Delicious, delicious, delicious! I took home an outstanding dinner for 3 that had herb-stuffed grilled chicken breast, roasted cabbage and cannelini bean ragout. YUM! The food was hearty, but tasted clean and fresh and felt healthy! Then we had the blackberry-filled cupcake with lemony buttercream and the chocolate cupcake with cream-cheese frosting... HEAVEN!!! I used to have to bake my own cupcakes because the ones I've had around Berkeley are dry, tasteless and the frostings are thick, gritty (from the powdered sugar) and too sweet. NOT SO HERE!!! I swear, the blackberry cupcake was so moist and topped with a smooth-as-silk buttercream that tasted light and not too sweet. The chocolate was melt-in-your-mouth and the frosting for that was a cream-cheese lover's delight. I wish I had some more, but my husband ate the rest of them... I also tasted a little cake/biscuit that was nutty (I think it had millet in it?) and glazed with lemon icing also... i could use one (or six) of those right now in front of the telly... Next time I want to try their picnic chicken. I love fried chicken and their chicken looks yummy. I also saw an intriguing farro and greens salad... sounds like I've got my next meal planned out. I wanted to get their lamb meatballs and couscous, but went for the chicken instead... (sigh) maybe next time! They've also got pizza... maybe I'll go in and get that for me and my baby boy for lunch! read more

Happened to try this place because I visited a store nearby. I'm glad I did. The fried chicken is one of the best I've ever had.. And the housemade sausage pizza with fresh soft cooked egg was pretty awesome too. Stop by if you're in the area, you won't regret it. read more

After walking home from Summer's Kitchen with my fellow apartment-mates (I used to live a few blocks down) my friend and I got into a pretty deep argument--whether or not there should be rosemary on pizza. This eventually turned into a semi-philosophical 'what Rosemary tastes like' argument but anyways to continue on with the review and more on this 'Rosemary pizza'. I finally went to Summer's Kitchen after reading some reviews on yelp and regularly eyeing the location on College. Among three of us we split this pizza with kale, rosemary, mushroom and burrata along with an arugula, pepitas, and pear salad. The salad was pretty tasty although I don't recommend it for a picky crowd as arugula tends to have a really strong flavor and it isn't exactly tempered by the dressing or salad accompaniments. The pizza though, I initially couldn't put a finger on why I wasn't loving it. The crust was okay and the ingredients seemed fresh and interesting. I first cited a lack of salt but when my two friends rejected the idea, I moved on to a new victim--Rosemary! In many cases both of those reasons might be true, especially since burrata is a very mild cheese. With that said, you can hardly compare this to the likes of Cheeseboard and beware rosemary on pizza (sorry I have yet to accept it). read more

Summer Kitchen +bakeshop - Arugula, Pear, Pepita salad - New American Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This rating is only for the pizza. I assumed their pizza was good, since it was on half of their menu. Sadly, I feel I can get better pizza from Dominos for half the price. However, the pizza did come out super hot. The cheese is just regular cheese, not fresh mozzarella, should have read other yelp reviews in depth before I ordered! Wish they put more cheese, change the sauce and pepperoni, or maybe just not offer pizza on the menu at all. I saw other dinner entrees that looked decent. Please note that this is more of a to go place rather than a sit down restaurant. Other than the that, the staff is nice. read more

I became interested in this place when I heard that the owner, a chef of another restaurant, had decided to quit said restaurant in order to focus on this place. And I like the concept of casual places like this, too. I tried the lemon chicken with fennel sandwich and it was really, really good. I wish it wasn't as greasy (butter or olive oil from the panini press) as it was but it wasn't a turn off. The fried chicken looks so good. It was a real temptation not to order them. They ran out of the chicken tenders by the time I got there, around 1:30 p.m. The wait for the food can be a little maddening but it is what it is. At least the end result is tasty. read more

