Eating out for Thanksgiving Dinner?

Has anyone every gone out for Thanksgiving dinner? My parents are coming to visit and we have some interesting problems. I cannot eat much right now. Cooking a giant dinner for three seems like a lot of work. Since I don't like leftovers, most of it would go in the trash. Has anyone gone out to eat for thankgiving and how did it go? Are many good restaurants open? Thanks Bill

I have taken my family out before. My one sister took the family out for thanksgiving the year that my other sister died, that way we weren't so reminded of our loss. There are plenty of good restaurants that are open. Look to the family buffet restaurants types....

I am not so sure about restaurants, but there are a few grocery stores that offer Thanksgiving dinners pre-cooked and packaged up. It has to be a grocery store with a Deli in it. You tell them how many people you are feeding and they cook accordingly....For you, they may do a turkey thats only a few pounds, plus some small side dishes, rolls and even a pumpkin pie. I want to say the dinners start at about $20.00 and go up from there. Since they do the cooking, there is practically no clean up, and there shouldn't be a whole lot of left overs.... Hope it helps... Jen

you are so practical and always have great ideas.....love ya too sista

My friend at work always ordered her's from Krogers and loved it.. now she's living with the Kroger Meat man

when i was alone i often found myself in need of a meal on thanksgiving and found that CHinese Restaurants are all open. If you're looking for more traditional many restaurants do in fact server thanksgiving day dinners. A lot of buffet style too.

I have done this twice and both times it was great. Once was to an Italian restaurant in Las Vegas that was serving a fancy yet traditional dinner. Last year since I had to work that night we went to Cracker Barrel. I have to say, the Cracker Barrel was the best...the food was extra good that day and very traditional without all the fuss. If you want something quick, easy and not wasteful but like Thanksgiving just the same, Rachael Ray does a 30 min dinner that I actually did in 30 mins flat. It's the episode called "give 'em a break" and it's an open faced turkey sandwich with homemade potatoes, sausage stuffing, and cranberry applesauce. I swear by this dinner to impress anyone and have a quick "homecooked" dinner. Recipes on foodnetwork.com Good luck!!