There was a time when I spent every Thanksgiving dining at some inn in rural Connecticut or Vermont. The kind that was built in the 1800s, the outside shrouded in ivy and fallen leaves, and inside characterized by paintings of New England, uneven floorboards and fireplaces in every drafty room.

I'd dine on all of the traditional fare: carved buttery turkey, mashed potatoes with thick gravy, glazed carrots and candied yams, all topped off with slices of pumpkin, apple and pecan pie. It was one of the few meals of the year that I really looked forward to because it was one of the few times I went out to have something other than pizza.

I've taken to cooking my own Thanksgiving dinners over the past few years. I now love roasting a turkey, even though I treat each attempt like it's my own personal challenge. How juicy is the bird? How crispy is the skin? How many side dishes can I make to go with it? How can I time it all just right? I may be testing my own perfectionism, but what better reward than an excellent meal?

For anyone who hates the idea of cooking a turkey and destroying a kitchen in the process, I have good news. Boston has lots of Thankgiving dining options. You will find some desirable dining spots with prix-fixe options in Boston and Cambridge on OpenTable, featuring everything from a free-range Thanksgiving at Dante, a harvest brunch at Miel at the Intercontinental Hotel Boston, a four-course Thanksgiving dinner at Rialto, a traditional New England feast at The Red House Restaurant or, for something different, a turkey dinner with rustic French flair at Sel de la Terre.

If you are planning to cook your own Thanksgiving meal like I am, my best tips would be to stick with a traditional turkey, using lots of butter, bake your desserts and breads a day ahead, and make a sweet potato casserole wth coconut, pecans and brown sugar encrusted on top. Heaven.

Happy dining and happy Thanksgiving!