Just as we were preparing to publish this guide to where to dine out in the Bay Area on Thanksgiving Day, the City of San Francisco announced a shuttering of all indoor dining due to the recent spike in Covid-19 cases. Not only is this a bummer for local foodies, it's a serious blow to SF restaurants that are struggling to hang on during the pandemic.
So if you're tired of cooking during these many months of sheltering in place, why not take the holiday as an opportunity to show your gratitude to the Bay Area's food industry by ordering your Turkey Day dinner for takeout or delivery—some spots are offering outdoor dining, though reservations will no doubt be tough to get. Whichever way you go, rest assured that you'll still have all the heritage bird, traditional trimmings, and glorious pie you could want.
Below you'll find a roundup of some of the Bay Area's best options for outdoor dining, takeout, and delivery on Thanksgiving Day. It's also worth checking out Feastin, the new restaurant-friendly delivery platform that's offering TG meals from eateries including AlaMar, Crumble & Whisk, and Bamboo Asia for delivery Bay Area–wide.
Note: As of publishing time, indoor dining is set to cease in San Francisco but no such announcement has been made for Marin, Alameda, Napa, Sonoma, or Santa Clara counties. We will make updates to this guide as needed. As is always the case during the pandemic, it's a good idea to check with the restaurants for the most up-to-date information.
UPDATE Nov. 16, 2020: California today announced a broader rollback of reopenings in counties across the state. In the Bay Area, the Chronicle reports that Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, Napa and Solano counties will go backward into the purple tier, the state's most restrictive, effective Tuesday. San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties will move back into the red tier, the second-most restrictive. Eater SF reports that Santa Clara, Marin, and Contra Costa counties have also announced closure of indoor dining rooms; Alameda County is expected to follow suit.
Che Fico's takeout Thanksgiving menu includes roast turkey and all the fixings, plus bottles of wine and sweet endings like this deep dish apple cranberry crostata. (Erik Ratensperger)
Balboa Cafe (Takeout & Delivery)
This Cow Hollow institution has all your holiday classics with a Californian spin, available as a la carte dishes or a three-course prix-fixe meal. Stuff yourself silly with blue crab cakes, slow cooked short rib, roasted salmon, rum-brined turkey breast, and butternut squash soup. // Dinner is $75/person, $39/child, or $195 for the four-person takeaway feast. // 3199 Fillmore St. (Cow Hollow), balboacafesf.com.
Brenda's French Soul Food (Takeout)
Add some Creole flavor to your feast from this San Francisco mainstay—you won't even have to wait in line to get your paws on those cream biscuits. Couples and small households can opt for the turkey breast dinner ($145), which serves two to four with brined and ready-to-roast bird and heat-and-serve sides including butter-whipped potatoes, andouille cornbread dressing, and cranberry compote. Feeding an army? Pony up for the whole bird feast ($280) which feeds eight to 12. // Pickup will be available Nov. 21-26; order at resy.com; 652 Polk St. (Tenderloin), frenchsoulfood.com.
Cassava (Takeout)
One of the Outer Richmond's favorite neighborhood spots, Cassava is serving up a family-style spread ($185) of Thanksgiving comfort fare: a six-to-eight pound whole roasted turkey, green bean casserole, candied yams, cornbread with honey, butter-garlic mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce. And, for dessert, a whole pumpkin pie. // The whole spread is $185 and can be ordered for pickup from 12pm to 4:30pm on Nov. 24th, 25th, and 26th, cassavasf.com.
Che Fico Alimentari (Takeout)
If you're in the mood for a blistered 'za, look again: Che Fico is going a bit more traditional this holiday. Pre-order your four-person meal ($250) if you hope to feast on brined and roasted turkey breast and confit turkey leg casserole plus sides including roasted kabocha squash, radicchio salad, and Parker House rolls. Each meal comes with a bottle of house wine, but seasonal desserts—including deep dish apple cranberry crostata—are sold separately. // Order by Friday, Nov. 20 at exploretock.com for pickup Wednesday, Nov. 25 from noon to 6pm; 834 Divisadero St. (NoPa), cheficoalimentari.com.
Le Colonial (Outdoor Dining)
The patio at SF's beloved downtown oasis always makes a dreamy backdrop for celebrations. Le Colonial will be offering an abbreviated a la carte menu plus Thanksgiving specials—think butter roasted organic turkey roulade with sticky rice and Asian sausage or juicy five-spiced duck breast with seasonal vegetables and tamarind sauce. Seafood lovers, keep an eye out for the sea scallops with spinach egg noodles and lobster with garlic noodles // Patio dining will be available depending on weather, 20 Cosmo Pl. (TenderNob); reservations are recommended and available via sevenrooms.com, lecolonialsf.com.
