Standard Fare
Permanently Closed
Seasonal breakfast & lunch featuring house-made focaccia sandwiches
Seasonal breakfast & lunch featuring house-made focaccia sandwiches
"Closing on Wednesday, December 19, this popular Berkeley restaurant from chef Kelsie Kerr comes to an end as Kerr retires at the end of the year; she thanked her team and customers for 11 years in business, and the San Francisco Chronicle reports that pop-up Bolita Masa will take over the space with plans to retain most of the staff, as chef-owner Emmanuel Galvin aims to launch Cafe Bolita first with a takeout window in February 2026, followed by breakfast, brunch, and lunch by March 2026." - Dianne de Guzman
"The whole hyper-seasonal California thing can feel rote and overdone (we've had too many rapini, sunchoke, or goat cheese-topped tartines and pizzas to count). Thankfully, this is never the case at Standard Fare in West Berkeley. The food at this spot from a Chez Panisse alum tastes exciting and new every time thanks to a menu that changes daily (lunch is typically a vegetarian sandwich, a meat sandwich, salad versions of each, and a special of the day). Another reason is the ingredients, from rockfish and turnips to spiced sausage and fennel, are the most impeccable, freshest versions of themselves—and simply done to maximize flavor. Order a cappuccino to go with everything, and then grab a seat on the shaded patio out front. They also recently started serving à la carte dinner with the same great seasonal dishes like lamb ragout and halibut crudo." - julia chen 1, lani conway
"The whole hyper-seasonal California thing can feel rote and overdone (we've had too many rapini, sunchoke, or goat cheese-topped tartines and pizzas to count). Thankfully, this is never the case at Standard Fare in West Berkeley. The food at this breakfast and lunch spot from a Chez Panisse alum tastes exciting and new every time thanks to a daily changing menu (lunch is typically a vegetarian sandwich, a meat sandwich, salad versions of each, and a special of the day). Another reason is the ingredients, from rockfish and turnips to spiced sausage and fennel, that are the most impeccable, freshest versions of themselves—and simply done to maximize their natural flavors. Order a cappuccino to go with everything, and then grab a seat inside or on the shaded patio out front. They also recently started serving à la carte dinner with the same great seasonal dishes like lamb ragout and halibut crudo." - Lani Conway
"Perhaps best known for its weekday focaccia sandwich brown bag lunches, Chez Panisse alum Kelsie Kerr’s West Berkeley breakfast and lunch spot also serves a mean Saturday brunch. The menu changes every day, but keep an eye out for sticky buns, sourdough waffles, and picture-perfect fried eggs." - Dianne de Guzman
"Standard Fare is a Berkeley insider favorite; it’s a bit off the beaten path but manages to lure in locals on a steady basis. The restaurant’s highly seasonal fare from chef Kelsie Kerr is the draw here. Diners can’t go wrong with the frittata, which comes with an assortment of vegetables, or the oft-rotating selection of salads and sandwiches. The restaurant also expanded to include dinner, with a rotating menu that shifts with the seasons." - Dianne de Guzman