I like whats happening to the neighborhood, getting nicely yupped out with lots of food options. I wish these folks well, I just think many times people try to do what works in the City in Oakland/Berkeley and it doesn't fly long term. What I mean by that is good, cute food that's just overpriced. The City has tons of single folks who live in apartments and no kids with tons of disposable income and a penchant for going out. Places like this thrive because people are too busy dating or aren't set up to cook themselves. In Berkeley & Oakland, it's different. You got lots of foodies, but they're either no-nonsense homeowner/parents who want & need killer value or they're young single students or broke hipsters who need killer value. Maybe I'm wrong but the market for a $5 super cute cupcake or $18 for a little comfort food doesn't seem to be deep. I've been there a few times, the cupcakes are over the top if you don't mind a stick of butter in each of your cupcakes. The fried chicken, pulled pork, meatloaf type stuff is OK but not noteworthy. I personally would rather bang that out in my own kitchen. Just pricey for the East Bay IMHO. read more

The family dinner options are solid, and the pork shoulder is especially good. The pizzas are really hit or miss though. For $15-18 a pizza, it needs to be more consistent. read more

The ambiance is great and the employees are always friendly, and while the food is good, it's just not as good as some other options nearby. The kale salad is not good at all (that could just be me thinking kale is way to bitter for a caesar salad). Bakesale Betty has a better fried chicken sandwich. The bacon sandwich is really good, but I'm not a fan of the peppers, and if you take them off, there's not much sandwich left. Elmwood Cafe is a good option. The price is also kind of high. read more

I am okay with paying $3 dollars for a cupcake from here. They are some of the best I've ever tasted, though I've eaten so many since I found this place that I feel I should give my palate and my wallet a breather. I mean, there are other ways of gaining weight, and like, I don't have dental coverage right now. Some other things I like: - The limited dinner menu. Kind of like the poor man's Chez Panisse, that whole weird luxury of not getting much of a choice, but knowing that this (hopefully) has upped the odds of it being good. - The baskets in the take-out fridge with stuff like the beautiful albeit very witchy Arkansas black apples or the fractal-reminiscent romanesco. It's like objet d' produce. read more

I came across this kitchen/bake shop 2 months after it opened, and what struck me was the simple elegance of the decor. I really like the stark, yet clean minimalism that sits in contrast w/ the fresh bouquets of flowers & brussel sprout stalks. Innovative & cheap! I was also privileged to meet Paul Arenstam and Charlene Reis (who were sweet and casual, and offered me a bite of the quince and cheese salad they were preparing!) and they told me that this shop reflected their desire to open an affordable-yet-healthy fast food place, where they could employ the eco-friendly and sustainable practices they believed in. Well... I think they've got everything down except the affordable part. Then again, rent on College Avenue is probably a real bummer. I ordered a pressed Cubano-braised pork sandwich with rosemary ham, Patch's housemade pickles, Swiss cheese and spicy mayo ($8.50) I expected some more kick from the braised pork, probably because "Cubano" conjures up tasty words like spicy, fiery, etc. The sandwich was salty, tender and satisfying. The housemade pickles were good, yet didn't seem to do much for the sandwich as a whole. I wished I had ordered some sort of cruncy slaw on the side, for varied flavor. I like the idea of the kitchen and I like the owners, but when it comes down to it, I just don't agree with the price for eco-friendliness, and College Avenue overheads :( read more

Finally tried Summer Kitchen Bake Shop today. I was on College Ave and went in to get a snack instead of getting ice cream from Ici next door. I had the chicken tenders - nicely seasoned, good panko herb breading, tender and good flavor. I picked this because there was a huge platter of fresh chicken tenders on the display on the counter. Couldn't resist. They did a good fry job - not greasy, not overcooked. I had a side of the cauliflower salad - roast cauliflower, olives, capers, and toasted almonds. Really delicious, fragrant, and lots of flavor from the ingredients. Food was overall tasty and had great natural flavor. You can tell the food is fresh and isn't masked by oil/grease, salt and spice. The fried chicken also looked good and well fried. I didn't try it though. The sandwiches looked good, but a bit small for the price. They looked tasty 3 stars because service was inefficient. I literally waited 10 minutes and was only the second person in line. There was only one person attending to brewing coffee AND taking/serving/weighing orders. 3 stars also because my snack was $7+. Not cheap... prob because they use sustainable/local ingredients (which is wonderful). 3 stars because there isn't much seating available. I wound try them again for take-out meals or maybe even catering for a small event. read more

I thought this place was going to be amazing. I had always eyed it on my way to ici for dessert...so was really excited to finally try it, but a bit of a downer. the ideas behind all the food is really great, but i feel like for the pretty penny you're going to be paying...i would rather go to a place that lacked ambience, but delivered more on the food. the concepts are good, but i feel like their quality can be replicated by any serious foodie at home. read more

