I have been frequenting Summer Kitchen for a few months now and have just now gotten around to writing a review. Stopped in today to grab lunch with a friend and had a great experience as usual! I always favor the wild arugula salad, which instead of apple and pear has been updated (for summer?) to have watermelon and fennel. Both variations are delicious and refreshing. My friend had the veggie sandwich, which was a good portion size and tasty. I have tried various menu items (bbq chicken pizza and fried chicken sandwich (both spicy and non spicy)) and have never been disappointed. The food is consistently good and comes out fast! The restaurant itself is bit small, but I have never had trouble with finding seating. The ambiance is light and bright, fun to dine in or sit outside on a nice day! read more

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

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This is my favorite place in my hood! The pizza, sandwiches, salads and desserts are all scrumptious.

This review is just for the burgers, I use to eat the best burger here made with love and good ingredients, tonight I had the worst burger ever with cheap ingredients and poor presentation with an upscale restaurant price tag, [[HIGHLIGHT]]the place felt that it has gone through change of management/ownership.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I love their egg salad sandwich!! I've learned the hard way to call and reserve ahead since they're so popular and often run out. Yesterday I noticed our sandwiches were noticeably lighter in filling than those we've had in the past. Previously they were so big that I'd eat half and save half, but yesterday I easily finished my entire sandwich in one sitting. :( The cakes are pricey but actually not a bad value. The slices are HUGE and my husband and I had difficulty finishing our slice of chocolate cake with peanut butter buttercream frosting. Highly recommend the PB chocolate cake!!! read more

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Their turkey sandwich is absolute perfection. My favorite sandwich in the world. So fresh, so perfectly balanced, never too heavy. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I love this spot -- it's a great lunch spot and have some outdoor seating as well for people watching on college ave which is always fun![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service is great too -- everyone's always kind and patient. read more

I've always liked Summer Kitchen but today was a bummer. [[HIGHLIGHT]]First off it was so cold in there it was uncomfortable, why would you have no heat in an eating establishment, don't you want your guests to be comfortable?[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Second they were out of kale so I could not order what I went for. I order another salad one of the worst salads ever, overdressed sloppy mixed greens, no flavor a few assorted garbanzo beans and slices of cucumbers just terrible. The pizza was really good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]But who wants to sit in a freezing cold place !!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Consistently good food, fresh salads and creative, delicious sandwiches. Think turkey, cranberry, avocado on a seeded freshly baked bun and Chinese chicken salads with citrus and crunchy noodles. They also have the most RIDICULOUS desserts -- three layer cakes that are a foot high, like lemon poppyseed with raspberries, chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven, giant chocolate cupcakes. Service is always prompt and kind. Not much seating, so plan to take out. read more

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

he pastry display is so aesthetic, everything looks so good!! they have a nice variety in menu items, and it's a good spot to grab lunch with a friend. peach tart- my friend got a slice of this pie, and the crust was so buttery and flaky. it's not too sweet either chicken sandwich- i got it spicy, so the chicken was saucy while still being crunchy! i came here to study, and it was peaceful, but there's no wifi. the food is pretty good, and i want to come back to try the pizza because it smelled so good!! read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - chicken sandwich, peach tart - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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food tastes fresh like theyre shopping for the day. pastries from their bakery are buttery and flaky. service is warm and genuine. [[HIGHLIGHT]]place has bright airy feel inviting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

I love this spot for a relaxed, no-rush meal. I had the chicken sandwich and a salad, and both were so fresh and delicious. The whole place has an easy, inviting vibe where you can just sit back and enjoy your food. The service is friendly and unhurried, which makes it even better. Definitely a place I'll be coming back to. read more

