The turkey was beautiful, though; shiny and juicy with a lovely golden crust on the skin. It's a whole roasted turkey, and in spite of the fact that there appeared to be only a small amount of Italian parsley and maybe some onions and carrots in the pan with the turkey, it had a lovely, subtle flavor. The turkey meat itself -- rather than a glaze or stuffing -- was the star of that dish.

Once we were able to get it cut, we found the turkey meat tender and juicy, with a wonderful roasted flavor. The dark meat was particularly decadent, and when we scooped up some of the juices to pour on top of the meat, it became even moister and more flavorful. One person who claimed the turkey neck swimming in the juices called it "divine."

The green beans paired wonderfully with the turkey and provided a bit of acid that was missing in the gravy (a brown, peppery, glutinous topping that I wasn't wild about, but others seemed to enjoy). I particularly enjoyed the green beans, because they were clearly fresh beans and they were bathed in a tomato and garlic sauce -- none of that cream of mushroom soup business. In the absence of a salad, they were a delicious healthy alternative.

We also got lobster mashed potatoes, which seemed to contain a mixture of shrimp and lobster and got rave reviews from everyone who tried them. Even a few people who claimed not to like seafood were won over by the simple, creamy, yellow potatoes with chunks of sweet crustaceans suspended throughout.

Our least favorite side was the corn bread dressing, which, though not bad, was a little on the sweet side and a little too mushy.

After indulging in the bounty of turkey and sides, we all had to take a break from eating. When we finally felt like we had just a tad more room in our full bellies, we dove back in for the desserts: Pecan pie and pumpkin cheesecake. Though the dinner items were good, upon tasting the desserts, I was immediately regretful that I had not started with them. I think we all were.

The pecan pie had the perfect texture -- crunchy on top, slightly gooey underneath -- and it seemed flavored with just a hint of bourbon. The pumpkin cheesecake was so good that I continued to get emails from my coworkers throughout the day proclaiming their love for the seasonal dessert. It had just the right consistency for cheesecake without being heavy or overly rich, and the pumpkin spice was neither too subtle nor too overwhelming. I'm ordering one this year, no doubt about it.

So if take-out Thanksgiving seems foreign or daunting to you, worry no more. We survived it, and we're really glad we gave it a shot, 'cause that turkey and those desserts were just as good -- if not better -- than homemade.

To place an order from Ouisie's Table for a full meal or a la carte sides and desserts, call Ouisie's Table at 713-528-2264 or The Bird and The Bear at 713-528-2473 (both restaurants are offering the same Thanksgiving menus). All orders must be received by Thursday, November 21. Dinners may be picked up on Wednesday, November 27. Check out B4-U-Eat to see the entire menu.