Last year the Lunch Lady loaded up the Honda Element with her three closest friends (and their luggage) and trekked up north for a wonderful Thanksgiving meal on the exquisite Orcas Island. This year, with the cost of, well, just about everything skyrocketing, we’re staying closer to home.

So what’s a Lunch Lady to do? Our kitchen is so small Rachael Ray would burst into tears upon seeing it (and would hopefully immediately offer to redo the entire kitchen with high-end European appliances like the ones Kelly Ripa pretends to use in those TV ads). Not only do we not have a dishwasher, but making anything more complicated than Cup O’Noodles or instant oatmeal requires some superhuman creativity.

So whipping up a turkey dinner with all the trimmings just isn’t going to happen. That said, I don’t want to do what I did when I was 22 and had just moved to Washington, DC—order in Chinese—so I’ll likely be overindulging at a restaurant this year.

And why the heck not? If you want to skip the cooking, the anxiety-inducing relatives and the messy kitchen hangover on Thanksgiving Day, why not just eat out?

Several Portland-area restaurants offer special holiday menus just for Thanksgiving. We tracked down some of the more creative and (somewhat) moderately priced options for opting out of slaving away in the kitchen.

Check out our list!

Bistro Maison
729 East 3rd Street
McMinnville, OR 97128
503-474-1888

If you want to escape not only the hustle and bustle of a crowded holiday kitchen, but the entire city, you should consider the Thanksgiving feast at Bistro Maison in McMinnville. Just about an hour drive from downtown Portland, McMinnville is in the heart of Oregon’s scenic wine country.

The fixed menu ranges from traditional roasted turkey with the trimming to the more eclectic pumpkin, ricotta and sage filled homemade ravioli.

Rates for the prix fixe menu are $39 per person (or $59 with wine pairings). Children under 12 are offered a three-course menu for $17. The Thanksgiving menu is offered from noon to 7:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended.

The Country Cat
7937 SE Stark Street
Portland, OR 97215
503-408-1414

If you are like me, you’ve been hearing nothing but rave reviews of The Country Cat. The restaurant’s fare has been described as experimental comfort food cuisine, and their four-course Thanksgiving menu reflects just that.

Along with the traditional turkey entrée (served with all the trimmings), the Turkey Day menu includes pork chops, a fall harvest vegetable crostada and pan seared Arctic char, all served with delicious sounding sides.

The restaurant is open on Thanksgiving from 2 to 7:30 p.m. The fixed menu is $40 per person (beverages and gratuity not included) and a children’s menu will be available. Reservations are recommended.

Rheinlander German Restaurant
5035 NE Sandy Boulevard
Portland, OR 97213
503-288-5503

Erntedankfest is what they call Thanksgiving in Germany, but we Americans have the better holiday hands down! Instead of gorging on turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mashed potatoes, Germans spend most of their holiday at church!

But Portland’s very own German restaurant certainly doesn’t skimp on the Americanized version as they offer up a grand turkey dinner feast with all of trimming, including their famous Swiss fondue and homemade pumpkin pie!

Their special Thanksgiving dinner is $24.95 per person and served from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations are recommended.

Salty’s on the Columbia
3839 NE Marine Drive
Portland, OR 97211
503-288-4444

As if Thanksgiving isn’t already about stuffing yourself deliriously full of delicious food, the legendary Salty’s on the Columbia is offering a decked out buffet of turkey, ham, prime rib, Dungeness crab legs, salmon, cod and a plethora of side dishes and desserts. You will definitely need the stretchy waistband pants for this meal! Seriously, they say don’t be bashful about seconds (or thirds or fourths).

The dining room is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the meal is $36.95 per person (or $39.95 with champagne) and the kids eat for $1.50 per year up to age 10. Reservations are recommended.

Terrace Kitchen
485 2nd Street
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
503-699-1136

This is one of the new restaurants the Lunch Lady has wanted to check out since we heard they were open. Owners Fernando and Marlene Divina recently opened Terrace Kitchen in downtown Lake O with the concept of highlighting fresh and local food—from farmers to fishermen.

If you haven’t had a chance to stop by yet, you might want to venture there on Thanksgiving Day with family and friends for some fine Oregon cuisine. Their three-course dinner menu begins with a choice of salad, then moves on to a pick of entrees including traditional Tom Turkey as well as lamb, beef brisket and cod and shrimp dishes. All entrees are served with a variety of side dishes. The meal concludes with a choice of dessert, including a pumpkin crème brulee! Yum!

Terrace Kitchen will be open from noon to 6 p.m., and the meal is $38 per person (plus gratuity) and children 10 and under are $17.50. Reservations are highly recommended.

Urban Farmer (@ The Nines)
575 SW Morrison Street
Portland, OR 97204
503-222-4900

Enjoy your Thanksgiving meal at the new restaurant in the historic Meier & Frank Building downtown. Urban Farmer is a steakhouse restaurant attached to the brand new luxury hotel, The Nines. We have yet to visit The Nines, but hear it’s absolutely stunning! Check out the newly refurbished building and indulge in a Thanksgiving feast fit for a hungry meat-eater (and it’s right on the MAX line).

Urban Farmer is offering a traditional turkey dinner fixed menu for $40 per person and limited offerings (mainly meat!) from their regular menu. Reservations are recommended.