Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful  although, it’d be a shame if we were only thankful once a year. For some of us, we may be thankful for the new opportunities that opened up over the passed year  others may be thankful for the time that they can spend with family.
If you are unsure what you should be thankful for this Thanksgiving, how about being thankful that you don’t have to cook for everyone!
These Chicago restaurants are willing to spend their time in the kitchen, while you spend time with family, friends or maybe even some quality alone time.
In Chicago Thanksgiving Day Dining
Shaw’s Crab House in Chicago
Shaw’s Crab House is hosting a Traditional Thanksgiving Buffet on Thanksgiving Day, November 26th, at its Chicago location. The family-friendly buffet will be served from 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to commemorate the holiday. The Traditional Thanksgiving Buffet is priced at $75 per adult, and $20 for kids 12 and younger (exclusive of tax, gratuity and beverages).
The bountiful buffet will feature the following items :
 Cold Seafood Bar
 Oysters on the Half Shell
 Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail
 Golden King Crab Bites
 Assorted Hand-Rolled Sushi
 Kale and Heirloom Spinach Salad
 Classic Caesar Salad
 Shaw’s Chopped Salad
 Roasted Root Vegetable Salad
 Smoked Salmon
 Assorted Breads
The Carvery :
 Herb-Roasted Turkey
 Roasted Beef Tenderloin
 Golden King Crab Legs
 Creamy Lobster Bisque
 Cranberry Sauce
 Traditional Homemade Stuffing
 Mashed Potatoes
Shaw’s Grand Hot Buffet :
 Lobster, Brie & Cavatappi Pasta
 Au Gratin Potatoes
 Candied Sweet Potatoes
 Steamed Broccoli
 Roasted Brussels Sprouts
 Fresh Green Beans
 Creamed Spinach
 French Fried Shrimp
 Mini Crab Cakes
 Saut ed Salmon
 Corn Casserole
 Glazed Carrots
 Roasted Cauliflower
 Delicate Squash- Tom’s Farm
Dessert Buffet :
What’s a holiday feast without dessert? Shaw’s Sweet Table will serve up the restaurant’s signature desserts such as mini pecan and key lime pies, cr me brulee and specialty cupcakes. Holiday favorites such as homemade pumpkin pie, cheesecake, and apple pie squares are not to be missed.
A Thanksgiving Day donation will be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Park Grill
Gather your family and friends for a memorable  Thanksgiving  meal set in the heart of Millennium Park. On Thursday, November 26, Park Grill will welcome Thanksgiving Day dining guests from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Chefs Alfredo Sandoval and Gary Baca will offer an array of a la carte specials in addition to the regular fall menu, including Roasted Butternut Squash Bisque, Turducken Sandwich, “The Works” Turkey Dinner, Pumpkin Pie, and Sweet Potato Pecan Pie.
Guests may toast to the holiday with a boozy Not Your Father’s Root Beer Float, Spiked Cranberry Cider or Pumpkin Spice Martini. To make Thanksgiving Day dining reservations, visit the website or call 312-521-7275.
Entrees :
 Roasted Butternut Squash Bisque
Seasonal chef’s preparation $12
 Turducken Sandwich
Cranberry Dijon, herb stung, butter lettuce, tomato, sweet potato fries $16
The Works :
 Roasted turkey breast
 brandied cranberries
 green beans almondine
 butter whipped potatoes and gravy
 herb stung, candied yams
$26
Desserts :
Pumpkin Pie $7
Sweet Potato Pecan Pie $7
 Not Your Father’s Root Beer Float $10
Vanilla bean ice cream, cookie
Drinks :
 Spiked Cranberry Cider $10
Christian Brothers brandy, apple cider, cranberry juice, cinnamon, clove, brown sugar, orange
 Pumpkin Spice $11
Sobieski vodka, Kahlua, pumpkin spice liqueur, butterscotch schnapps, cream
Kit Kat
Receive Discounted Dinner and Drinks with Canned Good Donation Wednesday, 
On Thanksgiving Eve and Thanksgiving Day, Lakeview s Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club will extend a dining discount to those who donate a canned good or nonperishable food item. The donations will benefit Heartland Health Outreach, an organization that provides care to more than 12,000 needy individuals in the Chicago metropolitan area each year.