Hit or miss for vegetarians. While the quality of the food here is quite good, the vast majority of their menu items are meaty, and selection for a vegetarian who is not looking for pizza and salad is very limited. My brother loves meat and he has brought me here a few times. I got a good sandwich once, but the last time I went the sole vegetarian sandwich wasn't appealing to me. I did get a very delicious dinner of vegetarian soup and two sides: polenta and farmers market vegetables. But another time, I opted to eat my own snacks as they had nothing on the menu that was to my liking. If they would make the cooked farmers market vegetables consistently available, I feel like I could eat here more easily. read more

The fried chicken sandwich is the bomb.com!! Order it and you will not regret. The cupcakes are super delish. The reason why I have given it a three star is because of the lack luster Summer House Salad. Unfortunately, it borders to a side salad that you can get for a lot cheaper. There is absolutely nothing special about it and it is the first salad you see on the board. They use to have the Daily Method Salad and that was so much better than the SHS. The mint lemonade is a hit or miss. These are premade drinks sitting out on a bed of ice. Sometimes it is water down because of the ice they put in the drink that melted. Don't put the ice in the drink before serving. Their premade egg sandwiches are good. Pizza are ok but it takes awhile for them to bake it. My family and I have been coming here for several years and will always return here for a nice decent and simple lunch. read more

As I was walking past Ici last week, i peered into the window of Summer Kitchen Bakeshop and decided it has to taken for a test run. This weekend, that test run was taken and was successful! My sister-in-law and I both had the white bean ragu with endive and skillet cornbread. Yum! It definitely tasted like the food could have been homemade, but by someone willing to spend hours braising endives and soaking/simmering beans. The meal wasn't heavy, but was filling--always a good combination in my eyes. Unfortunately, it was a bit salty. I hate salt, though, so perhaps it was perfectly salted for those who enjoy the spice. The cuisine is classically American with a modern flair. There are cold salads of orzo and beets and whatever is fresh and local, pizzas, fried chicken, and cornbread. If Rachel Ashwell or Martha Stewart were to create a bakeshop with such fare, it would look exactly like Summer Kitchen. White and creme tile, muted pastels, and spare vintage wooden furniture. The look of this place fits right in on sweetly-yuppie College Avenue. For a full meal, you're looking at an $11-15 purchase. Not too bad for something that isn't a burrito. Having grown up in LA, Summer Kitchen reminded me of the places my family and I would get delicious food to take to a summer concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Most people seemed to be coming in here to get gourmet picnic/to-go food, but if you wanted to stick around and eat your meal there, there are a few tables and counter seating to relax in. The silverware leaves something to be desired, tho... Next time, I'm getting the fried chicken and if I can resist having Ici for dessert, a slice of banana loaf. mmm mm read more

Tried this place two times recently and had similar experiences: Executive Summary... Mixed. Here are the details. Summer Kitchen feels a lot like Café Fanny, as it should given the presence Chez Panisse Alums. The menu is pretty simple here, a few sandwiches and pizzas for lunch, and 3 or 4 dishes for dinner. We only tried lunch. The food was certainly Ok. The egg salad sandwich was nicely done, though I think Cafe Fanny's is better (Toasted Acme Bread!). The crunchy chicken sandwich was also good. The turkey sandwich was also good, but nothing special. On the other hand, the Sicilian Tuna sandwich missed the mark completely. It was salty and had an off bitter spice taste to it. Service? Well, there are problems. I went in with my wife, who was in pain with a rib injury, so was going to order for both of us. In fact, she was standing behind me. However, the "server" still asked my wife , rather tan me for the order. I replied, telling her what we wanted, and she then asked my wife what she wanted to drink. I said nothing, and she then asked my wife if she wanted a dessert. C'mon folks, yes, this is Berkeley, but sexual politics are so out of date. The cashier was a bit better, at least she took my money. But smile? No way. It's as though smiling was prohibited at the sales counter - though the guys cooking in the background seemed to be enjoying their day. Perhaps cold service is just reserved for the customers, or for men who order for their female companion. I wondered how they determine who should place the order for same-sex couples? OH Yes, one more note... They sell Blue (precious) Bottle coffee in bags. Nice touch. But, the coffee was roasted over TWO WEEKS ago. Blue Bottle won't sell coffee that is more than 3 days old, so what is the deal here. If you have to have the Blue Bottle, get it at their Oakland shop, but do not buy it at the Summer Kitchen. read more

