While historians debate what was actually on the menu for the first Thanksgiving gathering between Native Americans and Pilgrims in 1621, most Americans plan to feast on turkey, stuffing, gravy, cranberries, and pumpkin pie.

Where you eat that meal is up to you. 

Plenty of local restaurants will open Thursday, Nov. 28, with many serving the staples of Turkey Day. 

Here are the ones we know of that will be serving and their menu. Be sure to confirm hours, and sometimes reservations are required or strongly recommended.

• Eddie Merlot’s, 1502 Illinois Road, is open 11 a.m.-8 p.m. serving a three-course meal starting with a salad or king crab and corn bisque. The entrée is hand-carved roasted turkey, sage stuffing, gravy, and cranberry relish. Sides include garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans, broccoli, and asparagus. Diners will finish a choice of carrot cake, triple chocolate cake, and crème brûlée with pumpkin spice. RSVP at eddiemerlots.com. 
• Granite City Food & Brewery, 3809 Coldwater Road, hosts a buffet from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. For reservations, call (260) 471-3030.
• Cracker Barrel, 1609 W. Washington Center Road, 10427 Maysville Road, and 1410 Shook Drive in Auburn, begins serving their classic Thanksgiving buffet at 11 a.m. It has dine-in for their classic buffet and delivery and pickup options for Thanksgiving. Their ready-to-eat meals are back. Thanksgiving Heat n’ Serve meals can serve up to 10 people and include Thanksgiving staples including turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberry relish, sweet potato casserole, and potatoes. It also provides pumpkin and pecan pie. Order at CrackerBarrel.com. Pickup is available between Nov. 23 and Dec. 1. You can also get a preview of their Christmas meals that become available in December. 
• Ruth’s Chris Steak House, 224 W. Wayne St., have dine-in and carry-out options this Thanksgiving from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. They’ll serve oven-roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, honey-glazed carrots, sausage, and herb stuffing. The meal starts with a green bean salad or chicken and andouille sausage soup and is capped with chocolate bourbon pecan pie topped with ice cream or New York-style pumpkin cheesecake. To make a reservation go to ruthschrisphg.com/fort-wayne
• Bob Evans, 2935 E. Dupont Road, 5135 Meijer Drive, 5785 Coventry Lane, and 309 W. Plaza Drive in Columbia City, is open 8 a.m.-7 p.m. As in years past, besides dining in, they’ll over their Farmhouse Feast prepared meal including turkey, bread and celery dressing, corn, mashed potatoes with gravy, freshly baked rolls, green beans with ham, cranberry relish, and pumpkin bread. Just warm them up and serve. It serves eight. Orders for Farmhouse Feast must be placed at BobEvans.com by Tuesday, Nov. 26. 
• Thanksgiving at Arbor at The Bradley, 204 W. Main St., offers a Thanksgiving meal crafted just for the occasion with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, Brussels sprouts, and cranberry sauce. It begins with a winter Caesar salad with radicchio, frisee, arugula, roman, butternut squash gruyere wedge, and Caesar dressing with a dessert of cheesecake or pumpkin pie. To reserve a spot, go to bradleyhotel.com/dining. Arbor is scheduled to open for all menu items from 7  a.m.-10 p.m.
•  Aldi and Target are offering an easy pickup option. Aldi will have a Thanksgiving feast for 10 people for $47. That includes the turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and stuffing. You can’t miss it; it’s at the top of the page at aldi.us. As for Target, they are offering a four-person feast for $20. Naturally, there’s turkey, gravy, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. There are also potatoes, green beans, and mushroom soup.

Rune gets into Christmas on Broadway spirit

Rune, 2725 Broadway, is diving into the thick of the Christmas on Broadway celebration Friday, Nov. 22, as it is literally at their front door. 

The restaurant will join the Shine & Hardin law firm for their annual Christmas tree lighting by offering hot chocolate, drinks, and grab-and-go sandwiches from 5-9 p.m.

There is ample parking near the plaza.

Proof announces final week of operations

Proof Kitchen & Libations, 1915 S. Calhoun St., are closing about a year after opening. 

The restaurant took to social media to announce their final day of operations will be Nov. 27. 

Proof opened in the fall of 2023 as a venture between David Tomaszewski and Will Long. It replaced Welch’s Ale House, which before that was Calhoun Street Soups, Salads, & Spirits. 

The restaurant drew attention as an up-scale, casual pub offering burgers, sandwiches, and salads with many gluten-free dishes, a deep selection of beer, wine, and spirits, and locally sourced. 

A post on Proof’s Facebook simply thanked guests and staff but gave no reason for the closing.

News and Venues covers Northeast Indiana’s music and arts organizations, venues, and colleges, from large to small. Send your news items to info@whatzup.com.