Snotty kid behind the counter gave me attitude when I asked if they had meatloaf mix. He tells me no, and I asked if they have any ground veal, and he rolls his eyes and in a monotone that says "I HATE MY JOB AND I HATE YOU", he rattles off everything ground that they have including f@cking chicken and turkey instead of saying "Sorry, no we are out of f@cking veal". I will drive to Berkeley Bowl and put up with their BS as opposed to driving to Monterey street for YOUR BS. Oh, and you store smells weird. read more

Well, 2 stars for service. I special ordered 33 quail from here for an event I was doing on Valentine's Day. The price was right. When I went to pick them up, the first thing I had a problem with was how the gave them to me to leave the store..... All together in a see-thru plastic bag sitting in a significant amount of raw bird juice. When I get them back to my catering kitchen, I start to tunnel bone them and these poor poor birds are mangled. Almost all of their rib cages were smashed, many had ripped limbs, some were very poorly plucked and gutted. It really made me call into question their meat handling practices. I will not be returning. read more

Magnani's has gained another star because I just found out a about their new GREAT GREAT sandwich deal ....Well. new to me. I just found out about it,because the time I usually do my shopping follows the rule "Never shop when you are hungry, because then you overshop ( or something) And, sure, I am often hungry about noon. I AM AN AMERICAN. But last week, I HAD to be at Magnani's at 11:46. And atop the deli counter, in a basket, were prewrapped sandwiches and a sign-- POOR BOY SANDWICHES $5.00 I am poor, I need sandwiches, this was for me. When I got home, and it was a fast trip , because I was thinking about the sandwich. And what a sandwich it is. I scarfed it down so fast, I didn't have time for analysis. But you know me, you trust me right? They don't have them on Saturday, and probably not Thanksgiving Eve when one half of Berkeley comes to pick up THE BEST TURKEY in town read more

Bought some veal marrow bones to make an unctuous lentil soup. Turkey legs and wings!! Phoenix Pastifico olive bread sold here!

This place has both 1 star junk and 4 star treats. The Avoid List Blander than wallpaper paste Chicken pot pies. Half-ass marinara sauce with old herb flavor. Ribs with sparse meat. Lotsa bone. Baked potatoes drier than a road apple in Yuma. The Good Stuff It's a short list because first I discovered the bad stuff and haven't been back as often. Roasted Chickens are spiced well and flavorful. Nice n moist. Atmosphere is like a high school boys locker room. Lots of teenage hormonal imbalances at work here. Hooting and yelling and grunting. And if a teenage girl strolls in from the school down the street? Take a step back and observe the awkward courtship rituals of hyperactive teens in nature. 2 1/2 half stars. read more

I too had been going to Magnani's for years. It was a great little gem of a butcher...until it changed hands. The current owners do know seem to care about hygiene. Sure the prices on chicken breast are cheap but do you really want to buy chicken that is sitting in some sort of liquid from the chicken as it thaws? Frequently I have seen cross contamination thru handling or placement in the case between turkey and chicken. Many times the chicken wings are burned from the refrigeration and look nasty. One time I bought many turkey necks to make stock and a couple of them were over the hill and made to whole pot of stock unusable. When I complained to them, they said I needed to bring in the offending meat to get my money back. Well it was so stinky it was already in my outside trash. Another time I bought a boned leg of lamb here and it was not trimmed properly. l so I paid $ for .6 lbs of solid fat in the inside. I know this because I unrolled it and saw the fat, cut it out and weighed it. This is how they are making up for their "good deals on pricing". I would love to have a good butcher in the neighborhood as it compliments the rest of the businesses so well, and makes shopping easy. Unfortunately this is not it. You will get safer, better meats from the local discount chain grocery. read more

Just got over a whole week of food poisoning/stomach flu and after a week of broth, rice, applesauce & toast I needed some protein. Got one of their organic whole roasted chickens. And some fra'mani turkey galentine that uses both light and dark meat. And some of their house peppered roast beef and I got the little end because I hate rare meat and love pepper. Their house roasted turkey is very nice too and I got that last time but I wanted to try the galentine. Everything is delicious and I feel stronger already. The young man who helped me was wonderful as were the women at the register. My wife who was waiting in the car with the 2 basenjis we are dogsitting want some bubbly drink and they had a nice selection. Score! read more

