Thanksgiving to go: These eateries want to help Orange County give thanks in spite of the pandemic

The Old Brea Chop House has a special Thanksgiving takeout dinner.

By Bradley Zint

Nov. 18, 2020 12:55 PM PT

With much of California returning to the purple tier because of a surge in coronavirus cases and health officials advising against nonessential travel, many Orange County families won’t be celebrating Thanksgiving the same way they did last year, but area restaurants are gearing up to help make the holiday memorable and keep the tradition alive, with menus planned and pick-up services arranged. Here are a few selections from throughout the county to satisfy almost any palate.

31431 Santa Margarita Pkwy., Rancho Santa Margarita
4975 Lakeview Ave., Yorba Linda
The two locations of the Blind Pig are offering a Thanksgiving feast package with a mix of ready-to-serve and heat-and-serve food. The main courses are 4 pounds of prime rib roast with a demi-glaze and four giant turkey legs with cranberry apple compote. You’ll also get three sides: mashed potatoes (skin-on red potatoes, confit garlic, and chives), green bean casserole (mushrooms, bechamel, allium crumble and scallions) and stuffing (brioche, lardons, mirepoix and herbs). For dessert, it’s a pumpkin cheesecake with cinnamon cookie crumble.

Price: $250
Serves: six to eight
Deadline: Preordering is available through Nov. 22. Pickups available at both locations on Nov. 24 and 25.
To order: For Rancho Santa Margarita, call (949) 888-0072. For Yorba Linda, call (714) 485-2593. You can also email [email protected].

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Bruxie

215 W. Birch St., Brea and 292 N. Glassell St., Orange
Bruxie is again serving its special Thanksgiving waffle sandwich stuffed with Boar’s Head turkey, sausage-herb stuffing, gravy and cranberry-orange sauce. They’re also serving a pumpkin pie dessert waffle and pumpkin spice shake.

Price: Varies
Serves: 1
Deadline: Sales begin Nov. 23 and are anticipated to last through the week
To order: Visit either store

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Cafe Sevilla

The Triangle, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa
It’s Thanksgiving in Spain at the Triangle in downtown Costa Mesa. On Thanksgiving Day, they’re offering a three-course prix fixe menu for outdoor dining and takeout with butternut squash soup with lemon and chive cream, roasted turkey breast and glazed black forest ham with sweet mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, a brussels sprout casserole, corn bread, barbacoa pineapple chutney and pumpkin pie with cinnamon ginger whipped cream.

Price: $49.50 for adults, $24.50 for children
Serves: Varies
Deadline: Outdoor seating on Thanksgiving Day starts at 11 a.m. Last seating is at 9 p.m. Takeout can be ordered as late as Thanksgiving Day itself.
To order: Reservations are recommended by calling (949) 688-1555.

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Driftwood Kitchen

619 Sleepy Hollow Lane, Laguna Beach
Chef Rainer Schwarz is offering a prix fixe menu special on Thanksgiving Day. It starts with parker house rolls with Vermont butter and sea salt, followed by a choice of roasted baby beet and arugula salad, yellowtail carpaccio, butternut squash soup or pan-seared scallops. Entrees include Omaha prime rib or roasted turkey. Desserts are pecan pie, apple pie or cookies.

Price: $75 for adults, $19 for children 12 and younger
Serves: Varies
Deadline: The restaurant’s Thanksgiving Day hours are 1 to 8 p.m.
To order: Reservations are recommended by calling (949) 715-7700 or visiting driftwoodkitchen.com.

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Fable & Spirit

3441 Via Lido, Suite A, Newport Beach
This Newport Beach institution is offering its expertise to supplement your Thanksgiving dinner. Contact sommelier Ali Coyle, who will recommend wines based on your menu. Drew Coyle, director of spirits, is also creating a “fabled spirit” for this year’s holiday.

Price: Varies
Serves: Varies
Deadline: Orders must be placed by Nov. 24. Pickup is between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Nov. 25.
To order: Call (949) 409-9913 or email [email protected]

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Five Crowns

3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar
This Corona del Mar institution themed like an English pub is offering its family-style prime rib feast and roast turkey meals. Accompaniments include creamed corn, stuffing and Yorkshire pudding batter.

