I've had this place bookmarked for awhile now and finally came around to eating here! ahhh.. I wish I came here sooner! first off the customer service in this place is amazing! the staff here is super friendly and they served us food when it was 10 minutes till closing time! We ordered the half chicken with creamy mash and veggies, the little gem salad, a bowl of tomato soup, the best pizza ever which is the Organic Beech Mushroom, Leek, Truffle Tartufata, Burrata! Our eyes were bigger than our stomaches but we still managed to eat everything! we also got the mojito lemonade to sip on which was mighty refreshing and had a wonderful taste! I wanted to try the cupcakes but since we were the last ones in the restaurant all cupcakes were gone for the night.. still, they managed to give me a piece of their coffee cake on the house! Everything came out fresh, hot, and delicious! I'm still thinking about the pizza.. ahhh.. but can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu out! read more

Fresh, healthy food is always available. My kids love their fried chicken and chicken tenders, so do I. I love their soups - all of them! Farro salad is so delicious. I've tried and absolutely loved; spaghetti and meatballs, pizza, pulled-pork sandwich, egg-salad sandwich, and the desserts are amazing. The Arctic Char is a standard favorite, the dish changes seasonally but the fish is always superb! Overall, we go here a lot as a family for dine-in or take-out. read more

I bumped into this place after getting ice cream at Ici, the thing that caught my eye was their fried chicken! I was too full to try it at that time so I opted to get a couple cupcakes instead. I ended up with a chocolate one topped with chocolate crispies and a yummy frosting that wasn't too sugary and a lemon meringue... both were delish. I will def be back to try their fried chicken! read more

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

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I wish this place was closer to CAL campus but its a very short car ride away. I always get the burger here, really good! I only wish they served french fries, the only thing missing that complements a good burger. The pizzas are really good here and I highly recommend them! The pricing is pretty fair but definitely a little expensive on a college student budget. read more

I'm so glad my friend suggested coming here for brunch on a lazy saturday. I had the turkey sandwich which had this amazing cranberry and onion spread which went perfectly with the turkey and cheese. My friend had the kale salad with crispy chicken which was also amazing. I drooled over the pastries but restrained myself. My waistline thanked me the next day. The prices were reasonable and I was pleasantly full when we left. I've informed my boyfriend that we would be back so we could try the pizza. read more

A very welcome addition to Elmwood! I usually get the pizzas here and love them. The lemonade is delicious. I LOVE their chocolate marble--it's not too sweet (though I think it could be even less sweet than it is) with delicious chocolate (I want to say Valrhona or something like it). It's also rare that a restaurant gets the messaging so so right: the name is perfect because what I think of whenever I step in is a summer kitchen. The tables and chairs match that, the screen door is a lovely touch, and even the receptacles for trash and composting reinforce the feeling of being in a hearty, wholesome, summery place. I'll be back again and again! read more

It really feels like summer when you walk into this place no matter the actual season. Their pasta salads are a hit. Need to try their pizza and chicken. Have always gotten food to-go but looks like a nice place to sit in as well. read more

I had a pretty rough day so after dinner I was craving cupcakes and my friend found this place on yelp so I didn't know what to expect since I didn't read any of the reviews. It's right next door to Ici and isn't much bigger. It has a few tables, counter, and an open kitchen. I was surprised to find a variety of food. They serve brick oven pizza's, sandwiches, brownies, lemon cake, buttermilk fried chicken, etc. Of course I was too full to try to buttermilk fried chicken, but still had room to try out their lemon meringue cupcake & cream cheese chocolate cupcake. I LOVED the cupcakes! The lemon meringue was so YUM! BUT the chocolate cream cheese was ughhhh ohhhh sooooo GOOOD! The cream cheese frosting was topped with little marbles of chocolate. The cake was super moist! I would have ordered more, but I got the last one! Next time I will come and try the food. Location is awesome too! So many good eats on that block and it's close to public transportation. read more

