Absolutely loved this place my coworkers and I regularly come here for lunch. I live in the area and on days I didn't feel like cooking I would not hesitate to stop by summer's kitchen. I rave to family and friends how delicious the food is. However there is one negative experience and the reason for this review. This past Tuesday we placed an order and we we all got salads only one had the dressing the others missing. My coworker called to say they had forgotten and the lady on the phone said that could not simply not be true. RUDE! Maybe offer for us to come back or simply apologize instead of dismissing a customer. After the fact they may have realized they did make a mistake perhaps found the dressing on the counter and called us back several times. No thank you. We work in a medical office near by and sadly as a group we won't come back. It's unfortunate because we truly enjoyed the food but the customer service is what made us decide not to return. read more

If only the service quality matched the food quality. Twice my friend and I have been disrespected by staff here. Once we had been waiting for our lunch order for more than 25 minutes. We recognized it was busy and were very cautious before asking (nicely) about our order. (We just wanted to be sure it had not fallen through the cracks.) The woman was incredibly rude, snapping at us! We felt horrible. The next time, it was noon and there were five studying students (with no food or drink) hogging up three of the tiny cafe's prime tables as my friend and I jammed ourselves into a tiny corner to eat our lunch. We could barely move our elbows. Upon leaving I asked to speak to the manager about it and she flippantly remarked there was nothing they could do about it. I bet if 5 homeless people came in and did the same they would certainly "do something about it." read more

Really nice small cafe for picnic supplies, sandwiches and pizza, as well as tasty dinners. Super fresh food deliciously prepared. We had chicken nuggets and an orzo salad. Super helpful servers. Cute place. read more

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Would-be perfect sandwiches if it wasn't for the char. We were here a week ago before seeing a movie at the Elmwood. It's an open airy restaurant with a cold display filled with delicious looking salads. There's a pizza oven in the back which emits a welcoming smell. Nearly half of the restaurant is an open kitchen so seating is limited. Also, it's a self-bussing cafe, so you'll find yourself wiping down your own table when you sit. We ordered two sandwiches (fried chicken and a BLT Interpretation). The service was fairly quick, and the cashier was very pleasant. The sandwiches arrived, and their presentation was aesthetically pleasing, but the toasting on both sandwiches was too dark that the char flavor overwhelmed the taste of the bread and bacon. We were in a hurry to see our movie so we said nothing about the char. I know without it, the sandwiches would have been 100% perfect. We came here based on photos from yelp (as we saw desserts displayed), but as we looked around, none of the sweets were to be found (on the menu as well). I'm not sure if we'll be back, but if we're in the neighborhood, it'd be worth a second chance. read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - The BLT-like sandwich. The charring on the bread and bacon wasn't as dryas it looked. - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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When I want a good hit of veggies, my partner and I come here for the salads. I love the kale Caesar with crispy chicken! All the salads are fantastic though, interesting combos and fresh produce. The pizza is delicious as well! read more

Stopped in with my friends today after being lourd in by the delicious looking cakes in the front case. I do not regret coming in because we have a lovely time. Got the combo pizza and it was FIRE! The sausage was so tasty and I loved the touch of leek. The steak sandwich also hit the spot and had all of my favorite flavors. The staff was great and the interior is both so homey and bright so would definitely come again. read more

Summer Kitchen & Bake Shop doesn't show much bakes, just a short concise menu on the wall. offerings: pizza, sammies, nightly dinner specials, salads, soups eats: brick oven pizza(18) -"organic beech mushrooms, leek, truffle tarfufata, burrata". crust mildly chewy. not thin crust, way above average -toppings rich, creamy (white) cheesy taste (ala burrata), mushrooms al dente. crumbs: -service perfecto, cashier recommneded mushroom pizza upon my request, was told exactly when the pizza would be ready. -pizza way above average, toppings same. almost 5 stars. -10ish seating inside. -pizza lst choice, diesel turkey (9.5) sammie 2nd choice. read more