Daily Driver (Takeout)
Enjoy doing the cooking but could use a little help? Dogpatch's purveyor of artisanal cheese and fresh baked bagels has you covered with such bits and bites as cranberry sauce, fennel jam, boursin cheese, and sweet brioche knots. Their quiche lorraine would make a lovely morning-after brunch, while various gift boxes—stuffed with cheeses, crackers, charcuterie, and accompaniments—promise to make happy hour snacking a cinch. Oh, and don't forget the apple or banana cream pie! // Order online for pickup Mon. through Weds. Nov. 23-25 at 2535 Third St. (Daily Driver); order-dailydriver.square.site.
The Dorian (Outdoor Dining + Takeout and Delivery)
TBH, we'd go just for the pumpkin pie spiced churros, but it's a prix-fixe deal ($36/person) at The Dorian. Dig into spiced Diestel turkey breast, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and crispy brussels sprouts; you can add prime rib with chai tea jus can for an extra $17. On Small Business Saturday (Nov. 28), buy a $100 gift certificate and receive a punch bowl on the house. // Reservations are available via OpenTable and by calling 415-814-2671; 2001 Chestnut St. (Marina), doriansf.com.
Jessie & Laurent (Delivery)
Still staying in? Get a classic, fully prepared Thanksgiving meal delivered from Jessie & Laurent, a 40-year old Bay Area institution. All it takes is a reheat to enjoy their organic whole or half turkeys, honey smoked hams, and glazed cornish hens with sides such as cranberry stuffing, whipped potatoes, roasted root veggies, and green beans almondine. // Order by Tuesday Nov. 24 for Thanksgiving Day delivery, or order earlier to have your dishes arrive Monday through Wednesday that week; jessieetlaurent.com.
Liholiho Yacht Club (Takeout)
This Hawaiian-inspired restaurant with a cult following is doing a Thanksgiving feast for the first time ever and, trust us, Chef Ravi Kapur's own family recipes are guaranteed to shake up your table for a seriously memorable holiday. The prix-fixe feast ($200) will serve four with plates including turkey roulade stuffed with turkey sausage, sticky rice stuffing with LYC spam, cauliflower-kimcheese gratin, confit garlic mashed potatoes, and passionfruit cream pie for dessert. Feeding a fuller house? You can add extra dishes a la carte, and don't forget the stellar wine and cocktail pairings. // Order for pickup on Nov. 24th or 25th via ToastTab; 871 Sutter St. (TenderNob), liholihoyachtclub.com.
Local Kitchen + Wine Merchant (Takeout)
Want an affordable option? For just $38 per person, Local Kitchen's Give Thanks Meal Kit (for two or four) promises full bellies with a chicory salad, crispy brussels, miso-whipped sweet potatoes, citrus brined smoked chicken (or barbecue jackfruit pansit for vegetarians), and apple galette with almond flour crust. // Pre-paid pre-orders by Sat. Nov. 21 are a must; 330 First St. #1 (SoMa), exploretock.com/localkitchenwinemerchant.
Palm House (Outdoor Dining + Takeout)
Bring your quarantine pod for an island-inspired Friendsgiving prix-fixe dinner ($38/person) including katsu turkey and curry gravy, macaroni salad, Hawaiian rolls, and apple custard tart. Prefer to take it to go? Order up meal staples by the pound. Just wanna show your support? On Small Business Saturday (Nov. 28), Palm House will be running a one-day deal: When you buy a $100 gift certificate you'll receive a free punch bowl. // Reservations are accepted via OpenTable and by calling 415-400-4355; 2032 Union St. (Pacific Heights), palmhousesf.com.
Park Tavern (Outdoor Dining & Takeout)
Park Tavern oozes classy charm and elegance—perfect for a stylish Thanksgiving meal. The prix-fixe dinner will begin with caviar blinis and meander through a gem salad or spiced pumpkin soup, options of entree including grilled salmon or roast heritage turkey, all the traditional sides, and finish with seasonal pies. // Reservations ($85 per person) are available from 11:45am to 8pm, book or table or order takeout at exploretock.com; 1652 Stockton St. (North Beach), parktavernsf.com.
