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Just three months after being damaged in a fire, Alice Waters' Chez Panisse has opened its doors. Zagat reports the Berkeley restaurant has made a triumphant comeback after being successfully remodeled.
The restaurant is now outfitted with a cozy new balcony, a new courtyard and a new outdoor wooden pathway. In the dining room, the tables have been rearranged to allow wider spaces between them while the kitchen has maintained its open format.
Via Chez Panisse/Facebook
On March 8, a fire broke out in the sub-floor area in the front of the restaurant. While the damage didn't seem big at first, inspectors told Waters extensive rewiring and plumbing would be necessary.
The chef then turned to artisan builder Kip Mesirow to help rebuild its facade and wooden interior (his sketch is above). Mesirow is the restaurant's original builder and was able to give it the same look and feel diners have enjoyed at the Berkeley institution for the last 40 years.
To see more pictures of the remodeled restaurant, head on over to the Zagat blog.
