Chez Panisse Restaurant

4.0 star rating
1111 reviews Rating Details

Categories: American (New), French

1517 Shattuck Ave
(between Cedar St & Vine St)
Berkeley, CA 94709
Neighborhoods: Gourmet Ghetto, North Berkeley
(510) 548-5525
Make a Reservation
choose a date
Hours:

Mon-Sat 11:30 am - 3 pm

Mon-Thu 5 pm - 10:30 pm

Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11:30 pm

Good for Kids:
No
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Dressy
Good for Groups:
No
Price Range:
$$$$
Takes Reservations:
Yes
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
No
Waiter Service:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Wi-Fi:
No
Good For:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Full Bar
Noise Level:
Average
Ambience:
Classy, Intimate
Has TV:
No
Caters:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

Review Highlights   

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"fig tart with lavender ice cream." (in 136 reviews)
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"The upstairs cafe is very pleasant during the day." (in 50 reviews)
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"Had the prix fixe menu with SQUID at the centerpiece." (in 29 reviews)
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1111 reviews in English

  • Review from Deanna A.

    Alameda, CA

    5.0 star rating
    2/1/2012 1 photo 1 Check-in Here

    This was a symphony inspired & entitled Black Truffle Week.
    Conductor:  Alice Waters.
    Orchestra:  Expert staff that made magic happen in the kitchen & out.

    Overall:  Elegant cuisine.  Triggered dining emotions and sounds (queue: mm, oo's and ahh's).  Exceptional pacing from course to course.  I commented on that a few times because they really let you spend quality time with the ingredients, digest what just happened, and bask in the culinary experience.  Flavors of fare and recommended wine (Muscadet & 2009 Morgan) had an ebb and  flow effect in your mouth.  You know the moments when things are delicate and ephemeral so you enjoy discussing the different nuances and surprises that each person is discovering .....to the moments that are so bold & long-lasting that when you take a bite-- you have to shut your eyes, clench your silverware, throw your praises up to the food gods to say, "Thank you.  You know why" and ride the finish.

    Venue:  Coming from the cold air of the night, once you walked through the curtains into the dining room - it felt like a warm, inviting hug from a good friend.  Neighborhood upscale, wood paneling, antique copper fixtures, wood trimmed mirrors, small & quaint yet spacious to move around.  Tables of 2-4 are perfect.  Table of 6 ok, in my opinion.  Keep it intimate as its an intimate venue.

    Service:  Waters is regarded as spearheading the Cali cuisine movement and procuring + educating the community on local + organic ingredients.  The service followed suit- impeccably intentional & organic.  Attentive, personable, easy, & guides you through the meal however allows you to make your own experience with who you are dining with.  

    Menu:  Green olives and rustic bread/butter graced the table as we perused the wine list.  (Course 1) Delicately prepared leek salad drizzled with black truffle vinegarette and topped with egg and pancetta crumbs.  The soft, soothing pace setter for the evening.  (Course 2)  A ragout of robin fish, scorpion fish, lobster, and scallop with a side island of green garlic aioli.   The broth stayed true to the natural flavors of each shellfish & fish, without giving it a strong "seafood" taste.  It was subtle yet loud, simple yet complex - a true dichotomy.  The music builds and BAM! (Course 3) Liberty Duck perfectly cooked and cut - tender & juicy - tiny appearance of fat at the edge was just enough "tease" and satisfaction.  Duck was topped with thin slices of kumquat to give it a citrus punch.  Crispy potatoes - I wish there were a few more or a side dish of these suckers.  Black trumpets!!! Lord have mercy.  There was a small dash of greens that brightened our plate & palettes.   Our table decided to make a slew of "perfect bites" which was basically including all those elements for one bite on our forks to be followed by the clouds parting, sun shining, and angels singing a heavenly tune.  Then we topped the bite with a sip of the Morgan - (queue:  clenching silverware, closing your eyes tightly, and saying, "Thank you, food gods."  (Course 4) 2 at our table said that the dessert rivaled course 3.  Hot diggity damn.  Completely true which means it was mua! mua! excellente!  First of all, kiwi sherbert & tangerine sherbert - HELLO.  The kiwi was my favorite - it was sprightly and jovial - like dancing fairies in your mouth.  Add roasted pineapple and a coconut vacherin which is this crispy, delicate circumference of heaven that was topped with a pillowy cloud of creme.  Shoot my face!  Heaven.   Add on Blue Bottle french press.  Life is good.  Oh so good.

    Aftermath:  On paper it said that we owed about $120/head tax inclusive but in our minds & hearts - we owed Chez Panisse much more for that perfectly executed meal, service, and experience.  My favorite East Bay meal to date.  We all left there happy that we celebrated a Tuesday together at Chez Panisse - happy to celebrate life.  Everyone was full but a good, healthy, "I was just apart of something remarkable" type of full.  Because it was a high quality, correctly portioned, and farm fresh menu- there was no unbuttoning of pant buttons or doubling over - we left smiling and wondering what next Tuesday's menu offers.

    Compliments to the Chef.

  • Review from Andrew S.

    Berkeley, CA

    3.0 star rating
    2/5/2012

    Went here for my birthday last year. They have a set meal that they determine a week or two before your dinner. Ambience-wise I think this restaurant is great. However, the food just didn't really stick out in any way. The courses were really spread out, which was good because it gave me and my gf lots of time to make room for more food.

    tl;dr: Great execution, lacks flavor.

  • Review from Ferdinand H.

    Cleveland, OH

    5.0 star rating
    1/19/2012

    Four or 5?

    I cannot decide.

    Since going to Chez Panisse Cafe about a year ago, I'd been wanting to find a reason to visit and try the prix fixe menu at the main restaurant, and see what else Alice Waters had in store.  Nestled in the same building on the first floor, Chez Panisse is accoutred in warm rich wood, toned with orange in the lighting.  There's a rustic design element at play amidst art that recalls the art and cinema of France of the past century.

    There's a certain spartan verve to the place, admixed with the gustatory decadence that I find so very charming.  Sometimes, opulent, rich decor detracts from the crown jewel of a dining venue, ie. the food.

    This evening, the apertif was followed by a warm vegetable salad with green garlic and black truffle vinaigrette which showcased the freshness of the vegetables, only delicately warmed, softening the green stuff.  The vinaigrette was well balanced, adding both a tartness and that umami of glutamic acid to the mix  

    The Tomales Bay oyster chowder with herbs and pancetta was excellent as well - no strong flavours, but of a fine texture and composition.

    Beef Rib eye with black pepper and marrow sauce was served with pommes frites and watercress.  It was cooked in a much more french than midwestern style - and while good, I still like near raw meat.  

    Hazelnut ice cream pavlova and bittersweet chocolate rounded out the dinner with aplomb.

