This is not the year for Rockwell-esque Thanksgiving. COVID-19 cases are spiking across the country, and D.C. officials are encouraging residents to avoid traveling outside the region, eschew large gatherings, and keep celebratory meals outside, if possible. The most responsible course of action is to stay home, which will undoubtedly be a bummer for some, but it comes with added benefit of freeing up money spent on plane tickets for a restaurant splurge. While many people will cling to the Americanized classics — a bronze roasted turkey, simple stuffing, pumpkin pie — for a comforting hit of nostalgia, plenty of restaurants representing cuisines from outside of the United States have holiday specials full of flavors that could help cure the quarantine doldrums. Here are 13 places, from Northern Virginia through D.C. and Baltimore, offering inventive, nontraditional Thanksgiving dishes.
A number of D.C. area restaurants have resumed dine-in service. The level of service offered is indicated on each map point. However, this should not be taken as endorsement for dining in, as there are still safety concerns. The Washington Post is tracking coronavirus cases and deaths in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. More information can be found at coronavirus.dc.gov. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.
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