Chez Panisse in Berkeley

A bucket list item for my wife that was everything she hoped for and more! We had an incredibly delicious meal in the dining room! What was extra special was we got to see Alice Waters at the restaurant the night we were there! Every year I make her angel food cake recipe for my wife’s birthday. We shared this story with the maitre d’. After dinner he gave us a quick tour of the kitchen, which made our visit all the more special! Thank you Chez Panisse!

I’ve wanted to go here for years!! Sir and Star is one of my favorite restaurants on earth, their owner/chef Marg being a disciple of Alice Waters.The food was great. But it wasn’t Sir and Star. And definitely not worth $500 for two people. And we brought our own wine.I’m dinging two stars for the price gouging.

Not even sure what to say. This restaurant had been on our bucket list for years. It was one of those rare occasions where the reality exceeded even our unrealistic expectations--by a mile. The food was...next level. The service was so personal. The wine pairings were spot on. The vibe was deeply competent, confident, and welcoming. We would go back every night if we could.

Delicious hearty meal. Can’t go wrong with Chez Panisse daily meals. The highlight was the pasta & duck!

Overall middling food, especially given the 300$/head price point. Weak execution on the entree.Server was unable to answer basic questions about the menu (for example, offered the cheese course then had no idea what cheeses were offered tonight). Wine pairing was decent if uninspired, but not decent for the price.

Its an elevated experience that came highly recommended. I left not particularly impressed. There were interesting flavors to start; the squid was tender and tasty. The guinea hen was cooked well and not gamey at all. But the cous cous was bland leading me to add salt. The dessert was too sweet to enjoy with no particular flavor standing out. I have a massive sweet tooth, but only if it tastes more than just like sugar. Beverages were excellent, wine selection as well. But even the sparkling water was a bit weak. Servers, host and manager are friendly and memorable.A daily menu selection means it was my luck of the draw. Perhaps next year Ill check it again.

Chez Panisse is a thought-provoking showcase for the breadth and quality of ingredients produced in California, but the resultant dishes were quite unremarkable. While I think the quality is beyond question - there simply isnt a better version of the ingredient or technique - the final dish is overly familiar: conventional salads, a Sunday roast, low-effort deserts. In other words, the sort of food you can easily do yourself or find in dozens of other places.So while Chez Panisse is a paragon of down-to-earth cooking using the best of local ingredients, the pleasant surprises or experience value which justify this price were completely missing. My benchmark is Steirereck in Vienna, which has similar aspirations as a showcase for unexpected local ingredients, but combines them cleverly to create totally unique and delicious dishes which we reminisce about months later.

Beautiful restaurant with attention to detail also represented in food both in presentation & palate. Restaurant set menu prix fix option wine pairing. Upstairs cafe more vibrant atmosphere. New England clam chowder is divine.

We ate off of the prix fixe menu and were underwhelmed. The dessert and aperitif were good, but the mains were not memorable and the fish was dry. For the price of the meal, I just expected more. It was still worth it just to experience the history and cultural significance of the restaurant, but there are much better restaurants at this price point in the Bay Area. Eating at their café without a set menu could be better.

I went to Chez Panisse with no expectations. It was hard to book a reservation so I figured it’ll be good for prix fixe meal. For almost $600 for 2, it was a bit underwhelming. The food was decent and no dish really wowed. It was good food. The pace of the meal was spaced out and not monitored fir our table when we finished our course. While the plates for the main meals were big, it didn’t feel like you’ll be full at the end of the meal. There are homemade bread like Acme that can hold you over. For the price, it didn’t win me over.

The best restaurant and cafe ever! You cant come to the bay area and not experience this amazing place! Farm to Table at its finest! The atmosphere is top notch and absolutely beautiful!The staff is phenomenal! If you love really good cuisine then Chez Panisse is the place to be! A special treat in a special place!

After years of dreaming of going to the Mecca of slow food I finally made it! (Though only to the cafe, not the restaurant)The staffs attention to detail is superb. And the food was excellent. Good choice of vegetarian dishes also on the menu.

Dinner at the cafe was fantastic. Beautiful space, great service, fresh, flavorful food. We couldnt get enough. Thank you!

