Top London restaurants for Thanksgiving

From trad turkey at Balthazar to pumpkin pie at The Savoy Grill

Traditionally, on the day before Thanksgiving, the President of the United States pardons a turkey, saving it from the fate of the dinner table at the White House and freeing it to spend the rest of its days on a farm.
Some less fortunate turkeys, however, will find their way to London for Thursday November 26, where expats and Americanophiles will be able to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving meal at some of the city’s top restaurants. Here are five of the best places to give thanks.

Balthazar It may have a French air, but Balthazar is a New York institution. The Thanksgiving menu (£55) at the Covent Garden outpost will start with spiced butternut squash soup or winter kale salad, followed by traditional roasted turkey or baked cod with a thyme and Parmesan crust. To finish there’s pecan pie or pumpkin cheesecake. Next door, the Balthazar Boulangerie will be chock-full of traditional holiday treats, such as pumpkin tarts (£13, serves six) and iced-pumpkin chocolate-chip cookies (£2.80).

4-6 Russell Street, London WC2 (020-3301 1155; www.balthazarlondon.com).

The Lockhart Family-style dining, to use the American vernacular (or sharing dishes to Brits), will give a more intimate feel to Thanksgiving lunch or dinner (£50, including a glass of American sparkling wine) at The Lockhart (second picture). Mississippi-born chef Brad McDonald has created a menu of smoked turkey with bourbon gravy, oyster and country-ham stuffing, collard greens, classic mash and pecan-roasted sweet potatoes. And for dessert? Traditional pumpkin pie made in Southern style.

22-24 Seymour Place, London W1 (020-3011 5400; www.lockhartlondon.com).

The Colony Grill Room Channelling old New York in decor and atmosphere, The Colony Grill Room will be weaving some Thanksgiving favourites into the à la carte menu. Choose from roasted pumpkin, pecorino and quail’s egg salad (£10.50), Norfolk bronze turkey garnished with Brussels sprouts, bacon, sage stuffing, sweet potatoes and cornbread (£27.50) or apple pie with vanilla ice cream (£7.50) – or go for all three courses for £45.

The Colony Grill Room at The Beaumont, 8 Balderton Street, London W1 (020-7499 9499; www.colonygrillroom.com).

Cut at 45 Park LaneAustro-American chef Wolfgang Puck has created a more eclectic Thanksgiving menu (£90). The choice of eight starters at Cut at 45 Park Lane (third picture) includes roasted pumpkin soup with cranberry-quince compote and cardamom cream; and prime-beef carpaccio with black truffles, shallots, celery hearts, Parmesan and truffle hollandaise. Turkey is, of course, one of the main courses, but there’s also petit-cut filet mignon that has been aged for 35 days; and Shanghai “angry” lobster with Sichuan chillies, fried garlic, cilantro and black-bean dust. And among the four puddings is a milk chocolate délice with streusel crumble and almond ice cream; and a spiced pumpkin and vanilla-baked Alaska.

45 Park Lane, London W1 (020-7493 4545; www.dorchestercollection.com).

The Savoy Grill After kicking back with a martini at the hotel’s legendary American Bar, you can glide into The Savoy Grill (first picture) for a five-course menu (£65 per person) that centres around a traditional roast, served alongside roast yams, cornbread stuffing, braised red cabbage and jus de rôti. Other dishes include pan-seared Cornish crab cakes; spiced pumpkin pie with whisky maple syrup ice cream; and prune and Armagnac parfait with almond financier.

Savoy Hotel, 1 Savoy Court, London WC2 (020-7592 1600; www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com/savoy-grill).