Columnist Muriel Stevens: Thanksgiving Day in Vegas fills bill

Friday, Nov. 22, 2002 | 9:27 a.m.

Muriel Stevens' dining column appears Fridays. Her shopping and travel columns appear Wednesday. Reach her at (702) 259-4080 or muriel@lasvegassun.com.

Thanksgiving dinner today is a far cry from the first Thanksgiving in America.

Edward Winslow (one of the Pilgrim Fathers), when recalling the Plymouth celebration of 1621, said: "Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor sent four men on fowling, so that we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruit of our labor. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week." (Those were the first leftovers.)

"At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming among us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted."

Today families are just as likely to dine out on Thanksgiving as they are to gather around a groaning table at home. For those planning to dine out there are a plethora of choices:

Caesars Palace: Cafe Lago will feature a lunch and dinner holiday buffet 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. along with the usual menus. Among the myriad buffet features are roasted turkey with the traditional go-withs. Price: $19.99 for adults; half price for children under 12. On the menu, a turkey dinner special served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. is $15.99. The Palatium buffet will offer a Thanksgiving champagne brunch from 8:30 a.m.to 10 p.m. Included are a wide variety of holiday favorites along with roasted bone-in ham and grilled T-bone steak. Breakfast items are served until 3:30 p.m. Price: $19.99 for adults; half price for children 4 to 12; free for children 3 years and under.

8-0-8's prix fixe holiday feast is served from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Price: $47. Neros will feature a Thanksgiving prix fixe dinner (in addition to the regular menu) from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Price: $42. Terazza Italian restaurant is offering a holiday dinner in addition to the regular menu from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Included are ravioli di zucca; roasted turkey with herb, beef and veal stuffing; fresh vegetables and a special Napoleon for dessert. Price: $42.

At Caesars Magical Empire, guests have a choice of entree -- turkey, beef, fish or vegetarian. Tickets may be purchased at the Caesars Palace box office or by calling 731-7333. Price: $75.50 for adults; $19.50 for children 5 to 12 years. Las Vegas residents can purchase two adult tickets for $99 (maximum four tickets) with proof of residency. Reservations recommended for all restaurants; not accepted for Cafe Lago or Palatium buffet.

Andre's French Restaurant at 401 South 6th Street will offer a prix fixe multicourse Thanksgiving menu with seatings starting at 2 p.m. Included are a glass of sweet or hard cider, roasted pumpkin and foie gras soup, pancetta-wrapped seared sea scallops, Cervena venison with Savoy cabbage, pomegranate sorbet, roasted free range turkey with all the trimmings, arugula salad, a choice of dessert and coffee or tea. Price: $55 per person (tax and gratuity not included).

Andre's at Monte Carlo will feature a prix fixe multicourse menu with seatings from 3 p.m. Included are a glass of cider, a choice of entree, roasted free range turkey or mushroom-crusted Scottish salmon or roasted rack of lamb and pumpkin soup, Alaskan spot prawns, orange and cranberry sorbet, mache salad and dessert. Price: $75.

Andre's Alize at the Top of the Palms will offer seatings from 2:30 p.m. Alize's Thanksgiving menu includes a glass of sweet or hard cider, celery root and apple veloute, sauteed Alaskan Spot prawns, orange and cranberry sorbet, a choice of free-range turkey or Scottish salmon or thyme-roasted leg of lamb, mache salad and dessert. Price: $75.

Bellagio: Aqua's holiday repast is a four-course, prix fixe menu with original dishes from Chef Mark LoRusso, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Price: $85. Prime Steakhouse will feature roasted organic farm turkey with its three-course prix fixe menu, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Price: $85. Also featured are a la carte selections created by chef-partner Jean-George Vongrichten and executive chef Jonathan Snyder. Nectar chef John Schenk features classic American fare his way. Turkey and other entree choices served from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Prix fixe, $55.

Picasso chef Julian Serrano will go all out with a four-course prix fixe menu that stars turkey with all the trimmings and such a la carte Serrano signatures as warm lobster salad. Price: $110. Osteria del Circo, Le Cirque's adjacent Tuscan sister, will offer a four-course holiday menu from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Prix fixe: $75; a la carte from $19 to $36.

