Seasonal bites: The Bay Area’s best summer menus
Summer flavors in the Bay Area. Photo courtesy of San Francisco Public Library
Summer in the Bay Area means bright red tomatoes, juicy stone fruits, golden corn and treats like watermelon and berries. Local restaurants are taking full advantage of the sunny season, offering special menus that showcase the vibrant flavors of fresh, seasonal produce. From elegant tasting menus to cozy neighborhood favorites, these BARTable eateries are serving up summer on a plate. Check them out, and don't forget your Clipper card!
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The seasonal flavors at Lazy Bear are the ultimate Bay Area treat. Photo courtesy of Via Michelin Guide (Bob McClenahan).
Lazy Bear | 16th St Mission
Dining at Lazy Bear in the Mission District is the ultimate modern American dinner party. Reservations are in the form of tickets for a tasting menu experience that typically lasts 2.5 hours. You can expect numerous courses featuring hyper-seasonal ingredients and inventive cooking techniques. This Michelin-starred restaurant changes its menu frequently to reflect what’s fresh and in season, and summer is a particularly exciting time to visit. Check out a previous summertime sample menu to get a feel for what to expect. Lazy Bear is just 0.3 miles from 16th St Mission at 3416 19th St.
Enjoy fresh pizzas, pastas, salads and more at the popular Flour + Water in San Francisco. Photo courtesy of Flour + Water Hospitality Group.
Flour + Water | 16th St Mission/24th St Mission
Flour + Water blends the best of Italy and California in a fresh, seasonal way. Their menu changes daily, reflecting the local ingredients that highlight the flavors of summer. Their special forager tasting menu taps directly into what's being harvested and foraged in the Bay Area right now, from wild mushrooms to summer squash and stone fruits. Plus, their handmade pastas and pizzas are always a good idea. Toppings include everything from tomatoes and corn agnolotti to squash and basil. Flour + Water is located just 0.8 miles from both the 16th St Mission and 24th St Mission, at 2401 Harrison St.
Don't miss the summer menu at Bouche. Photo courtesy of Open Table.
Bouche | Montgomery St
Bouche is a French-Californian bistro that leans into the season with summer tasting menus. Products are sourced from local farmers' markets and feature a variety of fresh, seasonal ingredients. The focus here is on fresh seafood, market vegetables and light, flavorful sauces. Diners can expect elegant plating and a cozy, candlelit setting perfect for a date night or pre-theater dinner. Their seasonal tasting menu features items such as a stonefruit salad and Branzino with zucchini, pine nut pesto, cherry tomatoes, and Kalamata olives, to name a few. Taste something summery 0.4 miles from Montgomery St at 603 Bush St.
Trestle offers four courses of delicious seasonal cuisine at a fair price. Photo courtesy of Trestle.
Trestle | Montgomery St
The chefs at this Jackson Square eatery highlight local and seasonal ingredients in their three separate Summer of Seasonality menus: 1) Corn Menu, July 9–29; 2) Peppers Menu, July 30–Aug. 13; 3) Tomato Menu, Aug. 14–Sept. 3. Overall, think yellow corn soup, Spanish farmer’s omelet and heirloom tomato salad. The atmosphere is lively and welcoming, and meals are an excellent value for high-quality dining. Exit BART at Montgomery St for tasty summer flavors 0.5 miles away at 531 Jackson St.
Savor creative summer dishes at Acquerello. Photo courtesy of Acquerello.
Acquerello | Civic Center/UN Plaza
Acquerello, a refined Italian fine-dining gem in San Francisco’s Nob Hill, brings the flavors of summer to its seasonal tasting menu. Executive Chef Suzette Gresham’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant blends classic Italian techniques with modern flair. Diners may create their own four-course menu from choices in each course. This summer, expect dishes with the freshest seasonal ingredients, like chilled Maine lobster with passion fruit and rabbit mortadella-filled cappellacci. Take BART to Civic Center/UN Plaza and find Acquerello 1.1 miles away in Nob Hill at 1722 Sacramento St.
You'll find colorful and comforting summer eats at MAMA Oakland. Photo courtesy of Mama Oakland.
MAMA Oakland | 19th St/Oakland
MAMA Oakland’s summer of seasonality menu is full of bright pastas, grilled vegetables and playful desserts. The three-course prix-fixe format keeps things simple (and affordable), while the vibe is laid-back and welcoming. This summer, they’re offering three summertime menus, each highlighting a summer food. First up is corn (7/9–7/29), then stone fruit (7/30–8/13) and finally tomato (8/14–9/3). Try one, or all three, and enjoy the best ingredients of summer with nostalgic Italian-American flavors. Take BART to 19th St/Oakland and find MAMA Oakland, 0.9 miles away at 388 Grand Ave.
Chez Panisse is one of the best seasonal restaurants in the Bay Area. Photo courtesy of Eater.
Chez Panisse | Downtown Berkeley
It doesn’t get more seasonal than Chez Panisse. Alice Waters, James Beard Foundation’s first female “Best Chef in America,” led the way in sustainable and seasonal menus in the U.S. Her California cuisine menus change daily based on seasonal availability and she only uses peak-season produce. Patrons can dine downstairs in the main restaurant for a rotating four-course fixed dinner menu or upstairs in the café for lunch or dinner à la carte. See what’s for dinner this week here. You can also check out the sample July café menu, which includes things like summer squash and corn soup with green coriander yogurt and rigatoni with cranberry beans, cherry tomatoes, basil, breadcrumbs and Parmesan. Take BART to Downtown Berkeley to dine at the famous Chez Panisse, 0.7 miles away at 1517 Shattuck Ave.
Gregoire is a seasonal gem for summer flavors. Photo courtesy of Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE.
Grégoire | Downtown Berkeley
The summer menu at Gregoire includes a rotating lineup that often features crispy potato puffs, summery sandwiches and inventive salads with farm-fresh ingredients. Everything is made to order and beautifully boxed, perfect for a Bay Area picnic. Enjoy dishes like crispy fried eggplant on focaccia, grilled pork tenderloin with corn-jalapeño salsa, fresh seasonal salads and sweets like peach mousse and blueberry bread pudding. Exit BART at Downtown Berkeley to find a summer menu full of bright colors and sunny flavors 0.6 miles away at 2109 Cedar St.
What's your favorite BARTable summer eatery?
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