Reader Steve C. spotted an Instagram post for Big T’s Deli which says they are up and running inside the Santa Barbara Public Market at 38 West Victoria Street. After dining at Olio e Limone Ristorante across the street I stopped by the Market and the new deli was nowhere to be found. The Market’s website does not list Big T’s Deli as a current or future tenant. For updates on the status of the restaurant visit bigtssb.com. I have requested one and will let you know what I find out.

Haas’s Fine Ice Cream, which will be serving McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream, is coming to 3987 State Street (Five Points Shopping Center) in the space that use to house the cash register for Fresco Cafe which closed in 2023 after a brief move downtown. This dessert destination  will be immediately next door to Little Alex’s which took over the rest of the former-Fresco space last May. I took a peek inside and it appears that renovation just recently started so expect them to open early next year.

Reader IMissRexOfSB tells me that S.Y. Kitchen at 1110 Faraday Street in Santa Ynez will be coming to the other side of the mountain and opening a new location at 1483 East Valley Road in Montecito, the former home of Via Vai Trattoria & Pizzeria which closed last April after more than 30 years in business. I spoke to the restaurant, which has been hard at work on their new space, and was told “there is light at the end of the tunnel.” I am hearing that the kitchen needs to be rebuilt from scratch, a liquor license needs to be officially acquired, and they hope to open early next year.

“Nutcracker Afternoon Tea” is being offered at the El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, at 800 Alvarado Place. Guests will enjoy a whimsical afternoon tea inspired by the magic of the Nutcracker ballet, complete with live performances by the State Street Ballet. The menu will feature a curated selection of custom-blended teas, bites like smoked salmon mousse with lemon-zested crème fraîche, and desserts such as fresh rosemary scones with strawberry basil jam and local honey. The experience offers a fusion of art, music, and cuisine against the backdrop of the hotel grounds. Seatings are available on Saturday, December 14 and Saturday, December 21 from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Cost is $125 per person. Call (805) 845-5800

Last July 2023 I broke the news that Wexler’s Deli was coming to the Santa Barbara Public Market. The eatery opened April 8, 2024. Reader IMissRexofSB tells me that Wexler’s Deli has closed after 6 months in business. Yelp also reports that they are closed. Have no fear, though. Last August Etty’s Jewish Deli & Bakery opened inside the nearby Jewish Federation building at 524 Chapala Street.

Reader Annie stopped by Bossie’s Kitchen at 901 North Milpas Street recently and noticed that they are still closed. Updates were posted on bossieskitchen.com last month:

10/28/24: Our hours moving forward remain TBD as we continue to heal and recover.

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10/14/24: We hoped to re-open this weekend, however require a few more days for rest and recovery. We’re sorry to miss you and look forward to getting back on our feet as soon as possible!

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10/5/24: To our beloved Bossie’s regulars, neighbors, and friends: Due to a medical emergency, we have been closed since Friday, 10/4. While we wait for more test results and follow ups, we’ll take the next few days off for some much needed rest. Thank you so much for your understanding and well wishes, it is truly appreciated!

Validation Ale has opened a second location in Santa Barbara’s “Uptown” to serve San Roque, Samarkand, and other bordering neighborhoods. Dubbed Validation Annex, the new digs are equally as comfortable and open air as the headquarters in the Funk Zone with a slight lean toward more family friendly seating. If you’ve visited Validation Ale this new location will feel very familiar with high quality materials, space age restrooms, a living plant wall, fresh craft beer, and gastro pub style food, but there are two big twists… First, the addition of New York style “Za” including large 16″ and x-large 22″ pies with options for “by the slice” coming soon, and a Golf Lounge featuring two luxurious golf simulators and lounge areas. The owners, who have lived blocks from the new location for over a decade describe their motivation as “a desire to further integrate into the fabric of Santa Barbara’s community and give locals a hip destination much more convenient than the Funk Zone.” Brian & Briana are committed to delivering the same great service and high quality products that have built such a loyal following in both locations, citing their amazing team as the secret sauce.

