<p>I've been hearing about this "famous" restaurant called Chez Panisse on Shattuck and definitely want to try it out sometime. How is the food? Is there a dress code?</p>
<p>never eaten there, though i've heard it's very expensive. look it up on yelp, i'm sure there are lots of great reviews and information about attire, food, prices, atmosphere, etc.</p>
<p>I ate there several dozen times, mostly at the Cafe upstairs. Downstairs is a set menu restaurant that is a bit more formal and requires reservations, whereas you can walk in upstairs.</p>
<p>Dress code is fairly casual upstairs.</p>
<p>Panisse is arguably the most influential restaurant in America. It is not nearly that remarkable now because the cuisine and food culture it helped establish has spread to many parts of the US, so there are many restaurants that have a fairly similar market food approach emphacizing fresh local seasonal produce, meat and fish. </p>
<p>Panisse and the Berkeley gourmet ghetto are the epicenter of the food revolution in America that started in the 1970s. It is but one of Berkeley's contributions to American culture. </p>
<p>One can make a solid argument that Berkeley students have within close reach some of the very best culinary offerings in America, and Chez Panisse is but one of those.</p>
<p>Bon appetit!</p>
<p>Yeah, pretty casual upstairs at the cafe, I would do that if I were you.</p>
<p>I didn't have trouble wearing jeans going in.</p>
<p>what's the dress code for downstairs?</p>
<p>^ If it's like any nice restaurant, it's probably "dressy/"resort" casual". (i.e. no jeans, shorts, t-shirts)...I very much doubt that Chez Panisse is semi-formal (i.e. jackets for guys)</p>
<p>I haven't eaten there but it's a California restaurant, which tends to be less formal with dress.</p>