Guests will receive a 50-percent discount off martinis and cocktails, as well as a 33-percent discount off their dinner tab with canned good donation. Consulting Chef JoAnn Witherell has crafted a special Thanksgiving prix fixe menu that will be offered in addition to Kit Kat s regular dinner menu. The classic Thanksgiving feast (outlined below) includes a fall martini, Kit Kat salad, herb-marinated roasted turkey breast served with traditional stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry and pineapple relish, and pumpkin pie tart.
Diva Kinley Preston will entertain guests starting at 7:30 p.m. each evening.
For table reservations, please call 773-525-1111.
Available on November 25 and 26
$25 per guest with canned good donation ($49.95 without donation)
Prix Fixe Menu :
 Fall Martini
Choice of: Sour Cherry Pie; Banana Pudding; Peach Pie; Pumpkin Pie; Sticky Bun; Fire Apple Cider (complete descriptions are listed below)
 Kit Kat Salad
Romaine and spinach blend with pears, dried cranberries and spicy pecans, balsamic vinaigrette
 Herb-Marinated Roasted Turkey Breast
Served with traditional stuffing, mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy, haricot verts, cranberry and pineapple relish
 Pumpkin Pie Tart
Topped with whipped cream
Fall Martini Menu :
$14 each
 Sour Cherry Pie
Pinnacle vodka, cherry pucker, grenadine, splash vanilla, splash cream and lemon, garnished with a graham cracker rim
 Banana Pudding
Cruzan banana, Pinnacle whipped vodka, banana liqueur, splash vanilla and splash of cream, garnished with a vanilla wafer
 Peach Pie
New Amsterdam Peach vodka, peach liqueur, orange juice, hot damn cinnamon schnapps and agave nectar, garnished with graham cracker rim
 Pumpkin Pie
Pinnacle Whipped vodka, pumpkin puree and a splash of cream, garnished with whipped cream
 Sticky Bun
Pinnacle Cinnabun vodka, rumchatta, coconut cream and maple syrup, garnished with cinnamon dusted rim
 Fire Apple Cider
Jim Beam Fire, Jim Beam Apple, apple cider and splash of cranberry, garnished with a cinnamon stick
Acadia
In celebration of Thanksgiving, a much-anticipated dining day of the holiday season, Chef/Owner Ryan McCaskey installs a special Thanksgiving menu at Acadia.
At the recently named two-star Michelin restaurant in Chicago s South Loop, Thanksgiving entails much more than traditional turkey, and for $85 per person or $135 with wine pairings, diners savor an exclusive menu brimming with seasonal dishes incorporating flavors of chestnuts, corn bread, pecans and other holiday favorites.
Amazing diners with a unique combination of tradition and modern culinary technique, Acadia surpasses all dining expectations with a sophisticated take on a classic Thanksgiving meal. Enticing guests with innovative versions of holiday staple items such as turkey, apple cake, spinach salad and more, Acadia presents diners with a one-of-a-kind menu taking Thanksgiving to the next level. The unparalleled holiday five-course meal incorporates unexpected wine pairings for a playful, yet elegant journey.
The menu is as follows:
 Chestnut Soup
(Truffle, celery)
 Valdespino Amontillado Sherry MV
 Spinach Salad
(Smoked pork belly, onion, mustard)
 2014 D nnhoff Kreuznacher Kr tenpfuhl Riesling Kabinett
 Halibut
(Lemon verbena crust, Great Northern Beans, cioppino)
 2012 Sangiovese, Gibson Ranch
 Turkey Saltimbocca
(Corn bread bread pudding, salt baked carrots)
 2010 Domaine de la Charbonniere “Les Hauts Brusquieres Cuv e Speciale”
 Sticky Toffee Apple Cake
(Vanilla ice cream, smoked maple pecans)
 2007 Stefano Farina Vin Santo del Chianti Classico Le Bocce
Catering to children, Acadia s special Thanksgiving menu offers the following options for young diners:
 Smoked Cheddar Mac N Cheese
 Wing Dings
 Funnel Cake
 Popcorn Ice Cream
(Chocolate sauce)
For diners seeking memorable Thanksgiving experiences outside the home, behold Acadia s imaginatively festive menu.
More information and reservations may be made by visiting the website or calling (312) 360-9500. Thanksgiving seatings are available from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Flagship
Flagship will open at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day for the Bears vs. Packers game at 7:30 p.m.