I stumbled into this place a couple days before thanksgiving desperate to find a decent place that was not sold out of pumpkin pie. When I saw the menu, I became upset that I had just eaten...So many tasty looking dishes that I can't eat! Alas, I had to wait until I was back in town to try this place; each day reflecting on their menu and salivating. When I finally made it back, I was so excited that I ordered a sandwich for my self and made the executive decision to order my girlfriends meal too. We had the meatball sandwich, bacon avocado sandwich and the cauliflower salad. The meal was everything I hoped it would be. The marinara sauce on the meatball sandwich was delicious and the meatballs were very tender. The bacon was nice and thick and it worked well with the arugula. The cauliflower was awesome as well. Another plus that they are fully sustainable but their prices are a bit high. Still, worth it! Oh, pumpkin pie was very good too! read more

Positively tasteless faro and kale soup. I had to add half a salt shaker and some parmesan cheese to make it taste like something. And it was $7 for a smallish bowl of soup.. My friends chicken tenders though were delicious. And some of the other food looked good. read more

This place has become a go-to for ordering during quarantine. I've tried the kale caesar, Mary's chicken tenders, summer house salad, & the watermelon salad. All were equally delicious!!! I'll keep ordering from here! read more

Always well prepared and great service. Menu is predictable but never tired of it. Deserts are a bit limited although when available, very tasty. Great place to eat ! read more

Cozy little space on College. Nice set up w open kitchen. Ordered the their chicken sandwich and was okay with it. Lacking in flavor but again I'm comparing it to Bake Sale Betty. Probably needs a little kick like a Siracha Honey Aioli to flavor the chicken sandwich. Wife ordered the Daily Method salad and was not impressed. Will try their pizza next time. read more

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

The best pizza I've had in the East Bay coupled with a staff that cares about their customer's experience

Yummy!! I've bought food here twice, and each time it has been delicious. So far I've had brussel sprouts w/ bacon, fried chicken, quiche, and fennel salad. I loved all of it (except the fennel salad, which I thought was very good, just not quite as good as the other items; but my mom and brother loved it so I have to give it props). Oh, and did I mention the mouth-watering desserts? The carrot cake, the cupcakes? SOOOO GOOD!! Everyone working here seems cheerful, and I had a chance to chat with the owners, who were so nice, even though they were really busy at the time. The place has really cute decor. It's still brand new so it's looking a little sparse, but the owners said that they're planning on making a bunch of little improvements in the design, presentation, etc. Not that I really care that much, since the food is so tasty! All in all, I really like this place. I will definitely be coming back here for lunches and dinners, whenever I am too busy to cook something myself (i.e., all the time). read more

The cupcakes are excellent and carry very well. (Kids loved them) I had the Fried Chicken Platter and it was very tasty while my husband had the pizza which was baked to order. Cute and convenient - what more could you ask for? read more

Everything I've ever ordered from here is exceptional. The salads, baked goods, pizza--all fantastic and so fresh. Today trying the mushroom soup for the first time, and it is so flavorful. And the staff is very kind and friendly as well. The best quarantine discovery! Highly recommend. read more

We love love love this place. Its fast and friendly. We have tried all of their green salads. wonderful. pork over polenta.. delicious. just had the chicken dinner with mashed potatoes..yum. The pizzas are good but not the best on the menu. I do love the aspargus and mozzarella... And I am pretty sure these are the best burgers on College. I think the staff is very friendly and honestly if you want more than a fancy eat and run - then go somewhere else. Prices go with the quality of food. Its good. oh and the cupcakes....ooohhh. only complaint is the cold salads case - why bother. a little like safeway. read more

The food is very VERY good, but it is pricy and came in smaller portions than I had anticipated. We tried a pull-pork sandwich and the tuna sandwich with capers and fennel. Both were really great but the service did not seem authentically friendly - as in, it was a hot day and there were too many workers behind the counter than was necessary so everyone just stood around looking cranky. Once we got our food, there are only 2 or 3 tables to sit at so we had to share a large one. In a sense, maybe the owners wanted to create a sense of "community" with only having one large table for customers and another small one that sits two people, but I would still like to only eat food with the person I came with and not others. I have yet to try the brick oven pizza so I can't say too much about that. read more

