Foodie News

The Procrastinator's Guide to Thanksgiving

Give me your tired, your picky, your couldn't-cook-a-turkey-if your-life-depended-on-it. There's no use denying it anymore — 14 million Americans eat out on Thanksgiving day. Stand up and make your reservation with pride.

Plenty of Houston's restaurants are opening their doors on Turkey Day and ready to accommodate any holiday meal that you could crave, whether it's the kind of dinner that mom used to make, something overflowing with booze or something totally unorthodox. Click through the restaurant names for menus and more details.

Keeping it Classic

Benjy's on Washington — Open 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Branch Water Tavern — Open 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., family-style feast in three courses, with traditional turkey plus rib eye, porcetta, a dozen appetizers and sides and a trio of pies, plus Maine lobster for $20 extra ($40, children $20).
Haven — Open 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., serving a three-course meal of Haven favorites (Gulf fish, shrimp corn dogs) plus holiday classics ($55).
Line & Lariat — Open 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., Three-course Thanksgiving dinner for either lunch or dinner from the newest hotel restaurant in town ($36).
McCormick & Schmick's — Hours vary by location, three-course traditional Thanksgiving menu. ($23.95, children $7.95).
Philippe Restaurant + Lounge — Open 12 p.m. - 8 p.m., Classics with a worldly twist, like sweet potato flan and wild mushroom stuffing ($29).
Rainbow Lodge — Open 12 p.m. - 8 p.m., Menu faves plus turkey and more, priced a la carte. Don't forget a turkey "midnight snack" for $5 on your way out.
Sorrel — Open 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., Modern takes on holiday faves, from spicy pumpkin bisque to turkey scaloppini and much more, priced a la carte.

Brunch Buffet

Américas — Open 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m., with more than 60 items on a buffet including the standards plus crepes, omelets and bottomless bloody marys and mimosas ($49, children $10).
Bistro Des Amis — Open 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. with a buffet including both hot and cold American favorites and a few French additions and bottomless mimosas for an extra $12 ($29, children $10)
Kiran's — Seatings at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., with seated soup and salad courses plus a buffet of dishes that mix the American with the Indian, plus mimosas and apple cider ($45, children $19.95).
Narin's Bombay Brasserie — Open 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., featuring a tandoori-roasted turkey and pumpkin pie alongside Indian favorites ($15.95).
Ray's Grill — Open 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., All that you expect, plus breakfast faves, crepes, pasta and omelet stations ($30).
Quattro — Houston's biggest brunch "extravaganza," with a carving station, a raw bar, holiday favorites, mimosas, sparkling wine, and a bloody mary bar ($77, children $35).

Something Different

Arturo's Uptown Italiano — Open 11 a.m. - 9 p.m., serving all the faves in a four-course dinner, the standard Italian menu and branzino on special.
Au Petit Paris — Open 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., serving French tastes with nods to American fall flavors in a three-course menu and optional wine pairing ($37, children $25)
Brennan's — Open 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., a three-course Thanksgiving with a Cajun accent and plenty of Brennan's favorites ($55).
Canopy — Open 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., a modern American holiday meal with plenty of options over three courses ($45).
Charivari — Open 12 p.m. - 7 p.m., serving rich continental favorites in three courses ($48).
Piola — Open 5 p.m - 11 p.m., with plenty of pizza for everyone who's sick of turkey, plus a free Bellini.
Turquoise Grill — Open 12 p.m. - 7 p.m., a holiday-themed Middle Eastern menu with dishes like lentil soup, shepherd's bread, baklava and more ($19.95, children $9.95)
Zushi — Open 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., serving a full menu of sushi specialty rolls, plus a four-course menu.

unspecified series568664011

need a hand?

Growing Houston sushi chain rolls into new Galleria-area development

Courtesy of Handies Douzo

Handies Douzo will brings its hand rolls to Uptown later this year.

A growing Houston hand roll restaurant has signed on to a new Galleria-area development. Handies Douzo is the fourth restaurant announced for Central Park Post Oak.

Opened in late 2019, Handies is known for wrapping its rolls in crispy seaweed that gives each bite a distinct crunch. The well-executed dishes and affordable prices helped Handies earn a nomination for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

On track to open later this year, the Uptown location will be Handies Douzo’s fourth, joining its original in the Heights as well as restaurants in Montrose and Spring Branch. Like those siblings, it will serve Handies’ familiar menu of hand rolls (temaki), crudos, and sashimi that’s overseen by founding chefs and co-owners Daniel Lee and Patrick Pham.

Duckstache, the hospitality group behind Handies, is working with Houston’s Gin Design Group on the interior. Expect a slightly more upscale look than the restaurant’s other locations, with details such as matte black finishes and dark terrazzo to complement the 26-seat counter.

“We’re really intentional about the neighborhoods we choose and where we think Handies Douzo will feel like a natural fit,” Lee said in a statement. “Houston diners know what they like, and Uptown is such a vibrant, fast-growing area. Central Park Post Oak felt like the right match for our handroll experience and the way people in Houston live, work, and dine.”

Handies is the fourth restaurant that’s announced its plans to open at Central Park Post Oak. The others are:

Buck & Rider, an Arizona-based seafood restaurant known for its oyster bar and lively brunch
The Henry, the “ultimate neighborhood restaurant” from Flower Child owner Fox Restaurant Concepts
Sparrow Italia, an Italian steakhouse from Toca Madera owner Noble 33.

Announced last year, Central Park Post Oak will consist of three buildings with a combined 1.2 million square feet of office space separated by a three-acre lawn. Houston-based real estate development firm Midway, working with real estate investment firms 3Edgewood and Parkway, is developing the property. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2026 with the restaurants openings to follow.

“Handies Douzo represents the kind of thoughtful, chef-driven hospitality we want at the heart of Central Park Post Oak,” Midway vice president Clayton Freels said. “Patrick, Daniel, and the Duckstache team have built a loyal following across Houston, and we are thrilled to help them extend that experience to Uptown in a way that feels authentic to both the brand and the neighborhood.”

news-you-can-eat openings