Is Chez Panisse ousting Berkeley neighbor to open a new restaurant?

After being closed for indoor dining during the entire pandemic, famed Berkeley restaurant Chez Panisse recently announced that it is planning to open a “welcoming new bar with delicious food” next to its Shattuck Avenue space. It was great news for Bay Area foodies, that this national gem was not only surviving the pandemic, but growing.

Then came the unsavory part. Expanding means ousting another Berkeley institution, César, a tapas restaurant that has been Chez Panisse’s neighbor for 24 years. According to Berkeleyside, Chez Panisse informed Cesar about a year ago that it would not be renewing its sublease at 1515 Shattuck Avenue. But, now that the news has become public, César’s loyal customers, including author Isobel Carr, are angry and hoping Chez Panisse’s Alice Waters will change her mind.

César management is hoping Waters will, too. César General manager Cameron McVeigh told SFGATE that he has collected a few hundred signatures so far, and that the reaction when he tells people the news is that they are pissed off about it. “It’s a big disappointment … I think Alice Waters is maybe being kind of naive about this whole thing, what this restaurant means to its employees and the whole community,” he said.

In a statement, Chez Panisse manager Varun Mehra said that since the announcement of the closure went public, they have reiterated their commitment to hire the staff of César, many of whom have worked at the restaurant for 10 or more years, and offer the same benefits that they provide at Chez Panisse.

“We look forward to soon having the opportunity to present a more specific proposal for the individuals working there,” Mehra said. “While it is too early to share a detailed concept or new name, we know that the space will continue to be a welcoming bar with delicious food…It is our hope that the current staff will feel compelled to stay.”

The problem with that, McVeigh responded, is that it is no guarantee, “and certainly no guarantee of when this place will even open.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.