Perbacco (Delivery & Takeout)
Perbacco is delivering a four-course menu of classics with an Italian twist—think butternut squash soup, roasted carrots and brussels sprouts, and a juicy roast turkey with sage stuffing and black truffle gravy. Yes, truffles. The meal is also available for takeaway. // Order ($66/person) via Tock or email umberto@perbaccosf.com by Nov. 22nd at 5pm; pickup and delivery offered 3pm to 8 pm Nov. 25th and 10am to noon Nov. 26th; 230 California St. (FiDi), perbaccosf.com.
Prubechu (Takeout)
Make it a traditional Chamorro holiday with this beloved Mission restaurant's Thanksgiving feast for four to six (they promise leftovers, but we'll see about that). Don't want to cook a thing? Opt for the whole roasted Black Spanish heritage breed turkey with riyeno (Chamorro stuffing), coconut milk–braised yucca, fried long beans, creamed spinach with turmeric, red rice, gravy, and dessert. Making your own protein? You can also order just the sides. // The whole turkey feast is $380 and feeds 4-6, or $260 for just the sides. Order for pre-paid pickup on exploretock.com; 2224 Mission St. #A, prubechu.com.
Reem's (Takeout)
Traditional shmaditional. Spice up your spread with Reem's roast chicken stuffed with spiced rice, ground beef, and pine nuts, plus sides including butternut squash mutabal, hummus and pita, and walnut and date pie. // Order for pre-paid pickup on Wednesday, Nov. 25 via exploretock.com; 2901 Mission St. (Mission), reemscalifornia.com.
Scoma's (Takeout)
It wouldn't be Thanksgiving in San Francisco without the Dungeness crab. Order up a whole crustacean—or cioppino or both, it's your choice—plus starters including clam chowder and chopped salad, sides (polenta, winter veggies), and dessert such as tiramisu from this Fisherman's Wharf classic. A la carte additions—think fresh oysters, shrimp cocktail, and garlic bread—are also on offer. // Meal for four is $85/person, pre-orders are recommended; 1965 Al Scoma Way (Fisherman's Wharf), scomas.com.
SPQR (Takeout & Delivery)
Nothing says comfort like plates heaped with carbs. Chef Matt Accarrino (the chef of SPQR who is currently running his namesake pop-up, Accarrino's, out of the space while the true SPQR experience is on hold) is putting together a delightful, Italian-inspired Thanksgiving spread for takeaway, which includes both prix-fixe menus per person and a la carte dishes. You'll dine on the likes of cider- and herb-brined turkey with burgundy truffle gravy; fluffy chestnut, apple, and wild fennel stuffing; San Marzano tomato and ricotta pasta rotolo; roasted brassicas; and sweet potato cheesecake. // Fixed menu prices start at $70 per person up to $460 for eight people, view the full menu and order via Tock; 1911 Fillmore St. (Pacific Heights), spqrsf.com.
Taj Campton Place (Takeout)
This luxe, Union Square hotel's bar and bistro (adjoining the Michelin-starred Campton Place Restaurant) will be offering takeout Thanksgiving dinners of three courses such as kusshi oysters, butternut squash velouté, and slow-roasted turkey with stuffing or seared king salmon. // Takeout orders ($130/two people) must be placed 48 hours in advance for pickup on Nov. 26th; 340 Stockton St. (Union Square), tajcamptonplace.com.
Villon (Outdoor Dining)
If you haven't been to Villon, know that the excellence of its food is matched by its luxurious, bold decor. With a new Michelin-starred chef at the helm, the restaurant will be putting out a decadent four-course menu of dishes including chestnut and celery root soup, roasted turkey, and pumpkin cheesecake. // $85/person with optional wine pairings ($40); reservations are available 12:30pm to 9pm via Opentable or by calling 415-735-7777; Proper Hotel, 1100 Market St. (Mid-Market), properhotel.com.
Wildseed
Plant-based options can be tough to come by on a day that revolves around a turkey, but this vegetarian restaurant is making it happen with meals for four that include a "meatloaf" with porcini mushroom gravy, braised kale, baked yams, and pumpkin pie. All you have to do is pop it back in the oven for a quick reheat. // $200/serves four, order by 10pm on Sunday, Nov. 22 for pickup on Wednesday, Nov. 25 via email at info@wildseedsf.com; 2000 Union St. (Pacific Heights), wildseedsf.com.
