Long Beach Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving in Long Beach offers more than home-cooked turkey; some of the city’s best restaurants, cruises and attractions are serving festive feasts with ocean views, elegant dining rooms and global flavors. From lavish buffets to Mediterranean twists, here are some standout spots offering memorable ways to give thanks without lifting a finger in the kitchen.
This year, give thanks in Long Beach!
It's that time of year! The scent of pumpkin spice wafts through the air. Leaves crunch underfoot (well, maybe not so much in southern California) and the turkeys are getting plumper. It's not too early to start thinking about where and how you will celebrate Thanksgiving this year.
While it may be a joy to eat your turkey dinner, it’s not always a joy to prepare it, and it's even less of a joy to clean it up! If you’d like to spare yourself the hassle this year, Long Beach has plenty of restaurants willing to accommodate you. Take note of these culinary events happening in Long Beach over Thanksgiving weekend!
555 East
Downtown landmark 555 East (555 E Ocean Blvd) has a special three-course menu that includes a main course option of roast turkey or smoked spiral ham, both with sourdough apple-celery stuffing and all the classic trimmings. Dessert features pumpkin cheesecake or old-fashioned chocolate cake. Reservations recommended.
Aquarium of the Pacific
Come gobble gobble with the Aquarium’s sea otters, puffins, and other animals for the annual Thanksgiving Feast. You can meet over 12,000 animals from the world’s largest ocean, then savor a traditional spread to be served buffet style, overlooking Rainbow Harbor.
Cafe Sevilla
Cafe Sevilla (140 Pine Ave) in Downtown Long Beach is offering a Spanish-inspired three-course feast featuring Piquillo Pepper Salad, Stuffed Cornish Game Hen and Pumpkin Arroz con Leche. Not only will its popular regular dinner menu also be available, but also live Latin music from 5-8 PM will make the celebration more festive. Reservations are highly recommended.
Chez Bacchus
This Thanksgiving, Chez Bacchus (743 E 4th St) will offer a four-course dinner crafted by Executive Chef Danny Le, with each dish reflecting the beauty of the season. Wine pairings will be curated by Wine Director John Hansen and desserts by Pastry Chef Sadie McAtee.
Menu:
- Starter: Roasted Quince & Parsnip Soup
- Appetizer: Tempura Fried Shrimp or Crispy Duck Confit Salad
- Intermezzo: Pineapple-Ginger Lemonade
- Entrée: Holiday Turkey, King Salmon, or Braised Wagyu Beef Cheek
- Side: Mash Potatoes & Cranberry Sauce for the table
- Dessert: Pumpkin Crème Brûlée or Warm Pecan Bar
City Cruises Thanksgiving Brunch
Embark on a 2 hour harbor cruise with City Cruises on Thursday, November 27th to enjoy a Thanksgiving brunch unlike any other.
Board the ship at 10:30 a.m., then set sail from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and take in breathtaking views of Long Beach while indulging in unlimited mimosas, a delectable brunch buffet, and captivating live entertainment.
Reservations can be booked on the City Cruises website.
City Cruises Thanksgiving Dinner
Keep the Thanksgiving celebrations going with City Cruises and cast off for a scenic 2.5 hour harbor cruise and dinner on Thursday, November 28th.
Board the ship at 3:30 p.m., then enjoy a festive dinner buffet with all the trimmings, a full service bar, and live DJ entertainment from 4:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Reservations can be made on the City Cruises website.
Fuego at Hotel Maya
Located at the waterfront Hotel Maya, Fuego (700 Queensway Dr) is serving an elevated Thanksgiving menu that not only includes herb roasted turkey, herb garlic potato puree and cranberry chutney brioche stuffing, but also prime rib, salmon and polenta meals capped with pumpkin pie mousse and warm apple pie for dessert.
La Traviata
In the historic Willmore Building, La Traviata (301 Cedar Ave) offers an Italian-inspired setting for Thanksgiving dinner with turkey offered multiple ways along with the usual delicious sides. They will also be offering a full array of pasta dishes as well as wines and cocktails. An intimate and elegant option if you want something a little different.
Long Beach Marriott
Enjoy Thanksgiving at the Long Beach Marriott with a sumptuous buffet and unlimited mimosas! The menu features traditional breakfast favorites like omelets, waffles, and eggs Florentine, as well as a seafood station with crab claws and crab legs, charcuterie station, salad bar, pasta station, carving station with roasted turkey and bone-in ham, a dessert station, and a chocolate fondue station with fresh fruit and marshmallows for dipping. Seatings are available at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM. For reservations, call (562) 425-5210.
Open Sesame
Located in Belmont Shore, Open Sesame (5215 E 2nd St) offers Mediterranean-Lebanese shareables and grill items—perfect for a less conventional Thanksgiving dinner: flavorful mezze, grilled kabobs, veggie-friendly dishes, and iconic spicy garlic potatoes in a warm neighborhood setting.
Parkers' Lighthouse
Parkers’ Lighthouse (435 Shoreline Village Dr.) offers sweeping harbor views with a special Thanksgiving buffet from 11:30 AM to 9 PM, including traditional entrees and sides as well as a carving station and assorted artisanal breads and seasonal desserts. Reservations are highly recommended: call (562) 432-6500 or visit the restaurant’s website.
FAIRMONT BREAKERS
Perched atop the Fairmont Breakers Long Beach, Sky Room (210 E Ocean Blvd) offers a lavish Thanksgiving buffet with carving stations of turkey, prime rib and salmon as well as seafood towers, cheese and charcuterie as well as seasonal sides and dessert station, all with sweeping harbor views. Reservations via OpenTable are required.
Italian restaurant Nettuno at Fairmont Breakers is also hosting a Friendsgiving dinner on November 16 and 23. Enjoy family-style brunch platters and a complimentary mimosa or Spritz per guest. Reservations are available on OpenTable.
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (180 E Ocean Blvd) offers you a choice. Enjoy a three-course Thanksgiving menu featuring oven-roasted turkey breast with sausage-herb stuffing, gravy, garlic mashed potatoes and cranberry relish or take it to enjoy at home. You can even choose to have one of your steak favorites, which will be available on Thanksgiving Day as well.
Boathouse on the Bay
Boathouse on the Bay (190 N Marina Dr) presents a buffet featuring traditional holiday favorites like turkey and all the fixings along with fresh seafood and sushi. It’s ideal for those looking for a holiday feast that comes with a spectacular view of Alamitos Bay.
Gladstone's at The Pike
On the waterfront, Gladstone’s (330 S Pine Ave) has a long tradition of serving patrons on Thanksgiving. This relaxed yet polished mainstay is offering a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings and pumpkin pie dessert for dine-in or takeout from 11:30 AM to 7:30 PM.
Reservations are recommended and can be made at (562) 432-8588.
Food for Thought
Food Finders is looking for donations to help families celebrate Thanksgiving. They are accepting canned goods, packaged goods, and hygiene items, as well as monetary donations to purchase turkeys.
Click here to learn more about how you can make a difference this holiday season.
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