New, updated Thanksgiving (and pre-)

Harvest Moon Grille will offer a family-style local Thanksgiving Day meal featuring local heritage turkey and pork, chestnut-sausage stuffing, collard green salad, roasted root vegetables and more. Seatings are at 1 and 3 p.m., with private dining offered for parties of 10 or more.
$39.99 per person plus tax and tip; $12.99 for those younger than 9.
At the Dunhill, 237 N. Tryon St.; 704-332-4141.

Soul Gastrolounge offers "Get-Ready-for-Thanksgiving" specials Nov. 24 (that's Wednesday), including creamed Brussels sprouts and mushrooms with crispy fried onion rings; new potato croquettes with giblet gravy filling; pan-fried sage sausage stuffing cubes; turkey noodle kugel and more for $5 to $8.
Soul will also be open 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Thanksgiving Day for a "Vicious Thanksgiving" -- sushi only, plus house music by DJ Johnny Vicious. 1500 Central Ave.; 704-348-1848.

All drafts go for $3 Thanksgiving Eve at The Pizza Peel. 4422 Colwick Road; 704-714-8808.

Nov. 22 is the last day you can order a pick-up Thanksgiving spread from Stratos Restaurant Group (Nolen Kitchen, ilios noche, Big View Diner): $195 buys you a meal for 8-10, and you can also get desserts a la carte. Pick-up is Nov. 24 before 4 p.m. 704-544-0313.

The Mac's Speed Shop location on South Boulevard hosts its first annual Thanksgiving Eve party Nov. 24; patrons can pick up their smoked turkeys, hams and sides from 2-6 p.m., and from 6:30 p.m. on, there'll be live rock 'n' roll and half-price pints. 2511 South Blvd.; 704-522-6227.

Lulu will be open Thanksgiving 11 a.m.-6 p.m., with specials and the regular dinner menu. 1911 Central Ave.; reservations: 704-376-2242.

Upstream , at Phillips Place in SouthPark, will be open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. for a traditional dinner. $34.95, $14.95 for those 12 and younger. Reservations required; 704-556-7730.

Passion8 Bistro offers three courses for $48 (kids 6 and younger are free and 7-12 half price) from 4-8:30 p.m. Or you can get Thanksgiving platters to go: main dishes, hors d'oeuvres, sides, etc. 3415 Highway 51 North in Fort Mill; 803-802-7455.

New South Kitchen will be open, as well as offering complete take-home dinners. Dinner will be served noon-5 p.m., with traditional Southern dishes on the menu, for $30 per person. For takeout, including turkey, sausage cornbread stuffing, collards, sweet potato casserole, bourbon-soaked bread pudding and more: 704-541-9990. 8140 Providence Road; www.newsouthkitchen.com.

GadoGado will serve a traditional dinner (all-natural turkey and honey-glazed ham, sides, dessert) noon-6 p.m. for $27. 157 N. Trade St., Matthews; 704-844-8686.

Harper's at SouthPark offers complete to-go dinners with choice of traditional Southern roasted or oven ready turkeys, plus trimmings. 704-366-6612.

Villa Antonio at 4707 South Blvd. offers a meal for 6-8 people for $135; 704-523-1594.

More takeout options: The VanLandingham Estate (2010 The Plaza) and The Morehead Inn (1122 E. Morehead St.) offer pickup and a wide menu. Go the their websites: www.vanlandinghamestate.com and www.moreheadinn.com. And Mimosa Grill, at which you can pick up a turkey and sides the day before or day of Thanksgiving, for $24.95 per person. (Yes, they'll also be serving dine-in here; see below.) Details: 704-343-0700.

Both Red Rocks Cafes will do buffets 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Thanksgiving Day. $23.95 for adults, $10.95 for 12 and younger; reservations are required; www.redrockscafe.com or via phone (Birkdale Village in Huntersville: 704-892-9999; Strawberry Hill, 4223 Providence Road; 704-364-0402).

Mimosa Grill hosts a family-style dinner 11 a.m.-4 p.m. for $24.95. 327 S. Tryon St.; 704-343-0700.

Mez will host Thanksgiving brunch 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m., with salad and carving stations, breakfast dishes and traditional sides such as sweet potato casserole and cornbread stuffing, plus a dessert display including pumpkin, apple and chocolate chip pecan pie. $18.95; 210 E. Trade St. at the EpiCentre; 704-971-2400.

The Liberty offers a three-course dinner 11 a.m.-4 p.m. for $19.95 ($5.95 for those 7 and younger) and includes an all-you-can-eat dessert bar. 1812 South Blvd.; 704-332-8830.

The Ballantyne Hotel & Lodge offers brunch 11 a.m.-3 p.m., with seasonal salads, displays, carving stations with regional sides, and desserts. $55 ($28 for children ages 5-12, free for those 4 and younger); 10000 Ballantyne Commons Parkway; reservations required at 704-248-4100 or www.gallery-restaurant.com.

BLT Steak wins the prize with earliest announcement of Thanksgiving Day plans. The place, at the Ritz-Carlton in uptown (110 N. College St.), will do a three-course prix fixe turkey dinner by chef de cuisine Ben Miles, offered for $68 from noon-8 p.m. Among the entree options: organic turkey with chestnut stuffing; prime rib with caramelized onion and bacon popovers; seared Scottish salmon with braised fennel. Reservations: 704-972-4380.