Duluth Thanksgiving Dinner Restaurant Rocommendations

What’s a good place to eat dinner on Thanksgiving day in Duluth?

(Looking for a restaurant recommendation, not the suggestion to go to your grandmother’s house!)

34 Comments

  1. rediguana on November 4, 2009 at 8:41 pm

    Go to your grandmother’s house.

    Restaurants on Thanksgiving? How apocryphal. If you don’t have family, do something with the community. There’s always free Thanksgiving dinner at the DECC.

  2. Chad on November 4, 2009 at 9:15 pm

    Actually, some families do go out to a restaurant for Thanksgiving. Mine has done so for several years now. The places are always packed, so it can’t be that uncommon.

  3. rootbeerlady on November 4, 2009 at 9:27 pm

    Our extended family started going out to eat back when our children were young to save the work of meal prep but still spend time together. We’d also stay at a motel with a pool and have fun swimming, snacking and watching football later after the big meal.

  4. tamara on November 5, 2009 at 5:25 am

    There are lots of restaurants around that are doing Thanksgiving dinners – the Pickwick is one of them – but I second rediguana’s suggestion that you and your family head to the DECC.

  5. Barrett Chase on November 5, 2009 at 6:47 am

    OK, two people have affirmed that “lots” of restaurants are open. Anyone want to provide a list? I think that’s what rootbeerlady is looking for.

  6. Paul Lundgren on November 5, 2009 at 6:51 am
  7. Rae on November 5, 2009 at 8:19 am

    A few years back my extended family had the buffet at Barker’s Island Inn. I’ll admit it wasn’t as nostalgic as a traditional family Thanksgiving dinner, but the food was fair, the prices were decent, and we really enjoyed the pool area after dinner (though that part was optional.) I believe they like reservations. Lot’s of restaurants will take out advertisements of their specials in the paper the week leading up to Thanksgiving – so that is probably a good resource.

    Does anyone have any ideas of where I can get a good Thanksgiving dinner in Gatlinburg, TN as that will be my travel destination for the long weekend?

  8. wetclimber on November 5, 2009 at 8:53 am

    The Lighthouse on Homestead Rd.

  9. c-freak on November 5, 2009 at 9:07 am

    The Main Club puts out a wonderful spread.
    http://www.mainclubsuperior.com

  10. huitz on November 5, 2009 at 10:55 am

    Black Woods had a decent classic turkey buffet that I heard was good. If you’re into the all you can eat thing, it might be worth calling them up. Nothing about this event on their web site, though.

  11. Bret on November 5, 2009 at 12:30 pm

    Alison’s Restaurant.

  12. Bret on November 5, 2009 at 12:33 pm

    Oops, I meant Alice’s Restaurant.

  13. mevdev on November 5, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    Bret, be mindful where you throw your trash. It might come back to haunt you!

  14. Todd Gremmels on November 5, 2009 at 1:50 pm

    Lakeview Castle does a nice job.

    You need reservations though and I believe the Plaza IGA does Thanksgiving Dinners that are not bad. Before Thanksgiving you pay a price (very low as I remember) and you get a complete dinner that you finish cooking at home.

    My wife and I did it one year and it was good.

    Peace

  15. Todd Gremmels on November 5, 2009 at 1:59 pm

    Alice’s resturant charges $50.00 for the sugar cubes that you can put in your coffee!!!!

    If your looking for a little different Thanksgiving!!!

    Mr. Nice comeing to a theatre near you!!!!

    Peace

  16. wildgoose on November 7, 2009 at 7:45 am

    Back in my radio days, must have been ’96. I got stuck with the evening gig on the night before Thanksgiving. This was KAXE-FM, northern community radio, one of the best stations in the country, heck the world. Most of the music shows were done by volunteers but if you couldn’t get people (on say, the night before a huge holiday) staff had to fill in. Anyway, I played Alice’s restaurant, the whole thing. I had never heard it before. Highly recommended. Maybe I’ll pull it out to listen to with the fam this year. Thanks for the hijack/memory jogger Gremmels and Bret.

