665862 Mon Nov 09 11:50:42 -0800 2009 7 7 Chicago Area 0 5167606 Looking for suggestions for a place open during lunch time Thanksgiving day. I always try to get the kids out of the house to make it easier on the dinner preparations, but have never found any place other than fast food chains. Mon Nov 09 11:50:43 -0800 2009 1123060 teamkihm 1 5167846 Well, given the size of the metropolitan area - in what part of the community do you want to concentrate your search? Mon Nov 09 13:06:39 -0800 2009 5167606 181831 gomexico 2 5169987 Northside. Tue Nov 10 08:50:42 -0800 2009 5167846 1123060 teamkihm 3 5170699 Reza, on Clark St. in Andersonville. This is a "fall back" spot for me when I'm confronted with last-minute holiday - Thanksgiving Day - arrangements. The restaurant offers a traditional style Thanksgiving buffet table(s) and its customary Persian food buffet. Kids I've been with have liked the buffet - because they can pick and choose without having to conform to a parent's direction, ordering or eating something they don't really just because it's what's on the menu. The restaurant offers, also, if I'm not mistaken, it's regular menu throughout the day. I was hesitant the first holiday I went there (Easter), but it went very well and the same has been true the several or more other times I've eaten there (and at the River North location of the same restaurant - the physical nature of I don't really like). I've never made an advance reservation and never found the restaurant (on Thanksgiving Day) to be over-crowded - there is a lot of room. Tue Nov 10 12:38:18 -0800 2009 5169987 181831 gomexico 3 5170709 Other suggestions: What's Cooking? restaurant in Lincoln Village shopping center, and Whistler's Family Restaurant, on Devon just W. of Mc Cormick (in Lincolnwood) are open Thanksgiving day - morning, noon and night. These two places offer a wide variety of food, other than the traditional Thanksgiving Day fare. Tue Nov 10 12:41:39 -0800 2009 5169987 181831 gomexico 1 5168140 Have you checked on opentable.com to see where there are reservations available in your area? Mon Nov 09 14:25:23 -0800 2009 5167606 24468 chicgail 1 5168654 Keep in mind, most of the nicer places that are open on Thanksgiving Day are serving Thanksgiving dinner, even at lunchtime. It sounds like that's not what you're looking for. Aside from the fast food chains and places serving Thanksgiving dinner, my guess is that most of the rest of the places would be closed. You might try either the American/burger type chains (Chili's, Applebee's, etc), or else places that specialize in breakfast (Walker Brothers, IHOP, Bongo Room, etc). But you'll have to call around to find out who's open; I'm not sure whether even those places would be open. Mon Nov 09 17:21:21 -0800 2009 5167606 55363 nsxtasy 1 5177891 Nsxtasy is right. I'd go for the Original Pancake House (several locations, the one I go to is at Clark and Wisconsin or thereabouts). IIRC, they're open 365. And their food is excellent. It's all breakfast food, but their huge apple turnover, or whatever it's called, is amazing. And they have great bacon and coffee. Thu Nov 12 23:04:58 -0800 2009 5167606 104864 Pete Oldtown