Forget slaving over a hot stove at the crack of dawn this Thanksgiving and let someone else do the cooking (and dishes) for you. Here's a list of places around Tampa Bay that are willing to do all the work for you on Turkey Day (November 24). Be sure to call ahead to make your reservations and check out the full menus on their websites.
400 BEACH SEAFOOD AND TAP HOUSE 400 Beach Drive NE, St. Pete, 727-896-2400, 400beachseafood.com. Serving traditional turkey as well as seafood delights on their brunch/lunch buffet from 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. The regular menu will be available from 6-10 p.m. Buffet: $26.95 adults, $12.95 children.
BON APPETIT 150 Marina Plaza, Dunedin, 727-733-2151, bonappetitrestaurant.com. Dine at this waterfront restaurant and choose from their four-course Thanksgiving menu for $45, or if you're really hungry, opt for the holiday buffet for $39.95. 4-9 p.m.
CASANOVA RESTAURANT 811 Cleveland St., Clearwater, 727-733-5449, restaurantcasanova.com. Instead of the usual homemade Italian dishes, Casanova will be serving up Pilgrim fare — turkey and all the fixins — for Thanksgiving. Call for more information and to RSVP. 5-10 p.m.
CASSIS AMERICAN BRASSERIE 170 Beach Drive, St. Pete, 727-827-2927, cassisab.com. Doing it up Yankee-style this Thanksgiving with a three-course traditional turkey (or salmon) meal with all the fixings. Also serving breakfast from 8-11 a.m. $38 adults, $20 kids under 12; 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
CHART HOUSE 7616 W. Courtney Campbell Causeway, Tampa, 813-289-7773, chart-house.com. Enjoy your holiday dinner with a waterfront view of Tampa Bay in the Chart House's elegant dining room. Offering turkey, fresh fish selections and prime rib. 3:30-9 p.m.
COLUMBIA RESTAURANT 2117 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa, 813-248-4961; 800 Second Ave. N.E. (on the fourth floor of the Pier), St. Pete, 727-822-8000; 1241 Gulf Boulevard, Clearwater, 727-596-8400, columbiarestaurant.com. Go with the traditional Thanksgiving feast of roast Vermont turkey with Columbia stuffing, sides (like sweet potato pecan casserole), soup, salad and choice of dessert, or go with the Spanish-Cuban fare the Columbia is famous for and order off the standard menu. Both menus available all day. Thanksgiving menu: 19.95 adults, $5.95 children under 10; 11 a.m.-close.
THE HURRICANE Ninth Ave. and Gulf Way, St. Pete Beach, 727-367-7571, thehurricane.com. Another spot with a beautiful beachside view. Offering a traditional turkey prix fixe menu, in addition to their standard menu, on the bottom floor and serving their famous holiday buffet spread upstairs — raw bar, carving stations, hot entrees and desserts galore. Buffet: $24.99 adults, $10.99 children 5-12; 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
KELLY'S FOR JUST ABOUT … ANYTHING! 319 Main St., Dunedin, 727-736-5284, kellyschicaboom.com. Indulge in Kelly's four-course feast with their own take on the infamous 'Turducken': boneless turkey, duck and chicken breasts layered with Italian sausage and cheddar corn stuffing, roasted and served with a Creole turkey gravy. Served with all the trimmings, of course! Also offering some of their ultra premium wines by the glass that are normally sold only by the bottle. $22.99 adults, $7.99 children 10 and under; 3-7 p.m.
MAGGIANO'S LITTLE ITALY 203 Westshore Plaza, Tampa, 813-288-9000, maggianos.com. Order from Maggiano's Thanksgiving Day Menu which will include traditional turkey, baked ham, and some Italian twists on the standard holiday sides and desserts, like butternut squash ravioli and pumpkin praline cheesecake. 3-10 p.m.
