Thanksgiving Meals from Buffet to Gourmet

Best Bets ? November 25, 2009

Turkey with all the trimmings is a traditional dinner table staple at Thanksgiving, but area casino restaurants are offering other items, too. There are buffets, multi-course meals and even non-turkey (or ham) options from which to choose. Here is a look at what's offered on Nov. 26.

RENO-SPARKS

ATLANTIS: Toucan Charlie's Buffet and Grille has special items from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. It costs $19.99 and $10.99 ages 4-11. Entrées include turkey, prime rib, ham, rack of lamb, crab and barbecue pork ribs. Sides include green bean casserole, carne asada and Szechwan clams. Reservations are recommended.

The Grand Ballroom also hosts a buffet from noon to 7 p.m. It costs $29.99 and $13.99 children. Entrées include turkey, ham, prime rib, salmon, fried shrimp and scallops, and chicken Marsala. There are prawns and crab on ice and made-to-order shrimp scampi and spinach or Caesar salads. Sides include yams, fruit and a cheese board. Reservations are recommended.

Manhattan Deli has a three-course $12.99 turkey special served from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The deli also has a turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce and stuffing for $9.99.

Bistro Napa has a $32 dinner from 4-9 p.m. Entrées are turkey or apricot-glazed salmon.

The Purple Parrot has a three-course turkey or ham dinner for $12.99, served from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Details: 775-824-4411.

BOOMTOWN: Cassidy's Steak and Prime Rib House features a $24.99 turkey special, including mashed potatoes, stuffing, beans and yams. There also is a filet Oscar special with asparagus and fingerling potatoes for $29.99.

The Whole Maine Lobster Buffet will feature holiday fare for $19.99.

Details: 775-345-8660.

BONANZA: The Cactus Creek Southwestern Steakhouse has specials from 2-9 p.m. The $26 special features turkey with whipped fingerling potatoes, citrus candied yams and vegetables. The $32 special includes a calamari medallion, sea scallops and lobster topped with Dungeness crab and asparagus, plus potato pancakes. Both specials come with vegetables and salad or sweet potato bisque. Dessert is chocolate-cherry cheesecake, berry flambé, or pumpkin or Dutch apple pie with vanilla ice cream. Reservations are recommended.

The Branding Iron Café has specials from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The $14.95 special is filet mignon with twice-baked cheddar potatoes. The $9.95 special is ham with mashed potatoes and yams. Specials are served with vegetables, choice of salad or Southwest chorizo corn chowder, and choice of pumpkin or apple pie.

The Branding Iron Café Buffet serves special items from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. It costs $9.95, $8.95 with a Fort Reno Calvary card and $5.95 children 8 and younger.

Entrées include turkey, roast beef, chicken Marsala, pork loin and a catch of the day. Other items include shrimp cocktail, chilled shrimp, fruit and berries, stuffing, yams, mashed potatoes, vegetables and a baked potato bar. Salads include pasta, potato, Waldorf and ambrosia. Pie choices are pumpkin, apple, mince and berry. Other desserts include cakes, pastries, bread pudding, fruit cobbler and ice cream.

Details: 323-2724, ext. 118.

CIRCUS CIRCUS: Americana Café has a turkey special from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It costs $16.95 and $9.95 ages 4-11. It includes mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes and green bean almandine. The first course is salad or corn-wild rice chowder. Dessert is pumpkin pie with ice cream for another $1.

Brunch takes place at the Buffet from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It costs $9.99 and $7.49 ages 4-11. Entrées include ham, turkey, peel-and-eat shrimp and crab, barbecue pork ribs and broiled New York steak. Also featured are roast beef hash, zucchini, eggs Florentine, cheese blintzes, French toast, Mexican breakfast dishes, breakfast meats, and biscuits and gravy.

There also are omelets, eggs made to order, soups, a salad bar, a "kids' favorites" station, a pizza station and an Asian station. Desserts include pies, cakes, pastries, donuts, cookies and ice cream sundaes.

Dinner at the Buffet takes place from 2 p.m. to close. It costs $16.99 and $8.99 children. Entrées include turkey, ham, prime rib, peel-and-eat crab and shrimp, braised lamb shanks, salmon, roasted pork loin, Swiss steak and rotisserie chicken. Also featured are traditional side dishes and Italian fare.

