If you’re looking for a festive dinner you don’t have to cook on Nov. 28, follow this working guide to many of the Tampa Bay restaurants serving one-off menus and special dishes for Thanksgiving.
Bob Evans: The family-style diner chain’s Thanksgiving and limited breakfast lineups roll out after it stops serving the full selection of breakfast favorites at 11 a.m. In honor of the holiday, down your entree of choice, three sides, bread and a slice of pie ($14.99). Or go for the premium option, which brings both ham and turkey ($16.99). Various locations. bobevans.com.
Bon Appetit Restaurant: You won’t find the regular menu this Turkey Day. But there is a buffet-style dinner ($69.95, $12.95 for 10 and younger) upstairs in the Crystal Ballroom from noon to 6 p.m., plus a four-course plated dinner ($69.95) and a special meal for 10 and younger in the main dining room from noon to 9 p.m. 148 Marina Plaza, Dunedin. (727) 733-2151. bonappetitrestaurant.com.
Caretta on the Gulf: A buffet of breakfast specialties (think mini-waffles or chorizo omelets), a raw bar, a carving station and all-you-can-drink Champagne cocktails. Kids get their own bottomless lineup. Reservations are suggested. $74, $19 for children 3-10. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sandpearl Resort, 500 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach. (727) 674-4171. sandpearl.com.
Cassis: A Joyce Farms turkey carving station is rounded out with a buffet of side dishes like green bean casserole, marshmallow sweet potatoes, croissant stuffing and cranberry marmalade at the Beach Drive restaurant. A regular a la carte menu will be available all day for those who might have already had their turkey fix. The Thanksgiving menu ($30.95) is served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 170 Beach Drive, St. Petersburg. (727) 827-2927. cassisstpete.com.
Columbia Restaurant: Head for the Ybor City, Sarasota or Clearwater Beach locations for a holiday feast built upon traditional dishes, including roast turkey with signature stuffing and sides like string beans, sweet potato casserole and whipped potatoes. The regular dinner menu is also on hand. $24, $6 for 9 and younger. Various locations. columbiarestaurant.com.
Council Oak Steaks & Seafood: Butternut squash bisque ($12) and spiced pumpkin cake ($13) are the featured specials, alongside heritage roasted turkey with cranberry-fig compote, whipped potatoes and fennel-sausage corn bread stuffing ($43). 3 to 9 p.m. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5223 Orient Road, Tampa. Toll-free 1-866-388-4263. seminolehardrocktampa.com.
Eliza Ann’s Coastal Kitchen: The celebratory three-course, prix-fixe bill of fare offers your appetizer, entree and dessert of choice, with items such as butternut squash soup and sage roasted turkey available. Reservations are recommended. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Waterline Marina Resort & Beach Club, 5325 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach. (941) 238-6262. waterlineresort.com.
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Explore all your optionsElevage: Thanksgiving brings a family-style smorgasbord to the signature restaurant. You take your pick from everything from blackstrap glazed ham and roasted Brussels sprouts to ginger-blood orange cranberry sauce and a dessert table of assorted pies. $55, $20 for 12 and younger. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Epicurean Hotel, 1207 S Howard Ave., Tampa. (813) 999-8726. epicureanhotel.com.
FarmTable Cucina: Guests will find an extensive spread of both traditional dishes (roasted turkey with giblet gravy) and nontraditional holiday entrees (stuffed Branzino with capers, olives and couscous) at this downtown St. Petersburg restaurant. The feast includes a buffet of fresh baked breads (Tuscan olive, Parker House rolls), a chilled seafood station (fresh oysters, crab legs and mussels) and antipasto options ranging from cheese and salumi to seasonal salads and roasted veggies. $69, $29 for children. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. 179 Second Ave. N, St. Petersburg. (727) 523-6297.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: Classic trimmings accompany mixed herb roasted turkey or petite filet mignon served as part of the chain’s three-course meal. Complete your selection with Verite La Joie 2012, a rare Bordeaux-style red blend that is priced at $100 a glass and includes two take-home Riedel wine glasses. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. $52, $22 for children. 4322 W Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa. (813) 874-9463. flemingssteakhouse.com.