Local grocery / butcher / poultry spot on hopkins in the little strip of good food places (pizza, fish monger, monteray market, etc) Not much to look at, but it's been there a while and looks it. Don't expect a supermarket. But they have all the good local poultry - mary's, diestel, rosie, niman ranch, etc. Decent selection of meats and broths and such as well. I don't go here too often, but I do always get my thanksgiving turkey there - great quality, short lines, no stress. read more

You'll get better tasting chicken pot pies from a freezer section---floor. Hell, you could get more flavor from a spoonful of flour. This also applies to their gagiolis (ravioli's for those of you who haven't tasted them). The marinara is a pretty color, but don't be fooled, by golly! This packaging is as careful a ruse as the trailer for Daredevil. Both are red, and both....ah, forget it. If you're over 90 live nearby, have money to waste or a gift certificate about to expire, and need to fill your stomach at no risk of indigestion from something too flavorful or rich, here's what I recommend: punch yourself in the stomach. It's better than eating here. read more

The quality of the meat has deteriorated substantially ever since the change of ownership. You can get better meat in Safeway now. The employees have absolutely no skill whatsoever with the knife. I have to had throw away pieces of meat that they had mangled badly. There's really no reason to shop at Magnani any more ..... read more

When the weather cools down it's time to make chicken soup. I used up the last of my schmaltz and need to make more. I went to Sprout's to see if they sell chicken backs and they don't. One of my friends suggested Magnani's and another suggested chicken feet would be a good addition, something I'd never used. I just called and they sell both, Mary's organic, the latter information helpfully volunteered by the man who answered the phone. I am very pleased and will head over there when the current heat wave breaks. read more

So, moseyed on over after doing some brief grocery shopping at Monterey Market. I was hungry, and I wanted a sandwich. While I was here, I bought a whole lemon-rosemary chicken! It was a little over $10 and all the chickens are free-range organic. I also got a sandwich. Now, I wasn't sure WHAT to get, but the guy behind the counter told me he had it under control. I decided on Pastrami, and no mayo. He decided on the fixings and the provolone. We decided to get it toasted on a nice sourdough roll. Now, in theory it sounded great and I loved his attitude and style. The pastrami itself was a bit.. well, I've had better. The chicken is good though! (A bit small). Sadly, the guy didn't cut it up for me (or even tell me it was an option! although I later found out it was.). When I went to pay, I stared longingly at the chocolates and lollies.. then decided NO, I will exhibit self-control. The cashier lady laughed and told me I was funny. OH and this place sells tamales all day and tacos/burritos before 3! So will I be back? Ya betcha! read more

I've been coming to Magnani for many years. So many years that I remember when the main store was on College (around where Wood Tavern is now) and the small store on Hopkins (where Gioia is now) was kind of a branch. One virtue of the College store was that it was open on Sundays! The Magnani people were good folks on whom I could always rely for a "small fryer cut up for barbecuing." In random stores that sell chicken, all the birds are roughly the same size: medium. It must be the high volume that enables these people to stock chickens whose weights are not always the same. I've enjoyed their prepared chickens (lemon-rosemary, teriaki,...) many, many times and also have fond memories of their spit-roasted potatoes and their barbecued ribs. I'd also dip into the freezer case for an occasional box of Genova ravioli. In recent times, I've divided my poultry shopping among Cafe Rouge, Magnani and Kensington Fine Foods. I come to Magnani when I'm in the area, and usually I end up spending a fair amount of time in the store cooling my heels. As other yelpers have pointed out, the service can be slow and the personnel behind the counter can behave in an irritating way. I've been here so infrequently in recent months that I didn't even realize that there were new owners. I will pay more attention to what's going on over the coming weeks. One review suggested the strategy of arriving at 9AM to be the first customer. Do that and you'll stand in front of the door for 30 minutes until they open at 9:30. I happened to be going by the store this morning at 9:31 and noticed that the door was still closed. While I put my Monterey Market purchases in my car, the door had opened, and I was actually today's first customer. That sounds good, but the display cases were completely empty and neither prepared chicken nor prepared ribs were ready yet. I asked about a small chicken. "I'm pretty sure that we can find one for you." The person who was helping me disappeared into the back for a few minutes and finally emerged with a really tiny chicken in his hands. He did an expert job cutting it up for me. I hope he washed his hands when he was done. read more

