Some ideas for where to eat Thanksgiving dinner in Paris - 2013

A table set for a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner. Photo via iStockphoto.com

Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. It's a day for families. A time when we pause to give thanks for all of our blessings. If, like me, you're going to be far from your loved ones on Thanksgiving Day, here are some ideas for where to celebrate this American holiday in Paris.

Breakfast in America: This American diner is offering two seatings of a traditional dinner that includes an aperitif, a starter, turkey plate with gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, vegetable, cranberry sauce and a slice of pumpkin, apple or pecan pie for €32.95. Wine, alcohol and other drinks are not included in the price. Reservations via email required: bia.thanksgiving@gmail.com. Breakfast in America, 17, rue des Ecoles, 75005 Paris.

Ralph's: Ralph Lauren’s namesake restaurant in its flagship boutique in St Germain des Prés celebrates Thanksgiving in true American tradition with the season’s most festive dishes including turkey, stuffing, apple pie and more for €120 per person. Call Ralph's at +33 (0)1 44 77 76 00 to make reservations. The two seatings (6:30 and 9:00 pm) are sure to fill up fast.

O Chateau Wine Bar is offering a traditional Thanksgiving dinner every night of Thanksgiving week, November 25-30! The set menu includes pumpkin velouté with pumpkin chips and sorbet, stuffed roasted turkey, macaroni and cheese, green beans, cranberry sauce and apple pie served with vanilla ice cream for €39 per person or €70 including champagne and wine.

Blues-Bar-B-Q: My favorite barbecue joint in Paris will be serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for €35 per person. There will be two seatings (6:30 and 9:00 pm). Reservations are required. Blues Bar-B-Q, 1 rue Sedaine, 75011 Paris. Phone: +33 (0)1 48 06 79 53

The Moose: This Canadian sports bar and grill is organizing a Thanksgiving party with a traditional menu. If you would like to follow the NFL football games direct from the United States, this is the place for you. Call for more information and to make reservations. The Moose, 16 rue des 4 Vents, Paris 75006. Tel: + 33 (0) 1 46 33 77 00

La Cuisine de l’E7: The restaurant of the 4-star Hôtel Édourd 7 is offering a fixed price menu with pumpkin soup, cornbread, stuffed poultry, sweet potato purée, cranberry sauce, pumpkin tart and ice cream for €40 per person, drinks not included. Reserve online or contact the restaurant. La Cuisine de l’E7, 39 avenue de l'Opéra, 75002 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)1 42 61 86 11

Joe Allen: The classic American restaurant has created a special menu with traditional favorites and interesting alternatives, like corn chowder with Thai curry, roasted pumpkin and ricotta enchiladas with spaghetti squash coleslaw, grilled marinated tuna steak. The three-course menu is €46 and includes coffee or tea. Reserve online or send an email to thanksgiving@joeallenparis.com. Joe Allen, 30 Rue Pierre Lescot, 75001 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)1 42 36 70 13

Le Saint-Martin: Just in case you don't eat your fill of turkey on Thanksgiving Day, this bistro is offering a traditional menu for €40 per person on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. Reserve your table or order your feast to go via email (lesaintmartin@yahoo.fr) or phone. Le Saint-Martin, 25 Rue Louis Blanc, 75010 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)1 46 07 73 68

American Church in Paris: For a less expensive option, enjoy turkey and all the trimmings for €25 per adult and €18 per child under 12 in the Thurber Room on Saturday, November 23. The family seating at 5:00 pm features children's activities and a special movie. The adult seating is at 8:30 pm. Tickets available online. American Church in Paris, 65 quai d'Orsay, 75007 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)1 40 62 05 00

Meetup's "The Paris Thanksgiving Dinner": Mainly for expats who live in Paris, Meetup's traditional Thanksgiving dinner will be between €37 and €40, including a glass of wine. A short, digestive, slow-paced, post-meal walk to Sacré-Cœur will follow the meal. Join Meetup and reserve online.

Grange aux Dîmes de Wissous: located outside of Paris, this gastronomic restaurant is offering an all inclusive traditional Thanksgiving dinner for €49.90. Included in the menu are pumpkin souffle, corn pancakes, roasted turkey stuffed with chestnuts, cranberry relish, pecan pie, pumpkin pie and more. La Grange aux Dîmes,  3 Rue André Dolimier, 91320 Wissous (approximately 30 minutes from Paris) Tel:+33 (0)1 69 81 70 08

Ideas for a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner:

Whether you're on your own or in a group, I highly recommend Le Foodist's "Thanksgiving in Paris" five-course lunch with wine pairings and a glass of champagne. In addition to a delicious meal, there will be an introduction to wine tasting by a sommelier and stories shared about each dish. The theme for the stories will be giving thanks to the relation between intercultural exchanges and our foods. It's Thanksgiving with a French twist! The all-inclusive lunch from 11:45 am -2:30 pm is €110. Reserve online. Le Foodist, 59 Rue Cardinal Lemoine, 75005 Paris. Tel: +33 (0)6 71 70 95 22.

