Who's Serving Thanksgiving in 2024?

Each November my inbox is swamped with the same question: Which restaurants serve a traditional turkey dinner on Thanksgiving Day? For the 18th year in a row, I made a hundred phone calls to find the answers, which I serve below.

Make your reservations early because many places will sell out; some are booked out three months in advance. And the competition isn't just from your immediate neighbors: Based on the analytics of who is reading my online posting of this list, it appears that slightly more than half of the people exploring the idea of a Santa Barbara Thanksgiving feast are from outside of the county.

- The Restaurant Guy

  • Arnoldi's Café: $65 adults, $30 ages 12 and below; 1-9 p.m.; (805) 886-2842
  • Ballard Inn Restaurant: sold out; reservations start in late September; (805) 688-7770
  • Belmond El Encanto: sold out; reservations start in late September; (805) 845-5800
  • Black Sheep: $85; 3-9 p.m.; (805) 965-1113
  • bouchon: sold out; reservations start in late September; (805) 730-1160
  • Brass Bear Uptown: $70 adults, $30 ages 12 and under; 11:1-5 p.m.; (805) 869-4014
  • Ca' Dario, Goleta: priced à la carte; 2-9 p.m.; (805) 884-9419
  • Ca' Dario, Montecito: $110 4-course; 2-9 p.m.; (805) 884-9419
  • Ca' Dario, Santa Barbara: $85 3-course; 2-9 p.m.; (805) 884-9419
  • Carp Kitchen: To-go only; roasted whole turkey $120, serves 6 - 8, side dishes extra; or try dinners for two, $64 all inclusive; order by 11/22; (805) 318-9400
  • The Caya, The Leta Hotel: à la carte; 1-7 p.m.; (805) 964-1288
  • Chumash Casino Resort: Grains & Grounds: $195 take-out, feeds 6-8, order by 11/25, pickup 11/27-28; (805) 686-0855
  • Chumash Casino Resort: Willows: $80; 5-10 p.m.; (805) 686-0855
  • Cold Spring Tavern: $100 adults, $35 ages 10 and below; noon-6:30 p.m.; (805) 967-0066
  • Convivo Restaurant, Santa Barbara Inn: $115 3-course, $140 4-course adults, $35 ages 12 and below; noon-9 p.m.; (805) 845-6789
  • Costa Kitchen & Bar, Mar Monte Hotel: $95 adults, $30 ages 12 and below; 3-8 p.m.; (805) 882-1234
  • Crocodile Restaurant & Bar, Lemon Tree Inn: $36; noon-8:30 p.m.; (805) 687-6444
  • The Cruisery: $28; 1 p.m.; (805) 729-3553
  • Dargan's Irish Pub & Restaurant: $35.95; 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; (805) 568-0702
  • Finch & Fork, Kimpton Canary Hotel: sold out; reservations start in late September; (805) 884-0300
  • First & Oak, Mirabelle Inn, Solvang: sold out; reservations start in early October; (805) 688-1703
  • Harbor Restaurant: $95 adults, $55 ages 12 and below; noon-8 p.m.;(805) 963-3311
  • Harry's Plaza Cafe: $32.95; 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; (805) 687-2800
  • Helena Avenue Bakery: everything but turkey, takeout, priced à la carte; order by 11/22, pickup 11/26; (805) 880-3383
  • Holdren's Steaks & Seafood: $ pending, turkey and prime rib; 11am-9 p.m.; (805) 965-3363
  • Intermezzo: $95 3-course + $45 wine pairing, $45 ages 10 and below; (805) 966-9463
  • Jill's Place: $65 3-course, $30 ages 10 and below; 1-5 p.m.; (805) 963-0378
  • Joe's Cafe: $37.95 ham, $39.95 turkey, $46.95 prime rib, $24.95 turkey or ham for ages 12 and below; noon-8:30 p.m.; (805) 966-4638
  • Little Dom’s Seafood: take-out only, deep fried turkey $120, sides/desserts extra; (805) 749-7400
  • Mulligan's Cafe & Bar, Santa Barbara Golf Club: $45 with turkey, prime rib, ham, $20.99 ages 10 and below; noon-5 p.m.; (805) 682-3228
  • The Nook: a la carte Turkey dinner for take-out; order by 11/23, pickup on Thanksgiving Day 12-4 p.m.; michael@thenooksb.com/li>
  • Opal: $79 3-course; 1:30-6:30 p.m.; (805) 966-9676
  • Poe & Co: To-go, order at poe-and-co.com by 11/24, pickup on 11/27; priced à la carte; (805) 669-7187
  • Reagan Room, Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort: buffet; $120 adults, $52 ages 4-12; 3-8 p.m.; (805) 884-8529
  • Ritz-Carlton Bacara: Angel Oak: $142; 4-9 p.m.; (805) 571-4220
  • Ritz-Carlton Bacara: The Bistro: $145 adults, $55 age 3-12; 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; (805) 571-4220
  • Rori's: Thanksgiving ice cream pies (maple pecan or cinnamon pumpkin) $68; order by 11/25, pickup 11/25-27; (805) 220-6019
  • Rosewood Miramar Beach: Caruso's: $265 6-course, $55 children, under age 4 free; 3-9 p.m.; (805) 303-6169
  • Rosewood Miramar Beach: Chandelier Ballroom: brunch buffet; $195 adults, $65 ages 5-12, under age 4 free; noon-7 p.m.; (805) 303-6169
  • Rosewood Miramar Beach: Revere Room: Brunch: $130 4-course, $65 ages 4-12, under age 4 free; 5:30-9 p.m.; (805) 303-6169
  • Roy: turkey, prime rib, or salmon stuffed with crab & lobster; $75; 3-9 p.m.; (805) 966-5636
  • San Ysidro Ranch: Plow & Angel: sold out; reservations start in early September; (805) 565-1720
  • San Ysidro Ranch: Stonehouse: sold out; reservations start in early September; (805) 565-1720
  • Shoals Restaurant, Cliff House Inn: $78-$92; 1-6:30 p.m.; (805) 652-1381
  • Stella Mare's: $69 2-course, $29 ages 12 and below; (805) 969-6705
  • Tee-Off Restaurant & Lounge: $32.95; 3-9 p.m.; (805) 687-1616