Came here on a Saturday afternoon with a few friends - to our luck, a short line with a few opened tables. We ordered the kale caesar salad, organic beech mushroom pizza, and fried chicken. First thought after ordering is that this place is a little expensive. My favorite dish out of all three was the kale caesar salad. It's a very unique dish, and highly recommend it if it's your first time here! As for the pizza, my other friends really liked it, but i thought it was a little too cheesy and salty for my taste. the mushrooms was very tasty. I did not get a chance to try the fried chicken, but according to my friends, the chicken was a little too cold as they usually leave the friend chicken out in the counter.. My final thoughts: I'd come back if i was in the area, but i dont think i'll go out of my ways to come here. If i do come back, i'll just get the kale salad. read more

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I got the fried chicken sandwich and the $200 Million Dollar Question is how does it compare to the nearby (relatively) Bake Sale Betty. The Answer? Not badly but not as good. While the chicken was tender, the breaking didn't crunch as hard and the slaw was mild in a way that Betty has elevated. BUT I didn't wait in line for 30 minutes, and was able to simply walk in and get it. So yeah it's not as good but it's not far off and way more convenient. I'm excited to try more of there stuff. read more

I'm surprised it took me so long to try this spot, especially because the gourmet but simple food is right up my alley. With a good assortment of sandwiches, wood-fired oven pizzas, salads, and seasonal specials, Summer Kitchen fits perfectly with the style of College Avenue. I had the Diestel turkey sandwich with onion-cranberry marmalade on sourdough. They toast the bread with a light spread of butter to get a nice crunch and just the right amount of greasiness. The generous stack of fresh turkey meat is the perfect combination with the tangy cranberry and sharp cheese. My boyfriend had the crispy chicken sandwich, which had a seasoned breading that was light and not at all overwhelming. It's easy to overdo fried chicken, but this was done perfectly and then brightened with a slaw and pickles. I loved both sandwiches, and I can't wait to come back to try more of the menu! read more

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We used to be big fans of SK and have ordered it on Caviar (and eaten on premises) dozens of times. The Glory Bay Salmon and the pork dinner (inexplicably discontinued before the recent change of ownership) were just superb. Unfortunately, as mentioned, the pork is no more, and now, I regret to say, the GBS has completed a steep plummet since the new owners took over from fantastic to appallingly mediocre. After tonight's abysmal GBS via Caviar, we are officially and regrettably done as SK customers. The fish itself was way, way down from the old days in both quality of cut and execution (cooking). But the real disaster is the rest of the dish: fabulous creamed corn has been ditched for pureed parsnip (edible, but not on the same planet as the corn), the potatoes are completely gone, and some fennel tough enough to serve as a retread for your tires has been thrown in as an attempt to make the dish look like something. RIP to an old favorite. A sad day. read more

Delicious, organic & local sandwiches & pizzas!! Everyone working here was so sweet & the vibes were adorable. Will definitely be going back! read more

Our Order (Lunch): -- Appetizer: summer house salad with crispy chicken -- Main: house-made sausage pizza Going Dutch: Meal + gratuity came out to about $16 per person How was it: -- Food Quality: Summer Kitchen uses locally-sourced and organic ingredients to create incredibly tasty yet simple dishes. This place has got to be one of the most pleasant fast-casual eateries in the East Bay for lunch. If you're here on a date, we recommend splitting a salad and a main (as we did). We enjoy all of their salads and suggest you add crispy chicken to any one that you choose. Summer Kitchen uses Mary's Organic Chicken and they've mastered fried chicken. Definitely try it (either as an add-on in the salad or in the fried chicken sandwich, which might be their most popular dish). We also love their pizzas - which have a uniquely light crust and have never been too oily or too filing. We wanted their house-made sausage today, but be sure to try their mushroom and summer squash pizzas. All in all, you can't go wrong with their menu. It's simple and short and they knock each item out of the park. -- Ambiance: As we noted above, this is one of the best fast-casual eateries in the East Bay. They offer take-out options and can even partially bake their pizzas so you can finish baking them at home (makes it more fresh upon eating). It's a small space on College Avenue in Berkeley so it can get quite crowded, especially on weekends. We went around 12:15pm on Saturday so we had a bit of a line and trouble moving around the space. Luckily we secured a two-person table but be wary during typical lunch-time hours on the weekend. We love how beautifully decorated Summer Kitchen is - great summer-y and light vibes to complement the dining experience and light cuisine. -- Service: The staff is very kind and you don't wait too long for your food. If you order pizza, the wait is slightly longer than if you just order sandwiches and salads. Inside Scoop: -- Parking can be tough on College Avenue but there's a parking lot behind the restaurants if you take a left on Russel. Room for dessert? -- There's definitely room for dessert as this is a light lunch spot. Good thing Humphrey Slocombe is right next door ;) Second date? -- This is a staple for DNB. We love coming here every so often for the summer vibes and great food. One day we're going to try their nightly dinner specials! read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - sausage pizza and summer salad with crispy chicken - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

