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Who needs to cook? Have your Thanksgiving dinner at a local restaurant

Lead photo: QNS/file; story photo courtesy of Assemblyman Kim’s office

BY JILL DAVIS

If you’re like a lot of folks, the prospect of cooking a whole Thanksgiving dinner can be mighty intimidating (not to mention all those dishes to clean up!).

I asked a friend what she wanted to make for Thanksgiving and she said, ”reservations.” If you’re like my friend, have no fear. While many restaurants are closed on Thanksgiving, there are numerous places in Queens that will be open.

Bayside Diner
207-07 Northern Boulevard, Bayside
718-229-0242

Bayside Diner will be having a traditional Thanksgiving dinner ($25.95 per person). The menu will include: soup or salad, a choice of sweet yams, baked or mashed potatoes, a choice of vegetables including string beans and carrots, and a choice of pumpkin or apple pie for dessert. The entree choices are Vermont butterball turkey dressed with stuffing and served with cranberry sauce, or broiled steak or salmon fillet. Thanksgiving brunch will be served from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., and dinner reservations will be accepted after 2 p.m.

Ben’s Best
96-40 Queens Boulevard, Rego Park
718-897-1700

Featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” Ben’s Best will be hosting Thanksgiving in their dining room with special holiday options, which include a traditional turkey dinner, rib steak and Salmon, as well as their complete menu of homemade deli favorites.

Brasserie du Dragon
Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel
135-20 39th Avenue, Flushing
718-670-7400

This Asian eatery will be offering an “East to West” buffet for $49.95 per person. Entrees range from traditional roast turkey to Peking duck. Salads and a seafood bar that includes raw oysters, crab claws, clams and shrimp cocktail are included, as are desserts featuring chilled mango, fresh fruit, pies and cheesecake.

Brick Café
38-40 29th Street, Long Island City
718-371-1719

Brick Café’s special three-course Thanksgiving menu (prix fixe, $40 per person) includes a choice of salad, truffled mushroom soup and sear spicy calamari to start. Choose from roast turkey, pumpkin gnocchi or linguine with seafood and cherry tomatoes for the main course. Desserts include a selection of pie, tiramisu or dark chocolate mousse. Brick also offers a Thanksgiving dinner to-go (see Dining In).

Donovan’s of Bayside
214-16 41st Avenue, Bayside
718-423-5353

Donovan’s will be having a special three-course prix fixe menu ($38.95 for adults/$14.95 for children under 12). The menu includes a first course of soup or salad and a choice from among a dozen entrées including traditional roast turkey, prime rib, duck a l’orange and crabmeat crusted salmon. Pumpkin pie, cheesecake, apple Brown Betty or chocolate cake will be offered for dessert. Beverages are not included. Call for reservations.

Giardino’s
44-37 Douglaston Parkway, Douglaston
718-428-1090

Giardino’s will have an early seating special at noon for $30 per adult. Later reservations are $42 per adult/$25 per child under 12. Dinners include a traditional Thanksgiving menu plus Italian favorites. Beverages are not included. Seating is limited, so call for reservations. Giordano’s is also providing a takeout Thanksgiving menu (see Dining In).

Koliba Restaurant
31-11 23rd Avenue, Astoria
718-626-0430

This Czechoslovakian restaurant will be serving a special three-course dinner, which will include a beef stew appetizer, multiple entree options, and dessert with coffee or tea. Entrees will include: traditional roasted turkey with stuffing, yams, and giblet gravy ($17.75), a choice of roasted pork with dumplings and cabbages, beef served with a cream sauce and dumplings, chicken or pork schnitzel ($22.75), and finally, roasted Long Island duckling ($26.75).

La Vigna
100-11 Metropolitan Ave, Forest Hills
718-268-4264

Chef/Owner Giuseppe Vitale brings his masterful interpretation of cuisine to Thanksgiving with a delicious prix fixe dinner for $39.95 that includes a choice of soup or salad, traditional turkey dinner with all the fixin’s, and choice of dessert. The restaurant will also be offering a special à la carte menu.

Riverview
2-01 50th Avenue, Long Island City
718-392-5000

Riverview’s Thanksgiving menu offers a choice of seafood starters including lobster bisque, a crab and scallop cake duo and smoked salmon crepe. Entrees include traditional roast turkey, veal chops, beef Wellington and crab-stuffed salmon and sides of mashed potatoes, creamed spinach and stuffing. Choose from pumpkin pie, fruit gratin or the Riverview cheesecake for dessert. Dinner is prix fixe at $59 per adult, and a children’s menu is also available ($25 per child).

Tony Roma’s
The Bay Terrace, 210-35 26th Ave, Bayside, NY 11360
718-224-TONY (8669)

Not a fan of turkey? How about escaping the traditional trappings of Thanksgiving and hunkering down with a plate of ribs? After all, what could be more American than BBQ? Tony Roma’s is offering its complete menu of delicious American cuisine, including bourbon BBQ pork chop, steak and wild mushroom flatbread, shrimp and salmon piccata, Mojo chicken and famous baby-back ribs. There’s also a kids’menu.

Towers on the Green
North Shore Towers
27240 Grand Central Parkway, Floral Park
718-819-8228

The Towers is offering two seatings at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Their special holiday menu includes choices of roast turkey, chicken and seafood, ranging from $24.95 to $34.95. Entrees include soup or salad, potato and vegetable, coffee or tea and a complimentary glass of wine.

Vesto Trattoria & Wine Bar
21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria
718-545-5550

Vesto’s menu is a la carte for Thanksgiving, starting with appetizers including braised meatballs, butternut soup and arugula, apple and fennel salad ($7-$13). The main course ($13-$26) includes a choice of free-range turkey roulade, New York strip steak and butterflied branzino. Side dishes include mashed potatoes, broccoli rabe and focaccia stuffing ($6-$7). Desserts are $7 and include cinnamon gelato and bruleed butternut squash pie. See Dining In for Vesto’s Thanksgiving takeout menu.

Vetro’s Restaurant and Lounge by Russo’s on the Bay
164-49 Cross Bay Blvd
Howard Beach, NY 11414
(718) 843-8387

$55 per adult, $25 for children under twelve (Tax gratuity and beverage)
3-course meal, includes cold antipasto; pasta; choice of entrees including a traditional turkey dinner; and Russo’s famous Italian cookies and pastries, mini pumpkin and apple pies.
Children’s menu also available

Vivaldi
201-10 Cross Island Parkway, Bayside
718-352-2300

Vivaldi is offering two dining options for Thanksgiving. First, they will have a buffet from 1 to 7 p.m., prix fixe at $49.95 (kids under 12, $22.95). The spread includes a Tuscan table with three salads and a choice from ten entrees including roast turkey, Virginia ham and roast beef. In the main dining room, an a la carte dinner will be offered from noon until 7 p.m. The menu will have a choice from five appetizers and entrees featuring Linguini Main Lobster Pomodoro Fresco, roast turkey, filet mignon and more. Reservations are required.