Chez Panisse

Chez Panisse
Restaurant Cuisine: Mediterranean, Organic, Californian
1517 Shattuck Ave
Berkeley, CA 94709-1598
#7
of 430 restaurants in Berkeley
TripZen Score
8.0 / 10 Overall
341% Recommend
8Overall8Food
8.5Food
Activities: Health club, Hot tub, Pool (outdoors)
Check-in / Check-out time: 11am / 3pm
Description:One fixed-price menu each night, featuring the best products available. Short but reasonable wine list; servers are very knowledgeable and unpretentious. -- Michael Bauer
A breakfast nook.
Chez Panisse Map

Traveler Reviews

TripZen Score
8.0 / 10 Overall
341% Recommend
8Overall8Food
8.5Food
Overall
  • Of course, Chez Panisse Cafe was fabulous!
  • Between the cafe and the restaurant, I have visited five times and I have had nothing less than a perfect experience every time.
  • the less expensive upstairs cafe is actually better.
  • though which was a great experience.
  • We had a lovely experience at Chez Panisse.
  • We "ate" our way through the San Francisco and beyond over spring break and this was by far the best food and most memorable experience.
  • weird experience -
  • It was truly an outstanding experience in local, sustainable and top quality organic food, it makes an unbelievable difference.
  • had a wonderful meal and a great experience.
  • We enjoyed our dining experience
  • the concept (food from fresh, local, in-season ingredients) under which it operates, is one of the best restaurants in the country.
  • While the dishes are not as refined as that served in the restaurant proper, the cafe is cheaper
  • Poster child for the perfect casual restaurant.
  • A great restaurant is only as good as the wait staff.
  • one must when one is asked to consider the best restaurants in the world.
  • great spot for lunch
  • Whether upstairs at the cafe or downstairs at the pre-fixe, one is sure to have an amazing dining experience.
  • Lovely food, beautiful location, and significantly cheaper than the downstairs restaurant.
Food
  • Wonderful dinner throughout -
  • a wonderful meal was presented that was fresh, seasonal, and satisfying.
  • I did not feel the love of great, tasty food!
  • Food was good, but it was not the best meal I have ever eaten....Salads were simple and excellent, but main course was only good.
  • if you value local, honest food.
  • Everyone knows the food is perfect, fresh, seasonal.
  • Excellent food and service.
  • The food was truly enjoyable.
  • Food was good but no one seemed really pleased
  • The food was not bad
  • The imaginative combinations of ingredients, the subtlety of flavorings, and the eye-pleasing presentations never disappoint.
  • We ate on Monday night so understood the menu would be more rustic.
  • Really nothing on the limited menu I wanted to eat.
  • The staff was attentive to both the food and the guests....The pasta was amazing, unlike anything we have tasted before!
  • Our meal was excellent!
  • Still brilliant after all these years, with impeccable ingredients, flavors that speak to the need in all of us to, first
  • We "ate" our way through the San Francisco and beyond over spring break and this was by far the best food and most memorable experience.
  • food lovely -
  • The food was absolutely delicious, lots of fresh tasty vegetables and I had a delicious piece of fresh fish.
  • Incredibly good food, impeccable service in a relaxed, casual setting.
  • A very nice, special lunch
  • It was truly an outstanding experience in local, sustainable and top quality organic food, it makes an unbelievable difference.
  • The food was fresh, seasonal and delicious.
  • The food was delicious
  • The food, service and ambience were impeccable.
  • I can't imagine having better food, and I was pleased
  • As always, very accommodating staff and fantastic food.
  • Food was absolutely wonderful, as expected.
  • Each dish was made with fresh ingredients and vegetables....The cooks mixed very different flavors like using sardines in a vinegarette salad, which I found very inventive and delicious.
  • This is cafe part of Chez Panisse and it serves excellent food.
  • And the food is absolutely delicious.
  • The meat was okay but we ate less than 1/2....My dessert was sour and bitter and we left it.
  • A perfect lunch.
  • Anyone who has been less than thrilled with their experience at chez does not know good food.
  • Always the mecca of great fresh, local, seasonal dining, Chez Panisse is always worth the trip
  • Great food
  • The wine list is good, with good
  • Great food.
  • Very good food.
  • The dessert was also incredible!
  • A truly satisfying meal.
  • The menu is excellent
  • Lovely food, beautiful location, and significantly cheaper than the downstairs restaurant.
  • great spot for lunch
  • No one cares more about fresh food, preparation and and gastronomical perfection than Alice Waters.
  • Menu was nothing special compared to a well rated London restaurant -
  • The food and service for lunch was excellent.
  • Great organic food!
  • The chefs here know how to bring the best out in the freshest food available anywhere on the planet....The wines are superb and the atmosphere relaxed and inviting.
Service
  • What a great evening of wonderful, good conversation, and great service.
  • Excellent food and service.
  • But the service is excellent, too.
  • when it came to collecting my coat, the bad tempered waiter thrust my coat to my husband and walked away!
  • The staff was attentive to both the food and the guests.
  • All the staff was very friendly and helpful which made it an even more pleasant experience!
  • foremost, be satisfied, and unobtrusive and yet attentive service.
  • most impressed by service -
  • Incredibly good food, impeccable service in a relaxed, casual setting.
  • The service was very attentive without being intrusive.
  • The food, service and ambience were impeccable.
  • Can't laud the staff enough.
  • The staff should be ashamed of their attitude.
  • Consistently one of the finest examples of what food was meant to be, excellent service
  • The service is friendly, witty and engaging.
  • Very knowledgeable wait staff.
  • The food and service for lunch was excellent.
Ambience
  • It is a very relaxing atmosphere
  • Dining area near us was very loud.
  • The open kitchen, lighting, and architectural features make for a wonderful atmosphere!
  • Incredibly good food, impeccable service in a relaxed, casual setting.
  • The food, service and ambience were impeccable.
  • The interior is extremely cosy, with very warm lightning that avoids the intimidation and pretentiousness of other fine dining establishments.
  • In the pretty intimate, comfortable and busy dining room a bartender was shucking peas from a basket on the bar(there were also a huge bowl full of artichokes) for torn pasta with mushrooms .
  • I also loved the ambiance in general.
  • However, given its reputation, I expected a more stylish presentation of the food.
  • This is a small restaurant with a most attractive ambience, and is very unstuffy.
  • Lovely food, beautiful location, and significantly cheaper than the downstairs restaurant.
  • The wines are superb and the atmosphere relaxed and inviting.
Value
  • the less expensive upstairs cafe is actually better.
  • Definitely not worth the cost.
  • While the dishes are not as refined as that served in the restaurant proper, the cafe is cheaper
  • Lovely food, beautiful location, and significantly cheaper than the downstairs restaurant.

Top Rated Restaurants in Berkeley

See all restaurants
Cheeseboard Pizza Cheeseboard Pizza Berkeley, CA 94709-1517
8.5 Overall
Lalime's Cafe Lalime's Cafe Berkeley, CA 94706
8 Overall
Rivoli Restaurant Rivoli Restaurant Berkeley, CA 94707
8 Overall

Top Rated Hotels in Berkeley

See all hotels
The Brick Path Bed and Breakfast The Brick Path Bed and Breakfast Berkeley, CA 94707
8.5 Overall
Rodeway Inn Rodeway Inn Berkeley, CA 94702
8.5 Overall
Hotel Durant, a Joie de Vivre hotel Hotel Durant, a Joie de Vivre hotel Berkeley, CA 94704
8 Overall