Holiday shopping sales surround Thanksgiving, but there’s nothing cheap about a $100-plus heritage turkey. A number of restaurants are stepping up to offer specials so you can splurge calorically and save monetarily. Stay tuned for a separate list of Black Friday deals.
Student discounts at Al Dente
Being stuck on campus for the holidays has its perks. Anyone showing a student ID can order a three-course Thanksgiving menu for $25, with dishes such as chestnut soup, butternut squash lasagna, and turkey scallopini (items are also available à la carte). The regular four-course Turkey Day dinner menu isn’t much costlier, priced at $35 for the family-style meal.
When: Thursday, November 28; student special from 11:30 to 4 (regular dinner is 4:30 to 8).
Traditional dinner (on the cheap) at Clyde’s
It’s not easy finding a traditional Thanksgiving meal of turkey and fixins for less than $30. Here to help: multiple area locations of Clyde’s, which dish up roast turkey dinners with the likes of sausage stuffing, two types of potatoes, green beans, gravy, pie, and more for $26 per person, and $16 for children. Here’s a sample menu from the Georgetown flagship.
When: Thursday, November 28. Call individual locations for reservations/details.
Unlimited mussels and beer at Et Voila
No, $30 isn’t pocket change, but it’s cheap for unlimited mussels, fries, and Belgian beer. You’ll get exactly that at the Palisades Belgian bistro during a “stretch your belly” pre-Thanksgiving feast, with multiple mussel preparations like classic garlic-white wine, lemongrass-curry, lobster bisque, and more.
When: Wednesday, November 27, 5 to 10.
“Thankstapas” from Jaleo
José Andrés takes on Turkey Day without going whole hog, meaning you can find individually priced Thanksgiving tapas without splurging on a set menu or entrée. Dishes include turkey-and-blood-sausage croquetas with cranberry aïoli, roast turkey soup, and béchamel-sauced turkey-spinach canelones.
When: Friday, November 29, through December 1, at the Penn Quarter and Bethesda locations; through November 30 at Crystal City.
Unlimited pizza at Piola
Skip the pricey heritage turkey and feast on unlimited wood-fired pies for $17 ($10 for children) at the 14th Street location of the international pizza chain. Several Thanksgiving specials are in the mix, like a white turkey pizza with roasted potatoes and caramelized onions; you’ll find additional offerings such as tapas-size mac and cheese and sparkling pomegranate cocktails for an additional $5.
When: Thursday, November 28.
Three-course lunch at Ris
The newly Oprah-approved restaurant offers a festive, November-long lunch deal. A three-course Thanksgivukkah menu ($25) includes dishes such as an open-faced roast turkey sandwich on challah and sweet potato latkes topped with smoked salmon and sour cream.
When: Monday through Friday 11:30 to 3, through November.
Dollar burgers from Z-Burger
The local king of discount patties offers $1 turkey burgers at the Tenley location. The downside: You’ll have to say “gobble gobble” or make another turkey noise for the special—but there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
When: Wednesday, November 27, 11 to 2 (Tenley location only).
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
