Perhaps not as popular a dining date as Valentine’s Day, Thanksgiving nevertheless draws many people to restaurants, for two good reasons: the food is prepared by someone else, and there is no cleanup. And, eating out with family or friends on Thanksgiving is a very enjoyable way to entertain. Here is a list of the restaurants that we know, so far, will be offering Thanksgiving dinners. Look for updates as we get further information.
- Butchertown Grocery, 1076 E. Washington St., will serve family-style meal prepared by chef Bobby Benjamin. His menu will include smoked rotisserie turkey with gravy, herb-stuffed porchetta, roasted butternut squash and arugula salad with jalapeno blue cheese and sorghum dressing, side dishes of macaroni & 3 cheddar cheeses, braised kale, roasted garlic mashed potatoes. roasted sweet potatoes with marshmallows and candied pecans, glazed root vegetables, fried Brussels sprouts with cranberries, pine nuts, and chives, cranberry sauce, cornbread stuffing and dinner rolls. Desserts will be chocolate cream pie, pumpkin pie and beignets. Cost will be $45. Call (502) 742-8315.
- Buca di Beppo, 2051 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy. in Jeffersontown is offering its family-style menu of Italian dishes along with turkey and the fixings. Call (502) 493-2426
- Mitchell’s Fish Market, 4031 Summit Plaza Dr., will be open 11 a.m.–9 p.m., offering the regular dinner menu and traditional turkey dinner. Call (502) 412-1818.
- Olive Leaf Bistro, 130 W. Riverside Dr., Jeffersonville, is offering a buffet-style Thanksgiving Day Brunch for $20 per person. Call (812) 913-1252.
- English Grill at The Brown Hotel, 335 W. Broadway, has a special Thanksgiving Day Menu: Bourbon butternut squash bisque with Kentucky sorghum, several salads, a charcuterie and cheese board, shrimp and oysters, entree choices of beef tenderloin, seared diver scallops, or heritage turkey and desserts of sorghum pecan pie, buttermilk bourbon cream pie, pumpkin pie, flourless chocolate cake or apple strudel. $69 for adults, $22 for children ages 4-12. Call (502) 583-1234.
- Proof on Main, 702 W. Main Sty. offers a Heritage Turkey Plate with roasted turkey breast and smoked leg, country sweet potato mash, sage stuffing, port cranberries and maple ginger Brussel’s sprouts. Call (502) 217-6360.
- RIVUE Restaurant and Lounge, 140 N Fourth St. in the Galt House, will serve a traditional buffet style turkey dinner 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Call (502) 568-4239.
- Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 6100Dutchman’s Lane, opens at noon and offers a three-course Thanksgiving menu for $39.95 The menu choices can be found here.  You can also pre-order sweet potato casserole and creamed spinach sides to pick up for your family feast, if you’re not dining in.(502) 479-0026.
- Varanese, 2106 Frankfort Ave., is offering not an eat-in special, but a distinctive take-home option: Turducken. A Turducken is a partially de-boned turkey that has been stuffed with a de-boned duck, and in turn, stuffed with a de-boned chicken. The Turducken is then filled with a cornbread, sage and sausage stuffing before roasting in the oven until golden brown. Whole Turduckens come pre-cooked or raw. Side dishes are also available for ordering and pickup. For pricing and ordering, click here.Â