I ate in the Cafe upstairs. Excellent food and reasonable portions. Reservations are a must. Figure $100 each depending on how many courses you have.

This review is for he Chez Panisse café, *not* the restaurant with the rotating pre fixe menu. We came in with high expectations given the reputation and having previously lived in Berkeley for a few years. Being vegetarian, we ordered their rigatoni pasta dish ($25and their summer vegetables ($25). The rigatoni was something I could have made at home, and Im not a particularly good cook. The summer vegetables were... vegetables with rice and beans, a nicer looking version of whats included with every dish at a Mexican restaurant. The other option for a main was a pizza, but that seemed a silly choice given that Cheeseboard is about 100 feet away. From our experience, this restaurant must have gained its reputation on its fish/meat dishes, but its a stay-away for vegetarians or vegans.While the food was disappointing, the atmosphere and service were both good, hence the average rating.

Beautiful restaurant and a delicious, four course dinner. Ambiance and service top notch. Menu changes daily. All the food was well thought out and perfectly prepared. Highly recommended.

I know this shows $$$$ but prob due to the fixed menu downstairs. Make a reservation for the cafe and it brings the price down considerably. Excellent service. Fresh flavors. Acme bread. This was a bucket list for us and it did not disappoint.

Almost 20 years in Berkeley, and first time eating in the downstairs, main restaurant. Its good; high quality, smart service, interesting, well produced food. It was also though nose-bleed expensive. $175 per person, +$85 for wine pairing, + any add ons, tax etc, and its over $300 per person. Unfortunately for my visit, there was nothing that truly wowed us, that we have to get again. A good meal, but cant justify the price premium.

This is one of THE most famous restaurants in Oakland Ca. The Restaurant itself is so elegant, the servers are incredible! The food out of this planet! We really enjoy every time they takes us in there! Tnx Chez Panisse!!👧

Fun spot, great ambiance.However, the salmon was undercooked. They were out of the lamb. They were low on the duck breast and randomly gave some people the confit.Could be an off night, but overall did not meet the standard set by the menu price.

Since college days, Id walk by longingly. Wishing I could try Alices food. Finally, last week I had a chance.I wanted to like the food, I willed myself to like Chez Panisse. But alas, it was dull: For $580, it should be seductive or at least, remarkable.The service was odd. You had the maitre d pop in to serve our wine here and then, then another wait staff would come by. Someone else would spring up and bring our set course. It felt choppy. The pacing was off, fast between the chefs amuse bouche and first course, LONG wait to second, then before you could finish fast comes the next.The food that night, as it is a set menu, was overly salted. Everything was heavily salted so you couldnt taste the variations or seasonings. The flavors blended. You could not taste what Alice, Chez Panisse is known for.The wine list was extremely reasonable. If anything, the sommelier should be congratulated, they were a nice selection.Alice is a legend. The food we had was not legendary.The restaurant decor with the copper fixtures are beautiful. The open kitchen as one wait staff remarked "half museum and half functioning .." it is just that. Beautiful, and a memory of times gone by.Like a crush you became lovers with; you immediately regretted afterwards. The pining was sweeter.

Got a reservation as soon as they reopened their dining room. Dinner was outstanding across the board. Dishes were simple and perfectly executed. Wine pairings were all perfect. Bill was very high.

Solid fare at this classic institution, but it didn’t light my world on fire. The carrot soup was very lovely, as were the anchovies to start. The duck for main was well cooked but the broccoli and polenta were actually the stars of the show for me, both were cooked perfectly and interesting flavours. I ended with a very good strawberry sherbet and ginger snap which I think was probably my favourite course. The service was very good, but I was a little disappointed at the standard offering from such an iconic eatery.

The food at Chez Panisse delivered new flavors to me, tomatoes so sweet that I really understood why they are in the fruit family. All the care in the composition, preparation and finishing of each food shows all respect to the producer, to the ingredientes, and the commitment to always offer the best food to customers. The service is also one of the most attentive and courteous, I left there already wanting to return.

I wouldnt say the food was exceptional but pretty decent. Service was great. I believe everyone living in bay area should try once.

Sorry but the rose has wilted. In no way was the dinner or wine pairing worth the effort to get reservations or the money that was charged. So many vibrant and outstanding choices throughout the Bay Area to choose from in the coming days. We wont return.