Featured game day specials include :
 $15 Miller and Coors buckets
 $5 22-ounce Miller and Coors keeper cups
 $5 6-ounce Bloody Marys
 $5 Fireball
 $5 Mimosas
Kanela Breakfast Club
Thanksgiving Brunch at Kanela Breakfast Club
Kanela Breakfast Club in Lakeview, Old Town, Wicker Park and Streeterville invite guests to enjoy brunch on Thanksgiving Day.
The featured special is a Roasted Turkey Benedict with cranberry sauce and gravy, available for $11.
Lottie’s Pub
For Chicagoans without family in town or those who need a break from theirs, Lottie’s Pub will open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day for the Bears vs. Packers game at 7:30 p.m.
Specials include :
 $15 Miller and Coors buckets (commemorative can or bottles)
 $4 22-ounce Miller and Coors collectible Bears cups
 $4 Mimosas
 $5 Bloody Marys
 $7 Tater Tot Poutine
 $9 Pizza.
Sixteen
Sixteen brings the year s bountiful harvest to life by presenting a festive brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. inside the stunning dining room that affords breathtaking views of Chicago s architectural landscape, the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.
Guests can indulge in traditional Thanksgiving favorites and other specialty items during the festive brunch buffet.
To enhance the festivities, a string trio will provide beautiful background music while pilgrims circulate. A petting zoo will also be on hand for children and adults both to enjoy.
Thanksgiving brunch at Sixteen costs $158 per person and $50 for children ages 5 to 12 years of age, exclusive of tax, alcohol and gratuity.
Sixteen will be open for dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m., offering an inviting setting for those looking to enjoy a celebratory evening meal. The two-Michelin starred restaurant will offer the Chef s tasting menu with special Thanksgiving holiday additions.
A multi-course Dinner tasting menu for $190 and a pre-fixe menu for $130 will be offered.
Reservations are highly recommended and may be made by calling (312) 588-8030.
Porkchop
The prix fixe menu, available on Thanksgiving Day, is $27 per person, and includes:
 Smoked Turkey
 Southern Mashed Potatoes
 Garlic Roasted Root Vegetables
 Bourbon Pecan Cornbread Stuffing
 Cranberry Apple Compote
 Served with a choice of Soup or Salad and Pumpkin, Pecan, or Apple pie
Chicago Suburb Thanksgiving Day Restaurants
:
Shaw’s Crab House in Schaumburg
Shaw’s Crab House is hosting a Traditional Thanksgiving Buffet on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26th, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at its Schaumburg location.
The Traditional Thanksgiving Buffet is priced at $59 per adult and $12 for kids 12 and younger (exclusive of tax, gratuity, and beverages).
The bountiful buffet will feature the following items :
 Chilled Seafood & Salad Bar
 Oysters on the Half Shell
 Shrimp Cocktail
 Chilled Snow Crab
 Maki (Spicy Tuna, Sweet Potato)
 Autumn Harvest Salad
 Caesar Salad
 Roasted Root Vegetable Salad
Chef’s Table :
 Roast Turkey Breast & Legs
 Slow Roasted Tenderloin
 Golden King Crab Legs
 Lobster Bisque
 Traditional Stuffing
 Braised Brussels Sprouts
 Butternut Squash Ravioli
Grand Hot Buffet :
 Lobster Brie & Cavatappi Pasta
 Mashed Potatoes
 Candied Sweet Potatoes
 Mini Crab Cakes
 Glazed Carrots
 Au Gratin Potatoes
 Fried Shrimp
 Green Bean Casserole
 Parmesan Haddock
 Roasted Broccoli
 Wild Rice Pilaf
 Roasted Potatoes
Sweets Table :
 Mini Pecan, Raspberry, Key Lime, Pumpkin Pie
 Cr me Brulee
 Assorted Cupcakes
 Pumpkin Cheesecake
 Apple Crisp
 Assorted Cookies
 Flourless Brownies
 Harvest Candies
Harvest Apple Station :
 Hot & Cold Apple Cider
 Apple Pie Bars
 Candied Apples
 Assorted Caramel Apples
A Thanksgiving Day donation will be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Tuscany Restaurant in Wheeling
Thanksgiving Prix Fixe & Turkeys To Go at Tuscany Wheeling
$34.95 prix fixe; $17.95 children 10 & under
Adults eat for $29.95 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Tuscany in Wheeling will serve a seasonal Thanksgiving prix fixe dinner for $34.95 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.
