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-
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.
