Best Places for Thanksgiving and Holiday Meals in Akron, Ohio

If you live in Akron and are not willing or able to make Thanksgiving dinner, you have several options, from the bargain-priced to the extravagant.

PAPA JOE'S - 1561 Akron-Peninsula Road - www.papajoes.com - (330) 923-7999

Papa Joe's has been an Italian tradition for generations. It will be open from 12-7 on Thanksgiving Day with a limited, but still rather extensive menu.

One of the top appetizers is the Stuffed Hot Banana Peppers, as the Papa Joe's crew manages to get sausage and three kinds of cheese into those things.

For the main Thanksgiving dinner, you can get Roast Ohio Young Turkey or Baked Sugar Cured Ham (both $17.95) as well as Roast Spring Lamb ($18.95). You could also go off-book with a one-pound Super Strip Steak or Crusted Grouper ($24.95); or Jumbo Maryland Crab Cakes ($21.95).

ANTHE's - 4315 Manchester Road in Akron- 330-644-2239

Anthe's is one of the most popular restaurants in the Portage Lakes area of Akron. It will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, and reservations are required.

You can get the basic meal of Roast Young Ohio Turkey with dressing, gravy and cranberry sauce for $12.95. You could also go for a non-traditional holiday meal of Strip Steak ($24.95) or Two Broiled Lobster Tails (37.95).

You can add an appetizer and dessert to your meal for a total of $3.95 more. You can also deduct $3 for a children's portion of a meal.

SHERATON SUITES - 1989 Front Street in Cuyahoga Falls - (330) 929-3000

This beautiful waterfront restaurant is located in a hotel right on the Cuyahoga River. It will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.

Brunch costs $31.95 for adults; $17.95 for kids ages 3-12; and $2.95 for kids under 3.

The cold food displays include jumbo shrimp and crab claws; vegetable crudite; an assortment of domestic and imported cheeses; mixed fall salad greens; Caesar salad, fruit salad and vegetable salad.

You can get turkey or ham at the carving station. At the buffet, you will find esoteric dishes like beef Bourgogne; focaccia bread stuffing and oven roasted charmoula marinated tilapia.

While you're sampling these delicacies, your kids can munch on macaroni and cheese, mini corn on the cob, chicken tenders and tater tots.

Desserts include the traditional pies, cakes, cookies and tortes.

QUAKER SQUARE - 135 S. Broadway in Akron - 44308 - (330) 253-5970

The annual Quaker Square Thanksgiving Buffet will take place from noon to 5 p.m. It costs $16.95 for adults, $14.95 for seniors and $8.95 for kids age 10 and under.

The selection of entrees includes roast turkey with giblet gravy, pepper crusted top round of beef, paupiette of sole with smoked salmon and braised pork loin with sauteed apples and onions.

The rest of the buffet includes assortments of fruit, vegetables, cheeses, rolls and muffins. The Pie Factory will provide desserts to round out the buffet.

356th FIGHTER GROUP - 4919 Mt. Pleasant Rd. - North Canton - (330) 494-3500
This World War II-themed restaurant is located next to the Akron-Canton Airport. The restaurant will be open on Thanksgiving.

The 356th features filet mignon, either by itself or in a "surf and turf" combination with a lobster tail. On the dessert menu, you'll find homemade bread pudding, New York-style cheesecake and upside-down apple walnut pie.

MULLIGAN's PUB - 4118 Belden Village St. NW in Canton - (330) 493-8239
Looking for a good place to watch the football games? Mulligan's is open, and it will add turkey to its regular menu.

FREE THANKSGIVING MEAL
If you are down on your luck and can't afford Thanksgiving dinner, stop by the Collinsville Congregational Church for a meal served by volunteers from around Canton.

Even if you have some money, you can come here if you have no family around to share your meal. You can even have the meal delivered if you can't get out of the house.

To partake in this meal or to offer your help, call Kathy at (330) 693-8612.

So if you can't make dinner or you just don't feel like it, you have some options to choose from. Even if you are making dinner this year, keep in mind that you have options in the future.