Todd Kniess of Liaison Bistro

Todd Kniess opened his new Berkeley restaurant LIAISON at 1849 Shattuck Avenue (at the corner of Hearst) in March 2001 after a lifetime of experience in the business. Todd was raised in Connecticut as the son of a caterer. He eventually graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and then worked for a number of companies including the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Naples, Florida, the Fairmont Hotel in New Orleans, and most recently under the guidance of Chef Roland Passot and Entrepreneur Edward Levine as Chef De Cuisine of The Left Bank restaurants in Larkspur and Menlo Park.

With so much experience working for others, Todd decided to bring his own brand of French bistro cooking to the edge of the “gourmet ghetto” of Berkeley after working with Restaurant Realty to find an appropriate location. He serves the entrees homestyle on oversized platters which gives diners a chance to take a taste of everything that is being served. The menu is a reflection of Todd’s training. He also has managed to keep the prices reasonable in order to become a frequented spot.

Good luck to the young chef on his first endeavor on his own.