Anyone who's taken the plunge will know, eating out on Thanksgiving is one of the best decisions a modern-day citizen can make.

Instead of roaming the aisles of an unforgiving grocery store and spending your day basting a turkey, beat the holiday season at its own game . . . Pick up the phone, make a reservation and find yourself a place at the table — someone else's table, that is.

So without further ado, here are your restaurant options for Turkey Day 2012, so you can enjoy those parades and dog shows without the stress of dinner prep.

New School

• Benjy's on Washington has a special Thanksgiving menu for $38 per person from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Canopy has an amazing menu lined up for Thursday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For $45 a person, you get three courses with tons of vegetarian options and excellent modern takes on holiday greats.
• Haven, meanwhile, is offering up an earth-conscious dinner for $55 a person ($20 for kids) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reservations go quickly, but there's always room at the bar.
• Mockingbird Bistro has a well-conceived menu with plenty of seafood options for $59 ($29 for kids) from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Monarch at Hotel ZaZa offer a $55 feast from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Phillippe takes on the classic Thanksgiving dinner from noon to 8 p.m. with its blend of Texan and French culinary approaches.
• Roost does T-Day with a hyper-local, hyper-seasonal menu available from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Sorrell Urban Bistro also has a special seasonal menu from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Galleria newcomer White Oak Kitchen is getting itself into the turkey game this year, with a $39 three-course meal 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Expect a range of internationally-inspired flavors.
• The 024 Grille at the Westin in Memorial City has one of the best deals in town with a thoughtful $35-per-person a la carte menu from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Old School

• Surprisingly, Italian stalwart Arturo's Uptown has one of the most traditional Thanksgiving dinners around, serving up butternut squash soup, turkey with cranberry sauce and apple pie from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant's popular Italian dishes also are available.
• Branch Water Tavern is rocking its now-annual Thanksgiving buffet, offering all the classics with some pops of seafood from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It's a nice value at $40 a person ($20 for kids).
• Brennan's of Houston is serving up it owns Turkey Day experience with plenty of Gulf Coast charm. Get three course of Cajun-inspired favorites for $55 a person from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Click for a menu.
• Chaviari dishes out its usual Old World flavors with a $48 meal from noon to 7 p.m.
• Cinq, located in the historic Colombe D'Or hotel, will open for a 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. lunch menu with special Turkey Day options
• And then there's always Thanksgiving at Spindletop, because what's more old school than a revolving restaurant?

Brunch . . . the new Thanksgiving Dinner?

• From 9:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Américas is expanding its brunch this year to include all the T-Day dishes along side its flavorful omelet options.
• With seatings at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Kiran's has a brunch buffet with all the Indian favorites along side the Thanksgiving staples for $45 (kids are $19.95).
• At Hotel Icon, Line + Lariat will be serving a $27 brunch from 10 a.m. to noon, complete with turkey. Dinner runs from 4 to 6 p.m. at the same price. Kids eat for $12.99.
• As always, Quattro at the Four Seasons will offer its popular brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. At $79 per person ($35 for 12 and under), this is no ordinary late morning meal. From 5:30 to 10 p.m., the restaurant will serve a traditional Thanksgiving menu for $58 ($29 for kids).
• The St. Regis Hotel is another bruncher's delight on Thursday, serving from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for $75 a person ($35 for kids aged 5 to 12). Everyone wins at the St. Regis, as adults get complimentary sparkling wine and kids get live entertainment and activities.

If we left out your favorite, let us know in the comments section below.