Thanksgiving Day is rapidly approaching and with more than 75 percent of local restaurants shutting down for this holiday, reserving a table early is sound advice.

Tarrytown restaurants proving special roast turkey meals include Equus at the Castle, Bistro Z at the Doubletree Hotel, Harvest Grille at the Westchester Marriott and Ruth's Chris Steak House also at the Marriott.  Maud's in Hastings-on-Hudson will offer a gluten-free Thanksgiving Day roast-turkey dinner, stuffing included.

Exotic  alternates are available at most restaurants too -- for non-fowl eaters, Red Hat on the River in Irvington can substitute sustainably raised salmon imported from Loch Duart, Scotland and the Harvest Grille will serve herb Dijon crusted leg of lamb as an option.

Also worthy of consideration for taking the children to see is Westchester County's own version of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 20 in New Rochelle. Marching starts at 10 a.m. at the corner of North Ave and Eastchester Road. Eight bands, 15 floats, and more than 1,000 participants are expected. Prior to the parade, a pancake breakfast will be held from 8 to 9:30 a.m. in the new wing cafeteria of New Rochelle High School. Admission is $3 for children, students under 18 and senior citizens and $5 for adults. Park free off North Ave at Braemer Rd, near the tennis courts.  For more information, call the New Rochelle Chamber of Commerce at 914-632-5700.]

Where to eat turkey in Tarrytown

The Castle on the Hudson (Equus) will serve Ashley Farms roast turkey on Thanksgiving Day from noon to 7 p.m. accompanied by glazed petite root vegetables, Brussels sprouts, sweet sausage herb stuffing and maple ginger sweet potato puree with pan sauce. The regular menu won't be available but four alternate entree choices are offered: acorn squash panzotti, yellow fin tuna, rack of lamb and pave of Black Angus sirloin. The meal includes an appetizer, soup or salad, entree and dessert. Service is sit-down only this year (no buffet table as last year). The cost is $85 per person. 

At the DoubleTree (Bistro Z), the buffet will include a raw bar with jumbo shrimp, oysters and clams on the half shell, soup, salad, entrees, sides, breads and desserts. Entrees include roast turkey, apricot glazed country ham, and artichoke ravioli with asparagus, mushroom and Boursin cheese sauce. Sides include maple and sage sausage stuffing, bourbon glazed yams, macadamia crusted cod-coconut cream, root vegetable and potato gratin, and broccoli, cauliflower and carrots. Apple, pecan and pumpkin pies are some of the dessert choices. The buffet will be served from noon to 4 p.m.  Cost: $38 per adult, $19 for young adults and $10 for children under 12.

Harvest Grille will celebrate Thanksgiving with a prix-fixe dining choice of roast turkey with apple sausage stuffing, leg of lamb, shrimp farfalle, blackened salmon or chicken scaloppini. Starters include butternut squash or corn crab soup and a collection of cheeses. A salad bar includes Caesar, pasta with shrimp and greens with nuts, cranberries and blue cheese among its choices. The Viennese dessert display has cakes, pastries, cookies and chocolate dipping fountains. The cost is $32 for adults and $12 for kids from 5 to 12. 

Ruth's Chris Steak House will serve a roast turkey meal on Thanksgiving Day beginning with a choice of soup or salad; the roast turkey main course will be accompanied by stuffing and cranberry sauce. Dessert will be a duo of pumpkin cheesecake and vanilla ice cream. Cost: $35.95 per adult and $12 per child. Also available will be two "Classics" menus. The $39.95 three-course Classics menu will have main choices of a 6-ounce filet mignon and shrimp, three crab cakes, fish or stuffed chicken breast. The $49.95 three-couse Classics menu will offer as entrees: 11-ounce filet mignon, 16-ounce ribeye steak, veal chop or Hong Kong style sea bass. Service is from 1 to 8 p.m.

Elsewhere to go in Westchester County

80 West at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel in White Plains will provide each adult guest with a complimentary champagne Mimosa. The carving station will offer roast turkey and stuffing and roulade of beef tenderloin. Other entrees will include French chicken and poached saffron salmon. The raw bar will have Kumomoto oysters and Little Neck clams and an antipasti station will distribute salami, sopressata, marinated bocconcini and provolone. Desserts include pies and sundaes. The cost is $50 per adult and $25 for children 3 to 12. Seating is every half hour from noon to 4 p.m.

At the Atrium buffet, Vermont turkey will be carved and served with cranberry compote and pan gravy; prime rib will be cut to order and joined by horseradish cream. Other main courses at this Rye Brook restaurant in the Doral Arrowwood Conference Resort include chicken, salmon  and pasta. Also to be available are poached shrimp, crepes, omelets, waffles, cheese blintzes, sweet potato bisque, fruit, cheese, salads and a dessert buffet with tortes, pumpkin cheesecake, patries and chocolate dipped strawberries. The cost is $44.95 per adult. A children's buffet for kids 4 to 10 will be available offering chicken fingers and macaroni and cheese. The cost per child is $19.95. Specific seating times apply from noon to 6:30 pm.

The Farmhouse at the Bedford Post will offer a four-course Thanksgiving Day menu with a starter of marinated vegetables including warm olives, white bean cassoulet, root vegetables or a plate of prosciutto di Parma, country ham and duck pate. Exotic salads follow and for the main course, guests can choose from John Boy's slow roast turkey with natural juices and chestnut honey, whole roasted Branzino or prime grade ribeye.  Homemade desserts include spiced pumpkin pie, apple tarte, caramel gelato with cinnamon and bittersweet chocolate cake. Vegetarian options are available for each course including the main course. The regular menu will not be offered. The Thanksgiving Day menu will be available from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The cost is $95; a child's menu is available at $40. 

