Just a diner with regulars and casual service, the attraction is that it is attached to a substantial Italian grocery store that smells like the old Gloria chain stores, if you are old enough to remember: peppers, olives and cheese! read more

J. Pace & Son - Grocery Near Me - Saugus, Massachusetts

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Now this place is HUGE. I was so used to small version and now I can wander around and do cartwheels. Weeeeeee Ok all joking aside, I come here for specific items. Breadcrumbs: Homemade and the best Cheese: Love the fresh grated cheese Chocolate Macaroons: Heaven, I could each them by the dozen. Bakery is pretty good and I have never been disappointed. It can be on the pricier side but I find some great things that you can't find everywhere. If you think gravy is for your turkey and that Tripe is a fish then this isn't your type of market. read more

Wow.. It's like a candy store for adults with an Italian gourmet palate! I agree the prices can be a bit high and the bakery "girls" were far less than friendly but for the most part, we were happy. Veal was 25/lb but worth every dime. tender, delicious. OMG. Homemade cheese and garlic sausages, beef braciole. Both reasonably priced and delicious. The lemon pie was excellent, the Pizza Chiena was terrible. I was shocked given they have access to amazing cold cuts! I'll be back but not for the bakery dept. Those girls need a lesson in small talk and pleasantries! read more

Pace's is a truly great market. They have killer Italian specialties (the best arancini around) and delicious cheeses, olives, pasta, sauces, deserts and a million hard to find delicacies. They also have truly exceptional meat. Tips, roasts and homemade sausage filled with amazing ingredients. I am not sure my wallet loves Pace's - but my stomach (and friends and family) certainly do. Great place. read more

Great quality meats! Their chicken cutlets are nice and thin and very clean! Its great that I don't have to trim them before cooking! All the guys behind the counter are funny and very helpful! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE their pistachio macaroons!!!!!!! read more

I love coming here. Nice parking lot. There's a ton of options of Italian foods, meats, cheeses, cookies, drinks. Anything Italian can be found here. The café is very nice and the food is always good. Everyone there is very nice and keep the place in a clean shape. So if you've never been, give it a try! read more

I have been searching for a butcher shop for meats that I can cook at home for some time now. Unfortunately after buying meat there 2 times, I can say that it is so inconsistent that it cannot be trusted. The first trip, I purchased chicken tenders, some chicken breasts and a pork roast for Christmas day. The chicken tenders were fantastic and wonderful. The chicken breasts were the best I have ever had. The pork roast however immediately smelled like fish out of the package and got worse as we cooked it to a point when a guest walked in my house, he asked if we were having fish! Ruined Christmas dinner there. Thinking that I would give them a second chance i went back and purchased a "chairman's select" rib eye roast (4.5 lbs) for Sunday dinner, marinated pork strips, marinated chicken breasts, and a stuffed turkey breast. The rib eye roast was fair at best, cooked low and slow it came out much tougher than I would expect for what was spent. The marinated pork strips had and off flavor and were not edible after cooking, and the chicken breasts when opened (before the sell by date) had the worst sulfer smell I have ever smelt. It was so bad that my wife from the second floor asked me what the horrible smell was. I am currently cooking the turkey breast and hoping for the best. For the money you spend, I would not wast it with this place. Find some place where you know your dinner plans will not be ruined! read more

Had to pick up a specialty cake last week. The best cake ever! Such detail and fondant, it looked like it was from the Food Network show. Worth the $$. Even my neighbor, who is so fussy, was beyond impressed. She called to order a cake and asked for the baker's name, Jim, I believe his name was when we asked. Cannot wait to order again, heard his cheesecakes were just as good. BUT, I wish there were another star rating for the customer service in the store. Just horrendous, and who trains these workers.? I even heard yelling behind the counter, and also coming from another worker, could have been the managager himself? Anyway, for customer service, how about ZERO stars, but the pastry and the bakers, ***** FIVE STARS. Go there for the pastry, do not expect any type of customer service quality. they all look miserable and speak to the customers the same way. Thanks read more

Best Italian sandwich and cookies around! The prepared meals are pretty good but would recommend the Italian over everything. Also very good with Covid precautions which makes for an enjoyable shopping experience. read more

I love this place! The subs, the prepared food, the meat and deli counter are all awesome! The sub counter gets busy at lunch time but they are always quick and the subs are delish! read more

