Bay Area diners must be getting bored with their usual tables at their favorite restaurants. Or their standard dining companions. Or both. How else to explain the upsurge in events revolving around feasting with unfamiliar faces? This new style of eating involves more than being seated inadvertently at a restaurant’s communal table, though. Instead, some established restaurants are devoting special nights to eating—and socializing—with strangers; at other free-form venues, this approach is the modus operandi at every meal. In both instances, favorite restaurant tips are swapped and new friendships are forged—so long as no one forgets to pass the potatoes.

Take the monthly Full Moon Feast at Three Stone Hearth in West Berkeley. At first glance, the website reads like marketing copy for a macrobiotic hippie co-op. But don’t let visions of patchouli deter you: This community-supported kitchen offers one of the best meal deals in town (currently priced at a $40 “donation”). The dated space—think 1972 rec room—hosts a generous, family-style dinner, made with quality local ingredients, for some 90 soon-to-be-chummy guests.

Three Stone Hearth, Full Moon Feast, 7:15 p.m.

THE CROWD
A mixed bag of mostly East Bay residents, ranging in age from long hair to no hair.

THE VITTLES
Passover-inspired: fish cakes, date charoset, herb-roasted chicken, and flourless chocolate torte.

THE JUICE
Bottles of adult “coolers” adorn the tables. There are also BYO wines (yes, including Manischewitz).

THE SETUP
Large, communal tables set with fresh flowers; family-style food served by volunteers. Warning: Hang on to your silverware.

EAVESDROPPING
“I’ll trade you a breast for a wing.”

Three Stone Hearth, 1 Bolivar Dr., Berkeley, threestonehearth.com

Elsewhere
New Langton Arts is hosting OPEN, a temporary restaurant and art project created by two Chez Panisse employees. 1246 Folsom St., S.F., newlangtonarts.org

In Hayes Valley, Sebo offers a multicourse dinner four nights per year; each event focuses on a different fish. Email sebosf@sbcglobal.net to be added to the list. 517 Hayes St., S.F., 415-864-2122

Eskender Aseged’s “nomadic feast,” Radio Africa & Kitchen, has found a semipermanent home. Aseged serves a small, casual dinner on Thursdays and Fridays at Coffee Bar’s communal tables. No reservations required. 1890 Bryant St., S.F., 415-551-8100