    Overall, it was an excellent dining experience with attentive waitstaff and fantastic food.  I like the balance of the meal, and the attention to the vegetables and the freshness thereof.  If I'm back in Berkeley, I may well have to go again... but it is a bit of a trek from SF...

    Still, enough to give it ... a 5.

  • Review from Katie I.

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    • 38 reviews

    San Mateo, CA

    5.0 star rating
    2/5/2012

    The dining room is so cozy and intimate, you feel like you've been invited over to Alice's house for dinner.  And not one bite disappoints.  Gorgeous, clean, simple, perfectly delicious food.  One of our all time Bay Area favorites.

  • Review from kim-van t.

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    • 114 friends
    • 395 reviews

    San Pablo, CA

    4.0 star rating
    1/11/2012 3 photos 1 Check-in Here

    Chez Panisse should definitely be on everyone's restaurant hit list - it's a must try!  The bf was sweet enough to make surprise reservations for our anniversary and I was so glad to finally be able to eat here!

    We went upstairs to the bar to have some drinks while we waited for our table to be ready. I had a housemade elderflower soda which was sweet and refreshing.

    We dined in the downstairs pre-set dinner menu area and I'm a big fan of not having all the tables squished right next to each other.  Our table for just the two of us was large enough to accommodate everything without having to rearrange glasses and bread baskets, etc.

    The meal started with a fresh tomato salad and toast with tapenade. The tomatoes were SO FRESH tasting and I loved the salty tapenade. The soup course was a rockfish bouillabaisse that had chunks of fish, mussels, and clams. The broth was so good at one point I looked over and saw the bf sopping up all that delicious liquid with the bread we had.  Had a super tender duck breast for the main course followed by a refreshing peach melba for dessert with this damn good biscotti. The whole meal was finished off with some almonds, candied meyer lemon peels, and decadent chocolate brownie bits.

    I was stuffed.

    Loved all the little touches they provide for birthdays and anniversaries.

    Service is amazing and helpful with the wine list.

  • Review from Lisa W.

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    • 379 friends
    • 186 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    5.0 star rating
    1/3/2012 5 photos

    As a passionate advocate of organic and sustainable agriculture, DW cleverly surprised me with a late night reservation for my pre-birthday celebration 5 days prior as he knew he would be out of town for work on my actual b-date. Smart move, DW, smart move.

    Unbeknownst to me, he secretly planned this night weeks before without my knowledge - quite uncommon for him actually.  

    On the brisk night of November 4th, our lavish meal consisted of:

    An Apertif
    Complimentary Bread and Butter
    Warm Scallop Salad with Shaved Parm & Brown Butter Vinaigrette
    Black Cod a la Nage with Vegetable Julienne & Herbs
    Grilled Halibut with Shell Beans, Wild Mushrooms & Young Spinach
    Black Mission Fig Puff Pastry Tartlet with Fig Ice Cream

    The complimentary bread puffs were delightfully light with the butter pleasantly coating my tongue like a silky eruption. The tender scallops were of adequate size, filled with savory juices and paired extremely well with the salty shaven Parmesan cheese and slightly sweet brown butter vinaigrette.  The black cod was most enjoyable - shockingly moist and surprisingly flavorful when lightly submerged in a delicate yet palatable broth. The wild mushrooms in the halibut dish were dark and woodsy - teeming with deep and hearty flavors. The black mission fig tartlet was airily light and the fig ice cream was creamily cold and made for a wonderful accompaniment to the crumbly puff pastry.

    A feast for your eyes as it is a feast for your mouth. Come enjoy Alice Water's slow food movement at its finest featuring the freshest and most seasonal ingredients, from farm to table, from eyes to mouth.

  • Review from Andrea W.

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    • 5 friends
    • 27 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    5.0 star rating
    1/7/2012

    Hell yeah.

    I'm tempted to stop there. But just a little more.

    If this is a little fancy pants for you (as it was for us) but you are considering it as a special treat, yet you are agonizing over whether it will be worth it or not (as I did for weeks before our reservation), the answer for us was yes.

    While I didn't DIE for my main (lamb), it was cooked perfectly and everything else I did love to an unreasonable degree. And that is a good place to be in a meal, when you are measuring everything by, "Hmn, I don't know. This maybe is or maybe is not the best ______ I've had."

    Service was perfect. Our waiter vibed us perfectly and you could see him adjusting in this very secret way to match and meet the needs of each of his different tables.

    It was super cool.

  • Review from Tasty I.

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    • 0 friends
    • 6 reviews

    Toronto, ON

    Canada
    5.0 star rating
    2/7/2012

    Is it fair to post a review from a meal I had in 1986 when I was a pimple faced budding teenager?  Just want to say it blew my mind back then (first time I had goat cheese salad--goats make cheese? Wha?) and thank you Alice Waters.  Nice to see Chez Panisse is still going strong.

  • Review from Corey Tess T.

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    • 270 friends
    • 300 reviews

    Los Angeles, CA

    5.0 star rating
    12/20/2011

    I didn't realize I hadn't reviewed this place till now... it is one of my all time fave places to chow down!

    I used to have a standing res here with my fiance every thursday..  this place is the bomb!

    I am reviewing the dining room downstairs.. it can be hard to get a reservation, but it is worth it.

    Alice Waters is the brain child behind the slow food movement and Chez Panisse. Basically, there is a set menu for each night. You don't order, they just bring you dinner in courses ranging from cheese to fish etc..  if you have allergies or something, you can let them know and they will accommodate, but if not, you should eat the planned menu because I have never been disappointed by it.

    There are two seating's.. i always preferred the later one because I love to linger over dessert... ha ha ..

    The great thing about the planned menu is that they plan it around what is fresh, in season and available locally. So every little bite is super fresh... because we eat so little truly fresh food, your mouth is going to be like WHAT WOW OMG when met with fish that was in the ocean only that morning... or herbs that were growing just hours before... YUM.

    I am so impressed with their fresh ice cream/gelato etc..  sometimes they have rose petal, or lavender or citron or something totally off the wall, but delicious...  

    I adore the candied orange peels and that amazing tea after dinner.. I actually had dinner in the kitchen once as a treat from Jean-Pierre Moullé, the head chef. (I actually helped prepare a thanksgiving dinner where he was a guest, talk about pressure... LOL)

    On New Year's Eve 2000, Alice Waters complimented my dress and said I looked like Audrey Hepburn.. of course you know i have to love that woman now! ha ha..s he herself wears the cutest 20's style hats...

    If you have the chance to dine here.. DO IT!

  • Review from Randy F.

    Palo Alto, CA

    4.0 star rating
    12/12/2011 5 photos

    Chez Panisse and Alice Waters are an acknowledged California institution. With the rash of new celebrity chefs, it's worthwhile to stop and appreciate one of the originals.

