 Trendy restaurants come and go. Chefs arrive on the scene and often fade. But after more than 35 years of business in what has become Berkeley's gourmet ghetto, Alice Waters' internationally acclaimed, groundbreaking restaurant is still a hard reservation to secure. Waters' passion for procuring only the finest and freshest raw materials is legendary. First-time diners may be surprised at the simplicity of the menu, which changes daily and is served to the entire dining room. Devotees know that even an elemental-sounding dish like a Maine lobster-chanterelle salad will be brought to new levels, in this case by an orange-oil dressing. You will likely savor every bite of dishes that make the most of bounteous local produce, such as a black-turnip confit with foie gras salad and balsamic vinegar. Despite its reputation as a temple to gastronomy, Chez Panisse's ambience is surprisingly informal (and even more so upstairs at the Café at Chez Panisse, which makes use of many of the same top-quality ingredients), but the service is as impeccable as the food. The prix-fixe menu is posted each Saturday for the coming week, but you will need to make reservations well in advance. Also, a 17 percent gratuity is added to your bill in the European manner. |
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Set the mood for love by reserving a table at one of the Best Romantic Restaurants in San Francisco, or view our list of Valentines Restaurants to find out which restaurants are offering unique menus just for February 14. Also, see who sets the standard for seductive dining across the country with our Top 10 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S. list.
