Have you ever dreamed of sitting down to a table set with turkey, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce without having to cross the Atlantic? Well, get ready for a culinary journey that will take you straight to the heart of the United States, without leaving Milan!
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving, is just around the corner, and the city of Milan is preparing to offer you a culinary experience that will make even the most skeptical Milanese shout “God Bless America.”
What is Thanksgiving and why is it celebrated?
Before we dive into the juicy world of American restaurants in Milan, let’s do a little historical review. Thanksgiving, celebrated every fourth Thursday in November, is a holiday with roots dating back to 1621. In that year, the Pilgrim Fathers, having just landed in the New World, decided to give thanks for the bountiful harvest with a big feast together with the Native Americans. Since then, this tradition has evolved to become one of the most beloved holidays in the United States, a time to gather with family, express gratitude and, of course, eat to the point of exhaustion!
But the significance of Thanksgiving goes beyond just feasting. It is an opportunity to reflect on the things we are thankful for, to gather with loved ones, and to share moments of joy and abundance. And what better way to celebrate this than with a Thanksgiving menu that would make even Uncle Sam himself envious?
Thanksgiving in Milan: a unique dining experience
You may not have known it, but Milan hides some gastronomic treasures that will make you feel like you’re in New York or Chicago, even if you’re just a stone’s throw from the Duomo. These American restaurants have decided to bring a bit of Stars and Stripes to our plates, offering Thanksgiving menus that will leave you speechless (and probably with a full belly).
Get ready to enjoy dishes you usually only see in American movies: stuffed turkey, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and more. It’s as if Thanksgiving decided to take a vacation to Italy and chose Milan as its favorite destination!
Now, without further ado, let’s take a tour of the best places to celebrate Thanksgiving in Milan. Get your forks ready, loosen your belt, and follow us on this gastronomic journey across America… in Milanese sauce!
Table Of Contents
Hamerica’s
If you’re looking for an American-style Thanksgiving experience that won’t empty your wallet, Hamerica’s is the answer to your culinary prayers. This restaurant chain, dedicated to the most authentic American cuisine in Italy, brings Thanksgiving straight to your plate with a fantastic menu.
For dinner on November 28, you can soak in the Thanksgiving atmosphere with their special dish: a succulent baked turkey, cooked to perfection and accompanied by a generous helping of gravy. But it doesn’t end there! Accompanying this undisputed star you will find crispy sweet potato fries and a delicious blueberry jam that will add that touch of sweetness typical of the holiday.
The cost is €24.90 and includes the main course, a drink of your choice and dessert.
Where: Via Carlo Vittadini, 11 20123 Milan, Italy
California Bakery
Want to celebrate Thanksgiving with a touch of California glamour and a dash of Milanese dolce vita? Then California Bakery is the place for you. This eatery, known for its delicious American-style desserts and brunch, transforms into a real corner of Los Angeles during the Thanksgiving season, but with an all-Italian soul.
On Nov. 28, get ready for a dining experience that will make you feel like you’re in Venice Beach, but with a view of the Duomo. You’ll start with a welcome flûte and savoury bites to whet your appetite. Then, be tempted by the mushroom pie, a whole wheat mushroom and vegetable tart with a red cheddar fondue. Follow up with a legume, chestnut and pecan soup with rosemary croutons.
But the real star, of course, is the Thanksgiving tur key. This turkey, stuffed with meat, nuts, and spices, is baked and served with all the traditional sides: gravy, cranberry sauce, crispy sweet potatoes, and Brussels sprouts.
And latecomers or those who can’t resist and want to extend the holiday, Nov. 27-29 can enjoy the Thanksgiving Turkey Roll, stuffed with the same ingredients as the main dish, in an on-the-go version. Don’t forget to leave room for dessert! You will be able to choose from chocolate pumpkin pie or pecan pie in a single serving.
The cost is €65 per person.
Where: Corso Como, 5, 20124 Milan and other locations
ROUTE 66
For Thanksgiving 2024, ROUTE 66 is preparing to offer a very special dining experience. On November 28 (with a repeat on the 29th for latecomers or those who can’t resist an encore), you can immerse yourself in an authentic American feast that will satisfy even the most discerning palates. You will begin your gastronomic journey with crispy pumpkin chips, an appetizer that will immediately put you in the autumn mood.
