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Dine at the newly opened Bolster, Snow & Co. in Portland
Dine at the newly opened Bolster, Snow & Co. in Portland
Bolster, Snow & Co./FB

Dine Out on Thanksgiving Day at These 18 Maine Restaurants

This Thanksgiving, let someone else do the cooking.

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Dine at the newly opened Bolster, Snow & Co. in Portland
| Bolster, Snow & Co./FB

Dining out on Thanksgiving is an attractive option whether you're averse to a mountain of dishes after a homecooked meal or avoiding your uncle (you know the one) and the scene he'd cause. Restaurants offering Thanksgiving dinner typically fall into two categories: casual buffet or upscale affair. Whichever you choose, make reservations soon, as you're not the only one who doesn't feel like cooking. Don't forget the cardinal rule of holiday dinners, either: wear comfy, stretchy pants. Note: map points are listed south to north.

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Tempo Dulu

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Try something different this year at the Southeast Asian-inspired Tempo Dulu, where the $85 prix fixe holiday dinner includes red curry and lobster risotto and a smoked butter poached turkey with crispy, chili-dusted skin.

The Brunswick Hotel & Tavern

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The cozy tavern at the Brunswick Hotel offers a $47 buffet that includes all of Thanksgiving dinner's greatest hits. Post-dinner, slow your descent into a food coma with one of the house's specialty coffees, like the Nutty Irishman with Frangelico and Bailey's.

Natalie's at Camden Harbour Inn

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Best to reserve a room upstairs at the inn — you'll need it after dinner at Natalie's, where the five-course prix fixe meal comes with an optional wine pairing.

York Harbor Inn

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The inn offers two holiday dining experiences: partake in the buffet with a carving station upstairs in the Oceanview 1637 restaurant or enjoy a 3-course dinner with a dessert buffet downstairs in the cozy Ship's Cellar Pub. That's right, both menus involve a buffet.

Cape Arundel Inn

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Enjoy a $75 prix fixe dinner in Ocean, the scenic dining room of the waterfront Cape Arundel Inn. The meal includes an hors d'oeuvres spread and three courses.

The Burleigh

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The modern, nautical steakhouse at the Kennebunkport Inn will feature an à la carte menu on Thanksgiving, with traditional entrees and classic sides from 12-6pm.

Sea Glass at Inn by the Sea

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Sea Glass is serving a $66 family style meal that includes all the traditional trappings of turkey, gravy, and mashed potatoes.

Saltwater Grille

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Come for the waterfront views, stay for the cranberry molded salad. The Saltwater Grille is serving a $55 buffet of traditional entrees and sides.

Five Fifty-Five

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Enjoy four courses for $88 at classic Five Fifty-Five. While the preview menu is just a sample one, dinner options are sure to include the chef's famous truffled lobster mac and cheese.
Union dives into the holiday dining fray with a 3-course meal for $55. Bonus: if you're dining with family but need an escape, drinks and a bar menu will be available until 10pm.

Broad Arrow Tavern

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The tavern at the Harraseeket Inn will be serving an aptly named Grand Buffet, with a staggering number of options. Yet another restaurant where you'll be thankful for the nearby beds.

Moody's Diner

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If all of these high-falutin' dining options have you shaking your fist, then try Moody's Diner. This $21.95 buffet is a traditional Thanksgiving dinner — capped off with the diner's famous pie, naturally.

The Bethel Inn Resort

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Cozy up in the mountains for dinner at the Bethel Inn, where $37.95 grants you access to a seafood-heavy buffet with plenty of pies for dessert. Holiday packages that include dinner with your stay at the inn encourage you to make a getaway of it.

Dysart's Travel Stop

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The restaurant at Dysart's Truck Stop stays open for Thanksgiving dinner, where the $16.99 turkey dinner comes with all the sides and "seconds if you're not full." Stop into one of two locations in Bangor and Herman — between the two restaurants, the company will go through 480 whole turkeys for hungry travelers.

Gaylyn's

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This seafood and steakhouse on the waterfront in Bar Harbor closes for the season after the holiday. Get your last meal of the season in with a full traditional dinner served from 11:30 a.m. until 8 p.m.

C2 - Congress Squared

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The restaurant at the Westin Portland Harborview is serving a $65 holiday meal which includes a choice of an appetizer, entree, dessert, and several sides for the table.

