Thanksgiving Planner 2009

2503 S Gessner Rd, Houston, TX 77063 (map)

This West Side German spot hosts Thanksgiving in the form of a New England-themed lunch buffet from 11am to 4pm. For $25 for adults and $8.95 for children, diners can feast on favorite Turkey Day dishes like ham and mashed potatoes alongside German favorites like herring, Veal Zurich and strudel. Complete the meal with a frosty pint of KonigPilsner. Prost!

1300 Lamar St, Houston, TX 77010 (map)

Quattro at the Four Seasons hotel in the heart of downtown is the place to take out-of-town guests for a swanky Thanksgiving meal. The annual $77 champagne brunch features a spread of antipasto, breakfast, seafood and carving stations.

2521 Bagby St, Houston, TX 77006 (map)

Transylvania-born chef/owner Johann Schuster is serving up an impressive menu of Old World European classics like Wiener schnitzel, venison scaloppini and the heavenly sounding dobos torte--a sponge cake layered with chocolate buttercream and caramel--as well as pumpkin lobster bisque and turkey with cranberry orange sauce for diners who crave the old favorites. The price for adults is $48.

13616 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77079 (map)

It’s not exactly reminiscent of the first Thanksgiving, but a relaxed French meal under the wood-beamed ceiling of Bistro Provence is a solid way to enjoy some good company. For under $30, Houston restaurateurs Jean-Philippe and Genevieve Guy are offering a three-course meal with a choice between olive-oil-poached sea bass, New York strip with horseradish crust and roulade of turkey breast with sage and corn stuffing.

1400 Eldridge Pkwy, Houston, TX 77077 (map)

Owners David and Sylvain Denis are originally from France but they seem to have fully captured the meaning of the holiday with their Thanksgiving menu—that is, by using a lot of pumpkin. For dessert the chef is preparing a pumpkin trio of crème brulee, ice cream sandwich and strudel. The $45 price tag also includes a choice between goat cheese tarte or artichoke soup for the appetizer and turkey or osso buco for the entrée.

1985 Welch St, Houston, TX 77019 (map)

Chef John Sheely’s restaurant has been praised in the "New York Times," "Esquire" and "Bon Appétit." So, rather than mess with perfection, Chef Sheely is bringing back last year’s three-course Thanksgiving menu featuring herb-roasted turkey with andouille stuffing and Virginia ham and crispy pork belly with apple-yam mashies. The restaurant will be open between 11am and 9pm and the meal will cost $59 for adults, $25 for children.

280 Grove Road, Kemah, TX 77565 (map)

For $59 per person, Star Fleet is offering a two-hour cruise of Clear Lake and Galveston Bay with a Thanksgiving buffet brunch, lunch or dinner including champagne, wine and beer.

5941 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77081 (map)

When this 200-year-old turkey trend passes (trust us, it will), Pico’s has the chicken mole, enchiladas and fajitas to fill in the gap. Its catering service can provide everything from margaritas to entertainment but if all you need is food, they also offer to drop off your order in disposable containers.

3112 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77098 (map)

The week before Thanksgiving the House of Pies lobby is packed with customers elbowing for their share of pecan, pumpkin or bayou goo pie. This 24-hour (even on Thanksgiving Day), no-frills diner has such a reputation as a Houston institution that everybody wants to get a piece of it for their holiday dinner.

6510 Del Monte Dr., Houston, TX 77057 (map)

If it’s a traditional turkey dinner at home you want but the requisite cooking you aren’t skilled at, Bistro Don Camillo has set dinners for families of four to six and 10 to 12. Orders come with a choice of three sides such as truffled mac and cheese, cornbread dressing and roasted beet salad with goat cheese. Pick up your meal on Thanksgiving Day between 11am and 12:30pm to ensure everything stays fresh.