But the real star of the evening will invariably be the baked turkey stuffed in gravy. For those who want to explore other traditional flavors, there’s also meatloaf with cranberry sauce, a classic of American cuisine. Side dishes? American sweet potatoes, buttered corn on the cob and Brussels sprouts, washed down with a pint of pumpkin beer.
To end on a sweet note, you can choose from classic apple pie, a cheesecake or other available desserts.
The menu costs €33.90 and there are two shifts: the first with admission at 7:30/19:45 p.m. and the second at 9:15/21:30 p.m.
Where: Viale Romagna, 23, 20133 Milan
Erba Brusca
Looking for a Thanksgiving experience that combines American tradition with a touch of Milanese country? Erba Brusca is the answer to your culinary desires! Located at Alzaia Naviglio Pavese, this restaurant offers you a Thanksgiving menu in an almost bucolic atmosphere. From 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., you can enjoy delicacies such as lemon biscuits with honey whipped salted butter, a succulent turkey with gravy and stuffing, and an irresistible pumpkin spice cake with chocolate bourbon frosting.
The cost of the menu is €55 per person, excluding drinks.
Where: Alzaia Naviglio Pavese, 286, 20142 Milan, Italy
God save the food
At God Save the Food on Nov. 28, from 7:30 to 10 p.m., you can have a real Thanksgiving Dinner, enjoying delicacies such as a welcome salad with spinach, beet, daikon and walnuts with roasted goat cheese and thyme bread crostone with roasted pumpkin and lard, before discovering the main course: a turkey stuffed with chestnuts with plenty of gravy and blueberry sauce.
Traditional US side dishes are inevitable: crispy caramelized carrots with maple syrup and rosemary, sautéed Brussels sprouts with crispy bacon and walnuts, Hasselback potatoes, American mashed potatoes and roasted corn on the cob. And to end on a high note, an apple crumble.
You can experience this at restaurants in Brera, Tortona and Lavater. And if you prefer to celebrate in slippers? No problem! Order in advance and pick up your American feast at the nearest venue.
The cost of the Thanksgiving Dinner is €38 at one of the venues (with cover charge, water and coffee) or €32 at home.
Where: Via Tortona, 34 20144 Milan, Piazza del Carmine, 1 20121 Milan and Piazza Lavater corner via De Filippi 20129 MILAN
The Brisket
The Brisket, on Ripa di Porta Ticinese, catapults you straight back to 1621 with a Thanksgiving menu that would make the Pilgrim Fathers envious. It starts with an autumn salad with Roquefort, apples, pomegranate and pecans and a pumpkin cream with herb croutons.
The main course is a roast turkey stuffed with apricots, plums and chestnuts served with gravy and blueberry sauce. Accompanied by BBQ mashed sweet potatoes.
And to close on a sweet note, choose from apple pie or pecan pie.
The cost of the thematic menu is 40€ (water and cover charge included).
Where: Ripa di Porta Ticinese, 65, 20143 Milan
WILD TURKEY THANKSGIVING
From November 28 to 30, Via Tortona is transformed into a corner of Kentucky thanks to WILD TURKEY THANKSGIVING. At the Officina 14 space, Wild Turkey, the bourbon whiskey that has embodied the American craft soul for 150 years, brings you three days of pure American spirit.
Indie rock music concerts that will make you feel like you’re at a festival in the heart of the States, workshops to become true bourbon connoisseurs, and street food that will make you forget you’re a stone’s throw from the Duomo await you. And for true enthusiasts, there will be tastings of historic cocktails such as the Old Fashioned 101, Manhattan and Whiskey Sour, to the long drink that is conquering Milan: the Wild & Ginger.
But that’s not all: the photo exhibition “Wild Stories” will completely immerse you in the wild spirit of Kentucky. And if you want to feel truly “wild,” don’t miss the “With Thanks” award ceremony, a tribute to those who spread the values of sustainability and promote young talent.
Where: Via Tortona, 14, 20144 Milan, Italy
Thanksgiving in Milan, an experience not to be missed
We took a tour of the best American restaurants in Milan where you can celebrate Thanksgiving as if you were on the other side of the ocean. Whether you are a fan of American culture, curious to try new dining experiences or simply looking for an excuse to eat turkey to the point of exhaustion, Milan has the answer to your gastronomic prayers.
Remember, Thanksgiving is not just a celebration of food (although, let’s face it, that’s a key part of it), but it’s primarily a time to be thankful and share, so attend in the company of the people you love.