It's my first time in this area in over two years and I noticed people were having a good time at this new spot so I wanted to give it a shot! I ordered the Pulled Pork sandwich and I got to say I was a bit disappointed. I think the flavors were really good; the pulled pork was nice and tangy and the coleslaw complemented it well! It's just the bread was really cold. It was like they took freshly made pulled pork and put it between slices of refrigerated bread. As much as I enjoyed the flavors I could not get over the texture of cold bread. The sandwich was 15 dollars too so this was a hard miss. On the contrast, the brownie was amazing. Nice texture and flavor and it looked so pretty! All in all, I do want to give it another try. They have a brick oven for their pizza and their baked goods look amazing. So that's what I'll get next time and hopefully I'll have a better experience and update this review read more

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

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Cute little spot! I was able to try a piece of their chocolate cake and it was delicious!! The place is small but feels very intimate and cozy. The service was very good and the employees were very nice! I'll be returning to try other items on their menu! read more

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I've been here now a few times and every time I get the same thing: salad with an add of the fried chicken. Such a solid salad. It's a great salad mainly due to that delicious fried chicken as without it, it would be a little on the plain side. The desserts look fantastic and they have pizzas (with a brick oven) and sandwiches that seemingly people love. However the salad chicken combo is my go-to for a lighter lunch. It's not cheap, lunch will run ya $15+, and there won't be leftovers, but they state they use local and organic ingredients. The place is cute but no indoor seating, just a few tables on the sidewalk. A solid and consistent spot. I'll be back! read more

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

The crispiest chicken tenders I have ever had in my life! Great salads and incredible pizzas. I recommend the sausage and the margherita pizzas. The cobb salad is packed with fresh ingredients and I really enjoy the creamy Italian dressing that accompanies it. But seriously, the chicken tenders are a standout. You can order them by the pound or as a meal with fries. If you order them with fries, it comes with the most delectable lemony aioli with fresh herbs! The crunch on the tenders is so satisfying, haha. This place is a great dinner or lunch option for sure. read more

I don't like leaving negative reviews but my last experience at Summer Kitchen was very upsetting. The food is quite delicious and it's been one of our favorite places to go when visiting Berkeley. However, the service last time was inexcusable. One employee in particular, was very rude to us and unapologetic with mistakes that were made with our order by her and in the kitchen. The employee took out her personal ineptitude and hostility on us. It was not only inappropriate but also very hurtful. The restaurant is adorable with great food but the staff needs a course in customer service. Sadly, I'm not sure if we'll go back again. read more

We stopped by here on a Saturday afternoon for lunch and it was very packed inside the restaurant. We ordered a summer salad, a pizza, and a burger. All the food tasted amazing and the ingredients felt very fresh. They also had a variety of pastries, but I was too full to try them. We've been here a few times and the staff is very friendly and the food it always good. Would definitely recommend if you are in the area. read more

Stumbled upon this cute restaurant today and was pleasantly surprised. I had the veggie sandwich and margarita pizza. Hands down the best veggie sandwich I have ever had! It tasted so fresh and flavorful. Their pizza was also nice and crispy and not oily. The inside is very warm, but they also have 2 small tables in front. read more

Wonderful food and excellent service. I can always rely on Summer Kitchen for an amazing meal! read more

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

I want to acknowledge and thank the owner who reached out to further address the experience. Often times, while problems will occur, it's the response of how the issue is addressed is what is most important. And the owner went above and beyond in doing so. Truly appreciate it! read more

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

Hidden gem! Randomly stopped by with friends and couldn't help but stop and look at the baked goods. We ended up getting dinner too because the pizzas looked great. We shared 3 pizzas: the mushroom, pepperoni, and the sausage. They were all phenomenal. We were having trouble deciding on which to order so the worker told us we can do half-and-half. I've never seen this as an option at craft pizza places. We also shared the steak sandwich and it was delicious. We tried the peanut-butter chocolate-chip toffee coffee & the chocolate cupcake with espresso frosting & dulce de leche. Both were amazing. Will come back. The workers were great & service was fast. It was very clean as well and the workers came to wipe each table very quickly as groups left. read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Chocolate-Chip Toffee Cookie & Chocolate Espresso & Dulce de Leche Cupcake. - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

I just tried their steak sandwich and it was so good. Their salads are also really good.