    Despite knowing the basic story of her focus on organic and local cuisine (something you know see everywhere), I had not had a chance to dine here.  Luckily, given a special occasion for a fan of growing vegetables, I thought it would be a good time to finally dine here.

    Reservations, especially for the weekend, are still popular and I was surprised that people still book dates up to 4 weeks in advance.  The Cafe upstairs is a more casual dining affair and the waits/drop-ins more reasonable, but I figured since we don't come to this area much we'd go for their main menu.

    Interestingly, menus are not released til 24 hours in advance. Thus, of you're a picky eater, you might have to book a reservation and change your mind if the menu doesn't agree with you. We're pretty easy-going and this is one of the times I think trusting the chef is a good idea.

    The ambiance is remarkably casual and I'd say the downstairs has a similar feel as the Cafe upstairs, despite the pricier and fancier menu.  It's not a bad thing, but the dress code is accordingly relaxed as well.

    They seem to do two main seating and if you arrive early, you'll wait a few minutes before being seated.  

    We were brought to a cozy dining table for two and the food soon arrived.

    An aperitif of a sweet wine and a shrimp appetizer started the meal.  Then the main entrees started to come.  

    - Tai snapper with leeks, spinach and olive salsa : everything was so amazingly fresh.  I loved the leeks and I'm not even a vegetable person.  The fish was expertly prepared: moist, flavorful and lightly grilled.  Rivaled the best seafood centric restaurants.  

    - Risotto with chicories, Parmesan cheese and olio nuovo : seemed so simply but was tasty and comforting.  No meat, so it seemed light and healthy, despite the cheese.

    - Grilled rack and loin of Watson Ranch lamb : loved the Zinfindal sauce and the new onions (which I've never had).  She loved the watercress salad.  Both of us loved the lamb.  Perfectly prepared.

    - Bittersweet chocolate fondant with Armagnac ice cream : a delicious dessert with a rich, bittersweet chocolate.  The ice cream was the perfect complement.

    And just like that we were done.  The meal was only a handful of courses, but we were quite full and happy.  Everything was simply great and there were no misses.  While I was worried Chez Panisse might be resting on its laurels, I have to say I was impressed.  I hope one day to also try the upstairs Cafe.  A great meal.

    Chez Panisse accepts credit cards, including Amex.

  • Review from Nicole W.

    San Jose, CA

    4.0 star rating
    12/26/2011 3 photos 1 Check-in Here

    Rating:4.5

    Who knew that it was harder to get a reservation at Chez Panisse than the French Laundry? I had no idea that it was still so popular.

    Our menu
    An apéritif: Grapefruit champagne cocktail
    Course 1: Bellwether Farms sheep's milk ricotta with fall vegetables and coriander vinaigrette
    Course 2: Roasted halibut with savoy cabbage and lobster butter
    Course 3: Spit-roasted Piedmontese beef rib eye with Beaujolais sauce, potato cake, chanterelles, and Cannard Farm salad
    Course: 4 Black Mission fig tartlet with Chartreuse ice cream

    Dishes were rustic and simply presented but service was a little stiff. I'm a meat and potatoes girl so course #3 was my favorite. They made beef melt in my mouth and a basic potato cake taste scrumptious. We loved our meal. Chez Panisse lost its Michelin star in 2011 to many people's dismay. If they are not deserving then I tend to question the guides' ratings because it was more than a meal, it was an experience.

  • Review from Chloe S.

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    • 9 reviews

    Glen Ellen, CA

    2.0 star rating
    1/29/2012

    The last time we went to Chez Panisse was about a year ago, and we decided to try it one more time (the nettle pizza wasn't our cup of tea). My crispy rockfish was so salty I had to have a few glasses of water afterwards. There were no vegetables for 27 dollars, just two tiny potatoes! Unbelievable. My husbands' pasta was also incredibly salty. The best thing was the salad with goat cheese. Also good was the wine and bread and coffee. The apple/meyer lemon galette dessert was a big disapointment. The pastry tasted hard and dried out like it was made the day before. The apples were also dried out and it was sour! They must have just squeezed some lemon juice on the tart. As one who makes pastries, if I tried this before serving I wouldn't have served it! After 130 dollars I think we'll think twice before going back...

  • Review from Lauren C.

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    • 76 friends
    • 155 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    5.0 star rating
    12/25/2011

    My friend spent a week hyping up Chez Panisse, and let me tell you, it certainly lived up to my expectations!

    The restaurant has a set menu depending on the night, and I definitely recommend ordering the wine pairings.  This place is great for a date (not a first one) or maybe celebrating an anniversary, birthday or graduation.  

    The first course was a lobster salad, which was decadent.  Next, I had the wild mushroom gnocchi, the third was lamb, and finally, the dessert was pistachio ice cream on top of a macaroon.  It was all flavorful, but not too heavy, and absolutely wonderful.

    The entire meal costed about $100, with wine pairings for an additional $40.  I will be back!

  • Review from Marc F.

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    • 0 friends
    • 51 reviews

    Richmond, CA

    3.0 star rating
    1/28/2012

    Our dinner at Chez Panisse tonight was fabulous and a delicious splurge, everything was cooked perfectly and served perfectly in a lovely environment. I just question the price versus value. If you are a decent cook yourself and are willing to explore some cooking techniques, the dishes we were served at Chez Panisse today are dishes my girlfriend and I could produce routinely at home ourselves for far less money.  Dinner for the two of us with a 'middle of the wine list' bottle of Chardonnay at Chez Panisse was just shy of $350 for two with city tax and mandatory 17% service charge. I can (and have)  produced a similar meal at home for us for about $40 in ingredients. You can too....

    I'd like to see Chez Pannise lower their restauraunt dinner prices.

    You're great, but not $350 great for a meal for two.

  • Review from Michelle W.

    Union City, CA

    4.0 star rating
    11/30/2011 9 photos 1 Check-in Here

    What is there to say about Chez Panisse that has not already been said? Unsuccessful sighting of the legendary Miss Alice Waters, but scrumptious courses, superb service, and a refreshing bottle of Sorelle Bronca prosecco made up for the lacking presence of the wonderful chef who created such an elegant dining experience. Anxious for the revelation of what was in store for our meal, the ever-changing menu did not disappoint. Our 4-course creation for the summer evening included:

    - Yellowfin tuna antipasto with wild fennel, artichokes, and rocket.
    - Sheep's-milk ricotta ravioli in green garlic brodo.
    - Wolfe Ranch quail with rosemary, pancetta, and hot pepper in fava bean puree.
    - Crimson rhubarb crostata with lemon verbana ice cream.

    While I didn't care too much for the lightness in the semi-bland ravioli, it was a great balance to the pungent spices coating our perfectly fried quail. Presented so properly cross-legged on our plate, it only took seconds to destroy and devour the delicious little birdie. My favorite dish of the evening had to be the tuna salad - light, refreshing, and flavorful in every bite. I would have been satisfied just eating this all night.

