Maybe it's your turn to host the family this year. Maybe you want to get to Field's early on Friday and jumpstart your Christmas shopping. Maybe a trip elsewhere just wasn't in the cards for you. Whatever the reason, if you find yourself celebrating Thanksgiving in Chicago this year, you don't have to spend the day slaving away in your kitchen and messing up your just-cleaned-for-visitors digs. Just take whoever you're spending the big day with to one of these restaurants for Thanksgiving. You'll walk out twice as stuffed (and a million times happier) as the turkey (or tofurky!) that you briefly considered creating on your own.
One hot tip: A lot of places close for Thanksgiving, which makes the ones that are open that much more exclusive. Call early and often for your reservation.
Bright and early buffets
Expecting a lot of out-of-towners this year? Consider wowing them with Cite's stunning 360-degree view of the city and the lake as you take advantage of the uber-classy spot's ample Thanksgiving brunch buffet, starting at 10:30 a.m. and running until 3 p.m. Think traditional turkey with all the trimmings; an omelet station; a pasta station; a carving station featuring prime rib, lamb chops, fish and shrimp; a salad bar, breakfast breads and pretty much everything in between that Executive Chef Oscar Ornelas and Chef de Cuisine Michael Reynolds can dream up. Reservations are required, with seating at half-hour intervals. $60/person.
You'll find a little bit of everything at Zest's thorough brunch, running from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nibble on the cold buffet with its seven gourmet salads, cheese board and chilled shrimp, before moving on to traditional items from the hot buffet. More of a morning food person? Then hit up the omelet station and order eggs benedict. Save room for the bounty of desserts. $45/person. Dinner is an option later at $40/person.
Doggie bag delights
Hey, just because you're going out for Thanksgiving dinner doesn't mean you have to forgo leftovers! Stuff yourself silly on the more than 50 items (including a dozen desserts) that make up the popular buffet at the Signature Room at the 95th, and they'll hand you a doggie bag filled with sandwich-ready turkey on your way out. $48.95/person; from 11 a.m.-7 p.m., with reservations required.
The Mity Nice Grill is a mighty nice place to spend Thanksgiving, with its four-course feast for $34.95 a person ($37.95 if you get prime rib), but it's also a mighty nice spot to stop in for leftovers while you're shopping on Friday. The Gobbler Sandwich is a gourmet version of your day-after sandwich, served with stuffing and sweet potatoes for a cool $8.95.
Meal on wheels
Lawry's The Prime Rib will stock up its trademark silver carts with roasted turkey, salad, whipped potatoes, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, candied yams and turkey dressing for "dinner in' on the big day for $25/person, dessert and beverages not included. Not in the mood for bird? Lawry's regular menu, including Yorkshire pudding and (of course) prime rib, is available, too. Noon-8 p.m.
Buffet-o-riffic
The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant's annual Thanksgiving meal aims to please with favorites like turkey, prime rib and all the fixings you'd expect alongside them, served with a flourish in the historic, restored restaurant from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. $35.95/person.
Veg out
Make your vegetarian pals (not to mention the turkeys) happy by foregoing meat this Thanksgiving. Get started early by trekking over to the Irish American Heritage Center on November 21 for Go Veggie's annual TurkeyLess Thanksgiving Banquet. Everyone who attends the event can browse the buffet of hors d'oeurves and mixed green salads before settling down. Choose either the traditional meal (the main course is tofu turkey with mushroom gravy and cornbread stuffing) or the raw foods meal, featuring almond pate, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash and seasonal greens. Dessert includes pumpkin pie and a fresh fruit plate. Tickets are $45 for non-members and $17 for kids under ten. Find out more at www.go-veggie.org. Note: Reservations must be made by November 19.
Maybe you're looking for something meat-free on the big day itself. Then head to Boystown's famous Chicago Diner, where the meat-free feasting has been on the menu for the past 19 years. The four-course meal includes your choice of veggie takes on classics (like the tofu roulade, which curiously resembles a roast turkey, or the Diner Wellington, which substitutes seitan for beef) or autumn-themed specials (pumpkin ravioli or roast squash baked with tempeh, filled with sweet potatoes and topped with a creamy nut sauce). Seatings are at noon, 2, 4 and 6 p.m., and reservations are a must. Carryout available. $25.95/person.
