight
Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill in Miami’s emerging Midtown district will offer a variety of a-la-carte specials in addition to a prix-fixe Thanksgiving Day feast. Special entrées will include turkey with spiced pumpkin purée, glazed haricot verts, marcona almonds and sage crumble ($21); braised lamb shank with minted orzo ragout, grilled scallions and lamb jus ($23); and olive oil poached Faroe Island salmon with sautéed spinach, chestnuts and truffle vinaigrette ($22). Seasonal dessert specials will be available, including a pumpkin pie jar with winter spiced pie dough and brunt meringue ($7) and a spiced apple beignet with melted Nutella and whipped cream cheese ($8). The Thanksgiving prix fixe-dinner is $45 per person (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity), and will include a choice of the aforementioned entrées and desserts, and a choice of appetizer: fall spiced pumpkin soup with truffle honey brioche; seared scallop with celery root and pomegranate butter; or pan seared foie gras with corn brioche, fava beans and bacon caramel sauce.

Sugarcane Raw Bar Grill
3252 N.E. 1st Avenue, Midtown Miami
786-369-0353