Let Someone Else Cook Thanksgiving Dinner

I realize not everyone wants to go all-in and cook like a maniac on Thanksgiving, and fortunately, a lot of restaurants feel your pain (actually, their employees feel the brunt of it, since they’re the ones working all day long). It does seem like every year a few more restaurants figure people are throwing in the towel, and thus, send out press releases announcing that they’re more than open for business on November 27. So if you’re inclined to watch some football then go out to dinner (or even pick up some food before the games start so you can reheat at home), here are some places in Chicago prepared to reduce your stress levels.

 

Tortoise Club

350 N. State St.; 312-755-1700

12 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

$65 (excluding tax and tip) for adults; $22 for kids 5 – 12; free for kids four and younger

Begin with a trip to the seafood bar, complete with oysters, shrimp, crab, calamari and mussels. There’s pumpkin soup, a selection of pâté, and various salads. Main course offerings include traditional Thanksgiving turkey, prime rib, whitefish and trout. Sides include mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry jelly and vegetables. There will be a sweets table as well.

 

Acadia

1639 S. Wabash Ave.; 312-360-9500

1 – 7 p.m.

$75 per person, $50 additional for wine pairings

Squab, turkey consommé, porcini ravioli, black garlic oil

Duck egg Lyonnaise, bacon, marble potatoes

Skatewing “meuniere” brown buter, caper, black kale, blood orange

Swan Creek Farms turkey “turducken,” chicken mousseline, duck confit, truffle bread pudding, whipped potato, haricot verts

Pumpkin beignet, maple ice cream, apple butter

For kids:

 

 

Pinstripes Northbrook

1150 Willow Rd., Northbrook; 847-480-2323

(10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for bowling and bocce and at 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for dining at all locations)

Thanksgiving-inspired turkey platter featuring all of the holiday trimmings including freshly carved turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and Brussels sprouts. The plate will be available in the bistro, priced at $19, for lunch, dinner and carryout throughout November. Bowl a turkey (three strikes in a row) and get a free dinner.

Bowling is priced at $5 per person Sunday-Thursday; $5 per person Friday-Saturday until 5 p.m. and $7 per person after 5 p.m.; $3 per child 12 and under Sunday-Thursday all day. Parents bowl free and kids are $5 Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to noon.

 

Pinstripes South Barrington

100 West Higgins Rd., South Barrington; 847-844-9300

 

Pinstripes Oak Brook

7 Oakbrook Center Mall, Oak Brook; 630-575-8700

 

Weber Grill Restaurants Fire-Grilled Thanksgiving Feast Menu-

Weber Grill Chicago

539 N. State St.; 312-467-9696

 

Weber Grill Lombard

2331 Fountain Square, Lombard; 630-953-8880

 

Weber Grill Schaumburg

1010 N. Meacham Rd., Schaumburg; 847-413-0800

 

Starter choice of:

Grill Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, Mixed Green Salad, Caesar Salad

Main Course:

Grill Roasted Smoked Turkey

Grilled Sausage Stuffing, Traditional Turkey Gravy, Cranberry Sauce

With choice of:

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Whipped Sweet Potatoes

And choice of:

Grilled Asparagus

Grill-Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Dessert choice of:

Classic Pumpkin Pie

Chocolate Espresso Pecan Pie

 

Also offering ‘Thanksgiving Party Platters To-Go’ – platter serves 8-10 people including choices like the Harvest Salad or Shrimp Cocktail plus festive classics from Grill-Roasted Smoked Turkey and Beef Tenderloin to Cornbread with Maple Bourbon Butter, Sausage Stuffing, Roasted Brussels Sprouts. Desserts include 10” Chocolate Espresso Pecan Pie or Classic Pumpkin Pie.

Hours include 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Lombard and Schaumburg and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. in Chicago. Thanksgiving Platter orders must be placed by Monday, November 24 before noon. The Thanksgiving Feast Menu is priced at $28.95 for adults and $9.95 for children 10 and under. Thanksgiving Platters are a la carte and prices range from $11.95 to $199.95.