On October 6^th, 2012, Paseo Nuevo welcomed the arrival of a new deli named Pickle and Swiss at 811 State Street. Sadly, the downtown location has now closed after 12 years in business. “I wanted to let you know after careful consideration and strategic planning we made the decision to close our downtown location in order to pave the way for our relocations,” says co-owner Karyn Montgomery. “We are embracing change, and seeking out improved circumstances that will help us thrive. We look forward to Goleta next year, and still believe in Santa Barbara as we will consider reopening in Santa Barbara at some point in the future. We really love our customers and will see you soon, and also a big Thank you John for your support, and with everything that you do for especially the food industry because every local business matters everywhere.” The Goleta location of Pickles and Swiss closed last summer with a new location yet to be announced.

Last December I broke the news that Santa Barbara’s wildly popular Finney’s Crafthouse & Kitchen at 35 State Street is coming to Goleta’s Camino Real Marketplace where Hollister Brewing Company used to be at 6980 Market Place Drive. “Our Team is excited to introduce ourselves to the great community of Goleta and the home of the Gauchos! Finney’s grand opening is on Monday, December 2nd, with doors opening at 11 am, happy hour on weekdays from 3-5 p.m.,” says owners Greg and Brad Finefrock. “Our menu features 55 highly addictive apps, salads, burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and tacos to pair with 30 local craft beers on tap and 17 fresh juice cocktails. We look forward to serving you!”

This just in from reader Primetime:

Just saw this posted: “The Harbor Restaurant (on Stearns Wharf) is now hosting a Locals’ Happy Hour from Monday – Thursday 2pm – 6pm [and everyone is a local during Happy Hour!]. Half off draft beers, call drinks, and local wines. Food is available. Santa Barbara’s most awesome ocean views included.”

Each November my inbox is swamped with the same question: Which restaurants serve a traditional turkey dinner on Thanksgiving Day? For the 18th year in a row, I made a hundred phone calls to find the answers, which I serve below.

Make your reservations early because many places will sell out; some are booked out three months in advance. And the competition isn’t just from your immediate neighbors: Based on the analytics of who is reading my online posting of this list, it appears that slightly more than half of the people exploring the idea of a Santa Barbara Thanksgiving feast are from outside of the county.

View The Restaurant Guy’s list for 2024: Restaurants serving Thanksgiving in Santa Barbara

This just in from Olio e Limone Ristorante at 11 West Victoria Street, Ste. 17:

Since November 15, 1999, we’ve been on an incredible journey. Join us in celebrating Olio e Limone Ristorante’s quarter-century of flavors, memories, and moments shared with our amazing community. To all our loyal guests who have made us a part of your table, grazie mille – we wouldn’t be here without you! And to our dedicated team, many who’ve been with us from the beginning, thank you for pouring your passion into every dish and making each meal a special experience – we couldn’t do it without you.

As a thank you for your continued love and support these past 25 years, we’re celebrating with a special Giveaway and we want YOU to be a part of it. Each week, one lucky winner will be chosen at random, and the more you enter, the better your chances. To get in on the fun, simply head over to our Instagram page @OLIOSANTABARBARA where you’ll find all the details on how to enter in our latest post! Weekly Winner Announcements:
Winners will be DM’d weekly. We’ll be rewarding our lucky winners with a gift card as a token of our appreciation—the last day to enter is Sunday, 11/24/24. Here’s to many more years of delicious memories together. Saluti!

Robitaille’s Fine Candies — a family-owned-and-operated business most well known for its chocolate “Presidential Inauguration Mints,” and a Carpinteria staple for more than 36 years — announced that it would be closing the Linden Avenue shop later this year, according to a statement from owners John and Tami Robitaille on Thursday, November 7. Thanks to reader Primetime for the tip!

