PLEASE NOTE: For a list of Birmingham-area restaurants open for Thanksgiving 2015, go here.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- You have relatives coming in from out of town for Thanksgiving, but you don't want to spend three days in the kitchen preparing a Turkey Day feast.

You'd much rather just go out to eat and let the professionals do all the work for you.

You are not alone.

If last year's numbers hold true again, about 15 million Americans will visit a restaurant for their Thanksgiving meal this year, according to the National Restaurant Association.

And in the Birmingham area, Thanksgiving diners have a number of options from which to choose -- including some old favorites, such as the Irondale Cafe and Bessemer's Bright Star, as well as a couple of new ones, such as Cedars Grille in Hoover and Galley and Garden on Southside.

To help you make plans, here is an early list of some of the restaurants and hotel dining rooms in the Birmingham metro area that will be serving Thanksgiving Day specials. This list will be updated as more menus become available.

---> The Bright Star

On the menu: Choice of cream of turkey soup, tossed salad, seafood gumbo or shredded cabbage with dressing for an appetizer; choice of roasted turkey and dressing with giblet gravy and cranberry sauce or grilled ham steak with raisin sauce for an entree; choice of two vegetables: turnip greens, baked Greek-style potatoes, green beans, squash casserole, candied yams or creamed corn; choice of lemon ice box, coconut cream, pecan, chocolate almond, pineapple-cheese or peanut butter pie or New Orleans-style bread pudding for dessert; choice of coffee, tea or soda; children's menu includes choice of turkey and dressing or ham steak plus choice of two vegetables and a beverage.

Price: $22.95 for adults; $10.95 for children 12 and under; separate dinner entrees also available.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: 304 19th St. North, Bessemer.

Reservations: 426-1861 or 424-9444.

Website: www.thebrightstar.com.

---> Buttermilk Hill Restaurant and Bar

On the menu: Choice of roasted butternut squash bisque or mixed baby greens with roasted butternut squash, candied walnuts, red onions, dried cranberries and goat cheese topped with a honey shallot vinaigrette dressing; choice of baked ham or oven-roasted turkey or combination of the two served with cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, turnip greens, mashed sweet potatoes and glazed carrots; choice of Kentucky bourbon pecan pie with ice cream or pumpkin pie with cinnamon and brown sugar whipped cream for dessert.

Price: $35 for adults; children priced separately.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Address: 300 East Third St., Sylacauga.

Reservations: 256-207-1001.

Website: www.buttermilkhillrestaurant.com.

---> Cedars Grille

On the menu: Smoked turkey, carved roast beef with horseradish sauce, Southern dressing and gravy, sweet baby carrots, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, green beans with almonds, stir-fry vegetables, broccoli with cheese, pumpkin pie, carrot cake, pecan pie, assorted salads, assorted breads.

Price: $24.95 for adults; $12.95 for children 2 to 8; under 2 free.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Address: 1870 Chace Dr., Hoover.

Reservations: 205-988-5993.

Website: www.cedarschaselake.com.

---> Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

On the menu: Turkey and dressing with gravy, a sampling of sugar-cured ham, sweet potato casserole, cranberry relish, buttermilk biscuits or corn muffins, a choice of a country side, a beverage, and a slice of pumpkin pecan streusel pie for dessert.

Price: $10.99 for adults, $5.99 for children. (Children's meal does not include ham or sweet potato casserole and comes with a half slice of pie.)

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: Eight locations in the Birmingham metro area, including Bessemer, Calera, Gardendale, Leeds, Pelham, Pell City and Trussville. For addresses and phone numbers, go here.

Website: www.crackerbarrel.com.

---> Dixie Fish Co.

On the menu: Choice of seafood and sausage gumbo or Dixie salad; choice of herb-roasted turkey or deep-fried turkey served with oyster or cornbread dressing, mashed sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and giblet gravy; choice of white chocolate bread pudding, pumpkin pie or pecan pie.

Price: $26.99 for adults, $11.99 for children's serving.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Address: 101 Resource Center Parkway, Birmingham.

Reservations: 205-924-3493.

Website: www.dixiefish.com.

