EATS BEAT: Affordable turkey dinners can be had

By Bud Kennedy
Published in GO! Fort Worth Star-Telegram
November 21-27, 2008

This is the year for a thrifty Thanksgiving.

The big hotels are still serving elegant $45 buffets. Famous chefs will roll out $95 dinners, but you can find a turkey-and-dressing plate for as little as $5.49 in most cafeterias.

Some bird bargains on Thanksgiving Day:

At the historic Highland Park Cafeteria in Dallas, plates start at $7.49; 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 1200 N. Buckner Blvd. (Loop 12), 214-324-5000, highlandparkcafeteria.com.

The Turkey Shop in Abbott is a year-round cafeteria specializing in smoked turkey and pies; $5.49-$6.99 (dessert extra); 10 a.m.-2 p.m., 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. other days, 212 S. Hickory St. at Interstate 35, 254-580-9644, turkeyshop.net

Vance Godbey's, near Lake Worth, will serve turkey, barbecue, filet mignon and pies on its long buffet for $18.99; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 8601 Jacksboro Highway (Texas 199), 817-237-2218, vancegodbeys.com.

Anthony's Place in north Fort Worth and its cousin, La Choza Mexican Grill, near Azle dish up turkey and ham for $15.99; 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 2400 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, 817-378-9005, and 11210 Farm Road 730 S., Azle, 817-444-9293.

Olenjack's Grille in north Arlington undercuts the hotels with a $30 buffet offering both fried and roasted turkey, plus chef Brian Olenjack's cheddar grits and eggnog tiramisu; 11 a.m.-4p.m., 770 Road to Six Flags East, 817-226-2600, olenjacksgrille.com.

The big-name Dallas holiday dinner is still at Fearing's in the Ritz-Carlton, where chef Dean Fearing will serve tangerine-glazed turkey and tortilla dressing for $95; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m., 2121 McKinney Ave., 214-922-4848; http://fearingsrestaurant.com.

This is the first Thanksgiving for Cliff Café, next door to the stylish Belmont Hotel on the west side of Dallas. The Cliff serves a $25 dinner if you book ahead and also offers breakfast, lunch and dinner; 901 Fort Worth Ave., 214-393-4141, http://belmontdallas.com

Mercury Chophouse and Silver Fox Steakhouse will open on Thanksgiving. Silver Fox offers turkey or chateaubriand for $42.95; www.silverfoxcafe.com. (The Mercury did not have a menu by midweek.)

Mimi's Cafes will offer turkey dinners for$14.99 and are open at 8 a.m. for breakfast; http://mimiscafe.com

The Keg Steakhouse will offer a 21.95 dinner plate; 817-731-3534, http://kegsteakhouse.com

In Southlake Town Square, Copeland's of New Orleans and Truluck's Seafood Steak Crab House will duel across Plaza Place. Copeland's is serving a platter for $18.99; 1400 Plaza Place, 817-305-2199, http://copelandsofneworldeans.com. Truluck's serves a three-course dinner for $29.95; 1420 Plaza Place, 817-912-0500, http://trulucks.com.

For a country drive, try the Wildcatter Ranch & Resort near Graham, which will have a $30 buffet, 940-549-3555, http://wildcatterranch.com; Jake & Dorothy's Restaurant in Stephenville, which has a $10.95 turkey dinner, 254-965-5211; or the Koffee Kup Family Restaurant and pie café in Hico, with a $10.99 dinner, 254-796-4839, http://koffeekupfamilyrestaurant.com.