Read the full story at the Santa Barbara Independent

Photo by Primetime

Last week I passed a tip from reader Theresa that Louie’s California Bistro in the Upham Hotel is open again after a few months closure. I was told that the chef and staff are the same and the food is as good as ever. Sadly I must report that the opening was just for a week and now they are closed again indefinitely. Louie’s California Bistro is a separate business from the Upham Hotel.

A fire started on Sunday morning, October 13, in a storage room at The Chase Restaurant, 1012 State Street, and firefighters were able to put out the blaze within a half hour. I recently spoke with co-owner Nicole Bitar who told me that the iconic eatery will not be able to reopen this year and that they have a backup plan in the works.

“Chase always has a great Christmas and we are super sad that we can’t do that this year,” says Bitar. “But we still want to do something because we want give people a place where they can take pictures so we have the outside that we can use. We are hoping that we can open the front doors and decorate The Chase to the nines and let people come take pictures, have fun, and enjoy some outdoor music. Maybe, if [the city of Santa Barbara] lets me, I have a food truck with [my other restaurant] Via Maestra and we want to be able to do some of our food truck food right outside of The Chase to help generate some income as we start rebuilding.”

I am told that the fire was in the back part of the building and that it did go up a wall which now requires everything be taken out of the building, cleaned, sterilized, and brought back in. Once that job is completed Bitar will have a better idea about what the timeline will be to fully reopen the restaurant.

UPDATE: Owner Brad Finefrock says the opening date has been moved to December 2.

Last December I broke the news that Santa Barbara’s wildly popular Finney’s Crafthouse & Kitchen at 35 State Street is coming to Goleta’s Camino Real Marketplace where Hollister Brewing Company used to be at 6980 Market Place Drive. Reader Joe H. says they had lunch at Finney’s Crafthouse & Kitchen in San Luis Obispo last week and spoke with the traveling General Manager who reported that the Goleta location is opening next week. I stopped by the up and coming Goodland eatery, which is a beehive of construction, and was told that the opening date is Friday, November 15. Based on how much work is left to be done it will be amazing if they can open by then, but two sources say they will.

Photos taken 11/6/2024

Giovanni’s Pizza, which departed Goleta in April 2008, is making a comeback. Reader Eric M. let me know that the eatery, which has locations on upper State Street and in Carpinteria, will be coming to the Goleta Shopping Center, home of Target. The address will be 6831-B Hollister Avenue, just to the right of Sam’s To Go, which is the former home Lucky Dragon that closed in September 2020. I spoke with Giovanni’s flagship location and they confirmed the news and said that they are hoping to open in July 2025.

On a side note, last July I wrote that Pickles & Swiss would be moving to this same exact Hollister Avenue address next year, so apparently the deli’s plans have changed. Their website still says that a new Goleta location is in the works, after having recently closed their Goleta spot next to Smart & Final.

The French Riviera meets the American Riviera. Reader Steve C. emailed me from a packed “Bar Lou” on opening night, November 2, letting me know that Montecito’s new French restaurant had arrived. Their online reservation system immediately filled up for the rest of the week. Bar Lou at 1198 Coast Village Road, the former home of Oliver’s and the ubiquitous Peabody’s, is brought to you by restaurateur Warner Ebbink and Executive Chef Brandon Boudet who have been business partners since 2001 and operate Little Dom’s in Carpinteria and Los Feliz.

The duo, who split their time between Santa Barbara, Ojai, and Los Angeles, used companies Mahte Design and Isabelle Dahlin Design to split the space into four different dining rooms that include dark green accents, vintage French oak floors, and mirrored walls. Boudet says the new Montecito space added excitement him and Ebbink because they have been doing updated Italian-American food for the last 20 years and it would be nice to do a totally different concept. “It reinvigorated us both, me with the food, wine and cocktail program, and him with designing the place and getting it up and running.”