La Crémaillère in Bedford will serve its regular menu on Thanksgiving Day but it will add roast turkey with all the trimmings as an a la carte choice at $36 from 12:30 to 8 p.m.

Lusardi's Thanksgiving Day prix-fixe dinner starts with a choice from Brussels sprout salad, butternut squash with shrimp, Cavatelli di Ricotta e Zucca with four cheeses and chestnuts or homemade butternut squash ravioli. The main course at this Larchmont restaurant is sliced roast turkey with light brown sauce, Brussel sprouts, patate arrosto casereccie, cranberries and apple sauce. For dessert, diners can have pumpkin gelato with either apple and peach fagottino or with butternut squash tortino and warm chocolate sauce. Coffee, tea, cappuccino or espresso are included. The cost is $49.50.

Maud's Tavern has an a la carte menu that includes a traditional roasted turkey dinner with cornbread cranberry stuffing, mashed potatoes and apple cider gravy priced at $24.50. A gluten-free version will also be available at the same price. Other main course include cornish hen ($20.50), filet mignon ($23.95), baked stuffed chicken breast ($18.95), grilled salmon ($2050), filet of sole ($21.95), whole wheat spaghetti ($15.95), penne pasta ($15.95), Long Island duck ($22.95) and a vegetarian Thanksgiving Day dinner ($21.50). Appetizers include butternut squash soup, pumpkin ravioli, baked crab stuffed mushrooms, warm brie cheese with apples and almonds and steamed mussels in a garlic herb tomato white wine broth and range in price from $6.50 to $8.95. 

Red Hat on the River will serve a prix-fixe Thanksgiving Day feast featuring New England organic Heritage turkey with sausage, dried fruit and pine-nut stuffing, haricots verts, smashed sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and gravy. Available as alternate choices are Scottish salmon, duck with lentils, gnocchi and a 12-ounce Claiborne steak at an additional $10 charge. Starters include vegetable and chestnut veloute and crispy Peekytoe crab cake. Apple and lemon tartes, chocolate ganache cake and apple clafoute add a sweet finishing touch. The children's menu includes a starter such as fried zucchini sticks, an entree choice from roast turkey, burger or penne pasta and an ice cream sundae. The cost is $65 for an adult and $30 for a child 12. The Thanksgiving Day menu will be available from 12:30 to 7 p.m.

The Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford will set a buffet table for its Thanksgiving Day matinee performance of Jekyll & Hyde. Carved-to-order turkey with cornbread stuffing and gravy, baked Viriginia ham with raison sauce and stuffed fillet of sole are main courses. Sides include mashed potatoes, candied yams, broccoli spears, glazed carrots, pea and pearl onions and green beans. Salad, bread and dessert will be served at the table. The choices for dessert are pumpkin pie, apple pie and peach melba. Doors open and buffet starts at 1 p.m. The curtain rises at 3 p.m. Admission including lunch is $75 for adults, $67 for seniors and $52 for children 16 or under. 

Zitoune in Mamaroneck will celebrate Thanksgiving Day with a prix-fixe Moroccan spiced turkey breast meal served with sweet potato, chestnut puree and cranberry sauce. Alternate choices are slowly braised lamb shank or red snapper tagine (with marinated shrimp and garlic). Appetizers available are sweet goat cheese bouchee, pumpkin soup or a seafood combination of bass, cod, shrimp and crabmeat. for dessert, the choices are dark chocolate mousse with orange sauce or ice cream with caramelized pistachios. The cost of $40 per person includes a glass of wine and coffee or tea. The regular menu will also be available.

The Cabin in White Plains adds roast turkey with mashed potatoes to its sandwich menu for $14.95 but otherwise conducts business as usual. Sister restaurant Striped Bass in Tarrytown is closed.

Note: All prices shown above for prix-fixe meals do not include tax or tip.

_______________

80 West at the Renaissance Westchester Hotel, 80 West Red Oak Lane, White Plains, NY. 914-696-2782. www.80westrestaurant.com

Atrium at Doral Arrowwood Conference Resort, 975 Anderson Hill Rd, Rye Brook NY 10573. 914-935-6600. www.doralwood.com  

Bistro Z at the DoubleTree Hotel, 455 South Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591. 914-631-5700. www.doubletree1.hilton.com

Cabin, The, 1172 Knollwood Rd, White Plains, NY 10607. 914-592-6682. www.cabinrestaurantny.com

Equus at the Castle, 400 Benedict Ave, Tarrytown, NY 10591. 914-631-1980. www.castleonthehudson.com

Farmhouse at the Bedford Post, 954 Old Post Rd, Bedford, NY 10506. www.bedfordpostinn.com

Harvest Grille at the Westchester Marriott, 670 White Plains Rd, Tarrytown, NY 10591. 914-631-2200. www.marriott.com

La Crémaillère , 46 Bedford-Banksville Rd, Bedford, NY 10506. 914-234-9647. www.cremaille.com

Lusardi's, 1885 Palmer Ave, Larchmont, NY 10538. 914-834-5555. www.lusardislarchmont.com

Maud's Tavern, 145 Southside Ave, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706. 914-478-2326. www.maudstavern.com

Red Hat on the River, 1 Bridge St, Irvington, NY 10533. 914-591-5888. www.redhatbistro.com

Ruth's Chris at the Westchester Marriott, 670 White Plains Rd, Tarrytown, NY 10591. 914-631-3311. www.ruthschris.com

Westchester Broadway Theatre, 1 Broadway Plaza, Elmsford, NY 10523. 914-592-2222. www.broadwaytheatre.com

Zitoune, 1127 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, NY 10543. 914-835-8350. www.zitounerestaurant.com