This market is located in a very obscure location, and my friend and I only stopped in because we caught the board out front and wondered if it was a market of some kind. The sign reminds me of a furniture or men's clothing store. Once inside, we were overwhelmed by the selection of Italian food. You can tell that a lot of it is imported and brands and foods we just don't see for sale around here. There were so many things that I was interested in purchasing, however, the prices were out of this world high on all the imported and quirky items. Yikes. $22 for a jar of sardines? Are they covered in gold? Unfortunately, all the really cool items that you'd probably not find elsewhere were similarly priced so we only bought a couple. The prepared foods section was awesome, and priced very reasonably. I saw several dinners that sounded delicious, and ended up buying a bowl of soup that was very good. You could get all sorts of fresh sandwiches made at their little in-store restaurant and those too looked reasonably priced. The meats selection, especially the sausages, was great. We didn't purchase any but if you want something different to grill up then I really recommend their sausage section. I'm definitely going back the next time I find myself along Rt 1. This is slightly off the beaten path as it's behind Rt 1. Don't be deceived by the sign- you will find a unique assortment of goodies and meats housed inside a store that screams we sell furniture. read more

I've never been in the new one store and went the other day. Well, being new I was standing in the line deli line for a sub. When I got there and ordered, he replied can you read and pointed "Prepared Food." NOT CALLED FOR!!!! Ordered an lrg italian everything & couldn't beleive hardly no meat or filling (could close). Not shopping there again. NO THANKS! read more

I have recently moved to Melrose and am pretty disappointed in the food shopping options (I am a spoiled x-Cambridge resident). The Shaws is overpriced, the Stop and Shop sucks. The "wine and cheese" stores on Main street have a terrible selection of both. Thankfully a Whole Foods is coming. I am thus glad to find J Pace and Sons as it definitely helps with the shopping situation. They carry a decent selection of meat at reasonable prices. I liked the hot Italian sausages and we had a good roast from here. The bakery looks amazing but I try to avoid. The produce is very fresh and of high quality and is priced comparable to Shaws but is of higher quality. Also a good place to get deli items, fresh and dry pasta, oils & vinegars, and other Italian goods. There is a prepared food section and they make sandwiches and the like as well. read more

I love j paces but if you close at 6 or whatever time I assume that means I can go in and get whatever I want until said time not be turned down for a sandwich 10/15 minutes before close. I know it's annoying for people to show up before close but it's more annoying Parking and running in a place that's doors were still open and serving customers to be told no for a sandwich because the person cleaned go already. I just assumed if your doors are open for business that means I can purchase whatever items I wanted not limited menu if you arrive close to closing time. I have 0 complaints about the food or anything I just don't like rushing to make to a place before close, to make it there just to be told no. read more

Such a great, local family owned business. Girls at the bakery are always so kind and helpful! My grandkids love the butter cookies and I'm partial to the tomato, mozzarella, and basil subs. It's become a frequent stop on my grocery shopping route. read more

Got cold cuts. So dry and nasty. Got steak tips to grill. So tough. Staff is rude. Will never go back.

Great place to grab lunch and/ or pick up some Meats if your having company over. Nice friendly staff. read more

For whatever reason, I never visited this shop in their old location, but on a whim, I recently decided to stop by their new spot. And I've been back three or four times since then. I really love it, even if 50% of their wares are meat and I'm vegetarian. I think you should check it out because: 1) They carry really delicious frozen tortelloni and ravioli. They're rather expensive ($7-$10, and I saw that they have lobster for about $16), but they're worth it. 2) They carry Colavita pasta, which is one of my favorite brands of dried pasta. They make pasta in a variety of really cool shapes, and I like that. 3) They have a wide selection of prepared foods, including stuffed artichokes (!). 4) That have a diner inside the market! There are other reasons too, such as their surfeit of fresh produce, cheeses, pastries, and imported Italian specialities. And meat too, if you're into that. I love my local Italian market, New Deal, but Pace & Sons is a bigger, brighter, more welcoming, cleaner market with greater offerings. And since it's on the way home from both my CSA pick-up location and my favorite organic vegetarian market (Green St Natural Foods), I've become a regular. read more

Very expensive produce and other items. Even more so than Stop & Shop which is right across the street! The only reason I go here is because the bakery/pastry shop is awesome. I love their Tira Misu Cake and their Oreo one. They're very cheap for what you get. In regards to the bakery alone, 5 stars. 1 Star for the rest of the store.. which averages to dah dah dahhhhhhhhhhh three stars! read more

Top quality meat and cold cut selction. Decent bakery. Great selection of dry pasta, sauces and other specialties from Italy. Generally helpful, friendly staff. For those who think the guys behind the deli counter are rude, remember these are mostly Italian guys with accents working at an Italian shop in Saugus. Take it for what it's worth. read more

Never been disappointed with the catering menu from J Pace &Son . Quality, Quantity and Variety of catering items have been shown on each of my catering purchases. Love to cook but don't have the time to prepare so this is my first stop to take care of my catering needs while making my family happy! Thank you J Pace & Son!! read more

We're Italian and live closeby, so we make sure to visit this place. It's kind of diluted Italian, more mainstream, but still good. The deli isn't bad and the bakery does the trick as well, I buy my prosciutto here. As much as I love my country, I can't find a decent affordable Italian olive oil, so I go to the Greek stores for that. read more

I just tried their eggplant lasagna for the first time and it was excellent. The eggplant replaces the pasta. My first time but not the last. read more

So happy that they moved to this location, it's so much more convenient! I love that they carry Richie's, and have pre-packaged food that you just need to heat up. read more

Great place for cold cuts, fresh meat and Italian products! Ilike getting my meat over there cause they cut it the way i want it, always fresh and the deli meats are great!!!! The store gets too crowded before holidays but, no wonder, they have good quality products!! A little pricey though!!!! read more

Great place great Service and most of all best food and this is coming from a picky eater

Great spot for deli and butcher, I have not tried the bakery except fot yhe bread/roll and they are great! Some of the best steks we have had anywhere. Sausages are home made and come in 5 varieties including chicken versions. Great burgers too! Forget the fish and fire up the grill lol!! read more

Too bad there are no zero stars. Pace deserves that rating. Person who answered the phone gave me the completely wrong closing time so I ended up too late to pick up a birthday cake for a party that night. Store was closed. Called to complain the next morning and the manager and owner simply kept repeating that they close at 7:30 and since I didn't pick it up by then they were just going to resell it. Me, being a first time patron, believed the person who took my order and said that they closed at 10 PM. (Wish I had come here first, to see the correct closing time and the various comments about their awful customer service.) Owner HUNG UP on me after I explained that the lack of the promised cake from there ruined the birthday and suggested that they comp the cake due to my running around for a replacement after their screw up on the closing rime. He hung up. Really, you hang up on a new customer?? Where did he learn that beaut of a trick?? So I was peeved at that point. Called him back up and he said he was too busy to talk. He was ready to hang up on me again so I gave up at the thought of getting an acknowledgment that they messed up, along with an apology from this guy. I called him a poor effing owner and hung up. read more

Mediocre,mediocre,mediocre .... I have been to he Saugus location many times with hopes of getting some great Italian products, really wanted this place to work out for my shopping needs. Just never the case! I would liked to have hoped to write a great review....underwhelmed would be kind , tried the prepared foods several times with hopeful anticipation, ie, the meatballs, sauce was separated when heated, and are these things Italian, ?..what came to mind old and frozen, what a letdown....got some spinach pie, came to mind not fresh...lets move on to delli, I have no problem with price for quality Prosciutto , Parma would send them to school to learn how to cut and wrap...it was sticky not moist , Parma should have a crisp clean smell...did not smell right....I know in tough on review, but even the other cold cuts were just not in sync with the brand names...even the Mozzarella Cheese was mushy in texture...tried the broccoli rabe chicken sausage twice, first time they were very good, flavorful and fresh and tender...second time a different experience right out from the paper wrapping the casing was a bit sticky, we cooked them up...one bite and threw them out, simply they were old, I'm not done yet....ordered a couple of sandwiches to bring home, one egg parm, one prosciutto with mozzarella and basil, I understand the soft Italian sub roll, but wonder bread would have been better ...the eggplant was just mush with tomato sauce, what crap yes crap...the prosciutto was a clump of gross...yes been sitting there way to long....they can't even make a good ole Italian sandwich ...the staff is just as tired as the food there...Pace is an insult to my Italian roots....I hope they get humble and change for their own survival ....my advice to pace fire the entire staff, replace the staff with people who have passion for FOOD. Happy to see so many improvements....keep up the great work!!!! Ie. Got the eggplant parm, sub in addition to reg stuff...it was right on every level, bread was perfect but the egg parm was placed perfectly, and very flavorful ... read more

So rude here! I will never go back! I had a shopping basket and was cashing out and before I even handed the awful woman my payment she said "arnt you going to put the basket back where you found it" I could not believe it. I almost told her where she could put that basket if you know what I'm saying. read more

I heard that J Pace is moving to a new building (new as in the building isn't even built yet) near the Kmart in Saugus off of Rte 1 and Main Street. Not sure what this means for me yet. Also don't know what it means for the liquor store next to J Pace - which I relay on heavily since the antiquated town I live in is DRY. (WTF is up with that?? Oh and funny (ironic) thing is that all the high school kids in Melrose get caught drinking every weekend behind schools and on Mt Hood Golf Course. So HAHA to Melrose's theory that being a dry town prevents underage drinking.) read more

The bakery is a bit pricy, but the pasteries were fabulous. The apple pies are filled with apples, and the crust is very fresh. The Boston Crème is the best you can get. I recommend Pace's. The staff is very friendly, and courteous. read more

The guys that work the deli counter are rude, rude, rude. I've visited the deli twice and the guys are very surly, so I don't shop here anymore. Everything is really overpriced--the veggies are no different from what you'd get at Stop-N-Shop. The desserts look amazing--they're not. Ultra-freezer burned and bad-tasting. Yuck Yuck Yuck. read more

I was in a rush when I came here the other day so I went straight for the meat counter and only had time to get what I went there for... chicken sausages! I was excited about the different types they had: Italian, Buffalo, Broccoli Rabe, and Red Pepper & Asiago. I went with all of them except for the Italian because I hate fennel seeds. They are a good size and a great price. I love how there is chunks of chicken in it instead of just ground chicken like the chicken sausages you would find at the supermarket. The butcher was really nice and helpful. We was telling me about the new flavor they just came out with: Red Pepper & Asiago and that it was delicious. Of course I had to try it. Will be back next time to check out the rest of the store. Huge selections of meats, cheeses, produce and other things. read more

So glad i discovered this place since working in Saugus. Best Italian cold cuts ever. spicy capicola yummmm!

I have been going to Pace's since I was a little kid. I used to go with my grandfather Nicolo to buy cold cuts, cheese and Italian specialty groceries and always a sandwich. They have the best prosciutto and mozzarella sandwiches in the world and my wife loves it when they add a pieces of chicken cutlet in there. She never forgets to remind the time when she was pregnant with my first daughter and I ran out to get her one of these amazing sandwiches and only came back with 1/2. Sorry honey the J Pace sandwich was to much to resist. Over the years we have used Paces for home and office catering and it's always great. The staff is amazing as well from Joe Pace Sr., God rest his soul, never left Pace's without a slice of cheese for a taste. My personal favorite server is Mike - you get a pound of Mortadella, a recipe and free joke every time. read more

J Pace is a local institution. There are a few total locations (two in Boston), but this one takes the cake (or cannoli lol). They have a really nice traditional Italian grocery store with anything and everything your grandmother would use back in the old country. The prepared foods are one of my main reasons for coming here... The meatballs are to die for. They also have a full deli, hot/cold sandwiches made to order, and a huge selection of fresh pastries. Go check it out, it wont disappoint. Tad expensive so -1 star. read more

Best place for cold cuts and meats. Always fresh, always good. The motto, you pay what you get for, is definitely true here. Maybe they are a little more expensive than other places but the quality is top rate. I've been going here for years. Service is the best. Joe and the guys behind the counter are awesome.. read more

This store has been a great addition to the area. I do read reviews that say its pricey but I don't agree with this being overpriced. Good meats cost more than average. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful and it says a lot to find the owner, whose name is on the building, working the counter putting his name behind the product. read more

One of the best meat counters in the Boston suburbs. Never had a problem with the staff behind the counter - not sure why there are reviewers that think they are "rude". They aren't rude. Best homemade breadcrumbs in Boston, and great Olive Oil selection. read more