It may be hard to believe it, but Thanksgiving is just around the corner. And whether you’re gearing up for a big family feast or a small, quiet affair, you may be looking for some help pulling off the event. Not to worry — plenty of East Bay food businesses and restaurants are here to help, with everything from creative, scratch-made local pies to pre-roasted turkeys. Those looking to escape the kitchen can look forward to pre-dinner crab feeds, all-day buffets and elaborate multi-course dinners across the East Bay. Take your pick.
Staying in
Market Hall Foods If you’re looking to outsource every part of the meal, Market Hall Foods in Berkeley and Oakland is offering its Whole Feast Menu, which serves 8-10, for $220. In addition to a roasted BN Ranch bird, the meal includes mashed potatoes, green beans and fennel, giblet gravy, cornbread stuffing with almonds, cranberry orange sauce, and a pumpkin pie. A more extensive menu of side dishes is also available, as are each of the items, a la carte. Thanksgiving orders must be placed by 3 p.m. Nov. 19, and are available for pick-up Nov. 21-23. Starting Saturday, Market Hall Foods is also offering a menu of shareable dishes for holiday entertaining throughout the rest of the year. Market Hall Foods on 4th is at 1786 Fourth St. (at Delaware Avenue), Berkeley. Market Hall Foods is at 5655 College Ave. (at Shafter Avenue), Oakland. Connect with the store on Facebook and Twitter.
Saul’s Restaurant and Delicatessen Like Market Hall, Saul’s is also offering roasted BN Ranch turkeys as whole birds or as sliced meat (you can purchase all white meat, all dark, or a mix). Available alongside the turkey are sides such as turkey gribenes gravy, “straight-up mashed potatoes,” cranberry sauce, roasted root vegetables, Brussels sprouts and onions with pickled persimmons, pumpkin pie, and pecan pie. Pick-up takes place Nov. 23. Saul’s Restaurant and Delicatessen is at 1475 Shattuck Ave. (at Vine Street), Berkeley. Connect with the restaurant on Facebook and Twitter.
The Local Butcher Shop If you’d rather cook the bird yourself, you can find ever-popular BN Ranch birds at The Local Butcher Shop, along with plenty of advice for cooking. The Berkeley butcher shop is offering turkeys that range in size from seven to 26 pounds, plus legs and/or breasts cut to order for the smallest of gatherings. It has also stocked holiday hams, pork roasts, guinea hen, quail, duck, rabbits, beef roasts and lamb legs for those looking for a turkey alternative. Orders for accoutrements like charcuterie platters, sausage stuffing, poultry stock, gravy, pie dough, bacon, eggs, and more can also be placed online with a turkey order. The Local Butcher Shop is at 1600 Shattuck Ave. (at Cedar Street), Berkeley. Connect with the butcher shop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Baron’s Quality Meats and Seafood The butcher shop inside The Alameda Marketplace will be offering natural, organic and heritage Mary’s turkeys ranging from eight to 25 pounds, plus Dungeness crabs from south of Point Reyes. Baron’s is dedicated to providing meat that comes from humanely-treated animals raised with no hormones and no antibiotics that are fed an organic and GMO-free diet when possible, and pasture-raised with minimal impact to the land. Baron’s Quality Meats and Seafood is in The Alameda Marketplace at 1650 Park St. (at Buena Vista Avenue), Alameda. Connect with the shop on Facebook.
Standard Fare The West Berkeley takeout spot is offering order-ahead sides for pick-up at the Berkeley Kitchens. Dishes include a mixed chicory salad with apples, pecans, San Joaquin Gold cheese and Banyuls vinaigrette; three different gratins; mashed potatoes; cranberry and orange relish; and whole persimmon pudding. Orders must be placed by Nov. 20 for pickup Nov. 22 or 23. Standard Fare is at 2701 8th Street #118 (at Carleton Street), Berkeley. Connect with the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram.
