This Ohio Restaurant Is Serving A Thanksgiving Buffet With A Mashed Potato Bar

A Thanksgiving buffet with its own mashed potato bar is happening, and yes, the toppings are your call. The base is Yukon Gold potatoes, which already sounds like a smart start.

The rest of the spread is no afterthought either. A carving station serves herb-roasted turkey and brown sugar-mustard glazed ham, while a seafood station offers Old Bay poached shrimp.

Then come the sides, and there are plenty. Sweet potato casserole, herb stuffing, green bean almondine, mac and cheese, and corn succotash all share the table with butternut squash bisque.

I appreciate places that let someone else handle the dishes on the busiest food day of the year.

This one sits beside botanical gardens with ponds and waterfalls in central Ohio. The Thanksgiving buffet takes place in the hotel ballroom, but those scenic grounds are a bonus to enjoy before or after the meal, right?

Your Potatoes, Your Rules, And Nobody Is Judging

Mashed potatoes finally get the spotlight they deserve at Craftsman Kitchen & Terrace.

The Thanksgiving Day buffet on Thursday, November 26, 2026, includes a dedicated mashed potato bar.

The star is a big batch of Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. From there, guests get to add toppings and build a scoop that fits their own taste.

That small twist changes the whole mood of the meal. A classic side dish becomes something interactive, a little playful, and very personal.

Some folks will keep it simple with a modest scoop. Others will treat the bar like an art project, and honestly, both approaches sound correct.

Families with picky eaters should pay attention here. Letting everyone build their own plate means fewer complaints and more clean plates at the end.

The buffet takes place in the ballroom of the Cherry Valley Hotel. That gives the event a roomy, festive setting that feels fitting for a big holiday gathering.

A smart move is to save a little plate space before you hit the potato station. The rest of the buffet is generous, and the toppings deserve room to shine.

Good luck walking past this station only once. Most people will probably find a reason to circle back.

Turkey And Ham Share The Carving Board Like Old Friends

Every great Thanksgiving needs a centerpiece, and this buffet brings two. The carving station features herb-roasted turkey alongside brown sugar-mustard glazed ham.

That pairing solves a classic holiday debate. Turkey fans get their tradition, and ham lovers get a sweet and tangy option right beside it.

Nobody has to wrestle a bird out of a home oven either. No basting schedule, no carving stress, and no worrying about the timer at dawn.

The glaze on the ham adds a nice contrast to the herbs on the turkey. Putting a slice of each on one plate seems like the obvious choice.

Here’s a practical tip for groups. Grab your meats first, then plan your sides around them, so the plate stays balanced instead of becoming a potato mountain.

Of course, the mashed potato bar is waiting nearby. Turkey with potatoes is a pairing that has worked for generations, and it still does.

Having both meats at one station also helps mixed crowds. Grandparents who love tradition and kids who just want ham can all leave happy.

A holiday table rarely gets easier than this. Someone else does the carving, and you just hold the plate out.

Shrimp At Thanksgiving Is A Plot Twist Worth Welcoming

Old Bay poached shrimp might be the most surprising guest at this Thanksgiving table. The buffet at Craftsman Kitchen & Terrace includes a seafood station featuring it.

Shrimp brings a lighter option to a meal usually built on heavy comfort food. It gives your plate a break between the gravy-friendly favorites.

Old Bay seasoning is famous for its savory spice blend. It’s a familiar flavor for seafood fans, and it adds a little zip to the holiday lineup.

This station is a nice option for anyone who doesn’t love turkey. Every family seems to have one person like that, and now they have a plan.

Starting with shrimp is also a clever pacing strategy. It lets you enjoy something fresh before the potatoes and casseroles take over.

Seafood on a Thanksgiving buffet feels a bit like a fun bonus round. It keeps the meal from tasting the same from first bite to last.

Mixed groups will appreciate the variety. When the menu covers turkey, ham, and shrimp, it’s much easier to keep a big table happy.

So go ahead and break tradition for a few bites. The pilgrims probably wouldn’t mind.

The Side Dish Lineup Reads Like A Family Reunion Menu

Sides are where Thanksgiving really wins, and this buffet clearly knows it. The list includes roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole, and traditional herb stuffing.

It keeps going from there. Green bean almondine, mac and cheese, and corn succotash also earn a spot on the table.

That’s a lineup that covers nearly every family’s must-have dish. The kids get mac and cheese, and the vegetable lovers get plenty to choose from.

Sweet potato casserole adds that classic sweet note many people expect in November. Herb stuffing brings the savory comfort that pairs so well with turkey.

Green bean almondine offers a slightly fancier take on the usual green beans. Corn succotash adds color and a nice change of pace.

A good buffet trick is to take small scoops of several sides. That way, you can try everything without running out of plate space too quickly.

Then you can return for seconds of your favorites. Nobody needs to know how many trips you made.

Best of all, none of these dishes require you to clean a single casserole pan. That alone feels like a holiday gift, honestly.

Soup, Salad, And Bread Make A Strong Opening Act

Starters at this buffet aren’t just filler. They set the tone with autumn crudités and dips, plus a warm bread and butter board.