Hearth in Evanston
Hearth restaurant will welcome guests for a celebratory Thanksgiving Day meal on Thursday, November 26. The soon-to-open Evanston eatery will offer a four course prix fixe menu crafted by Executive Chef John “Woody” Linton. The menu, listed below, features the choice of starter (roasted acorn squash; chestnut soup), second course (gnocchi; seared scallop), entree (turkey roulade; roasted salmon; scalloped potatoes) and dessert (sweet potato pie; cinnamon vanilla ice cream) for $50 per person.
Hearth’s cozy, 70 seat dining room boasts rustic and earth tone decor elements, including maple tables, banquette seating, iron and glass fixtures, whitewashed wood paneling, and a wood-burning brick fireplace. The restaurant will be open from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. To make dining reservations, visit HearthRestaurant.net or call 847-570-8400.
First Course :
 Roasted acorn squash, grilled portobellos, pepitas and maple
 Chestnut soup, duck confit, crispy apples and chives
Second Course :
 Gnocchi, glazed pumpkin, fried sage and pine nuts
 Seared scallop, vanilla parsnip puree, melted spinach and cranberries
Third Course :
 Turkey roulade, apple stuffing, brussels sprouts, butternut squash and bacon puree, crispy shallots.
 Roasted salmon, creamed pearl onions, green beans and polenta cake
 Scalloped potatoes, glazed baby carrots, cauliflower, prunes and macadamia nuts
Fourth Course :
 Sweet potato pie, Italian meringue, cranberry relish
 Cinnamon vanilla ice cream, warm apple compote, ginger snap crumble
Thanksgiving Dinner Catering
Blackwood BBQ
The gourmet, fast casual BBQ restaurant specializes in high quality ingredients and great taste from familiar farms.
Blackwood BBQ will offer a Holiday catering menu, Thanksgiving turkey sandwich and brisket chili to celebrate the season.
The holiday catering menu is available from November 3 through the end of the year.
The menu includes:
 Southern Smoked Turkey Breast + Carolina Gravy $18.99 per lb.
 Smoked Brioche Stuffing $16.99 for 1/3 pan
 Sweet Potato Souffl : $16.99 for 1/3 pan
 Cranberry Apple Coleslaw: $5.99 for a pint, $10.99 for a quart.
The ‘Smoky Pilgrim Sandwich’, which is offered from November 19 toThanksgiving Day is made with traditional BBQ rub and dried sage and smoked turkey, topped with crunchy apple coleslaw, cranberry sauce and Alabama BBQ sauce.
Blackwood BBQ has also introduced Brisket Chili to the menu, for $3.49 per 8 oz. cup. The restaurant is not open onThanksgiving Day, orders can be picked up in the weeks prior.
Porkchop Chicago
The local favorite in BBQ cuisine takes away your cooking worries with smoked and deep-fried take home turkeys, as well as a prix fixe dinner menu on Thanksgiving Day.
The take out turkey menu includes:
 Southern Mashed Potatoes
 Mac and Cheese
 Spinach
 Bourbon Pecan Cornbread Stuffing
 Cranberry Apple Compote
 Smoked turkeys are $5.99/lb. and fried turkeys are $6.99/lb.
Turkeys can be ordered from the Porkchop West Loop location and Hyde Park location.
Chop Chicago
The newest steakhouse in the South Loop s Roosevelt Collection will offer take out turkeys from Porkchop Chicago on Thanksgiving Day.
Chop will be open from 12pm-10pm on Thanksgiving Day.
For turkey orders, call 312-461-9333.
Frontier
Orders must be placed by Monday, November 23
Pick up: Thursday, November 26 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
 string beans ($25 half pan serves 8; $50 full pan serves 16)
Order early, limited quantities available.
Tuscany Restaurant in Wheeling
Turkeys to Go: Orders must be placed by Sunday, November 22
Pick up: Thursday, November 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 $150 for 15 pound turkey; $200 for 20 pound turkey
 Both come with the traditional sides. Extra sides are $25 each.
Tuscany’s 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 22.
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