Ditch the kitchen: five spots for dining out on Thanksgiving day

Cooking Thanksgiving dinner quickly devolves into one of those things that sound a lot better in theory than in practice: the incessant basting, the boiled-over cranberry sauce, the crushing anxiety and paranoia over whether you've made enough mashed potatoes. So consider letting a local restaurant take the reins this year--here are five spots around town that are serving up special turkey-centric meals that evening, and all you'll need to bring is a reservation.

Ella, New Albany: prix-fixe menu with shrimp cocktail or deviled eggs; pumpkin bisque or spinach salad with almonds, cranberries, gorgonzola and balsamic vinaigrette; lemon-sage roasted turkey breast from Cooper Farm with pan gravy; selection of sides; pumpkin pie with whipped cream or apple-caramel bread pudding with vanilla anglaise.

Bel Lago, Westerville: prix-fixe menu with salad with mixed greens, toasted pecans, dried cherries, gorgonzola and cider vinaigrette; carved turkey breast or beef prime rib with a selection of traditional sides; soup of the day; pumpkin pie with whipped cream and bourbon caramel sauce.

J. Gilbert's, Worthington: prix-fixe menu with caesar salad, salad with sundried cherries and pine nuts, Maryland crab bisque or butternut squash soup; roasted turkey, sirloin, petite filet with scallops or crabcake, pork chop, mesquite-grilled half chicken or mesquite plank salmon; pumpkin pie, apple croustade, chocolate velvet cake or cheesecake.

Lindey's, German Village: a la carte menu, with entrees including maple-brined turkey, cassoulet and herb-seared trout.

Latitude 41, Downtown: family-style menu, with roasted organic turkey and local sausage stuffing and cranberry sauce, carrot-and-ginger soup, pear-and-apple salad (similar to the one pictured above), roasted yam puree, green beans with bacon lardons and salted almonds and homemade apple and pumpkin pies.

Got any dining news to share? E-mail Carrie at cschedler@columbusmonthly.com.