Berkeley and Oakland restaurants to pick up Christmas dinner

According to multiple sources, spending Christmas in a kitchen baking, cooking and washing up is not everyone’s idea of a happy holiday. While this reporter can’t relate to such findings, I suspect many of you — struggling with unruly in-laws, planning snafus, and kids strung on peppermint bark — want to be relieved of as many culinary chores as possible this season . With that in mind, we’ve put together this list to help you order your Christmas celebration at one of these reliable and delicious local markets or restaurants. In return, you also help to make their Christmas merry.

Also remember that some of these locations offer special menus for other winter holidays including Hanukkah, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day so please visit their websites for other offers.

Note: This summary of pickup (or delivery) meals is not exhaustive; It’s meant to help spark some take-home ideas for the holidays. If you’re hoping for a meal from your East Bay favorite for the holidays, reach out to them directly to see what you can arrange.

Great Christmas dinner in Berkeley

Joan Ellis and Patrick Hooker are now firmly settled in their new location and can pick up a quick rib dinner ($150) on San Pablo Avenue, said ribs, coconut curry, broccoli with chilli crunch and dessert Your choice of ( Chocolate Whiskey Cake, Sicilian Lemon Almond Pistachio Cake or Coconut Pavlova with Passion Fruit Curd and Tropical Fruits). Top it all off with the Root Vegetable Gratin ($140) with Yukon Gold potatoes, butternut squash and rutabagas, and a Castelfranco Friese Salad ($60) with farro, roasted Delicata squash, goat cheese, hazelnuts, pomegranate seeds and a Sherry shallot vinaigrette.

What you need to know: All meals serve four people and are delivered in oven-ready cooking vessels. Orders will be ready for collection on Christmas Eve; Babette is closed on Christmas Day.

Babette2033 San Pablo Ave. (at University Ave.), Berkeley

This Berkeley mainstay offers some of the best vegan fare in the East Bay. Check out the holiday menu, including Maple Mustard Glazed Vegan Ham ($18), Vegan Crispy Skin Roast Turkey ($18), Impossible Meatloaf ($27), and Vegan Chicken Pot Pie ($22). Be sure to add some cheesecake ($26), eggnog ($14), fudge and chocolate chip cookie dough ($12) to your cart.

What you need to know: Most items serve up to three. Order deadline is December 16th. Collections between December 17th and 24th.

The butcher’s son 1954 University Ave (between Milvia and Martin Luther King, Jr., Way), Berkeley

With locations in Berkeley and Oakland, Cactus is a safe bet for all your Christmas tamale needs. Selections include chicken and green Anaheim chiles, chicken and red mole, turkey and black mole, pork with red sauce, corn and roasted poblano, and cheese and jalapeño. All tamales are served with salsa, pickled onions and Mexican crema.

What you should know: A dozen tamales cost $40. Order by phone or in person at one of the two locations. Please place your order two days in advance. Christmas day closed.

Cactus Taqueria5642 College Ave. (at Keith Avenue), Oakland or 1881 Solano Ave. (between The Alameda and Fresno Avenues), Berkeley

This select Chinese spot makes some of the best roast Peking Duck ($59.95) in the Bay Area. The Michelin-recognized spot also offers its entire menu for pickup or delivery.

What you need to know: If you want the roast Peking duck, it’s best to order it right away; it’s sold out early.

Great China2190 Bancroft Way (off Oxford Street), Berkeley

In addition to an extensive Christmas menu featuring a variety of appetizers, Market Hall Foods offers Cassoulet, Chicken Pot Pie, Mushroom Pick Pot Pie, Caramelized Root Vegetables, Winter Vegetable Soup with Saffron, Stuffing (not just for Thanksgiving!), Brandade, Fra’ Mani Apple Ham and more . For dessert, I recommend the bûche de noël, or fruitcake (which for some reason was wrongly used as a punchline in ’80s sitcoms) with soaked raisins, currants, apricots, cherries, plums, orange zest, lemon zest, figs, and ginger.

What you need to know: Orders must be placed by noon on Tuesday 20th December for collection on Thursday 22nd December – Saturday 24th December is almost always less packed. The menu items are also available in store during the listed holidays. Market Hall Foods is closed on Christmas Day.

Rockridge Market Hall, 5655 College Ave. (on Keith Avenue), Oakland; Fourth Street Market Hall, 1786 Fourth St. (between Hearst Avenue and Virginia Street), Berkeley

Great Christmas dinner in Oakland

This acclaimed French soul-food restaurant is offering a holiday ham dinner kit ($210) for six. The ham is served with sweet potatoes, collards, macaroni and cheese, Creole mustard sauce, brown icing, biscuits and jam.