Compared to places like San Ho Won and Ernest this restaurant feels a little outdated or forgotten.The food was great, service almost perfect (though at some point our water got swapped from flat to sparkling).Chez Panisse feels like a weird flex: "Look how good I can make this dish with 5 ingredients." Its impressive, but the cuisine is the bottleneck for me. You can only make leaves and lean protein so delicious.I think Chez Panisse needs a colab with Ernest or something

Very overpriced for the food we received but good service. As a vegetarian I would not recommend. Two people and two glasses of wine was $480 🥴

Return to its own Cafe form, with refined good and improved service from recent pre-Covid. The ricotta and fava bean ravioli were excellent. We will be back.

I’ve been wanting to eat here, at the cafe, for a while, and was almost wary because of the hype. But it’s worthy of it and I wasn’t disappointed. So delighted by the staff and the house made rigatoni with pesto, Delicious galette dessert and elder flower tea to finish. Utter bliss.

Amazing! Very organized pick up. Kind staff. Everything was labeled! We bought enough for a few meals. A wonderful treat to enjoy at home! Also the pizza 🍕 came with reheating instructions.

I visited this famous restaurant. In doors, the restaurant was closed: however i could purchase one item to go on the first floor at the entrance to the restaurant. I did not buy a very fancy or expensive item, and not the cheapest item. Knowing that this restaurant is away more expensive than an average restaurant in this area, i decided to test something relatively affordable first. The item was Garlicky Kale with lemon salad. The box i ordered said on top of it Garlicky Greens. Was i impressed with the food? No. Absolutely not. First, the test is average, it is too much i think for one person to eat, and it is really overpriced. If i new what it is beforehand, i would not pay for it more than $8. I would assume everything is proportional, therefore, all other items are very likely to be the same quality and overpriced. The question is why is that that even though this restaurant is so expensive and the food in my opinion is just ok , so many people are still going there and in fact writing mostly good reviews. The answer is the restaurant marketing is doing a fabulous job. I have nothing else to add.

Mondays menu is vegetarian. 3 courses, very flavorful and surprisingly satisfying. We also opted for the wine pairing, which made the meal. Not cheap, but meal and service was outstanding!

Always an excellent experience with the best ingredients that way simple unpretentious preparations can just elevate each dish to l amaze balls. Alice Waters has only one restaurant but she is the reason why California is now together with NYC as the top foodie cities in the world.

This was my second time to Chez Panisse in 30 years. It has matured into a much more formal restaurant and traditional gourmet kitchen than the earlier days that felt more home style. Most of the menu is vegetarian so it is both healthy and reasonable portions. The starter was a crab salad on toasts of bread. The table bread was artisan and fresh baked. We were also served prosecco flavored with honey and lemon grass. We had a salad with leeks and potatoes, a mushroom soup, roasted pork loin and apple tart with homemade ice cream for dessert. We also were served chocolate almonds and another sweet. The wine list was quite good and some affordable drops. Chez Panisse is the essential California Cuisine experience and a piece of history. It is expensive but worth the pilgrimage.