There are Mexican and Asian specialties, pizzas, soups, salads and the "kid's favorites" station. There also are pumpkin cheesecake bars, cakes, pastries, pumpkin cookies, brownies, raspberry bars and ice cream sundaes.

Smokin' Gecko's BBQ has a $23 special from 2 p.m. to close. Entrée is turkey with roasted butternut squash and cornbread dressing, or chile-rubbed brown-sugar-glazed ham. Both entrées include roasted red potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes and green beans. First course is wedge or Waldorf salad. Dessert is sweet potato pie or pecan pie.

The Steakhouse at Circus has a $22 special from 5-10 p.m. Choices are turkey with candied yams and sourdough-hazelnut stuffing or peach-chipotle glazed ham with Asian pear compote and sweet potatoes. Each entrée comes with mushrooms, mashed red potatoes and baby vegetables; dinner or Caesar salad; and pumpkin marble cheesecake or sweet potato pie.

Details: 329-0711.

CLUB CAL NEVA: At the Top Deck, choose from turkey or honey-glazed ham served with mashed potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, candied yams, bread, cranberry sauce and pie for $7.95. This special is available 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Copper Ledge will offer a choice of turkey or honey-glazed ham plus soup or salad, mashed potatoes, winter vegetables, stuffing, candied yams, cranberry sauce and pie for $9.25. The special is available from 3-9 p.m. Make reservations at 775-323-1046.

The Sports Deli will have the Madden Special, a turkey drumstick and a draft beer, for $3.50.

Details: 775-323-1046.

ELDORADO: The Buffet opens at 11 a.m. and costs $24, $19 for Gold Club Eldorado members and above, $13 children 10 and younger. The Buffet includes holiday selections along with seafood, salads, soups, a carving station, Italian and Asian specialties and desserts.

Roxy has a $35 dinner starting at 4 p.m. It includes smoked ham, turkey, cinnamon squash soup and more. Reservations are recommended.

The Prime Rib Grill has a holiday menu featuring turkey, apple-sage dressing, mashed potatoes, the soup and salad bar and a dessert choice. It costs $22.95, and reservations are recommended.

The Brew Brothers and Tivoli Gardens also will have holiday specials.

Details: 775-786-5700.

GOLD DUST WEST: The $9.99 turkey special is served from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Details: 775-323-2211.

GRAND SIERRA: Charlie Palmer Steak and Fin Fish have the same $36 special from 5:30-10:30 p.m. including turkey, pomme puree, carmelized sweet potatoes, green beans and sourdough or corn bread stuffing. Desserts include pumpkin pie or caramelized pecan pie with bourbon ice cream. Reservations are recommended: 775-789-2456.

Briscola has a four-course turkey dinner for $36, served from 5-10 p.m. It includes sweet potato gnocchi, pomme puree, green beans and sourdough stuffing. The first course is an antipasti platter with prosciutto di san Danielle, sweet corn preserve and pickled fall squash with roasted hazelnuts. The second course is cranberry carnaroli risotto or candied walnuts with rosemary and robiola. Dessert is spiced quince-pear panna cotta.

Reservations are recommended.

Details: 775-789-2000.

HOBEY'S CASINO: The Sun Valley Steak House features a $16.95 special from 3-8 p.m. It includes turkey and dressing or prime rib, mashed potatoes, yams and vegetables. Both entrées include butternut squash soup or salad, and pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake or bananas Foster.

Details: 775-673-0683, ext. 1.

JOHN ASCUAGA'S NUGGET: Both the Rotisserie and Nugget Convention Center will host buffets. The Rotisserie is from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., while the Convention Center is from noon to 6 p.m. Both cost $22.95 and $11.95 ages 5-11.

Items include turkey, sirloin steak, seared halibut, prime rib, ham, peel-and-eat shrimp, smoked seafood platter, king crab and roasted vegetable salads, Caesar salad and apple-sage stuffing. Desserts include pies, cobblers, fruit tarts, mousses and ice cream, with some sugar-free items.

