2009

Chez Panisse Cafe Restaurant Review, Berkeley

Posted by Foodnut.com

Reviewer: Foodnut.com

Chez Panisse Cafe

1517 Shattuck Ave (Near Vine St)

Berkeley, CA 94709

510-548-5049

Chez Panisse Cafe Website

Book Reservation

Chez Panisse Cafe Berkeley Exterior

Chez Panisse Cafe is the lower cost, a la carte menu restaurant upstairs from famous  Chez Panisse. We visited the main restaurant Chez Panisse downstairs in 2012 and reviewed it. Alice Waters started a food revolution here, way back in 1971. She strives to serve only the highest quality products, and only when they are in season. All produce, meat, poultry, and fish come from farms, ranches, and fisheries guided by principles of sustainability. This restaurant has produced many famous chefs that have gone on to start their own restaurants.

17% service charge applies to both floors. Each floor has its own kitchen.

Chez Panisse Cafe Berkeley Interior

Decor, Vibe – Chez Panisse Cafe is located in a non-descript building facade. Lots of exposed wood with ornate decorations and fresh flowers all over. Folks in their 30′s to 50′s were dining.

Chez Panisse Cafe Menu Pictures (Click to zoom into any picture)

Chez Panisse Cafe Website Menu

Picks:

Chez Panisse Cafe Berkeley Little Gems lettuce

Little Gems lettuce with green goddess dressing and beets ($9) was simple but very good. Very fresh greens and tart beets tossed with a light dressing.

Chez Panisse Cafe Berkeley Goat Cheese Salad

Baked Andante Dairy goat cheese with garden lettuces ($10) is a classic with 2 large delicious baked cheese nuggets and some very simple but tasty greens. The goat cheese was not to heavy in flavor, yielding a subtle balance.

Chez Panisse Cafe Berkeley Pizza

Pizzetta with tomato sauce, Monterey Bay squid, and aïoli ($15) was not as good as Cheeseboard across the street, but was cooked well. Not soggy, not crispy, solid ingredients, balanced flavors, nothing flashy.

Chez Panisse Cafe Berkeley Halibut

Northern halibut in saffron broth with cannellini and fava beans, rocket, and rouille ($28) looks weird in the picture as it was poached, making it very healthy. On its own, the fish was on the bland side. Combined with the beans and rouille, the fish came to life.

Chez Panisse Cafe Berkeley Pork Loin

Grilled Becker Lane Farm pork loin with snap peas and polenta ($26) was excellent. Tender, thinly sliced, perfectly cooked, medium rare pork loin with lots of natural au jus.

Chez Panisse Cafe Berkeley Quail

Wolfe Ranch quail roasted in the wood oven with asparagus, new potatoes, and herb salsa ($25) had one huge perfectly roasted quail dripping with juices. Some of the skin area was a little salty. The asparagus was super fresh and very crunchy.

Chez Panisse Cafe Berkeley Crimson rhubarb tart

Crimson rhubarb tart with strawberry ice cream ($9.75) had some pretty sour rhubarb. The tart had a real nice crust to it.

Chez Panisse Cafe Berkeley Neopolitan ice cream bombe

Neopolitan ice cream bombe with Catalan Farm strawberries ($8.75) was a delicious 3 flavor ice cream cream with fresh strawberries. Pretty good quantity on the ice cream cake. It only lasts until they run out of their limited supply each evening. Yes it was someone’s birthday.

OK:
None

Pans:
None

Chez Panisse Cafe had very good service with the waiter or a bus boy not far away. Prices in the cafe are reasonable for the quality of food you receive. The food is super fresh, flavorful, cooked well, health, and unburden by heavy sauces. We came in with low expectations, having read many marginal reviews, but left as believers. The food in the cafe was simple but excellent. You could make most dishes at home, if you could buy the ingredients and cook as well as they do!

Medium Wine markup with glasses from $8.25, bottles from $32, Corkage: $25 per bottle. $45 per magnum.
Chez Panisse on Urbanspoon

$25 Dining Certificate for $5

Chez Panisse Cafe Overall Rating: (Excellent 3)

Come Back?

Food Rating: (Excellent)
Service Rating: (Very Good)
Atmosphere Rating: (Very Good)
Value Rating: (Very Good)

Guide: 0 = poor, 1 = Below/Average, 2 = Good, 2.5 = Very Good, 3 = Excellent , 4 = Extraordinary

Alcohol:Beer, Wine
Attire:Casual
Hours:Monday - Saturday 11:30am -3:00pm, Monday - Thursday 5 - 10:30pm, Friday - Saturday 5 - 11:30pm
Parking:Street
Reservations:Yes
Prices:$21 - $28
Posted on August 10th, 2009
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4 Responses to “Chez Panisse Cafe Restaurant Review, Berkeley”

  1. New 2011 San Francisco Michelin Guide | Foodnut.com Says:

    [...] Chez Panisse dropped off the list. Our last meal at Chez Panisse Cafe was very good. No Surprise fallen stars: Fifth Floor, Michael Mina, [...]

  2. Cheeseboard Pizza Collective, Berkeley | Foodnut.com Says:

    [...] Be sure to visit Kirala 2 across the street in the Epicurious Garden. They have great Japanese to go food. Also across the street is Chez Panisse. [...]

  3. New Michelin Guide San Francisco 2012 | Foodnut.com Says:

    [...] Chez Panisse dropped off the list due to being inconsistent. Our last meal at Chez Panisse Cafe was very good and a classic farm to table [...]

  4. New Michelin Guide San Francisco 2013 | Foodnut.com Says:

    [...] Chez Panisse dropped off the list due to being inconsistent. Our last meal at Chez Panisse Cafe was very good and a classic farm to table meal. No modern innovation [...]

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