Why spend days cooking Thanksgiving dinner when you can order up a full feast for your family or friends?
If you need or want a break this year, here are some places across the northern half of Alabama with holiday takeout that will satisfy any taste. (We also share takeout ideas for the Birmingham area and the southern half of the state.)
Picking up Thanksgiving dinner isn’t like getting typical to-go. Ordering enough to feed a crowd requires planning days ahead. Deadlines are as early as Wednesday, November 17, although most establishments cut off orders the following weekend. Even if a restaurant or caterer doesn’t specify, waiting any later than Monday, November 22, is risky. Order early.
Then when everyone gathers at your home, just heat and let them eat.
Good Company Café (Huntsville)
The café’s a la carte menu mainly feeds 8-10, with turkey and gravy or roasted ham ($75), sides ($20; $10 for smaller size) including corn pudding, green bean casserole, maple glazed carrots, and “stuffin.” Get started with a plate of deviled pickled eggs ($15), pimento pumpkin ($10), sausage balls ($20), or baked brie with cranberry. Desserts ($25) are Caramel-Apple Crisp and I Yam What I Yam sweet potato cake. Orders can include wine by the bottle, with a discount for four or more bottles. Order online, by phone at 256-881-0044, or in person before Thursday, November 18, at 3 p.m. Pick up Tuesday the 23rd or Wednesday the 24th.
Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Que (Decatur)
Preorder smoked whole turkey (at both Decatur locations) and ham (Danville Road location only) for $49.99 each. Also available are pans of mac and cheese and other sides. Pies include pecan, peanut butter, coconut, lemon, and chocolate. Call 256-350-6969 (Sixth Avenue) or 256-350-0404 (Danville Road) for a full menu and to order. Smoked turkey breast, ribs, wings, and barbecue packs are available for shipping via Goldbelly.
Commerce Kitchen (Huntsville)
The three-course menu starts with salad greens with pomegranates, pumpkin seeds, and stone fruit vinaigrette. The entrée is roasted turkey or smoked ham with cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, garlic mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and rolls. For dessert: pumpkin pie, maple pecan pie or red velvet cake. Feeds 6-8. Order at 256-382-6622 for Thanksgiving Day pickup.
Mason Dixon Bakery (Huntsville)
Dinner for six ($130) includes herb roasted turkey breast, gravy, smoked macaroni and cheese, spinach salad with butternut squash, green beans with bacon, mashed sweet potatoes flavored with cardamom and sage, and rolls. Dinner for two option also available. Turkey breast ($50) is sold a la carte, as are the above sides ($20-$22) along with butternut squash soup ($12). Of course, there are plenty of dessert choices among the fresh-baked pies ($20-$32), cheesecakes ($32-$36), and flour cakes ($35-$40). Order online by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, November 17, and schedule pickup between November 20-24. Breakfast pickup also available for the holiday.
Cracker Barrel (multiple locations)
Get that quintessential Cracker Barrel down-home cooking with packages that include roasted turkey breast, cornbread dressing, gravy, cranberry relish, sweet potato casserole with pecans, and yeast rolls. Family-size ($89.99) serves 4-6. Feast size ($139.99) serves 8-10, and includes pumpkin and pecan pies. All items also are available individually. Peg board game and CB signature rocking chair are sold separately. Order online. It’s available for pickup at the designated store from November 20-27, but the chain advises serving the food within 72 hours of pickup.
Moe’s Original BBQ (multiple locations)
Smoked meat choices include whole turkey (12-14 pounds) and spiral sliced ham (9 pounds), both $59.99. Sides like cornbread dressing, sweet potato casserole, and corn pudding, enough for up to 12 people, are $22 each. Order by phone at the store where you want to pick it up. Ordering deadline is Saturday, November 20. Pick up is Wednesday, November 24 until 4 p.m.
Southern Ale House (Tuscaloosa)
They have the meats—whole turkey breast ($50), whole and half hams ($150/$75), and prime rib by the pound. Sides, sold by the gallon ($36 each, feeds 20-25) and half gallon ($18, 10-15 servings), include cornbread dressing, squash casserole and hash brown casserole. The desserts are bread pudding ($30 for a gallon), brownies ($25 half sheet, $50 full sheet), and cookies ($12 per dozen). Order by phone at 205-310-3625 or by email at catering@southernalehouse.com by noon on Monday, November 22. Pickup is Wednesday, November 24, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