We came at 5:45 on a Thursday and there was no line. Got a pepperoni pizza and arugula salad. The salad was very good. I don't often like arugula salads as the taste is strong to me, but the balance was really nice. Feta cheese, sweet nuts, red onions and watermelon - just right. The toppings were unremarkable for the pizza but the crust was delicious. I like to taste my crust, it had good bite - crisp but chewy with a nice yeast flavor. I wasn't compelled to try the baked goods. The place is simple and clean. I wish they had soup... read more

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I love the combination of truffle and cheese and I believe this is the only place in Berkeley that serves Truffle pizza! The thin crust makes the pizza taste extra healthy and tasty. Kale Caesar Salad was incredibly fresh and the creamy caesar sauce blended well with the texture of kale. The cafe is located in Elmwood area so you can just hop on 51B and grab lunch with your friends on a nice sunny day :) And don't forget to leave dessert room for Ici's ice cream which is right next to the cafe !! read more

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

Heard really good things about this place and was finally excited to try it out! Went in on a Saturday afternoon for lunch and it was packed with people. We decided to to-go our lunch and just enjoy it at home. I recommend either coming at odd hours or on weekdays because weekends are super busy! We got the Orzo salad ($9.99/pound) and the seasoning was really light and the salad was fresh and tasty! It was delicious! The only negative is that it is a bit pricey and I paid $3.80 for a small box of salad. I also recommend their potato salad! It is NOT heavy and it goes well with the sandwiches! We also got their egg salad sandwich, which was super good! The bread was perfect with a crispy and chewy crust and soft sour dough bread and the sandwich was filled with egg salad that wasn't too heavy and was fresh. The Arugula Watermelon salad was mediocre. At $9.50 I expected a lot more toppings, but the salad was mostly arugula with minimal slices of watermelon and feta cheese. The arugula itself was really fresh though! Overall, I recommend dining-in because when you to-go the food, I think their quantity is smaller. The prices are on the higher end, but you can taste how fresh it is and how the seasoning is light and mild for a healthy taste! read more

They had me at the cute signage and flames burning in the back oven totally caught my eye one day as I drove by. The first time was to really calm the sweets craving, so I opted for the Strawberry shortcake... boy did it knock it out of the park. fresh strawberries with a really nice, buttery shortcake. Too full for the rest of the menu and tempted by the other patrons on their food, we knew we had to come back to try the savories. Second time, dinner.. The organic half chicken.. juicy! lemony! awesome! even the white meat was juicy and delicious! the mashed potatoes are so so creamy! and nicely seasoned and flavored. and it's not a dinky little piece of chicken, this was a pretty big serving.. well worth it. the Margherita pizza was fantazmo! mm.. thin... nice crust... fresh mozzarella, light fresh tomato sauce... drooling again like i have a problem... it's nice to be able to see the kitchen-ish action as there are kitchen/bar seats? if you're lucky enough, you can get a seat right by the window and laugh at the all the idiots that are waiting in the ridiculously long line for Ici. But while you're in line for them, you should really stop in for a cupcake.. or the other sweets. or a piece of chicken. read more

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I really wanted to like this place, but after 2 visits, I can't justify the quality or portion of food for the price. If you're on College and you want breakfast/brunch, Elmwood Cafe is a much more delicious and affordable option. The first time I came here, I shared the mushroom pizza with a friend. I thought was pricey...$18 for a pizza without meat. Granted, it had truffle but still. The pizza was a decent size, and the mushrooms were tasty, but it was a too oily. The second time I came, I tried the fried chicken sandwich and egg sandwich. Both sandwiches were overpriced and tiny. The egg salad sandwich was nothing special, just like one you would make at home. The chicken had a good amount of breading to meat ratio and the chicken was juicy. The slaw was crunchy, lightened up the dish and contrasted nicely to the chicken. The chicken sandwich was probably the best item I tried on their menu, but it definitely isn't worth $12.50. read more

