Where To Go On Thanksgiving When You Don't Want To Whip Up A Feast On Your Own. By Rebecca Cook WHERE CAN YOU go to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings and trappings if you're not willing to cook and your mom lives on the other side of the country? What follows is at least a partial list of some of the restaurants in town that will be open on Thanksgiving. Other than planning far enough ahead to make reservations, the only other things you'll need are a formidable appetite and your checkbook. The Arizona Inn, 2200 E. Elm St., 325-1541. Both a buffet and an a la carte menu will be served next Thursday; but, alas, the buffet has garnered such accolades in the past that seating is already full. From noon until 9 p.m., however, limited seating is still available in the dining room, where the menu will feature tom turkey, leg of lamb, prime ribs of beef or coho salmon accompanied by the all the usual side dishes served in elegant fashion. If you're not in the mood for pumpkin pie for desert, try the white chocolate cheesecake with a cranberry swirl, or the Willcox apple crisp. Cost is $27.50 for each adult, $11 for children. Fuego Restaurant Bar & Grill, 6958 E. Tanque Verde, 886-1745. From 3 to 7 p.m. Fuego will offer a grand Thanksgiving buffet that will have every sideboard in the place groaning with obscene abundance. A carving station will offer diners the choice of roast turkey (with oyster stuffing on the side), ham or roast beef. Fresh trout and coho salmon will also be featured. An oyster bar with chilled seafood will be set up, as well as additional tables loaded with a staggering selection of salads, side dishes, appetizers and desserts. If you forego pumpkin pie here, you may be treated to the chef's recipe for bananas foster or a peanut butter caramel tart. Cost is $21.95 a person, half-price for the kiddies. The Cactus Rose Cafe at The Doubletree Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way, 881-4200. Two Thanksgiving buffets from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be featured here, one for adults and another for the children in your party. While the adults can choose turkey, ham, pasta, chicken, salmon, omelets, chilled seafood or blintzes, the children will be thrilled to find such simple fare as macaroni and cheese and peanut butter and jelly offered instead. Already the time slots between noon and 2 p.m. are booked, so call soon for reservations. Cost is $20.50 for each adult, $15 for senior citizens, and $9 for the kids. Charles Restaurant, 6400 E. El Dorado Circle, 296-7173. A lavish sit-down meal served from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. will feature the usual turkey as well as the choice of either lamb chops, New York steak or fresh fish. Mince pie and an Italian rum cake will join pumpkin pie as dessert temptations. Seating between 2 and 3 p.m. is already booked, and other time slots are filling up fast. The cost is $18.50 per person. Ventana Canyon Loews Resort--The Ventana Room, 7000 N. Resort Drive, 299-2020. A special Thanksgiving Day menu will be served from 4 to 9 p.m., featuring by far the most innovative variations on a traditional theme. Your turkey comes sage-crusted and, if that doesn't appeal to you, try the turkey medallions or the grilled, spiced-apple-glazed wild boar chop, or the pan-seared sea bass with saffron pasta. You probably will not find pumpkin pie here, but the much sought-after creme brulé will make an appearance. Early seating is already taken, but openings remain after 7 p.m.s The price has not been set as of this writing, but will likely run $25 to $30 per person. Rancher's Club, 5151 E. Grant Road, 321-7621. A set Thanksgiving Day menu will be offered from 2:30 to 8 p.m. and will feature the ever-popular turkey in addition to prime rib, filet mignon and pacific salmon. Cost ranges from $20.95 to $28.50 a person with children's meals discounted by one-third. While we give thanks for all the blessings that have come our way in the past year (as well as for the restaurants, hotels and resorts that will stay open to accommodate our desire for a traditional meal without the fuss), perhaps it would also be fitting to keep in mind the other word root of the day, "giving." Local charity officials tell me there are more than enough volunteers to serve up food to some of the needy in our community (the Salvation Army says people start calling in August to secure their philanthropic position on this day), but food donations would be welcome and greatly appreciated. Contact either St. Demetrios Church (888-0505) or the Gospel Rescue Mission (622-3495) to see how you can help.

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