Last year, Gourmet magazine named Alice Waters' restaurant the best in the United States. The main restaurant downstairs features a daily changing fixed-price menu with no choices. The upstairs cafe is priced a la carte, serving some of the best wood-fired pizza in the Bay Area. The warm Craftsman style interior of both rooms is perfectly designed for the food.
Cuisine: California-French Specialities: The restaurant has a full-time forager to find fresh ingredients. Cafe: pizza; seasonal green salads; any dessert. Seats: 50 downstairs, 80 upstairs Prices: Fixed-price menu, $45-$75, downstairs; main courses $16-$22 upstairs Parking: Street (fairly easy) Vitals: 1517 Shattuck Ave. (near Cedar), Berkeley; (510) 548-5525. Dinner downstairs and lunch and dinner upstairs Monday-Saturday. Beer and wine. Reservations and credit cards accepted.
