Bar Panisse, the new next-door bar from Chez Panisse founder Alice Waters, is finally ready to open its doors. The casual, no-reservations spot at 1515 Shattuck Ave. is set to debut Thursday, Dec. 11, and plans to run Thursday through Monday from 4 to 10 p.m. A draft menu filed with the city points to cocktails and small plates, including housemade potato chips, fritto misto and a duck liver mousse crostini.
The opening date and hours were announced in an Instagram post, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The Chronicle also noted that a Chez Panisse representative did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Why The Move Stirred Longtime Diners
The changeover is still a sore spot for some regulars. The 1515 Shattuck storefront was home to César, a tapas bar that closed in 2022 after more than 20 years and sparked protests and petitions. Berkeleyside first reported plans to reclaim the space for a Chez Panisse expansion, and César’s final weeks were marked by local outcry, per Hoodline.
What The Draft Menu And Permits Show
Public permit records and final inspections indicate the buildout is complete, and the draft menu submitted to the City of Berkeley lists snacks along with larger plates such as steak frites and a shell-bean stew, plus an ice cream sundae for dessert. As detailed by the San Francisco Chronicle, the space keeps a bar, indoor seating and a patio, but has been refreshed with walnut paneling and a green-painted exterior.
Waters' Local History And What Comes Next
Waters has not opened another Berkeley venue since Café Fanny, which closed in 2012, Berkeleyside reported. Her most recent project was Lulu at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles in 2021, according to Eater LA. Bar Panisse’s soft opening this week will test whether a walk-up cocktail bar can bridge Chez Panisse’s fine-dining roots and neighborhood expectations.
Expect crowds early in the run and a focus on seasonal, locally sourced plates in the spirit of Chez Panisse. Bar Panisse opens Thursday, Dec. 11 at 1515 Shattuck; plan for walk-ins during its Thursday through Monday evening hours.
