Chez Panisse,

1517 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley, CA 94709, United States

"Great, food and expertly prepared but a little less creative than other options around this price point for the fixed menu. Still excellent overall. Would like to try the cafe next time."

"From the moment I showed up for lunch in the cafe as a party of one I received excellent service. Sunchoke and carrot soup, chanterelle pasta, and blood orange sorbet. Sparking pear cider Bev. All simple and elegant homages to ingredients esp California citrus. Dessert was the stand out and prices were reasonable for quality. I can't wait to try the course meal downstairs!"

"Dining at the cafe on a Tuesday evening still required a bit of orchestrating. But well worth it if the prix fixe menu downstairs is not your thing. The menu options this evening were a delight. From the tartare to the Moroccan lamb to the apple-huckleberry galette, the food doesn’t disappoint. And it was a packed house, considering it was a rainy school night (for us at least!) Service was crisp and efficient, in spite of the waves of guests ebbing through. This place is a classic Berkeley institution and lives up to its farm to table promise."

"Worth every penny. Having grown up in the Bay Area, I had heard about Chez Panisse for years but somehow, had never been able to make it. I absolutely loved this place and it blew my mind. For being such a storied place, the food, the servie and the ambiance were just incredible. No visit to Berkeley is complete without a visit here! I would also like to call out and thanks Brett, our amazing service and Varun, the GM, for taking such great care of us and ensuring that we had an amazing table. We cannot wait to return!"

"We had the most lovely evening at Chez Panisse on Tuesday. The food was perfection. The staff was charming and to watch them move from kitchen to dining was like seeing a dance. I was not expecting to be so enthralled with this place- I’m a huge Alice Waters fan & sometimes when you put someone/something up on a pedestal, it can result in being underwhelmed. I am more a fan than I was before! Some of the negative reviews I have read seem to come from entitled victims with food allergies, dairy/gluten free- if you don’t want a pre fixed meal- don’t come here and then complain about it. This place is for foodies who are open to all food & want to experience whatever the chefs prepare. If you wonder about the price- it’s not just the food, it’s the place, the amount of people involved from the farmers to the dishwasher and everyone in between is getting paid a fair wage. For a restaurant to thrive for 53 years, it’s on purpose. Alice cares for the community & the people who work there- that costs money. In my opinion, it’s worth every penny. This place is iconic, the food is spectacular."