Thanksgiving 2010: Cornucopia of Bay Area Dining Ideas

National turkey time is just about two and a half weeks away and the hot reservations around town are starting to get gobbled up. Here's the juice on some of our favorite options throughout the Bay Area. Get in on the bookings now, lest you be faced with a pile of leftovers.

NAPA VALLEY - Farm does a locally sourced, family-style dinner every year with upscale wine country renditions of classic Thanksgiving fare. Think about confit turkey leg, a chocolate fountain and this menu here; then call on in if interested.

THE CHALETS - Beach Chalet, Park Chalet and Lake Chalet (Oakland) all offer family-friendly three-course fixed price dinners at $39 for adults and $19 for the kids. The respective web sites have more information.

NORTH BEACH - The Stinking Rose allegedly roasts turkey breasts in 400 cloves of garlic on Thanksgiving. The signature dish is available both a la carte and as part of the $29.95 fixed price dinner. [EaterWire]

TENDERNOB - Le Colonial offers additional holiday items like minced turkey with basil in lettuce cups, kabocha squash puree and pumpkin cheese cake for the occasion.

MENLO PARK - If you want to learn how to make impressive Frenchy side dishes yourself this year, hit the Nov. 13 cooking class at Marche. It starts at 10:00 a.m. with housemade pastries and a little lecture from Chef Guillaume Bienaime, proceeds into a hands on workshop with recipes and ends with a luncheon feast at the restaurant paired with wines. Call for reservations.

A.G. FERRARI - All 13 local A.G. Ferrari Foods locations have a complete Italian-themed pro-chef prepared turkey dinner available to take home. Three pounds of local roasted turkey and nine Mediterranean style sides is $89.99 and feeds eight people. There are other options, like ordering sides or desserts only. And then of course you can bring home a Willie Bird as long as you place your order by November 23rd.

NORTH BEACH - Tony's pizza mini empire has added a few take home options for your at-home spread. Romana pizza by-the-meter will be available with festive topping combos like sweet figs, prosciutto, gorgonzola and balsamic reduction; sun-dried tomatoes, zucchini, red onion, bell peppers and artichoke hearts for the vegetarians or several meat-topped options. Tony is also offering an uncooked portobello mushroom, green onion, pesto and fontina pizza you can toss on the grill and a cranberry apple pizza for dessert.

WHOLE FOODS - Whole Foods Markets throughout the Bay Area are offering free holiday tasting fairs on November 13, 14, 20 and 21st. Here's the web site for more on that.

MORE! - One Market Restaurant, LarkCreekSteak, Top of the Mark, Luce, Lafitte, Meritage at the Claremont, Presidio Social Club, all Left Bank locations, McCormick & Kuleto's, Fish Story, Palio d’Asti and Urban Tavern are all open for the holiday, offering special Thanksgiving menus. GrubStreet has the specifics on several of the above.

Where to Dine Out on Thanksgiving [Bon Appetit]
Take A Year Off, Where To Still Get Thanksgiving Reservations [GrubStreet]

Heirloom breed Sebasatapol turkey. [Photo: Offal Good]