5 Places For Thanksgiving Dinner, Off The Strip

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, which often means preparing that big turkey dinner. But with our lives getting busier and busier, there's no shame in starting the tradition of going out for Thanksgiving dinner. You won't have all the turkey leftovers, but you also won't have to wash the dishes.

If you are thinking about doing Thanksgiving Dinner at a restaurant this year, Southern Nevada has you covered on places to go. Here are just a few of our favorite spots to bring the family for that special holiday meal.

Kona Grill - Boca Park

Kona Grill in Boca Park has been a local favorite since it first opened its doors. And for this year's Thanksgiving Dinner, they are offering takeout and dine-in options. Which means not only can you skip the cooking, but you can also skip the dressing up. Just grab dinner to go and throw on those Thanksgiving pants. Both options will be available Nov. 28 through Dec. 1, with special menu items, including the signature traditional and macadamia nut turkey with all the trimmings and seasonal cocktails.

Whether you prefer to dine in on Thanksgiving at Kona, or take it with you, there are plenty of tasty options. Try their Macadamia Nut Turkey, made with macadamia nut crusted turkey breast, miso mashed potatoes, sauteed green beans, shoyu cream sauce and ginger-yuzu infused cranberry sauce. Or the Traditional Roasted Turkey, made with roasted turkey breast, sauteed green beans, miso mashed potatoes & cream gravy, brioche stuffing, ginger-yuzu infused cranberry sauce. There's also a kids roasted turkey and pumpkin pie for dessert. And all menu items are also available for take-out.

Kona Grill's Welcome Back Pumpkin menu will still be available as well. Those options include Duck empanadas ($21) made with roasted pumpkin and jalapeno bacon jam, Lobster & pumpkin ravioli ($32) with asparagus, shiitake mushrooms, parmesan cheese and lemon cream sauce, Roasted acorn squash ($9) with citrus yogurt sauce and roasted pepitas, Traditional pumpkin pie ($15) served with whipped cream and roasted pumpkin seeds, Pumpkin spice margarita ($14) made with Patrón Reposado tequila, Reàl pumpkin purée and pumpkin spice, Pumpkin mocha martini ($14) made with New Amsterdam vodka, pumpkin spice RumChata, Owen’s nitro-infused espresso, créme de cacao and pumpkin spice.

Hours for Thanksgiving Dinner at Kona Grill will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations and ordering early are recommended and can be done here.

Sundance Grill - Silverton Casino

Silverton Casino is always a fun place to go for the holidays. They deck out the casino with Christmas decorations and even have Santa on site some days for photos. And they have two options for your Thanksgiving Dinner. Both with special menus and hours to ensure you and your loved ones enjoy a delicious and memorable holiday experience.

The first is Sundance Grill. They'll have a special menu available exclusively on Nov. 29 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Including a traditional Thanksgiving dinner plate for just $28. The special menu includes a choice of soup or salad, rosemary-brined turkey, mashed potatoes with Giblet gravy, green bean casserole, candied yams and a choice of pumpkin or pecan pie for dessert. 

Twin Creeks - Silverton Casino

Your next option in the Silverton Casino is Twin Creeks Steakhouse. They will be presenting an elegant holiday menu that is three courses and priced at $75 per person. The menu will start with a baby beet salad appetizer with arugula, candied pecans, balsamic reduction, and torched goat cheese. Then a traditional turkey feast featuring sliced turkey, confit dark turkey meat, roasted garlic potato purée, cornbread stuffing, broccolini, turkey gravy and homemade cranberry jam.

The meal will finish with a caramelized apple tart with candied pecans, vanilla spiced ice cream, and caramel sauce. The menu will be offered from 3-9 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and each course is also available a la carte. Reservations are recommended and can be made here.

Lawry’s The Prime Rib - Howard Hughes Parkway

Another festive option for your Thanksgiving Dinner is Lawry’s. They always get into the holiday spirit with decorations, carolers and special Christmas shows. It's a great place for families. And for Thanksgiving this year they'll have an exclusive menu, available only on Thanksgiving, Nov. 28 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Available for dine-in or take-out.

