It’s official: we’ve got less than a week until the magical, marvelous gluttony that is Thanksgiving. You know what that means, East Bay: it’s time to start stretching your stomachs accordingly. Good thing we’ve got a week chock-full of openings for your eating pleasure.
First up, for those looking for a top-notch Thanksgiving dinner option, Lungomare will be serving an Italian-inspired Thanksgiving feast. You can take your pick between multiple first courses, main courses, and desserts (including pumpkin tortellini with turkey consomme, dry aged rib eye, and olive oil poached salmon), plus seven family-style side dishes (Brussels sprouts with Tessa ham, mashed potatoes, chanterelle stuffing). Dinner is $45 per person ($20 for kids), with wine and cocktails on offer. Plus, you can take advantage of their heated patio and fire fit.
Speaking of Turkey Day, two new bakeries are opening just in time to help you serve up a seriously memorable finale to your Thanksgiving meal. Jaynelle St. Jean’s Pietisserie has been an East Bay staple for years (her chocolate peanut butter pie, guys) and she is at long last getting her own brick and mortar location after popping up around town. She’ll be opening in East Lake before next Thursday, so keep an eye on her website and social media sites for updates.
Want to mix up your pie spread? Stateside Bakery, from CupKates food truck founder Kate McEachern, is now open in Berkeley. McEachern is slinging a mouthwatering menu of classic, childhood favorite treats (think Twinkies and pop-tarts), using top local ingredients. The only danger of bringing her fresh-baked Ore-Ohs! (pictured) or Nutella-stuffed sea salt cookies is having to share them with others.
Having gotten the sweet side covered, move on to an equally important food group: meat. Start at Clove & Hoof, an inspiring whole animal butchery concept from John Blevins and Analiesa Gosnell (formerly of 4505 Meats and Cafe Rouge, respectively). They’re sourcing sustainably raised whole animals, selling cuts of meat, and offering a menu of American-style comfort food available to stay or for take-out (they’ve got a smoker on hand, so expect plenty of barbecue). The menu is available for lunch now (the butchery operation is open all day), with happy hour and dinner offerings to come after the holidays.
Stick to your carnivorous guns at Farm Burger, now open in West Berkeley. The burger chain, which launched in the Southeast, focuses on forming tight relationships with local farmers and ranchers who show dedication to sustainable, humane practices. The seasonal menu features a number of burgers with a variety of delicious, creative toppings; sides like deviled eggs and boiled peanuts; and other hearty options like a Hog Island oyster po’boy or a goat sloppy joe. The local theme continues with drinks and dessert, with offerings from Three Twins Ice Cream, Doughnut Dolly, and local breweries and wineries.
Local chain Best Lil’ Porkhouse is expanding to Alameda, and bringing its brand of barbecue meat-centric sandwiches and platters along with it. They’ll be open next Monday, November 24 — just in time for your pre and post-Thanksgiving meals.
