Best Thanksgiving Feasts In Chicago

Enjoy Thanksgiving as it should be enjoyed: with friends, family and someone else cooking the meal. To avoid the stress of the holiday cooking, below are my recommendations for a fabulous family dinner. These include everything from the luxurious multi-coursed meals to the take-home dinners- all of which will make this Thanksgiving worry-free.

Branch 27

What did you say, honey? You offered to have Thanksgiving dinner at our place this year? And you actually think it would be a good idea for me to cook? Well, Branch 27 it is. They will take a pre-order for our party of four or more. The restaurant already has the menu laid out, which is $27 per person, and it comes with re-heating instructions- and oh my gosh, bread pudding! All I need to give Branch 27 is the amount of people and his credit card number. I'll just have the boyfriend pick it up Wednesday morning, since this was his genius idea. Huh, never thought Thanksgiving could be so easy.

1371 West Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60642
312-850-2700
www.branch27.com

Signature Room at the 95th

Dine in style at the top of the city on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building. Here guests will have a family-style dinner set in elegance, which includes a buffet of chilled seafood, warm soups and delicious salads. Guests will then order their seasonal entrée from the menu along with the Signature Room's classic side dishes. Don't leave without your wide variety of decadent and artfully designed desserts. This meal includes the Signature Room's historic view for $65 per adult and $25 for children ages four through twelve. Bon appetit!

875 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
312-787-9596
www.signatureroom.com

Smith & Wollensky

It's Thanksgiving, the sun is shining, the river is glistening and it's just about freezing outside. While you wish you could be enjoying a cocktail on a yacht on Lake Michigan, sorry folks, it's just not going to happen. No worries, though, because you can dine with a spectacular view of the river against the glass at Smith & Wollensky. Guests can choose from their pre-selected three-course meal or, if you are not much of a turkey person, their main menu is available as well. This feast will have your tummies full for only $49 per person and $20 for children 12 and under. Request a table at the window upon your reservation and begin dreaming of summer all over again.

318 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60610
312-670-9900
www.smithandwollensky.com/chicago.htm

33 Club

Turkey and stuffing and honey-ginger glazed ham- oh my! Whipped potatoes and sweet potatoes and butternut squash- oh my! Apple pie and pumpkin pie and pecan pie- oh my! A buffet in Old Town's 33 Club Restaurant for only $33.95 per adult and $13.95 for children? Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore. Side note: be sure to make a reservation at the top of the staircase. Trust me, Jerry Kleiner designed the restaurant for you to enjoy it this way.

1419 North Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60610
312-664-1619
www.33clubchicago.com

Benny's Chophouse

Oh ya, chef Jonathan Lane at Benny's knows how to prepare a Thanksgiving meal. He is preparing the traditional, yet untraditional, such as an all natural turkey breast and braised leg with giblet gravy, and cranberry sauce, and a Magret duck breast with pumpkin and potato hash, red cabbage and currents. On top of that, there will be an option of 11 different cuts of USDA Prime and Natural steaks, Minnesota Walleye, roasted east grouper and Faroe Island Salmon. He even accommodates the vegetarians with a potato gnocchi, Michigan pumpkin ravioli and porcini risotto with honey truffle, spinach and Parmigiano Reggiano. Don't forget to leave room for dessert before you go into that food coma.

444 North Wabash Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
312-626-2444
www.bennyschophouse.com

Alycia Nicole is a concierge in the heart of Downtown Chicago. Momma and Yiayia always spoiled her with their Thanksgiving dinners.

Agree or disagree with Alycia? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.