Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away and why do all the cooking this year when you can have someone else do it? Take the family out to one the following restaurants while still enjoying a traditional holiday meal, or place an order in advance and enjoy Thanksgiving at home without slaving away in the kitchen. Because after all, there's a lot to be thankful for and not having to do the dishes should definitely be on that list.
Read MoreThanksgiving in Chicago: 21 Great Choices for Dining Out
Acadia
Michelin-starred Acadia serves up Thanksgiving dinner with upscale takes on classic fare. Guests can look forward to turducken with Swan Creek Farms turkey, chicaken mousseline and duck confit; duck egg lyonnaise; squab; skate wing “meuniere;” and pumpkin beignets. The cost of the five-course meal is $75 with optional wine pairings an additional $50, and the restaurant will be open from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
David Burke's Primehouse
Feast on a four-course meal with highlights such as pumpkin bisque with crab and crostini, creamy polenta with goat cheese and sausage, and fingerling potato salad with mustard aioli and bacon lardon. Entrée choices include roasted turkey breast, cider brined pork chop or pan seared salmon. Primehouse’s signature steaks are also available for an additional charge. Finish the meal off with pumpkin cheesecake, maple crème brulee or glazed chocolate cake. Diners will also receive a complimentary turkey sandwich to-go. The menu will be available all day for $60 per person.
Filini Restaurant and Bar
Let Filini do the cooking this year as the restaurant will offer an Italian take on the traditional Thanksgiving menu. Guests will have two options per category of soup, salad, entrée and dessert from which to choose. Dishes will include butternut squash soup; heirloom spinach salad; roasted organic Amish turkey with chestnut-herb stuffing, cranberries, roasted apple, and sweet potato flan; apple cranberry cake; and much more. The cost is $75 per person.
Davanti Enoteca River North
Chow down with family on a Thanksgiving buffet featuring an assortment of salads, antipasti and fresh fruit spreads, pastas, traditional holiday dishes, seafood scampi, salt-crusted prime rib and a dessert table. The cost is $42 per person.
Travelle
Host a Mediterranean-inspired, family-style dinner at Travelle this year instead of slaving away in the kitchen. The meal begins with a choice of shareable plates including seafood misto cocktail and baked chorizo dip, followed by appetizers such as pheasant confit and smoked salmon Turkish crepe. Tuscan-style “Turketta” turkey roulade and pumpkin-crusted striped bass are available as entrees while a tableside trolley of assorted miniature pies rounds out the meal. The cost of the menu is $80 per person and will be offered from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Shaw's Crab House
Shaw’s Crab House is hosting a Thanksgiving buffet served from noon to 7 p.m. Options from the cold seafood bar include oysters on the half shell, jumbo shrimp cocktail, an assortment of sushi and more. Herb roasted turkey, roasted beef tenderloin, king crab legs and a variety of sides complete the traditional feast, while a sweets table will serve up the restaurant’s signature desserts such as mini pecan and key lime pies, crème brulee and specialty cupcakes. The cost is $75 per person. In addition, Shaw’s is also offering a to-go menu for those who’d rather not cook. For $35 per person, you’ll get a holiday feast with turkey, sides, dessert and leftover fixins’. Orders must be placed 72 hours in advance and can be picked up on Wednesday, Nov. 26 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. or Thursday, Nov. 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Chicago Q
Chicago q will be open on Thanksgiving from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The restaurant will also offer special take-out packages featuring Lee Ann Whippen’s smoked turkey and sides such as haricot vert with pork belly and caramelized onions, whipped new red and Yukon Gold potatoes, pork sausage and Granny Smith apple stuffing, and sweet potatoes casserole. The meal has a sweet finish with options including pumpkin cheesecake, carrot cake, chocolate mousse and pecan pie. Orders can be purchased for individuals ($39) with a choice of two sides and one dessert, for small families ($255), and large gatherings ($395) with all sides and one dessert per person. Orders must be placed 48 hours in advance and picked up between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving day.
Tortoise Club
Enjoy a Thanksgiving buffet from 12 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Tortoise Club. Start with a trip to the seafood bar before moving onto items such as pumpkin soup, a selection of pate and various salads. Main courses include turkey, prime rib, whitefish and trout along with a selection of sides, while a sweets table rounds out the meal. The cost is $65 per person.
Sixteen
Start the day with Thanksgiving brunch at two-Michelin-starred Sixteen from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with seasonal entrée specialties like cider braised leg and seared breast of poussin, seared diver scallop, roasted turkey breast, garlic roasted prime rib, a raw bar featuring a selection of sushi, shrimp, oysters and crab legs, and much more. The cost is $150 per person.
