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While I was in college at San Diego State University (SDSU), I worked at a seafood buffet and worked on Thanksgiving Day. [You can skip my college story and just scroll down or jump straight to the list of 23 restaurants in San Luis Obispo County that will be open on Thanksgiving Day and serving a turkey dinner.] It was by choice as I got better tips and only had to work for 5 hours and could still go home and spend time with my parents and sibling. I'm a native San Diegan but I live here in San Luis Obispo County now. I worked at that buffet named Todai San Diego (now closed) for 3 years and worked on many holidays. I think back at those years there fondly as this job had helped me pay my college tuition at SDSU and food.

There was one particular guest who I still remember and think about as Thanksgiving Day gets nearer every year. She came in alone and was the only one who did on that Thanksgiving Day at our restaurant. She was all smiles when she stepped up to the podium to tell the hostess, whom I stood nearby, the number of people in her party. The guest lifted one pointer finger and said, "Just one."

Though I may have felt a little sorry for her, I felt admiration more than anything for her courage and independence as she was not afraid to dine alone on a holiday that many expects one to be with others. She deserved a wonderful dinner and instead of ordering take out somewhere, she came in and enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast and seafood. She was kind and seemed really smart. Although I didn't pry, she looked like she was in town for business or was traveling for personal reasons.

So, I dedicate this post to this memory and to all of you who needs to have a warm Thanksgiving meal on Thanksgiving Day cooked by an establishment because life can get too busy to be able to cook at home for yourself and/or for others. Enjoy a feast without the mess and why not, the many wonderful restaurants around here are here to serve you.

[ 2024 List of Thanksgiving Dinners in San Luis Obispo County Will Be Added a Few Months Before the Holiday, When Restaurants Announced Them. Come Back Regularly to See the Growing List. ]

List of Restaurants That Will Be Open on Thanksgiving Day (Thurs., Nov 23, 2023) and Serving a Turkey Dinner that I Found by Going on Each Website Individually and Sorted by Alphabetical Order:

• 1865 Craft House & Kitchen will be serving a Thanksgiving Buffet with first seating at 1PM and last seating at 7:30PM. They will be limiting tables to a 2 hour dining period and an automatic 20% gratuity will be added to all bills. I've been to this restaurant before when I was having a staycation at La Quinta Inn, which is located right next to 1865 Craft House & Kitchen. Read my full review of my 18 hour staycation and dining experience here at 1865 Craft House & Kitchen. Address: 1865 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 
• Apple Farm Restaurant & Inn will be serving a prix-fixed menu from 12PM - 4PM for $50 per person. Reservations are encourages by the restaurant. Apple Farm Restaurant & Inn address: 2015 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 
• Black Cat Bistro will be offering a Thanksgiving Menu from 12PM - 7PM. Thanksgiving Menu for 2023 is available for Black Cat Bistro. Address: 1602 Main St., Cambria, CA 93428 
• Cafe Roma will be serving a Thanksgiving menu from 12PM - 7PM with the Organic Roasted Turkey entree priced at $49.95 and the Little Pilgrims menu for 12 years old and under priced at $22.95. Here is Cafe Roma 2023 Thanksgiving Menu. Cafe Roma address: 1020 Railroad Ave., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 
• Cambria Pines Lodge will be serving an all-you-can-eat buffet with Thanksgiving favorites from 12:30PM - 7:30PM for $69.99 for adults and $34.95 for Children who are 12 years old and under. Children 5 and under are free. Read about my buffet experience here on Mother's Day on the Cambria page. They also own a large gift shop and nursery. See my instagram video reel of my visit through Cambria Pines Lodge's beautiful gift shop. Cambria Pines Lodge address: 2905 Burton Dr., Cambria, CA 93428 
• Cello Ristorante & Bar at Allegretto Vineyard Resort by Ayres will be serving a Thanksgiving menu from 4PM - 8PM. I've dined here on Christmas Day. Read my review of Cello Ristorante under my Paso Robles Restaurant Reviews. Cello Ristorante & Bar address: 2700 Buena Vista Dr., Paso Robles, CA 93446 
• F. McLintock's will be serving a $60 per person Thanksgiving Day Menu on Thanksgiving Day that includes, roll & butter, choice of starter, entree (turkey is one of the options), dessert and after-dinner libation. There's also a children's selection for $25 each child. They have 3 locations in San Luis Obispo County: Downtown SLO, Arroyo Grande and and Shell Beach.
• Gardens at Avila Restaurant at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and Spa will be serving a Thanksgiving Course Menu from 4PM - 8:30PM for $75 per person; children 10 years old and under can eat half off. Gardens of Avila Restaurant address: 1215 Avila Beach Drive, California, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 - Read my review about The Gardens at Avila Restaurant when we dined there for Valentine's Day or you can view this instagram post that's a 1 minute video reel to see our mineral springs hot tub experience and the views of the sycamore trees at Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort & Spa. 
  
