All the fixings, none of the work

Emelia's Mediterranean Kitchen on Dickson Street in Fayetteville created a holiday ritual years ago with a New Year's Day brunch. This year the restaurant will kick off a new tradition with a Thanksgiving buffet from noon-6 p.m Nov. 27.

The private party room in the back of the restaurant will be filled with tables of traditional Thanksgiving dishes.

Emelia’s Kitchen

facebook.com/emelia…

309 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville

(479) 527-9800

Celebrating 10 years on Dickson Street, featured in Southern Living Magazine and named Arkansas’ best Mediterranean restaurant for 2014. Award-winning brunch served 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Date Night Sundays and Wednesdays with four courses and a bottle of wine for $55 per couple. Seafood, pasta, steak, lamb and salads. Many gluten-free and vegetarian options. Full bar, catering and a banquet room for private parties or business meetings.

A variety of main courses will include roasted turkey, ham, pork tenderloin, salmon and shrimp.

Sides will include salads, cornbread dressing, sage dressing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, giblet gravy and rolls.

A variety of housemade desserts, including pumpkin pie, will also be served.

It may seem unusual for a Mediterranean restaurant to host a traditional Thanksgiving meal, but chef and owner George Ouyoumjan, who grew up in Syria, has lived and cooked in the United States for decades.

"They have always celebrated Thanksgiving, even when they were in Syria," Sara Lusher said of the chef's family.

The price of the buffet is $35 for adults, $15 for guests 6-11 years old, and 5 years and younger eat free. Drinks from the full bar and bottles of wine will also be available for purchase to accompany the all-you-can-eat buffet.

"You don't have to make reservations but it would certainly be helpful, or at least call [if you are thinking of coming]," Sara Lusher said.

Reservations are available by calling (479) 527-9800. More information is available online at facebook.com/emeliasmk.

NAN Dining Guide Kitchen Talk on 11/21/2014

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