Where to Have a Great Thanksgiving Feast in Fresno, California

Here are some great places near Fresno to enjoy your Thanksgiving meal this year.

The Steak and Anchor Restaurant in the Piccadilly Hotel at the Airport will be open from 11am - 4pm. Prices ranges from $18.95 - $28.95 and they will serve from a special Thanksgiving Day menu. Selections will include ham, turkey, chicken, salmon and prime rib entrees. After 4pm, the lounge will serve the same entrees until 9pm. However, the lounge can only accommodate smaller parties. Please call 559-251-6000. Having worked within walking distance of this hotel, I've enjoyed many meals in their coffee shop and dining room and all were excellent. This would be a great choice for your Thanksgiving Day feast.

Fig Garden Village is the venue for the next suggestion for a terrific Thanksgiving meal. It's the Chef's Table at the Elbow Room. They're taking reservations for meals being served between 1pm - 6pm. The price is $65.00 per person and their entrees will include the traditional turkey, Prime Ribs Medallion, Halibut or Spring Lamb Loin. In addition, they will be also be serving Roasted Chestnut & Sweet Potato Soup or Mixed Fall Greens Salad, Pheasant & Wild Mushroom Cannelloni/Black Truffle Jus or Dungeness Crab Cakes with a choice of Pumpkin, Cinnamon Apple or Pecan Pie for dessert. Please call 559- 227-3200 for reservations.

For a less expensive Thanksgiving dinner look no further than Mimi's at Riverpark. They will be serving breakfast starting at 8am but will start providing Thanksgiving Dinners at 11am. Their holiday dinner will include all your Thanksgiving favorites, including turkey breast with gravy, a fresh vegetable medley, mashed potatoes or whipped sweet potatoes, cornbread stuffing, and cranberry relish. All meals start with Mimis signature bread basket, soup and salad and is completed with a selection of decadent desserts. A children's version of the dinner is also available. Please call them at 559-439-2669.

The next suggestion is almost an hour from Fresno, but it's a lovely drive up to Oakhurst via Hwy. 41, north. This very special place is, of course, the famed Erna's Elderberry House. Chefs Karsten Hart and James Overbaugh bill this as a "Traditional American Feast With a European Flair." In addition to the traditional turkey (but with that European flair!), you'll enjoy other dishes such as Tasmanian Sea Trout, Ahi Tuna, Corn Cioppino, a Cauliflower-Caraway Souffle, Juniper Grilled Venison Flank Steak and Maple Bread Pudding. Topping off this very special Thanksgiving meal will be Chocolate-Walnut Terrine with Minted Cranberry Compote and Apple-Cinnamon Sorbet. Their staff will also prepare dishes for any dietary considerations. Meals will be served between 1:30pm and 6:30pm. It's $95.00 per person. Please call (559) 683-6800 for reservations. You might consider stopping at the Chukchansi Casino on the way home for a little holiday gambling. It's located about 10 minutes from the Elderberry House just off of Hwy. 41.

Whether you enjoy your Thanksgiving Feast in a private home or in a restaurant setting have a great and very thankful Thanksgiving Day. Happy Thanksgiving!