They have the best ever Kale Cesar salad with crispy chicken!!! I live in the Palo Alto area and I try to make it up to Berkeley to get this item. The dressing is amazing and the chicken is cooked well and not at all dry. They mix the salad so well that every bit comes will chicken a crotons, which means it's not drown in just greens like most salads. I've tried so many kale salads in the Palo Alto area and they can never compare. I'm hoping someday soon they will have a peninsula location. I usually pair my salad with their delicious oven baked pizzas. I look forward to coming back and trying their egg sandwich! Fingers crossed it doesn't sell out. read more

Our favorite for years: crispy and fresh salads, delicious fried chicken, other entrees, sides and pizza is first rate. Also have interesting and fantastic bake good for dessert. Nice people and service. Always good and consistent. Can't go wrong,consistently great food here! read more

My kid loves their egg salad sandwich. We split it whenever we get it because it is huge and the bread is amazing (light, chewy, lovely) with delicious chives sprinkled everywhere. If you like egg salad - you will adore this sandwich! They run out of these during lunch so go on the early side of lunch before they sell out. I don't think they have these in the evening but I could be wrong! read more

I came here a few weeks ago and thought it was so good so I came back! This time I had the crispy chicken sandwich and the s'mores brownie. Both were very good! The s'mores brownie was very sweet and I shared it with a friend. The marshmallow on top was so good too! read more

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The braised pork w/ polenta is stupid delicious! The meat has a hint of smoked paprika and falls apart perfectly. Creamy polenta on point. I thought the polenta was even better after the dish cooled off a little and settled. Dumb amounts of wholehearted goodness! Was looking forward to a lemon tart and was disappointed to learn that the bakery lost their pastry chef. S happens, I understand. The pork dish more than filled the void of any feelings of dessert envy. Menu reads: Spicy Braised Pork, Roasted Peppers, Pimenton, Creamy Polenta, Gremolata $23.00 read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Pig meets corn - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

the staff just can't be bothered! Brought our food ( took ages) to the table. I asked for knife and forks. grudgingly brought one set even though we had two meals. when I asked for another set she told me to go get them myself! ok...won't be coming back here read more

The egg salad sandwich is the best thing ever. We ended up here by accident and then went back again the next day just to get egg salad again. I also had the Caesar with crispy chicken and it was fantastic. Please check this place out! read more

I've dropped in a couple of times just to grab some pastries for the fam. And man are they so, so GOOD! They have a strawberry lemon bar (or maybe it's lime...) that is TO DIE FOR!!! Around Christmas time they had Italian Wedding Cookies that I was desperately craving, but also didn't want to make and they were DELICIOUS! I'm going to have to try a pizza next time. If the owner is reading this...do you ever make cannoli? I've been craving some good cannoli... read more

This review is soley for their desserts and bakeshop. It's sooo good that I forget they serve pizza and actual food there. I was taking a stroll and stumbled onto it when I swore I was going to be good on my diet. Whoops. Anyways....they had great looking desserts which I believe change on a daily and so we almost had to get a piece of almost everything! We got one of their fruit tarts/dessert thing and it was delicious. Their smores browning was yummy as well, quite rich and sweet but not yet across the line of too much. Now their chocolate chip cookie was mind blowing *makes mind blown noise and gesture*. I like to this of myself as a connoisseur of chocolate chip cookies and these were bomb! Taste like they made it with brown butter, perfectly soft and chewey. Ughhhh gimme more!! I will come back 10000% for like all the chocolate chip cookies in the jar like a cookie monster. And also try other stuff and maybe get some food since I'm an adult now and not a toddler lol read more

Great sandwiches! My husband and I ordered a couple of sandwiches online to picnic at Memorial Glade. We both got the bacon sandwich and loved it. The sandwich was hearty and the bread was delicious. The pickup experience was seamless and stress free. They have done a great job of marking the floor with socially distanced spaces. Berkeley is usually quiet in the summer, and especially quiet this year, so it was nice to support a local business. read more

