Time to Dine

Place your order now! Thanksgiving-to-go from some of Houston's top restaurants

If you’re worried about burning the turkey, opt for a stress-free Thanksgiving and order to-go from some of your favorite restaurants. And since turkey doesn't have to be at the center of the plate, we've got other options, too.

TRADITIONAL

LUBY'S
The fare: Get a home-style feast of sliced roasted turkey, sliced baked ham, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and giblet gravy at Luby’s. Desserts and additional sides are also available.
Pricing: Created for groups of 10 or more, packages are priced from $6.99 to $10.99 per person.
Available: Multiple locations. Advance notice of 48 hours is requested.
To order: Lubys.com or 877-GO-LUBYS.

SPARROW BAR + COOKSHOP
The fare: Sparrow Bar + Cookshop has your entire Thanksgiving dinner covered. Choose from a selection of hearty soups and sides -- plus proteins like local whole pastured turkey, beef tenderloin, pork loin, quail or scallops. Don’t forget “must-haves” like cornbread stuffing, giblet gravy and pumpkin cheesecake.
Pricing: Group packages start at $50 per person or order items a la carte.
Availability: Order by Monday, November 25, at 5 p.m. Pick up on Wednesday, November 27, from 4 to 8 p.m.
To order: 713-875-7496 or monica@monicapopehouston.com.

PAPPAS BAR-B-Q
The fare: At Pappas Bar-B-Q, order everything from flavorful whole smoked turkeys and hams, to sides made from scratch, and homemade pies and desserts.
Pricing: Whole smoked turkey from $44.95, smoked ham is $29.95, a package of seven sides is $39.95.
Availability: Place your order 24 hours in advance. Pick up Wednesday, November 27, or Thursday, November 28.
To order: Call your nearest location.

CIAO BELLO
The fare: Turkey, gravy, mashed or sweet potatoes, corn bread stuffing, green beans, bread, and pie are all part of Ciao Bello's “Thanksgiving To Go” menu.
Pricing: Ranges from $159.95 for 6 people to $299.95 for 12.
Availability: End of day Monday, November 25.
To order: Call 713-960-0333.

GOODE COMPANY
The fare: For a bird and dessert, head to Goode Company for the mesquite-smoked turkey and decadent, handmade pecan pie.
Pricing: $60 per turkey. Pies from $17.
Availability: Turkeys can be pre-ordered through Goode Company’s three BBQ locations. Pies can be pre-ordered or picked up at Goode Company's Pecan Pie Booth on Tuesday, November 26, and Wednesday, November 27, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
To order: Call or stop by the pie booth.

LA BALANCE
The fare: La Balance's take on a traditional meal includes oven roasted turkey, butternut squash soup, Brussels sprout salad, gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, sweet potato puree, corn bread dressing, and La Balance bread. It also comes with either pecan or pumpkin pie.
Pricing: Package feeds 6-8 people, $145.
Availability: Order through Tuesday, November 26.
To order: Call 281-206-7974.

HOLD THE BIRD

ELEVEN XI
The fare: Chef Kevin Bryant is offering a Thanksgiving take-out feast with a la carte items enough for 12. Starters include gazpacho shooters and seafood stuffed mushrooms. Save room for pulled pork baby back ribs, mini sliders, sweet potato casserole, smoked Gouda blue grits, and more.
Available: Orders are due by 5 p.m. on Monday, November 25. Pick up is Tuesday, November 26, and Wednesday, November 27, from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.
To order: Call 713-529-5881 or email lauren@elevenxihouston.com

HUGO'S
The fare: Spice things up and go south of the border this Thanksgiving with a variety of tamales, chile rellenos and enchiladas from Hugo's. Go big and order the Lechoncito Rostizado (whole suckling pig).
Pricing: A la carte prices vary.
Availability: Order by end of day on Monday, November 25. Pick up on Wednesday, November 27.
To order: Call 713-524-7744 or order on-line.

A LITTLE SOMETHING ON THE SIDE

BACKSTREET CAFE
The fare: As long as you can handle the turkey, Backstreet has plenty of to-go items to round out your holiday meal. Soups like duck gumbo and wild mushroom are available by the half gallon. You can also get sides like cauliflower gratin and wine-poached pears, and desserts like the chocolate pumpkin hot cocoa.
Pricing: Soups by the half gallon start at $15. Pricing for sides varies by size, but starts at $22. Desserts are $12 and up.
Availability: Orders should be placed by Monday, November 25 for pick-up with re-heating instructions on Wednesday, November 27.
To order: Call 713-521-2239 or order on-line.

REVIVAL MARKET
The fare: At Revival Market, you'll find the likes of duck fat fingerling potatoes, cornbread stuffing, marinated beets, and more. There's also a list of several sweets.
Pricing: From $5.95 to $13.95.
Availability: Through November 27.
To order: Stop by and pick up.

