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Turkey with no trouble

By Linda Perney

Turkey with all the trimmings (Newsday/Bruce Gilbert)

You say you want tradition, but you don't want to bother cooking the dinner? Never mind, the city's top chefs will do it for you. All you have to do is make a reservation. Do it soon, though. Plenty of other people have got the same idea.

MANHATTAN:

BARBUTO. Master chef Jonathan Waxman expects a neighborhood crowd at his sunny, cheerful place in the way West Village. The menu includes turkey (natch), but there are also a shaved brussels sprout salad and pumpkin ravioli in sage brown butter. For dessert? Panna cotta with pumpkin or apple-pear pie with vanilla ice cream ($45 per person; 775 Washington Street; 212-924-9700. Reserve early)

COUNTRY. Cafe at the Country -- Geoffrey Zakarian's new sibling to Town -- has a three course Thanksgiving dinner, that starts with shellfish veloute, moves on to roast turkey with haricots verts and potatoe puree, and ends up with pumpkin pie with ice cream and pumpkin seeds. ($58 per person; 90 Madison Avenue; 212-889-7100. Reserve early)

BLT STEAK; BLT PRIME. Two of chef Laurent Tourondel's restaurants will offer a three-course, prix fixe menu, which includes turkey with chestnut stuffing, mushroom risotto with Mushroom cappuccino and truffles, and hazelnut-pumpkin pie with pumpkin spice ice cream and honey whipped cream. ($68 per person; BLT Steak: 106 East 57th Street; 212-752-7470. BLT Prime: BLT Prime: 111 East 22nd Street;: 212-995-8500. Reserve early)

BAR AMERICAIN. Bobby Flay's newest place has a classic Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings: maple-horseradish glazed turkey, sourdough-wild mushroom stuffing, sweet potato gratin, and a triple pumpkin bread pudding. Yum. ($75 per person; 152 West 52nd Street; 212-265-9700. Reserve early)

P.J. CLARKE. If you're looking for laid-back, you've found it. You don't even need a reservation at Clarke's, and the price is right ($20.05 per head). For that you get all the traditional stuff: roast turkey, stuffing, string beans, sweet potatoes, and gravy. (915 Third Avenue; 212-317-1618)

BROOKLYN.
ICI. However you want to do Thanksgiving, Ici has your number. You can reserve a table at this cheerful Fort Greene bistro and celebrate the day with pumpkin soup, turkey with oyster stuffing and collard greens and pecan pie. If you're not up for turkey, there are short ribs and striped bass, as alternatives. If, you'd just as soon stay home, but don't want to cook the turkey, ask Ici to do it for you (whole roast organic turkey, $6 per pound). And, if you're really lazy, they'll do the whole dinner for you -- all you do is pick it up ($33 per person). (246 DeKalb Avenue; 718-789-2778. Reserve early.)