Drama-a-rama
Holidays usually mean family drama. Why not distract them with a dramatic view before the fights break out? Make a reservation for dinner at the lovely Pheasant Run Resort and Spa in St. Charles, where a massive, gourmet buffet will be spread near the gorgeous waterfall in the Garden Atrium room. $29.95/person, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Upscale favorites
At Caliterra, expect classic dishes prepared elegantly and extravagantly. The menu includes pumpkin soup with Tuscan kale, a green bean apple salad with a frisee goat cheese fritter and roast organic turkey served with sage dressing, candied yams and autumn vegetables. Save room for either pumpkin pie or a delectable pecan torte with vanilla ice cream. $49/person from 2-10 p.m.
Planning on hosting a wine fan for the holidays? Make a reservation at Bin 36's downtown location. Its gourmet take on Thanksgiving favorites is reason enough (the unlimited quantity of side dishes, passed family-style, goes pretty far too). The dinner begins with a choice of house salad or two starts, followed by your choice of entree (bourbon, caramel and orange glazed turkey with gingersnap gravy, slow-roasted prime rib beef with truffled hollandaise or pan-roasted grouper with lobster butter). But the piece de resistance is the staff's exquisite wine knowledge. Pairings will offered for an additional $17 per person. A carryout version is available, too. $38/person from 3-9 p.m.
Just like home, but elsewhere
Prairie Grass Cafe, the new casual spot launched by former Ritz-Carlton chefs Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris, finishes its four-course Thanksgiving dinner with pies just like Mom used to make. That's because they're made by Elizabeth Stegner, also known as Sarah's mom. $35/person from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Get your game on
Forget about the Macy's parade. The real reason to watch TV on Thanksgiving is to catch up with the NFL. Add a little dinner to your football diet when you head to Mike Ditka's restaurant. The meal will be fairly traditional, though options will include deep-fried turkey and turducken (a chicken stuffed in a duck stuffed in a turkey). A tip for your reservation? The Bears play at 3:30 p.m., and with the way things are going, you don't want to spoil your meal by watching them. $44.99/person, noon-9 p.m.
High-end holiday
Cafe des Architectes has become the place for lunch when you want to make yourself look good. Tempt your out-of-town guests with its four-course feast, with entree options like braised double lamb chops, almond and herb-crusted walleye pike, Asian barbeque-glazed salmon and grilled beef fillet, in addition to the classic turkey. $48/person, 3-9 p.m.
Nostalgia central
Thanksgiving tends to be a time to reflect on the past, and Viand Bar and Kitchen will take you back. Way back. For $12, guests can indulge in Viand's nostalgic Thanksgiving TV Dinner, featuring cranberry and heirloom apple salad, butter basted turkey with natural jus, mashed potatoes and gravy, oyster stuffing, green beans and sorghum glazed carrots. Pumpkin pie rounds out the meal. Open for dinner from 5-10 p.m.
Thanksgiving, Italian-style
For a true family experience, take yours to Maggiano's Little Italy for a three-course holiday spread. Start out with salad and appetizers, sample the traditional items on the menu, dig into the pasta course then get down to what really matters: dessert. Pick three favorites from a scrumptious list of 12, including profiteroles topped with vanilla bean ice cream and hot fudge, warm apple crostada and tiramisu. $32.95/person, noon-7 p.m. at the downtown location.
New kid in town
Looking to eat a little on the light side this year? Then head to the brand-new, small-plate focused X/O (it opens Nov. 15) for the four-course Thanksgiving meal, with choices like truffle risotto cake, oysters on the half shell and roasted pork loin. Reservations are required from 2-9 p.m, $35/person. Perhaps you're looking for someplace to unwind after everyone else has gone to bed? X/O will offer its regular late-night menu from 9 p.m.-2 a.m.
French twist
The French have been very good to us: they gave us the Statue of Liberty, Catherine Deneuve and Champagne. So don't be afraid to go Gallic at Bistro 110's prix fixe extravaganza, centered around the oven-roasted turkey breast with chestnuts. What's for dessert? Well, you have a few options, but you would cause an international scandal if you skipped the pumpkin creme brulee. Noon-8 p.m., $32.95/person.
Food with a view
The swank Wave, located in the W Lakeshore, gets into the holiday spirit with a special, prix fixe menu from 4:30?9 p.m. Guests can sink into comfortable couches and enjoy the lovely view of Lake Michigan as they dig into the chic spot's Mediterranean spin on Thanksgiving favorites, like sea salt crusted prime rib with savory chutney. Dinner winds (or melts?) down with white and dark chocolate fondue. $48/person.
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