This place is not only adorable, but it is so damn delicious. We parked on College avenue, not knowing where to go, as there are tons of enticing places to stop in as you're walking - but we decided to come here and man, we are so happy we did. We split two sandwhiches and a couple fresh sides they had that day. We got the crispy chicken and slaw sandy and the burger. Our sides were a qunioa mix of some sort and the broccoli with parmesan. Everything was just so fresh and delicious and had a unique, yet comfort-food esque quality and flavor. You can't go wrong with really quality bread and a grassfed burger right? Bonus: They have blue bottle coffee. Highly recommend! read more

This is a fantastic lunch spot, or a great place to pick up a dinner-to-go on nights when you don't want to cook, but are still looking for quality and comfort of a home-cooked meal. I adore that they sell bay-area-pantry-favorites like Blue Bottle Coffee, or Blue Chair Jams. They support local farms and businesses and their ingredients are always seasonal and fresh. Their salads are delicious, and the portions are huge. Get a pizza: Their wood-fired pizza oven produces delicious pizzas with a unique flavor and texture. The cheeses are bubbly and the crust light and doughy. We ordered a pizza with house made sausage and fennel pollen. We added a farm fresh egg to our pie. The egg was just set, with a wobbly golden yolk that oozes onto the crust when the cut they pizza into slices. Such a fantastic treat! Another group favorite was their friend chicken sandwich. The roll they serve it on is light, airy and delicious and the mustard-flavor of the slaw topping the chicken breast was a perfect compliment to this tasty sandwich. Their pies and desserts are fantastic too. It'll be hard to save room for dessert, but you can always take a dessert to go. read more

Really interesting place that I've never noticed was right next to Ici's! Their dining area is communal so it kind of reminds me of being in Europe during the summer. I've never had a better egg sandwich than the one I had here!! Their margherita pizza was also good...not amazing...but good nonetheless. I really want another egg salad sandwich though! read more

Mmmmm! My gal pal Ash and I visited Summer Kitchen this past Sunday, and oooooh BOY am I glad we did! I enjoyed a tri-salad that was a bed of lettuce with chicken salad, orzo and corn salad and it was absolutely delicious. Light and summery, exactly what I'd been craving all day. I also had a chance to try their fried chicken...perfectly seasoned, perfectly crunchy...just perfect. (this is coming from a southern gal, so you KNOW when it comes to fried chicken, I cant tell a lie) Ashley had a salad with grilled chicken, these AMAZING cherry tomatoes and fresh chickpeas. Oh my gosh people, those tomatoes...wow. I'd go back just for those. I might just call them up and find out what farm those tomatoes are from, actually. While we were eating we were scoping out the gorgeous, picture perfect cupcakes...knowing we'd have to try one eventually - so after lunch and a walk around the neighborhood, we decided to come back, have a cupcake and chat with the sou chef for a bit. I had the lemon meringue cupcake with fresh lemon curd inside....sigh. It was heaven. Ash had some kind of something with berries on top and a berry filling...mmmmmmmmdrooolmmmmmmygoditssodelicious! I'd tell you about hers, but mine was too good to even think about trying anything else, but....she said hers was perfect, so I'll take her word on it. Anyway, if the food wasnt good enough, their easy spirited staff made the whole experience even better. Yea, so uh...we'll be coming back. Thanks for making our easy sunday afternoon that much easier. read more

Excellent spot in the Elmwood area for fresh food and drink. The interior of this place is hip and clean, and while a little small, has a great warm feel. My wife and I had a margarita pizza and added applewood smoked bacon. We sat next to the brick oven as the pizza man tossed the dough, placed the toppings, and fired it up. Everything tastes incredibly fresh with high quality ingredients (at the price, it is to be expected). The crust in all actuality may have been my favorite part of the pizza. Thin crust, with a good amount of char. The complexity of the acid from the sauce, salt, and char made for an amazing taste. Two types of mozzarella cheeses, and basil leaves not overdone, this was a pizza is gladly have again. Their other food looks good too! I can't wait to try their fried chicken! I'm coming back! read more

The most delightful chicken sandwich. Delicious, fresh tasting wood-fired pizzas. I've yet to be let down by any topped with broccoli or burrata. Refreshing mint lemonade. Reasonable price point, especially for the neighborhood. read more

