Peet's Coffee, Tea and Spices and the Cheese Board were both open by '67, and were busily preparing America, used to Velveeta and Folger's Crystals, to grasp the complexities of good coffee and good cheese. They're both still in the neighborhood, as is Chez Panisse, and lots of businesses in the area take the same approach to heart and are ready to give you a truly quality Gourmet Ghetto experience. There are also some very local businesses that predate the gourmet explosion. Their survival in this era of chains gives the area a small-town feel, reminding us that Berkeley's history goes back long before the 60s. The area is pleasant, with its central boulevard, Shattuck Avenue, bordered by trees.
Many businesses have sidewalk tables, and a casual, leisurely mood prevails.
You could wander for hours in the morning, just sampling coffee and pastries here and there, without even starting on the places that offer a full breakfast. Food is a lot of what the area's about, but it isn't the only reason to go there. A mile west of the actual Gourmet Ghetto, there's a corner outpost you could call the Gourmet Ghetto West. Olive trees line the parking lot, giving it a Mediterranean feel. Exactly what the area needed, a fun, sophisticated place open late for high-quality snacking and drinking.