I tried Chez Panisse exactly a week prior, leaving underwhelmed especially considering the steep price tag. However, the bustling interior of Panisse's sister bar next door tickled me curious, and I dined here with a friend last night. As unimpressive as Chez Panisse was, Bar Panisse offers the antithesis with an exciting menu and decently priced libations. I had their house martini, an unshocking and typical choice of mine. The martini was simply liquid gold, delicately sweet yet a symphony of savory all the same. My friend and I shared the butter beans, which she asserted quite plain. Not a problem for me though as I prefer beans not overly flavored. The eggplant atop was fork tender and did offer an umami contrast to the starchy, neutral flavors under. The vegetable pakora was good not great. Effortlessly crispy but very familiar. Not sure if I'd ever received a fried dish I complained about. My only gripe was the Monterey Bay sardine, which, yes, comes with one sardine and clocks in at $22. It's not offensive by any means but pricy. I know yall have the whole tin back there. Don't be shy. Anyway, the food was all delicious, every morsel carefully thought out and brilliantly flavored. The prices of the drinks are absolutely killer though, especially when factoring in the esteem that the Panisse name amasses. Would I be back? Hell yeah. Berkeleys my Alma mater, and I'm a big girl who likes big girl drinks. Just not with the big costs. read more

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I'm very torn on this review, because the food and ambiance were fantastic. However my experience was seriously soured by one service misstep. But let me start at the beginning: I planned to meet some friends there at 6 PM on a weekday, to celebrate a birthday. Since I had extra time, I arrived at 5:30, in case there was a wait for a table. There were multiple tables free, and in spite of my being alone, the hostess seated me right away at a table for 3 without any questions. I immediately ordered a drink and began perusing the menu. The birthday celebrant arrived at 5:50, and she also ordered a drink and we started planning to order food right away. To my surprise, the hostess then came to tell us that since I had been occupying the table for 20 minutes, we had a limited window left since there was a time limit on the table - I don't remember if it was 60 or 90 minutes - but it doesn't matter, it was just a complete surprise to us. My friend did not seem to mind, but for me it negatively colored the whole experience as I felt under pressure to finish eating and just get out of there. I would not have been so offended if: a) she had simply told me upfront about the time limit, or b) asked to wait to seat me until all parties were there/ready to eat. But to come say that after we had been seated for 20 minutes, was seriously obnoxious to me, and I was tempted to leave (but my friend wanted to stay.) Food was fantastic: the beef tartine, the grilled sardine, the zucchini pakora stand out for me. My mule mocktail was delicious also. Our server was great also. But I am not sure I'm impressed enough to return - we spent ~$200 on food and drink, and I think it warranted a better attitude all around. read more

Such a cool place and nice drinks. Great service and ambiance. Cock tails are great. And Great wine list. Staff is good and usually a long line for the wait so get on the list. But the host and hostess are not pretentious and super friendly. We didn't try the food but they offer bar bites. Greta for date night or people watching. You can get a table or sit at the bar read more

Bar Panisse - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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First visit tonight at friends' suggestion. We arrived 5 minutes before opening and were last in line but got in for a table. My phony Negroni was good, not too bitter and my spouse's real Negroni was, he said, also not as bitter as is typical for the drink. I liked mine while he was a little bit disappointed. The four of us shared olives, gougeres (a little rubbery, maybe should be served warm?), and the potatoes which were described vaguely but were in fact delicious fries. Service was casual but many patrons were what I'd call dressed up by Berkeley standards. A steady stream of customers all evening, even on a Tuesday. The staff didn't notice my friends squinting into the setting sun and offer to open the umbrella outside. read more

Bar Panisse - food menu - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

Been wanting to come here and visited during happy hour time frame (around 5 pm on a Monday) so we could get there before the crowds arrived. Pretty busy for a Monday. We were able to sit right away by the open windows. They don't have happy hour pricing or deals. The food choices were all small plates. Also had their version of a Moscow mule. Drinks tasted good and food overall tasted fresh. Just not sure what the hype was. After eating, we were still hungry so headed a few doors down for more food and drinks. Maybe I'll come back again and look at the menu ahead of time to see what to expect. Service was friendly and helpful. They were training another server and both were helpful in explaining our options and providing suggestions. read more

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We were able to get in on a weeknight around 6:30 without waiting, and it was very packed! The energy was buzzing and the service was quick and friendly. We got a few dishes and cocktails to try, and everything was good, including the desserts. I'd definitely come back to try more of the dishes and beverages. read more