    Service was impeccable and everything came out at a steady pace. Our waiter was even gracious enough to give us a tour of the kitchen at the end of our meal. Passing through all the cooks, pastry chefs, and even the meat locker, I had noticed a chef's table designated smack in the middle of the entire kitchen. Had I known there was a chef's table, I would have requested it. So if you want an upfront experience with all the masterminds behind Chez Panisse, don't hesitate to mention this during your reservation.

  • Review from Anne W.

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    • 39 friends
    • 42 reviews

    Newport Beach, CA

    5.0 star rating
    12/22/2011

    o...m....g....

    I had high expectations and they were exceeded. One of the best meals I have ever had, and the wait staff was REALLY friendly without any pretension. I enjoyed every part of this meal, and thought the price was very fair for the quality and care that went into the food. We were given a tour of the kitchen and were very pleased at how clean and yet homey everything was, and everything is fresh! YUM! I will be making reservations again next time I am in the area. =)

  • Review from Ron H.

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    • 1 friend
    • 56 reviews

    Danville, CA

    4.0 star rating
    12/4/2011

    Please...experience the joy of good food!!!

    Yes yes yes....I recommend it!

  • Review from L. G.

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    • 4 friends
    • 50 reviews

    Oakland, CA

    5.0 star rating
    Updated - 11/21/2011

    I had dinner downstairs for the second time on my girlfriend's birthday, which happened to fall on a Monday ($60 3-course meal). I was a bit skeptical about the main course that evening (shellfish sausage with cannellini and flageolet bean gratin), but then again I found it hard to imagine them making something that is outright bad. I figured that if there's something, such as shellfish sausage, that doesn't sound very good to me, there's no better place than Chez Panisse to go to change my mind. As with all the other times I've eaten at the restaurant/cafe, I had a great experience.

    Everything we had was very simple and doesn't need much explanation- I think that Chez Panisse's use of the finest ingredients is what is significant. We started off with a carrot, beet, and eggplant salad, along with a boiled quail egg. Each was served separately, drizzled in olive oil and lightly salted, to accentuate their individual flavors. It was one of those delightful/depressing moments when you realize what vegetables can actually taste like.

    Next was the main course- shellfish sausage with cannellini and flageolet bean gratin. This dish consisted of two or three little housemade lobster/scallop sausages, grilled and served on top of a bean gratin baked with bread crumbs on top. My apprehension about the sausage was what the texture of mixing different shellfish would be like - these had the texture of lobster, but they were sweeter. All in all, they went well with the hearty gratin and it was a good dish.

    For dessert we enjoyed a Meyer lemon tart with a huckleberry coulis- my girlfriend's came complete with a candle and a little "Happy Birthday" banner on top. Like last time, we were invited into the kitchen (although I didn't go into the walk-in and see the hanging animals this time). This meal came out to around $200 with a few glasses of wine- not bad for Chez Panisse. Although I can't speak for every night here, my experience was once again that this place has its own magic- it is warm, inviting, and very satisfying.

    Listed in: Top Restaurants

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    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 5.0 star rating
      10/26/2008

      Ate downstairs with my family the other night. The food was great, from what I remember we had head… Read more »

  • Review from Patrick K.

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    • 1 friend
    • 64 reviews

    Pacifica, CA

    4.0 star rating
    1/13/2012

    My wife and I went here for our anniversary and had a really good meal. Everything was perfectly cooked and very tasty. We had a mushroom pea risotto that was spot on. The striped bass entree was perfectly done. The gallette for dessert was also excellent. The service was perfect, and the atmosphere was great. I would give Chez Panisse 5 stars, but nothing "blew me out of the water". Everything was excellent, but I won't remember what we had a year from now. It's great; just not $250 great!

  • Review from Laurel E.

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    • 2 friends
    • 18 reviews

    Berkeley, CA

    5.0 star rating
    1/14/2012

    (This review is for the downstairs restaurant, not the café.)

    Almost everything there is to say about Chez Panisse has already been said (1100 reviews and counting just on Yelp...).  I have very rarely had a meal as perfectly executed as the two I've eaten at the restaurant.  Two markers of its excellence:

    The meat fridge smells earthy and clean and rich: absolutely no trace of rot, but also not the blood and bleach smell of most butchers.  You'd feel lucky if your kitchen ever smelled like that.  

    The cooks get a break between the two seatings, during which they eat a staff meal at a not-completely-uncivilized pace.  Who does that?  One of the great benefits of the moderate kitchen pace is that they can keep older, more experienced kitchen staff around.

    There are a lot of things Chez Panisse isn't.  It's not cutting edge, or cheap, or flexible, and the portions are smallish (which I personally love, because it means I can eat a 4-course meal without feeling ill).  It's beautiful but not exactly comfortable.  It's hard as hell to get a reservation, and they have to deal with crazy expectations because they're so famous.

    But for seasonal, local, California/French dinners perfectly made from top-notch ingredients, it's hard to beat.

  • Review from Nique F.

    Oakland, CA

    5.0 star rating
    10/6/2011 1 photo 1 Check-in Here

    Yes, everything you've heard is true.

    I won't go into detail about all the special moments of my prix fixe birthday dinner at Chez Panisse, but I will say it's one of the most memorable meals I've ever had. It's not just about the meticulously sourced and preciously prepared cuisine that they're famous for. It's about the ceremony of the meal - taking the time to appreciate it; where it came from, what it's become, and how miraculous that whole process is. Respect.

    I know, it sounds hokey, but Chez Panisse is like a catherdral to food, where you can worship in silence and have a revelationary moment with your plate, or express your enthusiasm with squeals of delight, and...if you're sly about it...snap a few pics on your iPhone.

    The downstairs dining room is lovely, but now that I've discovered the bustling cafe upstairs I think I'd opt for this more casual option next time, with the a la carte menu. For a special occasion dinner though, trust the Queen of Locavore Cuisine and make a reservation for the prix fixe dinner and wine pairing. Whatever ends up on your plate is sure to inspire you.

  • Review from Hayley W.

    San Francisco, CA

    5.0 star rating
    10/5/2011

    Freaking amazing.

    I had never been downstairs because everyone said that the cafe is just as good as the main restaurant.

    They lied.

    It was freaking amazing.

    The courses:

    Happy piles of salmon and halibut... One, a delicate horseradish and caper concoction, the other, thyme and a breath of red onion.  SO fabulous!  Melt-in-your-mouth fabulous.

    One single giant ravioli floating in the best broth these lips have ever tasted.  I had a hard time holding a conversation as I was so busy making sure not a single drop had gone to waste.  So clean. So beautiful.

    Grilled Squab with succotash and onion rings, yes and yes.  The squab was cooked perfectly... Perfectly.  I am not the biggest fan of pigeon, but if I am going to eat it, I want to eat it like this.

