By Angela Caraway-Carlton
The holiday season is a time for gratitude, and thanks to Acqualina’s standout dining options, you can enjoy Thanksgiving without lifting a finger in the kitchen. Celebrating at one of the resort’s restaurants means more quality time with loved ones. And did we mention the breathtaking waterfront views?
It’s hard not to fall in love with the interior beauty and al fresco vibes of Avra, where you can even hear the ocean’s waves from your table. Alongside its à la carte menu of refined Greek cuisine, the restaurant is offering a special Thanksgiving feature: a plate of classic holiday favorites, including turkey with all the trimmings—mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, gravy, and cranberry sauce. If you’d prefer a lighter option, the regular menu offers an array of salads, ceviche and sashimi, fresh seafood flown in directly from the Mediterranean, and premium cuts of meat, including a 28-day aged Snake River Farms center-cut 8-ounce filet.
At authentic Italian hotspot Il Mulino, you have two ways to dine. Indulge in their seasonal Fall prix-fixe menu, which runs through the end of November. Dinner is made easy with a three-course menu with starters that include a grilled zucchini carpaccio to baby artichokes soaked in Italian herbs, main entrees such as risotto butternut squash, homemade pasta, and a butterfly filet mignon, and desserts like apple strudel. But if you’re craving a traditional Thanksgiving feast, you can have that too. The Thanksgiving menu, priced at $80 per person not inclusive of tax and gratuity, features a primo of homemade pumpkin ravioli (a signature dish that Executive Chef Michele Mazza makes at home for his personal Thanksgiving), and a secondo of organic roasted turkey with chef’s walnut and sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes and more. End the meal with pumpkin cheesecake topped with a wild berry sauce.
If you desire a less traditional Thanksgiving meal, Japanese fusion showstopper Ke-uH always hits the mark with their fresh sushi and creative dishes. The restaurant was recently redesigned, layered in textures like Acqualina-red drapery and bold designs like a bonsai tree that anchors the room. Throughout November, the restaurant is spotlighting its bluefin toro sashimi—with slices of tuna wrapped around tofu miso crumbles with a hint of truffle and finished with micro akashiso herbs. These six bites are sure to spark joy. The regular menu also has local favorites that shouldn’t be missed like the tuna pizza with wasabi aioli, the crispy rice topped with your choice of fish, and any of the signature rolls. We promise, you won’t even miss the turkey and dressing. And if you do? Head to one of the other restaurants for round two—we promise not to tell anyone.