The Best Thanksgiving BBQ Options in New York City

Morgan’s Brooklyn Barbecue once again is offering a Thanksgiving pre-order package. (Photo via Morgan’s Brooklyn Barbecue / Instagram)

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While Thanksgiving this year may not be back to “totally normal” yet, many of us will be gathering with friends and family and eating absurd amounts of food. While cooking for yourself and family is fun, however, sometimes it’s easier to let a local barbecue joint do the heavy lifting.

Many New York City area barbecue joints are taking orders for Thanksgiving specials like smoked turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, stuffing, mac and cheese, and made-from-scratch pies. Two restaurants are even planning to offer eat-in Thanksgiving dinners as well.

Some of these restaurants require pre-order by Thursday, 11/18, so don’t delay getting your orders placed. Some will be taking orders through Monday, 11/22.

Pig Beach NYC is one of the many great options you have for Thanksgiving dinner pre-orders. (Photo via Pig Beach / Instagram)

With a little help from Kevin’s BBQ Joints' recent list and some of my own additions, here are the barbecue joints in the NYC area where you can pre-order for Thanksgiving:

Hill Country BBQ will be open for lunch and dinner on Thanksgiving, a great option if you don’t have the space to gather with friends or family. (Photo via Hill Country BBQ / Facebook)

If you want to eat Thanksgiving dinner at a BBQ restaurant, there’s are only two games in town – Hill Country Barbecue Market and Virgil’s Real Barbecue in Manhattan. Hill Country will be offering service from 12 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, 11/25. The joint will be serving up pit-smoked turkey, brisket, ribs, and all the traditional Thanksgiving sides and desserts. The dinner runs $95 per person for adults. Kids aged 5 to 12 are $45 per person and kids under 5 eat free. You can make Hill Country reservations here.

Virgil’s will be offering service from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on 11/25. During that time, the restaurant will let you buy a $275 “Thanksgiving Feast” package that serves 6 to 8 people and includes an 18 lb. smoked turkey with all the trimmings and a lot of sides. Alternately, individual plates can be purchased for $30. You can make Virgil’s reservations here.

I hope you all have a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday and are able to enjoy some excellent food. And if you’re in need of a foolproof smoked turkey recipe, check out this DennyMike’s recipe from The Smoke Sheet.

Sean Ludwig
Founder, NYC BBQ

EAT ALL ABOUT IT

The Oklahoma-style BBQ joint Au Jus in Manhattan was profiled recently by ABC7, and offers high-quality meats.

Here are the top BBQ and related food news stories you need to know about this week:

  • ABC7 profiled the Oklahoma-style barbecue chain Au Jus in a recent “Neighborhood Eats” segment. Au Jus has three locations in Manhattan and has another location on the way. "What most people in Oklahoma say, we're sort of the Sweden of barbecue. We take a little bit from everyone, but it's the meat that does all the talking," owner Patrick Griffin told ABC7. WATCH HERE.

  • Following a profile by NYC BBQQNS has written a great article about Tikkun BBQ in Queens, which is making barbecue for a cause. READ HERE.

  • A new Thrillist NYC guide on “where to eat, drink, and stay in Long Island City” includes shout-outs to the new Pig Beach NYC location and John Brown BBQREAD HERE.

  • Seaside Heights, NJ will soon have a new takeout and delivery option from Offshore BBQREAD HERE.

  • Vegan BBQ operation Pure Grit BBQ had a successful pop-up this past weekend in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, as it begins preparing to open a full-scale restaurant next year. READ HERE.

  • Finally, the NYC-based team from Pig Beach has plans to open a new joint in Louisville in the spring of 2022. This is on top of the location it is planning to open in Florida this winter. READ HERE.

IRL BBQ EVENTS

Not many public-facing events are scheduled this winter so it’s time to put a few 2022 events on your calendar.

Here are the top BBQ and related food events coming soon to the New York metro area:

  • March 8 - June 8, 2022: The Long Island Wing Hunt, a self-guided wing tour of the best chicken wings, is back this spring. You can buy a ticket and then go to many of the best LI wing spots and get free wings with your “wing pass” all season! BUY TICKETS HERE.

  • April 20, 2022: The 11th edition of Brisket King NYC will be held at Pig Beach in Gowanus, Brooklyn on Wednesday, April 20. This all-inclusive event will feature 15+ chefs and pitmasters cooking up the juiciest brisket you can find plus craft beer, hard cider, and spirits. BUY TICKETS HERE.

  • If you would like your food event listed here, please get in touch.

  • CHECK OUT THE FULL EVENTS CALENDAR HERE

SAY HELLO

If you're not already subscribed to the newsletter, sign up here. You can also follow along on InstagramFacebook, and Twitter. If you want to write for NYC BBQ Weekly, sponsor the newsletter, or let me know about the best new barbecue you’ve tried, send me an email and let’s talk!

Sean Ludwig