Thanksgiving 2013 in Astoria

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, gobble gobble! Here are some of the places in Astoria and LIC where you can celebrate locally.

Veslo is throwing a big pre-Thanksgiving party on Wednesday eve. It’s a late one, as the festivities start at 11:00 p.m. but since you’ve got the day off on Thursday, why not check it out? They’ll be featuring a live DJ and plenty of drinks specials. 32-11 Broadway, Astoria 

Rocky McBride’s is throwing a complimentary Thanksgiving dinner. “Thanksgiving is a holiday to give thanks and show appreciation for the good in our lives… Rocky McBride’s is thankful for you, our wonderful customers. We would like to extend an invite to a complimentary Thanksgiving Dinner at the bar starting at 4 p.m.” Happy hour starts at 3 p.m. and goes til 7p.m. Then at 7 p.m. Ladies Night starts, with drink specials. They’ll also be showing pro football at s at 4:30 p.m. (Raiders vs Cowboy), 8:30 p.m. (Steelers vs Ravens) and college ball at 7:30 p.m. (Ole Miss vs Mississippi State). 27-01 23rd Ave, Astoria

Astor Bake Shop – We all know how fabulous Chef George and his staff are at making homemade, rustic pies, which is why we were happy to see that their Thanksgiving desserts menu is up. Pre-order delights such as a classic pumpkin pie, a rustic apple pie, chocolate pecan tart, a bourbon sweet potato pie and more. Here’s the full Thanksgiving pie menu. 12-23 Astoria Blvd, Astoria

Cavo is doing a Thanksgiving dinner, featuring roasted butternut squash soup, roasted free-range turkey with giblet gravy, chestnut cranberry stuffing, sweet potato puree, and roasted brussels sprouts. Desserts include pumpkin cheesecake and apple pie. Pricing is $32.95/adult and $19.95/children 12 years or younger. They recommend you RSVP soon—718-721-1001! 42-18 31st Avenue, Astoria

Brick Cafe hosts their annual Thanksgiving dinner, with both traditional and non-traditional menu items. Look for butternut squash soup, grilled zucchini and roasted peppers with bocconcini, pumpkin gnocchi, and a traditional spread of roast turkey, apple-cranberry sauce, candied sweet potatoes, and leek mashed potatoes. A less traditional offering is salmon stuffed with lobster. Apple or pumpkin pie are slated for dessert. RSVPs are recommended—718-267-2735. 30-95 33rd Street, Astoria

La Guli has plenty of festive Thanksgiving themed treats, which are totally tickling our sweet tooth. From rustic, home-style pies such as a classic lattice peach pie, an apple crumb pie to pretty maple leaf and turkey shaped cookies, stop in right before the holidays to deck your dessert table. 29-15 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria

Sage General Store has put together a Thanksgiving menu for your takeout pleasure. Starters include grilled pear salad, shrimp cocktail, and low country miniature crabcakes. Soups include carrot-apple-ginger and butternut squash. The main event is a roasted local free-range turkey or spit-fire roasted turkey. Sides include wild rice salad, creamed spinach, sweet potato casserole, roasted baby root vegetables, braised brussels sprouts, cranberry orange chutney, mashed Yukon potatoes, and gravy. All dishes can be purchases a la carte. They’ll take order up until November 23—718-361-0707 or email them at greta@bartlebyandsage.com. 24-20 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City

Sage General Store also has a whole menu of Thanksgiving sweets, including pecan pie, apple pie, pumpkin pie, maple cheesecake, butterscotch pecan cake, chocolate creme tart, and assorted cupcakes. Prices range from $18 to $50. They’ll take order up until November 25—718-361-0707 or email them at jennifer@sagegeneralstore.com. 24-20 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City

Bear is preparing a traditional three course Thanksgiving dinner with three seating at 3:30p.m., 5:30p.m., and 7:30p.m. The menu includes First Course: seasonal farmer market salad or butternut squash soup; Second Course: Thanksgiving Day turkey with fresh homemade cranberry sauce and gravy or seasonal fish or vegetarian/vegan option. Side Courses include apple and rosemary cornbread stuffing, green beans with a garlic maple glaze, mashed potatoes, and yams (choose one, or $7 extra for table). Third Course is homemade pumpkin pie or homemade apple pie. The meal is $50 and RSVPs are required—917-396-4939. 12-14 31st Ave, Astoria

Koliba, one of our favorite Czech/Slovak restaurants in town, is also hosting a Thanksgiving dinner. They’ll offer traditional American Thanksgiving food, including roast turkey with stuffing, giblet gravy, yams, vegetables and… homefries. More traditional Czech/Slovak is also on the menu, such as chicken schnitzel and sauerbraten with dumplings. Dinner ranges from $15.75-$24.75. 31-11 23rd Ave, Astoria

Venturo, which is actually in Sunnyside, but boasts Astorian roots (the owners also run Vesta and Pachanga Patterson) will have a Thanksgiving themed feast. Perusing their Thanksgiving menu made us seriously salivate, as we noticed various harvest noms such as sunchoke soup, whole wheat fettuccine with butternut squash, a turkey with all the fixings and much more. 44-07 Queens Blvd, Sunnyside 

Vesta presents Thanksgiving dinner both as eat-in and takeout options. Thanksgiving at the restaurant is served from 1 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and includes a traditional dinner of turkey and all the fixings for $21. Their takeout option includes Whole Boneless Roasted Free Range Turkey, brussels sprouts pancetta and lemon zest, olive oil mashed potatoes, corn bread stuffing, creamed kale, turkey jus, and house Baked Bread for Turkey Sandwiches. Pies include Baby Jesus Cake, Pumpkin and Pecan pies $25 (per pie). It all costs $150. Order by November 21, one week in advance, and pick up November 28th 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.—718-545-5550. 21-20 30th Avenue, Astoria

Another takeout option is from John Brown Smokehouse—“Let John Brown Smokehouse join your family at the table.” Options include a whole pecan smoked turkey with three sides and pie. Sides are cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, cole slaw, and collard greens. Pies are pumpkin and pecan. A meal that feeds 5-8 people is $140 and one that feeds 9-12 people is $200. You can get turkey only for $70 or $90 and pies are $35 each. Order over the phone at 347-6171120, via email at johnbrownsmokehouse@gmail.com, or in person. 10-43 44th Drive, Long Island City

Zenon Taverna has a Thanksgiving menu ready, with a few twists that pay homage to their Cypriot roots. Appetizers include cream of turkey soup, salad, koupepia (stuffed grape leaves), and keftedes (Cypriot meatballs). Roast turkey makes an appearance with a “Cypriot stuffing.” Enjoy a side of sweet potatoes, and then coffee and pumpkin pie for dessert. Cost is $27.95 and reservations are recommended—718-956-0133. 34-10 31 Avenue, Astoria

Back in 2010 Tamara Reynolds wrote about places in the neighborhood that are her favorite Thanksgiving resources, which I think are still applicable this year.

Happy Thanksgiving!!