Summery and fresh is the hendiadys that comes to mind when thinking of Summer Kitchen. This is a hip, new walk-up-and-order style joint in the heart of the trendy Elmwood district of Berkeley. Virtually, every dish in here looks and appears to be highly tempting. From the pastries to the sandwiches to their well-know fried chicken, I recommend dabbling it in all. I've tried the turkey sandwich, egg salad sandwich, fried chicken and the muffins all to my delight. It's a very nice space but tight quarters makes for a lot of rubbing elbows with your neighbors. For one helluva fresh afternoon meal or treat, dive into the Kitchen! read more

I've never actually ate in here, but I work really close to here and we often order sandwiches and pizza here for our office meetings. I've had the chance to try various things off the menu, but I've gotta say, their chicken tenders are quite delicious. I've never seen anything deep fried without a hint of oiliness to it. I've also had their pizza before, my fav is the truffle one, but all their pizza are fantastic. And their sandwiches are great too, i like the turkey sandwich and their egg sandwich is great too! They also have very great customer service over the phone. More than once we've had to order for pick up prior to their open time and they've been very understanding and is able to accommodate with our time. I'd definitely recommend this! read more

I got a crispy chicken sandwich and it was awesome, delicious, and everything I have ever hoped a crispy chicken sandwich would be. First off, the crispy chicken is delicious. It's well-seasoned and fried in-house. Some restaurants probably mass-purchase their chicken with pre-made mixture, but this crispy chicken is the real deal. Secondly, the mustard slaw is fresh and fantastic. It's flavorful without being overpowering. It's the kind of the slaw that's fully aware that it's just a sidekick to the crispy chicken, but it's hard to not give it its due. Lastly, the pickles! I love pickles, and these pickles definitely do not disappoint! They are apparently homemade and they definitely taste like they were plucked out of the garden and put into a mason jar with great care--or is my imagination just running too far away? In any case, the pickles are excellent and accompany the sandwich well. I was there on a fairly busy Sunday afternoon (on the tail end of lunch hour) and the service was friendly and fast. It has ample seating, and people tend to just eat and go, but it has adorable, homey decor that makes it all the more pleasant! read more

Found this place on Yelp while I was down in Berkeley for work. I was looking for a place with good lunch. After thinking of driving a half an hour from the airport the opposite direction of where I was supposed to be going this last week.... just to come to the Summer Kitchen and Bake Shop, I decided I owed this place a Yelp 5 stars! I had the chicken and bacon sandwich and it was SO GOOD! I also got a chocolate chip cookie and no lie, this was the best cookie I have EVER had! I would order them to be sent to me in the mail to Southern California. The atmosphere is just cute as can be. They have pizza and sandwiches and lots of homemade pastries. They had a pumpkin cheesecake muffin and I wanted it so bad but refrained from too many desserts at lunch time. Overall... Yelp led me to another lunch that was a great success! read more

This place is awesome! Yummy crispy chicken sandwich and great desserts, especially the chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Friendly service and a cute ambiance. read more

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

Was standing in line for Ici and saw this place, and was kinda hungry for a snack, so decided to get a quiche and chicken tenders and a mojito lemonade. Not sure how the rest of the food is but all three of them were great. the crust on the quiche is perfect, loved the bake on it. the chicken tenders were not to fried and the breadcrumb amount on it was also perfect. But the lemonade, is wow. its extremely refreshing, (we were there on a hot day). Absolutely get the lemonade no matter what you get. The also have some blue bottle coffee brownies and cookies that i would try later. but will definitely come back to try there pizza or sandwiches some time. read more

Great spot for artisan pizza. Hubby and I started our foodie trek in Elmwood here by ordering a mushroom, leek, truffle and cheese pizza, and added homemade sausage. While waiting for the pizza, we went next door to Ici to try their ice cream. The pizza was waiting for us when we returned. The truffle flavor went well with all of the ingredients. We will definitely come back for more pizza and also to try their fried chicken sandwich. read more