This year the menu includes many local favorites. The main course is roasted turkey breast, mashed Idaho potatoes, stuffing, turkey gravy and cranberry sauce. And, of course, that famous Lawry's spinning bowl salad. Each plate is $49 for adults and $20 for children. For an additional $20, guests can add 4 oz. of Roasted Turkey Breast and 2 oz. of Roasted Turkey Thigh to any prime rib plate plus stuffing, turkey gravy, and cranberry sauce.

For dessert, there is Spiced Pumpkin Pie with whipped vanilla cream. As well as specialty drinks including Under the Mistletoe, made with Heaven’s Door Ascension Kentucky Straight Bourbon, amaretto, Frangelico, lemon, ginger and cherry. Or the Pumpkin Martini, made with Stoli Vanil Vodka and Fulton’s Harvest pumpkin liqueur well-chilled and served up with a nutmeg sprinkle.

For the take out option, guests can choose prime rib or turkey feasts a la carte or complete with all of the fixings for up to 15 people. All holiday feast orders must be ordered at least 48 hours in advance. To place an order or make reservations, please visit Lawry's online. 

Want more from this author? Check out her home page.

The time of year has come where everyone is thinking about holiday travel plans. Where they'll go, what they'll pack, who they'll see. What most people aren't thinking about, however, is the very thing they should be considering. Travel delays. It's bound to happen sooner or later. But that doesn't mean it has to be stressful for holiday travelers. The secret to success is to be on top of your timing and preparation. That means doing what you can to avoid hectic travel times and being ready even if you land right in the middle of it.

It's wise to expect at least some travel delays in your itinerary. Tenfold during the holidays. And a hundredfold if you live in a city with an airport known for such headaches. We just reported on the top ten airports in the U.S. that are known for how many of their flights get delayed every year. If you're flying into or out of Las Vegas, Miami or San Francisco, sorry to say you have a pretty good chance at getting at least one flight delayed.

So let's say you have plans to meet your family for dinner on the other side of your upcoming flight. Which is great because you ran out of the house without feeding the kiddos and you're on a budget too tight to afford airport food prices. It'll all work out, providing that your flight leaves on time and there's no delay on the runway. Then it comes...the news that your flight is delayed. Cue the mounds of stress.

Was it really the flight being delayed that caused the stress? Or was it the lack of preparation and putting too much of your success on things out of your control? The problem is obvious. Fortunately, so is the solution. We got some tips from travel experts at Palm Paradise Realty Group that will help travelers avoid flying during those times when delays are more likely. As well as tips to handle delays when they do come.

The most popular times to travel is from afternoon into the late evening. Therefore, try to book an early morning flight. Those are less prone to delays and very often have smaller crowds and shorter security lines. Redeyes are also often light on passengers. For long flights, it might even be helpful to book an overnighter that your kids can sleep on. They won't be bored and you won't be stressed about getting through the crowds. It's a win-win!

Due to work, school or other demands, most of the world has to travel for the holidays the day before or the day of. Experts advise travelers to try to book a flight at least a few days before Thanksgiving or Christmas to avoid the rush. The same goes for flying home. Pick a few days after the holiday for the easier time spent in the terminal. You might have to take extra time off, but it might be worth avoiding the headache.

If travel delays are inevitable, experts advise that packing smart is the difference between stress-free travel and total chaos. Bring your own snacks and empty water bottle to fill up after getting through security. This will eliminate the need to get in long lines for food or drink. For my kiddo, I pack a Snackle Box and don't let them see it until the flight. So everything's a fun surprise.

If you have to be somewhere shortly after your flight is supposed to land, then timing is everything. The way to NOT make timing everything is to allow plenty of it on the other side of your flight. Make a whole day for travel, if you can. That gives you the whole day to get to where you need to be, settle in, and refresh before hitting the holiday plans with the family. Don't make 7:00 dinner plans when your flight comes in at 6:00pm. That just sets you up for failure.

This is especially necessary if you have little ones. Download movies or apps before heading to the airport, and don't forget the chargers! If you want to mix it up and use fewer electronics during potential travel delays, there are lots of downloadable game cards like airport bingo or scavenger hunts. And don't be afraid to go old school with those travel board games. They're time-consuming and take up little space in the carry on.

Follow us! Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.