These Evansville-area restaurants will do the cooking for you on Thanksgiving

Aimee Blume
Evansville Courier & Press

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Don’t feel like cooking on Thanksgiving? We feel that, so we found local restaurants that will be open on Thanksgiving Day or preparing family to-go meals. Remember to make reservations or order your meal early, and enjoy your turkey!

Feel like letting someone else wrangle the turkey this year? Many local restaurants will be open for dining or carry-out meals for Thanksgiving.

The Carousel Restaurant, 5115 Monroe Ave.; 812-479-6388.

Hours will be 6:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.; reservations are recommended at The Carousel. Enjoy a Thanksgiving Day feast with turkey, ham, sides, pie and drink for $14.99 or $6.99 for 10 and under.

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Comfort by the Cross-Eyed Cricket, 230 Main St.;812-909-3742Comfort will be open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. In the main dining room, enjoy a family-style all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving meal with turkey and all the trimmings. In the fourth-floor event space, the same dishes will be served buffet style. Either option is $30 per person.

The Cross-Eyed Cricket, 2101 W. Lloyd Expressway; 812-422-6464.

Hours will be 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Breakfast will be served all day, and a Thanksgiving menu with turkey and dressing, sugar glazed ham or chicken and dumplings with sides and dessert for $15 will be served after 10:30. Or, call to order family catering 24 with three pounds of meat, chicken and dumplings, sides and a whole pie for $75 for pickup on Tuesday Nov. 23 or Wednesday Nov. 24.

The Diner by Mele’s, 550 N. Green River Road; 812-402-1272.

Hours will be 6 a.m-3 p.m. with several special thanksgiving dishes on the menu.

The Friendship Diner, 834 Tutor Lane, 812-402-0201.

Hours will be from 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Special turkey and ham dinners will be offered alongside the regular menu of homestyle diner favorites.

Golden Buddha Chinese Restaurant, 3221 Taylor Ave, Evansville, Ind; 812-473-4855 and 5066 State Route 261, Newburgh, Ind.; 812-853-2680

Both Golden Buddha restaurants will be open normal hours, from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. with regular menu offerings.

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Journey Fish & Chicken, 825 S Green River Road; 812-303-2420.

Journey will be open from 10:30 a.m.-11:45 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. The menu includes fried whole chicken wings and buffalo wings, chicken tenders, fried fish, shrimp, gyros and more.

Los Alfaro’s Latin Restaurant1021 S. Weinbach Ave.; 812-550-1186.

Order a specially-spiced Salvadoran stuffed or sauced turkey meal with sides of rice, mashed potatoes or Russian potato salad, cornbread, green beans and more. A meal for four to six people is $80 and for 10 to 12 people is $150. Extra sides may be added. Pre-order now and pick up between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Mele’s Diner, 6840 Logan Drive, Suite A; 812-401-2313.

Hours will be 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Breakfast will be served all day. Lunch will begin at 10 a.m. with choice of turkey or roast beef and dressing, ham, meatloaf, fried chicken and more with sides and pie for $15.

Ms. Pee Wee's Kitchen Soul Food Truck, 414-678-8883

Ms. Pee Wee will be cooking up traditional Southern turkey and ham dinners with all the sides. Call for pricing and pickup information. 

Nellie’s Restaurant, 8566 Ruffian Lane, Newburgh, Ind.; 812-629-2142.

Nellie’s is offering a pre-ordered carry-out family Thanksgiving meal. Orders must be placed by Monday, Nov. 15. Meals will contain Turkey, dressing, choice of vegetable, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce and cornbread for $10.99 per person. Add ham for an additional $2.99. Various desserts will be available.

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Pappa Bears Catering at Dewig Meats; 100 E. Maple St, Haubstadt, Ind.; 812-568-8890 or 812-618-8389.

Take-home meals will include ham with pineapple or bourbon glaze, smoked turkey breast, pulled pork or smoked pork belly bites and a la carte sides of your choice. Meat options serve 10-12 people. Pulled pork and pork belly bites are available by the pound. Sides serve 20 – 25 people. If you order 5 items, you may add a Be Happy Pie Company pie for $5.

Orders must be placed by Wednesday, Nov. 17. A minimum of 48 hours notice must be given before pickup to arrange a time. All orders must be picked up at Dewig’s by Wednesday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m.

Pie Pan Restaurant & Bakery, 905 North Park Drive; 812-425-2261.

If you're looking for a tasty dessert, this is a great option. Whole pies and cakes may be ordered through 2 p.m. Monday. Pickup will be Wednesday, Nov. 24 from 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

Read St. BBQ, 421 Read St.; 812-303-6397.

Offering take-home meals with smoked turkey breast or ham by the pound, sides by the quart, and bread. A family pack for six to eight people contains both meats, three sides, bread and one pie for $100. Orders must be placed by Tuesday, Nov. 23 and must be picked up by noon on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25.

Red Geranium, 504 North St., New Harmony, Ind.; 812-682-4431

A special Thanksgiving menu will include a choice of pumpkin bisque soup or salad, entrees including sea bass, roasted turkey, prime rib and others, and dessert. Call for times and reservations. Or, you may order a dinner for six for pickup, with a whole turkey, sides, and pumpkin pie for $160. Additional ham or roast beef may be added for $45. Orders must be placed by Monday, Nov. 22. Food will be warm and ready to pick up and eat at 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Sauced, 1113 Parrett St.; 812-402-2230.

A free Thanksgiving buffet will be served from 11 a.m.-3 p.m Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 25. Dishes will include roast turkey and all the traditional sides. The meal is sponsored by Haynie’s Corner Arts District and the Haynie’s Corner Brewing Company, The Rathbone, Alex Morgan Imaging and others.

Savannah's Cafe, 1802 Stringtown Road; 812-568-3055.

Family to-go meals for four will be hot and ready on Thanksgiving day and will include turkey, mashed or sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing, cranberry relish and pumpkin pie for $49.95. Orders must be placed by Sunday, Nov. 21. Meals can be picked up after 11 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. 

Tom’s Smokin’ BBQ truck, Henderson, KY; 270-827-5338.

Meals for pickup must be pre ordered. Meats include baked or smoked turkey, ham, pulled pork, smoked chicken, mutton and ribs. Nineteen sides and whole pies including chess, pumpkin, pecan and lemon meringue are available a la carte. Pickup times will be made by appointment.

Walton's Smokehouse and Southern Kitchen, 956 Parrett St.; 812-467-4255.

Hours will be 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Walton's will be serving meals of turkey or ham with choice of three traditional sides, dessert and a nonalcoholic beverage for $18 per person.

Yang's Shabu Shabu, 4700 Vogel Road; 812-471-8889.

Open normal hours of 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Holiday special of all-you-can-eat hot pot for $22.50 and $12.95 for kids under 10. Choose your broth from herb, hot and spicy, Thai Tom Yum, Miso, Tomato and more, then choose raw proteins, vegetables and noodles to cook right at the table. Mix your own dipping sauces from the sauce bar.

Contact Aimee Blume at aimee.blume@courierpress.com