Great sandwiches! They may be known for their pizza, but after my last visit, I'll definitely be picking up a sandwich again the next time I come by. I had the Hearst Ranch Burger, and it was probably the most delicious thing I've eaten since I came to Berkeley 3 years ago. My friend got the Crispy Chicken sandwich, which I also highly recommend, though my heart still belongs to the burger. Didn't try any of the baked goods, but they looked delicious, and I'll definitely check some of them out next time. read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Hearst Ranch Burger! - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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To begin, we return to this place repeatedly. I usually get the wild arugula frisee salad, and they are kind enough to hold the frisee, which is awfully nice of them. With the addition of crispy fried chicken, it's just lovely. But tonight we wanted pizza. Problem! The wait for a pizza was 45 minutes! Whut?? Ohhhh... They are prioritizing their internet customers (Door Dash, et al) over their walk-ins. I suppose if we ever want a pizza at Summer Kitchen, it'll have to be before 5:30PM, and never on a Friday. We chose to leave, and have pizza at a nearby spot instead. read more

They have decent pizza here, nothing to write home about though. We got a pepperoni and a pizza with anchovies. The people weren't very friendly at the counter, but overall it wasn't a bad experience. The pizza is good, could use more toppings though. read more

This is a great place for a salad, sandwich and for dinner they have excellent entres. Everything was very fresh tasting and flavorful. The pizza looks really good too! read more

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This is a quaint little store with a comforting, homey atmosphere. They have a long dining table for people to sit, like we are one big family! I got the bacon avocado and pepper sandwich and the crispy chicken fennel sandwich. The bacon sandwich was especially flavorful, as the bacon was thickly cut and filled with intense salty deliciousness. It went perfectly with the creamy avocado, sweet peppers and bitter arugula. The chicken sandwich was good but lacked the same punch of flavor of the bacon sandwich. The chicken wasn't crisp throughout but more so on the edges. It was tender but lacked some moisture. A plus: it's right next to Ici so you can get some ice cream for dessert! read more

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

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I've passed by this place so many times either going to Ici, or down College to the Safeway from campus. I told myself that I would drop by someday when the weather was nice and I had some free time. That didn't end up happening. We estimated our time wrongly the day I was leaving for spring break and we ended up here. It was pouring, but it didn't matter - I wanted to try some stuff here. Since we had already had lunch, we just got some dessert: Brownie - it was a coffee brownie with some walnuts, I think. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't something that I would go back for. I can make brownies myself... especially from a box. Not amazed Poptart - this was pretty cool. I've heard of people making items like a poptart using puff pastry and some jam. It wasn't amazing either. It just wasn't the same taste, but it was decent. Cupcake - I got the berry cupcake. It looked amazing, but it didn't taste that way. The frosting was just too sweet. Maybe I'm used to making my own frosting, but this wasn't good. The cupcakes were dry. It was just not good. Maybe I'll be back some other time for actual food. read more

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If you gave this place less than five stars, you obviously didn't get a pizza. One the THE best pepperoni pizzas of my life.

Holy forking shirts y'all... don't even know where to begin. My number 1 favorite place to eat is Clementine Bakery in LA and this is the only place I know that gives that vibe so strong. The Kale Caesar and the egg salad are the standouts but everything here is good. And the treats. My god, the treats! The S'mores brownie is everything I have ever wanted in a brownie: and more so! One time I went in there and they had this big cake made out of cookies and... look, if you haven't already looked at the pictures of the desserts, what are you even doing on this site. Don't waste your time: check out the desserts, go get lunch as an excuse to eat amazing treats. Rush over there - now if you can! read more

