(Take) Home (or Dine In) for the Holidays

By Scott Edward Anderson 

YOUR GUIDE TO THANKSGIVING DINING IN THE BERKSHIRES 

THE BERKSHIRES IS FAMOUS FOR THANKSGIVING in part because of an incident 60 years ago this November involving Arlo Guthrie, a “Thanksgiving Dinner that couldn’t be beat,” and a pile of garbage that ended up at the bottom of a 15-foot cliff on Glendale Middle Road. All of this devolved into an arrest and, later, his most famous song, “Alice’s Restaurant.” 

At our house, where I primarily do the cooking, we’ll get our turkey from Baldwin Farm on Monday, brine it until Thursday, and have a full menu that includes Brussel sprouts, my clam and chouriço stuffing, sourdough dinner rolls, and three different pies—including a bourbon pecan pie that can’t be beat. (And we always listen to “Alice’s Restaurant” at the appointed time before dinner.) 

But for those of you who don’t cook or don’t want the stress and hassle of cooking on Thanksgiving, fear not. Bernie Fallon is ready for you. At Loeb’s Foodtown in Lenox, he’ll have a roasted golden-brown turkey, carefully turned on a rotisserie spit, waiting for your table. The previous owner, Earl Albert, started the tradition over four decades ago, and Fallon and his team have transformed the traditional Thanksgiving cooking marathon into a simple pickup, offering fully cooked birds and all the trimmings that taste just like home. 

“We’ll probably cook around 100 turkeys,” says Fallon, whose operation ranges from 10- to 25-pound birds. The cooking process takes about three hours for larger birds, two hours for smaller ones, and Fallon’s team works through the night to ensure everything’s ready for pickup. 

What makes Loeb’s particularly valuable is their Thanksgiving Day availability. When many stores are closed, Fallon’s staff are there helping customers find last-minute items. They even keep turkeys in reserve for emergencies—like when someone’s oven breaks on the big day. Each order comes with detailed reheating instructions, allowing customers to pick up their turkey the day before and warm it at home. 

But Loeb’s is just one possibility in the Berkshire’s take-home Thanksgiving scene. Across the region, restaurants and markets have built thriving holiday operations that liberate home cooks from spending hours in the kitchen. 

At Marketplace Kitchen, which has offered holiday meals since 1993, the approach is similarly comprehensive. They sell approximately 90-100 turkeys annually, plus 50-75 turkey breasts. “We offer them either oven ready, which means they’re brined and put them in the pan with all the mirepoix [diced carrots, celery, and onions] around it and seasoning and everything,” says Marketplace Chef David Renner. “Or you can also get a roasted one, which comes with instructions on how to reheat it.” 

Marketplace’s menu extends beyond turkey. They offer butternut squash, classic herb stuffing, sausage and kale stuffing, roasted Brussels sprouts, autumn roasted vegetables, and both regular and roasted yam mashed potatoes, with options for wheat-free and vegan diets. They sell between 200-300 units of items like cranberry chutney and gravy. Orders must be placed by November 21, with pickup available at their Great Barrington and Sheffield locations on November 26th. 

Guido’s Fresh Marketplace opened online ordering on October 28 and features Stonewood Farms turkeys, classic sides, and desserts. They offer complete family meals for both 10 people and couples, with pickups available at both locations on November 25 and 26 and will have Thanksgiving menu items in their prepared food case in the days leading up to the holiday. While Guido’s has extended hours during the week of Thanksgiving, they are closed on the holiday. Other popular options include Mazzeo's Ristorante in Pittsfield; Mezze Bistro + Bar and Wild Oats Food Coop in Williamstown; Woodlife Farm Market in New Lebanon, New York; and the Berkshire Food Coop in Great Barrington. 

For those who’d rather skip the kitchen entirely and dine out, the Berkshires offers numerous restaurant options. Asked how long the Red Lion Inn has been serving Thanksgiving dinner, owner and wine and catering director Tim Eustis and his team agree “for as long as anyone can remember.” They offer dinner in their Main Dining Room from noon to 8 p.m., with a family-style meal available in the Hitchcock Room for $75 per adult and $35 for children. The ’6 House Pub at the 1869 House in Williamstown is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, though reservations must be made two days in advance. 

Bernie Fallon at Loeb’s Foodtown in Lenox has your Thanksgiving meal covered. (Lee Everett)

The newly opened Cliff House at Prospect Berkshires in North Egremont offers Thanksgiving dinner from 2 to 6 p.m., with views across Prospect Lake. Chef Damian Evangelous prepares a traditional holiday menu with classic turkey dinner and accompanying dishes, plus options for pescatarians, vegetarians, and vegans. 

Morgan House in Lee offers a prix fixe menu from 11:30 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, while The Airport Rooms at TOURISTS in North Adams is serving elevated Thanksgiving classics family-style. 

Whether you’re looking to avoid the kitchen entirely or just need a helping hand with part of the feast, the Berkshire’s food community has you covered. From Fallon’s overnight rotisserie operation at Loeb’s to elegant restaurant dining rooms, this Thanksgiving can be as stress-free or as hands-on as you choose to make it.

Take Home

Loeb’s Foodtown, 42 Main St., Lenox, 413-637-0270, Bernie Fallon and his team will be rotisserie-cooking turkeys, turkey breasts, and will have classic sides to go with it, including mashed potatoes, stuffing, squash, and gravy. They sell out quickly and have a lot of repeat customers, so order early. Orders must be in by the Sunday before Thanksgiving and picked up before noon. Both Loeb’s and their sister store, Public Market in West Stockbridge, will be open until noon on the holiday for any last-minute needs. loebsfoodtown.com

Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, 760 South Main St., Great Barrington, 413-528-9255 and 1020 South St., Pittsfield, 413-442-9912. Online orders will open through their website, guidosfreshmarketplace.com, with pickups available in each store on Tuesday, November 25, and Wednesday, November 26. 

