New at Salt & Cleaver; Last Minute Thanksgiving Tables

HILLCREST— Salt & Cleaver's recent menu update includes new salads, flatbread, a sausage burger and lamb meatballs. Dessert has been pared down to ice cream sandwiches, made with house-baked cookies and rotating flavors of liquid nitrogen-frozen ice cream. [EaterWire]

DOWNTOWN— Acqua al 2 is giving Thanksgiving an Italian twist with a menu that can be ordered a la carte or as a prix fixe meal for $55. Dishes include smoked oyster bruschetta, saffron risotto with homemade smoked swordfish sausage, braised turkey with port wine and shallots. [EaterWire]

RANCHO SANTA FE— Veladora at the Rancho Valencia Resort & Spa is hosting a Thanksgiving buffet; exec chef Eric Bauer is planning a carving station, charcuterie and cheese, cold seafood, house made pastas, and an over-the-top dessert spread. The buffet is offered from 1 to 7 p.m. and is $89 for adults and $29 for children 11 and under (kids under three are complimentary). Reservations are required, call 858-759-6246. [EaterWire]

PACIFIC BEACH— Tower23 Hotel's JRDN is doing a beachfront Thanksgiving feast from 3 to 8 p.m. The four course meal offers choices that range from pumpkin soup, cider glazed pork belly, roasted Mary's turkey, grilled beef tenderloin, spiced chocolate roulade or pumpkin pie or medjoul date cake. For reservations, call 858-270-5736. [EaterWire]