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

I really enjoyed my experience here! The food is really fresh, natural and satisfying. They have different deli items such as sandwiches and salads, as well as fresh baked thin crust pizzas. The ambiance I would say is very "Californian" with one long table that you can share with friends or strangers and a few other 2 and 4 person tables in the small restaurant. Me and my friend came here for dinner. She got the turkey sandwich, while I had a plate of different salads. The salads are sold by weight, and you can choose as many types as you'd like. I loved the roasted cauliflower and the marinated beets, but my favorite was definitely the sourdough soaked in sauce with heirloom tomatoes. The prices are reasonable, I spent about 12 dollars on my salad and the turkey sandwich was 8.50. You can get the salads and other foods to go for a quick meal. Next time, I really want to try the thin crust pizza! read more

Friendly staff and fantastic pizza. What more do you want? I love their margherita pizza! It's the best margherita pizza I've EVER had. They also serve some pretty fantastic salads, sandwiches, pastas, and pastries. Definitely a great lunch spot. read more

I understand that they use organic produce and this photo is the perfect proof for that. But I still wouldn't expect to see a bug in my salad at a restaurant. read more

Love this place. Fast and friendly service. Amazing sandwiches. I can't wait to try the pizza. BACON sandwich is the BEST! read more

TIP: Seating is very, very limited! There's one table by the window for two, a communal table that's awkward to sit at if there are already two couples there, a bar area overlooking the open kitchen, and the secret spot--a table that looks like a cart. It might look like it's too small to sit at, but as long as you're a group of 3 or less, hop on the stools and enjoy the food. TIP #2: This is meant to be picnic/take-out food, so order a variety of dishes and share. If you're coming by your lonesome, no worries, the portion of one dish is very filling and good. My friend and I ordered and shared the Summer Dailey Method salad and the pizza with black mission fig, gorgonzola, caramelized onion, and saba. Let's do a comparison, shall we? Summer Kitchen's salad vs. Cafe Intermzzo's salad: The salad plate was filled with crunchy, flavorful greens, roasted zucchini, a sprinkling of perfectly cooked lentils, cherry tomatoes, and grilled chicken. If that doesn't get your mouth watering, then I don't know what will! The chicken was especially tender, the kind of chicken chunks that you can tell were carved off of a whole bird. I ordered the salad with the intent of comparing it to Cafe Intermezzo's or Smart Alec's humongous salads, but Summer Kitchen's salad is on a different level. It's definitely quality over quantity, but it's not a small portion either. Very unique flavors too. Summer Kitchen's pizza vs. Cheeseboard's pizza: The pizza was VERY delicious. We sat very close to the wood fire oven and saw our pizza being constructed and baked, which was amazing. Generous amounts of gorgonzola cheese, sweet caramelized onions, and soft, yummy figs. The sauce on the pizza is saba, which is a grape syrup. None of the flavors overpowered the others, and all of the flavors complemented each other. The crust was a normal thickness--not thin crust, but not too thick either. Summer Kitchen's pizza is definitely a suitable alternative to Cheeseboard if you're up by College Ave. and don't want to go down to Shattuck. So much flavor, so satisfying! The crust isn't as thin, but it's got the perfect amount of bite and chewiness. Oh yeah, and the mint mojito without alcohol was very refreshing. Come try the delicious food made with quality ingredients and enjoy all the different flavors! read more

This review is for takeaway only. I learned about Summer Kitchen from Le Sibling and their spouse. This is one of their current favourite places to eat at or to get some takeaway. During a stressed out revising session for exams (and pleas from me for them to take The Mother out for a meal so I could revise and review alone), they were so kind and sweet to bring me a hamburger (aka the college food group) from Summer Kitchen. Okay, it was a tad bit cool when I got it. I did not want to reheat it because I did not want it to lose it's rare cooked flavor and I like my beef rare. And the beef--it was SO good. Juicy! And the bread was very fresh. I really and truly appreciated The Sibling and Sibling-in-Law's thoughtfulness in sparing me from cooking my meal. I got another takeaway treat from Summer Kitchen when The Mother wanted to have a nice family lunch at Chez Siblings. This time, I wanted to try the pork sandwich with jalapeños while everybody else had tuna sandwiches in one form or another. The Mother had a toasted tuna sandwich while The Sibs each had the standard tuna sarnies. We had them with a lentil salad and another salad made with quinoa. They were pretty tasty, and complimented the sarnies quite well. Takeaway from Summer Kitchen is a welcome opportunity anytime. I hope there will be an opportunity to give Summer Kitchen a try on the premises in 2015. SYOY! read more

