Clydes is just reheated food. We have gone two of the past few years and it sucked. And, for reheated food, it was cold.

J Gilbert's?

I went through this last year - first Thanksgiving after my dad died. My daughter was a little over a year old. We went to the Thanksgiving brunch at the Ritz Carlton Pentagon City. It was a good fit. Because it is a hotel, they seemed fine with having a baby around, and my husband and I ate lots of delicious cold seafood and drank champagne, so it was a treat but not too family holiday-ish. We then went to the zoo and walked around in the sunshine.

Thinking of you, OP, and your spouse. I know it is not easy.

Anonymous wrote:Can we expand the suggestions? We have 14 mo twins and my wife has had some major health issues including surgery and a lot else this year. I've done Thanksgiving some years and a good friend has done other years. He's renovating his kitchen and frankly we're just exhausted and I'm not up to making Thanksgiving dinner, so we're also looking for a place to go out and just relax for a night. We live in Laurel and anywhere within about 30-45 min from here, without going into the city (we don't really feel like dragging two toddlers downtown and back out at bed time) that is family-friendly would be appreciated. Don't know if that is possible or not.

I recommend Clyde's, as it's family-friendly with decent food. Is the Columbia location convenient for you?

Can we expand the suggestions? We have 14 mo twins and my wife has had some major health issues including surgery and a lot else this year. I've done Thanksgiving some years and a good friend has done other years. He's renovating his kitchen and frankly we're just exhausted and I'm not up to making Thanksgiving dinner, so we're also looking for a place to go out and just relax for a night. We live in Laurel and anywhere within about 30-45 min from here, without going into the city (we don't really feel like dragging two toddlers downtown and back out at bed time) that is family-friendly would be appreciated. Don't know if that is possible or not.

I had a very good meal at M&S Grill one year.

Not sure of hte name, but the restaurant inside the Marriott Wardman hotel in Woodley Park does a nice Thanksgiving dinner. So sorry for your family.

Sorry for your loss OP. My dad died this year as well. We are rolling the dice and taking our 3YO to the Tabard Inn. I'm all about throwing money at our sadness this year. We will probably hit some ridiculous expensive Christmas thing like National Harbour as well.

I've also been looking for family-friendly places. Ended up making a reservation at Clyde's. Other places that I considered:
Daily Grill - regular menu + Thanksgiving entrees
Carmine's - family-style complete turkey dinner (about $225 for a complete dinner for 8-10)

Ruth Chris

M&S grill or Old Ebbitt.

Clyde's does but books up fast. It is worth a call!

Clyde's isn't on this list but surely they serve Thanksgiving dinner. There are a lot of restaurants that do.

http://www.opentable.com/promo.aspx?pid=1&m=9

My MIL died recently and our family is sad. No one really feels up to hosting Thanksgiving, but we all want to be together. I'm thinking we could possibly go out and then go back to someone's home...so we get to eat together and then hang out, but no one has all that cooking and clean up to do. The only wrinkle with going out is that we have in our family four children six and under (youngest is three) so probably anything too nice is out.

So, does anyone know of a restaurant in the DC/Baltimore area that serves Thanksgiving in a relatively family friendly environment? It doesn't have to be Charleston or Citronelle quality (or price!) but something nicer than Shoney's. Any suggestions?

Does Old Ebbitt do anything? I'm thinking of something in that vein, but not necessarily in downtown DC (although it could be).

Thanks!