    As for where to go, I know this isn’t what you’re looking for lady, but most north country families I know have a “room for more” policy on Thanksgiving. In fat times and lean times there’s always room for more and our house is no exception.

  17. rootbeerlady on November 8, 2009 at 2:26 pm

    Thank you also for the memory jogger, Gremmels, Bret and wildgoose. Alice’s Restaurant brings back memories of being a very small part of Duluth’s hip scene back in the late 60’s. Ah, those food trips to Huey’s Cafe on Lake Avenue …

    Your reminder about welcoming those without another place to go on holidays is right-on. Thanks for that too.
    r

  18. PJ on November 9, 2009 at 12:05 pm

    Oh, this is a great place to ask my Thanksgiving question: If I wanted to invite five complete strangers (preferably middle-aged single women) to my home for Thanksgiving dinner, how would I start? Would you be interested if you fit that description and had nowhere else to go that day? This is a fantasy dinner of mine, though I’m usually busy (cooking for others) on that day. What do you think?

  19. Paul Lundgren on November 9, 2009 at 12:22 pm

    PJ, I think clearly identifying your gender would be a good start. Middle-aged single women might be nervous about meeting a strange man for a “fantasy dinner.”

    ( “Thanksgiving Fantasy” — worst sitophilic porno ever.)

    If they know you’re a woman not looking for something kinky, things will go more smoothly.

  20. PJ on November 9, 2009 at 1:21 pm

    Paul, actually I AM a female and would like to invite other females over for dinner just to have a good time and make new friends. I’d invite YOU, however, just for the laughs. Happy Thanksgiving!

  21. rootbeerlady on November 9, 2009 at 2:03 pm

    If I were a middle-aged single woman and I felt comfortable with the person who invited me, I’d attend such a dinner. Any group of six women can easily fill a few hours talking about food, Thanksgiving traditions, a bit of their life stories, the weather, men, the economy, book and movie recommendations.

  22. PJ on November 9, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    Thanks, rootbeerlady. I feel the same way, and it sounds interesting and fun. I may be back with my invite!

  23. carla on November 9, 2009 at 5:14 pm

    I can’t decide if I am still young enough to be middle aged….63….

  24. Calk on November 9, 2009 at 6:44 pm

    Carla. . .you are not. . . .

    PJ, I always find a dinner with women to be a lot more fun than mixed company! But then I grew up in a family of men and have tried to make up for it ever since. Go for it!

  25. c-freak on November 10, 2009 at 1:42 pm

    i’m middle aged but woman or man? both?

  26. zra on November 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm

    c- you’re the lesbian big sister i never had.

  27. PJ on November 11, 2009 at 12:12 pm

    Well, that ended oddly.

  28. Jaelyn on November 12, 2009 at 2:09 pm

    My family will also be in Duluth on Thanksgiving Day and need to find a restaurant for dinner, so I’m glad for the suggestions here. We are going to Duluth to visit our adult daughter, who, due to a traumatic brain injury, lives in a supervised group home there.

  29. PJ on November 13, 2009 at 10:40 am

    Jaelyn,
    A relaxing place with good food and a good view (and easy to find) is Blackwoods on London Road. I highly recommend them.

  30. zra on November 13, 2009 at 11:59 am

    view?

    we *used* to have the Buena.

  31. PJ on November 13, 2009 at 3:22 pm

    “View,” meaning you can see Lake Superior, which in the summer is quite nice. Buena was okay. Another good view is from Radisson Hotel, but I’m not so crazy about their food.

  32. Jaelyn on November 17, 2009 at 7:38 pm

    PJ, thanks for the suggestion. I’ll look into Blackwoods.

  33. Calk on November 18, 2009 at 8:41 am

    How about Midi, they have a great view as well. In the old Bennett’s space at Fitgers.

  34. PJ on November 18, 2009 at 9:28 am

    Midi is great! Good food, great atmosphere, nice view. Wish I’d thought of that one.

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