thanksgiving north

looking for a family freindly nice place for thanksgiving - turkey, stuffing, etc. preferably not too far from evanston. any suggestions?

The Fireside Restaurant makes a big deal out of their Thanksgiving dinner (they will deliver them too). It is a friendly neighborhood restaurant and adjacent bar that is not fancy, but comfortable and has pretty good but not great food. I have not had the Thanksgiving dinner there, but it seems like something they might do very well. As the name indicates, they have a fireplace in the dining room. They also have a covered patio with heaters that is open year round. It is owned by the guy who also owns (owned?) Clark Street Ale House, so it has a fairly good beer selection.


The Fireside Restaurant & Lounge
5739 N Ravenswood Ave
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 878-5942
www.firesidechicago.com

Reza's on N. Clark St. in Andersonville is open on Thanksgiving Day and in addition to it's typically-offered buffet it adds to it the standard Thanksgiving meal (as part of an expanded buffet) to select from. I've found myself taking care of friends at the last minute who wanted to eat out and they enjoyed the variety, and the food. The price is right, too!

Last year we went to one of Evanston's very best restaurants, Chef's Station, for Thanksgiving dinner, and it was terrific. They had a special menu with 3-4 entrees including the obligatory turkey as well as other non-traditional choices. Everything was excellent as usual. They will again be doing Thanksgiving dinner this year, serving 4:00-7:00. Highly recommended.

Chef's Station
915 Davis St.
Evanston IL 60201
847-570-9821

Bill wrote:Reza's on N. Clark St. in Andersonville is open on Thanksgiving Day and in addition to it's typically-offered buffet it adds to it the standard Thanksgiving meal (as part of an expanded buffet) to select from. I've found myself taking care of friends at the last minute who wanted to eat out and they enjoyed the variety, and the food. The price is right, too!

was just coming to post this!

3 words: Prairie Grass Cafe

=R=

Prairie Grass Cafe
601 Skokie Blvd
Northbrook, IL 60062
847 205-4433

ronnie_suburban wrote:3 words: Prairie Grass Cafe

=R=

Prairie Grass Cafe
601 Skokie Blvd
Northbrook, IL 60062
847 205-4433

that looks great. Though $45 a person plus tax/tip is a bit much, IMO

Chitown B wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:3 words: Prairie Grass Cafe

=R=

Prairie Grass Cafe
601 Skokie Blvd
Northbrook, IL 60062
847 205-4433

that looks great. Though $45 a person plus tax/tip is a bit much, IMO

For Thanksgiving? How much would you expect to pay?

jesteinf wrote:

Chitown B wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:3 words: Prairie Grass Cafe

=R=

Prairie Grass Cafe
601 Skokie Blvd
Northbrook, IL 60062
847 205-4433

that looks great. Though $45 a person plus tax/tip is a bit much, IMO

For Thanksgiving? How much would you expect to pay?

well, if you have ten people you can make Thanksgiving at home for about $100 tops with some cheap wines. A 20-lb turkey is what, $30?

How much does a traditional Thanksgiving dinner cost?
The American Farm Bureau Federation reported that in 2008, the average cost of the traditional Thanksgiving feast for 10 people was $44.61. The menu included turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the trimmings.

Dinner for 10 adults would be $450 there plus tax/tip. So, add another 30%. $585?

I don't think it makes much sense to compare the price of a restaurant-Thanksgiving to a home Thanksgiving. Obviously if you stay home a buy a turkey for a bunch of people it will cost less than eating out. But there are usually reasons why people decide to eat out that night. Personally, I think $45 for 3 courses at what is supposed to be an outstanding restaurant Thanksgiving is a pretty good deal.

It's definitely up to the consumer to appreciate the cost/benefit. I was just commenting that personally, 13X the price was a little much.

You're forgetting to factor in all of the time spent preparing that Thanksgiving dinner at home, and not just by the host/hostess. All of that labor has a cost attached to it. Time = money!

yeah, but even that time isn't worth and doesn't cost you $500. It's not that much work, I cook all the time. And they're not serving you a full turkey - they're cooking en masse which is much more cost effective for them. And you won't have a ton of leftovers.

I'm just saying. Maybe it's just that I grew up with a family support system in place for my whole childhood, but I couldn't imagine eating out for Thanksgiving. Even if I did though, to me $45 a head seems high.

Chitown B wrote:well, if you have ten people you can make Thanksgiving at home for about $100 tops with some cheap wines. A 20-lb turkey is what, $30?

