Has anyone dined out at a restaurant for dinner on Thanksgiving?

Question

Is it any different from a normal evening?

Answer 1

Yes. There are pros and cons. Dining out, there's no prep, the main cook and cleaner can relax and your house can be a mess (no relatives!).

Cons: It'll probably be crowded, you may not like the taste of the food, you only get a limited amt. unless it's a buffet, and there are no leftovers for turkey sandwiches, soup, etc.!

Still, it's a good alternative if you're too stressed to put on a big feed. Just do your research on the restaurants BEFORE going. And make reservations NOW (it may be too late).

You COULD always do what they did in "A Christmas Story" (after the turkey is eaten by dogs): go to a Chinese restaurant & get Peking duck...but then again, it takes 2-4 days to order ahead.

Answer 2

No not personally although I did dine out on Christmas one year. And to be honest it just wasn't the same. All holidays in my family have involved some sort of family dinner where mom & grandma cook an amazing meal and relatives come over to eat. When we went out that Christmas it was lacking so much the feeling of family. It was just different since all years prior I had sepnt it at home eating a home cooked meal with family. And honestly I couldn't imagine Thanksgiving at a restaurant especially since the holiday revolves completely on the meal itself!

Answer 3

Actually, I cook all the time, and on holiday's like Thanksgiving and Christmas, I prefer to go out and enjoy a nice meal with friends and family. Sadly, I now live in a place where just about every restaurant is closed on the holidays...so I'm cooking, yet again.

Answer 4

I have had the Thanksgiving meal at a restaurant.

The difference is that you aren't in the "home" atmosphere and it felt very generic and kind of impersonal even though I was with my family. Impersonal because the food wasn't home-cooked, strangers served it and strangers were in the same room eating with us. From what I recall, it seemed to go quicker than eating at home and when we left it was as if Thanksgiving ended. Whereas, in the home, you eat and sit and pass the time for a longer period of time.

Answer 5

I & my wife & broyher in law did last year. WE had a reservations at this very good local restaurant , We had our choise of two meals. It could be Ham with all the fixings + desert or Turkey with Stuffing, mashed or baked potatoes, sguash, or other veggies, cranberry sauce ( Jelled or whole) Tea , coffee or soft drinks ( unlimeted refills) + dinner rolls + desert ( Pumpkin pie or Ice cream ) . We chose turkey . They also asked us if we wanted dark meat,breast meat, leg or wing or combanation. The price; $15.00 per person. NOT BAD. We are going to a friends home this year.

Answer 6

I never have in my whole 55 years of life, but I would definitely like to go out for Thanksgiving one day. No messes in the kitchen, nothing to clean. Even though my husband is the one that always cooks, because I cannot. I am still the one that has to clean up. Maybe I will suggest that for next year. Thanks for the idea.
And have a blessed day today, tomorrow, and every day of your life.

Answer 7

Never. I thought about it one year a few years back. Glad I didn't. I'd much rather smell the scents of Thanksgiving cooking all day and watching football and communing with family and friends.

Answer 8

Bob Evans? Check your local newspapers, there are several local restaurants that usually have GREAT Thanksgiving dinners.

Answer 9

yes we have.. we really had a nice time and was able to enjoy ourselves without the clean up mess
we do this when there has been a live tragedy that year- easier to get thru the holiday without the painful reminder of the loved one now gone


WE eat Christmas dinner out every year since 1972 when my 20 y.o brother died suddenly

Answer 10

yes,twice,once while in europe,as they dont have thanksgiving-we ordered turkey pizza(yuck!) which was the only turkey on the menu.then,2 years ago,my husband and several of our friends and me went out for thanksgiving dinner.it was a fun change,no clean-up afterward.we went cause everyone decided that year that we were tired of the massive clean-up afterward.this year,were in a cooking mood.