‘Tis the season to be jolly, and there’s nothing better than good food (without the responsibility of cooking or doing the dishes) to make your spirits bright. From Christmas Eve dinners to Hannukah favorites to New Year’s celebrations, we have you covered with our annual roundup of holiday meals. (However, considering the many hundreds of eating spots in the area, it is nowhere near exhaustive.) Be sure to reserve in advance or you may miss out.
The Claremont Hotel offers high tea to help celebrate the holidays. Credit: Claremont HotelBerkeleyClaremont Hotel
Celebrate the holidays with high tea from 1-3 p.m. (featuring finger sandwiches and scrumptious desserts) in the Claremont Hotel’s Lobby Lounge, every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 29, as well as on Friday, Dec. 27, (adults $135; kids $85). Come back for a six-course heritage New Year’s Eve dinner at Limewood restaurant, celebrating Black chefs and featuring a meal designed by Chef Michele McQueen of Town Fare alongside Limewood Chef Joseph Paire III. The festive menu includes a chanterelle mushroom galette, buttermilk fried quail, pan-roasted bass, charred cabbage, braised oxtail, and a decadent chocolate mousse — with a side of caviar. Seatings are available from 5:30-9:30 p.m.; $175 per person; wine pairing for an additional $115 per person.
The Claremont Club & Spa: 41 Tunnel Rd. (at Domingo Avenue), Berkeley; www.claremont-hotel.com/explore/holidays-in-the-hills/
This Elmwood Italian spot is hosting a special Menu della Notte di Natale (Christmas Eve) prix fixe featuring three courses: a selection of Venetian seafood bites (house-cured salmon, grilled prawn, salted cod, or house-marinated anchovies), a locally sourced fish and shellfish stew, and a classic panettone bread pudding made with mascarpone, rum, and chocolate chunks (complete menu available here). The meal is $70 per person and reservations are required. It will also offer its normal a la carte menu if you prefer to customize your meal. Come back to celebrate New Year’s Eve with a festive Menu di San Silvestro prix fixe meal—the feast of Saint Sylvester is a traditional Italian New Year’s Eve Tradition, including lentils as a symbol for wealth and pork representing life’s fullness. As of press time, Donato & Co.’s NYE menu is still in development. Check the website for details closer to the date. The last seating will be 9:45 p.m.
Donato & Co.: 2635 Ashby Ave. (at College Avenue), Berkeley; www.donatoandco.com/
Donato & Co. will serve a seafood-focused Christmas Eve menu. Credit: Donato & Co.
Downtown Berkeley farm-to-table staple Gather (which recently celebrated 15 years in business) is offering a celebratory New Year’s Eve dinner with its a la carte menu (minus pizzas) along with specials including Dungeness crab cakes, mushroom risotto, braised short ribs and an array of specialty cocktails.
Gather: 2200 Oxford St. (at Allston Way), Berkeley; www.gatherberkeley.com/
This stylish downtown Berkeley brasserie and cocktail lounge is all in for celebrating the holidays. On Christmas Eve (Dec. 24), reserve in advance for either the Feast of the Seven Fishes ($160 for two people) or a prix fixe with beef, fish, vegetarian, and duck options ($85 per person; full menu still in development). Don’t forget to stop by the bar for some hot-buttered rum. See out the year with a “Roaring Revival” New Year’s Eve party that starts at 8 p.m. and includes prix fixe and a la carte menu options (separate from entry ticket), entertainment from the Nerds Cradle Collective, and live swinging jazz — wear your dancing shoes (tickets required and range from $25 to $100).
Revival Bar & Kitchen: 2102 Shattuck Ave. (at Addison Street), Berkeley; www.revivalbarandkitchen.com
Celebrate Hanukkah at Berkeley’s OG Jewish deli. Its latke tent is open from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 24 and then 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Dec. 25 (sundown is the start of Hanukkah) through Dec. 29. On offer: Music, latkes, doughnuts, coffee, tea, beer, wine, and a festive Hanukkah cocktail. From Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, come by at 4:30 p.m. for a special candle lighting and Hanukkah menu. More details to come soon on Saul’s website.
