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Chez Panisse


4.0 of 5 stars 211 ratings  |  Write a review
  • Cuisines: Californian
  • Neighborhood: Downtown
  • 1517 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709-1598
  • 510 548 5525
  • Price range: €18-70 ($25-$100)

Reviews you can trust

85% Recommend
Excellent
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Rating summary
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
[ Date ] [ Rating ]
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2 of 5 stars
KentFoodlover   1 contribution
kent
Dec 4, 2009
1
person found this review helpful

We wanted to go to Chez Panisse for many years but were disappointed. We ate in the restaurant not the cafe -I don't know why the restaurant is described as romantic because the tables were very close together. Our first course of punterella with lemon vinaigrette etc. was a nothing.The second-Paella Valenciana tasted bitter and didn't have a crust on... more

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4 of 5 stars
A TripAdvisor reviewer on Facebook  
Nov 25, 2009

Went for lunch on our way back into the Bay area after a few days in Napa. The atmosphere was fantastic, service was great and the food was flavorful and fairly priced. more

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5 of 5 stars
Pepper4prez   6 contributions
Ottawa
Nov 6, 2009

On October 26 from San Francisco on our way to Yosemite we stopped at Chez Panisse for lunch, we had reserved quite a few weeks beforehand. The decor was calming and inviting; the service was welcoming and just right. Reading the menu we knew we were in for a treat. For the appetizer I had the Baked Andante Dairy goat... more

Just So-so
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4 of 5 stars
RajunCajun1954   1 contribution
Mountain View
Oct 17, 2009
1
person found this review helpful

Ate lunch at the cafe, $100 for two, salad, main course, dessert plus mandatory 17% tip. First time and the food was good but not great. You have to be one that likes interesting food with interesting combination's. That said the food was not that special. Salad. The rocket (arugula) and thinly sliced zucchini was interesting but nothing special about... more

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1 of 5 stars
CorkDork123   2 contributions
Nashville, TN
Oct 11, 2009
1
person found this review helpful

Called for rerservations, got voice mail, left a message. They never returned my call to my cellphone, which I always have with me. I lead a busy life and when I called back and it was "too late". Maybe 20+ years of success has gone to their heads. Perhaps Alice would not be pleased with her staff, if she knew... more

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5 of 5 stars
lucywelsh   3 contributions
washington, dc
Sep 7, 2009

The place was packed, reservations booked thru late in the evening. Told the Maître de we were from out of town and just "had to get in". He got us in, sat us at a primo table with a great server. Wow Wow Wow what an experience! more

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3 of 5 stars
A TripAdvisor reviewer on Facebook  
Aug 29, 2009
1
person found this review helpful

Now I can say that I've been there but not itching to go back. Good food but not sure what the hype is about. more

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4 of 5 stars
deenaclaire   28 contributions
westchester
Aug 12, 2009

We had a good meal at Chez Panisse, with excellent service that did not rush us out or delay us. My only issue was a glass of red wine that I had requested - I had asked for a malbec, and got something akin to a cote du rhone. Not that I dislike cote du rhone...it was just a surprise.... more

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3 of 5 stars
caren   14 contributions
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Aug 4, 2009
1
person found this review helpful

I will have to agree with many other reviewers and say that Chez Panisse has lost its standing among the best restaurants in the Bay area. After ten days of travel in and around San Francisco, I had far better meals and service at lesser known places. We had lunch reservations in the cafe and were seated directly across from... more

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1 of 5 stars
kristofsF   1 contribution
San Francisco
Jul 30, 2009
1
person found this review helpful

We thought to have a great dinner at chez Panisse because it is known as one of the best restaurants of California but it wasn't. We as europeans use the michelin to direct ourself through this in order to eat good. They have one star but it isn't worth one fork. We had maybe 10 dollars worth of raw materials... more

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Chez Panisse Address

1517 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709-1598
Tel: 510 548 5525 Fax: 510 548 0140
* Restaurant price information is based on meal cost per person, excluding drinks, tax and tip.