Thanksgiving Dinner Restaurant in Idaho Falls

Interesting. And IF might be a large enough market to support such a specialty diner.

Then I got to thinking about what makes Thanksgiving dinner special in the first place. Chopping out the religious, spiritual, and traditional reasons, that brings it down to a very short list. At the top of that list, in my estimation, is the infrequency of such feasts.

Nowadays my family sits down to these feasts twice a year — Thanksgiving and Christmas. While growing up, my mom also fixed such a meal in celebration of Dad’s birthday. Having Thanksgiving everyday may tend to take some of the “special” out it.

There was a movie a few decades ago where a turkey-farming widow and her kids had to eat their turkeys to survive. At first the kids thought that was the best thing ever — Thanksgiving every day. They soon tired of it!

But that’s a movie, not a cafe.

By the way — Which do you like best, the dressing that’s cooked inside the turkey, the dressing that is cooked in a pan by itself?

Alton Brown on that awesome “Good Eats” show on food network declares turkey stuffing to be evil. He says when cooked inside the bird, either the stuffing is cooked correctly and the bird is underdone or the bird is cooked correctly and the stuffing is overdone. He also noted the higher likelihood of e.coli in turkey stuffing.

I do like plain old stove top stuffing.

I imagine like any restaurant the owners and the patrons would get sick of it after awhile. Hopefully enough people would like it to try it occasionally and keep the business prosperous.

I was thinking at first the restaurant could be themed like Thanksgiving holiday, but I realized (and agree with you) that it would take away from the special-ness of the holiday.

I just want to eat the type of food more often than twice a year. 8^)

I mentioned this idea at my workplace months ago, and I still hear some people talking about it. I think it could be successful. I hope someone takes this idea and runs with it because I could go for this type of food today.

Is the idea of dishing the leftovers into plastic take-out containers viable against health code rules? I do not mean doggy-bags from your hot meal.

I mean dishing up the leftovers at the end of the night into take out containers like rubbermaids, refrigerating them, then selling them the next day for lunch take out meals? Is that viable or a health code restriction?

Is there a good restaurant in IF that is serving Thanksgiving Dinner for those of us passing through on the holiday and not able to be home?

If Smitty’s is open that would be my bet.

There’s no way I’d eat out for Thanksgiving unless of course I was traveling and didn’t have the means to cook. But the only time I would travel during those times, would be to visit family anyways.
I enjoy spending the day in the kitchen cooking with the family. Even when I was single I’d still spend all day in the kitchen. I’d be up by 5am getting the turkey and all the fixin’s ready and by 3pm I’d be feasting like a king. Then I’d always fix large plates to take to my other single neighbors and friends. By the end of the day there was maybe enough leftovers for a sandwhich the next day.
I honestly can’t remember the last time I “ate out” for Thanksgiving OR Christmas. I get way too much enjoyment and satisfaction cooking for my friends & family so they don’t have to go out to eat.

but it’s good to know their are those places available to those that are traveling or would rather not cook.

I’m with you me. I love Thanksgiving, and I love all the eatery that goes with it. However, when you are limited on space, it gets to be a real hassle. By going to the Shilo for dinner, it cuts down on hassle, work, and frustration. We always have some of the traditional dishes, but use them mainly for snacks or lunches. It gets a little pricey eating out, but if everyone pays for their own, it is workable and in my opinion the only way to go. However, we do accept invitations to eat at someone else’s place that has more room. That’s great also.