HEW Parlor & Chophouse: Entrees like roasted turkey breast ($65), prime tomahawk ribeye ($105) and root vegetable farmer’s pie ($65) take center stage in this three-course spread. The first course and sides are served family style. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fenway Hotel, 453 Edgewater Drive. Dunedin. (727) 683-5990. fenwayhotel.com.
Marchand’s Bar & Grill: Appetizers like a spiced carrot and coconut bisque and a baby kale salad with sweet potatoes and goat cheese kick off an elegant four-course dinner menu. Guests can pick from several entrees, including a turkey dinner served with turkey sausage and apple stuffing, a pumpkin swordfish with butternut squash polenta and a maple-glazed jackfruit “pulled pork” with Brussels sprouts and spicy mashed potatoes. $66, $22 for children. 12:30 to 9 p.m. Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, 501 Fifth Ave. NE. (727) 824-8072. marriott.com.
Maritana Grille: The revamped restaurant starts with appetizers and mains such as braised osso buco and serrano-wrapped turkey roulade before moving on to desserts. $85. The Don CeSar, 3400 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. (727) 360-1882. doncesar.com.
Meat Market: Turkey leg roulade, wood-grilled turkey breast and a mixed grill of those two specials, plus cranberry glazed prime short rib, are highlights of the modern steakhouse’s a la carte plans for Turkey Day. Save room for dessert. $32 and up entree, $12 dessert. Noon-9 p.m. Hyde Park Village, 1606 W Snow Ave., Tampa. (813) 280-1113. meatmarket.net.
Metro Diner: This chain of jazzed-up diners does table service until 2:30 p.m. on Turkey Day, offering a traditional holiday feast full of everything from baked ham with cherry sauce to creamy mashed potatoes and cornbread stuffing. $14.99. Various locations. metrodiner.com.
Overture Restaurant: Fresh pastries, fruit, a salad bar, eggs Benedict, traditional Thanksgiving sides, a carving station and a dessert station make up this contemporary American eatery’s holiday brunch. $34, $15 for children. Noon to 4 p.m. Art Ovation Hotel, 1255 N Palm Ave., Sarasota. (941) 316-0808. artovationhotel.com.
Postcard Inn on the Beach: Celebrate on the beach with an all-day buffet at the St. Pete Beach hotel and bar, open to both hotel guests and the public. 1 to 9 p.m. $32.95, $14.95 for children 7-13, free for 6 and younger. 6300 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach. (727) 367-2711.
The Rez Grill: Go for the turkey with mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, haricots verts and cranberry relish ($38) or the herb and garlic prime rib with mashed potatoes, haricots verts, au jus and horseradish cream ($45), but stay for the sweet potato pie accompanied by cranberry sorbet ($12). Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 5223 Orient Road, Tampa. (813) 627-8120. seminolehardrocktampa.com.
Sea-Guini: The Thanksgiving brunch is built upon various stations of eggs, waffles, chilled seafood, desserts and prime rib. Its market buffet presents items like mustard-maple glazed ham, roasted root vegetables, traditional stuffing, turkey-cranberry wraps and sweet potato casserole. Reservations are suggested. $63. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Opal Sands Resort, 430 S Gulfview Blvd., Clearwater Beach. (727) 450-6236. seaguini.com.
TradeWinds Island Grand: Grub on all sorts of goodness at this holiday buffet, where soups and salads, breakfast items, a pasta bar, chef’s table turkey and desserts await. Reservations are required. $51, $45.95 for seniors 60 and older, $25.95 for children 3-10. 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Grand Palm Colonnade and Ballroom, 5500 Gulf Blvd., St Pete Beach. (727) 363-2258. tradewindsresort.com.