How can I not have reviewed you! We are there frequently. Fennel pollen and sausage pizza, kale salad, chicken tenders, fries, sandwiches and WILD baked goods are out go to items but I've never had anything bad. LOVE!! read more

The chicken tenders are not tender anymore. Tenders are overcooked and dry and lacking flavor. As the tender is smaller it is hard and crusty and lacking juiciness! I woul like a refund but have to eat what i can of it..This is my first yelp reveiw . Upon cooling they are getting harder, Very dissapointing read more

Ordered on line and showed up at the shop a little early. The staff working the counter where friendly and helpful. The food was expertly prepared and delicious. read more

Excellent baked goods! Get the peanut butter cookie sandwich. Nice atmosphere. I looked forward to trying the veggie sandwich- looks great.

Tried their summer house salad, which was just OK - nothing special - but their sausage pizza was one of the best pizzas I've had recently! It wasn't too greasy or heavy and the crust wasn't too thick or thin. Flavors were perfectly balanced and the sauces and toppings worked really well together. I'd definitely come back for the pizza! read more

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

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We come to this place often! My husband loves the mushroom pizza, my boys love any kind of pizza, and we all love the tenders with the aioli sauce and the red velvet cake. Originally, we came here because we were looking for some wholesome sweets. It wasn't until we actually walked in that we saw just how serious their sweets game was! S'mores, cupcakes, carrot cakes, red velvet cake (if you're lucky) with the delicious cream cheese frosting--chef's kiss. Needless to say, we're always pleased! It's also in such a cute neighborhood with lots of local shops to walk off the sweets. An ice cream shop next door and a wine shop across the street! This is a great place to spend a weekend afternoon and kid-friendly! We've been here now at least five times and each time the staff is super friendly and their bathroom is pretty clean. All in all, a great spot. read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - The boys enjoying Margherita Pizza - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

Egg sandwich was disappointing today! I barely had eggs on my sandwich and I paid $17 for this. What's going on? read more

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

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I wanted to like this place. It is advertised as everything % organic however; cross contamination is real at this place. I forgot to take a picture of my salad that was put together during these COVID-19 times with bare hands of the cook who went from touching the spatula, his apron, a dirty towel (that's he was using to wipe is hands off without washing them first) to touching the greens and toppings for my salad in a box. If I was vegan I would have died He was making beef burger while touching all over my salad. I ordered a Margarita pizza (salty) and a salad. $25 down the drain. I have never tasted a salty pizza before it tasted like they sprinkled salt on top of it and it was burnt. The salad dressing was thick and looked like a dipping sauce instead of salad dressing. If everything is organic by the time this cook is done touching food, cookware, and his dirty clothes organic goes out of the door. Hand hygiene is the #1 cause of infection and disease, spreading germs; bacteria, virus, fungi, and Protozoa. I will not give this spot another try and strongly suggest that they enforce the use of frequent hand washing and gloves. read more

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Food: The food at this place is reliably delicious, although occasionally the portions are smaller than I remember. I've celebrated my birthday here for lunch and regularly bring my out-of-town family and friends who all enjoy it. Personally, I'm a big fan of their Chinese chicken salad, pizzas, and their egg sandwich is absolutely fantastic. I adore everything about this place. I only wish we had a similar spot closer to where we live. Service: for the most part everyone is friendly and nice. Owner is great! Ambiance: Cute and modern! read more

We loved this place for all their homemade desserts and amazing specialties. They are our go to spot for a quick pizza and the s'mores brownie. Be sure to try the pulled pork sandwich, it is amazing! read more

