Remaining on campus during Thanksgiving break can feel pretty dreary and isolating from the normal coziness and delicious food of the season. Luckily, if you are craving that traditional meal or are looking to try it for the first time, Nashville, Tennessee, has plenty of options for Thanksgiving dining.
Pelato
This year, Nashville’s beloved Italian restaurant, Pelato, will be putting a twist on Thanksgiving. The East Nashville spot will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 2 to 7 p.m. CST and will be offering its regular menu.
For festive drinks, guests can sip on their red sangria ($17) made with Chianti, pomegranate and pineapple. Their frozen cosmopolitan ($17) combines white cranberries, pomegranate and lime for a holiday touch.
On the side, Pelato will be serving pumpkin agnolotti ($18) with roasted pumpkin, ricotta, brown sugar and sage. Their “stuffed saucy bird” ($19) features rolled turkey breast, sausage stuffing, whipped potatoes and pan gravy. The restaurant will also be offering “Anthony’s Family Stuffing” ($14), a cozy mix of Italian sausage, rice, mozzarella and Parmigiano Reggiano.
It’s a small, thoughtful menu that blends classic Thanksgiving food with Italian flavors.
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint will be rolling out a full lineup of Thanksgiving take-home feasts that are perfect for both the holiday itself and any post-Thanksgiving gatherings. Guests can pick up orders as early as Monday, Nov. 24, and as late as Sunday, Nov. 30, during the restaurant’s regular hours or its new extended hours from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
This year’s offerings include two main feast options: the Major Feast ($279.99), which feeds 12-15 people and includes an entire smoked turkey or half smoked ham with a lineup of classic Southern sides, pie, gravy, tea and sauces; and the Small Gathering ($159.99), a scaled-down version. Martin’s will also be offering an extensive a la carte menu, from smoked meats by the pound to casseroles, rolls, pies, cakes and gallons of tea.
Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint is making it easy for its customers to impress their family members with their classic Southern dishes.
The Nashville Grange
Just a seven-minute drive from campus, the Nashville Grange at Grand Hyatt Nashville will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. for dinner. The restaurant will be serving a three-course fixed menu at $65 per person, and reservations are not required.
The meal starts with sweet potato gnocchi paired with autumn squash, gold apple and honey vinaigrette. For the entree, guests will enjoy a cider-brined turkey breast with cornbread-andouille dressing, turkey leg gravy, mashed Yukon potatoes, cranberry-blood-orange relish and Brussels sprouts with muscadine glaze. The best part, dessert, will be a sweet potato tart topped with toasted ginger meringue, brown butter butterscotch and a thyme crunch.
Whether you’re feeling fancy or just wanting to get your Thanksgiving fix, the Nashville Grange will be sure to impress.
Dozen Bakery
Dozen Bakery is a 15-minute drive from campus and well worth the trek. While its holiday pre-orders are sold out online, Dozen Bakery is open Monday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for first come, first serve in-person orders during Thanksgiving week.
Its Thanksgiving specialty items include everything from decorations to potato rolls to both sweet and savory pies. This menu is more catered to those looking for Thanksgiving-inspired sides and sweets with a bit of a twist on the traditional meal. As for the more savory items, they have take-and-bake vegetarian and chicken pot pies, butternut squash, mushroom stuffing, goat cheese galette, sweet potato casserole and multiple bread options. On the dessert side, they have pumpkin pie, butterscotch pecan pie, apple pie, pumpkin cranberry loaf and more.
If you are looking for something cozy that tastes homemade during break, consider making the drive to Dozen Bakery. Make sure to get there early as they are likely to sell out!
Monell’s
This restaurant, located in Germantown, will be serving a southern inspired Thanksgiving menu from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday. The full fixed menu is available for $28.95 for adults and $16.95 for children.
For Thanksgiving entrees, Monell’s will be serving slow-roasted turkey with cranberry sauce and gravy, glazed baked ham and skillet fried chicken. This will be accompanied by sides including cornbread dressing, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, macaroni and cheese, corn pudding and mashed potatoes. Lastly, for dessert, they will be serving caramel pumpkin pie with crumb topping.
Monell’s Thanksgiving menu is first-come, first-served on the holiday, though they are open at regular hours for their normal menu Wednesday and Friday.