Looking for vegan options on Thanksgiving Day? Souley Vegan won't be staging its annual buffet this year, but you can still stop in (or get takeout) of its Southern-inspired classics including sweet candied yams. (Aubrie Pick)
Horn Barbecue (Takeout)
The best way to eat a turkey? Smoked! Get a whole one ($200) from one of the Bay Area's hottest new restaurants this year. Just not into the bird? Go for the whole prime brisket ($250) or beef ribs racks ($120) and get ready for the meat sweats. // Pre-order for pickup from noon to 4pm on Nov. 24 at hornbbqpreorder.square.site; 2534 Mandela Pkwy, hornbarbecue.com.
Lake Chalet Seafood Bar & Grill (Indoor/Outdoor Dining + Takeout/Delivery)
Dine lakeside with a la carte starters (Dungeness crab deviled eggs, fritto misto) and your choice of dishes for a three-course meal ($69 per person). Entree options will include roasted turkey with sage sourdough stuffing, pan-roasted king salmon in beurre noisette, and black pepper tagliatelle with king trumpet mushrooms. // 11am to 8pm on Thanksgiving Day, reservations are recommended; 1520 Lakeside Dr., thelakechalet.com.
Pomella (Takeout)
Freshen things up a bit with Pomella's California-Israeli-style Thanksgiving spread including harissa turkey wings, mushroom bastilla, celeriac mashed potatoes, and green salad with persimmons, pomegranate, and feta. // Menu is $110 for two people and dishes are also available a la carte. Order by noon on Nov. 21for pickup until noon on the 24th and 25th; 3770 Piedmont Ave. Unit B, pomellaoakland.com.
Reem's (Takeout)
Pickup sweet and savory boxes—packed with the likes of baklawa, mini walnut and date pies, and vegan halawa cookies (sweet) or mini mua'jinaat in spinach and onion, kishek and cheese, and akkawi and nigella seed (savory) at Reem's Fruitvale location. //Order for pre-paid pickup on Wednesday, Nov. 25 via exploretock.com; 3301 E. 12th St. (Oakland), reemscalifornia.com.
Souley Vegan (Outdoor Dining & Takeout/Delivery)
Don't like turkey and, besides, you're a vegan anyway? Jazz up the day's feast with Creole-style classics such as okra gumbo and grits, Louisiana hot links, country collard greens, and red beans and rice. You can also get your teeth into some candied yams, or you can make chef/owner Tamearra Dyson's pecan praline yams at home. // 301 Broadway, Jack London Square),souleyvegan.com.
S+S Gastro Grub (Takeout & Delivery)
Quantities are limited, so if you're hoping to sink your teeth into some herb-crusted Akaushi Kobe beef prime rib on Turkey Day Thanksgiving, you'll want to place your order ASAP for takeout from this Oakland-based caterer. Prefer a bird? Fine, they have those too. Additional offerings include a deep fried Mary's heritage turkey, Parker House rolls, all manner of tasty starches, and pies. For an extra $11, you can even order a feast of turkey meat, giblets, and bones for your dog or cat—how cute is that?! // Pickup is available 11am to 11:45am and 6:30pm and 7:30pm Wed. Nov. 25 and 11am and 11:45am Thurs. Nov. 26. Delivery will be available from noon and 6pm Nov. 25-26 (fees apply beyond a 15-mile radius and on Thanksgiving Day); ssgastrogrub.com.
Rocky's Market (Outdoor Dining & Pickup)
Rocky's chef is teaming up with Two Local Girls for a delightful Thanksgiving meal on the Oakland waterfront, snuggled beneath heated patio lamps. Open for two seatings (plus takeaway), the feast will include cioppino, roasted turkey, sourdough stuffing, and cheesecake with cranberry sauce. // $75/person plus optional $25 wine pairings; reservations required for seatings at 11:30am and 4:30pm, call 510-496-1191. Takeout orders must be placed by Tues. Nov. 17 for pickup on the 25th or 26th; rockysmarket.com.
Buckeye Roadhouse (Outdoor Dining + Takeout)
Whether you choose to sit in the Buckeye's heated tent or on your sofa at home, you won't be mad about ordering the Mill Valley restaurant's prix-fixe meal of roasted Fulton Valley turkey, maple mashed yams, sage and onion stuffing, and black truffle gravy. You can also order the sides a la carte to team with whatever protein you've got cooking at home. // $95 serves two, for reservations call 415-331-260 or place to-go orders online; 15 Shoreline Hwy. (Mill Valley), buckeyeroadhouse.com.
Left Bank Brasserie (Outdoor Dining + Takeout)
This popular spot's turkey day menu is appropriately autumnal with a four-course prix-fixe ($59 per person) that includes butternut squash soup, a seasonal salad, roasty mains, and pumpkin pie. // All Left Bank locations (Larkspur, Menlo Park, San Jose) will be open from noon to 8pm for pickup and delivery; view the menu at leftbank.com.
