Restaurant Review: Make Your Thanksgiving Reservations Now! Sit down dinners for $100 per person or less…much less
According to Britannica.com, Thanksgiving Day celebrates the harvest and other blessings of the past year. Americans generally believe that their Thanksgiving is modeled on a 1621 harvest feast shared by the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth and the Wampanoag people.
Thanksgiving became a national holiday in 1863, when Godey’s Lady’s Book editor Sarah Josepha Hale, campaigned for a national Thanksgiving Day to promote unity. Thanks to these efforts, we’re celebrating on Thursday, November 28.
Thanksgiving Day football games began with Yale versus Princeton in 1876.
Chicago restaurants are keen to bring families together for this special day.
Chicago Loop
Miro at The St. Regis Chicago, 401 E. Wacker Drive, 11th Floor, is serving an Asian-American Thanksgiving Brunch from 7am–2pm. Try such specialties as Okonomiyaki, a Japanese cabbage pancake with baby shrimp and tonkatsu, Breakfast Bao with egg custard, bacon, crunchy garlic aioli, Steak and Eggs served with hash browns Shiso Chimichurri, and much more. For reservations, click here.
River North
According to Secret Chicago, one of the best restaurants for Thanksgiving dinner in Chicago is The Smith, 400 N. Clark Street. A special three-course prix fixe menu ($82 per person) features a choice of turkey in three ways—roasted breast, braised leg, or turkey pot pie—along with other options for non-turkey lovers,such as Butternut Squash Soup with ginger-apple crème fraîche, Spiced Pepitas, Ricotta Gnocchi Truffle Cream, Turkey Leg Osso Buco with jalapeño cheddar grits, and Pickled Cranberries. For reservations, click here.
Lincoln Park
Forget formality, high heels, heavy sauces, and traditional turkey stuffing. Travel across Lincoln Park to R.J. Grunt’s, 2056 N. Lincoln Park West. Try their original Thanksgiving on a Bun, which they describe as “All the leftovers of Thanksgiving put into a butter toasted Ciabatta Bun! Turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce, with a side of homemade turkey gravy.” Or, try a Turkey Burger…which as they say is “no chicken when it joins up with tomato, lettuce, and Swiss cheese to fight for freedom, justice, and mayonnaise!” Top off with a Healthy Malt orShake, made with low-fat yogurt and skim milk. Reserve now by clicking here.
Lakeview
Another alternative to the traditional turkey dinner is the casual, collegiate atmosphere of Cheesies, 958 W. Belmont.Their ‘November Sandwich of the Month’ is called The Gobbler! Indulge in the flavors of Thanksgiving all month long with rich Swiss cheese, juicy shredded turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, hearty stuffing, and crisp carrots, peas, and corn—all smothered in savory gravy. Served on buttery grilled sourdough and topped with a sweet cranberry aioli. For more information, click here.
Andersonville & Uptown
Ann Sather’s three locations… on Belmont , Granville, and Broadway…are serving up a Scandinavian-inspired Thanksgiving feast for $32.95 per person, including Chicken Vegetable Soup, Roasted Turkey and Dressing, Mashed Potatoes and Giblet Gravy, Fresh Seasonal Vegetables, Cranberry Sauce, Assorted Homemade Breads, and Homemade Apple, Pumpkin, or Walnut Chocolate Chip Pie with Whipped Cream
While there are no reservations at Ann Sather’s, dinner is available at 11:00 a.m. For more information, call the Belmont location (773-348-2378) open 7am–5pm; the Broadway location (773-305-0024) open 7am–3pm; and the Granville location (773-274-0557) 7am–3pm.
Thankful for all of you!
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
