Happy November! As we near Thanksgiving, you may or may not be looking forward to firing up the oven, basting the turkey and braving the grocery store. Perhaps you just PCS’d to the area or are about to. Or maybe the pure exhaustion from 2020 (and the sad reality many of us cannot see extended family) is enough that you just aren’t feeling it. I think we all deserve a “pass go” when it comes to holiday cooking.
Never fear! We did a little research and found some local places offering Thanksgiving meals and treats to-go. Many of these businesses are accepting pre-orders now, with deadlines the week before Thanksgiving. Read on for more details!
Sift Bake Shop
Mystic’s beloved Sift Bake Shop is bringing back its holiday menu! For Thanksgiving, you can choose from freshly baked breads and rolls, holiday tarts and cheesecakes, breakfast quiches and pastries, and plenty of cookies. Orders are currently being taken online and must be placed by Sunday, November 22. Orders must be picked up on Wednesday, November 25 between 7am-7pm.
Mystic Market
Mystic Market is the perfect non-stop shop for Thanksgiving dinner. Go all in for the entire meal or hand select from different courses and side dishes. Their menu includes traditional favorites and fancy additions, like smoked brisket potato cups and butternut squash and crab bisque. Their complete family dinners range from $29-$300. Orders must be submitted by Thursday, November 19. Pick ups are required by 5pm on Wednesday, November 25. Mystic Market has four locations in Mystic, Old Saybrook and Westport.
McQuade’s Marketplace
McQuade’s is offering a “Chef Prepared Thanksgiving Dinner,” complete with their traditional herb stuffing, McQuade’s famous turkey gravy, choice of side dishes, cranberry and freshly baked pies. All items come in oven-safe containers, with heat instructions. To view the full menu, click here. Orders must be placed by Friday, November 20 and picked up on Wednesday, November 25 before 7pm. McQuade’s has two nearby locations in Mystic and the other in Westerly, RI.
Captain Daniel Packer Inne
Dine like a captain at Captain Daniel Packer Inne Restaurant & Pub! The Mystic restaurant is offering both dine-in and dine-out options for Thanksgiving. For to-go, you can order a three course prix fixe dinner ($40) which includes a unique choice between traditional roast turkey or braised short ribs. The meal is complete with an apple crisp or cheesecake. Orders must be placed by November 23.
Pasta Vita
If you’re craving Thanksgiving with an Italian twist, Pasta Vita in Old Saybrook is just the ticket. For Thanksgiving, the restaurant is offering a pre-order menu with entrees like baked spiral ham with a bourbon, brown sugar glaze and eggplant rollatini. Choose from a number of sides like cranberry herb stuffing, mashed butternut squash, roasted beets or broccoli au gratin. Desserts include berry pies, mini Italian pastries, ricotta pie, pumpkin cheesecakes, whoopie pies and more. Orders must be placed by November 21 and picked up on November 24 or 25.
Grass & Bone
Mystic’s Grass & Bone is going all out on Thanksgiving fixings. The butchery and market is offering an online Thanksgiving market, from local pasture raised turkeys and organic pork loin roasts, to sourdough stuffing and homemade cranberry sauce. All Thanksgiving orders must be placed by Thursday, Nov. 19, with pick-ups on Tuesday, Nov. 24 or Wednesday, Nov. 25. Pick up locations include Mystic, Old Lyme, Watch Hill and others.
Nana’s Pizza & Bakery
As the newest venture from 85th Day Food Community (Grass & Bone, Oyster Club Engine Room), Nana’s Bakery & Pizza quietly opened shop earlier this month (side note: their pizza is amazing, and their donuts are next on our list). The restaurant is hosting a pop-up “Holiday Pie Shop” with three pies to order: dark chocolate bourbon pecan pie, brown butter sweet potato pie and an umami caramel apple pie. Pies must be ordered by Sunday, November 22 at 6pm, with pick up on Wednesday, November 25 between 12pm-3pm.
B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill
Mystic’s beloved B.F. Clyde’s Cider Mill is currently selling pies and still has a limited amount of hard ciders available. Be sure to pick up their other festive jams, jellies, pickled vegetables, honey and other goods for the holidays!
Scott’s Yankee Farmer
The East Lyme farm is staying open for the holidays and offering Thanksgiving treats from “Granny’s Pie Factory.” Pies – 20 varieties of them – can be ordered and purchased online, then picked up curbside at their roadside store. Orders must be placed by Sunday, November 15.
Are we missing any? Please comment below and we’ll add to the list.