Dorian Okano

First time; lunch in cafe. Gorgeous space, gorgeous food. Sat next to obnoxious mom and 3 entitled teen sons who were loud and dominating the volume in the dining room with over the top behavior. It was difficult to ignore. But that didn’t ruin the food and beauty of the space. We were celebrating the two of us turning 50 but it wasn’t acknowledged by staff despite prior notes. However, this was a bucket list experience. Tried most of menu and bought a signed cookbook and water glass. A great lunch of rustic deliciousness!

+5

Maria S.

Love Chez Panisse. Super satisfied each time I dine. Where else to eat in Berkeley? It’s my one stop. Thank you, Chef Alice Waters, the staff and Daniel too.

Cesar Garcia

Delicious, super fresh and very healthy food. We came to the cafe without reservation few minutes before 5 pm and they were very kind to offer us a table that they have always open for walk ins (small table for 2). The service was outstanding, they explain you everything with huge attention and patience. A bit pricey but definitely worth it.

+3

Ivanne Villones

This review is coming in a week late but very necessary. I celebrated my birthday here last October 15th with my significant other. My original time slot was at 8:30am but that very morning I got a call from my doctor insisting I needed to be hospitalized soon as possible for a low platelet count. I was torn between giving up my reservation the very same day or proceeding with dinner. Chez Panisse was very accommodating and very considerate and moved my slot from 8:30 to 6:30. That may not sound like a lot but it meant the world to me. I did not want to eat hospital food on the night of my birthday and it’s so hard to get a reservation here and I can see why. I arrived at the restaurant with a happy heart and left with an even happier full stomach. The experience is like no other. The atmosphere is cozy, pristine and impeccable. The staff made me feel so welcome and respected. The entire dinner was fantastic and well prepared. Tasted like heaven. I was the happiest girl in the world. I yearn for another chance to come back to Chez Panisse~

+4

I H

The food was fresh and not pretentious. The staff was friendly, attentive, and also not pretentious. Each course played perfectly with the last. I cleaned my plates. Don't get me started on the dessert. And we were able to tour the kitchen and even had a quick conversation with a couple of the chefs. Totally awesome! Very special restaurant for very special occasions.

+4

Taylor McCulley May

A truly magical experience! Both the food and the service were top notch. The flavors were incredible and every detail was thought out. If possible, request a seat by the kitchen! We will definitely be back.

+15

Delicious food and great service. Definitely price and a special occasion kind of place. We were pleasantly surprised with the small appetizer, dessert tea, and small candies (orange peel and chocola…

Delicious food and great service. Definitely price and a special occasion kind of place. We were pleasantly surprised with the small appetizer, dessert tea, and small candies (orange peel and…

Delicious food and great service. Definitely price and a special occasion kind of place. We were pleasantly surprised with the small appetizer, dessert tea, and small candies (orange peel and choco…

Delicious food and great service. Definitely price and a special occasion kind of place. We were pleasantly surprised with the small appetizer, dessert tea, and small candies (orange peel and choco…

Delicious food and great service. Definitely price and a special occasion kind of place. We were pleasantly surprised with the small appetizer, dessert tea, and small candies (orange peel and choco…

It's been awesome for almost 50 years. Love to go to the cafe upstairs! We saw Alice and she is o nice!

I've been hearing such great things about this restaurant and was finally able to come in and try it. Their menu apparently changes weekly, and our party of four had a reservation for Saturday nigh…

Our lunch was amazing today \nLoved it all . Bread, salad,CHICKEN was over the top \nService was wonderful! Can't wait to go back

Making reservations for the cafe was very easy through Resy. I was able to snag a table for three on a Saturday at lunch time a couple days before. Parking in this area isn't the easiest. There's 2…

Chez panisse is everything I hoped for and more. Fresh ingredients and everything tasted great! Had a salad and the chicken dish. My daughter had the molasses cake for dessert which was so good. I …

