OysterEYW-300x300No need to carry a 25-pound bird across a couple of states for Thanksgiving dinner when your dining options are as seemingly endless as the Gulf of Mexico. Several restaurants in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach will be dishing up traditional Thanksgiving Day favorites while some will include new taste sensations to spice up the day.

At The Hangout in Gulf Shores, aThanksgiving buffet will be served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Enjoy roast turkey breast with turkey gravy and cranberry sauce or roast prime rib served with au jus and horseradish cream. Side items include cornbread dressing, braised collard greens, Brussel sprouts with smoked bacon and pine nuts, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, Cajun rice pilaf, warm dinner rolls, salad and yummy desserts.

Travel down the road a bit and enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at Jesse’s Restaurant in Magnolia Springs with seatings at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Jesse’s features turkey prepared two ways, herb-roasted prime rib, cider-glazed pork loin and shrimp and grits. Sides feature parmesan chive whipped potatoes, Conecuh cornbread dressing, bacon oyster bread pudding, bourbon pecan sweet potatoes and asiago creamed spinach, just to name a few. Top off your meal with an array of desserts including Meyer Lemon Tart and pumpkin doughnut muffins.

Create a new tradition this year with Thanksgiving dinner at Voyagers at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach. You’ll find carving stations featuring turkey and steamship round of beef, pasta stations, dessert stations and a whole host of sides featuring cornbread dressing, sweet potato soufflé, creamed collard greens and squash and broccoli casserole.

They won’t be tossing mullet at this meal! Bring a friend and take a dish to the Flora-Bama Annual Thanksgiving Potluck. Turkey and ham will be provided. Other restaurants open for Thanksgiving include Bill’s by the Beach, Ginny Lane Bar and Grill, Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina and more. Check the Thanksgiving restaurant directory for the latest listing. Wherever you select, call ahead for reservations policies.

Still determined to make Thanksgiving dinner yourself? Try a few coastal favorites. Oyster dressing and shrimp and grits are found in many Alabama Gulf Coast homes on Turkey Day. Serve a big bowl of steamed shrimp as an appetizer and make crawfish dressing as a savory addition to the main event. Add a side of jambalaya – red rice accompanied by sausage, shrimp, chicken or ham. It’s a great dish for those with a craving for something spicy. Find great recipes for coastal favorites on our website and get cooking!