Thanksgiving is Thursday. If you’re behind on your plans, take a deep breath. We have everything you need to get ready.
We’ve created this guide to Thanksgiving in Rochester to help you have a joyful, delicious and stress free holiday. Here are our recommendations for all-things Thanksgiving.
Which restaurants will be open?
Let’s start with the easiest way to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner: head to a restaurant. Some restaurants will serve turkey dinner specials, which range from classic to gourmet. Others are offering bountiful buffets. And if the whole turkey-and-stuffing thing doesn’t appeal, there are lots of other possibilities.
If you haven’t made a reservation, cross your fingers and start calling. If all else fails, several chain restaurants will be open; some offer takeout as well. Here’s a rundown of restaurants open on Thanksgiving.
Where can I order takeout?
A low-stress option is to order all or part of the meal from grocery stores, restaurants or caterers. These meals also make it easy to welcome guests who follow different diets; you can order a vegan or gluten-free meal just for them. Most will be provided cold, with pickup on Tuesday or Wednesday, and will contain instructions for reheating.
Here’s our guide to takeout Thanksgiving. Most options are past the window to order, but check their social media feeds for changes. You may also have luck with chain restaurants; see the list in the restaurant story, above.
What will the weather be like?
As of Monday, the weather in Rochester on Thanksgiving is looking pretty darned pleasant for the season. But if you’ll be traveling, you may run into some inclement weather. Here’s a look at the forecast, as well as helpful tips on how to plan your journey.
I’m cooking! Where do I start?
And if you’re cooking turkey for the first time, here are some tips from Nick Lang, a Wegmans chef who’s roasted thousands of turkeys over the years (the video in the story was recorded in 2020).
Here’s help if you’re struggling with how much turkey and side dishes to prepare. Since 2014, we’ve offered this handy cheat sheet with how much to make, as well as wine suggestions and a plethora of other tips.
The cost of a Thanksgiving meal can definitely add up. Emily Barnes, our consumer advocate reporter, researched grocery store deals on meals as well as the components.
Where can I get a head start on my holiday shopping?
Remember how folks used to finish Thanksgiving dinner early and then spend the evening getting a jump on Black Friday sales?
That’s been changing over the past few years. Several major retailers will be closed, including Best Buy, J.C. Penney, Kohl’s and Walmart. Some grocery stores and drug stores are cutting back hours as well. You may want to double check before heading out.
Tracy Schuhmacher covers food and drink for the D&C. Keep up to date with her food finds by subscribing to her weekly ROCFlavors newsletter.
