If cooking a turkey for a crowd sounds like a chore, Edmonton restaurants have you covered this Thanksgiving. Canadian Thanksgiving falls on Monday, Oct. 12, and restaurants across the city are rolling out buffets, brunches, and multi-course dinners throughout the long weekend.
At the top end, the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald is running a one-day Thanksgiving brunch buffet on Sunday, Oct. 11, with made-to-order eggs, a crepe station, carving stations, seafood displays, and a dessert table — all built on locally sourced ingredients. It costs $99 per person plus tax and gratuity, though kids 12 and under get half off.
Over at the Fantasyland Hotel's L2 Grill, there are two ways to celebrate. A four-course table d'hôte dinner runs on both Sunday and Monday (seatings at 5 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.) at $65-75 per adult, with butternut squash soup or salad to start, a choice of braised lamb shank or turkey roulade, and pumpkin for dessert. An optional wine pairing adds $40 per person. If brunch is more your speed, a Thanksgiving-themed brunch buffet runs Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at $79 per adult.
For a big family-style spread, the South Edmonton Sawmill is putting on a Thanksgiving buffet from Friday, Oct. 9 through Monday, Oct. 12. Expect roasted turkey with stuffing and gravy, honey-glazed ham, roast beef from the carving station, seafood, vegetarian pasta, fresh-baked rolls, and a serious dessert selection. Pricing is tiered by age: $59.95 for adults, $49.95 for seniors, $34.95 for teens, $29.95 for kids 5-12, and free for under-fives — a solid deal for a full family table.
The Chateau Louis Hotel has a thoughtful twist: its Thanksgiving dinner buffet on Monday, Oct. 12 (5 to 8:30 p.m.) is completely gluten-free, so guests with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity can eat everything on offer. Carved turkey, braised ham, mashed potatoes, and a separate dessert buffet run $52 per adult, $49 for seniors, and $3 per year of age for kids two to 12.
Just outside the city, the River Cree Resort and Casino in Enoch offers two experiences: a Thanksgiving menu at Tap 25 available all weekend, plus a dinner buffet at The Kitchen with seatings at 3, 5, and 7 p.m. on Oct. 11, and an à la carte dinner menu that evening from 4 to 10 p.m.
Whether you're feeding a multigenerational crowd, planning a date night, or need a fully gluten-free table, there's an option that skips the hours of prep and the pile of dishes. Just book ahead — holiday seatings at these spots tend to fill up fast.
