Thanksgiving in Solvang: Local restaurants projecting sold out crowds
SOLVANG, Calif. - Just one day before Thanksgiving, Francis Carr and his kids from Irvine are having fun in a game of TIK TAK TOE at the Landsby in Solvang.
“We came here to Solvang because it’s a very small town in a nice area to get around with loads to do,” said Carr.
But one activity they won’t be doing this Thanksgiving is cooking!
“Yes, cost of living has gone crazy at the moment everything is so expensive but and hotels are so convenient and the food quality is good," said Carr.
They are one of dozens of families who will be dining out at Mad & Vin Restaurant on Thanksgiving Day.
"I think a lot of families are excited to do something different this year and still be together, but be able to relax and not have to cook or do the dishes, so this is our first year of being in that group of people," said visitor Gemma Naghipour from the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Kids are loving it.
"We’re gonna go outside to eat and not really make it at home because it’s Thanksgiving so it’s the holidays," said visitor Alexander Naghipour from the San Francisco Bay Area.
So are the restaurant and hotel managers.
"Well we’re sold out for Thanksgiving. We start at 4 o’clock and it’s like we’ve got small parties. We’ve got large parties. We’ve got medium size parties. We’re gonna sit inside and outside," said general manager Barry Prescott of the Landsby.
Prescott believes many customers come back every year as a family tradition.
“As a restaurant, we can only charge so much more. I mean otherwise, we wouldn’t have any customers, so it’s very competitive," said Prescott.
Mad & Vin isn’t the only restaurant sold out for Thanksgiving.
Managers at First & Oak Restaurant said they’ve reached almost 70 reservations.
"I think obviously the opportunity to come and enjoy dinner in a setting like this you know it’s a great opportunity especially for people with smaller families," sand manager Matt Pierga of First & Oak Restaurant.
And for some, the best part about not cooking is getting plenty of extra time to do other fun stuff.
"I’m going to be watching the World Cup," said visitor Ultan Carr from Irvine.