Bar Panisse - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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What an absolutely cool new spot where the old Bar César once occupied. A new concept from Chez Panisse (which is just a few doors down), Bar Panisse is like the swanky step-sister. To note, they don't take reservations and open at 5p. We happened to be on Shattuck around 4:30p at another spot, and saw a line beginning to form around that time outside. So needless to say, this is a committed experience from start to finish. At 5p we joined the line and since we were just ordering drinks, we were able to secure a spot with the hostess for bar seating. Patrons were definitely dressed to impress, and it was fun to see people out and dedicated to trying this hot & newly anticipated locale for sips and small bites. Beautiful cocktail menu, no doubt. We ordered the Whiskey Buck (bourbon, soda water, lime, ginger, allspice dram). It was fantastic, and even came with a ginger candy on the straw. Such a stellar space, concept, and everything just seemed incredibly well-executed for it being recently-opened. The small bites also looked delicious ~ next time we will plan to snack here too. The artichoke was something to talk about, def picturesque. You can find metered street parking in front/around the Bar. I would recommend rideshare so you can explore the surrounding area too. This is such a fun and elevated addition to Shattuck, and can't wait to see what Bar Panisse has in store in the future. read more

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Leaving Sauls & their $9 martini 2 Sundays ago to help calm John before his terrifying upcoming hip replacement I walked home & passed by the newy Chez bar & surprise!.... there were seats available!! Stepping in I heard an animated greeting by my dear old friends, Betty & Ian, for whom I made muffelatas at their wedding party a few years ago. They were about to leave but joined me at the bar & went on & on about how fantastic the food & booze they had just finished. I had the vodka house Martini & an order of crispy spuds... the Martini was unlike any I'd had & I quite enjoyed it & the potatoes were perfect! need to return again on another Sunday and dig in read more

I was fortunate enough to get a table near the large airy windows which set a serene summer scene for our meal. There's a limited menu in collaboration with Diaspora Spice Co going on right now. The curry squid was a great first bite. The curry crab proved messy but don't tempt me with a tactilely playful dish. Threw etiquette out the large windows - finger licking good. The lamb was so amazing I only remember the dessert was tucked between a layer of caramel and topped with homemade vanilla creme...and was a perfect finish to the meal. The service was exemplary - check-ins were well timed and everyone was friendly and helpful. A place to feel the warmth of the Berkeley community. read more

Had our first date with my now boyfriend here. Such a great experience here with the staff, ambience, and food. We got a few things and shared. The bread and butter although simple but is good. The lamb looked great but I think could be better seasoned. You need to order a few things and share. Drinks are good I liked the martini. Cute place for a date just make sure you put time aside for the wait if youre walking in as it gets very crowded. We decided to come back every couple months to recalibrate and reminisce our first date! After more research I see why people are disappointed with this place because they experienced cesar. I havent so I cant make that comparison sadly but for a first timer we liked it. read more

Bar Panisse - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came in, walked right up to the "little-miss-bitch" hostess who apparently felt like giving me a little attitude that day. Asked for a menu and she reluctantly provided it. Nothing hit. I get that it's supposed to be bar food, but the menu items were completely uninteresting and did not pique my interest. This is an Alice Waters concept, after all. The place is loud-af since it is popular and packed to the gills with people, but the atmosphere is very elegant without being stuffy, kind of like its mothership restaurant next door (Chez Panisse). One could enjoy their experience here if the conditions were right. I might be back when the hostess drops some of her attitude, the place quiets down a couple decibels (unlikely), and the menu gets more interesting. Maybe... read more

Came here on a Friday night and waited 1 hour to get seated (we actually walked back home and came back when we moved up the waitlist). It's a bit underwhelming--we tried the wine and dessert wine. Overall impression, the dessert wine was the star, the wines would have stood out if paired with specific food, just like how they do wine pairing at their sister restaurant next door. By themselves, the wine was too sophisticated to drink alone--it was dry and full of tannins, but missing the sweetness and hints of blackberry, currant, cherries, etc. that makes sipping wine at a bar a nice experience. Would prob come back again just to try their cocktails, but will likely just make a reservation for Chez Panisse and do a wine pairing to make the drinks worth it. read more

Food was delectable. Service by Cody (and the entire staff) was impeccable! Thank you Go with a group and order one of everything! read more

