Where to go around Tacoma for Thanksgiving sweets, takeout meals and more

Is this the first normal Thanksgiving in three years?

The truth is: Plenty of us already relied on restaurants for our holiday meal, whether the family tradition involved making a reservation well ahead of time for a decadent feast at a seafood destination or ordering takeout from your favorite barbecue shop.

Tacoma-area restaurants definitely expanded the options during those dark pandemic days, and many of those newfound traditions held strong in 2021. It’s a great excuse to support a local business — especially the bakers, who will be awash in pie crusts, cinnamon and nutmeg in the days leading up to Thursday, Nov. 24.

If you’re stocking up for a big (or small!) meal at home, the Proctor Farmers Market runs every Saturday through Dec. 17.

Frightened by the prospect of finding a high-quality, reasonably priced turkey given supply-chain strains on an already tight market for the ubiquitous holiday bird? Head to one of our local butcher shops — Owens Meats in Ruston, Blue Max Meats in Puyallup and Buckley, Dave’s Meat & Produce in the North End, Luna’s Mexican Market in Lincoln — for other options: A fine roast chicken also makes a great centerpiece, or maybe 2022 is the year you try your hand at quail or duck. Heck, stick a pork shoulder in that oven!

We’ve rounded up some options for everything from full-on takeout meals to the best pie pickups, as well as a couple of choices for dinner on the town.

Reporter’s Note 11/14/2022: This story has been updated with additional selections.

THANKSGIVING DESSERTS

Spilled Butter Desserts

▪ 3856 Center St., Tacoma, 253-355-7434, spilledbutterdesserts.com/thanksgiving

▪ How to order: online or call by Nov. 18

▪ When to pick up: Nov. 23, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

You might recognize Brianna Day’s treats from local businesses such as Lux Coffee and Dusty’s Hideaway. Not only does she offer pies and cakes for Thanksgiving, but she has morning treats — veggie quiche ($22), berry scones ($21) — to keep you free as you prep the rest at home. Whole pies ($29) include classics with a twist — Dutch Apple, Pumpkin Snickerdoodle, Maple Pecan — and fun flavors like Cranberry Pear Crumble and Key Lime. Cakes ($45 for 7-inch, $60 for 9-inch) offer a perfect pie alternative, in either spice with cherry-apple compote or pumpkin with layers of caramel and chai-tea cream.

Hello, Cupcake

▪ 1740 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-383-7772, hello-cupcake.com

▪ How to order: online or by phone

▪ When to pick up: available Nov. 21-27

Tacoma’s first cupcake shop has been serving the sweets for 15 years. What easier way to please all palates than with an assortment of cupcakes? Back for the holidays, pie flavors include sweet potato with a pie and graham cracker crust filling with marshmallow buttercream, cherry pie topped with pie crust, and chocolate pecan with butterscotch, candied pecans and sea salt. Keep it simple with a box of four to a dozen ($20 or $58), or stick with a baker’s choice ($55 for 12) that entails other house flavors, from French toast to German chocolate, carrot to salted caramel. Mix and match yourself, too! Order online or call and choose your pickup day through Sunday, Nov. 27.

Delish Bakery - Steilacoom

▪ 1603 Lafayette St., Steilacoom, 253-325-9822, delish-bakery.com

▪ How to order: call by Nov. 17

▪ When to pick up: Nov. 23, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Swing through Steilacoom for a taste of Lisa Holmgren’s sweet treats, including her popular brownies ($45/dozen). Pies stick with the classics — pumpkin, pecan, apple — or perhaps you prefer an autumnal spice cake ($40) layered with cinnamon-cream cheese frosting. Cupcakes ($36/dozen or $3.25 each) are an ideal choice for a picky crowd, in flavors like pumpkin or carrot with cream cheese icing, champagne with vanilla buttercream and double-chocolate. Cookies ($36/dozen) include salted peanut butter and chocolate-toffee chip.

