. >>> noelle walker is live with more on how chez panisse helped transform a neighborhood. >> reporter: the restaurant is a major part of this restaurant. >> you never know who you're going to see. >> reporter: even presidents. >> i saw clinton walk in there. >> reporter: a fire here this morning claimed the iconic restaurants front porch. one of the neighborhood's key ingredients. >> an institution, it's been here so long and it represents a lot to the gourmet ghetto. >> reporter: the affectionally named gourmet ghetto is a place where people stop slow down to smell the roses. >> it used to be about politics and forces and now it's all about food. >> reporter: the original pete's coffee, chez panisse and the cheese platter. >> we hope that if it gets busy, we'll be ready. >> reporter: if pizza is the gourmet food, then chez painesse is a farm to table because they leave big tips. one of the tasty benefits having this sidewalk office in the gourmet ghetto. >> reporter: now it's going to take some time to make repairs to the lower level of chez panisse. but waters took to tweeter and sa