Best Places for Thanksgiving and Holiday Meals in Venice, California

You're in the land of the stars, La-La land, a vast sea of people and cultures and smog and creativity, people taking chances, trying new things, doing old things, tradition, history, the latest crazes, and so on. In other words, you can find just about anything you could imagine in and around Los Angeles. But to make things more interesting, let's say that on Thanksgiving Day, a day to rejoice, be thankful and with your family, to relax and have good food, that you don't want to drive too far to enjoy a great meal, that you want to stay close to home, in Santa Monica or Venice, Malibu or Marina del Ray - that area. If that's the case, here are a few suggestions, different ways to celebrate your holiday an L.A. kind of way.

1. BabyBlues Bar-B-Q. For those who have been to Baby Blue's, I will save the trouble of describing it. For those who haven't, you better get down there and see for yourself! It is an authentic barbeque joint, with guitars and photos of bluesmen on the walls, blues music playing. Their food is great, long bone and smoked, baby back ribs, North Carolina pulled pork, beef brisket, bbq chicken, blackened Mississippi catfish, grilled bayou shrimp, and so on. Need I say more? They are extremely attentive and friendly, and they get you in and out as soon as possible, to keep the line on the street as short as possible. If you feel like a laid back, southern-style, backyard, family-like kind of Thanksgiving, then this is the place! They are located at 444 Lincoln Boulevard, Venice 90291. No reservations are required, but you might want to phone your order in ahead of time, at 310-396-7675.

2. Melisse. Quite a contrast from Baby Blue's, Melisse is a selection for those who are looking for something more elegant, a several-course meal, fine dining, formal service, and so on; in other words, who want to be catered to on their Thanksgiving holiday. Melisse's chef-owner Josiah Citrin emphasizes traditional French cuisine with Cal-Italian twists. He is so passionate about his food that you can often see him searching for fresh produce and herbs at the local farmers market each Wednesday morning. For Thanksgiving dinner, they offer three courses plus desserts, and among the featured dishes are pumpkin soup, Herb Roasted Free Range Turkey, Whole Roasted Dry Aged Prime Rib, and Crispy Eastern Bass, and your choice of Josiah's mom's traditional Thanksgiving sides (Creamed Spinach, Praline Pecan Yams, Braised White Mushrooms, Szechwan Green Beans, Yukon Potato Puree, Fresh Cranberry Sauce, Roasted Root Vegetables). Desert includes Mom's Apple Pie and Spiced Fresh Pumpkin Pie, among other choices. Their Thanksgiving menu is very festive, very fresh, and very personal. An excellent choice for dinner! They are located at 1104 Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica (90401), and can be reached for reservations at 310-395-0881.

3. Café del Ray. Café del Ray sits on the marina, overlooking the boats and water in Marina del Ray. It was voted by several L.A guides as one of the city's most romantic dining spots. It offers seafood with an Asian twist. It is kind of hip, kind of casual, and very good. They don't offer anything traditional for Thanksgiving; instead they give you the pleasure of choosing from their regular menu, which features seafood and sushi and other Asian-influenced delights. They also specialize in fine wines. While Café del Ray doesn't provide the usual Thanksgiving ambiance, L.A.-folk aren't the usual folk either, and there are sure to be plenty of people who are in the mood for this type of dining come Thanksgiving nights - they can be reached at 310.823.6395 for reservations, and are located at 4451 Admiralty Way, Marina del Ray 90292.