Used to love this place and even gave them a second chance after hair was found in my broccoli salad while eating. A year later, I opened my egg salad to add salt and pepper and found a long strand of hair or two strands of hair visibly mixed in with the eggs. The owner was appropriately apologetic but the chef was snarky, defensive and just plain rude! Disgusting all around! Aside from these clear and present health violations, great quality food. read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Hair in my sandwich!!! - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

If I had to describe this place in one word it would be "inconsistent. Unfortunately, being alternatively great and subpar is worse than just being mediocre because, while I might be okay with mediocre depending on the circumstances, I don't want to take the chance I'll come in on a subpar day. I really like the concept of the mushroom pizza: burrata, beech mushrooms, leeks, and tartufata (a mushroom and truffle mix). When the gentleman is there making the pies, it often comes out amazing. Unfortunately, the other employees aren't so great (oversalting the dough or giving a sad single dollop of tartufata). Additionally half the time the water glasses are greasy from not being washed properly (likely they're thrown in the same water as oiled/greased dirty dishes and then not cleaned well because they're "just water glasses"). Their wine glasses are also often covered in lint. The wine selection is often a short list of lower quality wines, but they don't allow you to bring your own bottle and pay corkage. This place has exhausted its chances to follow up on the promising first experience I had here. I don't recommend it. read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Beech Mushroom Pizza - only one small dollop of tartufata :( - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love their summer house salad and that's what I mainly order, but I have a friend who swears by their egg salad sandwich. One time I shared a slice of cake with a friend and that was also delicious and decadent. read more

Yummy baked goods, delicious pizza, cozy atmosphere, helpful friendly staff, curated selection of drinks

My previous review was suspiciously removed... I'll keep this one completely objective and neutral in voice & tone: Space and hospitality: 1) the space was cold and drafty 2) the water jug was empty and in spite of customer requests it wasn't refilled in the ~30 minutes I was present at the restaurant Food quality: 1) The crispy chicken sandwich was lacking in flavor, texture, and presentation - the double fry on the chicken left it extremely greasy. The sandwich bread/bun was slightly stale. Objectively bad. 2) The side of vegetables was wet &soggy, and completely lacking in flavor. Restaurant concept + menu design: 1) Menu items lacking in balance 2) An open kitchen is a bad look when the stations are kept in less than stellar condition and the food is prepared sloppily read more

I have had lunch here a couple times in the past few months and it was delish! The wait staff is very sweet and attentive and my fresh Turkey sandwich and then my Pulled Pork w coleslaw on Acme Bun were both excellent and well-prepared. Accompanied with fresh lemonade that is not too sweet & therefore perfect, I enjoyed eating out on my little round table and watching the families go by. Great gem in da hood! read more

I just had the salmon with parsnip puree and pomegranates - unbelievable! The salmon was so perfectly made it melted. The rest of the food is great too! read more

Come here for baked goods or a bite. I work down the street and I love their mushroom pizza. I'm usually a meat-eater when it comes to pizza but I'll take their mushroom pizza any day. read more

A cosy little place and not cheap but excellent quality fresh food. Pizza, burgers, sandwiches etc but done well with good ingredients. Service friendly. Later add-on: we stayed on to have a cupcake and brownie. They were delicious. read more

