For Thanksgiving, OKC restaurants offer alternative to a hot stove

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Nov 26, 2008 by Kelley Chambers

Andy Morgan is staying in for Thanksgiving dinner, and Zach Martin is headed out for his holiday meal.

Morgan, spokesman for AT&T Oklahoma, is planning a traditional, home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner at home with his family and plans to feed about 19.

"We always stay at home and we usually have lots of family come over," Morgan said. "My wife and I both love to cook; it's fun, and it's a time for us to be together."

Martin, with Sperry Van Ness Oklahoma, said he and about nine family members are going to have Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant for the first time, probably Deep Fork Grill.

"This year, we're going to give it a try," he said. "We're going to have a lot of people in town, and everyone's busy."

National Restaurant Association research shows one in 10 Americans dine out on Thanksgiving.

Not all restaurants are open on Thanksgiving Day, but the ones that are report swift business that continues to grow year after year.

Deep Fork Grill has been open for Thanksgiving in each of its 10 years, and sees hundreds of people coming for lunch and dinner on the holiday.

Jamie Fritts, general manager of Deep Fork Grill, said the restaurant sees a lot of its regulars on Thanksgiving and is feeding more people each year.

"We are so busy on Thanksgiving," she said. "People would be surprised how many people actually go out to eat versus stay in and cook a big meal."

Deep Fork offers traditional Thanksgiving favorites along with other items for those who want an alternative to turkey and stuffing. The restaurant charges $35 per person on Thanksgiving. Fritts said she expects about 450 to 550 people to pass through her doors this Thursday.

Other restaurants have opted to stay closed on Thanksgiving despite knowing there is money to be made.

Keith Paul, owner of A Good Egg Dining Group, said his restaurants - Cheever's Cafe, Iron Starr Urban BBQ, and Red Prime Steak - will be closed, and have never opened on Thanksgiving.

Bruce Rinehart, owner of Rococo Restaurant & Wine Bar, said that despite requests every year, he also has decided to stay closed on Thanksgiving.

"It's something we talk about every year and we get lots of calls," he said. "If we were going to be open, I'd be here, but I want to be home with my family."

But Rinehart said he has seen a trend in the last few years for people to want to dine out rather than cook a holiday meal at home.

"It's a great day for business and more and more people need that alternative to eat out," he said.

Hotels also offer food on Thanksgiving, and Jeffrey Oliasami, general manger of the Renaissance Hotel, said on Tuesday he already had 100 reservations for Thursday.

"Over the last many years the trend is that if people can find a place they like and the price is reasonable, they would rather not do the cooking for big parties," he said.

Oliasami said most of the people who have made reservations are from the local area. The Renaissance is charging $29.95 for its buffet.

The Skirvin Hilton is also expecting several hundred people for its Thanksgiving Day brunch priced at $45 a person.

Shannon Moad, with the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, said they do not track restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving, but she has seen more restaurants offering holiday meals and prepared holiday favorites packaged for carryout.

The National Restaurant Association also reports more than half of U.S. consumers buy takeout items for all or part of their Thanksgiving Day meals.

Despite options to eat out or have the meal catered, Morgan said his family plans to continue cooking and eating at home on Thanksgiving and welcoming a houseful of family and friends.

"It has become a tradition year after year that we host Thanksgiving," he said.

Martin said as much as he loves a home-cooked meal, he is sure that dining out this year won't be a letdown, and will save his mother from slaving over a hot stove.

"For the big meal - and to save Mom's back - we'll go out," he said.