Restaurant Chez Panisse remains one of the finest dining experiences. It does not rely on lab-driven inventions or the next new thing, but on deep understanding of flavors, ingredients and ways of br…

Yes Chez is as wonderful as many say. But too many only see a restaurant, not the start of a movement. Alice Waters place is where "Farm to Table" "Calif. Cuisine" "Slow food" and organic eating …

As good as it gets! Some places live on reputations that were earned years ago. Not so here! We dined in the cafe upstairs and it was superior service, exceptional cuisine and very decent wine as wel…

As good as it gets! Some places live on reputations that were earned years ago. Not so here! We dined in the cafe upstairs and it was superior service, exceptional cuisine and very decent wine as w…

As good as it gets! Some places live on reputations that were earned years ago. Not so here! We dined in the cafe upstairs and it was superior service, exceptional cuisine and very decent wine as w…

I had such a nice experience the atmosphere was warm, the service was great, and I absolutely loved their food; every dish was full of flavor and beautifully presented.

I had such a nice experience the atmosphere was warm, the service was great, and I absolutely loved their food; every dish was full of flavor and beautifully presented.

This review is for Chez Panisse Café. We’ve been wanting to try this place for a while now and today was the day. We had a wonderful lunch. It was value for money…not as expensive as we had expe…

I had wanted to dine here for over a decade and never was able to secure a reservation. The pre-fixed meal was delicious and they graciously made substitutions for us based on dietary constraints.…

My son took me here for my 80th birthday. We felt well cared for from the moment we walked in. Having arrived too early for our 5:30 dinner reservation, the staff upstairs in the Cafe graciously ca…

My son took me here for my 80th birthday. We felt well cared for from the moment we walked in. Having arrived too early for our 5:30 dinner reservation, the staff upstairs in the Cafe graciously ca…

It took us a few attempts to secure reservations but Chez Panise lived up to our high expectations and was worth the wait. From the garden entrance to the polished wool stairway and seasonal flora…

The food is fresh and bursting with flavor. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting. A must-visit for food lovers---------

A wonderful meal in an iconic setting. We dined upstairs at the cafe, which offered a varied menu, unlike the more formal dining room downstairs (which was much more expensive -- $175 pp -- and wh…

The service from Cameron was excellent—attentive and professional throughout the meal. The restaurant was a bit noisy, likely due to the low ceiling and the close spacing between tables. I ordered the pork loin with vegetables. The vegetables were very fresh and well seasoned, and the pork was cooked nicely. My wife had the rockfish, which was also very well prepared. The carrot ginger appetizer was excellent and one of the highlights of the meal. Unfortunately, the dessert fell short of expectations. It was priced at $15 and consisted of four mandarin oranges and three dates. While I assume the ingredients were organic, there was no presentation, and it felt overpriced, especially since similar items can be purchased at an organic supermarket. Overall, the dessert was disappointing compared to the rest of the experience.

Excellent evening all around. Parking is non-existent so glad took Uber. Ate in downstairs restaurant vs. the upstairs cafe. Very good food. However, the presentation of the rabbit could be enhanced by either deboning after cooking are carving slightly better. While many of us at the table could care the rabbit away from the bones some struggled like my wife. Small point but made it less that 5 stars for some.

Kylie C

Amazing food and atmosphere, all ingredients are locally sourced and seasonal so it added a layer to the food. Interior styled like other Berkeley bungalows so a nice local touch there as well.

+4

Olivia Yates

We had a large group at the Chez Panisse cafe (upstairs). Overall the experience was lovely. The service was prompt, however our waiter was a bit dry and somewhat passive. For example, when one of the guests asked if it was standard to order a dish from each section on the menu, his response was “sure”. Outside of his demeanor, the service was prompt and professional. The food was lovely and came out fairly quickly, even for a large group. The celery root soup was a favorite, along with the fish. I had the warm radicchio Salad, which was a 10/10. My main course was the ravioli, which was lovely and light but lacked the robust flavor I hope to have in a main course. For dessert we ordered the fruit for the table and it was impeccable.

