Restaurants to be thankful for

Those who don't want to cook their own Thanksgiving meals have options on Thanksgiving Day. Several restaurants are open and serving traditional foods. See our list of who's open.

Three restaurant-related turkey tips

1. Let a restaurant smoke your bird: As always, many local barbecue restaurants will sell birds already smoked, available for pickup on Thanksgiving Day. Jet Bar-B-Q at 1100 E. Third St. (316-262-7299) will allow customers with reservations to pick up 12- to 14-pound birds hot from the smoke pit. (They run about $30.) Call your neighborhood restaurant now to check on availability and make a reservation.

2. Let a restaurant make your whole meal: Yia Yia's Eurobistro at 8115 E. 21st St. will sell customers a Thanksgiving dinner that includes three sides, turkey and gravy, rolls and pumpkin pie for $18 a person. Make reservations by Tuesday.

3. Let a restaurant have a day off, for goodness' sake: The Beacon, a favorite downtown diner, originally posted signs announcing it would be open on Thanksgiving Day, but managers have since thought better of it. The restaurant will be closed after all.

Dishes for wishes

Through the end of November, local Applebee's restaurants are participating in a fundraiser called "Dishes for Wishes." Each time a diner orders an Ultimate Trio appetizer sampler, a 12-ounce rib eye, a Real burger or a dessert shooter, Applebee's will make a contribution to the Make-A-Wish chapter that grants wishes to children throughout Kansas.

You've gotta try it

Reader John Dye wrote to express his ardent appreciation of Burritos El Mexicano, a restaurant built in a former A&W building at 1712 E. 47th St. South. The restaurant is family-owned, and the food is excellent — especially the taco salad, Dye said. Also on the menu — a variety of Mexican breakfast plates, breakfast burritos, tostadas, tortas, tacos and enchiladas. The restaurant, which opened nearly a year ago, is open from 7 a.m. to midnight daily.

Hello, goodbye

A roundup of restaurant comings and goings from the past week:

*Let’s Be Frank, the hot dog place at 2425 E. Douglas, is closed during an ongoing dispute with the landlord. The windows are papered over, and the owners are trying to decide what’s next.

*Fresh Roast Coffee, a wholesale coffee supplier at 3700 E. Douglas in Clifton Square, has started selling already-brewed coffee and biscotti. It’s open starting today from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily except Sundays.

*Mike’s Wine Dive should open in the recently vacated Caffe Posto space at 4714 E. Douglas by March 1. It will be owned by Jimmy’s Egg franchisee Whitney VinZant and some partners, who haven’t shared details beyond that the dive will offer wine and food.

Recently reviewed

* Senor Tequila — Tex-Mex fare (10/30/09)

* Sit @ Thai Bistro — Many tasty dishes (10/09/09)

* Jose Pepper's — Worth the wait (8/28/09)

* Saigon Bistro — Worth finding (8/14/09)

* Hangar One Steakhouse — A little turbulence (7/31)

* Little Monk's — A lot for a little (7/10/09)

Recently opened

* Applebee's, 320 S. Ridge

* Playa Azul, 360 N. Rock Road

* Dolci & Joe's, 3425 E. Douglas

* Chipotle, 535 S. Rock Road

* Mary's Mexico Cafe, 1930 S. Oliver

* Zaytun, 2020 N. Woodlawn, Suite 300

* Senor Tequila, 8760 W. 21st St.

* Subway, 21st and Greenwich

* Lilli Mae's, 206 E. Kellogg

* Solo's Diner, 6819 W Kellogg

* Schlotzsky's/Cinnabon. 8710 W. Central

* Pacific Coast Pizza, 37th and Rock Road

* Mix It Up Frozen Yogurt & Deli, 630 E. Douglas

* Mediterraneo, 505 S. Webb Road

* Pho Hot Bistro, 306 N. Rock Road

* Baskin Robbins, 21st and Webb

* Denny's, Kellogg and Rock

* Dudley's Sports Bar and Grill, 8550 W. 21st St.

Coming soon

* Firefly Cafe, 250 W. Douglas (Soon)

* College Hill Deli and Catering, 3407 E. Douglas (Soon)

* Kanai, 119th and Maple (Late November)

* Froz, 3242 N. Rock Road (Dec. 1)

* Hereford House, Terradyne Country Club (December)

* Big Easy Cajun, Towne East food court (fall)

* Jimmy's Egg, 47th and Broadway (TBA)

* Sprouts, 1812 S. Seneca (TBA )

* Wasabi Japanese Restaurant, 912 E. Douglas, January

* Cinnamon's Deli, 29th and Maize (early 2010)

* Five Guys Burgers and Fries, 29th and Maize (early 2010)

* Long John Silver's, 29th and Maize (early 2010)

* Mike's Wine Dive, 4714 E. Douglas (March)

* Oishii, 37th and Rock, TBA

Recently closed

* Let's Be Frank, 2425 E. Douglas

* Caffe Posto, 4714 E Douglas Ave.

* Chill Gelato and Cafe, 2404 N. Maize Road

* La Mesa, 6960 W. 21st

* Highlands Gastro Pub & Cardroom, 3731 N. Rock Road

* Applebee's, 6730 W Central Ave, Wichita

* Monterrey, 3320 N. Rock Road

* Eaton Steakhouse, 523 E. Douglas

* Crossroads, 1930 S. Oliver

* Ajuua, 360 N. Rock Road

* Papa John's, 2111 W. 21st

On the Side

Denise Neil on Dining

Denise answers your questions about dining out in Wichita. Visit her Q & A

Q&A

Q: I wondered if the Mediterraneo restaurant is on your list for review. I had dinner there last night with a friend and it was delicious! The wait staff was friendly and helpful and the seafood dishes we had were on par with Bonefish, but not as expensive. A lovely dining experience. — Laurie from Wichita

A: It is on my list. in fact, I was just telling someone the other day that I needed to check it out. I do have a copy of the menu, and several dishes look delicious, including a portobello chicken ravioli and a chermoula roasted Chilean sea bass. The restaurant is at 505 S. Webb Road, in the former Italian Garden space.

Read more

Question of the week

How do you decide how much tip to leave at a restaurant? Is it the same percentage no matter what, or does your server have to earn it?

A few answers to last week's question: Which Wichita restaurant offers the best value for the money?

"You knew it was coming... Cafe Asia!" —fish

"Da Nang has delicious sandwiches for under $3! My favorite is the Charcoal Pork." —museum—friend

"As has been the case in Wichita since the 1940s, at the old Pan American cafe and King Mar family restaurants. Chinese restaurants always give you the best bang for your dollar." —JinJiang

"For lunch, it's Chiang Mai. I recommend one of their curry dishes, and it comes with a choice of egg roll, soup or salad. And you get a tasty little piece of fried bread with icing for dessert. All for between $5.50 and $6.50." —tbest4475

Discuss Wichita dining in our forum

Contact Denise Neil at dneil@wichitaeagle.com