I had been craving a crispy chicken sandwich for awhile, and when I came across the crispy chicken sandwich at Summer Kitchen, I was excited. The store is bright and well decorated, and the baked goods looked delicious, so I had high expectations for my chicken sandwich. However, it fell short of expectations. The bread was a bit dry and the chicken was not the hot and crispy chicken I was anticipating, but instead room temperature and also a tad dry. The flavors overall were there, but the texture was lacking. I loved the pickles on the side; they were crispy and sour and refreshing. I shoved them in my sandwich, but ended up a little short of pickles. Because the pickles were the main source that worked to kind of counteract the dryness, I decided I needed more. To my disappointment, to get a few more slices of pickle, I had to pay a dollar. While I usually would not mind too much, it was a bit frustrating that I had paid $15 for a moderately small sandwich and had to pay even more to get a few more pickle slices. Generally just a bit disappointing of an experience. read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Crispy Chicken Sandwich - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Had the delightful Crispy Chicken sandwich today. I went with the spicy choice and was not disappointed. The chicken was moist on the inside with just the right amount of crispy on the outside; the bread was warm and soft. Add in the crunchy pickles that rivaled Grandma's and you have yourself a tasty sandwich. read more

Food is decent, although they seem to run out of stuff for the day, quickly, when they are still hours away from closing. Was there today, and it was distressing to hear two people working there discussing whether or not one of them had COVID--at least the one who might have COVID was masked. Disappointing. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE! I strolled in randomly looking for a place to eat and decided to check out their menu. The people were very friendly and I was blown away by the quality of the food! The staff was honest about what everything tasted like once I told them what I like and don't like. The interior of the place is very cute :) Many different types of people came in and by the time I was leaving the place was full! You know you're a good joint when people of all different backgrounds and demographics come to eat your food. When I'm in Berkeley I will totally come back! read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Warm and cozy little shop with damn good desserts. The carrot cake was moist and the s'mores dulce de leche brownie was super rich! Would come back to try the pizza next time. read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Carrot cake and S'mores Dulce De Leche Brownie - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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EXTRA CHOCOLATE BLUE BOTTLE BROWNIE Hi. Get the brownie. Get the brownie. Get. The. Brownie!!!! OMGEEEEEE!!! 6 out of 5 stars. Actually, get 2 brownies. You're going to want another one later in the day. I promise. Soooo Gooood!!! The chocolate chip cookie was also good and something I would order again. It is a bakeshop after all! :) I'm eager to try the Diestel turkey sando and the egg salad sando in the future. Both sound intriguing. I do not recommend the pepperoni pizza. It was aesthetically pleasing, but not very tasty, especially for the price. I wouldn't order it again. The crust was great and the sauce was nice. But the cheese was sparing and lackluster and the pepperoni were strangely hard and not delicious. Seemed like they might not have been the freshest. Pepperoni pizza is my lifelong fave and I wanted to love theirs when I tried it, but I just didn't :( read more

Cute little spot with impressive pizzas, sandwiches, and of course pastries... Like the amazing lemon meringue cupcake which is highly recomended. Mmm... What a sugary bliss! Oh, they have BLUE BOTTLE coffee too! That stuff is like liquid crack! I just can't get enough! Kitchen is a bit slow but everything was so pleasant, I couldn't get angry. Plus, they gave me free cookies for being patient. read more

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The chocolate cupcake with the cream cheese frosting was incredible. The shop itself is clean, spacious with friendly employees that serve to-go sandwiches or made to order pizzas. I was impressed their pizzas weren't just re-heated pizzas. We weren't expecting their portions to be as big as it was so we ordered a Margherita pizza, the whole wheat pasta, the lemon tart and the aforementioned cream cheese chocolate cupcake. After finishing up the pasta and majority of the pizza we could barely breathe so we took the leftover pizza and both desserts to eat as snacks later on that evening. I would love to have a place like this near my office. This place would make a great place to grab a quick lunch with a kale salad (yum). A bit pricey though for a place you don't get served, retrieve water yourself and are expected to wipe down/bus your table afterward. Not to mention a "tip" line is printed up on the receipt. I'm a fan. read more

