While many people will be getting up at the crack of dawn and toiling for hours in the kitchen to prepare their Thanksgiving feasts, others prefer a simpler, easier way to enjoy their holiday meal: at a restaurant where someone else does the cooking (and the dishes). Here's a list of places around Tampa Bay that are willing to do all the work for you on Turkey Day (November 25). 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 Dr. NE, St. Pete, 727-896-2400; 400beachseafood.com. Serving both traditional and gourmet dishes for their Thanksgiving Day buffet. The carving station will include entrees of miso-glazed Atlantic salmon, honey-cured ham and sage roasted turkey, alongside a spread of salads, sides and desserts. $24.95 adults, $12.95 children; 12-8 p.m.
BON APPETIT 150 Marina Plaza, Dunedin, 727-733-2151; bonappetitrestaurant.com. Choose from their four-course Thanksgiving menu for $39.95, or if you're really hungry, opt for the holiday buffet for $36.95. 4-9 p.m.
CASSIS AMERICAN BRASSERIE 170 Beach Drive, St. Pete, 727-827-2927; cassisab.com. Though their normal menu offerings are French inspired, this Thanksgiving they're doing it up Yankee-style. They're offering a three-course traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings, with two or three items to choose from for each course. $35 adults, $20 children 12 and under; 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Bakery open: 8 a.m.- 9 p.m.
CATCH TWENTY THREE 10103 Montague St., Tampa, 813-920-0045; catchtwentythree.com. Offering a prixe fixe menu with salad, turkey, sides and pumpkin pie. $18; 12-9:30 p.m.
COLUMBIA RESTAURANT 2117 East 7th Ave., Tampa, 813-248-4961; 800 2nd Avenue N.E. (on the fourth floor of the Pier), St. Pete, 727-822-8000; 1241 Gulf Boulevard, Clearwater, 727-596-8400; columbiarestaurant.com. At the Columbia, you can choose to go the traditional route with their Thanksgiving meal of roast Vermont Turkey with Columbia stuffing, sides, soup, salad and choice or dessert, or you can be nontraditional and order from their regular menu of Spanish influenced fare that has made them so famous. 19.95 adults, $5.95 children under 10; 11 a.m.-close.
This article appears in Nov 18-24, 2010.