Dear Colleagues,
In San Francisco
Boulevard [*,$$] (415--543-6084). Maybe the best of the San Francisco/brasserie style, located close to Market Street at the Bay. John Weeks loves this place. Reservations more than a week in advance recommended.
Campton Place [**,$$$] (415-955-5555). A great formal restaurant on Union Square in the Campton Place Hotel. Famous for its French cuisine and its martinis. One of Hans Andersen's favorites. Reservations more than a week in advance recommended.
Clementine [*,$ to $$] (415-387-0408). A wonderful French restaurant in the Richmond District does a great job with the classics and some inventiveness and the service is charming and unpretentious. It has a terrific wine list, which includes some woderful yet inezpensive selections. Reservations a few days in advance recommended.
Fleur de Lys [**,$$$] (415-673-7779). Probably San Francisco's best, it is a great French restaurant a few blocks from Union Square. Reservations more than a week in advance recommended.
Hayes Street Bar and Grill [*,$ to $$] (415-863-5545). A wonderful fish restaurant near the Civic Center. Desserts are memorable too. One of Mike Klein's favorites. Reservations a few days in advance recommended.
Postrio [*,$$$] (415-776-7825). On Post Street, near Union Square, it is Wolfgang Puck's inventive San Francisco restaurant. When Bill Gates and Warren Buffett had dinner together in San Francisco, this is where they went. Reservations more than one week in advance recommended.
Zuni Cafe [*,$ to $$] (415-552-2522). Near the Civic Center, a long-time-ago descendant of Chez Panise, always has great selections of oysters and rustic specialties made in a wood burning oven. One of Olke Uhlenbeck's favorites. Reservations a few days in advance recommended.
In Berkeley close to the UC Campus.
Liaison [$] (510-849-2155) French bistro style restaurant located on the corner of Shattuck and Hearst. With a short menu of standard French classics, reasonably priced. Reservations recommended. It is one of Phill Geissler's favorite places to eat.
The Great China [$] (510-843-7996). While it looks like a hole-in-the-wall on Kittridge Street a few steps from Campus, this Chinese restaurant can make very good food. It was David Wu's favorite during his student years at Berkeley.
Yu-Ying Garden [$] (510-848-4849). On Shattuck between University Ave and Addison Street, this is a good Chinese restaurant with a long menu. Sir Michael Berry enjoyed his dinner here.
In Berkeley a long walk or a short taxi ride from Campus.
Chez Panisse Cafe [**,$$] (510-548-5049). On Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley's gourmet ghetto, this restaurant is world famous and deserves to be so. The best of California cuisine. Reservations as early as four weeks in advance recommended.
Cesar [$] (510-883-0222), located adjacent to Chez Panise on Shattuck Avenue, this is Berkeley's best tapas bar and quite the scene for the young and trendy. It's one of Mauro Merolle's favorites.
Kirala [$] (510-549-3486) At the corner of Shattuck and Ward. An excellent Japanese restaurant.
Lalime's [*, $$] (510-527-9838) 1329 Gilman St. Eclectic California-inspired Mediterranean fare. Martin Karplus enjoyed it enough to want to return. Reservations a few days in advance recommended.
In Berkeley or neighboring communities more than one mile from the UC campus.
Ajanta [$] (510-526-4373). Located near the top (East End) of Solano Avenue, arguably the best Indian restaurant in Berkeley. It is Arup Chakraborty's favorite.
Bay Wolf [**,$$] (510-655-6004). This great California cuisine restaurant in the Piedmont area of Oakland is in a class with the Chez Panise Cafe, but it's quieter than its more famous sister. It's Elaine Chandler's favorite in the East Bay. Michael Fisher is among the many statistical mechanicians to enjoy dinners there. Reservations a few days in advance recommended.
East Ocean Hong Kong [*,$$] (510-655-3388). At a spectacular setting overlooking the Bay in Emeryville, this Chinese restaurant specializes in seafood. Juanpe Garrahan describes the food as "great." Reservations recommended.
Garibaldi's [*,$$] (510-595-4000). Located on College Avenue in the Rockridge area, this hopping place in the San Francisco/brasserie style makes great steaks, excellent grilled fish and terrific drinks. If you are bothered by noise, you will want a table far from the bar. It's one of Dan Neumark's favorites in the East Bay. Reservations recommended.
Isobune Sushi [$] (510-601-1424). A good sushi bar located on College Avenue not far from the Rockridge BART station.
Rivolli [*,$$] (510-526-2542). Located on Solano Avenue at the Albany/Berkeley line, in the style of Chez Panise, this restaurant serves large portions and John Weeks and Peter Bolhuis love it. Reservations recommended.
The Chandler Group also came up with another list of their favorite places for food and drink. It can be accessed here.
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