Nice addition to Chez Panisse. Came here for a cocktail after dinner. Just opened and very popular. Had to wait 1/2 an hour on a Monday to get a table. The hostess was very nice and accommodating. Great stop before or after dinner for drinks and snacks but would def prefer upstairs for a meal. read more

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We are so happy this place finally opened in downtown Berkeley. We arrived at about 5:45pm this evening and had a 30 minute wait, which went by quickly. There's no standing room so you're pretty much guaranteed to wait on a weekend night. We had a couple of cocktails and bites and found the experience overall was exceptional. Hits: - anchovy fritters were salty, crispy, and tasty. 5/5 stars - cauliflower and broccolini was exceptional. So crispy and delicious! And vegetarian. - martini and spritz were both really good - servers were present and attentive. Came by often to check. It seems that the issues mentioned in earlier reviews have already been fixed. - beautiful wood paneled interior Misses (very minor): - We sat in the back corner and heard the clanking of the dish bins all night. I highly recommend they either put up a curtain to muffle the sound or move the dish bins - one drink was missed and never put in the system. They remedied it quickly when we mentioned it. - it's very noisy. Shouldn't bother most people but just an FYI that this isn't a quiet, intimate spot Lastly, I really hope they open up a remote waitlist that can be joined when you're on the way, as there's really no place to go while you're waiting for a table. That or perhaps allow standing by the bar. We can't wait to go back! read more

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Food will be the overwhelming basis of this review (I won't even consider the price). We ordered a fish, clam and a chicken dish along with a few smaller plates. I have a hard time remembering the last time where none of my orders was even close to satisfactory. I wish they had put more thought in the dish selection. The flavor profiles of the assorted dishes seemed like they didn't even try. Service was good. The server was friendly. Ambience was also satisfactory. Acoustics could be improved. read more

We were excited to try Bar Panisse, as we love the café! Our experience was mediocre. The staff were not particularly friendly, and not very attentive, nobody checked in after each dish was delivered to our table. Had they checked in, we wpuld have said: The soup was tepid, barely warm The mussels were only "okay" The chicken was good The little gems were lovely. It was certainly not worth the $240 for 4 people. I wish we'd gone to the Cafe. Ambience was lovely.​ read more

This was really excellent and very fun: the best restaurant to open around here in 20 years. Started with a lamb porterhouse which had a nice char and some absolutely terrific radishes on the side. I also had some cheese dumplings in brodo which I enjoyed. Later, I ordered some flatbread which was out of this world. Easily the best bread I've had since Quince many years ago. So fresh, just out of the oven, with some nice herb oil and butter on the side. I wound up getting seconds of the flatbread and porterhouse. I had a glass of 2023 Pinot Noir with this, that was very good. The service was very friendly and helpful, although the place was very busy, filling up just after opening. The best meal I've had out in a while. read more

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Wow what a super disappointment. Waters pushes the iconic Cesar out for this overpriced nonsense. Super busy and not sure why. Save your money. read more

Beautiful. Delicious. Special. I've been twice for food and cocktails and loved both visits. So happy to have this great spot in the area.

Love the ambiance, It's like a grown up swanky bar unlike anything else in Berkeley. The food was solid, especially recommend the butter beans, and the Fresh cheese dumpling, and the Little gem salad. The drinks were all on point too. It was our second time there and it was great again. The service was more attentive the first time but no real complaints there. read more

Their cocktails are amazing, service is super attentive, the food is delicious, and the vibe is just perfect. It's become our go-to spot when hanging out with friends! read more

