Help Out or Dine Out on Turkey Day

Talking Turkey: Herewith, for you Thanksgiving revelers who don’t like to cook, a list of places serving a special dinner Nov. 25.

But first, a place to help others eat.

The Los Angeles Mission has been feeding the homeless on downtown’s skid row since 1949. This year, instead of passing out turkey dinners on paper plates, it will serve sit-down dinners at 24 low-income residential locations as well as at the mission on 5th Street. Volunteers are needed to serve the dinners and to wash dishes. If you want to donate nonperishable food, call the mission to find out what the needs are. Los Angeles Mission, 303 E. 5th St., L.A.; (213) 629-1227.

If you just want to send a monetary donation to cover the cost of delivered food baskets, mail it to P.O. Box 55900, Department MBM5, Los Angeles, CA., 90055-0630.

The Restaurant at L’Ermitage is serving a five-course Thanksgiving menu from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The menu includes yellowtail tartar, cranberry-bean soup with farro (spelt), sauteed Chilean sea bass, roasted turkey and ginger-pumpkin cheesecake. The tab, which includes coffee, is $65. For children 12 and younger, the cost is $35 each. L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, 9291 Burton Way, Beverly Hills; (310) 278-3344.

Joe Miller, owner of Joe’s, has hijacked another restaurant in which to serve Thanksgiving dinner this year. His Venice place is still undergoing renovations, so he called in a favor from friends Josiah and Diane Citrin, the new owners of Melisse in Santa Monica. The Citrins will lend their kitchen, dining room and wine list to Miller, who will haul over his food and staff. Miller will be serving a three-course meal from 3 to 9 p.m.; $40 ($20 for children 12 and younger). Melisse is at 1104 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. But make reservations by calling Joe’s office, (310) 829-7539.

Serge and Corinne Burckel are serving a three-course menu of pumpkin ravioli, turkey with trimmings, and apple strudel on pistachio cream at One restaurant. The fare is $38. One will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving night. One, 672 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles; (323) 692-0540.

Savannah Chop House is dishing up Thanksgiving dinner Southern-style from 1 to 8 p.m. in Laguna Niguel. The three-course menu is based on main courses like turkey with Bourbon and giblet gravy, prime rib, smoked pork chops, roast duck and pecan-crusted Idaho trout. A jazz band will be playing as well. The rate is $28.95; for children younger than 12, $12.95 each. Savannah Chop House, 32441 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel; (949) 493-7107.

At La Cachette, if diners save enough room for dessert after eating the first three dinner courses, they’ll get a “double-header.” That’s a plate of pumpkin tart with caramel sauce and pecan pie with vanilla sauce. Dinner is served from 4:30 to 9 p.m. The price is $42 a person. La Cachette, 10506 Little Santa Monica Blvd., Century City; (310) 470-4992.

Salt Creek Grille restaurants in Valencia and Dana Point will be serving traditional turkey dinners from around noon to 8 p.m. Other meal options include prime rib and (at Dana Point only) mesquite-grilled swordfish. Dinners include soup or salad, dessert, and coffee or tea (iced or hot). Prices range from $19.95 to $22.95 a person; children 12 and younger, $7.95. Salt Creek Grille Valencia, 24415 Valencia Town Center Drive, Valencia; (661) 222-9999. Salt Creek Grille Dana Point, 32802 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point; (949) 661-7799.

Le Chardonnay offers a vegetarian entree of ravioli with tomato-basil cream sauce in its four-course meal. Other entrees include osso bucco, sauteed entreco^te of beef and roast turkey. Dinner is served from 3 to 9 p.m. It’s $38 a person. Le Chardonnay, 8284 Melrose Ave., L.A.; (323) 655-8880.

Mark Peel will be serving a four-course menu at Campanile. You can choose a rosemary-charred breast of turkey, a confit of turkey leg, or a savory bread pudding with porcini mushrooms and pancetta for your main course. Sides include braised celery hearts with balsamic vinegar, gratin of yams and walnuts, and spiced pear sauce. It’s $45; children 12 and younger, $25. Campanile, 624 S. La Brea Ave., L.A.; (323) 938-1447.

Chimayo at the Beach does Thanksgiving with a Mexican touch. (Hey, why not? Mexico had the turkey first.) You can get a tom turkey, but you’ll also be able to order voodoo shrimp and lobster in serrano-garlic butter, and grilled salmon with barbecue glaze and corn salsa. Three-course meals (consisting of entree, soup or salad and dessert) are $26.95; children younger than 12 eat for $10.95. Dinner is served from noon to 8 p.m. Chimayo at the Beach, 315 Pacific Coast Highway (next to the Huntington Beach Pier), Huntington Beach; (714) 374-7273.

The Bistro Garden at Coldwater Canyon adds a baked ham to its repertoire for the three-course Thanksgiving dinner. The price of the meal, which includes an appetizer, main course, dessert and coffee, is $42.50. The dinner is served from 3 to 9 p.m. Or you could pick up a complete meal to serve at home from BG to Go next door. The to-go roast turkey dinner with all the trimmings includes a corn chowder or gravlax and apple crumb tart or pumpkin souffle, and it’s $24.95 a person. The takeout dinners must be ordered no later than Nov. 24 and picked up between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Nov. 25. (Delivery is available within a limited area.) Call (818) 366-3246 to order. The Bistro Garden, 12950 Ventura Blvd., Studio City; (818) 501-0202.

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For more ideas on where to go for Thanksgiving dinner (or where to pick up a turkey dinner to go), visit the Calendar Live Web site at https://www.calendarlive.com.