"Café Panisse is for the group of francophile friends that only watch Godard films and have a shared Spotify playlist titled “La Vie en Rose.” This restaurant is so French, it feels like you need a valid passport to eat here. Whether you decide to come for lunch or dinner, here are a few things you can always expect: housemade baguette is dropped on the table in a brown paper bag, receipts are handwritten, and when it’s someone's birthday, they ring a massive sailor’s bell. Whether you order the tender lamb shank or buttery roasted grouper, a meal here is always comforting and should involve one (at least) bottle of wine, which will cost you about $40." - mariana trabanino, ryan pfeffer, virginia otazo