Thanksgiving Day Dining in Essex County: The Montclair, Bloomfield, Caldwell, Newark and Oranges Restaurants That Will Be Open
From Fresco Da Franco and Leone's in Montclair to Don Pepe in Newark and buffets in Caldwell and West Orange, The Montclair Girl's Nov. 2 guide lists the Essex County tables open on Thanksgiving Day — with hours, menus and prices, and two spots still unconfirmed.
Essex County residents who would rather dine out on Thanksgiving Day have a full county map of options this year, according to The Montclair Girl's guide to restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day 2026 in Montclair and Essex County, published Nov. 2 and read in full by this desk on Monday. The guide is a growing list, its editor's note says, with more information added as it is announced.
In Montclair, Fresco Da Franco at 15 Church Street will be open from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., serving its full à la carte Italian menu alongside traditional Thanksgiving specials, and Leone's at 19 South Park Street will be open from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., serving a special turkey dinner alongside its regular Italian menu with live music throughout the day, according to the guide. In Bloomfield, Bucco Bloomfield at 61 Washington Street will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a traditional turkey dinner alongside its regular menu; Bloomfield Steak and Seafood House at 409 Franklin Street has not yet confirmed its Thanksgiving plans. In Caldwell, Il Vecchio Café at 234 Bloomfield Avenue will host a Thanksgiving buffet from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. in three seatings, with butternut squash soup, a turkey carving station, roasted Brussels sprouts, mashed sweet potatoes and pies, at $75 per adult and $25 for children ages 5 to 12, with toddlers under 4 eating free, according to the guide; Lumis Italian Restaurant in Caldwell has not yet confirmed its hours or menu.
In Newark itself, Don Pepe Restaurant at 844 McCarter Highway is welcoming Thanksgiving dinner guests and accepting reservations for dine-in service, and is also offering whole turkeys and Thanksgiving dinners to go; its hours were still to be confirmed in the guide. In the Oranges, Felina Steak at 101 South Orange Avenue in South Orange will serve a three-course Thanksgiving dinner from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.; McLoone's Boathouse at 9 Cherry Lane in West Orange will serve a buffet from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at $54 per adult and $19 per child ages 3 to 11, with reservations recommended; and The Highlawn at 1 Crest Drive in West Orange will host a buffet from 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at $45 to $125 per person, with reservations prepaid, according to the guide.
The practical advice from the list is the same at nearly every address: book early. Two Essex County spots on the list — Bloomfield Steak and Seafood House and Lumis — had not confirmed their holiday plans when the guide published, so diners set on either should call before counting on a table.