Very cute shop - white walls, lots of natural light in the front of the shop (where there are 2 tables for eating), light, natural palette of colors. High quality, delicious food - both the pressed Cubano and meatball sandwiches (see pictures) were amazing and flavorful. REALLY wanted to try the amazing looking lemon meringue cupcakes, but didn't want to shell out another $3 on an already expensive lunch and didn't "need" one. Kind of still wishing I could have one now (3 days later). -1 star for being a bit pricey, although maybe understandable based on local, high quality, sustainable goods. read more

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

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Regular go-to spot. BLT, sausage pizza, arugula frisée salad are all amazing. Egg salad when in the mood, fruit tarts on par with Chez Panisse, and refreshing mint mojito are perfect picnic staples. Love this Elmwood gem! Don't forget the chocolate shop around the corner if you have a hankering for dulce de leche cake read more

It really bothers me to me write this review but after years of being a loyal customer, I've decided to take a step back from this establishment. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs To go. When I got home and began to eat the meatballs, I figured out quickly that there were eggshells in the meatballs. It wasn't just one but all off them. It was as though the kitchen staff just crumbled them up and add them to the recipe. To make matters worse, I called and let them know immediately. The person was very nonchalant about the situation. I did not get the impression that they really understood the matter. Again bitter sweet but don't feel comfortable going back. read more

I just had a subpar salad at Cafe Roma and happened to parked in front of Summer Kitchen which I had not been aware of. They have a fabulous array of delicious looking baked goods from lemon meringue cupcakes to gingerbread with a lemon frosting - the latter of which I tried. It was yummy. They also have a great selection of other things - a made to order salad, small containers of roasted vegetables: cauliflower with capers; brussels sprouts with winter squash; broccoli di ciccio. They also had fried chicken and miscellaneous chocolate. read more

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

Really great & fresh food! I really enjoy the watermelon arugula salad! They're portions are a great size and you can even eat family style to try different options. I will definitely be returning here. I have only been here in the summer so I can't speak on the menu during the other seasons but it's a place worth checking out! read more

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

I used to come here regularly when I was a student at Cal. My favorites are the margherita pizza, the chocolate cream cheese cupcake, the honey chicken wings they serve on the weekends, and the fried chicken sandwich. I've been to a lot of famous pizza places, and I must admit, this makes the best pizza in the bay. The pizzas are cooked to perfection, and the corn meal coating the bottom of the dough is fantastic. Also, the desserts I've eaten here are better than the desserts from cupcakeries and the like in the Berkeley area. Definitely recommend them for a lot of things!!! I really wished they franchised/expanded so I wouldn't have to make the drive. read more

I got the burger after reading the comment below and was a tad underwhelmed... still good but not the best. The burger was unique thanks to the buttery sourdough bread slices but it didnt have a wow factor. I did replace the gorgonzola with provolone and maybe the cheese overpowered the meat's seasoning. Overall a nice ambience and the staff are friendly and welcoming. Sat at the bar and its perfect for grabbing a quick bite to eat. read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Hearst ranch burger, caramelized onions, house made pickles, wild arugula, and provolone cheese - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Fresh & thoughtfully picked out ingredients with such flavorful crispy chicken. Nice aesthetic with well branded "summer" theme. Really felt like we left somewhere else to dine this fine food. We are definitely coming back for more. read more

Organic salads with great dressings and the bomb pizzas. Love the wild arugula, artichoke pizza.

Visiting Berkeley again after graduating and it's just the same and just as good! Great lunch spot. read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Egg salad sandwich and broccoli salad! - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here tonight with Grace C., and we were both pretty disappointed. After hearing rave reviews from Carson S. and reading good reviews on Yelp, I had high hopes. They said their most popular dish was the crispy chicken sandwich, but I opted for the hearst ranch burger ($9.50) because I've heard the fried chicken sandwich at Bakesale Betty's is better. The caramelized onions, combined with the thick blue cheese, and soggy-ish bread made for an overly savory, strong, and thick combination. It was very heavy, and could barely eat h My friend ordered the organic spaghetti with hearst ranch meatballs ($13.50), and she described it as akin to something she could make at home (and mind you, she is not a very skilled cook). Big portions, but overpriced for a mediocre dish. They have jars of sparkling water on the side, but I wish they had flat water, as I'm not a fan of the sparkling. I may be back to try the crispy chicken or the watermelon salad, but it's unlikely. For the higher price, I'd rather go to other restaurants on College. read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Hearst ranch burger ($9.50) - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Fried chicken is pretty good, but very pricey. Best pulled pork sandwich ever! I always crave and it! It seriously is amazing and worth a try. Cupcakes are pretty good as well. Wasn't so impressed by the sodas. I think it's a little funny that the garbage pail is so low you have to bend down to throw stuff in. I guess it makes you think before so you compost the right stuff :-p read more

