Babette started it's journey at the original BAMPFA on Durant Street 14 years ago. It was a vibrant, academic, community based, lunch spot.

When the museum moved, we came along and carved out a niche at the not so easy location on the 2nd floor. We began a "Film to Table" series working with the PFA to pair films with a dinner and discussion afterwards. The dinners are tenderly remembered by those who attended, and we loved the creative freedom that came with doing these.

In our final transformation, Babette took over the old "Lanesplitter Pizza" place on San Pablo Ave. The timing wasn't great (on the heels of the Pandemic) but the space - the glorious redwood tree, the old brick, the potential for a garden. We were itching to put our aesthetic fingerprint on a place. We also loved the neighborhood and it was the desire to be a good if not "great neighborhood place" that cinched the deal for us. The federal government was offering loans for build outs and we jumped at it.

This May would have been our 4th year on San Pablo - the saying goes that if you can make it past the 5 year mark, your business will succeed. Whether that is true or not, we didn't make it. We tried everything but the numbers just don't add up.

What we did accomplish was creating a restaurant that we are very proud of. We welcomed you all as if you were coming into our home and you supported our vision with return visits, family celebrations and an outpouring of praise for the food, the ambiance and for our phenomenal staff.

Most people these days know how hard the restaurant business is, for those of us for whom this industry is deeply in our blood, it isn't the hard work that caused the shut down, in the end, it's all about the bottom line. We will continue to try to do soul affirming work and hopefully get paid for it. The bottom line forces our hand but it will never completely take our spirits. We will continue to strive for what brings us and others joy.

Our goal with this fundraiser is to make sure that all of our food and wine purveyors and legal fees get paid.

We are deeply grateful for your continued support.

With love and tremendous feelings of gratitude

Joan and Patrick and the entire Babette staff