Thanksgiving is awesome, but dang, it’s a lot of work. My memories of the holiday as a child include watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade while my mom cooked, being subjected to watching football while my mom cooked, enjoying dinner while my mom sort of sat down to enjoy it too, and scarfing down dessert while my mom cleaned up.
Poor my mom, right? I refuse to let such a tragedy befall me. Plus I can’t cook and plus I’m a sloth, so I happily abide by the old saying: When the going gets Thanksgiving, the lazy go out to eat.
Here are 11 nearby spots to enjoy your holiday almost effort-free. Happy Thanksgiving!
Where: 3500 Midwest Rd., Oak Brook
When: Thanksgiving Day. Seatings at 1 and 3:30 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom. Seatings at 5, 7 and 9 p.m. at B. Restaurant.
Cost: Grand Ballroom: per adult, per child (5 to 12 years old), kids 4 and younger are free. B. Restaurant: per person.
Reservations: Grand Ballroom: call 630-242-5704. B. Restaurant: call 630-850-5525 or reserve on OpenTable.
Gobble, gobble: At the Grand Ballroom, favorites include honey citrus turkey with maple gravy and butter pecan sweet potatoes. At B., enjoy a four-course prix fixe menu featuring roasted pumpkin soup, turkey roulade and pumpkin creme brulee.
Where: 151 E. Wacker Dr., Chicago
When: An all-day buffet on Thanksgiving Day
Cost: .95 per person
Reservations: Call 312-565-1234, ext. 4496
Gobble, gobble: Enjoy cream of mushroom and chestnut soup, a winter chopped salad, a holiday carving station, traditional side dishes and more.
Where: 101 State St., La Crosse, WI
When: Thanksgiving Day
Cost: Per menu item
More information: Call 608-519-8800
Gobble, gobble: Share a few starters such as le cheese curds for and pomme frites for , followed by favorites including the turkey sandwich for and the Thanksgiving feast for .
Where: 330 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago
When: Thanksgiving Day. Buffet 11 a.m.–4 p.m. A la carte dinner 6:30–10 p.m.
Cost: 5 per person
Reservations: Call 312.923.7705 or visit travellechicago.com
Gobble, gobble: Don’t miss the country bread stuffing with chestnuts and sage and the truffled yellow corn casserole.
Where: 127 W. Huron Ave., Chicago
When: 12–7 p.m. Thanksgiving Day
Cost: per adult, per child
Reservations: Visit godfreythanksgiving.com
Gobble, gobble: Feast on bourbon-glazed carrots, roasted butternut squash soup and turkey from the carving station.
Where: 638 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago
When: 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Thanksgiving Day
Cost: per adult, per child
Reservations: Call 312-765-0524
Gobble, gobble: Chow down on turkey grilled on the planxa, glazed with cranberry and served with sherry pan gravy, and Beauregard sweet potatoes.
Where: 4999 Old Orchard Shopping Center, Skokie
When: 4–9 p.m. Thanksgiving Day
Cost: per person
Reservations: Call 847-440-3383 or visit rokaakor.com/old-orchard
Gobble, gobble: Enjoy Japanese-style fried turkey, a braised turkey rice hot pot, pecan pie and more.
Where: 875 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago
When: 11 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day
Cost: per adult, per child (4-12 years old), kids 3 and younger are free
Reservations: Call 312-280-0465
Gobble, gobble: Dive into Australian seared lamb chops, turkey with caramelized onion cranberry stuffing, herb glazed carrots and more.
Where: 500 W. Florida St., Milwaukee
When: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Thanksgiving Day
Cost: per person
Reservations: Call 414-374-4766
Gobble, gobble: Buffet includes green bean casserole, roasted brussel sprouts, smoked turkey breast, confit of turkey leg roulade and more.
Where: 151 E. Wacker Dr., Chicago
When: 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day
Cost: per person
Reservations: Call 312-239-4491 or visit stetsonschicago.com
Gobble, gobble: The prix fixe menu stars Plainville Farm all-natural turkey with sage butter, a chestnut herb stuffing and giblet gravy.
Harvest at Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
Where: 540 N Michigan Ave., Chicago
When: Thanksgiving Day
Cost: per adult, per child younger than 10
Reservations: Call 312-836-6334
Gobble, gobble: All-you-eat buffet features local cheeses and housemade charcuterie, rock shrimp cocktail, kabocha squash and apple soup, and sweet potato and Indiana maple casserole.
