Guide: Where to Dine on Thanksgiving & Black Wednesday

Thanksgiving is just around the corner but don't fret if you haven't made plans yet. Many restaurants will be open to serve you and your family all the turkey and tryptophan you want. Special prix-fixe menus will offer holiday meals without the hassle of spending hours in the kitchen. Several places will also celebrate Black Wednesday with food and drinks promotions. So sit back and eat yourself into a food coma without the worry of having to do the dishes this year.

1) Coco Pazzo Cafe
Where: 636 N. Saint Clair
What: Enjoy a Tuscan Thanksgiving with a $42 four-course prix-fixe menu served from noon to 9 p.m. Selections include butternut squash soup, risotto with shrimp and swiss chard, herb roasted turkey breast with focaccia-sausage stuffing, pumpkin crostata and more.
Call: 312-664-2777

2) Big Jones
Where: 5347 N. Clark
What: Have a Thanksgiving filled with Southern fare at Big Jones. A special three-course menu plus relish tray and bread service will be available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Appetizers include potato kneples, a rustic farmhouse dumpling, Cajun liver boudin fritters, and she-crab soup. Entrees include a choice of deep-fried turkey with onion sage dressing and giblet gravy, deviled Slagel Family Farm sirloin, wood-grilled sturgeon, or king oyster mushroom and wild pecan rice pie. Desserts are sweet potato pie, bread pudding and coconut cream cake. The price is $48 per person or $20 per person under 12 years of age.
Call: 773-275-5725

3) Acadia
Where: 1639 S. Wabash
What: A special four-course menu featuring butternut squash soup, turkey roulade, kabocha dessert and more. The cost is $60 per person plus $25 for wine pairings or $25 for the children's menu. The menu is offered between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. On Black Wednesday, the restaurant will offer a special bar promo, which includes the Acadia burger, Point beer and shot of whiskey for $16.
Call: 312-360-9500

4) Sixteen
Where: 401 N. Wabash
What: A festive brunch with a view of downtown Chicago will be offered from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Guests can indulge in dishes such as roasted butternut squash bisque, endive salad, pear and chestnut-stuffed quail, maple bourbon-braised pork belly, Amish Farm turkey, sea salt-crusted prime rib and more. There will also be a raw bar as well as cheese and charcuterie stations along with a selection of seasonally flavored desserts. Cost is $130 per person and $35 for children 8 and under. Dinner will be served starting at 5 p.m. and include items from the fall menu.
Call: 312-588-8030

5) The Goddess and Grocer
Where: 25 E. Delaware (Gold Coast); 1646 N. Damen (Bucktown); 2222 N. Elston (Elston)
What: Let someone else do the catering this year and place your Thanksgiving order with the Goddess and Grocer. Choose from soups, sides, sauces, desserts and entrees including roasted whole turkey, Australian beef tenderloin and harvest vegetable pot pie. For larger gatherings, a special seven-course dinner for 12 is available for $375. Orders must be placed by 3 p.m. on Nov. 19.
Call: 773-292-7100

6) David Burke's Primehouse
Where: 616 N. Rush
What: Try innovative twists on favorite holiday dishes with a four-course special meal served from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Choose from selections like pan-roasted scallops, peppered wagyu carpaccio, roasted turkey breast and leg confit, cider-brined pork chop, pan-seared salmon, pumpkin pie cheesecake and more. Guests will also receive complimentary Thanksgiving leftovers to take home for the next day. The cost is $58 per person and $19 for ages 12 and under.
Call: 312-660-6000

7) Mercat a la Planxa
Where: 638 S. Michigan
What: An a la carte menu of new fall dishes such as Kilgus Farms goat ropa, short ribs and bay scallops butternut squash and idiazabal cheese and Estrella Damm beer soup with pork belly, truffle and potato. A chef's luxury tasting is also offered for $85 or $125 with wine pairings. For large gatherings, a suckling pig package can be ordered for $220 for 6 to 8 people and $440 for 6 to 12 people.
Call: 312-765-0524

8) Lockwood
Where: 17 E. Monroe
What: A seasonal menu of holiday classics including maple honey molasses roasted turkey, sweet potato marshmallow gratin, Harbor Point smoked salmon, strip loin, pan-roasted Alaskan halibut and more. Price is $65 for adults, $55 for seniors and $30 for children.
Call: 312-917-3404

