FOOD
FLY THE COOP
WHY SOME FAMILIES EAT THANKSGIVING OUT AND SOME SUGGESTIONS ON WHERE TO TAKE THEM
Thanksgiving, like 4th of July and Arbor Day, are one of those uniquely American holidays that you quite literally cannot celebrate anything else. And perhaps more than any other holiday, American or not, no other day is anchored by, exists for and is defined by a meal. Not just any meal, but a very specific pairing of turkey, cranberries, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, and, in my opinion, the star of the show, stuffing. Sure, there are variations, but 99% of Thanksgiving tables will have one or more of these dishes present. For many, many people this holiday is celebrated in someone’s home, with friends and family gathered from near and far to be thankful, eat themselves in to a coma and pretend to watch football, all while sneak-drinking wine in the kitchen so you don’t get finger-wags from your mother. But for others, Thanksgiving is spent around the table at a restaurant. Reasons for this are as varied as the options on a Thanksgiving dessert buffet. Matt Neistein of Beechview prefers it because “for the past couple of years it’s just been the two of us, and cooking up a big meal for two people almost seems counterproductive.” Which rings true as someone who has avoided the post-Thanksgiving dinner kitchen of carnage like the plague. It is a lot of work, both before and after. Some folks alternate dining in and out, depending on the year. Jen Greenwald, of Churchill, spends the years with her husband, Dan’s, family, trying out different restaurants for Thanksgiving. This year they’re traveling to Stonewall Resort in WV. There are pros and cons to going out.
BY BETHANY RUHE - PITTSBURGH CURRENT ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER BETHANY@PITTSBURGHCURRENT.COM For instance, as many carbs as you want from the buffet, but, according to Greenwald, “You can’t hang out and talk because the next reservation is waiting for your table. And with a large group there are always several people you barely talk to because they’re seated too far away from you.” For others, it’s simply a time issue. April Hanahan of Monroeville wants more time to spend with her family, and less time cleaning and cooking; “Not spending that day cooking, gives me a lot more time to actually enjoy it with my child!” Whatever your reasons, there is a place in Pittsburgh for you to spend your Thanksgiving. Just remember, the folks in the kitchen and in the dining room are working on their holiday, too. Neinstein knows this all too well. “The restaurant staff knows it's a special day, so they seem to take a little more time making sure you're happy. And we always tip a lot more because these are people working instead of being with their families.” Places to consider for your own Thanksgiving dinner out on the town: Braddock’s Rebellion Downtown $43.95, adult, $19 12 and under, children under 5 are free braddocksresaurant.com Brick Shop Tryp Hotel, Lawrenceville $38 per person, reservations not required but suggested brickshoppgh.com The Capital Grille Downtown $43 adult, $15 children
thecapitalgrille.com The Commoner Downtown $38 per person, reservations not required but suggested thecommonerpgh.com Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Downtown eddiev.com Gateway Clipper Fleet Station Square $57 adults, $26 children 1-12 gatewayclipper.com (check out their Light Up Night cruise, too!) Grand Concourse Station Square $44 adults, $21 children, take-out options also available grandconcourse.com Hyeholde
Moon Township $50 adults, $25 children, reservations required hyehold.com Rivers Casino North Shore $24.99 riverscasino.com Senti Restaurant and Wine Bar Lawrenceville $59 per person sentirestaurant.com Spirits and Tales The Oaklander Hotel, Oakland Thanksgiving Prix Fixe, call for prices spiritsandtales.com Whitfield Ace Hotel, East Liberty $45 per person, reservations suggested. whitfieldpgh.com
PITTSBURGH CURRENT | NOVEMBER 12, 2019 | 23