About North Berkeley’s “Gourmet Ghetto”

The North Shattuck area has been popularly known as the “Gourmet Ghetto” since the 1970’s because of its concentration of innovative restaurateurs including Alice Waters, whose world-renowned Chez Panisse Restaurant is considered the cradle of “California Cuisine”. Other pioneering local businesses are the original Peet’s Coffee & Tea in historic Walnut Square, and the collectively owned Cheeseboard bakery and cheese shop. Two Chez Panisse alums opened Fava, a Mediterranean-inspired take-out spot in the former Juice Bar Collective location on Vine Street. Across the street from A Priori, a historic former water pumping station has been transformed into Vintage Berkeley wine shop.

Longstanding neighborhood favorites include Saul’s Delicatessen and Masse’s Pastries. Epicurious Garden on Shattuck Ave. opened in 2006 and added a collection of gourmet take-out, which can be enjoyed in their secluded courtyard, along with sit-down breakfast restaurant, Eggy’s. The Kitchen on Fire cooking school is upstairs, offering a range of culinary classes.

A weekly all-organic farmer’s market offers a range of produce from local farms as well as an assortment of small-batch gourmet food items. For more information on this and other neighborhood happenings, visit northshattuck.org.

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