Our family and extended family (13 in all) will be in Boulder, Colorado on Thanksgiving (gearing up for the Nebraska/Colorado football game the next day). Does anyone have suggestions for a nice restaurant to enjoy a late afternoon/early evening dinner on Thanksgiving? A family we know ate at the Boulder Cork two years ago on Thanksgiving and raved about it but I wonder if there are any places that serve an actual Thanksgiving dinner. We're staying at the Omni in Broomfield but will drive into Boulder.

Hello--any Buffs out there???????

I ate at a wonderful place a few years ago called the Red Lion--it's a short drive into the foothills from Boulder. They serve great steaks and such, but also "exotic" foods like elk, aligator, and buffalo. We really enjoyed our experience there. I'm not even sure if they are still open or if they serve Thanksgiving dinner, but it's worth checking into!

I hesitiate to respond off-subject, but thought I would share an insight that came about slowly. For years, we celebrated Thanksgiving at restaurants. We tried high-end, mediums, family style, buffet, resorts...you name it.

In all of those years, we never had a dinner that even begins to compare to the type you can make at home. The traditional turkey feast cannot be duplicated in a restauarant environment-IMHO.

Moral of story--go ahead and travel on T-giving, it is a great time. But wait until you get home and back in the groove, then prepare your feast for family and friends properly.

When on the road, you have a better chance of finding a good burger than you do of finding a good turkey feast.

Parrothead,

You do make a great point. We live in far western Nebraska (less than 3 hours from Boulder) so every other year our family from eastern Nebraska (400 miles away) heads out to our house for Thanksgiving and then on to the Nebraska/Colorado game in Boulder. After preparing and cleaning up the feast (even with help) then it's time to pack, load up the cars and head out late Thanksgiving afternoon. I'm getting too old for this--ha! So this year I floated the idea of Thanksgiving in Colorado to parents, husband, siblings and children. I loved my brother-in-law's comment--"As long as we're all together it doesn't matter where we eat." So really, I agree with you in principle but the Mom/Organizer in me of course wants everyone to be happy and tummies full of non-cooked-by-me food on Thanksgiving!

Hi Tess, we live in Arizona now, but had a ranch at Alliance before we moved here. We went to many U of N/CU games in Boulder too, because it was the closest game to us. There's nothing better than beating CU! I hope you're not sitting at the game with your feet in the snow.

If the Red Lion is open on Thanksgiving, that would be a no-brainer! It has the perfect rustic atmosphere for a Thanksgiving dinner, plus wonderful food.
I hope you are rooting for the Buffs!!! If not, just don't wear red to dinner--you never know what they may do to your turkey:}
Go Buffs!

Red Lion is okay - if you don't mind the short drive up Boulder Canyon and average food. Flagstaff House is the best restaurant in the state in my opinion but pricey. The Cork is a reliable mid-priced restaurant in town. You may be interested to know that the restaurant at the Omni has an excellent reputation - many people drive out from Boulder to eat there. You may want to consider it since you are staying there. Boulder Chop House is good too. Go Buffs - make sure to hit the Harvest House for drinks before the game. Or The Sink in the university hill area for a real college experience and great pizza.

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I talked with someone at the Flagstaff House and they're closed on Thanksgiving. Am thinking that Merigot at the Omni might not be our best choice. It's probably a better choice there than in Boulder proper on game weekend(for those of us with "N's" tattooed on our foreheads). Two years ago we ended up RUNNING to our car after the game (including my 6 ft. 3 husband and brother-in-law) to escape CU fans pelting us with stuff--and that was after losing!! Love the Harvest House (or whatever it's called now--I forget) before the game, though--Boulder's a great town.

Harvest House is now a Millenium Hotel. It seems to change every few years. I plan to be sitting in the east stands on the 45 yard line to watch the Buffs roll over NU again. Sorry about the treatment you received two years ago - I don't know why people would be behaving like that after winning the game.

I'm guessing CU will post another win over Nebraska this year--our defense is back like it 'used to be' but the offense is still pretty bad. Oh well, there's always Flatirons to take my pain away!!

Flatiron Crossing, that is...

I might think about another option. With a party of 13 and driving in/out of Boulder, I would suggest a quasi-catering option. There's several chef-cook companies who would send over a meal to your crew. I'm sure the Omni would give you space to eat. Check out the website of Jim Spink who runs the Underground Supper Club. They might deliver the whole kit and caboodle to your hotel!! No muss, no fuss.

Ooh Steph, I like the way you think!! Kind of the best of both worlds. With 5 kids included in our bunch, I REALLY think this option has merit. I'll check out the website--thanks!

Q's restaurant at the Boulderado is at least as good and less expensive than the Flagstaff (IMO). Check there (the Boulderado is probably having a TG buffet, but for a nice meal see if Q's is open.

Tess: Yeah. I like that idea for your crew. Contact Jim at www.undergroundsupperclub.com or call 303.545.2129. As a chef/caterer, he may also have alternative suggestions.