The expectations are always high when dining at a legendary restaurant like that of Californian cuisine-pioneer Alice Waters, whose original concept was based around the finest, freshest ingredients from local, organic farmers. Thankfully, nothing here has changed. The garden salad is crisp and well seasoned, the rigatoni with peas, mint and ricotta light and refreshing, the buttermilk chicken cooked to perfection and the lamb with walnuts and rosemary tender and aromatic. What started out in 1971 as a Berkeley neighborhood bistro managed by the legendary chef and her friends, became a culinary revolution that inspired many restaurants, schools and young chefs. Waters brought to life the famous Ferry Plaza Farmers Market and is vice president of Slow Food International – therefore she doesn’t work too often in the kitchen anymore. The atmosphere at Chez Panisse definitely has a 90’s vibe, but nonetheless doesn’t feel old-fashioned. The staff is professional, if at times overly formal. Lunch at Chez Panisse Café is a dependable option, both in terms of price-performance ratio and the possibility of landing a free table without having to book a month in advance. A three-course menu du jour will cost you $27, while dinner in the restaurant rounds out at about $80.
Shattuck Ave 1517
94709 San Francisco
phone: +1 510 5485525
sunday + monday closed
tue - sat 12.00 - 3.00 pm + 4.30 - 7.00 pm
