Thanksgiving has cemented itself in most of the nation’s traditions and has continued to bring families together in the spirit of hospitality and warmth of friendship. Yet another popular American tradition clashes every year with this holiday.
Football and food are nearly inseparable; and if you were lucky enough to get tickets to the game against Texas, then you’ve probably opted out of Turkey Day. Not to worry though, I’m here to propose a few negotiations or alternatives to a potentially volatile situation with Grandma and Grandpa.
When you find yourself in Austin on Nov. 25, you might want to look up a few of these restaurants that will be serving the traditional Thanksgiving feast. Grab your family and haul them over to any of these places for a nice meal or a quick bite. Hudson’s on the Bend is a restaurant that remains open for most of the holidays and doesn’t require a reservation. Hudson’s will open at 11 a.m. and serve until 3 p.m. Thursday; the restaurant will feature a full menu, complete with the ever-popular turkey. The price is a little above moderate, but if you’re willing to pay a few extra dollars, Hudson’s is for you.
Luby’s will be having its serve-style meal with all the essentials and trimmings of Thanksgiving and has a much larger seating arrangement than most places, which means you’re more likely to sit down faster and enjoy the food. The price is definitely below Hudson’s and matches the quality dollar-for-dollar.
If a sit-down Thanksgiving just isn’t in your schedule, there are plenty of options for a take-out turkey that you can eat right up to the gate before watching the Aggies take on the Longhorns. Central Market will be making take-out meals that come at an affordable cost and spare the trouble of getting a reservation or finding the time to sit down.
The Wheatsville Co-Op will be serving free-range turkey and vegan meals to any customer that puts out the cash. The price is moderate and provides an organic alternative to the traditional Thanksgiving.
Of course, you may not want to partake in the standard home-cooked turkey or the delicious pumpkin pie. If this is the case, there are plenty of alternatives to stuffing and cranberry sauce.
If you’re going all out and budget is not a concern, then look up The Iron Cactus for hearty southwestern food that all Texans can enjoy. Or consider the Iguana Grill for a casual atmosphere complete with Tex-Mex featuring a twist.
Game-goers that are on a budget can still enjoy a good meal on Thanksgiving if they don’t require the turkey. Hut’s Hamburgers offers the usual burger, fries and a shake, but at a price that is hard to beat.
The Screaming Goat, while sounding a bit unorthodox, is a Mexican food restaurant that serves entrees for less than $10 each.
Bring your family to any of these places and they are sure to forget the griping of their Aunt Jane or the antics of Cousin Mel for a few hours away from home but close to the heart.
Thanksgiving is all about the unity of people. A meal does not define the holiday, so if you can’t make it out to any of these restaurants, then simply spending the time with family or friends while watching the game is just fine. Although you could at the very least grab a few hot dogs from the concession stand and dress them in holiday-esque ketchup and mustard.