We are still working our way through our stash of Halloween candy, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t already eyeing up Thanksgiving dinner in Ocean City. Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays; after all, it is a glorious day focused on giving thanks, spending time with loved ones, and of course, feasting until your top pants button pops off. We’ll be checking in again next week with tips for giving back to your local community during the holiday but for now we are focused on the food. The deliciously decadent food. There are several options for your Thanksgiving Day feast, starting with deciding whether you want to eat out or cook at home. For those of you going out to eat, there are plenty of local options, ranging from buffet style to sit down dinner. For the at-home chefs, we encourage you to support local by purchasing your baked goods and floral arrangements from local shops and purveyors. Out of towners, we’ve got you covered too, with some fantastic hotel and dinner combos. With Thanksgiving just a few weeks away, now is the time to start planning.
Buffets
For the diners that want to have ALL the options, we suggest making reservations at a local restaurant offering a buffet. It’s the closest thing to eating at home, where you can pick and choose how much you want on your plate while returning for seconds and thirds.
Open at 1pm. Buffet includes: turkey, glazed ham, pot roast, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cream of crab soup, assorted stuffings, crab dip, glazed carrots, corn bread, pecan pie, apple pie, and pumpkin pie.
Price: Adults: $20.99, Seniors: $17.99, Children: $11.99
Noon to 8pm. Salads, hot baked breads, Eastern Shore oyster chowder, cream of turkey Bradford, seafood gumbo, snow crab bisque, roast turkey with homemade gravy, glazed country ham, oyster dressing, old fashioned sage dressing, cornbread dressing, real mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes with praline topping, roasted fresh buttered yams, cranberry sauce, lima beans, baked corn pudding, green beans almandine, sauerkraut, assorted pies, puddings and cakes for dessert.
Price: Adults: $23, Children 5-12: $13, Children 3-4: $4, Children Under 3: Free
Seating’s at 12, 2, 4 and 6pm. Fresh fruit display, salads, raw bar display, roasted pumpkin bisque, pan seared salmon, slow roasted turkey, sausage cornbread dressing, candied yams, whipped potatoes, green bean casserole, mac n’ cheese, roasted corn succotash, carving station with prime rib or beef and slow roasted ham, silver dollar rolls, warm bread and biscuits, festive selection of sweets.
Price: Adults: $34.99, Children 12 & Under: Half Price, Children 3 and Under: Free
Lighthouse Sound
Noon to 7pm. Carving station with prime rib and oven roasted turkey served with fresh bread, au jus sauce and cranberry sauce; salad station; sides including vegetable medley, mac n’ cheese, homemade stuffing, sweet potato casserole; mashed potato bar; homemade assorted desserts.
Price: Adults: $24.95; Children ages 5-12: $12; Children under 5: free.
1pm-6pm. Hot station featuring chicken Florentine, beef tips stroganoff, seafood Newburg, various sides; carving station featuring smoked ham with mustard-apricot marmalade, roasted tom turkey with giblet gravy; cold stations featuring salads, brie, fruit tree; bread station; dessert table.
Price: Adults: $28.95, Children 6-12: $15.95, Children under 5: free
1pm-8pm. Traditional turkey menu, carving station with turkey, sliced turkey breast and ham, baked salmon, fried oysters, stuffing and gravy, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, Caesar salad, sauerkraut, succotash, green beans, biscuits and rolls, desserts including pumpkin pie.
Price: Adults: $26.95, Children 5-10: $9.95, Children under 5: Free
Adolfo’s
6-10pm. AUCE Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet.
Price: Adults: $19.95, Children 6-12: $ $10.95, Children under 5: free
Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner
For a more traditional approach, i.e. a plated dinner, there are several scrumptious options to choose from in and around Ocean City, each as delicious sounding as the next. Make sure to secure your seat with reservations!
1-8pm. Tom turkey, traditional stuffing, cider glazed ham, mashed potatoes, giblet gravy, mashed sweet potatoes, sugar snap peas, fresh cranberry relish, assorted muffins and breads, traditional desserts. Alternative menu also available.
Price: Adults: $26.95, Children 6-12: $12.95, Children under 5: free.
Turkey, giblet gravy, ham with raisin sauce, dumplings, stuffing, yams, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, pumpkin pie, fresh baked breads and cranberry muffins. Complimentary seconds.