 

 

11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Full menu and mezza bar will be available as well as a Mediterranean Thanksgiving-inspired wrap with turkey-falafel balls, cranberry hummus, sweet potato fries tossed in buttered sage, pickled onions $7.50. The eatery will be donating $1 for every wrap sold during the month of November to the Lakeview Shelter on Broadway.

 

Harry Caray’s Restaurants

Offering not only buffets but also Thanksgiving To Go. Call ahead for reservations and information:

33 W. Kinzie St., Chicago

312-828-0966

 

10233 W. Higgins Rd., Rosemont

847-699-1200

 

70 Yorktown Shopping Center, Lombard

630-953-3400

 

Frontier Turkeys To-Go

1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-772-4322

 

Orders must be placed by Monday, November 24

Pick up: Thursday, November 27 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

$75 for 15 pound turkey

$95 for 20 pound turkey

 

Frontier is closed on Thanksgiving Day but Executive Chef Brian Jupiter will offer guests the option to order whole smoked Amish Turkeys To-Go which are available for pick up on Thanksgiving Day from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The turkeys are antibiotic and hormone free. Available sides include five-cheese mac ($35 half pan serves 8; $70 full pan serves 16), potato salad, sweet potato puree and string beans ($25 half pan serves 8; $50 full pan serves 16). Order early, limited quantities available.

 

Thanksgiving Brunch at Kanela Breakfast Club

Kanela Breakfast Club in Lakeview, Old Town and Wicker Park invites guests to enjoy Thanksgiving brunch. Featured specials will include Biscuits and Gravy (with biscuits from Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits) and Chicken and Waffles, both available for $12 each. Exclusive to the new Wicker Park location, on Thanksgiving Day, guests can enjoy a $5 unlimited BYOB Bloody Mary Bar as well as a $10 corkage fee for champagne (includes orange juice) and wine.

 

3231 N. Clark St., 773-248-16221048 N. Milwaukee, 773-661-10101552 N. Wells St., 312-255-1206

Thanksgiving Prix Fixe & Turkeys To Go at Tuscany Wheeling
550 S Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling; (847) 465-9988

 

$35 prix fixe; $17.95 children 10 & under

Turkeys to Go: Orders must be placed by Sunday, November 23

Pick up: Thursday, November 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

$150 for 15 pound turkey; $200 for 20 pound turkey

 

Tuscany in Wheeling will serve a seasonal Thanksgiving prix fixe dinner for $35 per person featuring turkey, mashed and sweet potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry relish, stuffing and a slice of pumpkin pie. Tuscany will be open for dinner on Thanksgiving from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations are required.
Tuscany will also offer Turkeys To-Go. Guests can choose between a 15 pound turkey for $150 or a 20 pound turkey for $200. Both come with the traditional sides mentioned above. Extra sides are $25 each. Turkey pick-up will be available between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. To place an order, call (847) 465-9988. Orders must be placed by 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 23.

 

 

Sixteen at the Trump International Hotel & Tower

401 N. Wabash Ave.; 312-588-8030

 

Brunch Buffet – $150 per person and $40 for children 12 years and younger, exclusive of tax, alcohol and gratuity. Seating times are 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended and may be made by calling (312) 588-8030.

 

Highlights include:Cider braised leg and seared breast of poussin with caramelized pumpkin and toasted hickory nut hash. Seared diver scallop with sweet potato hash and balsamic walnut brown butter; carving stations with roasted heritage  breed turkey breast with giblet gravy and house made cranberry compote, and garlic roasted prime rib with jus, dijon and horseradish cream. Also a raw bar, where a selection of sushi, colossal shrimp, oysters, snow crab legs and Alaskan king crab is available; other stations offer artisan cheeses and charcuterie; made-to-order omelets and pancakes; made-to-order risotto; also a Children’s Table.