First ate at Chez Panisse in 1972, at age 17, multiple times since, then last night for my and my monozygotic twins 65th birthday. I have dined at many Michelin 3 star and superb tasting menu restaurants over the years (Louis 14th in Monaco, Le Cocodile in France, Manresa, French Laundry, Chez TJ, Elizabeth Daniel, Ambiance, Papillon, and many others. Two major facts: 1they are all the offspring of Chez Panisse and Alice Waters, and 2I have never been disappointed at Chez Panisse. Last night was no exception.We walked into the warm wood waiting area, where we were warmly greated, and coats taken, then graciously seated, with the table pulled out for the gals to sit on the padded bench, and then moved back. The meal started with an amuse buche of fennel shavings and such on toast, paired with a lovely proseco. We did the wine pairings, chosen by the sommelier, which were a bargain at $85/pp.The 1st course was Seared Nantucket Bay scallops with Belgian endive, frisee & Meyer lemon mayonnsise, paired with a 2018 Patrick Puize Vendanges Chablis terroir de Fye, that had the perfect minerality and acid to marvelously pair with both the seared buttery scallops (perfectly cookedand the citrus dressing. Accompanied by the always yummy sour dough batons.The 2nd course was Cappelleti stuffed with chard in roasted Red Kuri squash brodo (brothwith Parmesan, paired with an appropriately much less acidic white, the Fiano di Avellino "Calli di Lapio" Romano Clelia. And, of course, sourdogh baton to sop up the delightful broth.The final savory course was Grilled Stemple Creek Ranch grass-fed beef rib-eye au poivre, with wild mushrooms, roasted cartots, and "shoestring potatoes" (actually, scrumptious fried shavings - see photos). The steak was PERFECTLY cooked - please see last photo of single piece. This course was paired with a delightful 2015 Marengo Barola, that perfectly complented the steak.Dessert was Bosc pear feullete (pear tartwith huckleberry ice cream, paired with a 2017 Domain de Durban Muscat de Beaumes de Venise. Delicious!A few more sweet bites ended the meal, and the total bill for 4 was considerably less than at any of the above mentioned restaurants (approximately 25% of our recent meal at Chez TJ).Does Chez Panise serve 8 course tasting menus replete with molecular gastronomy flourishes? No. But it consistently delivers delicious 4-course meals, with wine pairings that are $85 instead of $245. The service is always spectacular, the ambiance is superb, and we have NEVER been disappointed. Do yourselves a favor if youve never dined at this Mecca of the food movement, the place where it all started. Ignore any restaurant review in the Chronicle that suggests it has "lost its lustre", as that is completely untrue. You owe it to yourself to eat at Chez Panisse at least once!

We had a lovely meal here, the service was top notch and the food delicious, on arrival we were a little early so headed upstairs to the bar for a drink, hardly recommend the local Russian River’s Pliny the Elder ale, very tasty!For the meal we paired the wines with the four courses, these were mostly a hit, though the Italian red was not to my taste. The food was delicious and filling, so much so that we didn’t have room for the optional cheese course sadly.It’s not a cheap meal out but pretty good, just a little shy of Michelin standard but you’ll not be disappointed.

A truly wonderful dining experience. I came in a large group, but we were seated efficiently and kindly. The food is phenomenal. Pictured are a butternut squash soup, the lamb, and a chocolate mousse (if memory serves correctly). I definitely see myself coming back next time Im in the Bay Area.

I mean all the reviews and the hype are completely correct. We had the most amazing meal. We were running a little late and we rang to tell them and they were fine with it. Waiter was very nice and the food was just divine.

Professional and friendly staff. The dishes were all very impeccable prepared and presented. My Duck confit was great and the salad nicely prepared but the crispy polenta was nicely done but didnt add anything to the dish and it didnt belong. I had the carrot soup with dill and crème fraiche; super smooth and another wonderful dish. My strawberry sherbet and rum ice cream was good but I wished the rum was more boozy and the strawberry compote was excellent.

This place is highly recommended by my airbnb host as must go place in downtown Berkley. There is restaurant owned and crated by Alice Water back to 1917 as one of the best restaurant in Berkley downtown.There is Restaurant on 1st floor and cafe on 2nd floor. The restaurant open for dinner Monday through Saturday, by reservation only. Restaurant has fixed menu only that consists of three to four courses and changes nightly, each designed to be appropriate to the season and composed to feature the finest sustainably sourced, organic, peak-of-their-season ingredients, including meat, fish, and poultry. Prices for the Restaurant are $75 on Monday, $100 Tuesday through Thursday, and $125 Friday and Saturday (not including beverages, a 17% service charge, and 9.25% sales tax).The cafe is on 2nd floor which order moderate price and menu. It has an open kitchen along one side with a charcoal grill and wood burning oven. The menu is inspired by the market and changes twice a day.I thought I will have to give it try. I went visit for a lunch in Cafe on the 2nd floor (restaurant is on first floor). Im give it overall 3 start and here are why. This is based on one visit and one order. I will update it when I get to visit again.Environment & decoration: 8 startThis place is classic, tastefully designed and decorated. A lot of natural light. I sit in the inside area where there is a sky light with colourful glass. A lot of wood and classic decors give this place a cozy and energy.Noise level: 3 starIt is quite loud to my liking for lunch. Not so much of music, just everyone talking really loud. People next to my table talking so loud and so stressfully loud.Services: 5 starIt was very busy lunch time around 1:30. Server is attentive but not overboard. I had reservation and I waited shortly around 5 min pass my reservation before I was sited.Food: 3 starThis is based on one order: I ordered Elliott Ranch lamb leg with snap peas, Tokyo turnips, and salsa di dragoncello, $30 paired with 2016 Chez Panisse Zinfandel, Green & Red Vineyards, Napa Valley $10. The lamb is very chewy and it was served almost cold. In a white table environment, it is embarrassing to deal with none chewable food. Overall taste plain, platting is is not exciting. Wine is good.Price: 3 star$52 for a simple launch, the price is not bad. What is disappointing is there is services charge of 17% included in the bill. There maybe a reason why restaurant owner does this, I just never a big fun of taking away customers preference on how much they want to tip. Quite "cheap" way in a famous place like this. (Note: this is for Cafe, the restaurant is set menu around $110 per person.)Reservation: yes.Others: something else a little bit awkward - on their website there is suggestion not to use cell and computer on the table, not it is a bad thing... saw a few customer secretly looking at phone - like mum is checking dinner table, a little bit funny.Overall a nice place to go, maybe just that one order was not impressive, I will definitely try again when Im visit Berkley next time.