The Marketplace, 265 Stockbridge Rd., Great Barrington, 413-528-5775, and 18 Elm Ct., Sheffield, 413-248-5040, ext. 1. Orders must be placed by Friday, November 21, andw picked up by Wednesday, November 26 at The Marketplace or the Sheffield Café location. For more information: cateringintheberkshires.com.

Baldwin Farm, 25 West Center Rd., West Stockbridge, 413-232-4398. Baldwin Farm provides complete prepared Thanksgiving meals featuring their own pasture-raised turkeys and all the fixings, including stuffing made with Berkshire Mountain Bakery sourdough brioche and the farm’s own Italian sausage. Their chefs prepare traditional options for reheating at home, with pickups available Tuesday or Wednesday of Thanksgiving week. More details and orders: baldwinfarm.com/thanksgiving-preorders.

Berkshire Food Co-op, 34 Bridge St., Great Barrington, 413-528-9697. “Heat & Feast” menu with both classic and vegan plates at $30 per person, plus à la carte options including roasted turkey breast, traditional stuffing, and all the traditional sides. Check the Co-op’s website (berkshire.coop ) for order deadlines, with pickups spanning the few days leading up to Thanksgiving. 

Woodlife Farm Market, 36 Old Route 20, New Lebanon, New York, 518-938-1209. Chef Peter Belmonte prepares handcrafted Thanksgiving dinners for one to 12 people, just over the border in Columbia County. Order deadline for Thanksgiving meals is Wednesday, November 20. Call 518-938-1209, email market@woodlifemarket.com, or visit them to place your order. More details at woodlifefarmmarket.com. 

Mazzeo’s Ristorante, 1015 South St., Pittsfield, 413-448-2095. Oven-ready meals featuring roasted turkey breast and classic sides, $40 for an individual meal or $160 for a meal for 4. They also offer platters for parties of eight or 16. Pick up hot, ready-to-eat meals from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day or oven-ready meals and platter on Wednesday, November 26, from 12 to 8 p.m. No dine-in service on Thanksgiving Day. More information is available on their Facebook page: facebook.com/mazzeosristorante or on their website, mazzeosristorante.com. 

Mezze Bistro + Bar, 777 Cold Spring Rd., Williamstown, 413-458-0123. Mezze is serving their classic turkey (breast and thigh roulade), mashed potatoes, stuffing, farm squash, cranberry-orange sauce, gravy, and parker house roll for $40 per person; or order a fully cooked half turkey that serves six for $100 and select your favorite sides from their à la carte menu. Pre-order online by Saturday, November 22. Pickup on Wednesday, November 26, from 1 to 6 p.m. Go to mezzerestaurant.com/thanksgiving-to-go-2025 for full menu, prices, and ordering instructions.

Wild Oats Market, 320 Main St., Williamstown, 413-458-8060. Pick-up: Monday, November 24, after 11 a.m. through Wednesday, November 26, until 8 p.m. Go to wildoats.coop/news/thanksgiving-2025 for details and menu. 

Dine In

The Cliff House, 50 Prospect Lake, North Egremont, 413-528-5005. The restaurant accommodates groups of up to eight at a single table, with larger parties at multiple tables. Dinner is $95 per person ($45 for children up to 10 years old), and overnight guests enjoy complimentary s'mores at the firepit. Reservations are limited and require emailing with preferred time slots. Check out more at cliffhouseberkshires.com.

Doctor Sax House, 35 Walker St., Lenox, 413-200-0589. They’ll host two family-style seatings of classic Thanksgiving fare at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., and for dessert, a pie table featuring a variety of holiday pie favorites. Reservations can be made by phone or by emailing hello@doctorsaxhouse.com. More information at doctorsaxhouse.com.

Red Lion Inn, 30 Main St., Stockbridge, 413-298-5545. The Red Lion Inn’s chef and food and

beverage team blend timeless dishes from the past with new options to suit every palate and dietary preference. Thanksgiving dinner will be served from 12 to 7 p.m. At the time of this writing, they have a waitlist for parties of three or more and limited availability for parties of two. For the most up-to-date seating options, please visit their page on the OpenTable app, and for more details, go to redlioninn.com/thanksgiving.

Morgan House, 33 Main St., Lee, 413-243-3661. They will be serving a prix fixe dinner for $45 per person from 11:30 a.m. until 7 p.m.; reservations are required. For complete menu and further information, go to: morganhouseinn.com/thanksgiving.

The Airport Rooms at TOURISTS, 915 State Rd., North Adams, 413-347-4995. The Airport Rooms will serve a three-course dinner including turkey roulade with sausage and sage stuffing, stuffed butternut squash, and caramelized pear salad. All dietary restrictions can be accommodated. $75 per person ($45 for ages 7-12; free for ages 6 and under). Got a larger party? Book one of their upstairs private dining rooms. More information on their Facebook page facebook.com/TOURISTSwelcome and at touristswelcome.com.

’ 6 House Pub/1869 House Inn, 866 Cold Spring Rd., Williamstown, 413-458-1896. Featuring turkey or ham, with all the fixings, including mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes, green beans, and cranberry sauce, and three distinct kinds of pie for dessert. Cost is $50 per person; $25 per child; reservations are required. More information at 6housepub.com.

There may be other restaurants and shops that we’re not aware of or couldn’t reach for this story. If your favorite spot serves Thanksgiving dinner, but is not on this list, let us know and we’ll include them online and update our list for next year!