8 Places to Grab Thanksgiving Dinner To-Go in CLE

Thanksgiving is the ultimate comfort food holiday. And, after the wild ride that’s been 2020, we could all use a little — okay, a lot — more of that. Social distancing probably rules out a traditional celebration with far-flung relatives packed around the table, so why not skip the long hours toiling over a hot stove and support some of Cleveland’s best restaurants instead?

Place a takeout order and watch that holiday stress melt away. Think about it: No tower of dirty dishes piled up in the sink. A Thanksgiving morning spent watching the parade instead of prepping a turkey. No judgmental side-eye from the out-of-towners when you snag the last piece of pie. It’s all about finding the bright side, people.

And, if nothing else, we can all be thankful that 2020 is almost over.

1. Creekside Restaurant

Whether you’re flying solo this Thanksgiving or ordering enough food for an army, Creekside’s got you covered. Try their heat-and-serve Thanksgiving dinner (available in either individual or family-style portions), complete with roasted turkey, homestyle mashed potatoes and gravy and cornbread sausage stuffing.

2. The South Side

As members of the CLEAN COMMITTED pledge to ensure Cleveland’s safe reopening, this Tremont hangout takes your health very seriously. Case in point: Their to-go Turkey Dinner comes in zero-contact packaging with instructions for reheating. Chow down on sliced turkey breast, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and stuffing knowing that safety comes first at The South Side.

3. LockKeepers

Grab a Thanksgiving Feast To Go and gorge in the comfort of your own home. You can’t go wrong — meals include roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, herb stuffing, candied yams and pumpkin cheesecake. If that sounds like too much food, just remember: leftovers are for quitters.

4. The Capital Grille

Unleash #FeastMode on this full turkey dinner complete with all of the traditional holiday trimmings. Just save enough room for a slice of pumpkin cheesecake. And, once again, The Capital Grille’s mouthwatering Thanksgiving sides are available for takeout. Bring home some brioche stuffing, cranberry-pear chutney and pecan-crusted sweet potatoes (served with hot honey) to add just the right touch to your meal.

5. Cleveland Vegan

Seitan “turkey” — wheat gluten with the taste and texture of meat — is the star of this show. While the CLEAN COMMITTED Lakewood cafe will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, they’re accepting catering orders until November 19 for a fresh, plant-based take on this most classic of meals. Try the Thanksgiving Bowl, packed full of seitan “turkey”, cheesy mashed potatoes, corn and gravy.

6. Blue Heron Brewery

Get your turkey on with this Medina brewery’s Thanksgiving Take & Bake Meal. Serving either families of four or ten, it includes turkey, Chef Ben’s famous stuffing, candied sweet potatoes, roasted garlic parmesan whipped potatoes, fresh green beans in lemon butter and homemade cranberry relish. Oh, and a bottle of wine to wash it all down.

7. Mitchell’s Fish Market

A seafood joint might seem an odd fit for Thanksgiving, but Mitchell’s in Woodmere serves up a traditional lineup of roasted turkey breast with cranberry relish, herb stuffing, whipped potatoes, seasonal veggies and pumpkin pie. Take the holiday home with a to-go feast that feeds 4-6 and can be picked up on Thanksgiving morning.

8. The Sweet Fix Bakery

What would this holiday be without pies, desserts and all that other baked goodness? (Shudder) We don’t want to think about it. Cap off Turkey Day with a sweet treat from this aptly-named Cleveland Heights bakeshop. Our pick? Seasonal fave Sweet Potato Pie. Robert and Allison Craig (Craig’s Divine Desserts) co-own the bakery with Chef Eric Rogers (Black Box Fix) — that’s a lot of culinary talent under one roof.