For foodies staying in town who are looking for options other than turkey this Thanksgiving, you’ll be happy to know that there are tons of yummy places with non-bird choices. Happy (non-) Turkey Day!
Henry’s Hat — $20
Mmm, comfort food. OK, this Studio City restaurant will be serving up a honey and brown butter glazed ham for a non-turkey option in its Southern Thanksgiving buffet, but that deep-fried herb brined turkey breast sounds awesome..
- 2pm-close. 3413 Cahuenga Boulevard, Studio City (map). Reservations: (323) 512-2500.
Fraiche Santa Monica — $35
Enjoy a three-course family-style Thanksgiving at rustic French/Italian Fraiche, the new second location near the beach. For the main dish, you’ve got more options than roasted turkey, like roasted chicken, seared duck breast or flat-iron steak. Pile sides on your plate like mac n’ cheese, creamed spinach and glazed carrots..
- 12pm-8pm. 312 Wilshire Boulevard, 
Santa Monica (map). (310) 451-7482. Reservations: Click here.
Upstairs 2 — $42
The Wine House’s restaurant has some yummy options for the main dish of the day, in addition to the traditional turkey, they’ve got lavender crusted sea bass with vanilla-scented beur blanc, grass-fed NY strip with red wine sauce or tagliarini pasta and petite peas in Morel mushroom sauce. But I’ve got my eye on dessert, a choice of semisweet flourless chocolate cake with raspberry coulis, sticky toffee pudding with vanilla gelato or pumpkin pie with vanilla chantilly cream. Drool! It’s just $20 for wine pairings selected by sommelier Marilyn Snee.
- 2pm-8pm. 2311 Cotner Avenue, Los Angeles (map). Reservations: (310) 231-0316 or click here.
Locanda del Lago — $49 three-course, $62 four-course
Italian restaurant Lago’s prix fixe T-Day menu non-turkey choice is rainbow trout filet, market Bermuda onion confit, potatoes “ponte nuovo,” cranberry sauce or you can stick with the turkey and chestnut-apple stuffing, Italian shepherd pie and savoy cabbage involtino. For some vino with each course it’s an additional $20.
- 11:30am-10pm. 231 Arizona Avenue, Santa Monica (map). Reservations: (310) 451-3525 or click here.
Vinoteque on Melrose — $55 or $70 with wine pairing
Chef Joshua Smookler’s classic holiday menu main entree choices include a slow-roasted prime rib, three-cheese ravioli or crispy black sea bass in addition to an organic farm-raised turkey.
- 1pm-8pm. 7469 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles (map). Reservations: (310) 860-6060 or click here.
Akasha — $55
Organic restaurant Akasha is offering a vegan wild peppercorn and sage-roasted tofu or a pomegranate-jalapeno jelly-glazed Niman Ranch ham in addition to its slow-roasted turkey. But leave room in your belly for the old-fashioned pie buffet with goodies like a spiced pumpkin cheesecake, Texas-style pecan and chocolate bourbon tart or pear and cranberry tart with cinnamon crumble to name a few.
- 12pm-7pm. 9543 Culver Boulevard, Culver City (map). Reservations: (310) 845-1700 or click here.
Whist at The Viceroy — $68
OK, Whist “only” has a carving station where you get your choice of Roasted Mary’s turkey breast and leg confit or maple-glazed cured ham but you could also fill up at the risotto station featuring roasted mushroom-spinach, butternut squash and shellfish-tarragon risottos (or is it risotti?). And you can’t pass up Pastry Chef Brooke Mosley’s fall festive tartlettes, including apple, chocolate-pecan and pumpkin.
- 2:30pm-7:30pm. 1819 Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica (map). Reservations: (310) 260-7511 or click here.
Other Thanksgiving listings:
LA.com’s Thanksgiving Cocktail Roundup
LA Times‘ Thanksgiving takeout and dining in options
LA Weekly‘s Top 10 Places To Buy a Pie for Thanksgiving
Quarrygirl.com’s Vegan Thanksgiving in Los Angeles