MARCHAND'S BAR & GRILL AT THE RENAISSANCE VINOY 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St Pete, 727-824-8072, marchandsbarandgrill.com. Visit Marchand's stately dining room for an gourmet, three-course dinner menu with three different options for each course. Call for seating times and pricing.
PACKARDS AT INNISBROOK RESORT 36750 U.S. 19 N., Palm Harbor, 727-942-5240, innisbrookgolfresort.com. Have an elegant, three-course prix fixe lunch or dinner at Packard's Steakhouse for $33, or go for the massive brunch buffet, complete with an omelet station, kid's buffet and a mountain of dessert selections. $36.95 adults, $16.95 kids 4-12. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Buffet seatings at 1 and 3:30 p.m.
PELAGIA TRATTORIA 2223 N. West Shore Blvd. (lobby level of the Renaissance International Plaza Tampa Hotel), 813-313-3235, pelagiatrattoria.com. Pelagia will be offering a special holiday menu on Thanksgiving with a few festive selections — spiced pumpkin soup with molasses crème fraiche, roast turkey with sides, butternut squash and panettone bread pudding with Nutella gelato, etc. — as well as their full dinner menu. 11:30 a.m.- last seating at 8 p.m.
TAHITIAN INN 601 S. Dale Mabry, Tampa, 813-877-6721, tahitianinn.com. Available for dine-in or take-out, the Tahitian is offering the works for Turkey Day dinner this year: turkey or ham with five sides, dinner rolls and pumpkin or pecan pie. Call ahead to order or to RSVP. $17.99 adults, $9.99 kids under 12, $60 for take-out meal for 4; 12-6 p.m.
THE RUSTY PELICAN 2425 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, 813-281-1943, therustypelican.com. If you prefer to do your holiday feasting earlier in the day, check out The Rusty Pelican's Thanksgiving Day buffet with a raw bar and made-to-order pasta dishes and omelets. $44 adults, $19 kids; 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
RUTH'S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE 1700 N. Westshore Blvd., Tampa, 813-282-1118, ruthschris.com. Offering a four-course traditional turkey dinner. Not in the mood for a turkey-induced tryptophan coma? Then go for one of their famous steaks instead. $34.95 adults, $12 children 12 and under.
SANDPEARL RESORT 500 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach, 727-674-4109, sandpearl.com. Spend Thanksgiving with a view of picturesque Clearwater Beach while dining at the Sandpearl's Caretta on the Gulf restaurant for brunch or dinner — or both! Brunch will feature traditional Thanksgiving fare, standard breakfast items and omelet and waffle stations with complimentary unlimited Champagne and mimosas. Dinner is a three-course prix fixe meal featuring traditional Thanksgiving dishes and other seasonal specialties. Both seatings: $59 adults, $19 for kids 3-10; brunch: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., dinner: 6-10 p.m.
SHEPARD'S BEACH RESORT 601 S. Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater, 727-441-6875, shephards.com. With a carving station, salad and seafood bars, over eight entrees, and array of side dishes, and a multitude of desserts to choose from, you're bound to find something to please your palate at Shepard's Thanksgiving buffet (and leave stuffed). $28.95 adults, $13.95 children 3-10, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
SHOR AMERICAN SEAFOOD GRILL 301 Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach, 727-373-4780, shorclearwater.com. Another great spot on Clearwater Beach to celebrate this day of giving thanks, Shor will be offering an elegant brunch buffet (not an oxymoron) on the 24th. Guests can feast on the traditional Turkey Day fare, raw bar, Floribbean fusion dishes, breakfast favorites, a Bloody Mary bar and much more. $44 adults, $21 kids under 12. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
SHULA'S STEAK HOUSE 4860 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa, 813-286-4366, donshula.com. Keeping both the steak lovers and traditionalists happy, Shula's will be offering a special holiday menu in addition to its lineup of aged steaks and fresh Florida seafood from the regular menu.
This article appears in Nov 17-23, 2011.