Jack + Adeline

▪ The Mill, 515 6th Ave. Tacoma or Waterfront Market, Ruston, 253-561-7711, jackandadeline.com

▪ How to order: online by Nov. 17

▪ When to pick up: Nov. 22-23, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. at The Mill or 6 p.m. in Ruston

Stock up on Southern Pecan, Grammy’s Apple or Vanilla-Bourbon Pumpkin pies from Jack + Adeline, with two pickup locations. When ordering from baker Leanne Franetovich, you also have access to her sourdough boules infused with roasted garlic, ciabatta and dinner rolls, cinnamon buns and biscotti. Choose The Mill for a one-stop dinner-party shop: The store is brimming with unique foods — chocolates, mustards, olive oils and more — that make equally lovely host gifts. Build your charcuterie platter here, too, and top it off with bottles of wine otherwise hard to find in this area.

Emish Market

▪ 2040 70th Ave., Fife, 253-262-6070, facebook.com/EmishMarket

▪ How to order: by phone or in-person

▪ When to pick up: pies available daily

There are plenty of reasons to visit Emish Market in Fife, where the Ukrainian owners have imbued the bakery with ample treats you won’t find elsewhere. Find pumpkin pies daily, or call ahead to secure several. Add some honey cake, rogaliki with apricot jam, and poppyseed-studded pastries. Take time to saunter through the rest of the store’s aisles, where you’ll discover imported meats, cheese, and much more in addition to freshly baked bread.

TAKEOUT THANKSGIVING MEALS

Brimstone PNW

▪ 7707 Pioneer Way, Gig Harbor, 253-858-2709, bbqbrimstone.com

▪ How to order: online by Nov. 18

▪ When to pick up: Nov. 24, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (select time when ordering)

Perfect for a small family meal, Brimstone’s Thanksgiving package serves two “with leftovers” ($135), but with a whole pound of coffee-rubbed brisket, let’s say four. You’ll also get an herbed turkey breast and drumstick, ample adobo gravy, maple sweet potatoes, celeriac mashed potatoes, baked beans and cranberries. A few sourdough Parkerhosue rolls with smoked sea-salt butter and a six-inch brown-butter chess pie really seal the deal. Customize with extra orders of any of the above, plus a pound of pulled pork for good measure. A pint of chai-gingersnap ice cream from I Screamery, celebrating one year in the back of this Gig Harbor restaurant, is the cherry on top. Add pints in flavors like Deep Dark Sea Salt Chocolate and Spiced Apple Sorbet when you order online.

Southern Kitchen - Tacoma

▪ 1716 6th Ave., Tacoma, 253-627-4282, southernkitchen-tacoma.com

▪ How to order: call by Nov. 21

▪ When to pick up: Nov. 23

Tacoma’s favorite Southern haunt has sweet potato pies for sale as well as two dinner packages, packed with sides: cornbread dressing (stuffing), candied yams, mashed potatoes, gravy, buttered corn, collards, red beans and rice. Option 1 serves up to a dozen people, with four half-pan sides and a dozen cornbread muffins, plus turkey of course! Option 2 serves up to 20, according to the restaurant, with six half-pan sides and a dozen muffins, plus a full pie and a gallon of sweet tea. Want to just order trays of sides? You can do that, too!

Carr’s Restaurant

▪ 11006 Bridgeport Way SW, Lakewood, 253-584-4622, carrsrestaurant.net

▪ How to order: call by Nov. 19

▪ When to pick up: Nov. 23, 1-5 p.m.

Customize your Thanksgiving meal from Carr’s with 10 side choices and six desserts. Packages start at $75 for a whole chicken and $80 for a carved ham (serves 2-3 people), but if it’s turkey you’re after, a big order of turkey breasts (serves 4-6) goes for $145. Each protein includes your choice of bread, including dinner rolls or cornbread; mashed, herbed red or savory sweet potatoes; and two sides, ranging from classic green bean casserole and stuffing to mac and cheese or bacon-and-bleu Brussels sprouts. For dessert, choose one of four pies or one of two puddings, either banana or bread. Want appetizers, too? Add bacon-wrapped dates, spinach salad and coconut-lime shrimp for a few dollars.

Toscano’s Italian Grill

▪ 437 29th St. NE, Puyallup, 253-864-8600, toscanospuyallup.com

▪ How to order: online or call by Nov. 19

▪ When to pickup: Nov. 23

Nearing 20 years in Puyallup, Toscano’s quickly acclimated to takeout in the height of 2020. The success of those family meals has led to specials like this one: Focus on the turkey and leave the sides to this Italian kitchen. Choose family-style sides ($25-$45) of sausage stuffing with sage, duck fat potatoes, bacon and bleu cheese Brussels sprouts, mashed cauliflower with goat cheese and rosemary. Spice up your table with classic sausage and peppers, spicy sweet potato hash, and baked ziti in house bolognese.

