Photo courtesy Louies Modern. Special holiday spread.

As turkeys roast in kitchens all along the Gulf Coast, some of the region’s top restaurants will also be serving up fine dining options. 

Chef Paul Mattison will be at Mattison’s Forty-One preparing a buffet, after years of demand from customers who enjoy similar feasts on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day at the establishment.  Pattison’s locations have always been open on Thanksgiving, Mattison said, because of the demand from customers who want a fantastic spread but don’t want to slave away in their own home to get it. “It’s a day people have guests in town or people are traveling here, and they want the convenience,” he says. The buffet runs $38.95 a person. Mattison’s City Grille locations in Downtown Sarasota and Bradenton Riverwalk will also offer a turkey-rich special menu today. And for those who still want a holiday dinner at home without cooking themselves, Mattison’s Forty-One will also be selling cooked turkeys with all the sides and trimmings, at around $149 with a 12-pound bird and $189 for an 18-pounder.

The Tableseide Restaurant Group will also be serving up holiday meals at Louies Modern and at Libby’s Cafe & Bar. “We are a family run business that understands there are quite a few people who are visiting Sarasota,” says founder Joe Seidensticker, Tableseide CEO. “Our goal is to provide a great family like experience at all of our locations in order to ensure a great holiday for those who are are visiting or just want to relax and let us do all of the work.” Louies Modern will be open from 10am to 8pm with an extravagant Thanksgiving Buffet, priced at $65 for adults and $35 for children. Turkey, prime rib and pit-smoked ham will be in the spread, along with seemed PEI missiles, poached shrimp or salmon and a variety of sides. Libby’s, meanwhile, will host a Thanksgiving celebration from 11am to 8pm, charging adults $35 and children $15 while offering a menu of Libby’s favorites and holiday specials.

And Michael’s on East will continue it’s 30-year tradition of keeping its doors open on Thanksgiving Day. “We enjoy watching so many guests' families grow up—and expand—each year,” says Michael Klauber, co-owner of Michael’s on East. “We offer a featured menu with many ‘favorites of the house’ in addition to a traditional turkey dinner complete with mashed potatoes, pan gravy, candied sweet potatoes, green beans, dried cranberry and cornbread stuffing. Our chef team takes it to the limit with amazing fresh, organic Turkeys, made from scratch sides & condiments and of course fabulous desserts from our in-house bakery.” And with so many tourists in town for vacation, it only makes sense, Klauber says, to keep Sarasota’s best fine dining options available for consumption even during the holidays. But hopefully you already have a reservation, as Michael's already has a waiting list to get in today.

Photo courtesy Louies Modern. Special holiday spread.