Signature Room at the 95th
The Signature Room mixes things up on Thanksgiving with both classic and nontraditional fare. Guests will start with an appetizer buffet of chilled seafood, charcuterie with cheeses and an array of fresh salads before moving onto entrees such as roasted turkey breast, seared lamb chops, sweet potato gnocchi and pan seared scallops. The cost is $70 per person and the menu will be available from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Yum Cha Dim Sum Parlor
Yum Cha will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. In addition to its regular menu, the restaurant will offer a Peking duck ($100) or Peking turkey ($125) special for dine-in or carry-out, complete with Chinese-style stuffing, bao buns, vegetables, noodle dish and fried rice.
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse
Del Frisco’s will be open to guests from noon until 8 p.m. and offer a special Thanksgiving menu with appetizer options of butternut squash soup or holiday salad with goat cheese, walnuts, sun-dried cranberries and warm bacon vinaigrette; an entrée of roasted turkey breast with sweet onion apple-sage stuffing; and pumpkin cheesecake or pecan pie a la mode for dessert. The cost is $52 per person.
Bistronomic
Gold Coast favorite Bistronomic will offer a three-couse prix fixe menu on Thanksgiving from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dish options include peekytoe crab salad, roasted turkey, prime beef short ribs, filet mignon au poivre, and apple tart tatin. A Bistronomic cheese selection may be added for an additional $15. The cost of the meal is $55 per person.
Porkchop
Porkchop is offering a special prix fixe menu from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. at both locations featuring smoked turkey, smashed mashed potatoes, bourbon pecan cornbread stuffing and more. The cost is $27 per person. Guests can also order smoked ($5.99/lb.) or deep-fried ($6.99/lb.) turkeys in advance for pickup so that you can enjoy the meal at home without the hassle of doing all the work.
Zed451
In addition to the restaurant’s usual selection of meats, charcuterie and salads, ZED will also offer guests a traditional spread of braised turkey, bauernwurst sausage from Makowski Sausage Company, acorn squash soup, sourdough stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, and citrus cinnamon cranberries. Thanksgiving dinner is $49.90 per person and the restaurant will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Seasons 52
Seasons 52 will be open on Thanksgiving offering a traditional dinner with all the trimmings, including Plainville Farms roasted turkey, traditional herb stuffing, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, maple-glazed butternut squash, French green beans, house-made cranberry relish and a signature pumpkin pie mini indulgence dessert for $26.95 per person.
Frontier
Frontier will offer turkeys to-go available for pick-up on Thanksgiving day from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Side options include five-cheese mac ($35 half pan; $70 full pan), potato salad, sweet potato puree and string beans ($25 half pan; $50 full pan). The cost is $75 for 15 lb. turkey or $95 for 20 lb turkey and orders must be placed by Monday, Nov. 24.
Honey Butter Fried Chicken
HBFC is offering "Everything But the Bird" for those who don’t feel like making sides to go along with the turkey. The holiday catering menu offers items like Schmaltz smashed potatoes with chicken fat gravy ($26); apple, cheddar and collard greens stuffing ($38); creamed corn with Thai green curry ($35); cranberry dumpcake with apple cider whipped cream ($40); and more. Orders must be place by 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23 and will be available for pickup on Wednesday, Nov. 26 between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Mindy's Hot Chocolate
Let Mindy Segal handle the desserts this year with her unique Thanksgiving pies. The award-winning pastry chef’s creations include apple cider caramel ($30), Three Sisters pecan & stout fudge ($35), pumpkin cheesecake ($30) and milk chocolate mousse ($35). All pies are 10 inches and serve approximately 12 people. Orders can be placed by calling the restaurant before Tuesday, Nov. 25 and will be ready for pick-up on Nov. 25-26.
Lockwood Restaurant and Bar
Lockwood in the Palmer House Hilton hotel will be open for both a buffet (11 a.m. - 6 p.m.) and a four-course Thanksgiving dinner (noon - 6 p.m.). The buffet features a variety of items for $72 ($36 for kids) as well as sparkling wine and nonalcoholic beverages included, while the coursed dinner includes country pate, roasted pork shoulder pave, tagliatelli pasta, and apple pear cobbler for $68 ($30 for kids).
River Roast
River Roast’s Thanksgiving spread will feature gourmet “chef’s tables” piled high with mouthwatering favorites. Stations will include a variety of salads, savory entrées, traditional carved meats and an abundance of sides and appetizers. Guests will also receive a voucher for a free brunch entrée on a return visit for Blues & Brews Brunch through the end of December. The restaurant will be open from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the cost is $49 per person.