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10/29/1999 Archived Entry: "Manhattan Thanksgiving Specials"

As I have mentioned on the radio, I always find it amusing (annoying, really) that restaurants don’t know what they are doing for holidays until everyone who intends to eat out on that holiday has already made their plans.

This year is no different from others. My listeners have been asking about Thanksgiving restaurants since August. Most restaurants, however, still don’t know (now late in October) what their menus and prices are going to be. I’ve spent days calling around, but these are the only noteworthy Thanksgiving deals (in Manhattan) I’ve come up with. Several restaurants said they’d call back next week with more info, so let’s say this is just a preliminary list.

A WHOLE TURKEY AT YOUR TABLE
City Hall: 131 Duane St.; (212) BA7-7777. Chef Henry Meer’s restaurant, named after the edifice down the street, has a great atmosphere for Thanksgiving – a sort of old New York tavern look with huge blow-ups of old black and white photos of New York food scenes. Dinner is $65 for adults, $20 for children and includes a whole bird -- from 6 to 8 pounds and up – with all the trimmings served family style. Leftovers can be taken home. Alternatives to the turkey are rabbit or cioppino, a seafood stew. Served continuously from 1 to 8 PM.

TAKE-OUT
Scopa: 27 E. 28th St.; (212) 686-8787. Chef Vincent Scotto’s new restaurant is doing take-out only; $30 a person for a minimum of 8 people; 4 courses with several choices. Vincent is known for heaping on the food, so it’s bound to be an abbondanza.
Halcyon: In the Rihga Royal Hotel: 151 W. 54th St., east of 7th Ave.; (212) 468-8888. $199 plus tax for 8 to 10, $50 for each additional guest, pickup between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Same prices for Christmas Day.

PARADE VIEW BREAKFAST BUFFET AND OTHER T-DAY BUFFETS
Foley’s Fish House: In the Renaissance Hotel, 714 Seventh Ave., at 47th St.; (212) 261-5200: The “Parade View Breakfast,” a buffet, runs from 8 am to 11 a.m. and costs $75 for adults, $35 for children. The brunch buffet starts at 11:30 a.m. and is $35/$20. Dinner buffet starts at 5 p.m.: $45/$20.

Halcyon: In the Rihga Royal Hotel: 151 W. 54th St., east of 7th Ave.; (212) 468-8888. Buffet on the 53rd and 54th floors, with seatings at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. costs $55 for adults, $27.50 for children 4-course Dinner at Restaurant – 3 and 6 PM - $65/$32.50; For Suite Dining call (212) 468-8758– served all day - $65/$32.50 maximum 8 to 10 people – buffet self service.

GOOD VALUE IN MIDTOWN
Mickey Mantle’s: 42 Central Park South, west of 5th Ave.; (212) 688-7777. Baseball fans, especially children, love all the Mickey Mantle and Yankee memorabilia at this real, not really theme, restaurant. $28 for adults, $14 for children.
Abigael’s Grill NYC: 9 E. 37th St., east of Fifth Ave.; (212) 725-0130 and 1407 Broadway at 39th St. (212) 575-1407. These are two kosher restaurants, but if you are looking for a place that will accommodate a large group, you don’t have to be Jewish to appreciate Abigael’s. Four courses priced according to entrée, includes one beverage - $32.50 to $39.50 They can seat parties up to 30.
Virgil’s Real BBQ: 153 W. 44th St.; (212) 921-9494. When you’re traveling with children to the Theater District, this huge barbecue restaurant is always a safe bet. For Thanksgiving, smoked roasted turkey is a special on the regular menu. For parties of a minimum of 12, maximum of 18, you can have dinner served family style -- 3 appetizers, 3 entrees, 3 desserts and coffee for $25 a person (no special children’s price). With pitchers of beer, the price is $33.
Nocello: 27 W. 55th St., west of 8th Ave.; (212) 713-0224. This charming Italian restaurant is always a good value. On Thanksgiving, it’s a great value: With the turkey special on regular menu, it’s $30 for 3 courses.