So you (or Mom) don't have to clean up the mess ...

1. Sixteen (River North) - Give thanks Trump-style by noshing on organic farm-raised maple roasted turkey, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, and, of course, the raw bar. 2. NoMI (North Side) - The Thanksgiving brunch buffet runs into the dinner hours of 7 p.m., but forget all that and focus on the roasted duck, traditional sides, and carved turkey just like Ma aspires to make. 3. The Goddess and Grocer (Bucktown/Wicker Park) - Place a catering order before the 24th to get your butternut squash ravioli, pumpkin risotto cakes with sage cream and balsamic syrup, and festive Thanksgiving cookies.

4. ZED451 (River North) - Open until 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Thursday, they're offering a $55 fixed-price menu that includes all their harvest tables and endless plates of meat. Start off with a cranberry-spiced old fashioned, then move on to the red apple sangria. 5. Lockwood (The Loop) - Celebrate America's "first" meal together with unlimited Champagne for adults and sparkling cider for children (just like the pilgrims). Find chestnut soup, free-range turkey with traditional stuffing, and braised sweet potatoes at the buffet. 6. SUSHISAMBA rio (North Side) - The "mojo" marinated chicken entree includes cornbread-linguica stuffing, organic fall vegetables, and roasted pan gravy. Eat, drink their special Thanksgiving cocktail (Montecristo spiced rum, Canton, pear juice, and caramel sauce topped with fresh whipped cream and crushed candied pecans), and be merry until midnight. 7. Custom House (South Loop) - Chef Richard Camarota eases your burden in the kitchen by preparing a "to go" menu of traditional sides like green bean casserole, glazed carrots, potato gratin, sweet corn succotash, and buttermilk biscuits. 8. BIN 36 (North Side) - Choose between the rotisserie turkey with sage gravy or the salmon and crab coulibiac with beurre rouge, but not before choosing from a user-friendly list of 50 wines by the glass. Kids under 5 eat free on Thanksgiving. 9. Chicago Diner (Wrigleyville) - Buck the tradition at home by eating a 100% vegan holiday meal: tofu turkey, pumpkin ravioli, stuffed squash, and a vegan version of beef Wellington. 10. David Burke's Primehouse (North Side) - Squeeze into the chic little dining room for squash bisque, truffled egg noodles, roasted turkey, and some pumpkin brulee. And there's always the prime rib ...