Let Someone Else Cook The Thanksgiving Feast

Face it. Not everybody enjoys the thought of slaving over an oven most of Thanksgiving Day.

And, for empty nesters and newly married couples, preparing a big holiday meal might not be worth the effort or expense.

According to LendEDU.com, the average American is expected to spend $175.65 on Thanksgiving dinner this year. This figure is up from last year, which was $165.14.

If you are among this group, don't fret. A number of Tampa Bay restaurants are open for Thanksgiving, some offering special menus for the holiday.

Be sure to hurry, though. Reservations are filling fast.

* HEW Parlor & Chophouse at Fenway Hotel, 453 Edgewater Drive, Dunedin, will offer a three-course Thanksgiving feast and a dessert social from noon to 8 p.m.

The meal includes a choice of entree Traditional Roasted Turkey Breast with Pan Gravy ($65); Roasted Pork Loin “Ham” with Sorghum Glaze ($65), Turkey & Ham Combo ($65); Broiled Salmon with Garlic, Lemon & Herbs ($70); Slow Cooked Prime Rib with Fortified Au Jus ($80); and 32-ounce Beef Prime Tomahawk Ribeye for Two ($105).

Family-style sides include Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes, Roasted Corn with Spicy Miso Butter, Brown Butter & Herbed Stuffing, Cranberry Sauce with Ginger & Sage, and Carrots with Harissa Maple Glaze along with homemade Parker rolls, whipped butter and a Fenway House Salad.

The Dessert Social will feature live music, coffee and tea service, warm apple cider and an array of decadent desserts including pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie and assorted cupcakes, brownies and cookies.

The cost of meals for children 6 to 13 is $25 and meals are complimentary for children 5 and under complimentary.

* Bahama Breeze -- with locations at Westfield Brandon mall, Wesley Chapel and the Courtney Campbell Causeway -- will be open and serving an exclusive, one-day-only Thanksgiving meal with an island-twist.

Bahama Breeze’s Thanksgiving dinner will feature sliced jerk turkey and pork, and island-inspired sides, like callaloo, green beans, cornbread stuffing, cranberry-pineapple chutney and guest’s choice of mashed potatoes or cinnamon mashed sweet potatoes, starting at $19.99.

Follow your dinner with Bahama Breeze’s Pumpkin Praline Pie – Pumpkin pie with a crunchy praline topping, served with whipped cream and cinnamon -- starting at $6.79.

* Seasons 52, 204 N. Westshore Blvd., Tampa, will offer its Roasted “Never Ever” Turkey dinner with Savory Pan Gravy, Yukon Mashed Potatoes, Herb Stuffing, French Green Beans, Mashed Butternut Squash, Housemade Cranberry Relish and Pumpkin Pie Mini Indulgences for $27.95 for adults and $13.95 for kids.

* Colombia Restaurant in Ybor City, on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota and on Sand Key in Clearwater Beach is open for Thanksgiving.

The restaurant will serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal of roast turkey with Columbia stuffing - great-grandmother’s recipe of Italian sausage, ground beef, chopped chicken livers, apples, water chestnuts and raisins. Other sides include sautéed carrots and string beans, sweet potato casserole, whipped potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce and giblet gravy. The cost is $23 for adults and $6 for children under 10. The regular dinner menu also is available.

* FarmTable Cucina, 179 2nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, will be open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a Thanksgiving buffet. They will serve all of the traditional classics like Roasted Joyce Farms Turkey, Gram's Cranberry Relish and Roasted Sweet Potatoes, as well as a collection of our FarmTable favorites, including a chilled seafood selection, antipasti and salads, hot entrees and a carving station.

Sweet treats from the bakery include Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Tarts and Pumpkin Cinnamon Tarts.

* The Birchwood, Birch and Vine, 340 Beach Drive N.E., St. Petersburg, will be open from 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

Choose from six appetizers, three salads and five entrées off the A La Carte Menu or try the Prix Fixe Menu ($55) featuring the Turkey Duo -- House-Spiced Turkey Breast, Confit Turkey Thighs with Brown Butter & Cashew Haricot Vert, Praline Sweet Potatoes, Maple Fluff, Apple & Pancetta Cornbread Stuffing, Cherry Tangerine Gelle, and Bourbon-Cider Gravy.

* Bon Apetit, 148 Marina Plaza, Dunedin, is offering two dining options -- its Thanksgiving Day Buffet from noon to 5 p.m. in the Crystal Ballroom and its four-course Thanksgiving day dinner from noon to 8 p.m. in the main dining room. Click here to see the lengthy menu.

Other restaurants with a few reservations remaining for Thanksgiving, according to OpenTable, include:

*Mitchell's Fish Market, Tampa

*Eddie V's, Tampa

* The Capital Grille, Tampa

* Texas de Brazil, Tampa

* Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse Tampa

* Timpano Italian Chophouse, Tampa

* SHOR, Clearwater

Reservations at these restaurants are strongly encouraged and can be made online at OpenTable.

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