Shared the Pulled Pork with BBQ sauce and coleslaw sandwich and the Homemade Sausage with Fennel Pollen pizza. Amaaazing. 5 stars mostly for the pizza. The sandwich fell apart way too fast. It was meant to be shared, so I pulled one half out of the box. I suppose the pork was too wet, rendering the bread into a soggy mess. Also the ends of my bread were kind of burnt, which was a shame. The taste of the sandwich was delicious, but the initial struggle of stabilizing my half into an edible object deters me from recommending it to others. However, our pizza was perfect. It was freshly baked and brought to us straight from the oven. The crust was delicate and thin. The tomato sauce was fresh and did not taste paste-like at all. The sausage was crumbly and effortless to eat. The fennel pollen (scared me at first but I knew I had to try it) added a great pizazz to the pizza. The onions also complemented the overall taste very well. Highly recommended! read more

The decor is old fashioned and reminiscent of a cute cottage that Anne of Green Gables possibly lived in. I had the fried chicken sandwich. It was definitely a good sandwich, chicken was done well, but the portions were a bit small, and the prices a bit steep. I also had a drip coffee, which I concluded that the beans were good (blue bottle) but the brew was not. This little place is cute, but there are many others around the area that I think top this place in terms of environment and food. read more

Giving this place 4 stars only because the two young blonde women who work here are snooty and not friendly at all. I really do not like eating at places with very poor customer service. But the pizza was amazing, I ordered the pepperoni. read more

It's funny...I've had a half written review of Summer Kitchen & Bake Shop (rating it at 3 stars) sitting in my "Complete your review..." section for months now. But my visit today finally gave me a reason to finish this review, and at four stars. As an Elmwood resident, I've dropped by Summer Kitchen a few times since it opened. While I've always been charmed by the decor (very Martha's Vineyard, beach summery, all white and plenty of natural light, etc.), none of the food had particularly striking to me. I can be a bit picky (anti-thetical to being a foodie, I know), and I have found their sandwiches to be fussy in the sheer number of ingredients, usually one or two of which do not appeal to me. My go-to item has been the egg salad sandwich, which is refreshing and light...ish. But today, I tried their chicken tenders and they were delicious. Crusted in panko and herbs, the chicken was crunchy on the outside and moist inside. This is an "adult" version of kid food done very well. Three chicken tenders came out to about $4. I also tried a chocolate chip cookie...very crispy and chewy with lots of chocolate. Not for those who prefer more cake-y cookies. On a final note, I think Summer Kitchen primarily saw itself as a takeaway place when it first opened, but I feel like most people end up eating there, despite there being only two tables. I think their food would totally be great for a picnic, or to take home to eat after work, but the price is a bit out of my range to do that. And on a final final note, they have a huge pizza oven that is always going at full blast, but I have almost never seen anyone order pizza. I plan on trying some time. read more

What I'm really giving is between 3.5~4. Cute interior, clean and good food. However, very little space to sit. Despite all that, fun to sit at the countertop and watch the chef cook. The pizza with Homemade Sausage, Red Onion, Tomato, Fennel Pollen ($13.99) was very good. Very thin, like Italian pizzas, but the topings feel more American than Italian. Overall, the pizza was delicious, and NOVEL (I would've never thought I'd try pollen in food). However, their famous Crispy Chicken Sandwich ($9.25) wasn't that impressive. Very nicely made, clean, neat... but I didn't feel something special there. Nevertheless, pretty impressive. I want to go back for dishes that I've watched the chef make today: the Baia Whole Wheat Spelt Pasta (roasted parsnips, delicata) and the Farmer's Market Vegetable side dish. read more

