Chicago restaurants are full of upscale yet kid-friendly Thanksgiving options. Photo courtesy of the Tortoise Supper Club

Tips for Dining Out on Thanksgiving with Kids

• Make a reservation early. There are lots of restaurants in Chicago, but not all of them are open on Thanksgiving, and some may be less kid-friendly than others.
• Pick your price range. Some places on this list are for everyday prices while others are more of a splurge. If your kid is the one who is going to eat a single roll, look for one that has kids eat free.
• Decide weather you want to each order your own meal, share a family-style meal, load up on a buffet, or order from a pre fixe menu. Some restaurants are limited to the Thanksgiving menu only on that day while others serve their regular menu alongside.
• Bring fidgets or a coloring book to entertain small children in case adults want to linger over the meal.

Kid-Friendly Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Chicago

1. The Godfrey Roofscape - Chicago

The Godfrey Roofscape is offering a prix fixe Thanksgiving meal for city families. Adult meals and kids' meals are available for children under 12. This year's menu features roasted butternut squash soup, turkey, prime rib, salmon, and yummy Thanksgiving sides like mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts, bourbon-glazed carrots, mac & cheese, and more. Top off your meal with a slice of pumpkin or pecan pie, Tiramisu, or apple crumble. 

2. Tortoise Supper Club - Chicago

Tortoise Supper Club is offering their Thanksgiving Grand Buffet all Thanksgiving Day. You’ll find traditional menu items as well as some supper club staples and kid-friendly eats. My kids always love charcuterie, and this place has an amazing spread of it. Kids under 3 eat for free! 

3. Prime and Provisions - Chicago

Prime and Provisions is offering a family-friendly Thanksgiving with something for everyone. It's free for kids under 6. With its convenient loop location, you can kick off the season with holiday window displays, lights, and decorations. 

4. Travelle at the Langham – Chicago

The Langham Hotel’s Travelle restaurant is featuring a beautiful Thanksgiving champagne brunch. In addition to the traditional Thanksgiving favorites, there will also be cheeses, seafood, and charcuteries. Adult prix fixe tickets and children's menus are available. 

5. Ditka's –  Oak Brook

Ditka’s in Oak Brook has a Thanksgiving menu featuring slow-roasted turkey with all the classic fixings and sides. Their regular menu items will also be available, including kid-friendly burgers, spaghetti, and Ditka's perennial favorite pot roast nachos.

6. Perry’s Steakhouse & Grill – Schaumburg and Oak Brook

Perry’s Steakhouse & Grill is open in Schaumburg and Oak Brook on Thanksgiving Day. Their smoked turkey is the main staple of this prix fixe meal, with sides including stuffing, soup, salad, homemade bread, and more. 

7. Sullivan’s Steakhouse – Naperville

Sullivan’s Steakhouse in Naperville is serving a traditional Thanksgiving meal complete with three courses. Family favorites, such as roasted turkey, stuffing, and casseroles, are featured, with desserts like carrot cake and pumpkin spice crème brulee. 

8. The Drake Hotel - Oak Brook or Streeterville

The Drake Hotel in Oak Brook is hosting its Thanksgiving brunch. Enjoy carving stations, a seafood bar, omelet stations, fresh waffles stations, an assorted dessert table, and more. Champagne and mimosas are included. Children under 5 eat for free!

9. Gene & Georgetti - Chicago

As Chicago's oldest steakhouse (open since 1941), this Chicago staple will have all your favorite Thanksgiving comfort foods. Their menu will also include classic Italian dishes (read: pasta for your kids who won't eat turkey) and of course, great steaks. 

10. The Peninsula - Streeterville

This buffet specifically features a children's food station, as well as several other elements kids may like. My kids would be all over the ramen bar and global cheese and charcuterie station, while some adults may enjoy the caviar and seafood stations. There's also a Shanghai station featuring Peking duck and dim sum and an extensive selection of desserts. Families can also choose individual plated meals.

11. Wildfire - Chicago, Oak Brook, Lincolnshire, Schaumburg, and Glenview

Enjoy a family-style Thanksgiving dinner with a choice of two entrees (turkey, beef, or salmon), along with appetizers, salads, sides, and desserts. Enjoy the cozy atmosphere of these classic restaurants with your family.

12. Maggiano's - River North, Oak Brook, Skokie, Schaumburg, Naperville, and Vernon Hills

Pick up an oven-ready meal to take home, or eat in at a city or suburban location of this classic Italian joint. The family style menu includes choices of salads, mains, pastas, sides, and desserts. Even if you don't love turkey, you'll find something to enjoy here.

13. Weber Grill- River North, Lombard, and Schaumburg

If you're the kind of family that would smoke your turkey, you can try the dishes made on Weber Grills at this restaurant. Almost every dish has something grilled or smoked, including smoked turkey, grilled sausage stuffing, roasted fall vegetables, and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Families can also get catering trays of turkey or sides to go.

14. Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants - Oak Park, Morton Grove, Oak Lawn, Burr Ridge, Downers Grove, Orland Park, Arlington Heights, and Wheeling

Get the full Thanksgiving menu of turkey, stuffing, butternut squash soup, potatoes, green beans and carrots, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin praline cheesecake at this suburban favorite winery. Or order from the regular menu, which has kid standards like burgers and chicken tenders or elevated items like soy ginger salmon and filet medallions. If you're eating in, enjoy a glass of wine with your dinner, or take a whole bottle to go.

15. Bistronomic - Gold Coast

Enjoy a French twist on Thanksgiving at this Gold Coast fine dining establishment. The pre fixe menu includes dishes like veloute, homemade terrine, turkey, catch of the day, tortellini, and desserts like lemon tart and chocolate hazelnut bars.

16. Siena Tavern - River North

This buffet is free for kids six and under, and it includes pizza and past in addition to the traditional turkey and stuffing. Salads, antipasti, and a display of decadent desserts round out the meal.

17. Harry Caray's - River North, Rosemont and Lombard

Each location of this Chicago classic restaurant is serving in its own format. Enjoy a family-style dinner in River North, a full buffet in Lombard, and entrees with an unlimited side buffet in Rosemont. They all include turkey and prime rib as the mains, with salmon and the restaurant's signature chicken vesuvio also on the Lombard buffet. Stuffing, potatoes, green bean casserole, and mac 'n' cheese accompany the mains, and apple crisp and pumpkin pie are available for dessert.

18. Chicago q- South Loop

Choose from a barbecue version of traditional Thanksgiving foods or an entree off of the regular barbecue menu. The traditional Thanksgiving meal includes smoked turkey, cranberry compote, cornbread, and a choice of potato or Brussel sprouts with a dessert of pumpkin or pecan pie. The variety of choices makes this meal extra kid-friendly.

19. Artango Bar & Steakhouse- Lincoln Square

Enjoy a South American flair at this Lincoln Square steakhouse. Its pre fixe menu comes with empanadas, focaccia pizza, turkey, lamb chops, pasta, and chocolate lava cake or flan for dessert. Live jazz accompanies the meal.

20. Grant Park Bistro - Downtown

A farm-to-table buffet along with a view of one of Chicago's favorite parks are on tap for a Thanksgiving dinner at Grant Park Bistro. Enjoy turkey, salmon, or New York strip steak, along with traditional sides, desserts and salads.