Don’t want to cook for Thanksgiving? Restaurants, caterers available to help

Many Americans have given up the traditional cook-at-home Thanksgiving feast in recent years.

To save time and stress, an increasing number of people go to restaurants, and even more pick up prepared dishes or call caterers.

The U.S. 280 Corridor is no exception, with big crowds expected for Thanksgiving dinner at the Cracker Barrel at The Colonnade.

Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for the Cracker Barrel chain, according to Breeanna Straessle, manager of corporate communications. “The number of guests who choose to join us [at Thanksgiving] continues to rise each year,” she said.

And caterers are seeing more Thanksgiving business, according to Rachel Peeks, a caterer with Bellini’s restaurant.

“You are already hosting so many, and you have to clean the house and do other chores,” Peeks said. “It’s so nice to have big pans of good Southern food. You can focus on family instead of what may be burning in the oven.”

Many people still cook their own turkey but order sides, said Branden Saccomani of Bellini’s.

Thanksgiving options near U.S. 280 include:

Restaurants

► Cracker Barrel, 3415 Colonnade Parkway, will offer turkey and dressing, gravy, a sampling of sugar-cured ham, sweet-potato casserole, cranberry relish, biscuits or corn muffins, a choice of a country side, beverage and pumpkin pie. $12.99 for adults; $7.99 for children. (The children's meal does not include ham or casserole.) No reservations needed. 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 969-1126. crackerbarrel.com.

► Seasons 52, 245 Summit Blvd., will offer turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, butternut squash, green beans, cranberry relish and pumpkin pie. $26.95 for adults; $12.95 for children. Reservations will be taken until the day before Thanksgiving. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. 968-5152.  seasons52.com.

► Applebee's, 89 Chesser Plantation Lane, Chelsea, will be open on the holiday for regular hours. The restaurant won’t offer Thanksgiving dinner but will serve its usual hearty American food. 678-8800. applebees.com.

Caterers

► Whole Foods Market, 3100 Cahaba Village Plaza, will offer a Thanksgiving catering package, with menu and prices available at wholefoodsmarket.com by Nov. 1. 912-8400.

► Bellini's, 6801 Cahaba Valley Road, is closed Thanksgiving but will cater side dishes, including dressing, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese and several casseroles. A full pan, which feeds about 15-20 people, is $60; a half pan, feeding 8-12, is $30. Bellini’s will offer several desserts, including carrot cake and pecan pie. Hams and turkeys can be special ordered. Orders must be placed by Nov. 18 and picked up by Nov. 23. 502-7272. ourbellinis.com.

► Cowboy Chicken, 830 Inverness Corners, will be closed for the holiday but is catering a meal with a whole turkey or chicken, gravy, a half-pan of twice-baked potatoes, one side from the restaurant’s usual selection and apple or peach cobbler. The price with turkey is $94.99. Orders must be placed by Monday before Thanksgiving for a Wednesday pick-up. 637-5400. cowboychicken.com.

► Cracker Barrel will also offer Thanksgiving catering packages. The Homestyle Turkey ’n’ Dressing Family Meal To-Go, which serves six, is $67.99 and is available Nov. 21-29. Customers can place their orders online 24 hours in advance of pick-up. There will also be a heat-and-serve version, which serves up to 10. It can be ordered online and picked up from Nov. 22-24. 800-333-9566. crackerbarrel.com.