“We are trying the bring new energy to Montecito,” says Boudet. I am told that the space became available last April and that upon seeing the property, and feeling the vibe of the building, his instinct was to open up his interpretation of a French bistro in the south of France. Boudet loves the abundance of fresh local produce. “We have fisherman who knock on our doors and deliver it straight to us,” he added. “It’s the same thing with farmers who are just a few miles away.”

The small plates menu includes CA Caviar, Fried Zucchini Blossoms, Smashed Chickpea Toast, Chicken Gyro, Smoked Black Cod Smorrebrod, Charcoal Grilled King Oyster Mushroom Skewer, Roasted Carrots, Charcoal Grilled Beets, Harissa Spiced Beef Kofta, Crab Cake, Meat & Cheese Plate, rancho Gordo Ayocote Beans, French Fries, and Sauteed Greens. Large Plates include Cast Iron Seared Fish Provencal & Ratatouille, Branzino Almondine, and Steak au Poivre. Appetizers, Pasta, Rice, and Salad dishes are also available.

Though Bar Lou will only offer dinner service the first few weeks of opening, they will be offering lunch service along with weekend brunch soon. Boudet and Ebbink will soon be opening up an elevated Mexican cuisine eatery at the Condor Bar inside El Roblar Hotel in Ojai. Call (805) 845-5489 or make reservations at resy.com.

This just in from reader Dano:

I’ve been going to the Breakwater Cafe for close to 40 years so I wanted to check out what the new owners have done. Three of us went last Saturday and wow were we surprised. They are using farm fresh eggs and we all could taste the difference. The sides of potatoes have also been greatly improved. I posted some photos on my IG and FB pages, and I stated, “The Eggs Benedict/CA was most likely the best I’ve ever had in SB.”

Hi John,

Can you please include Carp Kitchen Grocery on your list of Thanksgiving offerings? We are in downtown Carpinteria and offer delivery, Full-Service Catering and retail pick up of all our menu items. Please let me know if I can provide any additional information for the listing.

Thank You for all you do!!

Best,
Elsa Cisneros
Carp Kitchen / Savory Thyme Catering

Thanksgiving Carp Kitchen 2024
Charcuterie Board $12.95 per person
Bacon Wrapped Dates, Goat Cheese, Almonds $33 half dozen
Roasted Butternut, Honeycrisp Apple Squash Soup $18 / quart serves 2
Autumn Greens, Pinot Noir Poached Bosq Pears, Candied Pecans, Dried Cranberries,
Laura Chenel Goat Cheese Crumbles, Champagne Vinaigrette $55 / serves 6 – 8
Oven Roasted Turkey Breast $95 / serves 6 – 8
Oven Roasted Whole Turkey $120 / serves 6 – 8
Giblet Gravy $26 / quart
Puff Pastry Wrapped Lentil Loaf, Gravy (vegan) $38 / serves 2- 3
Traditional Stuffing, Onions, Celery, Parsley, with Italian Sausage $36 / serves 6
Traditional Stuffing, Onions, Celery, Parsley $30 / serves 6
Buttermilk Whipped Yukon Potatoes $28 / serves 4
Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Maple Thyme Butter $42 / serves 6
Sauteed Green Beans, Garlic and Crispy Fried Onions $35 / serves 6
Rustic House-made Dinner Rolls, Chive Herb Butter $14 / 6
Traditional Cranberry Relish $15 / pint
Pecan Squares $28 half dozen
Classic Apple Pie $42 / serves 6-8
Gluten Free Apple Pie $48 / serves 6-8
Ask us about dinners for two, starting at $32/pp
Dinners for Two: $64
Salad, Turkey w Gravy, Stuffing, Whipped Potatoes, Green Beans, Cranberry Relish
Soup, Turkey w Gravy, Stuffing, Whipped Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Cranberry Relish
Place your order by Friday, November 22, 5PM
805-318-9400
4945A Carpinteria Ave, Carpinteria, CA 93013
www.carpkitchen.com
Please note, we expect to sell out of some items sooner than the deadline.