Restaurante Orozko also offers a buffet from 1-7 p.m. It costs $37.95 and $19.95 children. Along with carving and dessert stations, the buffet includes king crab on ice, roasted carpaccio of charred bison, oysters on the half-shell, turkey, beef short ribs, peppered pork loin, Serrano ham and grilled salmon medallions.

The Steakhouse Grill has a three-course special for $34.95 and $17.95 children. It is served from 3-9 p.m. The main course choices are roasted turkey with sausage stuffing, boneless Kobe short ribs or broiled salmon steak.

Trader Dick's has a three-course special served from 3-9 p.m. It costs $31.95 and $15.95 for children. Entrée choice is turkey or grilled beef tenderloin medallions.
Rosie's Café has a three-course special for $11.95, $6.95 children. It includes choice of turkey, peach-glazed ham or baked salmon. It is served from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Details: 775-356-3300.

PEPPERMILL: Bimini Steakhouse has a special from 3-9 p.m. It costs $32.95 and $44.95 with wine. Entrée choice is turkey with mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, peas, baby carrots and herb stuffing; or filet mignon with wild mushroom risotto and asparagus. The special includes butternut squash soup, a butter-lettuce salad, and pumpkin or apple pie. Reservations are recommended at
775-689-7111.

Romanza Ristorante has a special from 3-9 p.m. It costs $32.95 and $44.95 with wine. The entrée is turkey with Italian-sausage dressing, orange-glazed yams and vegetables. Also included are prosciutto-wrapped chilled prawns atop an arugula salad, cream of spiced pumpkin soup, and pumpkin pie or pumpkin cannoli. Reservations are recommended at 775-689-7474.

Other specials will be served at the Coffee Shop and in-room dining (a $19.95 special from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.), Island Buffet (11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; $24.99 and $12.99 children), Oceano (a $26.95 special from 4-9 p.m.) and Biscotti's (a $32.95 special from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.).

Details: 775-826-2121.

SANDS: The Sands Buffet has a special menu from 3-9 p.m. It costs $10.99 and $6.95 ages 5-12 and free for children younger than 5. Entrées include turkey, pork steamship, baked chicken, braised beef tips and ham.

Also included are sausage-sourdough stuffing, yams, mashed potatoes, rice pilaf and green beans. Salads include Caesar, spinach, three-bean, ambrosia, cucumber and tomato, and antipasto. Pies include apple, pumpkin and pecan. Other desserts includes pastries, bread pudding and fruit cobbler.

Details: 775-348-1395.

SILVER LEGACY: The buffet in the Silver State Ballroom is served from
3-9 p.m. It costs $19.99 and $9.99 ages 6-12. Items include turkey, Asian roasted duck, salmon filet, rosemary lamb loin cops, seafood and international choices. Reservations are recommended.

Flavors! the Buffet has special items from noon to 10 p.m. It costs $19.99 and $9.99 ages 6-12. Items include prime rib, turkey, ham, seafood, a pasta station and desserts.

Sterling's Seafood Steakhouse has a $46 special served from 5 p.m. It includes carpaccio of filet mignon, prawns, pumpkin bisque and pumpkin cheesecake. Reservations are recommended.

Details: 775-325-7401.

TAMARACK JUNCTION: Dining Car Restaurant has specials from noon to 9 p.m. There is turkey for $12.99 or steak and shrimp for $26.99. Both include salad or butternut squash soup, and pumpkin pie. There also is a $6.99 turkey dinner for ages 12 and younger.

Sully's Sports Bar has the same three specials above, served from 4 p.m. There also is a $9.99 turkey sandwich special from 11 a.m. Children eat free with the purchase of an adult meal.

Details: 775-852-3600.

TERRIBLE'S RAIL CITY: The Ale House has a $6.95 turkey special served from 11 a.m. It includes apple-walnut stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes, yams, vegetables, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

The City Café has a $9.95 buffet from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Entrées include prime rib, turkey, ham, rosemary chicken, pork loin, steamed salmon and seafood linguine. Other items include traditional dishes, soups and salads.

There also are peel-and-eat shrimp and snow crab legs. Pies include pumpkin, mincemeat, pecan, apple, peach and carrot. There also are chocolate mousse and puddings.

Details: 775-359-9440.