---> Galley and Garden

On the menu: Three-course, fixed-price brunch menu. First course: Choice of Southern seafood chowder with clams, snapper, shrimp and smoked tomatoes; Tate Farms squash soup with collard pesto and aged balsamic; grilled hearts of romaine lettuce with marinated tomato, aged balsamic syrup and shaved parmesan; rabbit pate en croute with coarse grain mustard and cranberry-raisin chutney; or baked Apalachicola oysters with spinach and pimento cheese crust. Second course: Choice of stuffed saddle of Duroc pork with maple sweet potatoes, wilted greens and pork jus; herb-roasted natural turkey with country stuffing, mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts and Southern gravy; pan-seared mangrove snapper with creamy orzo, Spanish chorizo, pearl onions and bacon-vinegar sauce; braised short rib with root vegetable gratin, caramelized Brussels sprouts, watercress salad and braising jus; or wood-fired loin of Aspen Ridge beef with whipped potatoes, green beans, shitakes and bordelaise sauce. Third course: Choice of Tahitian vanilla bean creme brulee with toasted almonds; warm Amish sourdough bread pudding with burnt caramel and golden raisin compote; bourbon pecan pie with chocolate morsels; or pumpkin cheesecake with cinnamon creme fraiche.

Price: $55; $25 for children 12 and under. Does not include beverages, tax or gratuity.

Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Address: 2220 Highland Ave. South, Birmingham.

Reservations: 205-939-5551.

Website: www.galleyandgarden.com.

---> Irondale Cafe

On the menu: Slow-roasted turkey, hickory-smoked ham, country-fried steak, fried buttermilk chicken, baked chicken, cornbread dressing with giblet gravy and cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and brown gravy, macaroni and cheese, sweet potato souffle, creamed corn, stewed cabbage, black-eyed peas, slow-cooked greens, green beans, steamed rice, coleslaw, carrot and raisin salad, Greek salad.

Price: $16.99 for adults, includes a meat, three sides, dessert, bread, tea or lemonade; $7.99 for children 12 and under, includes choice of turkey or two chicken tenders or chicken leg quarter, two sides, dessert, bread, tea or lemonade.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Address: 1906 First. Ave. North, Irondale.

Phone: 205-956-5258; reservations not necessary.

Website: www.irondalecafe.com.

---> Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa

On the menu: Buffet includes omelet station with eggs cooked to order; salad station with romaine, mixed green and iceberg lettuces with assorted toppings and dressings; shrimp and grits station; bread station; carving station with roasted turkey and bourbon glazed ham, plus giblet gravy and cranberry sauce; macaroni and cheese station with assorted toppings; vegetable buffet of grilled sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes with giblet gravy, cornbread dressing, green beans, braised radishes and snap peas, roasted corn and cauliflower, creamed spinach with sultanas and pine nuts, and broccoli casserole; dessert station with sliced and whole fruits, apple crisp and ice cream sundae, pecan pie, pineapple coconut cake, pumpkin cheesecake, chocolate cake, chocolate espresso mousse, chestnut mouse, caramel cake and banana pudding.

Price: $49 for adults, $40 for seniors, $25 for children 5 to 12, free for children 5 and under.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Address: 4000 Grand Ave., Hoover.

Reservations: 205-949-3057.

Website: www.rossbridgeresort.com.

---> Ruth's Chris Steak House

On the menu: Three-course dinner includes choice of Caesar salad, house salad or Louisiana seafood gumbo; oven-roasted turkey breast with cornbread-herb stuffing, house-made gravy and cranberry relish; choice of garlic mashed potatoes, green beans with roasted garlic, creamed spinach or sweet potato casserole; pumpkin cheesecake with vanilla ice cream.

Price: $38.95 adults; $12.95 children.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Address: 2300 Woodcrest Place, Birmingham.

Reservations: 205-879-9995.

Website: www.ruthschris.net.

---> Seasons 52

On the menu: Plainville Farms roasted turkey, traditional herb stuffing, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes, maple-glazed butternut squash, French green beans, house-made cranberry relish and pumpkin pie mini-indulgence dessert.

Price: $26.95 for adults; children's portions and full dinner menu also available.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Address: 245 Summit Blvd., Birmingham.

Reservations: 205-968-5152.

Website: www.seasons52.com.

---> Todd English P.U.B.

On the menu: Choice of fall salad with baby kale greens, dried cherries, leaks, butternut squash, pumpkin seeds and blood orange goat cheese vinaigrette or butternut squash bisque with parmesan croutons and chive oil; stuffed Cornish game hen with herb stuffing, mushroom gravy and grilled autumn vegetables; caramel pecan bar with house-made bourbon-cherry ice cream.

Price: $22.

Hours: Noon to 10 p.m.

Address: 2221 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North, Birmingham.

Reservations: 205-307-3700 or Opentable.com/birmingham.

Website: www.toddenglishpub.com.

UPDATED at 1:51 CST on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014, to add menu for Buttermilk Hill Restaurant and Bar.

UPDATED at 11:25 a.m. CST on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014, to add menus for Todd English P.U.B. and Dixie Fish Co.



UPDATED at 12:27 a.m. CST on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014, to add menu for Cracker Barrel Old Country Store.