Helena Avenue Bakery announces the return of EVERYTHING BUT THE TURKEY Thanksgiving à la carte ordering – a savory and sweet takeaway menu of must-haves to accompany Thanksgiving dinner. Choices include signature rolls, quintessential sides and desserts, providing hosts with ample quality time with friends and family and fewer hours in the kitchen for Thanksgiving dinner.

Helena Avenue Bakery side dishes include Sourdough Stuffing Starter Kit; Black Pepper Porcini Mushroom Gravy; Take & Bake Parker Rolls; Pumpkin Soup; Navel Orange & Cranberry Marmalade; Sourdough Levain; Pumpkin Bread Mini Loaf; Date & Pecan Sourdough Loaf; and Baguette. All dishes come packaged in generous portions with easy instructions.

For DESSERT, guests may choose from the bakery’s house-made Caramelized Honey Pumpkin Pie with brown butter and an all butter crust; Maple Bourbon Pecan Pie; Old Fashioned Apple Pie with oat crumble and an all butter crust; gluten-free Cranberry Tart with pistachio & date crust and Take & Bake Cinnamon Rolls.

Orders can be made online or ordered in person at the Helena Avenue Bakery counter. Pre-ordering ends Sunday, November 22, 2024 by 2:00 p.m. Everything But the Turkey pickups are on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, from 7:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Helena Avenue Bakery will be CLOSED on Thanksgiving Day.

Order form: https://form.jotform.com/243026781907157

Holdren’s Steaks & Seafood at 512 State Street had a 21st anniversary special throughout October. I now hear it has been extended to November:

Dear John,

Due to overwhelming demand, we’ve extended our 21st Anniversary Celebration until November 22nd!

We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has celebrated with us so far. Your support means the world to us! Enjoy a selection of our chef’s special creations, each thoughtfully prepared to celebrate this milestone. All entrees include a choice of soup or salad and a side for just $21. Available Monday through Thursday, from 4–6 PM.

Filet Mignon Medallions
BBQ Baby Back Pork Ribs
Linguini with Prawns

Here is a food news tip:

I wanted to let you know that Louie’s California Bistro in the Upham Hotel is open again after a few months closure. Apparently it took the new owner a few months to get the beer and wine license. The chef and staff are the same, and the food is as good as we remembered.

Theresa

Hi John,

Hope all is well with you… Could you possibly add Intermezzo by Wine Cask on the Thanksgiving Day guide? We are serving a 3 course dinner including traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings! Pricing is $95 a person for our 3 course dinner and $45 for the supplemental wine paring.

Thanks so much for your help!
John O’Neill
Owner
Intermezzo by Wine Cask

I most certainly will!
– The Restaurant guy

Bonjour!

Gather with friends and family as we celebrate our 29th and last Thanksgiving in our beautiful home. Enjoy our traditional three course prix fixe dinner including traditional turkey plate, salmon Almandine or black peppercorn crusted prime rib. Head to our website, stellamares.com to view our complete menu and make reservations.

Many of our regular customers have been making reservations well ahead of time since it is our last Thanksgiving and Holiday season. Holiday events for November and especially December are also booking quickly. Head to our website to make inquiries or call us at (805) 969-6705.

A bientot!

The Stella Family
Philippe Rousseau

Hi John
We wanted to let you know that, after many requests over the years, opal restaurant and bar is open this year for Thanksgiving, and serving a 3 course Thanksgiving Prix Fixe, with seatings starting at 1:30 pm. I am attaching a link to our website with all the pertinent information.
opalrestaurantandbar.com/upcoming_events.pdf

If you can add us to your list of restaurants open for Thanksgiving, we would appreciate that very much!

Thanks John!
Warm Regards,
Richard Yates, with Tina Takaya,
Owners, opal restaurant and bar

Hey John!

