Above / Meson Sabika, located at 1025 Aurora Avenue in Naperville, is getting set to open its doors for Thanksgiving to serve “take-out” dinners that guests will pick up.
Update, Oct. 29, 2021 / On Oct. 28, 2021, event planners at Meson Sabika notified us that their two restaurants had reached capacity for to-go pre-orders for Thanksgiving Day. At this time, more than 3,000 preorders have been booked. They expressed appreciation to everyone who helped spread the word about this year’s plans as availability for complimentary dinners is now filled for 2021.
Meson Sabika in Naperville and Tapas Valencia in Chicago are closed Thanksgiving Day for dine-in service.
Meson Sabika plans traditional Thanksgiving Dinners for take out
Update, Nov. 21, 2020 / Note that for Thanksgiving Day 2020, Meson Sabika is set to provide 2,000 complimentary traditional turkey dinners (all previously ordered) with all the trimmings TO-GO, available for pick up at the restaurant.
These to-go dinners were offered to families and individuals in need via pre-reservation orders that quickly were filled.
Please know that according to planners at Meson Sabika, more than 2,000 preorders were received by Oct. 23. At this time, the capacity for Thanksgiving 2020 is filled.
Meson Sabika is located at 1025 Aurora Avenue in Naperville.
Meanwhile, Meson Sabika is open daily for lunch and dinner to-go orders, following all protocols to keep everybody safe. Click here to see the menu. To place an order call Meson Sabika at (630) 983-3000. On Thanksgiving Day, Meson Sabika is closed to the public except for pick-ups of previous orders.
Note that Meson Sabika is following all CDC, state and local guidelines. When open, owners and management request a maximum stay of two hours per table, please. Wear face masks when not seated and when interacting with staff. These policies include when guests are ordering from the menu, when food or drinks are brought to the table and when dishes are cleared from the table.
Indoor dining with tables eight feet apart and UV Air Purification is in place and prepared for service when orders change. According to the manufacturer, the newly installed air purification system kills up to 99 percent of bacteria, mold and viruses in the air and on surfaces with UV and new zinc ion technology (REME Halo ®).
Tapas Valencia offers complimentary take-out dinners, too
Note also that the same schedule for 500 complimentary Thanksgiving dinners will be provided at Tapas Valencia, an easy ride from Naperville to its location at 1530 S. State Street in Chicago. For reservations in Chicago, call (312) 842-4444.
Meson Sabika also is prepared for 2020 holiday parties
The folks at Meson Sabika welcome guests to book special events for the holidays. Life’s milestones—anniversaries, bridal and baby showers, baptisms, birthdays, first communions, rehearsal dinners and retirement parties—can be accommodated.
Mindful of local protocols and social distancing, different sized rooms in the historic mansion and pavilion are available for up to 50 guests.
In recent months, all rooms have been set up with 50 percent capacity and UV air purification to guarantee clean, safe air. Different menu styles are offered for every guest’s comfort. To arrange a special event, call (630) 983-3000 X1.
A little history of counting blessings at Meson Sabika…
Originally Posted, Oct. 23, 2019 / Since 2001, Meson Sabika has been serving complimentary Thanksgiving dinners to individuals and families in need of a place to celebrate America’s special holiday.
That tradition has continued, and 18 years later Meson Sabika once again will open its doors to as many as 2,000 people looking to share a meal with dignity and compassion, no matter if the need is financial, emotional or friendly fellowship.
Thanksgiving Dinner with turkey and all the trimmings will be served from 11AM-1:30PM, Thurs., Nov. 28.
Reservations are now being accepted until Nov. 16, 2019, depending on seating availability. To check, call Meson Sabika at (630) 983-3000.
According to Hossein Jamali, co-owner of Meson Sabika, over the years the restaurant has welcomed a lot of people with many different challenges on Thanksgiving Day. Jamali’s often said that getting to know his appreciative guests often reminds him how much some people take every-day life for granted.
Jamali also is mindful of recent devastating natural disasters—hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes and tornadoes— that have left families homeless throughout the world.
“Even many people here are experiencing some level of poverty or health challenges or coping with flooding,” said Jamali. “Maybe if we tried harder to understand how much others have lost or need, we wouldn’t take what we have here so much for granted. Maybe we’d find more compassion for all the losses and needs.”
Memories of Special Thanksgivings
Every year Hossein Jamali counts his blessings with the hope folks in need will find a place at his tables to count theirs.
Jamali also is hopeful folks will help spread the word about the Thanksgiving dinner he offers free of charge for families in need at his two restaurants—Meson Sabika in Naperville and Tapas Valencia in Chicago.
Welcome!
When guests arrive at the restaurant, they receive a warm welcome by a host, are seated, and then are served by staff or volunteers.
Just as any guest any time, the staff offers guests a glass of wine, beer or soft drink. The first course is salad followed by plated turkey dinner with the trimmings, and then pumpkin pie for dessert.
The restaurant uses the same every-day set up that guests find when they enjoy Spanish-style tapas that includes white linen and a beautifully arranged table setting.
No reference is made to the table regarding a free meal. Guests are made to feel welcome and appreciated.
Staff & Community Volunteers
The regular staff of the restaurant steps up to volunteer their time to serve the holiday meal while community volunteers make up the rest of the very busy staff that serves the meal that day.
Meson Sabika receives many requests from people in the community that wish to volunteer; unfortunately, everyone cannot be accommodated. Typically, the first 50 volunteers who request to participate are selected, giving volunteers who have served in the past first priority.
The guests that typically come for a meal include those that may be financially challenged and/or physically or emotionally challenged. Others are there because they have no one with whom to share the holiday. All the guests are welcomed with a warm smile and a delicious meal.
After all the guests are served, the staff, volunteers and their families are invited to stay and enjoy dinner together.
Reserve now at Meson Sabika or Tapas Valencia
If you or someone you know needs a caring environment for a Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings, call Meson Sabika at (630) 983-3000 or Tapa Valencia at (312) 842-4444. Reservations are required by Nov. 16, 2019.
At the time of this posting, reservations remain available between 11AM and 1:30PM.
Yet, Meson Sabika and the Pavilion at Meson Sabika, located at 1025 Aurora Ave. in Naperville, have limited seating remaining.
The same warm welcome and same schedule for Thanksgiving dinner will be provided at Tapas Valencia, an easy ride to its location at 1530 S. State Street in Chicago. Again, for reservations in Chicago, call (312) 842-4444.
(PN File Photos)