Warm bread with butter is one of life’s simplest pleasures. It’s hard to imagine a better way to begin a holiday meal.

There’s also butternut squash bisque on the menu. That smooth, seasonal soup feels like fall in a bowl, which is exactly the right mood for Thanksgiving.

Salad fans get a choice between harvest greens and a classic Caesar salad. Both bring a fresh crunch before the heartier dishes arrive.

The crudités and dips are a smart pick for lighter eaters. They also give kids something to snack on while the grown-ups figure out their plans.

Here’s the challenge, though. Starters are tempting, and the bread board might try to steal your appetite before the turkey even shows up.

A small cup of bisque and a single slice of bread is a fair compromise. Your future self, standing at the potato bar, will thank you.

Pacing matters at a buffet. These opening dishes simply make the waiting part much tastier.

Ponds And Waterfalls Make A Pretty Great Dinner View

Gardens are a big part of the story at Craftsman Kitchen & Terrace. The restaurant overlooks the botanical gardens of the Cherry Valley Hotel.

Those grounds include ponds and waterfalls. That’s a scenic backdrop you don’t usually get with a regular weeknight dinner.

Views change with the seasons, which keeps things interesting. Fall colors, winter quiet, and summer greenery all offer a different feel.

For a regular restaurant meal, a peaceful view can help everyone slow down. It’s easier to enjoy conversation when the setting feels calm.

Gardens also make a nice excuse for a short stroll before or after eating. Walking off a little mashed potato never hurts anyone.

The restaurant sits inside the Cherry Valley Hotel in Newark, Ohio. Out-of-town guests staying there can enjoy the view without even getting in the car.

Photo lovers will want their phones ready. Ponds and waterfalls make a pleasant background for family pictures.

The terrace part of the name makes sense here. This place leans into its outdoor surroundings, and that adds charm to every meal.

Heated Igloos Turn A Chilly Night Into A Cozy One

Before Thanksgiving even arrives, Craftsman Kitchen & Terrace sets up something wonderfully unusual. Private heated igloos appear among the illuminated botanical gardens.

The Autumn Lights experience runs from September 24 through November 25. It’s offered Wednesday through Saturday evenings, so plan ahead.

Each igloo welcomes parties of two to six. Plush seating and cozy blankets help keep things comfortable when Ohio air turns crisp.

Guests receive warm cider when they arrive. That’s a sweet welcome on a cool fall night.

Dinner comes from a chef-curated Fall 2026 Igloo Menu. It includes shared starters, seasonal salads, entrées, and dessert.

Clear domes let you see the ponds and waterfalls outside. The glowing gardens make the whole scene feel like a storybook setting.

These igloos work well for date nights, birthdays, or small family gatherings. Reserving early is wise, since spots are limited by nature.

Think of it as a warm-up for the holiday season. You could enjoy the igloo in early fall, then return for the potato bar in late November.

Breakfast, Brunch, And Picnics Keep The Fun Going All Year

Holidays are fun, but regular days matter too. Craftsman Kitchen & Terrace serves breakfast daily, with an à la carte menu on weekdays.

Weekends bring a full hot breakfast buffet. Weekend brunch also features chef-crafted specialties and elevated favorites on Saturdays and Sundays.

Dinner runs from Wednesday through Saturday with a seasonal menu. It’s built around fresh ingredients from trusted Ohio farms.

That seasonal approach means the menu shifts as the year moves along. Supporting local farms is a nice bonus, too.

Hotel guests can arrange a picnic during warmer months. The Take and Go Picnic add-on is available from April through October for overnight stays.

The classic picnic includes locally produced cheeses, cured meats, a fresh-baked baguette, marinated olives, fig jam, fruit, and cookies. Bottled spring water comes along too.

A picnic basket makes a great plan for a sunny afternoon in the area. It feels relaxed, easy, and just a little bit fancy.

For travelers staying at the hotel, all these choices make life simple. You can start the day with breakfast and still have dinner plans nearby.

Save The Address And Call Dibs On The Holiday Plans

Getting there is easy enough. Craftsman Kitchen & Terrace sits at 2299 Cherry Valley Rd SE #2, Newark, OH 43055, inside the Cherry Valley Hotel.

Newark is in central Ohio, which makes it a reasonable trip for families across the region. Holiday travelers staying at the hotel can simply walk downstairs.

The restaurant serves casual American food with an elevated touch. That balance keeps it welcoming for families while still feeling special.

Next door, The CK Pub offers a more laid-back setting. Its menu includes wings, house-made pizza, and the CVH Burger.

The Thanksgiving buffet remains the best excuse to load up on mashed potatoes. This place clearly respects the humble spud.

For Thanksgiving, planning ahead is the smart move. Holiday buffets tend to book up, so reserving a table early makes sense.

Once that’s handled, the only job left is choosing toppings. That’s a much better holiday task than peeling ten pounds of potatoes.

Ohio has plenty of places to eat on Thanksgiving. Few offer botanical gardens to explore, a carving station, and a mashed potato bar all in one stop.