Holiday Guide: Dining Out on Thanksgiving

For families who want to avoid the hours of cooking, clean-up and stressing about recipes, there are some area restaurants offering Thanksgiving dinners cooked by expert chefs.

Those hoping to dine out on Thanksgiving should call and reserve a spot soon. Click on any of the links to find the phone numbers for the restaurants.

Here are some nearby restaurants serving turkey dinners:

• The Country Squire in Grayslake offers Thanksgiving dinner in elegant surroundings. Diners can choose between a Thanksgiving buffet, between 12 and 5 p.m. in the ballroom or dinner in the mansion, between 12 and 8 p.m. The Thanksgiving buffet includes turkey with all the traditional courses as well as ham and lamb. The cost is $23.95 for adults and $14.95 for children 12 and under. Mansion guests can order off a condensed menu that includes an assortment of seafood, steaks and turkey dinners, with main courses ranging form $18 to $28. Call the Country Squire for holiday reservations and information.

• Lovell’s of Lake Forest will serve a gourmet Thanksgiving dinner menu from noon to 7 p.m. Diners can choose from five entrees including roasted turkey breast, Indiana Maple Leaf duck, Loch Duart salmon filet, Nebraskabeef tenderloin or roasted rack of lamb with goat cheese Dijon herb crust. Prices range from $48 to $60 and the turkey dinner is half price for  children  under 12. The Thanksgiving menu also offers an assortment of seasonal appetizers and desserts.

• Seasons of Long Grove is offering a traditional Thanksgiving buffet from noon to 4 p.m. Cost for adults is $27.95 and $13.95 for children.   Reservations are required.

• Flatlanders in Lincolnshire will serve a Thanksgiving buffet from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a variety of traditional and creative offerings. The price is $29 for adults and $14 for kids under 14.

• Karma in Mundelein will serve a plated Thanksgiving dinner from noon to 8 p.m. which includes traditional courses. Cost is $25.95 for adults, $11.95 for children 4 to 12 and complimentary for children 3 and under.

• The Forge Club in Vernon Hills offers a Thanksgiving buffet with shrimp, oysters, salmon and lamb. Turkey is brought to the table. The fine dining restaurant has two seatings. One from noon to 2:30 p.m. and the other from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Cost is $47.50 for adults and $27.50 for children in first through eighth grade.

• The Prairie Grass Café in Northbrook, which serves local and sustainable food, is offering a traditional Thanksgiving dinner from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. Cost is $45 per person.