If you want to eat out for T-Day, and its only about price, you can have Thanksgiving dinner at Old Country Buffet for $12.59 per person all you care to eat. I've eaten at both Prairie Grass and Old Country Buffet and prefer Prairie Grass, but to each his own.

If you want to eat at home, not cook and stay under $100 Jewel offers two choices, the Classic Turkey dinner for $39.99 and the Culinary Circle Premium Turkey Dinner for $69.99, thought these are only for 8-people. Add a couple of bottle of, as you say, cheap wine and you are still under $100 even with the Premium Turkey Dinner.

Enjoy,
Gary

I'm not even talking about Jewel, I'm talking about a Ho-Ka fresh turkey.

If you need to eat out for Thanksgiving, I guess go for it. I think Reza's is a lot cheaper than $45 though.

edit:

Both Reza's restaurants are offering a Thanksgiving buffet. ALL YOU CAN EAT! Not only will they have all the turkey and sides, but the buffet will also include Persian appetizers and kabobs. We've always felt like pita and hummus was missing from our traditional spread, so Reza's offering might just hit the spot. Open 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; $15.95-$19.95.

I'm not saying Prairie Grass might not be the best meal you can get at a restaurant, but I'm also not made of money.

I am with ChitownB. If the menu was more interesting, $45 would not seem so exorbitant, but for just turkey with mashed and sweet potatoes, it does seem rather expensive. I mean, how much does a hot turkey dinner usually cost? It is not a particularly labor intensive meal either. I bet the pie probably has the highest food and labor cost. Still, it is a special day, so it doesn't seem like that much of a splurge. I think, however, I would rather save my $45 and spend it on the Prarie Grass Cafe's non-holiday offerings. I wonder how much the Fireside charges for a delivered whole turkey dinner?

thanks for the support, phew!

that said, i'm sure Prairie Grass is wonderful. I just personally can't see it being $60 a head wonderful.

If I was forced to stay in town for the holidays, I would go to

Entourage Restaurant
www.entourageventures.com
1301 American Lane
Schaumburg, IL 60173
(847) 995-9400

My wife and I dine at the Entourage frequently as we attend a number of CPE sessions there. The food has always been very solid.



THANKSGIVING DAY BUFFET

Thursday, November 26
11:00am - 6:00pm

$32.95 adults
$15.95 kids 6-12
(5 & under are free)


COLD BUFFET
freshly baked breads
gourmet salads
fresh fruits & vegetables
imported & domestic cheeses
cocktail shrimp
smoked salmon
oysters on the half shell

CARVING STATION
Slow Roasted Prime Rib
Herb Garlic Turkey
Roasted Turducken

ENTREES
Seared Tilapia
Blackened Chicken Rigatoni

TRADITIONAL SIDES

creamed spinach
French & yellow bean casserole
whipped potatoes
brussel sprouts
dilled carrots
candied yams
roasted acorn squash
traditional stuffing

DESSERT DISPLAY

pumpkin pie
carrot cake
apple pie
pumkin cheesecake
sweet potato pie
fruit cobbler
chocolate cake
chocolate covered strawberries

KIDS BUFFET
Macaroni & cheese
Chicken fingers
Tator tots

d4v3 wrote:I am with ChitownB. If the menu was more interesting, $45 would not seem so exorbitant, but for just turkey with mashed and sweet potatoes, it does seem rather expensive. I mean, how much does a hot turkey dinner usually cost? It is not a particularly labor intensive meal either. I bet the pie probably has the highest food and labor cost. Still, it is a special day, so it doesn't seem like that much of a splurge. I think, however, I would rather save my $45 and spend it on the Prarie Grass Cafe's non-holiday offerings. I wonder how much the Fireside charges for a delivered whole turkey dinner?

Agree completely. For $45, I want a nice spread and there has to be BEEF, real nice beef or a nice rack of lamb. Turkey does NOT cut it. And I want AT LEAST **SIX** vegetable selection and not all steamed. Also, there has to be some GOOD bread - cornbread, spoonbread, yeast rolls, etc. And there has to be several desserts and something besides that awful pumpkin pie.

Last year, I got lucky. I thought we were going to a cousin's house and have another completely uninspired meal. Hiowever, we went to another cousin's house. She had NEVER cooked a Thanksgiving dinner before. She hit a grand slam using the recipes of Southern Living. It was the first time since my mother passed away that I had seconds and thirds on the meal. (And most of the other cousins were pretty non-plussed by it.)

NoMI is open for Thanksgiving dinner. It's $125. Yes, per person.

Prices and plans are listed for most of the Opentable restaurants open for Thanksgiving. Click here.

According to an email from Restaurant Michael in Winnetka, they are having Thanksgiving both in-restaurant and to go.