Price: Adults: $19.99, Children $9.99
11am-10pm. Roast turkey, seasoned sausage and sage dressing, mashed potatoes and turkey gravy, cranberry orange relish, fresh harvest succotash, rolls and butter, decadent seasonal desserts.
Price: Adults: $15.99, Kids under 10: $8.99
Carry-Out Feasts
For the Thanksgiving diner who wants to eat at home, but without the fuss of cooking and cleaning up, there’s the carry-out feast option.
Serves 6-8 people and includes roasted turkey (16lbs), glazed ham (2lbs), corn bread (12 pieces), fresh dinner rolls (6), gravy (1 quart), pumpkin pie, and a choice of three sides (2lbs each).
Price: $99
Pies and All Things Sweet
Truth be told, we would be satisfied with skipping straight to the sweet stuff. Dessert is the real showstopper at the ShoreBread household and while we love baking, we also love the local sweets that our talented friends bake up:
Baked invites you to take the stress out of holiday baking by getting Baked with their talented team! Pies include: apple crumb, pumpkin, chocolate pecan, sweet potato, peach crumb, bumble berry, coconut cream, and chocolate silk. Pastries include peach dumpling, croclairs, cream puffs, and canolis. For cakes, think drunken pumpkin, German apple, butter rum pecan, amaretto, kahlua, and limoncello. Cheesecakes are either New York or pumpkin and jelly rolls are available in pumpkin and raspberry. For breads, think sweet potato biscuits, cinnamon rolls, French baguette, rustic olive, stirato rolls, and breakfast breads including crumb, pumpkin, apple cranberry and banana chocolate chip.
Orders must be placed by November 16.
Options include: apple and pumpkin pies, pumpkin and carrot cakes, turkey and pilgrim cake pops, Thanksgiving decorated cupcakes and more! Pre-order your Thanksgiving dessert and receive a FREE dozen mini cupcakes.
Additional Fixin’s
Spice & Tea Exchange
Cooking your own feast? The Spice & Tea Exchange has every spice, sugar, blend or rub you could possibly desire for Thanksgiving cooking. Stop in and chat with one of their helpful staff members for ideas and helpful recipe tips.
West O Bottle Shop
Located just a short distance from our office on Route 50 in West OC, we’ll be patronizing the local wine, beer and spirits shop for our libations this year, along with a quick stop at their bar to fuel up for the holiday madness.
While they aren’t open for dining, the store at Liquid Assets will be open. Stop in to stock your Thanksgiving bar. LA has a fantastic selection of beer, wine and spirits.
Our local Berlin brewery offers growlers for the holiday occasion. Stop in and pick up a growler early in the day for dinner or as a gift to your generous host. Their apparel make for excellent Christmas gifts too, but let’s tackle on holiday at a time.
Décor
It’s not Thanksgiving without a stunning centerpiece on the table. For your holiday décor, we suggest visiting your local florist! A few of our favorites are:
Little Miss Lovely: In addition to offering flower arrangements for the holiday, Little Miss Lovely will also be hosting a Thanksgiving Centerpiece Workshop on November 23 at Waterman’s Seafood Company in West Ocean City. Pre-register at Waterman’s by 11/20/15 to save your spot.
Flowers by Allison
Eat and Stay: Hotel Packages
For our out-of-town friends (or for our in-town locals that are looking for a staycation) there are several Thanksgiving packages available for the holiday. All include dinner in their pricing, with several packages including a few add-ons and extras.
Package includes a two-night stay in an oceanview/poolview suite and one Thanksgiving Buffett for two adults.
Price: $109/person with a $30 per night surcharge for oceanfront.
Thanksgiving package includes a two-night oceanfront stay, Thanksgiving Buffet for two, and breakfast buffet for two each morning.
Price: $419 (includes tax and gratuities)
Two- and three-night packages, including Thanksgiving Holiday Buffet for two in Horizons or the Crystal Ballroom.
Two- and three-night packages available, with each including the Thanksgiving Buffet at Peaky’s Rooftop restaurant (for two adults). Packages also include breakfast for two adults and a $10 voucher for A Christmas to Remember. Stays start at $79 per night.
Thanksgiving package includes two nights in a Victorian Deluxe Guest room, hot cider upon arrival, $20 coupon for the Drummer’s Café, an original Berlin holiday ornament, and a festive Thanksgiving dinner for two in the Drummer’s Café.
Price: $399 per couple for two nights.
