By Carlos Mira, The Post-FMGN Press – International Edition
Ft. Lauderdale, Nov 24th.- What’s better than celebrating Thanksgiving with friends and family? Celebrating in the sunny paradise of Greater Fort Lauderdale, of course! Not only can you enjoy a delicious meal with all the fixings, but you also get gorgeous weather and stunning views to make the holiday meal even more special. No matter where your evening takes you–from beachfront bliss to sophisticated settings inside buzzy hotels–there’s something for everyone to indulge in.
If you decide to celebrate in the comfort of your hotel room, a few to-go options are available. To ensure a reservation on Thanksgiving Day, please contact the restaurant to confirm availability, as bookings fill up quickly.
WATERFRONT RESTAURANTS
Indulge in the magic of the holiday season with a memorable dining experience at Michelin-starred MAASS, inside the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Fort Lauderdale on Fort Lauderdale beach. Whether you feast in the dining room or at the exclusive Chef’s Counter, you’ll indulge in brioche-stuffed turkey and beetroot salad with citrus, walnut, aged cheese, and radicchio, among other specialities.
Burlock Coast Seafare & Spirits at The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale is offering a three-course family-style meal. Savor housemade herb biscuits with whipped pumpkin butter, fall greens with maple vinaigrette, and butternut squash soup with sage and brown butter. The main course features roasted turkey breast, confit leg and thigh, plus decadent sides. End the night by sharing the classic roasted pumpkin pie or warm apple pie with salted caramel and vanilla ice cream—all with gorgeous views of the glistening ocean.
Leave the apron at home and let the pros handle turkey duty this year. Steak 954 inside the W Fort Lauderdale is elevating Thanksgiving with roasted heritage turkey breast and confit leg, paired with sage stuffing, sweet potato casserole, and pillowy whipped potatoes. Start with the creamy pumpkin and corn chowder spiked with turkey sausage, or go green with an autumn harvest salad.
Delight in a Thanksgiving meal that’s anything but traditional at Casablanca Cafe. Dine from the full dinner menu or opt for à la carte. Large plates feature Creole jambalaya, Southern-style braised collard greens, and rum and brown sugar–glazed sweet potatoes. There’s even surf ’n turf cornbread and a sushi Thanksgiving roll. Walk-ins only; no reservations will be accepted.
Thanksgiving on the water beats Thanksgiving at home any day. The House on the River in downtown is setting up an expansive holiday buffet with live carving and pasta stations, a farmhouse salad bar, signature mains, and enough sides to please even your pickiest relative. End it all at the dessert table, then take a stroll along the river to justify going back for seconds.
Not everyone likes turkey on Thanksgiving! Mastro’s Ocean Club is sticking to what it does best: prime cuts, fresh seafood, and an award-winning wine list curated to enhance every bite. Round out the holiday meal with a seasonal cinnamon and pecan butter cake, a twist on its cult favorite.
Spending Thanksgiving in the idyllic beach town of Pompano Beach? Consider booking a reservation at Oceanic. This upscale eatery will host a Thanksgiving buffet on the beach featuring chef-curated dishes and plenty of refreshing cocktails to complement the festive fete. Dig into roasted turkey and prime rib carving stations, or try the three-course Thanksgiving prix fixe and dine downstairs.
A few steps away, you can skip the formal dining room and celebrate Turkey Day with your toes in the sand. Lucky Fishguests get to enjoy a celebration with a laid-back coastal twist—think herb-roasted turkey with all the trimmings, or their stacked open-faced turkey sandwich on challah. Wash it down with an ocean breeze and save room for pumpkin pie. (The Dania Beach locale will serve the same à la carte specials.)
Galuppi’s all-day lunch and dinner Thanksgiving buffet serves all the classics plus a carving station with prime rib, sushi-grade ahi tuna, and an upgraded dessert spread. Dine inside the renovated space or grab a table on the covered patio overlooking the greens and lakes.