• Lido Restaurant & Lounge at Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa will be serving a specially prepared Prix Fixe Menu from 12PM - 7PM for $95 per person. Lido Restaurant & Lounge at Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa Address: 2727 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach, CA 93449 
• Luna Red will be serving a prix fixed menu all day for $60, with a vegan menu for $55. A kid's turkey plate for ages 12 years old and under is $25. Luna Red address: 1023 Chorro Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 
• Madonna Inn will be serving a Thanksgiving buffet from 12PM - 10PM for $49.95 per adult and $29.95 per child. See Madonna Inn's 2023 Thanksgiving Day Menu. I always enjoy walking around their property and shops before and after our meal. Madonna Inn address: 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 - Read about my multiple visits at Madonna Inn.
  
• Marisol at Cliffs Hotel and Spa will be serving a Thanksgiving 3 course menu from 1PM - 9PM. Reservations are required. Marisol at Cliffs Hotels and Spa address: 2757 Shell Beach Rd, Pismo Beach, CA 93449 - See my instagram picture post of the entree that I ordered at Marisol during Restaurant Month. 
• McPhee's Grill will be offering a Thanksgiving turkey menu option from 2PM - 7:30PM for $38 per Thanksgiving Turkey entree and $15 for a kid's turkey entree. See McPhee's Grill 2023 Thanksgiving Menu. McPhee's Grill address: 416 S Main St., Templeton, CA 93465
• Pequin Coastal Cocina Restaurant at Vespera Pismo Beach will have turkey on their menu between 2PM - 9:30PM on Thanksgiving Day. They are located beachfront and is in walking distance to the pier. See their 2023 Thanksgiving Day Menu. Address: 147 Stimson Avenue, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
• Robin's Restaurant will be offering a Thanksgiving turkey option for $34 for a turkey entree and $19 for a kid's turkey entree. See Robin's Restaurant's 2023 Thanksgiving Day Menu. Robin's Restaurant address: 4095 Burton Drive, Cambria, CA 93428 - Read a review about my visit at Robin's Restaurant during the pandemic. 
• SeaVenture Restaurant inside of SeaVenture Hotel will be having a Thanksgiving Menu from 1PM - 6:30PM. Their price is $75 a person. I've been to this restaurant before and it has a classy vibe. Read my full review of SeaVenture Restaurant on this blog entry. Address: 100 Ocean View Ave., Pismo Beach, CA 93449
• SLO Provisions is offering a whole bird dinner package for $275 or half bird dinner package for $150 that you'll need to order by November 17th 6:30PM! You'll need to pick it up on Nov. 22, 2023 (the day before Thanksgiving) from 3:30PM - 5:30PM. You cannot dine here on Thanksgiving Day but a pre-order for the home is a great option here. SLO Provisions address: 1255 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 
• The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar is offering a fixed menu from 1:30PM - 6:30PM for $75 per guest. The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar address: 835 13th Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446 
• The Sow's Ear will be offering a Thanksgiving turkey option. Their price is not listed on their menu on their website but they have the 2023 Thanksgiving Day Menu. The Sow's Ear address: 2248 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428
• The Steakhouse at The Paso Robles Inn will be serving a Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving Day from 11AM - 8PM and they will require a reservation. View The Steakhouse's 2023 Thanksgiving Menu. Address: 1103 Spring St., Paso Robles, CA 93446
• Ventana Grill will have a Thanksgiving Buffet on Thanksgiving Day. Like all of the restaurants on this list, make a reservation ahead of time. See Ventana Grill's Thanksgiving Buffet spread. I've been to this restaurant many times for their amazing ocean cliff views. Read my full review of Ventana Grill from this blog entry. Address: 2575 Price St, Pismo Beach, CA 93449
• Windows on the Water will be offering a prix fixe 3 course menu from 2PM - 7PM for $89 per adult and $35 for children who are 12 years old and under. View Windows on the Water 2023 Thanksgiving Day Menu. Reservations with credit card is required. Windows on the Water address: 699 Embarcadero, Ste. 7, Morro Bay, CA 93442 

Thanksgiving Free Meals

• PENDING for 2024

This is a growing list!

I highly encourage you to make a reservation as soon as you've decided on a particular restaurant as I've seen reservations get full a week in advance before the actual holiday!

If there is no kid's price listed above for a particular place, it is because the restaurant did not note a kid's price or version on their website when I was doing searches online for Thanksgiving Day offerings at the time; and maybe charging one price for any guest, regardless of age.

As more restaurants announce that they'll be open on Thanksgiving Day and serving Thanksgiving meals, I'll add it to this list.

Gobble, gobble!

See a list of Thanksgiving Day Camps for kids in San Luis Obispo County while school is out.

See my top 10 wine tasting room rank list for San Luis Obispo County as a local. 

Fall baking recipes:

• View my gluten-free vegan pumpkin pie recipe. 
• View my pumpkin muffin recipe (non-vegan).
• View my non-vegan mini pumpkin pie recipe.

Supplies for Celebrating Thanksgiving Day at Home:

• Thanksgiving Dining Table Placemats
• Thanksgiving Napkins
• Thanksgiving Table Center Piece
• Thanksgiving Wreath