By Christopher Trela and Stasta Surdyke
Get out of the kitchen this Thanksgiving and let one of these top local Newport Beach restaurants take care of your holiday feast.
BALBOA BAY CLUB
Balboa Bay Club has two restaurants offering excellent Thanksgiving menus: First Cabin and Bay Club Grill.
Enjoy a four-course traditional Thanksgiving feast from 1 to 8 p.m. in the beautiful First Cabin restaurant overlooking the Newport Bay. Live piano music enhances this festive evening. First course options includes a salad with Roasted Beets and Humboldt Fog Goat Cheese, or a Crab Martini with Louis Cognac Dressing. Second course includes Roasted Butternut Squash Soup or Saffron Clam Chowder.
Choose from such Entrées as Roasted Tom Turkey with Autumn Harvest Stuffing and Winter Vegetables, Roasted Prime Rib of Beef with Whipped Potatoes, or Seared Chilean Sea Bass with Roasted Corn Cake, Artichokes and Lemon Beurre Blanc. Dessert features Pumpkin Crème Brûlée, Warm Apple Caramel Walnut Tart à la Mode, or Roasted Pecan Cranberry Bread Pudding with Rum Raisin Ice Cream. $70 adults, $35 children 4-12.
At the Bay Club Grill, their four-course feast includes a salad, choice of soups, turkey, prime rib or sole entrees, and dessert. $62 adults, $31 children 4-12.
For reservations, call 949-630-4145 or visit balboabayclub.com.
FIVE CROWNS
The Five Crowns Thanksgiving Dinner offers traditional choices as well as a full menu of the restaurant’s trademark dishes. The menu created by Executive Chef Dennis Brask is available from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. A first course is included in the price of every entrée, with selections ranging from Butternut Squash Soup with pancetta and almonds to the Pride of the Crowns Salad with walnuts, bacon, croutons, and Asiago and Gruyere cheeses.
As the main course, the classic Oven-Roasted Tom Turkey ($29) is made with Diestel free-range turkey served with fresh herb and chestnut dressing, real mashed potatoes and giblet gravy, sautéed green beans and yam slices baked with rosemary and garlic. The Five Crowns favorite, Roasted Prime Ribs of Beef, is served in the traditional manner, with creamed spinach, mashed potatoes, and Yorkshire pudding. For those who want it all, there’s a Prime Rib and Turkey Combo ($40). Roasted Duckling ($37) served on a compote of apples and prunes is another option.
Five Crowns is at 3801 East Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. Valet parking is available and all major credit cards are accepted. Reservations are recommended. 949-760-0331 or LawrysOnline.com.
ISLAND HOTEL’S PALM TERRACE
From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Palm Terrace Restaurant at The Island Hotel in Fashion Island will offer a modern American Thanksgiving meal created by acclaimed Chef Bill Bracken and accompanied by live harp music.
The feast is served family-style and features carved Slow Roasted Tom Turkey with Chestnut-Cranberry Bread Pudding and many more trimmings. The three-course menu for the table also includes: House-Smoked Salmon with Chive Potato Salad and Preserved Lemon Crème Fraîche; Seared Rare Ahi Tuna with Asian Vegetable Slaw and Yuzu Aioli; Chef Bracken’s signature Macaroni and Cheese (a Table for Two favorite!); Roasted Autumn Vegetable and Dried Fruit Salad; and Slow Braised Prime Beef Short Ribs.
To complete the holiday table, Pastry Chef Michael Owens will create a lavish presentation of irresistible desserts. Live harp music. Price is $75 adults; $38 children 12 and under (excludes tax and gratuity). Reservations recommended. Call 949-760-4920 or visit IslandHotel.com.
PELICAN HILL
Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Coast has several options this thanksgiving.
At the signature Andrea Ristorante, Chef Luca creates a special Rustic Tuscan holiday menu available from noon to 10 p.m., accompanied by a classical guitar player. Have a large family? Try the Andrea Private Dining Room, where Chef Luca will create a menu with special selections for parties up to 30 guests. $90 per adult, $45 per child.
At the Pelican Grill & Lounge, Chef Chang presents a delectable all-day California Grill Brunch menu available from 11:30 am to 10 p.m. Entertainment includes a pianist, bass player and singer. In the Pelican Grill Private Dining Room, Chef Chang dedicates a special California Grill menu for parties up to 52 guests. $85 per adult, $30 per child.
And finally, in the Coliseum Pool & Grill, Chef Mark designs a California Classic breakfast buffet available from 7 to 11:30 a.m. ($35 per adult, $20 per child). From noon to 4 p.m., a brunch buffet menu is served ($49 per adult, $20 per child). The popular a la carte dinner menu is available from 4 to 10 p.m.
Call 800-820-6800, or visit PelicanHill.com.
PASCAL TO GO
Don’t want to dine out this year but still want to get out of the kitchen? Let Chef Pascal Olhats do the cooking! Pascal, who owns several restaurants in Newport Beach, has created an amazing Thanksgiving to-go menu. You can get individual dinners for $19.95 each that include Cooked Free Range Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Home Style Stuffing, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Braised Cabbage, and a Mini Pumpkin Tart. You can also order al la carte and select everything from whole turkeys to delicious sides to decadent desserts. Orders must be placed before 5pm on Tuesday November 23, and will be ready for pick-up from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on November 25. Call 949-263-9400, Ext. 2.