Holly Cow, or should I say turkey. I ordered my holiday bird from this highly reputable meat market and it was quite an ordeal. I called ahead to save time but when I arrived I found that I had to wait in not one but two lines. One to get a number and one to get the bird. I'm sure the bird will be tasty, but the process of getting the bird needs some work. I've also bought some chicken and sausage and found it all quite fresh and tasty. It's added to my list of regular places, but I think I'll get a bird elsewhere next year. read more

I live right near here, and as Monterey Market does not serve meat, this is an obvious must stop for my grocery shopping if I'm shopping at Monterey Market and have no meat at home. I am the type of person that frequents 3-6 grocery stores on a regular basis. Magnani's is a smaller equivalent of the meat counter at Berkeley Bowl. However, they do have a bigger selection of sausages, and most anything that a meat-eating shopper could want. They also double as a deli, though I've never tried their sandwiches. Their sandwich meats are good, some are homemade, which I like. One thing though- their bacon still has the skin on it. It makes it kinda chewy. I think I like my bacon without the skin. read more

The meat at Magnani is absolutely superior. It's best to go early (9am) if you want to zip in/zip out. They do an incredible job of deboning and their prices are very reasonable. We made a turducken for Thanksgiving and they deboned all 3 birds for us and it was a very reasonable price given all birds were free range and no hormones. If you arrive later in the morning you will wait to get served. I recommend grabbing a cup of coffee across the street and just chillin' while you wait. It's worth it. read more

It is so sad that this business has deteriorated over the past 5 years. Folks that once worked there used to have SOME knowledge about both the products they sold and SOME information about how to deal with cooking the meat. NOT so now. First, it appears that the new hires ( all the more mature and knowledgeable staff have left) are more along the lines of cashier checkers. My experience is when I ask questions about the meat, in preparation, just brief easy questions: one does NOT know. ALL THEY ARE DOING IS PACKAGING THE MEAT, AFTER WEIGHING THEM. Also, I've observed a questionable handling of the meat in-between the customers' requests. Today I purchased sausages; the handler was busy, of course- and moved from the customer before me to my request. NO HANDS WASHED IN-BETWEEN. And, not so critical, but frustrating: the cashier line is often backed up, and it appears those folks are below legal age for employment, or just about meeting that age, thus: little experience. I'm wary about the owners' attention to QUALITY AND SAFETY. read more

I give these guys credit for sourcing local, sustainable, organic, grass fed, and just plain awesome meat. But I still don't shop there much anymore. I got tired of the surly customer service and just plain gave up on the prepared food items. I don't do surly. You don't have to be overly friendly or become my new best friend, but could you stop comparing member sizes long enough to acknowledge me and wrap up a pound of chicken? Gee, thanks. Over time, I sampled most of the prepared items they have available and can safely say that cooking is not their specialty. I bought a butternut squash soup that had tiny pieces of rock hard carrot throughout. Carrot could add great flavor, but it has to be cooked and fully incorporated to avoid ruining the texture of the soup. I also tried the chicken pot pie. The vegetables were rock hard and the crust tasted like pure flour. So, if you can tolerate surly and pass on the prepared items, this is a fine shop. In addition to the meat and deli section, they have a pretty decent selection of bulk olive oils, dried pastas, sauces, etc. I will most likely go back, but we are still in a cooling off period. read more

Magnani continues to be the best place around for poultry. The selection of organic chicken from Fulton to Hoffman to Rosie is great. The duck, from whole to parts, confit, or livers is great. I just made pate with duck livers from here and it came out great. They also have stocks and duck fat and so on. It has been awhile since I have got sausages, but they were always good. The olive bar is quite good (although i might score the one at Berkeley Bowl higher). I've been getting the bulk olive oil and vinegar lately, and while it doesn't blow me away, it is good oil for a decent price. I notice that most of the negative reviews concern prepared foods. I have never really purchased any of that, so I can't speak to it. But I would never go there for that. I want to get good ingredients for my own cooking exploits, and they come through every time on that count, especially items you can't get almost anywhere else. read more

This is a fantastic butcher shop. Great gourmet meats, and cuts that you can never find in supermarkets. They can prepare for you just about any cut you ask for, even the most unusual. Just give them heads up. In addition to the meats, they have a really good deli, olive bar, and gourmet olive oils. Impeccable service, and always a warm smile. They know their customers by name. Even kids love to hang out at the big table with the coloring books. read more