    Raspberry ice cream with peaches raspberries and figs.  I love you.  I love that you are swimming in a DElicious cream fraiche.  I love that all of your soft iciness is coupled with a buttery feather light cookie that is just long enough to give me one bite of warm savory for three bites of cold goodness.  I never want you to end.

    So yes, the food was freaking amazing, but the wine, oh the wine, ...The wine was INCREDIBLE.  Someone give that sommelier a raise.  Merry Edwards, Scherrer, Littorai, yes, yes, and yes.  I saw the wine list when I sat down and almost jumped out of my seat... This was not only going to be a good meal, we were going to get completely spoiled with wine.  And we did!  I can't say enough about the wine.  It. Was. Insanely. Good.

    I am envious of anyone eating at Chez Panisse tonight.

  • Review from Jimbo S.

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    • 13 reviews

    Mountain View, CA

    5.0 star rating
    11/9/2011

    One of the best meals I've had!

    We've gone to many michelin restaurants in the SF Bay Area and am genuinely surprised why Chez Panisse wasn't able to retain theirs. This restaurant is up there;  the food is outstanding and the service is great!

    First, you should know about the upstairs and downstairs cafe.  The downstairs cafe has the pre fixe menu.  The upstairs, you get to choose what you went.

    We went down stairs, and the menu for the night were:

    - garden vegetable salad.  This sounds kinda lame, but wow!  This is one of the best salads I had.  It was a mix of green beans, wax beans, artichokes, cherry tomatoes, baby celery, dill in a green olive vinaigrette.

    - sea bass with mushrooms and leeks.  Delicious!  The mushroom broth was heavenly and the bass was cooked so tenderly.  I ate up every last bit of it, and then used the bread to clean it so much that it looked like a brand new dish =)

    -  beef tenderloin with herb butter, crispy fries and farm greens.  The first couple of bites of this dish were gorgeous.  The beef was cooked amazingly, so tender and delicious.  To be honest though, the overall dish was too salty, especially the crispy fries.  If they had less vinaigrette on the greens, it would have been a better balanced dish.  But still, it was really really good.  

    - chocolate ice cream cream puffs  and hazelnuts.  OH MY GOD.  delicious.  My date raved about this.  The put a little bit of honey with the chocolate sauce and it was awesome.  We both cleaned up our plates.  =)

    In addition to above, they gave us a small amos bouche consisting of cod/potato on toast, which was delicious of course; and champagne, it was crisp and sweet and went well with the first two dishes.  

    Service was really good.  Friendly wait staff.

  • Review from Blake T.

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    • 3 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    4.0 star rating
    12/1/2011

    Alice Water's restaurant has been a fixture in the Bay Area since its opening in 1971.  Alice's philosophy is that "cooking should be based on the finest and freshest ingredients that are produced locally and sustainable."  Her philosophy has helped spawn the Slow Food Movement which promotes and celebrate local artisanal food traditions.  This global movement has continued to grow and now has over 100,000 members in 130 countries.

    Through a stroke of luck, and the determination of my step-mother, we were able to get reservations for the Monday night rustic three-course fixed dinner.  The restaurant is broken up into two sections: the Cafe and the restaurant down-stairs.  The cafe serves similar fare to its more prestigious counterpart, however, at a more modest price.

    Our meal started off with a Lobster Salad with belgian endives and Meyer Lemon.  The salad had originally  been advertised with local dungenesss crab, however due to the fisherman strike lobster was substituted for the dungeness crab.  The salad was amazingly fresh and the ingredients popped individually although I felt that the bitterness of the endive overpowered the delicate soft flavors of the other ingredients - especially the lobster.

    Our second course was the Maiale arrosto con mostarda di cotogna: spit-roasted Llano Seco Ranch pork loin with polenta, roasted vegetables, and quince mostarda.  This dish was absolutely fantastic and really showcased the natural sweetness of the pork loin by simmering cherries and rasins into the sauce.  The pork was very juicy and fell apart in my mouth.  The polenta and the roasted vegetables provided a subtle backdrop to showcase the complexity of the pork loin and rib.  My mouth waters when thinking back on the meal.

    The dessert consisted of a pear-pomegranate and orange sherbets with Prosecco gelee.  It provided a great finish to the meal as the trapped Prosecco bubbles in the gelee cleansed my palate.  The sherbet was delicious as well and its lightness was much appreciated as my stomach was getting close to its limit.

    One area the Chez Panisse feel short, surprisingly, was in the communication of their mission to their guests.  I would have greatly appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the food and why supporting the slow food movement is important.  Had we walked off the street knowing nothing of the restaurant we would have dined and left that way as well.  Even the freshly printed menu did not take advantage of the fact that it had the readers attention to plant the Slow Food Movements ideals.  The staff really missed an opportunity to expand our food IQ.  If Chez Panisse is not openly talking about their food philosophy than who is?

    Overall my experience at Chez Panisee was great - from the beautiful kitchen to the friendly staff.  Everyone should eat at Chez Panisse at least once as it truly does showcase local ingredients at their most delicious - whether you know the ingredients are local are not.

  • Review from Esther K.

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    • 11 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    5.0 star rating
    11/7/2011

    Having gone to UC Berkeley all I heard about was Chez Panisse, there was so much hype built around the restaurant that I wasn't sure what to believe. And trust me I do reallly bad with hype.

    But for my birthday my boyfriend took me here and I must admit I was very excited. Expecting to have the greatest meal of my life, thus far I set myself up for disappointment. But to my surprise every course was DELICIOUS. From the salad to the dessert I loved every bit and was extremely stuffed as well.

    This definitely was the best meal of my 22 years of life!

  • Review from Ian P.

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    • 113 reviews

    Berkeley, CA

    4.0 star rating
    10/1/2011

    So finally time to review Chez Panisse.  This restaurant is truly a legend, the real starter of the local, organic, slow food movement.  It's definitely an exciting place to eat.  

    I've now eaten at the restaurant portion twice in a couple years.  The ambiance is truly outstanding.  One realizes it's a comfortable, elegant, but yet not overdone place.   The service this last time was outstanding, incredibly attentive without being obeisant.  The time before was uneven with our attention split poorly between a few servers and leaving us a bit neglected.

    Ok, so the food.  This most recent time I ate there was a solid well-delivered line up of food.  The highlight was the corn souffle with chanterelle mushrooms.  The souffle had delicious bits of whole kernels with a great consistency and bits of mushrooms and tasty sauce around.  Second best was probably the king salmon tartare..quite tasty.   The main course was beef tenderloin with onion rings.  Hmm...really?  This was pretty boring, and the beef was definitely on the over-salted side.  The onion rings rated as "fine".  Nothing better/nothing worse.