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First, the pros -- Summer Kitchen is a super cute sandwich, salad + desserts place with friendly service. The food looks beautiful, the neighborhood is great, and it's a convenient resource for the community. It has been under new ownership for a while and sadly, the quality of food seems to have gone down with it. My friend and I were both talking about how not good our food has been from there lately. It has never been a super economical option, but the previous owners put love into the food, and you could tell that the ingredients had been well sourced and cooked with attention, so it was a worthwhile destination. Now, I feel like I can't recommend it to folks anymore who ask where to eat around the neighborhood. My friend's Cesar salad was overdressed, her cake tasted old, her sandwich tasteless, and I would say the same for my salad/sandwich. I am afraid one can get better food if very slow service down the street at Bakers and Commons. I hope they take this feedback to heart and try to improve the food quality, as it's a lovely restaurant, and it'd be great to be able to recommend it again. read more

My wife is getting ready for labor, and I should have taken her to this place instead of the Italian Homemade Company. This place does simple dishes very well. They have pizza...but very fresh, elegantly simple pizzas with a nice chew. They have salads...that are light, but satisfyingly balanced. They have quirky refreshing drinks. And their sandwiches, entrees, pastries are well executed and thoughtfully designed. This isn't Michelin starred dining, but deeply satisfying simple food done right. (disclaimer, I know the founder and have heard his brainstorming about this place for years. I was gratified to find out it was better than he described) read more

We came here to celebrate a friend's birthday. The place has a cozy and clean interior. We ordered at the counter and food was brought to us. We shared a Margherita pizza and some chicken tenders. While the pizza was OK, the chicken tenders were too dry for my liking. Will have to try other things next time. Parking was a bit challenging as it was on busy College Avenue, but you can try neighborhood streets. read more

I've been coming to Summer Kitchen for about 12-13yrs, the service has fell off soo bad. The young woman and man working the front have no clue how to treat customers or how to properly communicate. They have no business being the front of any business. First they screwed up my order, then when I had to re-order, they screwed that up too. After many, many years, I won't be coming back. read more

Summer Kitchen is a great simple and delicious option for lunch and dinner. Their sandwiches are always fresh and hit the spot. My kids and I love the pizzas too. My only critique is that their burger comes with a salad instead of fries. If I'm getting a burger, I want some fries to go full indulgence. Their salads are also delicious and when I am feeling healthy I will order one and feel good about it. The unsung hero of Summer Kitchen is their amazing selection of sweets. Everything looks and tastes amazing. I've had cookies, cakes, s'more brownies concoctions and everything is delicious. read more

Fresh food and very tasty but would prefer to not have the glaze on the chicken sandwich. Otherwise delicious! Need hot sauce packages like tobacco or Crystal hot sauce. read more

I've been coming to Summer Kitchen for over a decade now and have always left as a happy customer until last week. We ordered take out around 7:30pm last Wednesday (they close at 8pm so I understand that this late order may have been a nuisance) and the sandwiches we received were hardly edible. I ordered a spicy crispy chicken sandwich, which is typically my favorite, and my husband ordered the steak sandwich. The texture of the chicken was like it had been cooked in the microwave (not reheated in the microwave, I mean cooked in the microwave). I had never in my life bit into a piece of chicken so rubbery and tough. I took a second bite and had my husband try it too to be sure, and then we threw the entire sandwich away. My guess is they reheated chicken that had been cooked earlier in the day. The steak sandwich was better than the chicken but even the steak sandwich wasn't up to its usual quality. On the upside, my husband ordered a salad which he took to work the next day and said was delicious. Again, I've been eating at Summer Kitchen for over ten years so this one order won't stop me from returning but I would just caution anyone to perhaps reconsider ordering within an hour of closing. read more

I haven't been to this restaurant yet, and this review is for 1 item only. My girlfriend brought home a S'more Brownie and it was really good. I don't like sweats, but this one I would get again. The brownie wasn't too rich and that's how I like it. read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - S'more Brownie, looked so good I couldn't wait to take a picture before I took a bit!! - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

The kale salad with chicken here has been a go-to choice for us for a long time. But recently it's been a bit inconsistent. Half of the time we get yellowish kale that seems old and is very stem-y. We've also seen variation in the dressing (even between two salads in the same order). When it's on, it's fantastic, so I hope the consistency picks up again. Right now, each order feels like rolling the dice. Desserts are great, and gigantic. read more

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