HOTEL ESCAPES
If you’re staying in the trendy North Beach Village neighborhood for the holidays, make your Thanksgiving reservation at La Fuga inside the Kimpton Shorebreak Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. The coastal Italian eatery invites locals and hotel guests to celebrate Thanksgiving with a four-course Italian-American dinner. The evening begins with flavorful antipasti, followed by lasagna al forno di melanzane and Nonna’s Sunday Gravy with bucatini. The main course features a Thanksgiving spread of herb-roasted turkey breast, accompanied by turkey leg confit and an array of endless sides. For dessert, sample assorted cannoli, pumpkin tarts, and pecan tarts. La Fuga will also offer “The Plate” at a discounted price for a smaller meal with just the essentials.
One of Fort Lauderdale’s favorite dining scene favorites, Olive & Sea, has made a splash since its debut at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina. The rooftop waterfront restaurant along the Intracoastal serves colorful and bold Mediterranean-style dishes, so expect a Thanksgiving menu with options, such as shawarma-roasted turkey breast with tahini gravy, harissa-roasted carrots, pomegranate cranberry relish, and more delights. The regular menu will also be available.
The newly reopened Pier Sixty-Six Hotel & Marina brings a fresh wave of flavor to the holiday, with two restaurants that make Thanksgiving feel anything but ordinary. At Calusso, the star of the menu is a whole-roasted heritage chicken for two — carved tableside and served with luxuriously creamy Joël Robuchon mashed potatoes, sweet corn brûlée, and cranberry jus (with the option to add truffle). Sotogrande takes a Mediterranean turn, starting with butternut squash avgolemono and roasted beet and citrus carpaccio before a beautifully seasoned herb-roasted turkey with sweet potato moussaka and broccolini.
Make your stay in Greater Fort Lauderdale extra special this Thanksgiving by dining at one of the fine eateries inside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood and its iconic Guitar Hotel. There are a slew of options to try; a few standouts include contemporary Japanese cuisine at Kuro, an Italian twist at Cipresso, fall-inspired cuisine at Abiaka Wood Fire Grill, and a three-course prix fixe meal inside Council Oak Steak & Seafood.
Why celebrate Thanksgiving at ground level when you can do it 26 floors above Fort Lauderdale beach? The rooftop hangoutNubé, located atop Beach House Fort Lauderdale, will host a holiday-inspired small plates fête with a stunning view. Bites include “pilgrim empanadas” stuffed with turkey, stuffing, and cranberry jam, or crispy pumpkin risotto arancini with sage brown butter aioli. Don’t forget a round of pumpkin spice donut bites drizzled in sweet crema glaze.
Margaritaville Hollywood Beach Resort takes a holiday buffet to the next level with island-inspired touches. Pile your plate high at the carving station, graze the salad and dessert displays, and settle in with a view of the water. Consider this if you’re staying at the hotel or near Hollywood Beach.
Celebrate the season by the shore at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, where every restaurant captures the spirit of Thanksgiving in its own distinct way. Ease into the holiday at the newly renovated Hotel Bar, a laid-back spot steps from the sand serving casual holiday favorites and seasonal desserts. For a more elevated affair, Diplomat Prime offers a refined steakhouse dinner with festive specials alongside its signature menu. Or, there’s Thanksgiving brunch at Point Royal, featuring seasonal dishes, sweet treats, and an optional mimosa cart.
AROUND TOWN SPECIALITIES
One of the best parts of Greater Fort Lauderdale is its abundance of restaurants to explore, no matter when you visit. This year, Daniel’s, A Florida Steakhouse in Fort Lauderdale will serve a festive à la carte menu alongside its full signature offerings. Savor holiday favorites like Australian prime rib, Green Circle turkey, classic stuffing, and homemade pumpkin and apple pies, paired with the restaurant’s celebrated sides and premium steaks.
Curious about what Timpano Las Olas is cooking for Thanksgiving? This Fort Lauderdale favorite blends tradition with modern flair, offering an all-day prix-fixe menu. The meal includes Italian wedding soup reimagined with turkey brodo and polpettini, or a roasted honey nut squash and arugula salad with blood orange and pistachios. Enjoy herb-roasted turkey with all the fixings for the main event—whipped potatoes, cauliflower casserole, sweet potato buttermilk biscuits, cranberry compote, and gravy. Save room for Timpano’s New York-style cheesecake with caramelized apples.