"Greetings everyone,
This year for Thanksgiving Restaurant Michael will be open for your family to enjoy. This will be in addition to last years "Thanksgiving to go". We will be open for parties of 2 to 20 beginning at 1pm and reservations will be taken every half hour until 4pm. The cost for the holiday menu will be $45 for adults and 1/2 price for children under 10 years of age. The menu will feature plentiful family style service of;
Roast Organic, Brown Sugar Brined Wisconsin Turkey with Pan Gravy and Roast Sliced Chateaubriand of Beef Tenderloin. In addition all the traditional fixings will be available including; Sage Dressing, Creamy Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce, Seasonal Vegetables, Pumpkin and Apple Tarts with Cinnamon Gelato...the list goes on and on. We will also have a special, well priced selection of seasonal wines both by the bottle and by the glass that will compliment the menu with style.Please call the restaurant at (847)441-3100 for reservations.

"Thanksgiving To Go"
was a huge hit last year and we expect a similar response this year as well. Please call Michael directly to place your order of any size from 2 to 40 people. (847)404-6916 or via email at chefdeuxgros@gmail.com Delivery will be available for the cost of $25.00 and pick up will be between 12 noon and 4pm.The meal will be the same as what will be served at Restaurant Michael for the holiday menu and will be hot and ready to serve when you get it to your home. The cost will be $49.00 per person and will include
PLENTY FOR LEFT OVERS!!!

I look forward to helping everyone add to their holiday memories with the gift of food cooked with the love and passion you always find at Restaurant Michael!"

Most years we have Thanksgiving at my house (and I cook) but this year my siblings are all traveling to their in-laws' houses and with such a small group, we thought that going out would be a fun change of pace.

I've never had Thanksgiving at Prairie Grass Cafe but but based on my hundreds of dining experiences there, I'm confident that it will be a value -- especially for the quality -- which is why I have chosen it for my family this year and have recommended it here. I know that the ingredients will be top-notch and the cooking will be excellent, as it always is. I can count on service being at its usual high level -- thorough, friendly, knowledgeable. The thought of a Thanksgiving buffet does not sound good to me, which is one reason that PGC's plans are especially appealing to me. While they don't offer a buffet, I'm told that PGC's servings are generous and that if you want more food than you are initially served, they will happily bring it to you. True, there will likely be no leftovers but there will also be no shopping, set-up, clean-up, cooking or clean-up (again). Sounds kind of nice, actually, even though I don't plan to make going out a tradition.

jlawrence01 wrote:And there has to be several desserts and something besides that awful pumpkin pie.

Joe, I loathed pumpkin pie until I tried PGC's. It's amazing. I know, I know . . . I never thought I'd say this but I crave it and I don't even like pumpkin.

I hope more folks will make suggetions and that everyone here has a great Thanksgiving -- whatever their plans might be.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Joe, I loathed pumpkin pie until I tried PGC's. It's amazing. I know, I know . . . I never thought I'd say this but I crave it and I don't even like pumpkin.

I hope more folks will make suggetions and that everyone here has a great Thanksgiving -- whatever their plans might be.

=R=

I quit eating pumpkin pie the Thanksgiving that I forgot to order the pumpkin pies. My cooks rejoiced and told me that they would take care of it.

I arrived in the morning to 60 beautiful sweet potato pies.

Since this topic began (a couple of years ago) with a request for recommendations in and around Evanston, I know that the following three Evanston restaurants will be serving Thankgiving dinner:

Va Pensiero
Chef's Station
Jacky's on Prairie

You'll find details on their websites.

Thought I'd throw in a note that we have a lot of restaurant Thanksgiving options (dine-in and carry-out) listed on Centerstage.

http://centerstagechicago.com/restaurants/articles/thanksgiving-dine-out.html

I just made reservations at Cafe Lucci in Glenview. We went last year since our kitchen was being gutted and redone and enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. You can order off the regular menu as well.

I wouldn't mind cooking but my FIL for some reason gets irritated that I don't have silent, invisible servants to clear away the dishes and make room in my very small kitchen for dessert courses and do any cooking or heavy lifting while he is in the house. So rather than hear complaints for the next few months, I will let a restaurant do the work for me.

I plan to cook my own Thanksgiving dinner on Friday or Saturday.

Lther LAZ offers this listing of restaurant thanksgiving options in Dining Chicago.

thanks - faced with the same issue this year. I have a trade show the week of thanksgiving, that is why I don't get to cook the meal was much as I would like.

any additional recomendations? I am heavy leaning towards PGC, as I can walk there from home.