    So, here's where I'm at...it's all very solid food, but I have to rate it a four out of five stars based on value.   On previous visits to the restaurant or cafe, there was always one dish where the flavors just popped, where great ingredients prepared in ordinary ways became extraordinary.  This last time though, nothing popped.  In fact, I think I could have done the dessert, raspberry ice cream profiteroles, just as well at home.  When my take-home portion of the bill is $140+ for four courses on a Wednesday night with moderate wine, I just need it to be perfect to justify that.  

    Lest anyone be alarmed that all is lost in Bay Area dining, I have suggestions.  For less money (maybe much less) and better food, you can try Plum (the new restaurant in Oakland), Range (formerly Michelin starred in the Mission), and Frances (the one star place in the Castro).

  • Review from e f.

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    • 123 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    3.0 star rating
    10/2/2011

    The food is not bad and the ingredients fresh, but the restaurant is very expensive for the quality and tasted no fresher than any other decent restaurant.  

    There is one set menu each day, so everyone in the restaurant eats the exact same thing.  To be clear, you don't order anything, they just bring what's being served that day.  In theory this allows the kitchen to focus on quality, since only a few dishes are prepared on any given night.  However, in practice, it's a cost cutting measure and feels as though quality suffers from the boredom of preparing the same thing over and over.  The food's not bad, but certainly does not have the taste or presentation of a Michelin rated restaurant.

    Dessert is very good and the only standout of the night.

    Here are a couple of serious issues.  

    1.   They request a 40% gratuity.  More accurately, they require a mandatory 17% gratuity (euphemistically dubbed a "service charge") and apparently expect that you also will pay the normal 20 - 25% gratuity on top of that.  This gratuity is calculated on the entire bill, including food, alcohol and I believe even the tax.  So you are paying the first gratuity ("service charge") on top of tax, and then a second gratuity on top of the first gratuity.  This means you need to add about $55 to every $100 that you spend on the bill.  I'd be happy to pay that if the quality had been there.

    2. The food is not on a par with other Michelin rated restaurants in their respective categories.  The food also was not commensurate with the prices being charged.  At $150 a plate (including service charge and tip), I expected better quality.  In comparison, for example, La Folie blows away Chez Panisse in terms of freshness and quality of ingredients, taste, creativity and presentation.   Other restaurants which are much less expensive, such as Kokkari (ave. $30/entree), also are slightly superior to Chez Panisse. I've even had better food at a place that prepared a more simple meal but used fresher ingredients, Outerlands (tomatoes with basil, $11).  The food wasn't bad at Chez Panisse, and the meat and fish were cooked well, but there was no "wow".  Some dishes were downright mediocre.

    3.  Smoking is permitted!  That's right, there is a patio in front of the restaurant, and it's the smoking section.  That's wrong on so many levels.  During our meal, the smoke entered the main dining area.  This practice should be stopped immediately - an easy fix and apparent "no-brainer".

    So overall, a decent meal, but I can get much better for the price and without the mandatory surcharges.  I understand why they lost the Michelin rating.

    Note:  This review is for the restaurant, not the café.  The café has a separate listing on Yelp, even though some people have posted café reviews here.  For example, if you see a review referencing "pizza", "upstairs", "lunch" or choosing what to order, that review is about the café not the restaurant.

  • Review from Amber T.

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    • 7 friends
    • 19 reviews

    El Cerrito, CA

    5.0 star rating
    10/24/2011

    We went there for our engagement celebration with my parents (which also happened to be their wedding anniversary.

    I won't even bother reviewing this place. It would be overshadowed by detailed ones.  

    It was amazing, special, and classy.

  • Review from Sonal P.

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    • 9 friends
    • 134 reviews

    San Jose, CA

    3.0 star rating
    10/11/2011

    3.5 Stars - Food + Wine
    4 Stars for the Service + Ambiance

    Celebrated our 1st anniversary at Chez Panisse last night... we drove a long long way to get there and after waiting a month (since making the reservation) I guess our expectations were set too high :(

    Know before you go:
    - They have a set menu ($60pp) which changes everyday. You can check out the menu for the week on their website (but ofcourse not one month in advance, which is when you need to make your booking as it's tough getting a table here).

    - Parking is along the street or there's additional spaces further down

    - There's no dress code as such. But it's a nice place so don't show up looking too trashy ;)

    I happened to check the website before getting ready for our special evening, to see if their dress code was strict for guys (it's not). Saw that the menu pour la jour was displayed and sadly they were serving shellfish, which I am allergic too. One quick call to the restaurant and we felt better as they said they would offer an alternative - either halibut or all veg. Both my hubby and I LOVE meat, but though this would be a good way to keep our figures in check whilst eating a deliciously decadent meal!!

    I've eaten at quite a few gourmet restaurants and sadly the food was tasty but sub par. It really didn't blow us away as we had expected it to. The portions are definitely generous, which doesn't help if you're not enjoying the meal :(

    What we had:
    - Salad - plate with three different yummy vegies - beets, carrots and egg plant - all prepared and served deliciously!

    - Main course - Cassoulet aux fruits de mer
    Fresh cannellini and flageolet bean gratin with shellfish sausage,
    clams, and mussels.
    Hubby got the clams and mussels - mine were substituted with halibut (perfectly cooked) but really the taste overall was bland and the bean gratin had a crispy breadcrumb coating, which was interesting but again added no flavor to the overall meal.

    - Dessert (wish they had a choice) - Lemon curd tart
    *sigh* I hate lemon tarts! But thankfully hubby loves anything sour so he gobbled up both our desserts.
    Luckily they brought out a teeny plate with two different after dinner chocolates / preserves, which gave me a nice end to the meal.

    As someone else mentioned in their review - the food is here is tres simple!!! It's not tres chic or ooh la la in any way. Which is great for those of us who like to feel at home in a fancy place. The ambiance is wonderful and my hubby and I made the most of having the night to ourselves by having a wonderful evening together. Sadly for two foodies this place was a thumbs down and we won't be returning. But it's really luck of the draw dependent on what's cooking that night. Good luck!

  • Review from Alice L.

    San Francisco, CA

    4.0 star rating
    10/10/2011

    Chez Panisse, or Cheese Penis, as I call it, is the big daddy of 'em all in the bay area food scene. I came here for dinner a few years back on a Tuesday for dinner. Results were good, but unspectacular. They really did deliver on the cooking simply promise.

    The food was artfully prepared and the ingredients were top notch, but the flavors were a bit, well, boring. If my recollections hold up, we had an onion tart for appetizer, duck for the main and don't remember the dessert. I have to say, the duck was cooked to perfection. Crispy skin, the meat was tender and flavorful. Not chewy at all.

    The service was decent, non-obtrusive but not friendly. I've definitely had better food in the bay area. It's worth a try though, just to know what all the fuss is about. The prices, though a good penny, are definitely easier on the wallet than many other top notch places in the area.

  • Review from V K.