Samoset Resort

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Dine at this Rockland resort in one of its two dining rooms: a prix fixe menu is offered in the Italian-themed La Bella Vita dining room while a traditional holiday buffet is served in the ballroom.

Bolster, Snow & Co.

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Enjoy a three-course meal at the restaurant in the The Francis, a boutique hotel in Portland's West End. The menu includes turkey and traditional sides for $60.

Tempo Dulu

Try something different this year at the Southeast Asian-inspired Tempo Dulu, where the $85 prix fixe holiday dinner includes red curry and lobster risotto and a smoked butter poached turkey with crispy, chili-dusted skin.

The Brunswick Hotel & Tavern

The cozy tavern at the Brunswick Hotel offers a $47 buffet that includes all of Thanksgiving dinner's greatest hits. Post-dinner, slow your descent into a food coma with one of the house's specialty coffees, like the Nutty Irishman with Frangelico and Bailey's.

Natalie's at Camden Harbour Inn

Best to reserve a room upstairs at the inn — you'll need it after dinner at Natalie's, where the five-course prix fixe meal comes with an optional wine pairing.

York Harbor Inn

The inn offers two holiday dining experiences: partake in the buffet with a carving station upstairs in the Oceanview 1637 restaurant or enjoy a 3-course dinner with a dessert buffet downstairs in the cozy Ship's Cellar Pub. That's right, both menus involve a buffet.

Cape Arundel Inn

Enjoy a $75 prix fixe dinner in Ocean, the scenic dining room of the waterfront Cape Arundel Inn. The meal includes an hors d'oeuvres spread and three courses.

The Burleigh

The modern, nautical steakhouse at the Kennebunkport Inn will feature an à la carte menu on Thanksgiving, with traditional entrees and classic sides from 12-6pm.

Sea Glass at Inn by the Sea

Sea Glass is serving a $66 family style meal that includes all the traditional trappings of turkey, gravy, and mashed potatoes.

Saltwater Grille

Come for the waterfront views, stay for the cranberry molded salad. The Saltwater Grille is serving a $55 buffet of traditional entrees and sides.

Five Fifty-Five

Enjoy four courses for $88 at classic Five Fifty-Five. While the preview menu is just a sample one, dinner options are sure to include the chef's famous truffled lobster mac and cheese.

Union

Union dives into the holiday dining fray with a 3-course meal for $55. Bonus: if you're dining with family but need an escape, drinks and a bar menu will be available until 10pm.

Broad Arrow Tavern

The tavern at the Harraseeket Inn will be serving an aptly named Grand Buffet, with a staggering number of options. Yet another restaurant where you'll be thankful for the nearby beds.

Moody's Diner

If all of these high-falutin' dining options have you shaking your fist, then try Moody's Diner. This $21.95 buffet is a traditional Thanksgiving dinner — capped off with the diner's famous pie, naturally.

The Bethel Inn Resort

Cozy up in the mountains for dinner at the Bethel Inn, where $37.95 grants you access to a seafood-heavy buffet with plenty of pies for dessert. Holiday packages that include dinner with your stay at the inn encourage you to make a getaway of it.

Dysart's Travel Stop

The restaurant at Dysart's Truck Stop stays open for Thanksgiving dinner, where the $16.99 turkey dinner comes with all the sides and "seconds if you're not full." Stop into one of two locations in Bangor and Herman — between the two restaurants, the company will go through 480 whole turkeys for hungry travelers.

Gaylyn's

This seafood and steakhouse on the waterfront in Bar Harbor closes for the season after the holiday. Get your last meal of the season in with a full traditional dinner served from 11:30 a.m. until 8 p.m.

C2 - Congress Squared

The restaurant at the Westin Portland Harborview is serving a $65 holiday meal which includes a choice of an appetizer, entree, dessert, and several sides for the table.

Samoset Resort

Dine at this Rockland resort in one of its two dining rooms: a prix fixe menu is offered in the Italian-themed La Bella Vita dining room while a traditional holiday buffet is served in the ballroom.

Bolster, Snow & Co.

Enjoy a three-course meal at the restaurant in the The Francis, a boutique hotel in Portland's West End. The menu includes turkey and traditional sides for $60.