Harmon Pac Ave

▪ 1938 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-383-2739, harmonpacave.com

▪ How to order: online or call

▪ When to pickup: Nov. 23, 12-7:45 p.m.

In downtown Tacoma, Harmon has a special holiday meal for two ($90), revolving around the turkey roulade with roasted green beans and mushrooms. The package price includes cornbread stuffing, confit garlic mashed potatoes, candied carrots, cranberries and an autumn squash salad. Feed a few more with extra side orders ($8-$10).

Owens Meats

▪ Waterfront Market, 5101 Yacht Club Rd., Ruston, 253-212-1617, owensmeats.com

▪ How to order: call ASAP

▪ When to pickup: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Nov. 23

At “the candy shop for the carnivore,” stock up on any meat you might choose for your Thanksgiving meal, but if it’s turkey you need, get a smoked bird from this local butcher. The Owens family has been serving Cle Elum for 135 years and opened an outpost at the Waterfront Market in Ruston in 2020. Call to ensure your selection, but the shop should have turkeys on hand, alongside hams, steaks and more.

Valley Social Wine - Sumner

▪ 909 Main St., Sumner, instagram.com/valleysocialwine

▪ How to order: message on Instagram, pay online or at pickup

This new wine bar opened in downtown Sumner last month, just three weeks before the Main Street fire destroyed the building directly next to it. It has since been closed, but owners and longtime friends Shawn Harris and Melinda Jobst have vowed to look ahead by jump-starting their future wine club. Message them on Facebook or Instagram to order a holiday wine bundle, a $180 value they’re selling for $145, a price that includes tax. Start the day off with a Crémant de Savoie, then pair your meal with a pinot, sauvignon blanc and crisp Grüner Veltliner. Your purchase will support Valley Social in its efforts to fix up the bar, which suffered from water and smoke damage, and reopen for on-site consumption as soon as possible. Harris and Jobst will offer curbside pickup outside the business the week of Thanksgiving.

RESTAURANTS OPEN FOR THANKSGIVING

Citron European Bistro

▪ 10716 A St. S, Tacoma, 253-212-1153, facebook.com/CitronEuropeanBistro

▪ Reservations: by phone

For an intimate meal off the typical Thanksgiving path, save your seat at Citron European Bistro in Parkland. Chef-owner Christophe Durliat creates a traditional turkey plate, but you can also indulge in his full menu of bistro fare, from onion soup to escargot in white wine and butter, mussels prepared in classic Normandy style with wine and herbs to beef bourguignon and roasted duck. Finish with a limoncello crepe, chocolate mousse or a refreshing fruit tarte. Accompany the experience with a bottle of Alsatian riesling or other selection from the primarily European wine list.

McMenamins Elks Temple

▪ 565 Broadway, Tacoma, 253-300-8754, mcmenamins.com/elks-temple

▪ Reservations: online or by phone

As a hotel, of course McMenamins is open on Thanksgiving. Reservations are recommended at The Pub, which will serve an old-fashioned turkey plate ($26) with all the essentials: turkey, gravy, Yukon mashed potatoes, dressing (or stuffing, depending on your allegiances), garlicky green beans, cranberry relish and a dinner roll. There’s also a vegan option ($21) featuring Field Roast’s “celebration roast” and roasted root vegetables. For dessert, have a slice of pumpkin cheesecake ($9) with a boost of pumpkin-spice crème anglaise and whipped cream. Kick back with house brews or cocktails, and maybe skip down to one of the other bars for a nightcap.

Cooper’s Tacoma

▪ 5928 N 26th St., Tacoma, 253-503-0329, cooperstacoma.com

▪ Reservations: by phone

If you’re the early-bird type on Thanksgiving, Cooper’s might be just the place for you. The restaurant is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Thanksgiving Day, serving a limited but customizable three-course meal ($28 per person, $18 for kids). Start with a charcuterie plate, then choose between turkey with garlic butter or vegetarian “meatballs” in house marinara. You get all the sides, including mac and cheese, stuffing, candied yams and cranberry sauce. For dessert, it’s pumpkin or apple pie à la mode.

This story was originally published November 10, 2022 at 5:00 AM.