WESTERN VILLAGE: The Steakhouse has a three-course dinner from 4-9 p.m. It costs $19 and $29 with wine. It includes turkey or ham, butternut squash or salad, and pumpkin pie or pumpkin cheesecake.

Marina Café has a $5.75 special from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. It has turkey, ham or salmon and includes ice cream.

Pancho and Willie's will have a three-course $14.95 special from 4-9 p.m.

Details: 775-331-1069.

CARSON AREA

CARSON STATION: A $11.99 special at Station Restaurant includes choice of turkey, ham or both. It also includes pumpkin pie, and soup and salad bar can be added for $1.99.

Details: 775-883-0900.

CARSON VALLEY INN: Fiona's Bar and Grill has a turkey special from 1-9 p.m. It costs $21.95 and $8.99 children younger than 10. It features dressing, mashed potatoes, yams, green beans, creamed mushrooms, french-fried onions and cranberry sauce. It includes soup and salad bar, and pumpkin pie, apple pie, cheesecake or ice cream.

Katie's Country Kitchen has two specials served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The $12.99 turkey special includes stuffing, whipped potatoes, yams, peas and cranberry sauce. The $8.49 ham special includes wild rice pilaf and roasted carrots. Both specials include salad or Nantucket corn chowder, and pumpkin pie, apple pie or ice cream. Specials cost $5.99 for children younger than 10.

Details: 775-782-9711.

TERRIBLE'S CASINO DAYTON: The Como Café features a $10.49 turkey special, served from 11 a.m. It includes mashed potatoes, stuffing, yams, vegetables and choice of pie.

Details: 775-246-9696.

LAKE TAHOE

CRYSTAL BAY CASINO: Bistro Elsie has turkey panini with a side order for $8.95. The Steak and Lobster House has a four-course special for $36 and $26 children 12 and younger. It is served 4:30-9 p.m. The entrée is turkey roulade with whiskey-braised apple sauce. Soup is cream of pumpkin, and salad is baby spinach. Dessert is pumpkin pie.

Details: 775-831-0512.

HARRAH'S LAKE TAHOE: American River Café has a special served from 1-10 p.m. It features turkey with mashed potatoes, sage dressing, yams, vegetables and cranberry sauce. It includes soup or California garden salad. The special is $14.99 and $9.99 children. Pumpkin pie and pecan pie also are available for $2.50 each.

Forest Buffet has special items from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. It costs $26.99 and $15.99 children. Entrées includes prime rib, leg of lamb, turkey, baked haddock, beef strip steak and ham. Sides include orange-chestnut dressing, mashed potatoes, fingerling potatoes, yams, almond rice, brussels sprouts, carrots and cranberry sauce.

The Pacific Rim station includes char su pork ribs, lemongrass chicken, wasabi pork su mai, shrimp chow mein, pork buns, black bean mussels, turkey fried rice, baby bok choy and sushi. The pasta and pizza station also has grilled cheddar-wurst, spinach ravioli with shrimp and chicken fettucine Alfredo. The soup and salad bar features New England clam chowder, roasted corn chowder, chilled shrimp and snow crab, and fruit. The bakery includes pastries, cakes, pies, fruit crepes and ice cream sundaes.

Friday's Station features a $37 special from 4-9:30 p.m. The entrée is sage-rubbed turkey with truffled mashed potatoes, chicken-sausage dressing, baby parsnips and julienne vegetables, and sweet potato daupiniose. The soup is corn chowder with winter squash. Dessert is pumpkin-pecan pie or orange-pumpkin cheesecake with brandied caramelized apple compote.

Details: 775-588-6611.

HARVEYS LAKE TAHOE: The $33 special at 19 Kitchen and Bar includes turkey with apple dressing, mashed potatoes, yams and roasted acorn squash. Also included are chocolate-cranberry fudge cake and pumpkin pie with walnut-caramel sauce.

The Sage Room has a $37 special. The entrée is apricot-maple glazed turkey served with chestnut-fruit dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, cinnamon yams and cauliflower au gratin. The salad is mesclun with baked brie, roasted figs, pears and toasted almonds. Dessert is a choice of pumpkin-pecan pie or pumpkin pie.

Details: 588-2411.

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