Saul’s Deli: 1475 Shattuck Ave. (at Vine Street), Berkeley; www.saulsdeli.com
Celebrate the season with a festive Christmas and a spectacular view of the San Francisco Bay. This year, Skates is offering a three-course meal on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day featuring your choice of 11 entrées, including prime rib, surf ’n turf, cioppino, and other seafood offerings such as blood orange king salmon, Dungeness crab and shrimp linguini, and fire-roasted Baja swordfish.
Skates: 100 Seawall Drive (on the waterfront at the Berkeley Marina), Berkeley; www.skatesonthebay.com
Zino ất the Hotel Shattuck Plaza is open throughout the holidays and offers a New Year’s Day brunch with a build-your-own Bloody Mar bar. Credit: Zino
Mediterranean spot ZINO has you covered with a Christmas Eve buffet ($90 per adult; $45 per child; 5 and under free) and Christmas Day ($100 per person) and New Year’s Eve ($110 per person) four-course prix fixe meals. But the pièce de résistance may be its New Year’s Day extended brunch, featuring mimosas, a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar, and festive cocktails. (Brunch starts at 8 a.m. for you early birds and extends until 3:00 p.m. for the New Year’s Eve revelers and other late risers.)
ZINO: Hotel Shattuck Plaza, 2086 Allston Way (at Shattuck Avenue), Berkeley; www.hotelshattuckplaza.com/dining/zino
Emeryville
Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Emeryville’s historic dining spot and former speakeasy. On Dec. 31, swing by for its renowned prime rib and Dungeness crab among other offerings along with jazz group Michael Jones Trio live from 6-9 p.m.
Townhouse: 5862 Doyle St. (between Powell Street and 59th Street), Emeryville; www.townhouseemeryville.com
Steamed buns from Hong Kong East Ocean Seafood restaurant in Emeryville. Photo: Christian González Verón/Flickr
Looking for a dim sum holiday? Hong Kong East Ocean serves up Cantonese cuisine alongside bay views from its perch at the western tip of Emeryville. Its festive holiday set menu runs from Dec. 22 to Jan. 3 and includes barbecue, jumbo prawns with glazed walnuts, Peking duck, braised Maine lobster, striped bass, and more. Five guests minimum; $360 for five people; $688 for 10.
Hong Kong East Ocean: 3199 Powell St. (next to Emeryville Marina Park), Emeryville; https://hkeo.com/
Oakland
Southern Italian spot A16 is rolling out its annual La Vigilia, or Feast of the Seven Fishes, on Dec. 24 from 4-8 p.m. The meal is inspired by southern Italian tradition and is served family style. Check the website for details and pricing as they become available but expect scrumptious Italian seafood with optional wine pairings.
A16: 5356 College Ave. (between Manila and Bryant avenues), Oakland; www.a16pizza.com
Rockridge shared-plate Mediterranean institution À Côté is serving a New Year’s Eve celebration with some special additions to its regular menu, including Dungeness crab beignets, tournedos Rossini with filet mignon and black truffles, a honeynut squash, wild rice with mushroom Wellington, and baked Alaska. The last reservation on Dec. 31 is at 10:30 p.m. and À Côté will ring in 2025 at midnight.
À Côté: 5478 College Ave. (at Taft Avenue), Oakland; www.acoterestaurant.com
This elegant California rustic spot in Rockridge is offering special dishes to celebrate Christmas Eve, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve. Acre will offer its full menu along with these holiday specials: Dungeness crab salad, blood sausage and apples, rotisserie lamb shoulder, and roast duck breast with parsnips and wild huckleberries for Christmas Eve; latkes, matzoh ball soup, and honey and wine brisket from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31; and, on New Year’s Eve, you can sample deviled eggs and caviar, jumbo prawn gumbo, and Maine lobster risotto.
Acre Kitchen and Bar: 5655 College Ave. (at Keith Avenue), Oakland; www.acrekitchenandbar.com
Bardo is offering a New Year’s Eve four-course prix fixe menu.
Michelin-recommended Bardo Lounge & Supper Club is offering a festive New Year’s Eve four-course prix fixe ($125 per person) featuring an amuse bouche, apple and parsnip soup or confit duck spring roll, arugula salad, and risotto with leeks and sunchokes or filet mignon, followed by spiced apple cake or chocolate and hazelnut cake. A full bar and cocktail menu is available. The last reservation is 9:45 p.m., but join them for sips any time after to join the midnight countdown.