Olives, Todd English's eatery, will add a number of Thanksgiving specials, including turkey, to its full menu. Call 693-7223 for Thanksgiving reservations. Buffet Bellagio will feature 10 live action stations. Thanksgiving dinner served from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Price: $31.95. Breakfast and Champagne Brunch also available.

Prefer dinner at home? Executive Chef Grant McPherson and his mighty staff are offering the All-American Thanksgiving Take-Home Feast. This hassle-free feast includes roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing and giblet gravy, maple-glazed sweet potato puree, grilled asparagus, caramelized acorn squash, cranberry relish, holiday breads and pumpkin pie. Service for three to five persons is $90; service for 8 to 10 is $180. A minimum of 24 hours' notice is required for pick-up on Wednesday or Thursday. Dinners can be ordered in advance. Pick-up is at Bellagio's Cafe Gelato. Call 693-7372.

MGM Grand: CraftSteak will offer a prix fixe Thanksgiving menu with multiple dishes that include chestnut soup, bay scallops, salad, roasted and braised free-range turkey, roasted fresh ham, braised red cabbage, roasted root vegetables, sweet potato gratin and roasted cauliflower. And for dessert, seasonal roasted fruits, pastries and ice cream. Price: $75. NOBHILL will celebrate the holiday with a prix fixe repast that gives diners a choice of soup, a choice of one four second courses, a choice of free range roasted turkey with traditional trimmings or wood-fired diver scallops or filet of beef Rossini or pan-roasted wild king salmon and a choice of desserts.

Price: $64. Grand Buffet will feature a Thanksgiving brunch 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Thanksgiving dinner 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Brunch price: Adults $14.99; children $9.99. Dinner price: Adults $19.99; children $10.99. Studio Cafe is offering a three-course holiday meal for $24.95 per person.

Golden Nugget's Carson Street Cafe will serve a traditional turkey and trimmings dinner from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Price: $14.95. A lavish Thanksgiving Champagne Brunch will be offered from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Price: $13.95.

Treasure Island's The Steakhouse will feature a traditional three-course Thanksgiving dinner with all trimmings. Price: $38. Buccaneer Bay is offering a four-course repast with a choice of turkey or crab-stuffed filet of sole for the entree. Price: $48.

The Mirage will offer a four-course Thanksgiving dinner in its beautiful newly refurbished Caribe Cafe from 11 a.m. to midnight. Included are pumpkin bisque with crab meat, salad, turkey with dressing and trimmings and a choice of dessert. Price: $17.50.

Samba Brazilian Steakhouse puts a South American spin on the holiday in a most delicious way with Brazilian wine-marinated turkey roast and many side dishes. Service from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Four courses, $38.50. Thanksgiving service at Onda is from 2 to 10 p.m. Four courses, $46. Kokomo's prix fixe dinner served 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. is $48. Mirage buffet service is from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Complimentary champagne included. Price: $19.95.

Gallagher's at New York-New York will serve a three-course traditional menu 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Price: $29.95. Service at America is from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Three courses, $14.95.

Tropicana celebrates the holiday at the Island Buffet ($13.95) 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Calypsos 24/7 cafe ($12.95) 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Savanna from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Prix fixe price: $35.95. Reservations accepted at Savanna. Call 739-2376.

Sahara Nascar Cafe features a Feast to Go with fried turkey and all of the trimmings. To-go dinners are delivered to your car when you arrive. Dinners are $49.95, turkey only, $39.95. Call 734-7223 to order.

The Palms will serve up Thanksgiving specialties at the Sunrise Cafe and Fantasy Market Buffet. Buffet service from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Price: $13.99. Sunrise Cafe special dinners start at $8.95. A special Hanukkah buffet with traditional dishes (including potato latkes) will be offered from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Nov. 30 through Dec. 6 for $12.99.

Memphis Championship Barbecue will feature family-style service and traditional Thanksgiving dinner at Santa Fe Station and Warm Springs Road locations. Dine in for $15.99 per person or take out for $13.99 per person. Takeout must be ordered by Monday. Many other options. Call either location for additional information or online -- memphis-bbq.com.

At Lawry's The Prime Rib guests can dine on turkey or prime rib. Space is limited. Dinners to go, also. Call 893-2223 for reservations or to-go dinner info.

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