PieTisserie Oakland’s PieTisserie is selling a diverse lineup of pies for Thanksgiving pick-up this year. On the menu: bright red beet, ginger-lemon custard, blackbottom walnut, brown sugar and maple, spiced apple, and roasted pumpkin in a chocolate crust. Owner Jaynelle St. Jean typically sells out of her turkey day offerings quickly, so interested pie lovers should hurry and place an order soon. PieTisserie is at 1605 2nd Ave. (at Foothill Boulevard), Oakland. Connect with the bakery on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
True Food Kitchen Those looking for a vegan and gluten-free pie option can turn to True Food Kitchen in Walnut Creek, which is offering a squash pie sans wheat and animal products. The restaurant chain suggests serving the pie with coconut whipped cream. Pies ($22) are available to order in-store or over the phone through Nov. 21 for pickup Nov. 22 and 23. True Food Kitchen is at 120 Broadway Ln. #4 (near South Main Street), Walnut Creek. Connect with the restaurant on Facebook and Instagram.
Eating out
alaMar If you need to get out of the kitchen the evening before Turkey Day, consider heading to Oakland’s alaMar for its annual pre-Thanksgiving crab feed. The dinner, which will run from 5-9 p.m. Nov. 23, includes whole chili Dungeness crabs, served with corn on the cob that’s been soaked in chili sauce and bread from nearby Firebrand. alaMar is at 100 Grand Ave. (between Webster and Valdez Streets), Oakland. Connect with the restaurant on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Homestead Oakland’s Homestead is also serving a crab feed the night before Thanksgiving. The $65, prix fixe family-style meal includes a salad, hot Dungeness crab in the shell with accoutrements, seasonal veggies and dessert. Wine, beer, soft drinks, iced tea and sparkling or still water will be offered as well. Kids 10-years-old and younger can eat for half price, and those with a bigger appetite can add on a half-crab for an additional charge. Tickets are available here. Homestead is at 4029 Piedmont Ave. (at 40th Street), Oakland. Connect with the restaurant on Facebook and Twitter.
FIVE In Berkeley, FIVE restaurant will host a family-style Thanksgiving feast from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The menu, which will run $60 per adult and $25 for kids ages 6-12 (free for 5-year-olds and younger), includes dishes such as roasted squash and caramelized onion soup with pumpkin bread croutons; roasted turkey breast and confit dark meat; pineapple and honey glazed ham; braised radicchio and vegetable ratatouille in puff pastry; mushroom and buttermilk cornbread stuffing; roasted brussels sprouts with apples and brown sugar bacon; and chocolate cranberry mousse cake with eggnog crème anglaise. Reservations are recommended. FIVE is at 2086 Allston Way (at Shattuck Avenue), Berkeley. Connect with the restaurant on Facebook.
Galeto Brazilian Steakhouse For those who believe a whole roasted turkey is not enough meat on Thanksgiving, Galeto Brazilian Steakhouse will be offering its $49.95 prix fixe menu of grilled skewered meats for lunch and dinner. (Turkey included.) The meal also includes the restaurant’s extensive salad bar, plus ão-de-queijo (cheese bread), crispy polenta and fried bananas. Galeto Brazilian Grill is at 1019 Clay St. (between 10th and 11th streets), Oakland. Connect with the restaurant on Facebook and Twitter.
The Terrace Room Oakland’s Terrace Room is serving a daytime buffet with a view of Lake Merritt. The $59.95 meal will include everything from shrimp cocktail and deviled eggs to spiced winter squash soup, toasted Brussels sprouts, glazed sweet potatoes sliced beef tri-tip, and carved roasted turkey. Kids under 12 can eat for $29.95, and all under 5 years old eat for free. The Terrace Room is at 1800 Madison St. (at Lakeside Drive), Oakland. Connect with the restaurant on Facebook and Twitter.
Lake Chalet Seafood Bar and Grill Nearby, Lake Chalet is serving a $55 three-course prix fixe meal that will include dishes such as butternut squash soup with brown butter, sage and creme fraiche; roast turkey with apple-pancetta stuffing, mashed potatoes, vegetables and orange-cranberry compote; vegetarian pumpkin risotto with Brussels sprouts, walnuts and apple cider browned butter; and pumpkin pie with rum raisins and chantilly cream. Additional appetizers, sides and specialty cocktails are also available, as is a $19 kid’s menu. Reservations recommended. Lake Chalet Seafood Bar and Grill is at 1520 Lakeside Dr. (near 14th Street), Oakland. Connect with the restaurant on Facebook
