Many of the casinos offer Thanksgiving buffets, so you could get lucky. Load up with turkey and other entrees, plus sides and desserts, at Horizons Buffet at Ameristar ($19.99 for adults; 3200 North Ameristar Drive, 816-414-7000), Terrace Buffet at Argosy ($25.99 for adults; 777 Northwest Argosy Casino Parkway, 816-746-3100) or the Buffet at Harrah's ($22.99 for adults; 1 Riverboat Drive, 816-472-7777). The upside to spending Thanksgiving at a casino: You can kill time until a table opens up by playing blackjack. The downside: If you hit a losing streak, you may end up with a TV dinner after all.
If you don't feel like making a trip to the boats, call ahead to these restaurants serving Thanksgiving meals to see if they can accommodate you: J. Gilbert's (8901 Metcalf in Overland Park, 913-642-8070) and the three locations of Mimi's Café (8501 Northwest Prairie View Drive, 816-587-5877; 11885 West 95th Street, Overland Park, 913-599-5848; 8301 West 135th Street, Overland Park, 913-897-5669). And when an awkward pause in table conversation inevitably happens, maybe that's a good time to start talking about what you're going to do for dinner on Christmas.— Robert Bishop