How cute is this place! We were walking along College trying to find a good place for lunch and suddenly I saw this adorable little bake shop! They posted a Daily Candy article about themselves on the window which led me to realize I had heard of this shop opening and had told myself I would go check it out! Their menu is simple but delicious. I had the BLT sandwich with roasted peppers and avocado. Delish! Another patron ordered one a little while after me, and the way she was savoring each bite made me wish I had more of mine left! My friend got the ham and cheddar that came on delicious looking foccacia. They had the absolute cutest cupcakes ever! Their lemon meringue cupcakes were irresistable so I had to get one even though I was full from the sandwich. See my picture! Gorgeous and delicious. Did I mention they make their own sparkling water which they will give you free of charge!? They will apparently be making their own juice beverages soon too! I was ridiculously happy after lunching here. My friend will vouch for my goofy "I'm so satisfied" face that I had upon exiting the shop. I wish this place existed when I went to school up there. I would have been a frequent patron! read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Lemon Meringue Cupake! - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Delicious sandwiches and desserts! The people there are also super friendly, like this one chef we talked to. I think his name was Ben. Only thing that didn't go while in my visit was that they lost my order ticket. it took awhile for my food to come. They seemed confused and I had to ask for my food. Otherwise really good food and nice people read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - The really nice chef that talked to me and my friend about summer kitchens cool pasta wheat! - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Macaroons were okay. The skirt steak salad (apparently it was its first time on the menu) was the most sad story of a salad ever. It came off as having so much potential, but in the end, neither I nor the person I was with enjoyed it. Well, I like the tomatoes that came with it. But why in the world would I pay $11.50 for 4 tomatoes!? read more

I have gotten take out from here twice in the last month and both times I was very pleased. They have a great BLTA and an even better Egg salad sandwich. Service is always fast. There is caring and effort put into the food and you can tell. Highly recommend. I should have taken a picture of the egg salad because it was wrapped in paper and tied with a little string but I ate it so fast alas there is no picture. read more

I was wandering down College Ave. after work, looking for a quick bite to eat with D where we found this place. It's a bit overshadowed by Ici as well as the Mediterranean place just next door, but it definitely is very cutesy. However, though the atmosphere was charming, the food was very forgetful. I ordered the Crispy Chicken sandwich, as well as the Mojito Soda with D. The sandwich was a good size, but I wasn't impressed. The chicken was juicy, but not crispy as the menu said. It was very simple, totally not worth the 8.99 that it cost. The Mojito Soda on the other hand was very delicious. Tasted just like a mojito, minus the rum of course. It's kinda depressing. Cute places, with food that looks delicious, but somehow doesn't measure up at all. read more

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

Great food and baked goods. Plus a nice variety of items to choose from. Service is good too.

Went here today with my nephew, only to be welcomed or not welcomed by the cashier who appeared to not want to help me. Extremely unfriendly and unwelcoming environment. Never coming here again! read more

We Have ordered here almost every week for our pizza nights and this place is spot-on! It's probably the best pizza I've had in the US (Chicago, NYC, Boston, exc). It's thin but not soggy, perfect amount of sauce and toppings. It brings me back to having pizza in Naples, Italy! Their cupcakes are dangerously good and the mojitos are amazing; we add a splash of vodka and wow! So refreshing. This place is so affordable yet so much better than the competition, it's easy to make our pizza nights a weekly habit! read more

Friends sent us mushroom pizza that was delicious and enough for 2 meals for 3 people with 2 of their salads. I really liked the arugula with watermelon and pumpkin seeds in a cream dressing. I wish I could get the recipe for that dressing but I'm going to try heavy cream with salt pepper and apple cider vinegar. Then one afternoon we grabbed a turkey sandwich and an egg salad. Well how exciting can egg salad and turkey sandwiches be? Plenty if you're getting these. Just try them. I'm really happy they are in my neighborhood and that their produce is organic. Thank you SK chefs. read more