A list of SBH-approved Omaha-area spots offering Thanksgiving takeout

Thanksgiving — the quintessential American food holiday — is going to look very different this year.

Many of us (myself included) will miss seeing family and friends. Some of us might be eating alone, or with family over Zoom, and might not feel like cooking at all.

That’s where this list comes in.

Restaurants have been constantly adapting in 2020, and this year, I’m not focusing my list of Thanksgiving restaurants on dine-in. We’re in the middle of a pandemic, and the safest, smartest choice is to dine at home with your quarantine crew, or get takeout.

To that end, I’m sharing my favorite options for local Thanksgiving takeout. I’ll be adding to this alphabetically organized list throughout the next week, and I hope you and yours find it helpful.

For fun, I looked over all the menu offerings and called out some dishes that looked especially good.

Have a Thanksgiving special you’d like me to consider? Send it my way.

Big Mama’s Kitchen

Big Mama’s has a large menu available for Thanksgiving takeout, including a variety of desserts and breads and a dinner for one option. The restaurant is offering a limited number of pickups on Thanksgiving day. For more information, or to order, visit the website link above.

Menu highlight: The $30 dinner for one is a thoughtful choice, especially this year, when many of us will be dining solo or with just one other person. The meal includes a turkey leg and wing, the choice of four classic side dishes, a crescent roll with honey, a desert, bread and the choice of gravy. “Feast” is no joke here.

Dario’s Brasserie & Avoli Osteria

The two Dundee spots will be serving takeout portions sized for four to five diners. Pre-orders are open until Nov. 22, and orders can be picked up Nov. 25 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. The restaurants will also offer wine and beer pairings for each menu, along with large-format cocktails.

Menu highlight: Dario is brining his takeout turkey with Trappist ale, lemon, rosemary and honey and serving it with a sage focaccia stuffing. Dry aged prime rib is the main course at Avoli, and dessert is smoked pecan pie served with house gelato.

Dante

Dante is serving a traditional Thanksgiving feast, and the meal can be sized for any amount of diners. The basic option feeds four. Pre-orders are open until Nov. 19 and pickup is Nov. 25 between 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Order by emailing info@dantepizzeria.com and specify how many people you plan to serve, along with your name, phone number and preferred pick up time. Wine pairings are available.

Menu highlight: The menu includes a half-wood roasted Nebraska turkey and what I’m sure is a delicious take on green bean casserole with cipollini onion. For dessert: pumpkin pie gelato.

Goldenrod Pastries

If you’re based in Lincoln (or going to be in Lincoln) the excellent Goldenrod Pastries, which offers both vegan and gluten-free holiday treats, will have a wide selection of holiday specials available. To place a custom order for pickup or takeout, call 402-486-4103, or email orders@goldenrodpastries.com.

Menu highlight: Coming soon.

J. Gilbert’s

The downtown steakhouse is offering “Thanksgiving kits” for takeout sized to serve four to six diners. Pre-orders are open now; for more information, visit the link above or call 531-222-9218.

Menu highlight: There’s nothing wrong with the classics (it’s why we all love this holiday so much.) J. Gilbert’s menu has it all: roast turkey, cornbread and sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, candied sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie. You get the idea.

Johnny’s Cafe

Order a prime rib or turkey dinner at Johnny’s, sized for two, four or six diners. Pre-orders are open until Nov. 20, and orders can be picked up Nov. 25 from 1 p.m to 5 p.m. To order, call 402-731-4774.

Menu highlight: The prime rib comes par cooked, so you can finish it at home to your liking. It comes with their legendary liver pate (a favorite of mine) as a side dish, along with pumpkin or apple pie. A traditional turkey dinner is available, too.

Kitchen Table

Downtown’s Kitchen Table (which recently announced it is closing its dining room temporarily because of the COVID-19 surge in Omaha) is offering “all the sides” for takeout.

The side dishes are designed to serve four, and are available for pre-order now. Pickup is available Nov. 24 and Nov. 25. Diners can order just one, or get every single side for a discounted price. Call 402-933-2810 to order.

Menu highlight: The sides include all the classics (sweet potato casserole, sausage or vegan mushroom stuffing) and a few surprises, like cheesy cabbage casserole and Brussels sprouts with blue cheese and bacon.

Tiny House Bar

I don’t know about you, but I think we’re all going to need a few cocktails this holiday season. We’ve had the takeout cocktail kits from Tiny House in the past, and they’re delicious. The kits are back for the season (and individual cocktails to go via their drive-thru never left.) Kits are available Wednesday and Thursday and can be picked up between 4 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Click the link to pick your poison and order.

Side note: Tiny House is one of the businesses in Omaha I’ve seen taking this pandemic seriously. They’re running one of the safest operations I’ve seen, and I think they deserve our support.

Menu highlight: If you haven’t tried their house gin and tonic, read my review and then order a kit. I’m looking forward to getting one of their house Manhattan kits with Omaha-made Soldier Valley whiskey and Italian Vermouth.

Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods has a wide variety of food available for takeout, from full dinners to individual sides to just a turkey. It’s also got a whole slew of pies and even holiday appetizer spreads (though when it comes to “holiday appetizers,” I’ve always played it pretty minimal to save room for the big meal.)

Thanksgiving items are available to pick up now through Nov. 26. Orders must be placed at least 48 hours before the time they are to be picked up. Click the link above for more information or to see the menus.

Menu highlight: There’s entree choices of turkey, beef or ham in the lineup as well as both paleo and vegan options for diners who might be on a special diet. The menus also include a whole list of vegan sides, desserts and appetizers.