San Francisco Bay Area

Map of Chez Panisse Restaurant

Chez Panisse Restaurant
CitySearch

An original that stays that way.

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Mondays offer a $50, 3-course alternative.

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In the foodie world, Alice Waters is a household name. The chef pioneered California cuisine at this Berkeley dining institution and in the process, helped popularize buying locally at farmer's markets. Indeed, Chez Panisse uses ingredients at peak freshness, seamlessly melding soulful seasonality with French techniques. The warmly lit dining room oozes Craftsman style, with gorgeous woodwork, a large, open hearth and glowing copper-shaded lamps. Hushed diners range from Birkenstock-shod Berkeley intellectuals to black-clad city slickers. Service is gracious, though it can be slow. The Restaurant downstairs features a prix fixe menu, while the Café upstairs is à la carte and offers more choice to diners—at a lower price, to boot.

OpenTable
...now part of the global Slow Food movement. Chez Panisse Restaurant, located downstairs, is open for dinner Monday through Saturday, by reservation only. The set menu changes every night, reflecting the season. Our produce, meat, poultry, and fish come... show full description

CitySearch
...gracious, though it can be slow. The Food Thirty years ago, owner Alice Waters unleashed an epicurean revolution by focusing on locally grown, seasonal ingredients. The menu changes nightly here, and it's always prix fixe, with three to four courses. Simple presentations that might include delicate soupe de la mer with garlicky red rouille or roasted Hoffman Farm chicken with shallots, cream and a hint of calvados are deliciously compelling arguments for Waters' agrarian stance. Past menus have included baked artichokes stuffed with capers, garlic and anchovies and a NoCal riff on Moroccan chicken tagine. Desserts almost always feature... show full description

CitySearch		32 reviews

CitySearch

32 reviews

You can fool some of the people some of the time, but...
can't believe why people fall for this place, I left here feeling completely conned. I have two theories: One is the old "King New Clothes" theory that no one...
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- posted on 12.08.09
- by Lochardil