Las Vegas Weekly

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Sarah Feldberg

Wed, Nov 18, 2009 (5:41 p.m.)

Rather turn to a professional than put baster to bird on Thanksgiving? Plenty of Las Vegas restaurants are open on November 26 and offering special menus with dishes even better than grandma’s. (Shhh. She doesn’t need to know.):

Simon: Chef Kerry Simon’s Thanksgiving buffet is all about two fabulous concepts in eating: comfort and excess. Comforting will be seasonal classics like sweet potato casserole with marshmallow fluff and turkey leg confit. File the smoked pork loin, prime rib and the soup and panini station under excessive. Did we mention there are five different desserts? Noon-7 p.m., $38, includes one glass of wine.

Ago: If your family goes down better with wine, Ago’s Thanksgiving dinner has a full glass with your name on it. Courses like pumpkin and shrimp soufflé and turkey scaloppine with prosciutto and sweet potato dumpling come paired with specially selected wines. You can give thanks for the vintners. 5 p.m.-11 p.m., $49.95.

Aureole: You could go with the New Hampshire turkey on Aureole’s four-course Thanksgiving menu, but where’s the fun in that? Skip the bird and dig into something a little more local: the roasted Utah bison tenderloin served with a caramelized acorn squash tarte. 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m., $75.

First Food & Bar: Known for creating high-class versions of low-tech food, First’s Thanksgiving spread comes with hot mulled cider, pumpkin corn bisque and a family-style main course with all the classics. If you’re a leftover junkie, show up after 9 p.m. and dig into one of chef Sammy DeMarco’s leftover Thanksgiving Day sandwiches. Seatings at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 p.m., $32 (children under five free, children six-10 half off).

Craftsteak: Every year Top Chef takes on Thanksgiving in some form or another, and this season you can do turkey a la Tom Colicchio at Craftsteak. The $75 prix fixe meal includes dishes like Nantucket Bay scallops with smoked bacon, sweet sausage and fennel sage stuffing and, of course, a free-range turkey that comes roasted and braised. 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m., $75.

Todd’s Unique Dining: Bright, seasonal flavors and excellent preparations make Todd’s Thanksgiving menu the only reason you’ll need to skip the Strip and head for the suburbs. If turkey isn’t your thing, opt for the center cut filet with mac and cheese or seabass in Riesling butter. $40.

Switch: If someone else is going to do the cooking for you this Thanksgiving (not to mention the dish washing afterwards), why not let it be Switch chef Rene Lenger. Staples like turkey and candied sweet potatoes are on the menu, but it’s the pork chop with braised pearl onions and apricots that have us salivating. 5:30 p.m.-10 p.m., $95.