SWEETS

TRINITI
The fare: The perfect end to Thanksgiving dinner, Triniti’s offering of sweet confections includes apple pie, lemon meringue, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and a holiday classic, yeast rolls with a hint of honey.
Pricing: Pies are $30 each. Yeast rolls are $8 per dozen.
Availability: Through December 22.
To order: Call 713-527-9090.

OOH LA LA
The fare: For traditionalists, the quintessential collection of All-American Thanksgiving pies includes pumpkin, pecan, apple, cherry, chocolate cream, coconut cream, and key lime. For those looking to up the ante, outclass your pie competition with Snickers, Reese's, Twix or Oreo pies.
Pricing: $19 to $28.95 per pie.
Availability: Order by 9 p.m. on Monday, November 25. Pick up on Wednesday, November 27.
To order: Call 713-465-6338.

Apple pies at Triniti

Photo courtesy of © Triniti Restaurant

Apple pies at Triniti

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welcoming willow's

Houston barbecue power couple sets opening date for new East End tavern

Willow's Smokehouse and Tavern Jasmine Barela Willow Villarreal

Photo by Eric Sandler

Jasmine Barela and Willow Villarreal will open Willow's Smokehouse & Tavern on Thursday, August 13.

One of this year’s most eagerly anticipated new barbecue joints will make its debut this week. Willow’s Smokehouse & Tavern will open this Thursday, August 13.

Located next to Eastwood Station at 4109 McKinney, Willow’s Smokehouse is the latest project from pitmaster Willow Villarreal and his partner Jasmine Barela. It’s the culmination of more than a decade in the barbecue business.

Villareall began his barbecue career with pop-ups at bars such as Grand Prize and Big Star Bar. He worked with Roegels BBQ owner Russell Roegals to operate the barbecue concession at the Typhoon Texas water park before launching a food truck that earned an enthusiastic three-star review from former Houston Chronicle food critic Alison Cook.

J-Bar-M Barbecue in EaDo recruited the couple to lead its opening team in November 2021 — earning a nomination in the CultureMap Tastemaker Awards for Rising Star Chef of the Year and a glowing review from Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn — but the couple departed in April 2022 after conflict with the restaurant’s owner.

Since then, they’ve been working on opening their own restaurant. For the past couple of years, they’ve been transforming a 100-plus year old building into a neighborhood bar and restaurant that will serve Villarreal’s take on modern Central Texas-style barbecue alongside tavern fare such as burgers, smoked-and-fried chicken wings, a fried chicken sandwich, and smoked crab dip.

“We wanted a bar with really good food and some barbecue on the menu. It has a wood ceiling with that sense of cozyness and warmth,” Barela says about why the couple decided to include “tavern” in the restaurant’s name.

“We would like to be a place for the neighborhood,” Villarreal adds. “That’s why we have wings and burgers. Barbecue has gotten so expensive. You can get a drink and a bite to eat at an affordable price.”

Of course, Willow’s wouldn’t fulfill the requirements of being a “smokehouse” with Villarreal’s barbecue. Diners can expect brisket, pork ribs, two kinds of house made sausage, turkey, pulled pork, and smoked chicken. Once things are dialed in, plans call for adding additional sandwiches to the menu.

“It’s Central Texas barbecue. I don’t feel like I need to change anything,” Villarreal says about the menu. “It’s what we’ve been cooking. It’s what our fans know.”

Barela is bringing a range of sides, including her signature marinated tomatoes, as well as cole slaw, mac and cheese, cornbread, and potato salad — fear not, her popular cauliflower au gratin will be added in time. Desserts include banana pudding and pies made with an all-butter crust.

Bartender Zack Palmer (Bad News Bar) created the restaurant’s cocktail menu, including two frozens that are sure to be signatures — the Summer of George, a nod to Barela’s Seinfeld fandom that’s made with Big Red, and the Cabana Boy, an homage to Mountain Dew Baja Blast made with tequila, orange, passion fruit, and bergamot.

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A post shared by Willow’s Smokehouse & Tavern (@willowssmokehousetavern)

To preserve the building’s historic feel, the couple sourced most of its furniture second-hand. Barela says she found items on websites such as OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace, while others came from thrift stores, estate sales, and the Round Top Antiques Fair.

“I wanted to stay true to the character of the building. I didn’t want it to feel too polished,” she says.

Once seated, diners will find vintage signs on the walls, an Iron Maiden pinball machine for entertainment, and a jukebox that the couple stocked with a range of music, not just Villarreal's heavy metal favorites. While the building has a relatively small footprint, an upstairs dining room and a patio that’s shared with Eastwood Station provide plenty of seating.

“It feels really good,” Villarreal says about finally opening the restaurant. “It’s also scary. This has to be for the long haul. We really want to be a place for the neighborhood.”

Photo by Eric Sandler

Jasmine Barela and Willow Villarreal will open Willow's Smokehouse & Tavern on Thursday, August 13.

news-you-can-eat barbecue openings