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    • 3 friends
    • 15 reviews

    Sacramento, CA

    5.0 star rating
    11/5/2011

    Impecable staff and great service.  Came here on a Monday and enjoyed a three course meal of beet salad, cassoulet fruit de mer, and lemon tart.  The wine pairing was great and our server was very accommodating to our needs.    
    I love how Alice Waters respects the ingredients and showcase each ingredient for what they are without all the bells and whistles.  Monday nights are usually more rustic and more affordable.  The food was great, and desserts were amazing.  I had one of the best vin santo dessert wines to finish off the night.  Our experience was great overall and I can't wait to try the cafe upstairs the next time we're in Berkley.  I highly recommend Chez Panisse Restaurant, an absolute must if you love food and great service.

  • Review from Alfredo A.

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    • 10 friends
    • 92 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    5.0 star rating
    9/2/2011 1 Check-in Here

    I have only one complaint, and that's the lack of a full bar. I prefer my nice meals to be sandwiched by two things, a cocktail at the beginning and a scotch at the end. But Cesar's is next door, and they get the job done, we stopped by both before and after our meal. I'm still giving Chez Panisse 5 stars though.

    We made our reservation about a month in advance and they were more than accommodating with any potential allergy issues. Luckily the night we happened to book had no tree nuts on the menu, so we got to enjoy the menu as it was meant to be eaten.

    To drink we ordered the 2006 Navarro Pinot Noir, Méthode á l'Ancienne.  It paired up very nicely with the lightness of our meal. Somehow we managed to nurse the whole bottle for a good two hours (a rarity for me and the misses).

    The meal began with, "Sheeps-milk ricotta toasts with cherry tomatoes and basil oil."  The cherry tomatoes were probably the best I ever had, and not mentioned on the menu is the bell peppers that were on top of the tomato slices. It added so much character and flavor to an already wonderful dish.

    Following that we had a "Risotto with lobster, zucchini, and Meyer lemon." I love risotto, the gf does not, well, I should say "did not," because after this dish I think she became a fan. Her plate was clean. Neither of us are big fish eaters, but the lobster was not over powering at all. Everything went really well together.

    The entreé. "Spit-roasted Becker Lane pork loin alla Toscana with wild fennel and cannellini beans." This is hands down the best pork I have ever had. Bursting with flavor and the perfect amount of salt. You could taste it, but not like "McDonald's" taste it. We could see the kitchen from where we were sitting and we were both salivating over the pork as it slow roasted over the spit.

    The menu had an optional three cheese plate that you could order before dessert. This was a no brainer for me. The only thing better than a cocktail before a meal and a scotch after is a cheese plate thrown in the mix. There were three cow's mil cheese. I cannot remember what they were exactly, but I know one was a bleu cheese. All three were fantastic.

    Dessert consisted of "Hazelnut ice cream pasticcini with peaches and blackberries." It was like little hamburgers with ice-cream in the middle and fresh fruit on the side. Yum!

    I'm not sure what else I can say. I'd really love to get a reservation on one of the more gamier nights. I have been craving duck for while now. This is not to say at that our meal wasn't fantastic. It was amazing, start to finish. It's hard looking at the menu for the week online and not wanting to go every night of the week. Also, the portions were generous, especially for a high end, prix fixed menu, and the restaurant is anything but pretentious. There is no way to eat here and not rate it 5 stars.

  • Review from Amanda A.

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    • 56 friends
    • 99 reviews

    Huntington Beach, CA

    5.0 star rating
    10/3/2011 1 Check-in Here

    Finally after years of anticipation and hype my boss took us here for dinner.

    Everything I had was fresh and flavorful! I'm pregnant and struggling to eat so many of my favorite foods and they were very accommodating.  The sand dabs ( a Dutch favorite) fell apart in my mouth and tasted amazing. I don't like eating fish at restaurants because it frequently gets overcooked but this was not the case here it was soft, juicy and perfectly seasoned.  

    The restaurant was beautiful. The walls were wall papered with old Chez Panisse menus in honor of the 40th anniversary. The open kitchen was incredible. I watched the pastry chef put together an amazing dessert.

    Highly recommend it.

  • Review from jane f.

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    • 1 friend
    • 64 reviews

    San Francisco, CA

    4.0 star rating
    12/22/2011

    Could not afford to go there when I was a student at Berkeley decades ago. The prices still kept us away until I wanted to take some special friends there recently. We went for lunch. 1 lemonade, 3 soups, 3 entrees, 2 desserts and the bill came to with the 17% tip they added to the tab came to $170. The food was good. Small portions but we filled up on bread while waiting and I kept reminding myself these small but delicious portions were better for my health. Skip the dessert though... Walk down the block to a very nice pastry shop and get better items at 1/2 the price. The service was very attentive but a bit comfortable. We could sense that the hostess and the waiter acted like they could smell the odor of us, people not used to spending $170 for LUNCH for 3. I took off 1 star for the outrageously high prices for a well prepared meal. It was LUNCH.  I thought of taking 2 stars off. I would love to go again but will wait until another VERY SPECIAL occasion. I don't think I would be comfortable even if someone else treated. We saw the dinner menu. $90 for an simple entree... Maybe after both kids finish college and the responsibilities end.
    By the way, it was a full house and we could not get reservations for lunch until 2:00.

  • Review from Jonathan T.

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    • 23 reviews

    San Diego, CA

    4.0 star rating
    8/6/2011

    Chez Panisse is something of a legend in the Berkeley area. Any mention of having dined there invariably results in hushed murmurs of "aw, no way", "shit, too rich for my blood", and, of course "you got laid, then, right?".

    As one of the biggest culinary names in the east bay, this Alice Waters production has been serving high class French inspired American cuisine to the masses since the mid-seventies. Hell, just by being there, the restaurant spawned its own little "gourmet ghetto" (aptly named) adjacently, and its alumni have dispersed throughout the bay, themselves starting little pockets of food vouyerism in the otherwise omnipresent urban sprawl. It's actually pretty fucking creepy, when you think about it like that. Gastronomic herpes.

    As an ambassador for that particular Berkelyan brand of healthy, organic, fresh, home grown produce crap, the place itself is appropriately feel-goodily quaint. The lighting is warm, the tables are cozy, and everything is off-beige or maple hued. The wait staff is similarly congenial, if a little perky (not like that... well...kinda like that).

    The food, surprisingly reasonably priced (the wine, not so much), is of variable quality, ranging from fantastic to adequate. You'll have one appetizer, a soup, a main course, and desert. Conceptually, the dishes are fairly traditional, pairing non-offensive preparations with one another--nothing particularly eye-catching. To their credit, an heirloom and blanched tuna salad I had on my first visit was perhaps the best thing I've ever eaten. Blanching tuna seems like a waste of product, especially given the assumed stringiness of the fully cooked fish (think Starkist). However, the flesh was moist, pliant, smooth, and milky. Unreal. Even the philistines (read as: everyone at my table but me) loved it.

