Chez Panisse

I live pretty close to Chez Panisse, the most famous "upscale" restaurant in Berkeley, and one of the most famous in the U.S. The restaurant uses the freshest local ingredients and is credited as the site of the California cuisine revolution that started in the 1970s and 1980s. Its popularity has certainly declined, which makes getting a reservation pretty easy as long as you call a month ahead. Michael Bauer of the SF Chronicle still gave it four stars though in a review of four-star restaurants in the Bay Area back in September. Though I think the food is still pretty good and reliable, the restaurant just doesn't generate much excitement anymore, for those under 30 anyway.

This week's menu looks pretty nice though. I'm hungry.