My husband and I checked out the recently renovated and finally reopened Bar Panisse this past Sunday. We were former regulars at Cesar, and dearly loved the fantastic food, amazing cocktails and warm and welcoming community feel. Bar Panisse had a hard act to follow. We were greeted warmly by both the hostess, and the bartender when we sat at the bar. The bar surface was now shiny metal, and the bar chairs lacked backs (no place to put a coat, anymore). We were immediately provided with a small dish of apparently house-made potato chips, which, IMO, were inedible. I ordered a Sazerac, which didn't have much of an absinthe flavor; better to wash the glass with that liqueur than to spray it in the air above. It was good, but I've had better. My husband had a Vieux Carre, which he first experienced at Cesar, and had become his holy grail of a cocktail. His search continues. The bartender was quite performative, double-stirring cocktails and homeopathically applying citrus oils, but the actual cocktails were not magical. After reading the menu, we decided not to order food. As coincidence had it, I ended up sititing next to the wife of one of the original owners of Cesar, whom I had never met. We attempted conversation, but the noise level was punishingly loud. We did manage to agree that we both missed the former long community table, which was a great place to, I dunno, form community? This iteration seems more like a waiting room for Chez Panisse, with cocktails. Mostly 2-tops, not designed for leisurely meals with friends, unless you want to text your conversations. My bar companion had ordered the gougère plate, and when I asked her how they were, she offered me one. It was cold, and served with what appeared to be and tasted like French's mustard! She had to request, several times, to get the anchovies that she had also ordered. They were served with long, and what apparently were, very hot peppers. After one bite, she pushed the plate aside. And yet, after basically eating and drinking nothing (she had a cocktail in front of her, too), she still tipped the bartender $20! Now that's class. Now back to the bartender. He made his cocktails right in front of where I was sitting, and as he poured a martini over a cocktail olive, the liquid landed in the hollow center of that olive and splashed out of the glass onto my hand and over the bar in front of me! Freak accident, no worries, I licked it off. But what was unconscionable, and would never had been allowed when Master Cocktilian Bill Whitely ran that bar, was that he then didn't mop up his spill! I had to ask him to do so, after he had gone on to make many more cocktails for others. Just to add to the jarring ambiance, there was a roving photographer. She decided we were great subjects, for some reason, and had me hold a menu for her (Dude, where's my modeling fee?) and took pictures of our frosty cocktail glasses and had her lens kinda in our faces. She was nice enough, just doing her job, but I didn't sign up for this. After a very long weekend of being in the public eye at another Berkeley event, all I wanted was a quiet cocktail, and mebbe some nice tapas. Didn't happen. Although the Cesar former staff was promised jobs when this new bar opened, I saw no familiar faces. Of course, 3 years is a long time to wait to get a job, so maybe they just moved on? Or maybe there were other reasons that they declined an offer, if so proffered. At any rate, after this experience, we won't be back. What a pity that Cesar had to die for this. read more

Think of Bar Panisse as the cool younger sibling of Chez Panisse. Don't come thinking they have this spectacular full menu. It has a spectacular small menu, and it changes constantly. I have found the staff overwhelmingly courteous and kind. It's nice to have something that feels new in the neighborhood. And get the pavlova if it's on the menu! read more

Good drinks. Fine food, friendly staff. Been here a couple times and the service is great. It's drop in so you may have to wait if they are busy. But it's a nice area with plenty to walk around and window shop while awaiting your turn. Prices are about what you'd expect for a "Painesse" experience. The food and drinks given the care the restaurant is well known for. It's causal and upscale at the same time which makes for a nice experience. read more

Great variety of plates! Cozy bar with yummy food and a great staff. The house martini is a deal

The food: 5 stars. The ambiance : too noisy! Service: varies. Wait staff is OK. One greeter on Monday turned me off. He is a control freak. Watch out for the guy with curly black hair. Even though we were first in line and waited for an hour before opening, he would not let us sit where we wanted. He dictated where we had to sit even though all seats were open because we were first in line. Then, to show us off, he proceeded to seat another party where we wanted to sit, right after he told us we couldn't sit there. WTF?????? We don't need people who are into power tripping as greeters. We were completely put off by him and probably won't come in next time we see him at the reception upon entry. read more

The food was absolutely delicious...everything was perfectly on point. The ambiance is warm, comfortable, and inviting, creating a space that feels both relaxed and special at the same time. The servers were kind, attentive, and refreshingly not overbearing, which made the whole experience feel easy and natural. The cocktails leaned toward the classics and were executed beautifully: simple, balanced classics with extremely solid execution .The menu itself is thoughtful and concise, which I always appreciate. You can really feel the chef bringing her experience from Tartine and blending it with an East Bay sensibility, while still respecting the philosophy of Alice Waters. At the same time, she adds her own personality in a way that feels genuine and confident. The space is gorgeous and clearly designed with care and intention. Nothing feels overdone or forced. The whole experience feels honest, cozy, classy, and comfortable all at once. Yes please! read more

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I have been to the Bar Panisse several times. Just for drinks and also for dinner which never disappoints. The ambiance is great with noise level that is just right. The service is always attentive, professional, kind, and warm. No notes!!! read more

