For great take home lunches and dinner, my favorite is Lagunitas Groceries and Deli. The deli counter has everything, from sandwiches and salads to home cooking AND some really nice, very sweet employees who are very accomodating. At this grocery and deli, you can grab your essentials, your coffee, your milk, your eggs, etc., AND get breakfast/lunch/dinner to go, from people who always have a smile on their face and live to please. T
Some of the things they offer are amazing lasagna, portobello pizzas (pizza toppings and sauce on a portobello instead of a crust), grilled vegetables, potato/pasta/egg/tabouleh/bean salads, grilled salmon, tofu burgers, meatballs, grilled steaks with onions on top. There's always at least one hearty crockpot soup or stew, the best ones I think are their pork and vegetable stew or their chicken tortilla soup. The sign outside says they have chili, and they have amazing chili, either vegetarian or meat chilis; I like to get half veggie and half meat chili, mixed together, which they'll do for the same price as a large, and then you get the multiple beans and lots of veggies from the veggie one along with the heartiness of the meat chili. No false advertising there, they have great chili. Also, they always have chicken breasts in a variety of ways: grilled with teriyaki sauce and green onions, breaded and pan fried, or baked with an herb and spice rub. Another thing that they ALWAYS have, despite the season, is organic fruit salad. Somehow these guys always have fresh berries, pineapple, melon, grapes in their fruit salad, nothing out of a can, just a very tasty combination.
Along with lunch and dinner stuff, they also have breakfast everyday. Eggs, bacon, potatoes, bakery items (listed below), along with espresso drinks. They have amazing B.E.L.T. (bacon, egg, lettuce, and tomato) bagels everyday until noon, and you can get cheese as well if you want to have a completely glutinous breakfast (great hangover remedy!). In fact, their bagel sandwiches are usually something that I have when I eat bread, which is very rarely.
They offer a great selection of baked good that come from this bakery in Berkeley. Right now they have heart shaped shortbread cookies that have been half dipped in chocolate in honor of Valentines Day (only 99 cents for a cookie!). They also always have coffee cake, scones, muffins, cake, and cheese cake.
All of the food that's offered here to go (or in house, there are tables) are packaged in eco-friendly take out ware, which is perfect if you're grabbing something to take with you while hiking in Samuel P. Taylor Park, spending the day at one of the beaches, or going to the Point Reyes National Seashore. Great for taking on a day trip, taking home, or having a quick meal when you're busy and in the area. Totally love this place, eat here many times each week, and think everyone should try this place at some point. :-) read more