Bon appetit! Chez Panisse opened its doors in 1971 in Berkeley, CA. The neighborhood bistro was founded by Alice Waters and a group of idealistic friends. They tried to do things the way they would like them done at a dinner party at home, with generosity and attention to detail. In 2007, Alice received a Lifetime Achievement Award, Restaurant Magazine’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants. 

The Café at Chez Panisse, located upstairs, opened in 1980 to offer an alternative to the set menu served in the Restaurant downstairs. The Café offers an à la carte menu for both lunch and dinner. It has an open kitchen along one side of the room with a charcoal grill and a wood burning oven. The menu changes daily and is inspired by local, seasonal ingredients. 

Chez Panisse