1328 6th St,
Berkeley, 510-525-3121.
Picante is not especially
cheap for a
Mexican restaurant, but for its flavors, freshness, and association with
Chez Panisse, it's a bargain. Their food is extremely delicious, the setting is
beautiful (with a lovely
patio), and they have great extras on the
menu such as
Mexican wedding cookies,
chocolate angel food cake, several high-quality
aguas frescas, and
Mexican hot chocolate at weekend brunch or breakfast--plus it is one of the few Mexican places in the area to serve breakfast at all. They make all of their own
tortillas right there in the restaurant, and the results are incredible.
There are some nods to
California cuisine, but on the whole it's pretty
authentic. Although the noise level is a bit high and it's pretty casual, it's a good place to take a
date, especially if you explain the whole Chez Panisse connection. They have a website with sample menus at
http://picantecocina.citysearch.com/