It’s almost turkey time, and for some, a nice meal out might be more appetizing than a day in the kitchen. Whether you’re celebrating with breakfast, lunch or dinner, there are options for dine-in restaurant meals around town.
Make the most of Thanksgiving Day by skipping the home-roasted turkey (and all those dirty dishes) and try one of these Des Moines metro restaurants.
1 Prairie Meadows Dr., Altoona
AJ’s Steakhouse at Prairie Meadows Casino returns this year with its traditional dine-in Thanksgiving Day meal, a three-course menu served from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for $50 per person. For course one, diners choose from butternut squash bisque, Caesar salad or honey-baked brie; the main course features either low-roasted turkey breast, filet mignon, pan-seared seabass or a vegetarian polenta with roasted vegetables and a tomato cream sauce. Dessert features apple Napoleon, pumpkin pie or Derby pie.
A family-style meal of slow-roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, forest mushroom stuffing and pie is also available for groups of eight or more.
Reservations are highly recommended. Call (515) 957-3535 to reserve.
More:Where to find curbside, takeout, take-and-bake and delivery meals for Thanksgiving around Des Moines
11701 University Ave., Clive
Every Thursday, Cracker Barrel serves a Turky n’ Dressing dinner special with sweet potato casserole and a choice of buttermilk biscuits or corn muffins, and Thanksgiving Day is no exception. Stop in from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to order homestyle cooking, no reservations required.
1450 SW Vintage Pkwy., Ankeny
Flavory Bistro in Ankeny has a special Thanksgiving Day lunch menu running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The holiday meal includes turkey or sausages on sauerkraut with mashed potatoes and a pumpkin baklava dessert. The regular menu will also be available.
Call (515) 443-7272 for reservations.
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
150 S. Jordan Creek Pkwy., West Des Moines
For a Thanksgiving Day filled with fine dining, consider Fleming’s three-course menu. From 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., diners can order the holiday-themed meal for $49 to $74, depending on entrée selection. Alternatively, the full dinner menu is available. A children’s three-course menu also goes for $23.
For the Thanksgiving special first course, choose from Fleming’s salad or lobster bisque. For the entrée course, try mixed-herb roasted turkey breast and turkey gravy, petite filet mignon or prime bone-in ribeye with shareable sides. Dessert is cheesecake or carrot cake.
Reservations are highly recommended. Call (515) 457-2916 or reserve online.
More:For those in need, here’s where to find free Thanksgiving meals around Central Iowa
1801 22nd St., West Des Moines
Hibachi Grill will serve its all-you-can-eat buffet for $14.99 per person on Thanksgiving Day. Along with the restaurant’s hundreds of buffet food options available daily, the Chinese-Japanese eatery will also serve turkey, ham and pumpkin pie.
Hy-Vee Market Grille
Various locations throughout the metro
Grab a morning bite out while that turkey roasts: All Hy-Vee Market Grilles will be open for breakfast and lunch diners on Thanksgiving Day.
All area Hy-Vees plan to serve standard menu options such as biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos, skillets and pancakes from 6 to 11 a.m. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., diners can order a traditional Thanksgiving Day meal with all the fixings.
410 S. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny
Yanni’s Grill serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. The Italian and Greek restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat buffet with Thanksgiving specials such as Greek-style turkey and prime rib. Dine in for $18 per person.
Elle Wignall covers dining for the Register. Reach her at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @ElleWignallDMR.