I wanted to drop you a line on a few seasonal updates at the Brass Bears:

Brass Bear Uptown is hosting a Thanksgiving Buffet starting at noon with the last seating at 5pm. The buffet will have all the traditional fare: Carving station with Turkey, Gravy, Prime Rib w Au Jus, Salads, Green Bean Casserole, Veggie Medley, Mashed Potatoes, Cranberry Sauce and Pecan + Pumpkin pies for dessert. $70 for adults and $30 for kids 12 & under.
Its easiest to make reservations online but can of course call as well 805-869-4014

Football season at Uptown has been a blast so far, all the games are available and we have a number of outside TV’s + roller TV’s that can be placed right where you need them if you get there early!

Get your holiday parties in the books today! We’ll have both the Funk Zone and Uptown in the festive spirit and as a reminder can handle groups from 15-400! If you haven’t had your holiday party with us yet give us a try this year, we make it fun!
Email our event coordinator Emily, events@brassbearbrewing.com

I hope you have a great finish to 2024!

Cheers,
Seth Anderson

Here is a message to you from Pascucci:

During November 1 – 26, 2024, your favorite Santa Barbara Italian restaurant wants to thank the local community for its support over the last 31 years. Tourists come and go, but locals are forever! In gratitude to our local community, we are offering:

• 15% OFF your entire dining tab*
• Sundays through Fridays
• November 1 – 26
• Dine-In Only
• A LOCAL ID must be presented at time of payment

Come on in and enjoy some really good Italian food in the heart of the downtown foodie district: 509 State Street. We can accommodate large parties, have indoor and outdoor seating options, and our patio is pet-friendly. In addition to our fabulous Italian-inspired menu, we offer a full bar and wonderful homemade desserts!

Cin cin, Santa Barbara!

*not valid on Happy Hour or Menu Specials pricing

Pascucci Restaurant
509 State Street, Santa Barbara
(805) 963-8123

Reader Primetime has posted on X that The Ellwood at 5905 Sandspit Road, the former home of Beachside Bar Cafe, is hiring. Primetime says interviews are this Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Front of house positions include Maitre D’, Floor Manager, Food Servers, Bar Tenders, bar Backs, Bussers, Food Runners, and a Host Team. Back of house positions include Chef de Cuisine, Kitchen Leads, Raw Bar Shuckers, Line Cooks, Prep Cooks, Expo, and Dishwashers. I am told that the restaurant hopes to open in December.

Reader K.D. let me know that Sweeties Ice Cream Shop at 1826 Cliff Drive, Ste. A has closed. The dessert destination, that opened in July 2022, closed on October 21, and will be replaced by Mission City Sandwich Shop. Sweeties Ice Cream Shop was brought to you by the people behind Mesa Burger, Lighthouse Coffee, Corner Tap, and La Cantina. I believe that the up-and-coming Mission City Sandwich Shop will be under their umbrella as well. There are not may sandwich options on the Mesa, which include Sam’s To Go and the one inside Lazy Acres, so this is could be a good idea.

Loquita presents a Fall Harvest Dinner with Altanza Wines and live paella demonstration on Thursday, October 24, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. Chef Elier Rodriquez has designed a specially curated menu paired with Altanza wines, produced in Rioja, Spain’s wine region. The four-course menu includes: Steak Tartare with crispy onion rings, fried capers, bone marrow & crispy potatoes; Black Cod with Pumpkin Purée and squid ink beurre blanc & chorizo crumbles; Wild Mushroom Paella with Spanish black truffle and includes an exclusive Live Paella Demonstration; and a Basque Cheesecake with white chocolate shell & quince. Tickets are $150 per guest. Seating is semi-private, communal seating, first come, first served. Reservations can be made here. Visit loquitasb.com or call 805-880-3380.

