The best part of Thanksgiving is not family, turkey, taking two days off, stuffing, parades, football, pilgrims, pies, cable-knit sweaters, watching Charlie Brown, or shopping on Black Friday. No, the reason for the Thanksgiving season is the Thanksgiving sandwich—the annual Friday leftover lunch that follows the Thursday holiday meal. Enthusiasts know that a proper Thanksgiving sandwich includes a little bit of every leftover option, preferably smooshed together on a dinner roll, and that cramming so many calories into your stomach the day after the country’s only major feast day is the truest celebration of American greatness. People who don’t have plans for the big meal shouldn’t be denied a Thanksgiving sandwich, and D.C. restaurants are here to help. Several are open and serving prix-fixe menus, with variations on all the regular Thanksgiving sandwich toppings: turkey, cranberry sauce, green-bean casserole, etc. For prix-fixe options, look to Lincoln, Bastille, Perry’s, Blue Duck Tavern, Elisir, Hill Country, and the area’s Kimpton Hotel restaurants. Acadiana, Coffee Bar & Eatery, The BBQ Joint, Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, Lincoln, and Hill Country have also arranged to-go options, from specialty pies to entire turkeys for your Thanksgiving meals. And more important, for your Thanksgiving sandwiches.

Prices and menus vary. See restaurants’ websites for more information.