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, La Cuisine Paris has schedule two cooking classes where you'll work with new found friends to create an elegant menu that is a fusion of favorite dishes from France and the USA. After all of your hard work, you'll toast yourselves with a glass of champagne and dine in an area overlooking the Seine. The "Thanksgiving in Paris" cooking classes are €100. Reserve online. La Cuisine Paris, 80 Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris. Note: Both the lunch and dinner classes are already sold out.

Alternatively, we thoroughly enjoyed stuffing ourselves with delicious Basque food at Chez L'Ami Jean two years ago. Here's a blog post from the archives with more information.

Make your own Thanksgiving dinner:

You'll find all the essential ingredients to make your own holiday dinner at the aptly named Thanksgiving and The Real McCoy, two small American grocery stores in Paris.

It's also possible to order a roasted turkey from your local butcher. Just be sure to plan ahead and order it about three weeks in advance.

As I'm sure that there are many other restaurants that are organizing Thanksgiving dinners in Paris, please let me know which ones I missed so that I can include them in this post. Thanks!

Comments

  1. Thanksgiving ingredients can also be found at the Grand Epicerie and fir turkeys... many Parisian stoves are too small so lots of lical butchers will put yours on the rotisserie. Just ask about 19 days in advance. Sauce comes free, stuffing can be arranged!

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    1. Excellent point about the small Parisian ovens. Thanks for mentioning that roasted turkeys are available for Thanksgiving and Christmas from your local butcher! I'll include that info in the post.

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  2. Great info MK, seems there's room for anyone wishing to enjoy Thanksgiving in Paris. Just wish I had to time to be there.

    jxg

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    1. Hopefully you'll have time in the Spring. I've heard that Paris is lovely at that time of year!

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  3. Verjus is open and I'm pretty sure they do a great variation on a theme of thanksgiving!

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    1. Thanks for the info about Verjus. Since I didn't see anything on their website, I just sent a tweet asking if they're doing a Thanksgiving dinner ... hopefully something that includes kale!

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  4. Yay!! Thanksgiving is in the air! I just received my T-gives box from my mom which includes pumpkin pie mix, pumpin puree, stuffing, turkey napkins and pumpkin scented candles! This is one of my favorite holidays too. : ) So what will you be doing this year?

    Thanks for this post. I actually get a lot of email inquiries from readers about what to do in Paris on Thanksgiving. I will be sure to pass this on!

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    1. Aww, your mom sends Thanksgiving boxes! I have wonderful memories of when my mom used to do that! It sounds like you're all set for a feast.

      Since Stéphane's going to be in Saudi Arabia at the end of November, I thought that I would be on my own for Thanksgiving. But after proposing that I visit Philippe in Boston, Sara finally decided to make the trip to Paris from Lausanne. We're going to have dinner at a restaurant together. She may or may not have been guilted into her decision! ;)

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  5. My Thanksgiving is not complete without warm pecan pie and a dollop of vanilla ice cream. This year the first night of Hanukah is Thanksgiving, so my family has decided to swap out the mashed potatoes with latkes!

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    1. Yum, a love of warm pumpkin pie is something else that you and I have in common. Mashed potatoes have never been one of my favorites so I like your idea of swapping them out for latkes!

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  6. After spending Thanksgiving in Paris with two American friends a couple of years ago, I thought it was such a lovely tradition that I have my own "thanksgiving" meal at home. Of course I have none of the traditional foods except maybe pumpkin soup, but the spirit of being thankful is there.

    This year especially, hopefully we will have a lot to be thankful for.

    Love Denise

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    1. I also hope that you'll have much to be thankful for, Denise. I wish you a very blessed Thanksgiving in England! I'll be thinking of you.

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    2. Hi Mary Kay, We made a reservation for Le Saint-Martin some time ago (and pre-paid by paypal), but now their website isn't working at all. Can you confirm that it's still open and planning to serve dinner on Thanksgiving? Much thanks.

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  7. Hi Mary Kay, We made a reservation for Le Saint-Martin some time ago (and pre-paid by paypal), but now their website isn't working at all. Can you confirm that it's still open and planning to serve dinner on Thanksgiving? Much thanks.

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    1. Sorry that it has taken me so long to respond but I only noticed your comment this evening! I clicked on the link for Le Saint-Martin and their website seems to be working. It looks as if they'll be serving Thanksgiving dinner as scheduled. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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