Unique Thanksgiving Experience

[velmabelcher]

My family and I are going to spend the holiday in the city and are looking for something a little different than a traditional meal at an upscale place. Does anyone know of a fun, memorable, or interesting venue that serves a Thanksgiving meal? I have 2 kids ages 9 and 10 and we are staying near Union Square. Communal dining, a dinner show, or ??? Thanks!

[rworange]

Do you live in the Bay Area or are you from out of town?

It is a little late to be asking about unique. If you are from the area, maybe consider the Marines Memorial Club next year. They have a performance by the Golden Gate Philharmonic. It is one of those things I want to try one of these years.
http://www.marineclub.com/calendar/?id=162&y=2011&m=11&d=24

Dinner shows usually mean mediocre food. Speaking of which, you might do a Hornblower Thanksgiving dinner cruise
http://www.opentable.com/hornblower-c...

Otherwise I'd just go to a restaurant around some festive area and separate the activity from dinner ... go to One Market and then ice skating at the Embarcadero. Have dinner in one of the Union Square restaurants and check out the holiday decorations.

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One Market Restaurant
1 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

[Robert Lauriston]

Bossa Nova, Pena Pachamama, Red Tavern, and the Tonga Room are open.

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Pena Pachamama
1630 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA 94133

Bossa Nova
139 8th St, San Francisco, CA

Tonga Room
950 Mason St., San Francisco, CA 94108

Red Tavern
2224 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121

[rworange]

I loved Pena Pachamama the year I went on my birthday. It is very festive and fun. The food is mostly 'meh' ... reinforcing food and a show is rarely a good thing. Also, know that the theme for the Thanksgiving dinner is living, raw food. Don't know if there will be other options. So this might have to rock your holiday boat

Rolled TuRAWkey Loaf w/Apple Cinnamon Herbal Stuffing and Apricot Glaze, Cream of Butternut Squash Rosemary Soup, Mock Mashed Potatoes w/ White Truffle Portabello Gravy, Mesclun Salad w/Red Wine Cherry Vinigrette, Pumpkin Pudding w/ Vanilla Persimmon Sauce

woo ... I've been flirting with being a vegan, but they really should have come up with a better name than turawkey ... but that might say it all.

[Robert Lauriston]

Yow. I forgot they had gone off on that raw tangent. That would surely be memorable.

[velmabelcher]

Thanks for the input. We are not local but not too far...live about 3 hours away. My kids are upset about eating a Thanksgiving meal away from family so that was why I was hoping to make it fun and different. Thanks for letting me know about the raw theme...that might be a little too memorable for my kids! I will check out the links..thanks again!

[rworange]

Ok. Then the boat or promise of ice skating afterward might be an incentive. However, better than a dinner cruise, would be to go to a restaurant with good food and take a cruise later.

The Palace Hotel buffet ususally has tables devoted to kids. You might call and ask. The Top of the Mark has the view with its buffet and you could ride the cable cars after which is fun.

Most everything is closed except the SF Zoo so you could have the buffet at the Park Chalet and then go to the zoo. The beach is nearby and there is Golden Gate Park with playgrounds

The question about being local had to do with determining if travel could be involved, but you seem stationed in SF for the day. There was one place in Napa that might have a communal table.

[Joel]

How about a nice Chinese restaurant? That's what all the Chinese people do. The best time to go (on T-giving) is in mid-afternoon, because they will be packed at dinner time.
Assuming you are not Asian, the bonus is that you will be integrating the place. I find it fun to be the only people of Caucasian persuasion in the room.
I'd recommend Great Eastern in Chinatown (a brisk walk from Union Square).

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Great Eastern Restaurant
649 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94133