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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 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 brother. I'm a native San Diegan but 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 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, who 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.

List of Restaurants That Will Be Open on Thanksgiving Day (Thurs., Nov 24, 2022) Serving a Turkey Dinner that I Sorted by Alphabetical Order:

• 1865 Craft House will be serving a buffet with first seating 1PM and last seating at 7:30. Price: $49.95 adults/kids 24.95 and includes soft drinks. 1865 Craft House address: 1865 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - Read my review about 1865 Craft House when I dined there at a past visit
• Apple Farm Restaurant & Inn will be serving a prix-fixed menu from 12PM - 4PM for $48 per person. Apple Farm Restaurant & Inn address: 2015 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Black Cat Bistro will be offering a Thanksgiving Menu in addition to their regular menu between 4PM - 9PM. The Thanksgiving Menu prices were not available when I visited their website. Address: 1602 Main St., Cambria, CA 93428
• Brasserie at Hotel Cerro will be serving a Thanksgiving dinner from 11:30AM - 6:15PM for $85 per person. Reservations are required. Brasserie address: 1119 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Cafe Roma will be serving a Thanksgiving menu from 1PM - 8PM with the Organic Roasted Turkey entree priced at $45.95 and the Little Pilgrims menu for 12 years old and under priced at $21.95. 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 $65 for adults and $35 for Children who are 12 years old and under. 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 for $92 per adult and $42 per child. They did not state on their website what time this menu will exactly start. Cello Ristorante & Bar address: 2700 Buena Vista Dr., Paso Robles, CA 93446 - I've only done a wine tasting here and haven't dined here yet but you can see my image posted on Pinterest from my visit at Allegretto Vineyard Resort by Ayres.
• The 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.
  
• Granada Hotel & Bistro will be serving a pre fixe dinner from 5PM - 9PM for $70 per person. Granada Hotel & Bistro address: 1130 Morro St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Lido Restaurant & Lounge at Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa will be serving a specially prepared 4-course Prix Fixe Menu from 11AM - 8PM for $90 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 from 12PM - 9PM for $58 and 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 $44.95 per adult and $28.95 per child. 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 12PM - 6PM for $62 per person. 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 - 8PM for $40 per entree and $15 for a kid's turkey entree. McPhee's Grill address: 416 S Main St., Templeton, CA 93465
• Mistura is offering a 3 course Thanksgiving menu from 11AM - 9PM for $75 per person and a kid's meal version for ages 10 years old and under for $25. Mistura address: 570 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - See a picture that I took of the paella that I ordered at Mistura on my Pinterest
• Ox & Anchor at Hotel San Luis Obispo will be serving an oven roasted turkey dinner with all the trimmings as part of their menu for $48 starting at 2PM. Piadina address: 877 Palm St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Piadina at Hotel San Luis Obispo will be serving an oven roasted turkey dinner with all the trimmings as part of their menu for $48 starting at 2PM. Piadina address: 877 Palm St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
• Robin's Restaurant will be offering a Thanksgiving turkey option from 1PM - 8PM for $34 for a turkey entree and $18 for a kid's turkey entree. Robin's Restaurant address: 4095 Burton Drive, Cambria, CA 93428 - Read a review about my visit at Robin's Restaurant during the pandemic
• SLO Provisions is offering a whole bird dinner package for $255 or half bird dinner package for $140 that you'll need to order at least 8 days ahead, before the actual Thanksgiving Day. You'll need to pick it up on Nov. 23, 2022 (the day before Thanksgiving) from 3:30PM - 5:30PM. You cannot dine here on Thanksgiving Day but a pre-order for the home is an 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 $65 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 from 5PM - 9PM. Their price is not listed on their menu on their website. The Sow's Ear address: 2248 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428
• The Steakhouse at Paso Robles Inn will be serving a Sage Rubbed Turkey Breast entree on Thanksgiving between 12PM - 8PM for $32 a plate. Address: 1103 Spring St., Paso Robles, CA 93446
• Windows on the Water will be offering a prix fixe 3 course menu only from 2PM - 7PM for $75 per adult and $29 per child who are 12 years old and under. Reservations with credit card is required. Windows on the Water address: 699 Embarcadero, Ste. 7, Morro Bay, CA 93442

Public Thanksgiving Dinner

• 39th Annual Pismo Beach Police Officer's Association Thanksgiving Dinner from 1PM - 6PM at Veteran's Hall in Pismo Beach on the day before Thanksgiving Day (Wed., November 23, 2022). Please do not call the Police Department to place orders. For more information about the dinner or to make a donation call: Anita Channel or Rachel Carson at 805-773-2208. Address: 780 Bello St, Pismo Beach, CA 93449

Notes:
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 dinner 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 see my wine tasting room rank list for San Luis Obispo County with my favorites at the top of the list. 

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.

Thanksgiving Day Accessories: