This compact specialty market has been open for over a year, and I really like how the merchandise…read morereflects local purveyors with no corporate brands. Starting with an arresting blow-up of Italian movie star Monica Vitti behind the checkout, it's a visually pleasing emporium because it's not overcrowded with idiosyncratic products. The wine collection is particularly interesting with labels unknown to me. I've been tempted by the delectables in the Grab & Go section, but I've demurred for the sake of discretion. In fact, having almost no knowledge of any of these products, I only recently bought something here because I want to support them. I got a box of Rooibos tea and a jar of Hawaiian masala (Photo 10). I look forward to buying more in the future, though one thought I had was that this store would benefit from samples. On a previous visit, there was a bakery pop-up in front (Photo 8), and I think more of that activity could encourage more in-store traffic. It'll be interesting to see how this business evolves. RELATED - Exploring Solano Avenue? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/eyjAJU1VZv

I LOVE THIS STORE SO MUCH!!!…read more It's so lovingly & carefully curated with yummy items. I come in every week or so to check out new items. Great selection of gourmet goodies-- I regular go in for snacks, cooking sauces from around the world, ice cream, canned drinks, honey & condiments. Appreciate they have plenty of vegan options. They also have a good selection of wines. The owners & staff are super friendly. They love to chat & answer any questions you have. It's a small but mighty space. Very clean & cheerful (not sure how else to describe it? I always smile when I enter!) SHOP LOCAL AND SUPPORT OUR WONDERFUL SMALL BUSINESSES

Highlights: - huge variety of pickled and fermented items in…read moreone delicious bowl - very knowledgeable and kind staff - foods you've almost certainly never tried before - communal, in-the-kitchen style seating Cons: - none

I honestly wanted to like this, but I really didn't. First of all, I thought I liked pickles but…read moremaybe not to this degree. The "Rice & Pickles" menu also varies, so you don't know what you'll be getting until you show up. I had booked my reservation via email months in advance and requested for a bar seat. We showed up early and looked around the shop; they didn't seem ready yet so we told them we'll wait outside until it was time to check in. Once people started showing up, they were essentially in front of us. I had presumed the staff we talked to would remember we were there first already, but just wanted to wait outside since they weren't ready. Luckily, we were still sat at the bar as we requested, but it was just a chaotic check in system - or I would say there really wasn't one at all. Once we sat down at opening along with everyone else, it still took a while to be served. They were essentially still prepping as we were sat there. The bar seating area was preferred because we could listen to Kevin introduce the food. He was very passionate, but everyone else working there just seemed annoyed to be there. However, the stools are wildly uncomfortable and we were really squished in. The height was also just wrong so you either had to hold the bowl (which was pretty big and heavy) or lean over very far to eat. Now, the pickling/fermenting was Japanese inspired? But it wasn't done well, in my opinion. They used a lot of Asian ingredients but the actual execution was poor. For example, I usually love all things daikon but their daikon bettarazuke was much too fermented. Texture and flavor were both overwhelming - not sweet or crunchy. The only item I really liked was the koji garlic on the avocado (additional supplement $6). That was flavorful and delicious - wish there was more of that. The cured egg was something soy based but tasted like it was sat in the curing liquid for way too long - not good. The rice itself was honestly terrible; brown rice, but just didn't taste like it was properly cooked. The dashi had no flavor even though it was supposed to be fennel leek apple- it was just extremely sour. We didn't like most of the pickled vegetables, just flavor-wise and texturally. Everything was extremely sour and one-note, with no nuance in flavor besides from that, making it not that palatable as whole. Overall, I wouldn't be back but hey if you really like sour vegetables... $36 per bowl per person, 20% automatic gratuity added. Oh, and it was also difficult to pay; we got up and stood by the iPad for a good 10 minutes until they came over to help us pay to leave.

Great selection of hot foods and the staff is very helpful when you can't find anything. I love…read morecoming in here, food is always fresh and they keep the place very clean.

I go to this Halal Market at least twice a week. The service is one of the best with lovely smile…read morefrom Sid Ahmed. The ambiance is plenty of joy. I went the other day to get Anchovies is so fresh like from the ocean. I will high reccomend this Market had plenty of things.

My wife and I stopped by Amphora Nueva after grabbing lunch at The Station nearby to replenish our…read moredwindling supply of aged dark balsamic. Like most artisanal olive oil and vinegar stores, this one allowed for sampling of nearly all their products. There are so many interesting oil blends and flavored balsamic vinegars, I would encourage you to take your time to try out anything that piques your curiosity before making a purchase. We ultimately picked up a bottle of their 25 year old aged, Denissimo balsamic. This balsamic had a wonderful sweetness to it and was beautifully viscous. I can't wait to drizzle this on top of a tomato burrata appetizer when summer comes around, or on some vanilla ice cream. Another balsamic I really enjoyed trying out -- that would also go lovely with vanilla ice cream, was the espresso flavored balsamic. I would definitely recommend checking out Amphora Nueva for all our olive oil and balsamic needs.

We first tried their product at a party--just a splash over sparkling water--and it was delicious…read more From that moment, we were hooked. Now it's in regular rotation at our house as we work our way through all the new flavors in the store. BB

Nicole led a virtual Chevre-making class for my colleagues and I and it was a blast! Pretty awesome…read moreto be able to enjoy such a fun, informative and highly rewarding (we did get fresh cheese out of it after all) experience via Zoom. We were provided with our very own cheese-making kit ahead of the class (with immersion thermometer, cheesecloth and straining basket included) and super detailed instructions to replicate the recipe at home in just 10 minutes. Worth to note that the cheese culture packet that came with our kit was enough to culture an additional 3 quarts of milk beyond the one we prepped, too. Nicole was lovely - she answered all our questions, and gave us pro cheese seasoning/paring and gifting tips. Would highly recommend, especially for large-group/team bonding events. Looks like everyone will be getting fresh cheese this Christmas :-)

I cannot praise Nicole more for her amazing cheese making classes! Our company did an outing here…read moreto make Burrata, Mozzarella, and Goat Cheese and had a blast. Nicole makes sure to explain everything thoroughly, including the history of each cheese. Makes everything super interesting. We also included a grazing board and they were all so delicious. We were eating, making cheese, and having fun the entire time. Parking is a bit difficult so we just did ride share there. The place is a bit hard to find but it's a office room inside a parking gate. I am definitely go back with friends and family the next chance i get. I hope this place doesn't get too famous so Nicole still has time left for us! haha Thank you for everything Nicole!!

El Cerrito has bunch of amazing "ethnic" grocery stores tn Roong Jing Jing grocery is one of them…read more The store is tiny and has specific Thai grocery products. Their super power is the Thai take out "pop up" that happens every Saturday morning where about a dozen local That restaurants drop off take out dinners. you get there before late morning and you'll have a wide assortment of That foods, including Holy Basil Chicken and egg which is the s--t. all the curries and noodle and rice dishes you expect plus desserts. the only think I tend not to get there is rice since I live right nearby and have a rice cooker at home but seriously. go there Saturday morning pick up a few things and you'll have a 24 hour Thai Food Feast. You do not want to miss this.

The interior is very small, but they have a great selection of prepackaged foods and groceries…read more If you like international snacks, this is the place to load up on your next haul! The ready-made food and desserts looked delicious, though a part of me worries about the rice/meats being left out unrefrigerated.

Cute store lots of different kits and tools for the novice chef. Got a sourdough starter…read moreunfortunately it did not grow, but thinking about trying a different kit.

Love this store. Like the new location even if parking can be a pain. Got a new vinegar mother and…read moresome sour dough starters for a friend on my last visit.

Ordered 300 bars with custom labels for an event and they were incredible! Very easy to work with,…read morefabulous chocolate and our guests scooped up every last one. Highly recommend! And they generously gave a nonprofit discount too :)

This is our family go-to place for special birthday gifts for our friends no matter their age…read more Their bon-bons are delicious and display beautiful artistry. But hands down, we fully recommend their chocolates cake, El Rey. It is the BEST chocolate cake on earth, to die for, and also my husband's birthday cake year after year. Children and adults both gobble it up completely. The folks that work there are also very kind and always enticing me with samples of their bars.

I have been delighted to shop here during the pandemic and cannot express how pleased I am that…read moreMarket Hall limits entrance to 10 customers at a time max. Everyone has been super polite, customers and staff, and the management watches the line closely, as soon as the queue builds up, another register is opened. Thank you Market Hall for such a pleasant shopping experience and for your delightful, high quality foods. * I am so weak for your fresh pappardelle and prosciutto tortellini, learned today that the meat pastas are made with house cured Belotti meats!

this place is sooo cute. i wish we had more local food halls like this in the bay area. the food…read morewas good too and the staff was nice :)

Fresh vegies and lots of selections name it and they have it.Love the chocolate cupcakes!!!read more

This is the best grocery for all your needs, there all types of food depts including meat/seafood…read moredept., deli, pastries, bread, cheese, regular/organic fruits & veggies, etc.