My friend had recommended this place and I was excited to try. The staff was friendly and the place was clean. We ordered the kale Caesar salad and pepperoni pizza. The kale salad was great on the other hand the pizza was not so good. It was uber salty. I do not recommend the pizzas. That is the reason for the 3 stars. read more

my second time here... so good! my friends and I shared the margherita pizza, blood orange salad and the roasted chicken. All were above and beyond! I really enjoyed the blood orange salad... probably my favorite! The margherita pizza wasn't anything special but still made wonderfully. The chicken was cooked perfectly and the brussel sprouts and mashed potato went well with it. The only downside of Summer Kitchen is the space/seating. It is a really small restaurant. It was a bit uncomfortable sitting at the counter/bar area but it was cool seeing the chef at work. There is only 1 big table for more than 6 people and 2-3 smaller tables for 2 people each. expand or open another summer kitchen! :) read more

Came here for breakfast after hearing great things. Potato and leek quiche was fantastic - a huge slice for $3.50. The soup of the day, a roasted cauliflower/broccoli/celery root soup, was very tasty. Their limeade (like a virgin mojito) was a big hit at the table. I wish there was more room to sit here, but overall, breakfast at Summer Kitchen was a great experience and I'll be back for their pizza, sandwiches, and fried chicken. Food - 4/5 delicious Value - 4/5 a little pricy but portions are large and ingredients are high quality Service - 4/5 no complaints read more

The food is really great and simple. Always greeted with a smile and the prices are right. The only downside is trying to find a seat if it's busy. But I don't mind sitting at the counter. I usually go with the sandwiches because they are sooo good. Need to try everything else! read more

Very delicious post-Dailey Method lunch was had here! I got the turkey sandwich with onion-cranberry marmalade, provolone, and lemon aioli on a kaiser roll. The meat was fresh and succulent, didn't taste at all like salty cold cuts. Cranberry marmalade had great sweetness and tang simultaneously. Kaiser roll was not too heavy, but had great texture. It was one of the pre-made ones from the glass case so it didn't take long at all to give it to me. My cousin's wife got the crispy chicken sandwich with caraway-mustard slaw - they had to actually cook that one so it took a few minutes, but not a huge wait. She said she always gets that one since she loves it so much - I took a bit and was definitely a fan. The chicken was indeed very crispy as advertised, and I loved the flavorful bite of the slaw. Great place for a quick lunch in Berkeley. The desserts and the pizzas looked AMAZING though I can't officially vouch for that. If I ever came back and ate inside instead of doing takeout (there are a few small tables), I'd get one of those beautiful pizzas. read more

I've been a frequent patron at this establishment for years. Every time has been a more than comfortable experience. A fantastic place to relax and have any of the fabulously delicious food on the menu. The Star Route Salad had a perfect blend of my favorite roasted beets, crunchy fresh baby greens, and a precise amount of balsamic vinaigrette. A recommended dose of fried chicken tenders garnished the salad to my appetite's delight. As usual, the friendly staff and the atmosphere made my visit feel as if I was at my own home. My previous visit with my son was very warm. He ordered a Margherita pizza which brought us to the back of the restaurant by the fire brick stove. The chef included my son in his pizza making magic by showing us how his pizza was being prepared. The only thing I would change is something that I think the staff has no control over. For them to have the marshmallow-topped brownies more often on the menu. Maybe even top the marshmallow with a swirl of caramel! So nice to dine in such a warm friendly restaurant. And to have such a cozy family room environment. read more

Chocolate Cupcake with Cream Cheese Frosting Cake Texture: Dense + Moist Frosting: Not too sweet, very creamy + thick Frosting + Cake ratio is perfectly even read more

I absolutely love this place. They have a small menu that doesn't seem to fit together (pizza, sandwiches, unusual salads, cookies, quiches, spaghetti, random dinner entrees, etc) but they seem to focus on what they're good at and can bring something unique to. The sandwiches and salads are all amazing, with combinations you wouldn't think of at first that make you think "I should try this at home!" Best of all, it all tastes home cooked. It's probably because they use seasonal, local ingredients. You can taste the thought and work they put into each plate. The best local restaurants take dishes that seem very simple and find ways to perfect them, hopefully without giving off too much of an offputting, pretentious vibe. That subtle way of reinventing the wheel-or in this case, a tomato or chicken sandwich-is what defines this place. read more