Go! I had a wonderful meal there last night, and can't recommend this highly enough. Not sure why the overall reviews aren't higher, but I get the feeling that the backstory there is behind those. If you want a terrific meal, this is certainly the place to go! The service was top notch, the space is beautiful, the vibe was great, and the food was absolutely delicious! We had about half of their appetizers and they were all pretty much perfect. The roasted oysters DID stand out, though, and I've never had one cooked that way and have never had oysters so fabulous! read more

Hmmmm... we had high hopes for this place. On the upside, the drinks are not outrageously expensive averaging $15 for a cocktail; there are many beautiful, young people ( a plus for this area of older folk); and a new bar in the neighborhood is always a plus. On the down side, the food bears no resemblance to the other Panisse restaurants, and was underwhelming at best. The cheese puffs were cold and doughy, the shrimp bland. My whisky sour served like lemonade at a suburban picnic. Go to people watch, have an ordinary drink that skimps on the booze and decide for yourself. read more

Creepy place with bad kharma. All they are doing is riding the worn-out coat tails of the long past its prime original Chez P. All hype; no class. Cesar's was much better. All Bar Panisse is did was steal their business. There are too many good places that treat people with respect. Don't bother with this one. read more

Beautiful tasteful classy renovation. Food and drink not up to snuff. Spritz cocktail served in a glass so wrong for the beverage that it made me feel sad. A spritz is big, bodacious. They served it imprisoned in a lowball glass. And the death-rattle for a sophisticated cocktail: it was too sweet. My friend ordered a gin gimlet which they did not mess up. (But anyone who knows what a gimlet is would then ask the question, how could you mess it up, even if you tried?) The fried cauliflower was ALSO overly-sweet, I was alarmed because I would only make it this sweet myself if I was trying to get my 8 year old to eat his vegetables and he'd refused prior attempts. Mostly, I was surprised that after all this time, this is what Bar Panisse hath wrought. I will go back to try the steak. I hope they are open to making a few tweaks. read more

The food and service was a bit lack luster. The music and vibes were great, very lively. Came for drinks but ordered a few food items to be shared. Drinks came first. Started with olives, they were just fine, on the skinner side but they were buttery and salty. The gougères were served cold, flavor was fine, could've honestly been skipped. Acme levain also was served cold in large slices, with butter upon request. No butter knife or spreader accompanied the bread so we just had to dunk it in the butter. The fresh cheese dumplings had a pillowy texture and the broth was herby and light. The lamb chops were well seasoned but we were only given a knife and no fork. Not sure how they intended us to eat this dish so we just had to eat the lamb chops with our hands which we did not enjoy having to do. We were hoping someone would eventually come check on us but no one do the entire time besides after getting out drinks. And yes, the entire time, from the no knife for the butter, we were trying to get someone's attention to grab us the proper utensils we needed for the night. There was a 4 top of older people next to us who got all the proper utensils for their dinner and were checked on frequently. Not sure if we were overlooked for our age but it felt that way. Hoping the service and food will be improved in the future. read more

Fantastic all around - food, drinks, service. Welcome addition to the neighborhood. Arrived right at opening and there was a line, but they move through the list quickly. Will be back again soon read more

Recently opened casual cocktail bar and appetizer restaurant opened alongside Chez Panisse. I believe that the team is still working out kinks of serving on busy evenings, as my wife and I struggled to track down dishes and drinks we ordered, though the team trying their best to make everything right. Drinks were tasty, food was fine. We will try it again in a few months. read more

All the food was tasteless and uninteresting, watery, oily, un flavorful, unsalted or over salted. The service was fine and the Host was pleasant read more

The menu was subpar. It's very noisy and crowded. The service was good but it just doesn't have that Chez Panisse feel. The menu was mostly seafood so just be aware of that. It was a very limited menu. Lots of cocktails but will I come again? No read more

Such a good time. Bar tender took such good care of me. Was told to stay in line....for good reason, such great advice. Stood in line 20 minutes it was definitely worth it. read more

Perhaps my expectations were too high. Given the drama and then the long wait for the new bar I was expecting something more, not less. While the prices were premium, the food and drink were not and there was very much a lacking in the service. We were always made to feel welcome and special, no matter how crowded César was. This time it was almost like we were a source of annoyance. While the beverages were OK and the food was fair, the way in which is was delivered didn't improve the experience and the prices, out of line for the combined service and fodder, didn't encourage a commensurate gratuity. While not within walking distance, I think we will pay a visit to Mesón (the new César) down on Gilman St. read more