Cute little restaurant that you've probably seen waiting for Ici. Well I finally took the plunge to see why the place seems to always be packed. Kale Caesar Salad. I don't generally like paying $9.50 for a plate of leaves, but this kale salad was fresh and delicious. Flavorful Caesar dressing, crunchy kale, crispy fried baguette croutons, parmesan cheese. For ($11.50), I of course had to add on the fried chicken. Chicken was crispy and the white meat was juicy. This salad was a particular standout, but I still don't know if paying this much for salad is the smartest move for a student on a budget. Summer Kitchen is a go-to place for fried chicken, a sandwich, oven-baked pizza, and sweet treats. You can watch all the chefs prepare the food right in front of you, pick up some Summer Kitchen brand treats, or drool over the fresh batches of golden fried chicken they carry past you. read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Kale Caesar Salad w/ Fried Chicken ($11.50) - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Yummy pastries! My favorite has to be the lemon meringue tart. Just the right amount of sweetness and tartness all in a flaky buttery crust. Next time I come, I'll be sure to try something savory like the fried chicken! Also, they have Blue Bottle coffee which is a perfect combination for all their tarts and pastries. read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Lemon meringue tart - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Came here today for a late lunch. Cute place, but limited seating. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich and got the mint lemonade. The girl taking the order was nice, but the cashier looked angry. She was not friendly at all and other reviewers had the same comment. This place would be 5 star if the front of staff was consistent..one bad seed ruins the whole experience and the rating for this place. Okay.,.back to the food...fried chicken sandwich was very yummy...not as messy as bakesale. The chicken was crispy and moist with pickles between the toasted bread. It was delicious. The mint lemonade was very good too...had a sparkling aspect to it. After eating my lunch, I went back up to the counter to get a package of chocolate cookies and squash salad to go. The person that helped me smiled and very friendly. Overall, I would be back..I would be back more often if the staff was more consistent and friendly. read more

Summer Kitchen & Bake Shop is a mere 2 doors down College Ave. from my favorite ice cream shop, but I've always walked right on by on my way to ice cream. Then 1 day not long ago, the girlfriend & I went to get some ice cream & decided to get some real food 1st. There were only a few other patrons on an early Monday evening. We ordered the Crispy Chicken Sandwich & Housemade Sausage Pizza at the counter & sat ourselves. Service was friendly & our food was up fairly quickly with the sandwich coming 1st followed a few minutes later by the pizza. We split both. The Crispy Chicken Sandwich was lightly fried chicken with a mustard slaw & aioli on an Acme bread roll. The Housemade Sausage Pizza was very thin crust with big sausage chunks, tomato, red onion & pronounced fennel flavor straight out of a wood-fired oven. Both were delicious & obviously composed entirely of high quality ingredients. With the sandwich being hearty & the pizza being light due to its thin crust, 1/2 of both was the right amount. Both the girlfriend & I were full enough, but still had room for ice cream. Summer Kitchen & Bake Shop was a good stop for a quick bite on the way to ice cream. read more

KEEP THE PINK IN THE BABY GIRL'S ROOM... NOT IN MY "FRIED" CHICKEN. I normally don't rush to write a review immediately after frequenting an establishment but this place deserves it. And not in a good way. Let's get things straight, I'm a girl and I like pink. But not in my food. And definitely not in my fried chicken. $5.00 for ONE piece of raw fried chicken. You're kidding right? I can appreciate finer things in life and their inflated costs so I hoped this chicken would be the best chicken I'd ever had in my life... but it was pink in the middle and um, is that blood? GROSS. I'm not trying to catch salmonella or e. coli so I'll pass. I wanted to give this place a shot but unless it's a Hot Pot restaurant, I'm not a fan of raw food. read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Bloody "fried" chicken - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

My favorite restaurant in Berkeley!! They have delicious, healthier options - you have to get the chicken tenders though! Super yummy with ketchup (pay by weight). Other than that, I usually get one of the nightly dinner options - like pork and polenta (yummm), chicken option is usually good too, or the fish! All are my go-to's. If you go for the pizza, the mushroom one is my favorite. And you can add some veggies and salad on the side (pay by weight as well). (Then afterwards, go to Ici's for ice cream - it's right next door:)) read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Pork and polenta, delicious - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California