What you need to know: Pick up at Brenda’s in Oakland on Thursday, December 22nd between noon and 6pm

Brendas4045 Broadway (near 41st Street), Oakland

The pre-ordered Christmas dinner for two ($100) includes lamb shanks with apricots and chickpeas, couscous pilaf, broccolini with pickled onions, and tiramisu. The vegetarian version ($70) features a portobello, cremini mushroom, and butternut squash lasagna along with refreshing radicchio and curly endive salad. Pre-order until December 20th. Don’t miss a variety of desserts, including sweet potato pie ($26), apple galette ($26), or bread pudding with whiskey sauce ($50)

What you need to know: Order online or call 510-482-2114.

Communitē Table, 4171 MacArthur Blvd. (near Maybelle Avenue), Oakland

Chef/Owner Matt Horn caught Food & Wineas Best New Chef of 2021, as well as a coveted spot on Michelin’s 2021 Bib Gourmand list. Horn’s 2022 has been more difficult, marred by employee grievances and lawsuits, but towards the end of the year the celebrated Pitmaster remains poised to cover your holiday spread . A la carte pre-orders include Horn’s popular whole smoked prime brisket ($275), smoked beef rib slab ($175) and cured ham ($100). Be sure to grab a skillet of mac ‘n cheese ($75) and – blessed – a banana pudding with salted caramel, which fills 10 to 15 people.

What you need to know: Pre-orders for Christmas can be picked up on Saturday, December 24th, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m

horn grill, 2534 Mandela Parkway. (between 24th and 26th Streets), Oakland

Run by mother-daughter duo Reyna Maldonado and Ofelia Barajas, La Guerrera’s Kitchen prepares some of the East Bay’s best meat, vegetarian and vegan tamales such as chicken with mole rojo sauce, black beans and cheese, pork in salsa roja or sweet piloncillo and raisins. New this year are pre-cooked frozen options that come pre-packaged and come with heating instructions.

What you need to know: “Order as soon as possible,” warns La Guerrera’s Kitchen. “Don’t wait! We repeat, don’t wait!” However, if you’re dawdling, the last day you can pre-order for Christmas Eve is Thursday 22nd December at 8pm. Christmas Eve pickup is from 10:00am: 00 to 14:00

La Guerrera’s kitchen468 8th St. (near Broadway), Oakland

This Montclair spot offers a classic prime rib-to-go menu for $56 per person. Side dishes include creamed spinach, Yorkshire pudding and mashed potatoes. Also included is her million dollar sweet potato cake with cranberries, vanilla chantilly and gold leaf.

What you need to know: Orders begin December 12, for collection or delivery. For more information, call 510-808-7767.

Pearl Wine Bar, 2058 Mountain Blvd. (near LaSalle Avenue), Oakland

Chef/owner Tamearra Dyson (the first vegan chef to beat Bobby Flay) offers pre-ordered entrees like Country Style Seitan Steak ($14), Chick’in Seitan Waffles ($15), and Sizzlin Skillet Pesto Mac ($15). $) on. You can also order a full Christmas dinner ($40) that consists of buttery brown mashed potatoes, braised kale, brown sugar yam, cornbread dressing, Louisiana cabbage, melted butter cornbread, fried seitan chicken, Creole cheddar mac, and buttered black eyes consists of peas and peach cobbler. phew! While you’re at it, grab a few glasses of Strawberry Ginger Ale for $5 a pop.

What you need to know: All Christmas dinners can be picked up on Christmas Eve, December 24, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m

Souly Vegan301 Broadway (at Third St.), Oakland

Highly recommended places in Berkeley and Oakland for baked treats and desserts:

Big Dill Kitchen: Turn to her to make a custom cake, cookie, or other baked item.
Arizmendi: 3265 Lakeshore Ave. (near Grand Avenue), Oakland
Fournee Bakery: 2912 Domingo Ave. (on Russell Street), Berkeley
Big Bakery 3033 MacArthur Blvd. (between Maple Avenue and Laurel Avenue), Oakland
La Farine: 6323 College Ave. (on Alcatraz Avenue), Berkeley; 4094 Piedmont Ave. (on 41st Street), Oakland; and 3411 Fruitvale Ave. (on Bienati Way), Oakland
Mariposa Baking Company: 5427 Telegraph Ave., D3 (at 55th Street), Oakland
Nabolom Bakery 2708 Russell St. (off College Avenue), Berkeley