New American Restaurants in Berkeley, CA

“What a lovely surprise to find such tasty, healthy food so close to home, friendly staff, on time! Lightly cooked but high-protein and *yummy*“

“The lamb chops were phenomenal!“

“The food inside is delicious and healthy portions. The service here is great too!“

“open mic Tuesdays and the food and atmosphere!“

“Not many vegetarian options, but the one you have is the best ever🤩“

“Had to check out Cals tonight with some friends while on the town! The food was great! We got the Mac & Chicken and the Chicken sandwich’s. One thing to be aware about is the price. However for those more expensive items the portions are HUGE! Definitely a good place to stop while visiting Berkeley!“

“This was so fun! Caleb especially was amazing! We have great report and he even gave us a booth! He was so fun to talk to and my friends said the burgers they had were amazing! Overall a great atmosphere, my vodka cran was great, and Caleb gave amazing service. Will be coming back!“

“I appreciate when a restaurant gives you a reasonable amount of food on your plate. My breakfast was the right size to feel satiated and not overly full. The potato wedges were well cooked and tasty. Coffee is self serve, so no worries about cups being empty. It's a bit small inside, so seating might be an issue if they are busy. Definitely a great breakfast place“

“Things haven’t gotten going yet so you can still make it.“

“One of the best restaurants in Elmwood (4/5 green stars) It’s so easy to walk right by Summer Kitchen without even noticing it. It’s a narrow shopfront with just a few tables outside and it’s easy to miss as you ponder ice cream and other offerings from neighbors. Well, take it from me – forget ice cream and get a baked item from Summer Kitchen instead! Or try a pizza, or an egg salad sandwich – possibly the best egg salad sandwich you’ll ever have. But if you are limited for time, try one of the fresh fruit pastries (galette) – they seem expensive at $12 but they are big enough for two and totally worth it! I’m giving Summer Kitchen 4/5 Green Stars for social and environmental impact. The positives are obvious – most of the ingredients are organic and locally sourced. Everything is made from scratch and there is transparent sourcing of the meat and fish (Mary’s free-range chicken, etc.). There are a reasonable amount of vegetarian options and you can definitely find some vegan dishes too (salads, sandwich, pasta). Summer Kitchen could make the biggest environmental impact by scrapping beef from the menu – replacing it with plant-based alternatives, ideally. Beef has a carbon footprint of around 10 times that of chicken and over 100 times that of pea protein, on average. If everyone one the planet ate 1 lb. of beef per week (the US average), total greenhouse gas emissions would increase by one third! I’ll write a post illustrating all of this soon on the Green Stars Project. So I really appreciate that Summer Kitchen makes more effort than the vast majority of restaurants on improving sustainability so that’s my suggestion for the biggest opportunity for improvement – cut the beef.“

“Outdoor patio Salad Lunch Breakfast Brunch“

“This is one of those spots where the food and drinks are so solid, the whole place so cozy (including the lovely patio), and the workers and owner so nice that I almost don't want to tell people about it lest they get attached to it, too. I used to come here fairly often when I lived in the area and it was always a respite. I hope they stick around forever, to be honest.

And huge kudos to the owner for supporting folks with difficulties who need employment.“

“I've visited several times and I try to pick something different everytime. However, their fries are amazing!! So much so that I've ordered them my last 3 visits. The chili fries are the best!! The fries are so crispy!! So freaking delicious!!“

“had a nice brunch before class started and was on a budget, cashier was sweet and recommended me a nice sandwich and i tried a smoothie which was way better than expected, workers were all sweet and i sat for a bit while waiting for my next class to start, will come back again“

“Wonderful food service and beer! Very friendly owner! Will definitely return and recommend.“

“Stopped by this café in Berkeley and loved it. The place has a warm, relaxed vibe with just the right amount of buzz from people studying and chatting. The coffee was excellent—smooth, rich, and clearly made with care. I tried their cappuccino and it was perfectly balanced. The staff were friendly and seemed to genuinely enjoy what they do, which adds to the atmosphere. There’s plenty of seating, good Wi-Fi, and a nice mix of indoor and outdoor spots. Great place to work for a few hours or just hang out and unwind. Definitely coming back.“

“Dining with Abstract Table is an art experienced through the eyes and palette. Each course was beautifully and thoughtfully created to delight the senses. I can’t wait to see what they dream up next!“

“Tender Greens | Berkeley has become a go-to place for occasional food delivery & dining in house in the mid-afternoon. The food is tasty, fresh, & plentiful—consistent—& always tastes good. Chefs develop interesting & tasty seasonal menus. I have explored a number of plates & bowls, especially savor the greens & seasonings that go alongside the entrees. Have enjoyed chicken, salmon, beef, & vegetarian options as well as all the sides. Sandwiches & salads are delish. As is the mint lemonade & watermelon fresca. The place can be hopping or not, & the service is top notch & personable, professional. They do robust to-go orders & have spacious outdoor garden seating. Sure wish I’d discovered it sooner!“

“Delicious and portions are huge“

“A game day classic, but also a great place to chill with your friends or family on other days in the cozy banquettes. Great space, excellent drinks, and the new burger is amazing.“

“We all agreed that the food was first rate, the staff was friendly and helpful, and the French toast was excellent…“

“Delicious, fresh and wholesome food! We were visiting from out of town and just googled breakfast in Berkeley, and this place popped up. So glad we chose it, because our food was delicious. Our group had the lox bagel, breakfast burrito, and the jumpstart breakfast with pancakes and bacon. Everything was quality and cooked well. The smoothies and espresso drinks were also great!“

“Love this place. Great service and food!!!“

“Always a great experience and that view!“