Absolutely loved it! All of the food was of high quality. I have found most fine dining tends to focus on the atmosphere while serving mediocre dishes covered up by truffles, caviar, and gold leaf. Chez Panisse proved to be a real exception. Every dish was well thought out and felt cohesive while being multi dimensional. I will definitely be back!

Overall: good traditional and comforting food. For about $70 per person, we had a 3 course meal (appetizers, entree and dessert). Menu changes frequently, but what we had was simply delicious and good. Ingredients felt fresh and flavorful (coup, salad, duck, clams).

I thought the meal was overall amazing, though the portions in the fixed price menu were a bit light for me. The subtlety and the depth of the flavors in every dish was outstanding. The service and the wine list were also on-point. Would definitely go again.

It really does live up to the hype...I had four courses and every single one blew me away. Sadly, I no longer think I’m that good of a cook.If you appreciate organic food, urban farming, slow food, farm to fork or anything in that realm...going the Chez Panisse is a food pilgrimage.

I appreciate an upscale meal that isnt 12 courses and tedious to eat. The lamb was incredible, the green pasta was different and delicious, and the wine was on point. We ate downstairs and for two it was about $330, not bad. Im definitely looking forward to going back!

I feel bad giving Chez Panisse four stars, but the meals my friends and family had there last June were delicious, yet unremarkable. The service was impeccable as always. I have had meals at Chez Panisse that were revelatory and amazing. These meals did not meet that threshold.

"Most nights are great here but every once in a while its phenomenal, absolutely to die for"This was told to me after I had just finished eating in the formal dining room and I will have to agree. He was a local who said he had come here hundreds of times and tonight just happened to be one of those nights. Maybe it was the menu for this particular night but it was well worth the price. Everything about the experience was perfect and I cannot wait to bring another date here. Definitely a closer type date spot.

Wow! Im a Bay Area native and this is the first time I have been able to dine here. This review is for the Cafe not main resto. Very lively atmosphere upstairs with a small standing bar area while you wait. Service was great! It was 6 of us and we had a appetizers, 6 mains and the desserts all of which were excellent. Menu changes quite often maybe even daily but we had the rabbit, halibut, ribeye and pasta dish all were delicious. I am pretty picky and getti g tired of the same old overpriced SF food scene which has made virtually every place in the Bay Area overpriced, low quality dining. But have no complaints here at CPC, it was a great place to celebrate my birthday and will definitely be coming back to try their main dining room. Thank you CPC!

Celebrated Valentines Day at Chez Panisse and it was an experience to remember! Our perfect evening began with a table set with a beautiful presentation menu and fresh garden flowers. We sipped on champagne while we perused the rest of the menu. We chose the incredible wine pairing for each course. From dungeness crab cakes, to wild mushroom ravioli en brodo, to the best duck with truffle sauce. By far my favorite Valentines meal ever. Topped off with a kitchen tour, this will definitely become an annual tradition.