Batch New Southern Kitchen and Tap, downtown Fort Lauderdale’s buzzing outpost for comfort food classics, will serve its regular a la carte menu along with Thanksgiving specials, including turkey and stuffing waffles (a riff on chicken and waffles) and pumpkin pie pudding.
For an elegant take on turkey day, head to Eddie V’s in downtown, where you and the family can savor a plated experience abounding with slow-roasted sliced turkey, brioche sage stuffing, French green beans with sun-dried tomatoes, and all the classic sides. Finish with a pumpkin pie tartlet topped with pecan ice cream, then linger over cocktails while live jazz drifts through the lounge.
Swap the traditional turkey dinner for something a little more tropical this Thanksgiving at Mai-Kai, which boasts South Pacific vibes and live entertainment, featuring two dinner seatings and shows. Huli Huli barbecue turkey with grilled pineapple, kalua roast pork with sweet corn fried rice, and coconut cream or cara cara orange flan, anyone? The experience is complete with fire dancers.
Cooper’s Hawk Dania Beach is plating an all-day Thanksgiving meal, complete with slow-roasted turkey, traditional sides, butternut squash soup, and Eli’s Pumpkin Praline Cheesecake for dessert. Wine Club members can bring their own bottles to the table and rack up points while they’re at it.
Thanksgiving meets the track at Ten Palms inside Gulfstream Park, where you can celebrate with an all-you-can-eat buffet while watching live horse racing on Opening Day of the Championship Meet. The spread includes a carving station and every side imaginable, from candied sweet potatoes to baked mac and cheese. Add in a seafood bar, charcuterie, and desserts, and you’ve got a holiday that’s equal parts indulgent and entertaining.
TO-GO FEASTS
Let these local spots bring the meal to your Thanksgiving table this holiday season. Here’s where you can pick up your holiday catering to go. Be sure to place your order in advance to relish all the deliciousness.
Ocean Prime, Fort Lauderdale
Skip the stress and savor more time with loved ones with Ocean Prime’s “Everything But The Turkey” package, which comes with truffle mac and cheese, honey balsamic Brussels sprouts, bacon creamed spinach, and jalapeño potato au gratin—plus a warm bread basket and the restaurant’s legendary five-layer carrot cake. The best part? It requires nothing more than reheating.
Batch New Southern Kitchen and Tap, Fort Lauderdale
Downtown’s Southern outpost is offering a Cajun-fried turkey meal package to-go option, featuring either a whole fried turkey (serving 8-10) or a half turkey (serving 4-6, served platter-style) with all the fixings.
Shooters Waterfront, Fort Lauderdale
Enjoy a chef-prepared feast that serves 6-8 and comes ready to heat and serve. Orders are limited and need to be placed by November 25, with pickup available on Thanksgiving Day. Add extra sides if your crew runs large, then kick back and let someone else take credit for the cooking.
Cooper’s Hawk Dania Beach
Cooper’s Hawk’s meal kit serves 6 and includes slow-roasted turkey, butternut squash soup, all the traditional sides, and Eli’s pumpkin praline cheesecake.
Galuppi’s, Pompano Beach
This spot’s package feeds 6-8 and comes loaded with oven-roasted turkey, honey-glazed ham, three sides, salad, and rolls. Plus, choose between apple pie, pumpkin pie, or bread pudding.
Vicky’s Bakery, Fort Lauderdale
The Cuban bakery institution is going all-in on fall flavors with its Pumpkin y Queso collection—perfect for dessert! Sink your fork into pumpkin flan cheesecake, or flaky pastelitos stuffed with spiced pumpkin and cream cheese. If you’re planning ahead, don’t sleep on their limited-edition collaboration with Havana Club: a rum cake that blends two iconic Cuban family recipes dating back to the 1930s and ’50s, all available for preorder!
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