11 upscale places in Berkeley, editor-picked. occasion restaurants in Berkeley: destination kitchens for celebrations and visits. All Berkeley food.
Chez Panisse Cafe ★ 4.7
gourmet-ghetto · 1517 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
A la carte cafe upstairs at Chez Panisse: wood-fired pizza, seasonal plates and farm sourcing. No month-ahead reservation required upstairs.
Chez Panisse Cafe ★ 4.7
gourmet-ghetto · 1517 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
A la carte upstairs at 1517 Shattuck: wood-fired pizza, rotisserie chicken, same farm sourcing. Lunch most days; no month-ahead reservation needed upstairs.
Chez Panisse Cafe ★ 4.7
gourmet-ghetto · 1517 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Chez Panisse Cafe serves a la carte California lunch Tuesday to Saturday. Pizza, rotisserie chicken and salads. The most accessible Alice Waters experience.
Comal ★ 4.6
downtown · 2020 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704
Michelin Bib Gourmand. Oaxacan-leaning Mexican: three-day mole negro, heirloom tortillas, mezcal cocktails. Fire-pit patio, packed on weeknights.
Ippuku ★ 4.5
downtown · 2130 Center St, Berkeley, CA 94704
Michelin Bib Gourmand 2026. Binchotan yakitori with heritage chicken, house-ground soba and a shochu list. Counter seating near Downtown Berkeley BART.
Iyasare ★ 4.4
fourth-street · 1830 Fourth St, Berkeley, CA 94710
Michelin Guide. Japanese technique with California ingredients: sashimi, wagyu tartare and seasonal small plates. Calm Fourth Street dining room. Lunch daily.
Gather ★ 4.3
downtown · 2200 Oxford St, Berkeley, CA 94704
Farm-to-table Berkeley anchor since 2009 inside the David Brower Center, the city's greenest building. Weekend brunch is the best entry point.
Gather Restaurant ★ 4.3
downtown · 2200 Oxford St, Berkeley, CA 94704
Gather's weekend brunch Saturday and Sunday. Farm-sourced egg dishes, grain bowls and plant-forward plates. Hotel Shattuck dining room fills fast. Book ahead.
Via del Corso ★ 4.2
gourmet-ghetto · 1788 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
North Berkeley trattoria: house-made pasta, rotisserie chicken and small Italian producers. Warm, unhurried room that works for both weeknights and occasions.
La Marcha ★ 4.2
downtown · 2026 San Pablo Ave, Berkeley, CA 94702
Michelin Guide listed Spanish tapas: pintxos, wood-fired paella, serious house-cured charcuterie. Weekend brunch adds Gazpacho Bloody Maria and brunch paella.
Agrodolce Osteria ★ 4.1
gourmet-ghetto · 1730 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709
Sicilian osteria in the Gourmet Ghetto. Arancini, pasta con le sarde, caponata and grilled fish. Less prominent than its neighbors; more loyal regulars.