Thanksgiving at a Chicago Steakhouse
Do you like beef more than turkey? You are not alone. There are many Chicago steakhouses that are open around Thanksgiving to help you celebrate the holiday with your favorite cut of red meat…or turkey, if that’s what you’re into.
Here are eight of Chicago’s very best steakhouses, all serving turkey and, of course, some fantastic steak, for Thanksgiving.
III Forks.. III Forks has a three-course Thanksgiving dinner for you, featuring III Forks Salad or Tenderloin Tomato Soup, and for your main, there’s a Spice Rubbed Holiday Turkey, Roasted Midwest Beef Tenderloin or Vermont Maple-Glazed Atlantic Salmon. Several desserts are also on offer, but admit it, you’re going to go for the pumpkin pie because…tradition.
About Last Knife. Traditionally at About Last Knife, diners at Thanksgiving have their choice or turkey or beef Wellington. If your tastes tend toward the latter, consider this: the beef Wellington can be prepared for take-out, so you can take it back to the ranch, heat it up, and take all the credit for what is one of the finest beef-centric dishes in the city. You will also want to bring home some tasty sides, like Hasselback potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and collard greens.
Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse. At Harry Caray’s Italian Restaurant, even on Thanksgiving, you may be tempted to order a favorite from the regular menu (which, as you probably know, can be very tempting). If, however, you prefer to go with traditional favorites for the day, there will be hand-carved roasted turkey and, at the Rosemont and Lombard locations, unlimited visits to the all-you-can-eat sides buffet. The decision is yours.
Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille. At Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille, your Thanksgiving feast starts with butternut squash soup or Honey Crisp apple salad, and the roasted turkey breast arrives with pan gravy and traditional sides like mashed potatoes, green beans almandine and cornbread stuffing. All with cranberry relish…just like home (though let’s admit it: maybe better).
STK Chicago. Maybe staying home for Thanksgiving is not your idea of a good time; if so, you’ll find yourself well-cared-for in the sleekly designed dining room of STK. In the dimly lit and cozy confines, you can feast on your favorites: shrimp cocktail, Alaskan king crab, and steak, lots of steak, including dry-aged Delmonico or a dry-aged Porterhouse, big chunks of beef suitable for any holiday celebration. Or, in keeping with the holiday, enjoy the Roasted Turkey Special that includes the bird, chestnut cornbread stuffing, green beans, sweet potatoes, Yukon Gold spuds, Old School Gravy and cranberry orange chutney.
Ditka’s. “Da Coach” goes all in with this Thanksgiving spread, which includes crab bisque or butternut squash Soup, then on to Mike’s or Caesar’s salad (both of which rule), and finally the main event: oven-roasted turkey breast with all the usual sides you’d suspect: mashed potatoes, carrots, green beans, cranberry sauce and gravy. There are also a lot of desserts, but after a meal like this, you may want to take that dessert home to avoid the embarrassment of exploding in the restaurant.
Tavern on Rush. Just like grandma, Tavern on Rush outdoes itself this year, with a truly remarkable spread of deliciousness, including sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, chestnut stuffing, roasted acorn squash soup, fresh baked bread, cranberry sauce, autumn vegetables, homemade gravy, pumpkin pie, caramel apple cobbler and organic carrot cake. Oh, and turkey. If you’d rather dine at home, they provide carry out boxes for transporting the whole shebang to your family table.
Chicago Chop House.. Open on Thanksgiving and serving up the day’s customary bird, with all the trimmings (of course!), Chicago Chop House also offers a full range of optional edibles on the turkey’s big day. You can start with one of Chicago’s finest seafood towers, a mountain of mussels, clams, oysters, shrimp, Maine lobster, king crab legs, jumbo shrimp and lump crab meat. If you feel that turkey’s usual accompaniments need some support, there are many excellent salads, including classics like Caesar and Cobb, and some desserts that might just outshine pumpkin pie (like 24 Karat Key Lime Pie and chocolate fondue for two).