Bardo: 3343 Lakeshore Ave. (at Trestle Glen Road, Oakland); www.bardooakland.com
Ring in the New Year with buttermilk fried chicken at this Temescal soul food spot named Food & Wine’s 2024 restaurant of the year. Burdell is offering a prix fixe New Year’s Eve meal that includes the aforementioned chicken, along with deviled eggs, a winter citrus salad, sweet potato waffles, savoy cabbage salad, and ice cream sandwiches. It’s $112.45 per person; the last reservation is 9:30 p.m.
Burdell: 4640 Telegraph Ave. (at 48th Street), Oakland; www.burdelloakland.com
Come for a New Year’s Day “Hangover Brunch” at this 2023 Michelin Bib Gourmand hot spot. It’s chef Dominica Rice-Cisneros’ 13th year of upholding the tradition of healing those who imbibed too much on New Year’s Eve with lots and lots of spicy dishes, alongside micheladas for a little hair of the dog. Jan. 1, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Bombera: 3459 Champion St. (at Lincoln Avenue), Oakland; www.bomberaoakland.com
Indulge in some Colombian flavors this New Year’s Eve at Uptown Oakland’s Parche. Early dining is available from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. — $65 per person for passed Colombian canapes and champagne; a la carte items from the menu are also available — and a late-night party will go from 9:30 p.m to midnight — also $65 per person with passed canapes, late night bites, champagne toast, and dancing to a DJ spinning Colombian salsa.
Parche: 2295 Broadway (at 23rd Street), Oakland; www.parcheoak.com
Piedmont Avenue’s California-Israeli spot Pomella will offer special holiday treats, including housemade latkes (available for dining-in and take away) and sufganiyot (filled donuts — takeaway only) Dec. 27-28 to mark Hanukkah and Italian rainbow cookies, chocolate salami, and Christmas tree meringues to mark Christmas.
Pomella: 3770 Piedmont Ave. (at Yosemite Avenue), Oakland; www.pomellaoakland.com
Rockridge’s Ramen Shop is throwing a festive New Year’s Eve feast complimented with St. George Spirits. The first seating (at 6 p.m.) is $96.15 per person and includes a seven-course tasting menu including pickled carrot and daikon, oysters on the half shell, hiyayakko (cold tofu), crab sticky rice, fried kakiage, scallops, and chocolate fondant. A later seating (8:30 and later) includes six courses and unlimited sparkling wine for $149.09 per person.
Ramen Shop: 5812 College Ave. (at Oak Grove Avenue), Oakland; www.ramenshop.com
Sobre Mesa is hosting a New Year’s Eve party with a DJ and all-you-can-eat empanada bar. Credit: Sobre Mesa
Head to Afro-Latin cocktail lounge Sobre Mesa at 10 p.m. for Mambo Nights New Year’s Eve afterparty. The party features an all-you-can-eat empanada bar from 10-11 p.m. and a live DJ spinning mambo, merengue, salsa and more. Bar bites are available for purchase until 1 a.m. Bust out your fancy duds and be sure to book your tickets ($147.50 per person) in advance.
Sobre Mesa: 1618 Franklin St. (at 17th Street), Oakland; www.sobremesaoak.com/
Richmond
Point Richmond’s Italian eatery Biancoverde will be open Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with a special holiday menu, featuring its most popular dishes, including creamy ravioli di aragosta and grilled rib-eye. It also offers a holiday drinks menu, including on New Year’s Eve, with libations such as winter’s dream coquito, chai spiced north pole, hot pumpkin butter rum-rum, and a classic eggnog.
Biancoverde: Hotel Mac, 50 Washington Ave. (at Cottage Avenue), Richmond; www.biancoverdehotelmac.com
Mi Casa Grill’s holiday menu includes mole poblano tamales.
Credit: Mi Casa Grill
Mi Casa Grill
This two-year-old Mexican spot from owner/chef Juvenal Magaña will be open Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve till 9 p.m., featuring special holiday drink options like guava champurrado, churro martini, eggnog, Grinch mimosa, and a traditional pajarete made of steamed milk, sugar and sugar cane alcohol. Festive menu items include churro waffles, mole poblano tamales, birria dip tamales, and guajillo barbecued baby back ribs.
Mi Casa Grill: 12056 San Pablo Ave. (at MacDonald Avenue), Richmond; micasagrillrestaurant.com