La Paloma Cafe has announced Chef Jeremy Tummel’s “Fresh Catch – A Sustainable Seafood Experience” with a multi-course feast on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. The dinner features local seafood, including spiny lobster, abalone and sea urchin, all paired with exquisite Dreamcôte wines presented by winemaker Brit Zotovich. Also included is a live presentation from some local fishermen who will share insights about sustainable fishing and its importance to our oceans. The guests will have a chance to win the fresh catch of the day. Tickets are $110 per guest. Reception at 5:30 p.m. seated dinner at 6:00 p.m.; seating is semi-private, communal seating, first come, first served. Reservations can be made here. Visit lapalomasb.com or call 805-966-7029.

Here is a Halloween press-release from San Ysidro Ranch:

Hosted on October 31st at the hottest spot in town, The Speakeasy at Plow & Angel, this spooky soirée will include enchanting craft cocktails (think Zombie Tropicali and Oaxacan Blood Moon), a spine-tingling selection of Halloween-inspired dishes, and even an expert psychic who will be offering personalized readings. This is the first time the Speakeasy will play host to a Halloween celebration since its opening earlier in the year! October 31st, 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Join San Ysidro Ranch at its illustrious Speakeasy at Plow & Angel for a night of Halloween mystery and magic. For one night only, the alluring space will be transformed with Halloween-themed décor for an evening to remember. Expect enchanting craft cocktails – from potions that smoke and bubble to darkly delicious elixirs – along with live music, hauntingly delicious bites and a touch of the supernatural with a renowned psychic to guide you through the night’s mysteries. Costumes are encouraged, so whether you’re channeling vintage glamour or something spookier, San Ysidro Ranch invites you to celebrate the season in style.

Here is a Thanksgiving press-release from Little Dom’s in Carpinteria:

Los Angeles’ Italian food institution, Little Dom’s, and its sister concept in Carpinteria, Little Dom’s Seafood, are bringing back their annual Deep Fried Turkey Thanksgiving Feast.

Paying homage to his New Orleans roots, Co-Owner and Executive Chef Brandon Boudet will offer sidewalk-cooked, deep-fried turkeys alongside popular holiday side dishes that highlight traditional Southern flavors. To round out the feast, delectable desserts crafted by Pastry Chef Ann Kirk will also be available, ensuring a perfect Thanksgiving without the hassle of dirty dishes!

Here’s a sneak peek at this year’s Thanksgiving Feast offerings (serves 6-8 people) along with pricing. Please note that orders will open from Friday, November 1st to Sunday, November 24th and will be available for pickup on Thanksgiving morning. For more information and order instructions, please visit littledoms.com.

– Deep Fried Turkey with gravy ($120)
– Roasted Brussel Sprouts with applewood bacon ($48)
– Shaved Raw Brussels Sprouts with hazelnuts and lemon ($48)
– Homemade Fennel Sausage & Mushroom Stuffing ($48)
– Garnet Yam Puree with coconut cream and toasted pecans ($48)
– Wood Oven Roasted Heirloom Carrots with reduced balsamic ($48)
– Brown Butter Pumpkin Pie ($48)

“We are in a crunch to get all the little details done for the opening of our 2nd location ‘Validation Annex’ in the next week or so,” says Brian Deignan, co-owner of Validation Ale in the Funk Zone with his wife Briana. The craft brewery restaurant is coming to 2840 De la Vina Street, the former home of New Si Chuan Garden.

The Bitar Restaurant Group, which in recent years acquired Via Maestra 42 at 3343 State Street, and Chase Restaurant & Lounge at 1012 State Street, is bringing another local eatery under their wing. “We officially take over Milk & Honey on the first of November,” says Nichole Bitar, who co-owns the Bitar Restaurant Group with her husband Georges. I am told that the menu won’t change. “We love it,” she adds. “It’s a fun, really hip, cool place. We don’t want to change it. We don’t want to change the staff. Especially for the first year we just want to watch it, let it ride, and have fun.” Milk & Honey opened at 30 West Anapamu Street in December 2006.

Reader Jennifer M. sent me a photo showing white benches, umbrella stands, and planter boxes have appeared outside of The Daisy restaurant at 1221 State Street. Is sidewalk dining in the works?