Jeff Downing

Food was excellent. We had a party of 4 and were able to try everything on the cafe menu. It was a fun outing for a birthday. The service was lacking and a bit slow. Was thinking that it made have been because it is the cafe. I think we may have too high expectations for the service as we have eaten at a variety of nice establishments. The food definitely outweighed the dip in service.

+9

Shad Berry

Ate upstairs in the cafe, and had a lovely experience. I love the open kitchen. I love the rustic design of the restaurant. I love the mid century style lights and stained glass. The vibe is almost cabin-like. Being able to watch as bread and pizzas went into the wood-fired oven was a treat. Service was a bit relaxed and not as I had expected. Not bad, but just mediocre. I was anticipating hearing more about the food. It’s okay - they let me take home the menu. The food was simple yet abound with subtleties. The dishes spoke for themselves. They spoke of the land and the fields and the farms they came from. The Bronx grapes for dessert were a treat. Unpretentious, high-quality food in a cozy atmosphere. I could really settle into this place for awhile.

Pierre Simard

The food is outstanding. The only thing is the menu being available Sundays and when you have a reservation for Monday or Tuesday, you can’t cancel if you are not fan of the menu served that day. Sadly, it was too late for me to cancel because my menu was salmon. I love salmon, I cook it many times and was disappointed to have such common fish on the menu. I think I would have been happier if they served meatloaf! Next time I’m going there, I’ll make sure to have 2 different reservations on Wednesday and after so I can cancel one of them when the menu comes out. Besides that, the good is great. Prices are high and the mandatory service charged on the check is kinda annoying. I get it why some restaurants do that, yet it’s annoying. I have had much better service at lower level restaurants. But definitely, one has to go chez panisse.

I received a lovely email invitation to Truffle Week and I was happy get reservations at the upstairs cafe. However my group was stunned to find out that truffles were absent from the Cafe menu despi…

I received a lovely email invitation to Truffle Week and I was happy get reservations at the upstairs cafe. However my group was stunned to find out that truffles were absent from the cafe menu d…

I received a lovely email invitation to Truffle Week and I was happy get reservations at the upstairs cafe. However my group was stunned to find out that truffles were absent from the Cafe menu des…

Was here during truffle week where we dined upstairs. We had the lamb, seafood dish, and a salad. Although the food was good and fresh in ingredients, it was lacking or maybe missing the truffle. Tru…

Was here during truffle week where we dined upstairs. We had the lamb, seafood dish, and a salad. Although the food was good and fresh in ingredients, it was lacking or maybe missing the truf…

Was here during truffle week where we dined upstairs. We had the lamb, seafood dish, and a salad. Although the food was good and fresh in ingredients, it was lacking or maybe missing the truffle. T…

Food 4.5/5.0\nService 4.5/5.0\nValue 3.5/5.0\nDecor 4.0/5.0\nOverall 4.5/5.0\n\nReally solid food, service was great, and it didn't hurt that I liked the corner table we got. However, can't help bu…

Been here a few times now and it's always a decent time. While reservations are hard to come by, it is intuitive/straightforward how to go about it. The food is always well prepared, and the menu i…

My family and I went to Chez Panisse this evening for my sister's graduation dinner! I was very disappointed with our experience. The food was at best, average, given the price of $175 per person+$…

We went to the Chez Panisse Cafe with big expectations. The experience was disappointing. - The appetizers were just different variations of salads and a soup - The Entree was average. We had t…

We went to the Chez Panisse cafe with big expectations. The experience was disappointing. - The appetizers were just different variations of salads and a soup - The Entree was average. We had the…

I have wanted to go here forever. Farm to table is very important to me. The food was very good. The service was good. I wish that they had more information on where they sourced their food,

I have wanted to go here forever. Farm to table is very important to me. The food was very good. The service was good. I wish that they had more information on where they sourced their food,

Taylor G

Went for a birthday dinner last year, and it’s just not worth it. Did the set menu with my partner, and he did the wine paring. Incredible app, and forgettable everything else. I also would’ve expected better service at a fine dining establishment such as this. Wouldn’t go back nor recommend.

food and service underwhelming. dungeness crab salad to start had part of a knuckle. Don't call it a crab salad if it's just a garnish.