Really love this place! Very friendly staff. We often order the margherita pizza and a salad. The arugula salad is probably our favorite. We also usually order a glass of wine and they give generous pours :-) Sometimes it can be busy but if you come on the early end during the week you can definitely find a table. read more

Love the pizza here. Wood fire, thin and delicious. The egg salad Sammies are good too if you luck out and get one before they are gone. The cold orzo salad is my favorite one in the neighborhood. Better than Market Hall even! read more

This place is perfect if you are looking for fresh, home-cooked style comfort food. I've tried everything from the pizzas, salads, fried chicken, brownies, cupcakes, roast chicken, spaghetti and meatballs, tri tip and sandwiches, and ALL were delicious!! They are not super fast or super cheap as many of the reviewers suggest, but that's not really the point of this Eco-friendly, community kitchen. If you are not willing to sacrifice a few extra dollars/minutes for wholesome food cooked with care, look elsewhere. Summer kitchen is about the experience, IMO, even if you are getting carry-out. Although do take the time to dine in at the barstools to watch the chefs at work, especially making pizzas, and who knows, they might even ask you to taste test something! read more

I love this place, come here anytime I can. The chicken sandwiches and the homemade pickles are to die for. The place is a little expensive but if you can afford it, I highly recommend you check it out! read more

Best hamburger hands down. I mean it. The blue cheese burger is tangy, salty, juicy, flavorful, and intense. It's incredible. The service and crowd are kind of annoying, but holy god that hamburger is really good. The pickles...wow...delightful. Ask for extra. Worth the money. Worth everything. read more

Everything that I've eaten here has been absolutely delicious. My favorites are: Kale Caesar Salad (make sure you add the crispy chicken!) Apple Smoked Bacon Sandwich Crispy Chicken Sandwich Pulled Pork Sandwich read more

i'm currently obsessed with summer's steak sandwich. it's kind of like a cheesesteak sandwich, but classier. hearst ranch grass fed beef, melty cheese, olive tapenade and padron peppers on an acme roll. oh yes. that sandwich kills it. also their chocolate cream cheese cupcakes are seriously dangerous. don't even try to bother with the smores one, the magic is missing there, for some reason they just aren't as moist. but the choc cream cheese one is perfection, and you may develop a problem after having one. soooo yummy. read more

A neighborhood treasure. The fried chicken, chocolate chip cookies and chocolate-sea salt-caramel tart are superstars in a packed solar system. Along with the decadent treats, Summer Kitchen also offers a variety of healthy and delicious salads, tasty thin crust pizza, a nice roast chicken dish. I've tried nearly everything and never been disappointed. Come taste the love. read more

I'm from the East Coast. I must say that this place is a fantastic place for lunch. I sampled the Applewood Bacon sandwich, the Diestel Turkey sandwich, the Hearst Ranch Hambuger and the Sausage Pizza. All extremely well made and tasty. You can't go Wrong here. read more

This is one of my favorite lunch spots. Everything they touch turns into food heaven!

The menu just keeps getting better & better! The pizzas are to die for. I used to get the carmelized onion, fig & pizza. Recently I had the green garlic, asparagus, burata one - delish! Now, for the chicken sand. everyone raves about the Backseat Betty's chicken sand. I find it a little bland & have to douse it with Tabsco to flavor it up. The crispy chick sand here is hands down the best one I've ever tasted. They toast the freshest roll ever so slightly, but the real secret I think comes from the mustard seed slaw & home made pickles. You must try this! read more

My friend and I got the crispy chicken sandwich and the braised beef cheek. Both were really tasty and I think for the amount the price was just right! Plates are shareable and the place is nice for lunch or early dinner. If you're in the mood for dessert there's an ice cream place next door :) read more

My go-to place in Berkeley for pizza, and also a favorite dinner destination. Their pizza is some of the best in the entire Bay Area -- beats out some of the top places in SF, in my opinion -- and also has killer desserts. Be sure to try their spelt pasta dinner special and, if it's still on the menu when you go, the arctic char. Also, you've GOT to try their brownies! WOW!! Worth it to go to Summer Kitchen JUST FOR THE BROWNIES! Seriously. read more