The Cowboys have played the Eagles on Thanksgiving twice, in 1989 and 2014. They lost both.
Round three is Thursday, Nov. 26, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with kickoff at 3:30 p.m. on Fox. Dallas comes in on a nice holiday streak, with Thanksgiving wins over Washington, the Giants and Kansas City the last three years. Philadelphia comes in 6-1 all time on Thanksgiving, the best holiday record of any team that has played more than two of them.
So it’s a big one. And for a lot of North Texas families, it changes the whole schedule for the day. Dinner either happens early, happens late or happens in front of the TV.
Here’s how to eat well around it, whether you have tickets or a couch.
If you’re going to the game, start with the schedule. For a 3:30 kickoff, AT&T Stadium opens its parking lots at 10:30 a.m., and the plazas and concourses open at least two hours before kickoff. That leaves a long late morning to fill.
Brunch Before Kickoff
The early move is breakfast at Farena, the Italian restaurant inside the Loews Arlington Hotel at 888 Nolan Ryan Expressway, in the entertainment district. On Thanksgiving it runs an Italian breakfast buffet from 7 a.m. to noon, with fresh pastries and the usual brunch favorites, for $42 for adults and $22 for kids 6 to 12. The regular breakfast menu is still available.
If you’d rather eat Thanksgiving dinner before the game than after it, Farena serves all day from noon to 10 p.m. Executive chef Tony France is plating a roasted Diestel turkey with whipped potatoes, green beans almondine, stuffing and cranberry sauce, plus pumpkin pie with chai-spiced whipped cream, for $47. Mimosas, Bloody Marys and Bellinis are $17 a glass, or $32 for two hours of refills.
Across the way, Live! by Loews at 1600 E. Randol Mill Road sets out a Thanksgiving Grand Brunch Buffet from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It’s $108 for adults and $38 for kids 6 to 12, and children 5 and under eat free. That covers the whole pregame window.
Tailgate Under a Tent
For the full tailgate treatment, Boiling Tails Co. at 816 N. Collins St. is hosting an all-inclusive Thanksgiving tailgate from noon to 3:30 p.m. Tickets include a turkey buffet with all the fixings, an open bar, a DJ and big screens under a tent, and a meet-and-greet with Cowboys legends and alumni cheerleaders. It wraps up right at kickoff, so leave time to get to your seats.
Watching From the Couch
If you’re watching at home, the best Thanksgiving shortcut in Arlington is Hurtado Barbecue. The holiday menu includes a whole brisket that feeds 10 to 12 for $175, a smoked turkey breast that feeds four or five for $78.99, a glazed ham for $79.99 and a three-bone rack of beef ribs for $149.99. Family sides feed 10 to 12 for $41.99, and there are pumpkin, pecan and apple crumble pies. Order by Thursday, Nov. 19, and pick up on Wednesday, Nov. 25, by 6 p.m. Wednesday is the only pickup day, so the brisket will be waiting in the fridge when you wake up Thursday.
Hurtado also ships. Order by Nov. 17, and it arrives at your door by Nov. 20, which makes it a good move for anyone hosting Eagles fans from out of town.
For more Thanksgiving options around DFW, from pie auctions to smoked turkey from Pecan Lodge and Goldee’s, CraveDFW’s complete Thanksgiving guide has every order deadline in one place.
Pie at Halftime
Plan the pie for halftime. Miranda Lambert headlines the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Kickoff halftime show, now in its 30th year, and the game will also stream on Fox One and Tubi.
The Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau keeps a running list of Thanksgiving dining in Arlington, with more dine-in and to-go options.