Food and service underwhelming. Dungeness crab salad to start had part of a knuckle. Don't call it a crab salad if it's just a garnish.

Food and service underwhelming. Dungeness crab salad to start had part of a knuckle. Don't call it a crab salad if it's just a garnish.

The dessert was out of the world: I would give it 5 stars any day every day. We come back and order just the desserts because it's that good. Every dessert I have ordered from here has been out…

I'm sad to write this review because we were so looking forward to this meal. We ate in the main dining room (not the upstairs cafe). The food was okay but nothing to write home about. The four cou…

I'm sad to write this review because we were so looking forward to this meal. We ate in the main dining room (not the upstairs cafe). The food was okay but nothing to write home about. The four cou…

We were recently there for a celebration dinner - an anniversary and birthday. We planned one year in advance. This was a very big deal for us. The food was just as impressive as we imagined. …

Definitely an underwhelming experience…Came here for my birthday and wish we went to another fine dining establishment. The menu was just not vibing with my tastebuds- sea bass with cumin oil… bleh! And the biggest disappointment was the dessert- buckwheat crepes sprinkled with some oranges and citrus butter. Seriously!?

Tim Hewitt

I am rating this meal 2 stars not for the quality of the food, there was nothing wrong with any of the dishes, but because of the cost and reputation of Chez Panisse. As someone who grew up up the street from the restaurant, Chez Panisse is a cultural and culinary icon in the California restaurant market. A trend setter. This meal was not that. It was uninspired and seemed to have no idea what it wanted to be. Add onto that the fact that there were some glaring technical mistakes with the dishes. The opening crostini was undercooked- a crispy exterior but the middle was soft and not in a way that felt intentional. The tuna had a lovely sear, paired with a bright salad that might have been the best part of the whole meal, but why pair it with a bland tartar sauce? The flavors did not pair well. I would have preferred no sauce because the. I would just treat the course like a salad. No cohesion on the plate. The mushroom sauce for the gnocchi was over salted. The gnocchi was good, but coming on the heels of eating the gnocchi at Gramercy Tavern, it felt uninspiring. The quail had a lovely smoke flavor to it, but the vegetables were simply ok. For a restaurant that is supposed to specialize in their veggie offerings, that’s highly disappointing. Finally the crepe was burnt. I was trying to tell myself that this might have been done intentionally to play on the bitterness of the chocolate sauce, but let’s be honest. It was burnt. Lastly, I take offense to restaurants asking if you’re celebrating anything special and doing the bare minimum. A paper script that says congratulations is cheap and inauthentic. At that point, why even ask? It leaves a bitter taste in the mouth more than anything. All in all the meal was entirely overpriced for the quality. Chez Pannise would be better served cranking out the hits at $125 a head instead of this uninspired “daily” menu that they’re offering. They’re clearly trying to keep up with their reputation and failing miserably at it.

+4

Very disappointed in the lunch I had there today 8/7/25. The food was not good. They are living off their brand hype, not up to their brand hype. And so expensive. The skin on the chicken al matton…

Terribly disappointing and overpriced. There is a very good reason they lost their Michelin star so many years ago, what is baffling is how they’ve continued to increase their prices. We paid $70…

H H

Small cramped and crowded, they need reservations for the bottom and cafe is a hit and miss. The food had good taste , out of the western restaurants their taste is pretty good. We came for a birthday, nothing was offered which was surprising, they usually do offer small dessert. The main server didn't seem very happy to be there. He was not friendly had no welcoming vibes. When we asked what he recommended ,he just brushed over, not much enthusiasm. Will not be coming back and not recommending.