C
H E Z P A N I S S E C A F É
1517
Shattuck Ave
Berkeley
510.548.5049
Yes, the Café does have the same address as its bigger sister and number
one on my list, Chez Panisse. Upon entering the restaurant, head straight
up the steps bypassing the main floor housing Chez Panisse, and you will enter
the Café. Café is a misleading word because it is as nice as
the price fixed Chez Panisse and better yet, you get choices! No set menu
here, you can usually choose from at least ten appetizers and pastas and five
entrees. The same emphasis on freshness of ingredients and style of California
cooking that has made this address famous for over thirty years is now open
to many more people because of the Café. Some of the words mentioned
below might be unfamiliar to you, but that is because they are names of local
organic growers of vegetables, beef, and lamb.
A favorite salad I have copied at home for years is a staple on their menu.
It is Viki’s lettuces with a light vinaigrette dressing accompanied by
a slice of baked Sonoma goat cheese that has been rolled in olive oil and
bread crumbs (no doubt from Berkeley’s Acme Bread). Other appetizer choices
could be grilled asparagus and artichokes with anchovies, egg, and Meyer lemon.
Pizzas and pastas are also top entrée choices such as hand-cut pasta
with morel mushrooms, peas, and mint. The café is also tops on game
and meats like the James Ranch lamb shoulder with cannelloni and fava beans.
Most recently their pan fried soft-shell crab with red and gold beets and
basil mayonnaise rivaled any soft-shell crab in New Orleans.
Desserts are definitely not to be missed and will not be heavy as to compliment
the entire dining experience at The Cafe. Try ending your evening with Ginger
crème brulee with gingersnaps or Jim Churchill’s Pixie tangerines
and Black Sphinx dates.
Bon
Appetit!
M Y T O P T E N
1.
Chez
Panisse - Berkeley
2. Rivoli - Berkeley
3. Oliveto’s - Oakland
4. Chez Panisse
Café
-
Berkeley
5. Baywolf - Oakland
6. Citron
- Oakland
7. Soizic
- Oakland
8. Garibaldi - Oakland
9. Dona
Tomas - Oakland
10. tie:
Liaison
- Berkeley
Le Cheval - Oakland
HONORABLE MENTIONS