I'm be travelling with my family to Santa Barbara this Thanksgiving and would appreciate a recommendation for a moderately priced restaurant. We're looking for something more traditional where we could get a turkey dinner.Thanks in advance for your help...

I'm useless, Martha! All I can think of are the hotels (Biltmore, Fess Parker), which would probably have something nice, but it wouldn't be moderate. Perhaps by topping this someone else will have something to offer.

Have you thought about going inland, say to somewhere in the Santa Ynez Valley? I think there are other places with traditional food.

I think the Santa Ynez Valley suggestion is a good one. One of my favorite restaurants in the area is Mattie's Tavern (located on HWy 154). I'm sure they'll be serving a traditional turkey dinner.

For good home cooking, consider trying Clementine's Steak House in Carpenteria (15 minutes south of SB). 805.684.5119. Call first to see if they're offering turkey. The good and reliable. Enjoy!

Ok, since this is about the umpteenth thread about Thanksgiving Dinner in as many locales, we either have

(1) lots of folks traveling to see family and eating out, or

(2) a lazy travel writer letting Fodorites do his/her work.

Since most Fodorites seem to accept posters at face value, we will go for the former and not the latter.

But, if the latter is the case, shame on you!

The Big Yellow House in Summerland, about 10 minutes south of Santa Barbara just off the 101 freeway

I second the Big Yellow House. Yum.

"Shame on you" is a bit much for a question about turkey dinner don't you think?

Any fresh ideas on this topic for 2002? We tried Big Yellow House last year, and it was good, and Shoals the year before, and it was good, too. And no, I'm not a travel writer, just an ordinary person.