    And the kicker: good bread, fantastic butter, and endless, uncondemned refills of both. Not very refined of me, to be sure, but I make minimum wage. They can afford to bake a few extra loafs.

    As far as high end dining goes, I've had better and worse than Chez. But as a foray into that upper bracket of eating, it just works. Decent pricing, an accessible atmosphere, and good food. No need to dive headfirst into the oft-unpleasant weirdness that is Comis right off the bat.

    Oh, and to answer the above question...yes. Yes, I did get laid. As it turns out, bitches love chocolate soufflé.

  • Review from T H.

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    • 0 friends
    • 103 reviews

    Oakland, CA

    4.0 star rating
    8/11/2011

    How can you not love it? Even if you didn't, would you admit it after spending 100 a pop per person?

    Came here on a Friday night after a one month to the day in advance reservation. With the exception of one table, the restaurant was full. Who knew people had so much cash to burn?!

    Alice Waters creation- from the ambiance of the restaurant (it looks like someone's house) and I'm dining in it. We had a 6:30 seating and was seated 10 min later. After first they put us in a cramped table by the entrance (argh) but then we asked to move to the patio area, which was much nicer.

    The bread- two types from Acme bread (locally sourced! i lovei them!)
    Dishware - from a company in the Marins. (locally sourced!)
    Napkins - (yes i checked) Frette (i'm pretty sure this wasn't locally sourced haha) but who doesn't love Frette (not that I could afford it )

    The food - locally sourced, amazing, fresh, flavorful. My entree the lamb (three types) was soo delicious. It was tender, doesn't have that gross taste lamb does. The best i've ever had.

    We came here for our anniversary and the waiter told us not to wait another year before returning. I was thinking more like we'd never come back again (well- that is until we hit the jack pot)

    The down side- well we all know it costs alot to eat here and the meal takes 2 hours to complete.

  • Review from Cody P.

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    • 22 friends
    • 61 reviews

    Oakland, CA

    5.0 star rating
    8/24/2011

    Absolutely phenomenal dinner last night.  Last night they were serving:

    Fried Monterey Bay squid with rocket, purslane, and cucumbers
    Ravioli verde with yellow tomato sauce and basil pesto
    Spit-roasted Rancho Llano Seco pork loin alla toscana with wild fennel
    and summer chanterelles
    Black Mission fig puff pastry tartlet with zabaglione

    The squid was fried to perfection and the rocket purslane and cucumbers were a perfect compliment to this starter.  Served with a light vinaigrette which complimented the squid excellently.  The Ravioli was deliciously rich and decadent.  The sauce perfectly accented the filling and the combination of tomato and basil was perfect together.

    I do not eat Pork so I requested they substitute an alternative for the Rancho Llano Seco pork loin.  They gave me a choice between eggplant and Chilean Sea Bass.  I Chose the Sea Bass which was prepared in the same manner as the Pork.  I do not eat pork but I did give it a taste and can say it was some of the best pork I have ever tasted,  That being said...I personally thought the Sea Bass was cooked to perfection and was incredibly happy that I chose this option over the Pork.  I can only imagine the Eggplant would have been equally as good!  

    For desert they served a delicious fig pastry.  fig is normally not my favorite fruit for desert; however, this pastry had the perfect combination of sweetness and tartness for my palate.  It was drizzled in what tasted like a black cherry (currant?) and raspberry sauces  which added a delicious sweetness to the confection.

    It is definitely an investment to come here; however, if this is in your price range I would certainly recommend it above some of the restaurants I have eaten at in the same price range.

  • Review from So Young H.

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    • 3 friends
    • 19 reviews

    Sandy, UT

    5.0 star rating
    10/7/2011

    The menu was :
    Caesar salad
    Poulet à la broche: spit-roasted RRR chicken with stuffed tomatoes,
    creamy chanterelle mushroom sauce, and potato purée
    Apple tart with lemon verbena ice cream

    Simply amazing.
    Great food and absolutely perfect service! Oh and the ambiance! Perfect.

    If I lived in the area, I'd be a regular for sure!

  • Review from Pete F.

    Orange County, CA

    4.0 star rating
    7/21/2011

    Okay, been wanting to dine here longer than I can remember. The closest we've been was the cafe back in the pre-kids days. So, on this trip, we planned way ahead and scored a 6pm reservation. My flight arrives at 4:30 so plenty of time, right? As I'm driving to the airport, I get an alert that my flight is delayed for 2 hours. Bummer. But, we were so close I can taste it and there was no giving up. So, called the restaurant and pleaded. They were so understanding. No attitude or snobbery. They put us at the front of the wait list for any cancellations. When I finally landed, they had left the message we were hoping for and we headed straight to Berkeley.

    The food was as expected - fresh, simple and prepared perfectly. The 5 courses were very satisfying. The ingredients were so fresh. Wife loved the tomatoes. I enjoyed everything. Only complaint was the grass fed rib-eye main course was way too fatty and sinewy.

    What made the experience worth every penny was the service.

    Us: "Oh - wifey doesn't drink so can we substitute the aperitif?" Waitress: "No problem at all. How about some really delicious grape juice that comes in a wine bottle?" So cute, our waitress presented it like it was some fine bottle of wine.

    Us: "Oh, the next table has an awfully nice looking fruit plate. Didn't see it on the menu." Waitress: "Would you like one?" Brought us a plate - comped.

    Us, half joking after noticing some VIP guests touring the kitchen: "Oh, dinner comes w/ a tour of the kitchen?" Waitress: "Oh would you like to go? Go. Go. Please. Our kitchen is open. Would you like me to take a picture for you?" So we wondered in, along with the table next to us in tow.

    Seriously, service was so charming, which made the dinner so much more enjoyable. We're so glad we finally experience Chez Panisse and will definitely look to make a return visit in the not too distant future.

  • Review from Ronnie S.

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    • 3 friends
    • 12 reviews

    Oakland, CA

    3.0 star rating
    10/5/2011

    Going to Chez Panisse for my girlfriend's bday Monday night I expected big things. I mean it's Chez Panisse right? My overall meal experience on this night was this: delicious olives to start leading to a tasty caesar salad, but undercooked chicken in the main course (the leg was almost all pink and would barely came off the bone) and room temperature mashed potatoes and gravy. I would say my favorite part of the main course was this tiny stuffed tomato and I wished there would have been more than one. The wine pairings were done well and the staff was quite good. Dessert was a nice apple tart with lemon ice cream. But really, you guys can't cook chicken properly and forgot to heat up the potatoes and gravy?

    For their prices I expect perfection or close to it, and a mind blowing experience on many levels. On this night it was not that. If you want great chicken Wood Tavern's dish is better, bigger and less expensive.

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