9) Chicago Cut Steakhouse
Where: 300 N. LaSalle
What: Feast on traditional Thanksgiving favorites like green beans almondine, sweet potatoes, maple-glazed roasted turkey with cornbread stuffing and Rhode Island cranberry sauce, and a trio of pies. The cost is $50 per person or $25 for children and is available from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The complete menu is also available upon request.
Call: 312-329-1800

10) Chicago Q
Where: 1160 N. Dearborn
What: Escape from the kitchen and feast at Chicago q with a holiday meal for up to 14 guests. Enjoy the free range smoked turkey with whipped Yukon Gold potatoes, pork sausage and Granny Smith apple suffing and candied fingerling sweet potatoes. Then finish with cinnamon sugar glaze, housemade pumpkin pie and traditional carrot cake. The dinner can also be taken for carry out; all orders must be placed and pre-paid 48 hours in advance.
Call: 312-642-1160

11) Steve's Deli
Where: 354 W. Hubbard
What: Leave the stress to Steve's Deli and pick up or have your Thanksgiving meal delivered. Order whole turkeys or roasted turkey by the pound, then choose a few sides such as creamed spinach, green beans with dried cranberries and whipped sweet or mashed potatoes. For dessert select from pumpkin pie, cupcakes, pumpkin mousse cheesecake and more. For large gatherings the Complete Dinner is available and serves six or more.
Call: 312-467-6868

12) Wildfire
Where: 159 W. Erie (Chicago); 222 Oakbrook Center (Oak Brook); 1250 E. Higgins (Schaumburg); 1300 Patriot (Glenview)
What: Celebrate with friends and family with a family-style menu from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Menu choices include deviled eggs, Waldorf salad, spit-roasted turkey, cedar planked salmon, roasted tenderloin of beef, various sides and desserts. Cost is $39.95 per person and $16.95 for children 12 and under. For those who want to dine at home, Thanksgiving Party Platters will also be available for carry out.
Call: 312-787-9000 (Chicago); 630-586-9000 (Oak Brook); 847-995-0100 (Schaumburg); 847-657-6363 (Glenview)

13) Fulton's on the River
Where: 315 N. La Salle
What: Skip the cooking and stop by Fulton's for a Thanksgiving buffet feast. The signature chef's table will consist of entrees such as seared Atlantic salmon, roasted pork shoulder and Atlantic shrimp and blue crab cakes as well as sides including brioche stuffing and sweet potato and local apple bisque. There will also be salads, a carving station with apple cider brined turkey breast, and desserts. The menu will be served from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the price is $49.95 for adults and $15.95 for children 12 and under.
Call: 312-822-0100

14) Mity Nice Bar & Grill
Where: 835 N. Michigan
What: A Thanksgiving buffet includes classic and not-so-traditional entrees like Maryland crab cakes, rosemary-crusted prime rib, pineapple-glazed ham and maple glazed salmon. Vegetarians can enjoy several salads, a varity of soup, butternut squash ravioli and more. Stop in between noon and 7 p.m., the cost is $45 per person and $16 for children 12 and under.
Call: 312-335-4745

15) Wave
Where: 644 N. Lake Shore
What: Celebrate with a menu of seasonal specialties from local farms between noon and 8 p.m. Choose from selections like Slagel Family Farm roasted turkey, grilled petite tender steak, housemade ricotta ravioli, Nichols Farm pumpkin pie and more. Cost is $48 per person.
Call: 312-255-4460

16) Pecking Order
Where: 4416 N. Clark
What: Nobody does poultry like Pecking Order so take the stress out of the holidays by ordering one of their special Thanksgiving dinners. The menus feature roasted turkey, roasted chicken, glazed ham and lots more. Meals can feed up to eight people and prices vary depending on the package, and a la carte sides will also be offered. Orders must be placed by end-of-day Nov. 19.
Call: 773-907-9900

17) Timothy O'Toole's
Where: 622 N. Fairbanks
What: The third annual Turkey Testicle Festival returns on Black Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 9 p.m. The winner of the turkey testicle eating contest will receive a whole frozen turkey while a pumpkin pie eating contest will be held at 11 p.m. with the winner receiving a $25 gift certificate. Menu specials include a Bucket of Balls of deep fried turkey testicles, half-priced bottles of wine, $18 Bud and Bud Light buckets and $5 Fireball shots of cinnamon whiskey.
Call: 312-642-0700

18) Trenchermen
Where: 2039 W. North
What: Spend Black Wednesday at Trenchermen as it serves its own barrel-aged Malört neat as well as Malört cocktails.
Call: 773-661-1540