Looking to stay out of the kitchen this Thanksgiving? Don’t worry, there are a number of Louisville restaurants that will be open on Turkey Day.

Two of my favorites are the English Grill and J. Graham’s Café  at the historic Brown Hotel. On Thursday, November 27 the English Grill has dinner seating times at 12:30, 12:45, 1:00, 3:30, 3:45 and 4:00 p.m. For $58 per person the dinner includes live piano music and a lavish appetizer buffet, as well as a decadent Viennese dessert display. Entrée choices include roasted turkey breast and leg with fig and chestnut stuffing, sweet potato pancake, haricots vert and Yukon mashed potatoes; sautéed Arctic char with truffle, diced potatoes and grilled corn; and pan seared filet with honey lavender crust, cauliflower gratin and spinach béchamel.

J. Graham’s Café will feature a Thanksgiving Day buffet with all the traditional favorites for $32 per person and $16 for children 12 and under. Buffet seating will be from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. and 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. Guests will enjoy dishes such as Kentucky ham with pineapple glaze; roasted turkey with cranberry sauce and giblet gravy served with traditional cornbread stuffing with walnut; roasted pork loin with Calvados apple sauce; sautéed green beans with roasted almonds; and Yukon garlic mashed potatoes. The Thanksgiving feast will end with dessert options like pineapple upside-down cake, pecan pie and pumpkin pie.

Reservations are required for both Brown restaurants. To reserve a table, call the hotel at (502) 583-1234 and ask for The English Grill extension 7166 or J.Graham’s Café extension 7225. Visit The Brown’s website.

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Or, if the Brown isn’t what you’re looking for, let award-winning chef Michael Paley and the red penguins pamper you at 21c. Proof on Main at 702 W. Main St. will offer from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m.  a Thanksgiving Day menu featuring smoked Tallgrass Farm heritage turkey served with fig sausage, locally grown sweet potato puree and Tuscan green beans. Also featured will be such seasonal dishes as chestnut ravioli with treviso and brown butter. Call (502) 217-6360 or go online for reservations.

In addition, the Bristol Bar & Grille will be serving Thanksgiving buffets at all but the downtown locations from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. $19.95 for adults; $4.95 for children ages 4 to 11 years old. What’s on the menu? Roast turkey with cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, roast beef, honey-glazed ham, poached salmon, sweet potatoes, country-style green beans, brussels sprouts, corn pudding, asparagus vinaigrette, fresh cranberry sauce, wild rice salad, spinach salad, pecan and pumpkin pies. Go online or call for more information. 1321 Bardstown Road, (502) 456-1702; 6051 Timber Ridge Drive, Prospect, (502) 292-2585; 300 North Hurstbourne Parkway, (502) 426-0627; 700 West Riverside Drive, Jeffersonville, Indiana, (812) 218-1995. By the way, the Bristol in Jeffersonville will open at 6:30 a.m. for breakfast for those planning an early day of shopping on Friday, November 28.

Captain’s Quarters Riverside Grille, 5700 Captain’s Quarters Road, Harrods Creek, will serve a buffet from 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Breakfast items will be served until 1 p.m. Thanksgiving menu will include turkey with oyster stuffing, fried chicken, baked tilapia with teriyaki orange glaze, carved roast beef, pastas, salads and desserts. $21.95 for adults; $13.95 for children ages 6-12; and children ages 5 and under eat free. Call (502) 228-1651 or go online for reservations.

And, like the Brown, the Galt House at Fourth Street and River Road will offer two Thanksgiving dinner options. Rivue will serve a traditional feast from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. that starts with relish trays on each table and salads served by captains. ($49.95 for adults; $19.95 for children ages 4 to 10; free for children under 3 years) Then comes turkey carved tableside with family-style sides, with baked ham and fried oysters available as well. Turkey, beef, pork, stuffed flounder and various side dishes will be on the buffet in the Fountain Room from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Included in the $29.95 price are salad bar and dessert station. $9.95 for children ages 4 to 10; free for children under 3 years. Parking is free. Call (502) 589-5200 or go online.

by David Dominé, The Bluegrass Peasant