Farm at Carneros Resort (Outdoor Dining and Takeout)
Take in Wine Country's fall foliage from your socially distanced spot beneath a heated tent in the courtyard at Carneros Resort. Farm is serving a multi-course, family-style Thanksgiving meal with seasonal touches fresh from its on-site garden. If you'd prefer your feast at-home, they have Turkeys To-Go meal kits ($350) out of their MARKET general store with mains, sides, and dessert. // $115/adult and $42/children under 12, noon to 6pm; make reservations by emailing farm@carnerosresort.com or calling 707-299-4880; to preorder the to-go kits, call the MARKET at 707.299.4820; Carneros Resort,4048 Sonoma Hwy. (Napa), carnerosresort.com.
The Farmhouse Inn Restaurant (Outdoor Dining)
If you're looking to just get out of the city for the weekend, head up to the luxe Farmhouse Inn where you can dine in the Michelin-starred restaurant's dreamy outdoor courtyard. Available only to overnight guests, the intimate three-course dinner will include your choice of kombu cured hamachi, butternut squash soup, sweet potato ricotta ravioli, striped bass, and the star of the show: heritage turkeys raised by the owner's son. Talk about hyper local—we love it. // $119/person plus optional $50 wine pairings; 7871 River Rd. (Forestville), farmhouseinn.com.
The Girl & The Fig and The Fig Cafe (Takeout)
These classic Wine Country eateries are offering to-go feasts for two (with leftovers) to four people. Choose from one of three meal options—roasted turkey, cedar plank salmon, or wild mushroom and sunchoke ragout—each with a slew of sides. Whole pies, other desserts, cocktails, and wine packs will be available a la carte. // Dinners range from $100-$120, order for pickup on Nov 25th or 26th at The Girl & The Fig, 110 W. Spain St. (Sonoma) or The Fig Cafe, 13690 Arnold Dr. (Glen Ellen), 2020figthanksgiving.square.site.
Spoonbar
Healdsburg's Spoonbar will be putting together three-course feasts for carryout. Dishes will include potato leek soup, tuna sashimi, turkey with stuffing and gravy, king salmon with lobster arancini, bacon-wrapped pork tenderloin, pumpkin pie, and cheesecake. // $69 per person and $35 for children under 12; 219 Healdsburg Ave. (Healdsburg),spoonbar.com.
Compline (Takeout)
First Street's restaurant and wine bar has a solid strategy to get you through Thanksgiving without too much fuss: Chef Jammir Gray is making pretty much every side dish you could want to go with whatever main course you've got roasting at home. Choose from mashed sweet potatoes, savory bread pudding with andouille sausage, green bean casserole with porcini mushroom cream, roasted beets with pink peppercorn gastrique, brussels sprouts with pancetta, vegan and gluten-free gravies, and more. Pies are also on the menu, and vegetarian and vegan options are available for most sides. // Orders can be placed in advance for pickup from 2pm to 8pm on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at toasttab.com; 1300 First St., #312 (Napa), complinewine.com.
Solbar (Takeout)
We always get excited about a meal at Solbar, so why not make this Thanksgiving a bit more special by bringing the flavor of one of Calistoga's best restaurants to your table. The Thanksgiving at Home menu is stuffed with oven-roasted Mary's Organic turkey, spoonbread sausage stuffing, whipped potatoes, broccoli and kale salad, and pecan and pumpkin pies. // Dinners are $150+ for two people, $300+ for four, and $450+ for six, order by Monday, Nov. 23 for pickup Thursday, Nov. 26; Solage Resort, 755 Silverado Trail (Calistoga), aubergeresorts.com.
Alexander's Steakhouse (Outdoor Dining + Delivery)
All ASH locations (including Cupertino and The Sea in Palo Alto) will be offering pickup and delivery of its prime rib feast with sides for Thanksgiving dinner this year. // For locations, hours, menus, and orders, go to alexanderssteakhouse.com.
Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley (Takeaway)
Cozy up to a family-style feast courtesy of the Four Seasons. You'll be able to customize your menu with dishes including butternut squash soup, kale salad, turkey, all the trimmings, and pecan pie for dessert. Takeout meals will be available for pickup on the 26th with pre-orders no later than Friday, November 20th. // To-go orders are $300 and up at Eventbrite; 2050 University Ave (East Palo Alto), fourseasons.com