Price: Starts at $209 for the prime rib feasts, $165 for the roasted turkey meals
Serves: four to 15
Deadline: Thanksgiving to-go meals must be placed by Nov. 23
To order: Call (949) 760-0331

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Fork & Knife

401 E. 17th St., Suite A-2, Costa Mesa
Chef Jonathan Blackford’s new restaurant, which opened this fall in the midst of the pandemic, is presenting an “everything but the turkey”-themed meal. This means diners can get their own turkey while Blackford does the rest. He’s offering a variety of Thanksgiving sides, seasonal soup, salads, charcuterie plates, cheese plates and desserts. The full menu is available at www.forkandknifecm.com.

Price: Varies
Serves: Varies
Deadline: Orders must be placed by Nov. 20. Pickups are scheduled for Nov. 25 and Thanksgiving Day until 2 p.m. All food will be cold (except baked goods) but presented with heating instructions.
To order: Call (949) 877-0330 or email [email protected]

The Fork & Knife in Costa Mesa is offering "Everything but the Turkey."

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Georgia’s Restaurant

Anaheim Packing District, 440 S. Anaheim Blvd., No. 209A, Anaheim
Nana Gretchen and Nika Shoemaker-Machado are offering their Southern cooking with Thanksgiving feasts and soulful sides. Entree options include fried chicken, St. Louis-style barbecue ribs and jambalaya. Sides include coleslaw, chili mac, collard greens and red beans and rice. Sweet desserts offered are whole peach cobblers, lemon cakes, pound cakes and sweet potato pies.

For a complete menu, visit georgias-restaurant.com.

Price: Varies
Serves: Varies
Deadline: Preorders available until Nov. 21. Pickups Nov. 24 and 25 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To order: Call (714) 906-1900

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Hendrix Restaurant & Bar

32431 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel
The takeout option by chef Rainer Schwarz features the following: whole-roasted turkey, Yukon smashed potatoes, apple-fennel stuffing, green beans, heirloom carrots, cranberry sauce and turkey gravy. Accompanying the meal are parker house rolls with Vermont butter and sea salt. Dessert is pumpkin or apple pie. They are also offering a Thanksgiving Day meal from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. with patio dining at the restaurant.

Price: $175
Serves: six to eight
Deadline: Orders must be placed by Nov. 24 for curbside pickup on Thanksgiving Day between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
To order: Call (949) 248-1912.

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Old Brea Chop House

180 S. Brea Blvd., Brea
This restaurant, which is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month, is offering a four-person take-home feast. Options include their roasted free-range turkey, roasted pear salad, garlic rolls, seven sides and homemade pumpkin pie with cinnamon cream. They’re also offering New Zealand rack of lamb, filet mignon, Chilean sea bass and Creekstone prime rib.

For a full list of offerings, visit the restaurant’s website.

Price: $159
Serves: four
Deadline: The Thanksgiving Day to-go menu will be offered only on that day from noon to 8 p.m., while supplies last.
To order: Call (714) 592-3122 or visit www.oldbreachophouse.com

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Sushi Roku

Fashion Island, 327 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach
This restaurant is offering its Hot Family Pack or Sushi Family Pack, stocked with fish from around the world. The fare combines traditional Japanese cuisine with California touches.

Price: $109
Serves: four
Deadline: None given
To order: Call (949) 706-3622 or visit sushiroku.com

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The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar

3131 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach
2647 Park Ave., Tustin
Both locations are offering a turkey dinner for takeout and dine-in. The takeout features the following from chef Yvon Goetz: a roasted free-range Diestel turkey with sliced white and dark meat; apple-sundried cherry dressing, cranberry-orange relish and pinot noir sage gravy; a fall organic baby greens salad and choice of sides that include a mashed potato casserole, butternut squash potato gratin, roasted brussels sprouts, bacon and sundried tomato, green beans almondine, maple syrup-roasted garnet yams and honey thyme-glazed carrots. Desserts include a pumpkin cheesecake with caramelized pecan-vanilla bean chantilly.

Price: $350
Serves: six
Deadline: Orders must be placed by 3 p.m. Nov. 23. Pickup Nov. 25 between 1:30 and 8 p.m.
To order: Call Tustin at (714) 258-7600 or Newport Beach at (949) 999-6622.

The writer is a contributor to TimesOC.

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