So I offered to cook Thanksgiving lunch for my in-laws but freaked out at the idea of cooking (and handling) a raw turkey. I watch the Food Network religiously, so I could do it, but I hate raw meat. A coworker turned me on to Magnani's and their pre-cooked Thanksgiving turkeys. Problem solved. From the time I called to order my turkey to the time I picked it up, the staff at Magnani's were so friendly and easy to deal with. I opted for an 8-10lb organic turkey with their original seasoning. It wasn't cheap ($3.99/lb plus $20 to cook it) but it was a breeze. The only problem is I think I re-heated it too long and it dried out a bit. It would have been worse if I had cooked it my self. I can't vouch for anything else besides their turkey, but their roasted chickens looked delicious. read more

I think most of the reviewers are way off here. This place offers serious, high quality meats. When I shop at the fish place on Hopkins, I always wish I was at Berkeley Bowl. Not so here at all. They make their own delicious sausages (lamb/rosemary, spicy Italian with serious heat). I like to rotisserie, and these guys have it all -- good birds, rabbit, duck, lamb legs, etc. They smoke their own meats, have great pancetta for soup, great deli meats for sandwiches, etc. What's not to like? Well, the line can be long, and they don't move very fast. Yes, it does have a kind of fratty/high school vibe. I don't ever want to buy any of their sauces, pastas, etc. But if you want that stuff, you get it at Monterey Market. You're here for food for the grill, and this place delivers. read more

Ok, here is updated review, 9 years later. I shop here a lot b/c it is close by and generally better than any other place nearby. However, I have my complaints. I write this not to hurt them, but with hope that they get better. No doubt, it's a nice place to have, and I rely on it a lot. But, The place has declined and could be so kick ass. The. staff has changed a lot of late and I often am helped by someone who is friendly but inexperienced with meat. And the place is dirtier than ever before. The roast chickens are mediocre to bad now. I just purchased one today and the legs and thighs were undercooked, the skin slimy and fatty (no carmelization) and the meat had bad texture. This is really a bummer bc a good roast is such a good thing to have in the neighborhood. The sliced meats are disorganized and never labeled or marked with a price per pound. This would require so little effort and with an often ignorant staff it's not fun. It takes too much for them to figure out where the salami I inquired about is and what the cost is, etc. A salesperson in a meat market should know what pancetta is and how to slice it. The house turkey used to be great, now so dry and salty. Avoid it. The prepared salads and other items in deli section look unappetizing and the display is often messy and uninspired. The meats arc generally good and reasonably priced, especially the chicken. I'd love to see more cuts of beef (for example, hanger steak) and more specials and interesting things. The prepared sausages, again, used to be a better deal. Now, I find them over-priced and often dry. The stocks are a rip off. This is common, but it's still depressing. Overall, convenient, pretty good, but definitely things to avoid. It seems like this place would be a gold mine if it was done right considering the neighborhood and clientele around there. read more

A tamale bar at an Italian deli? A veggie tamale that isn't just cheese and/or beans? SCORE. The tamales come a bit out of nowhere but they are always welcome. They're steamy, starchy, warm sweet little bundles of comfort, and Magnani's veggie version is chock-full of batons of potato and carrot. There wasn't much cheese to be found as I was led to believe, but it was a lovely surprise. Random tamales aside, the butcher and deli selections (particularly the roast chickens) look fantastic, and prices are fairly reasonable for a nice, private butcher. They're also stocked with some of the age-old Ital-American pantry favorites, like Pomi goods. AND you can get olive oil from the pump. So, be prepared to pack on some pounds. But happily. read more

I've been going to Magnani for years, and their a staple of my North Berkeley shopping. The poultry ranges from very good to outstanding. I have to admit we only get chicken, but there are great choices from boneless/skinless breasts to whole chickens, and free range and organic options. We've also been very happy with the sausage, and the grass-fed ground beef makes for an outstanding burger. We're also amongst "those goofy people" who order the organic, free range turkey in advance for thanksgiving - and are never disappointed. The disappointment comes from the deli counter. The offerings there are not good quality, and the turkey in particular (especially the free range) is fatty and of lousy quality. I got a turkey sandwich for lunch recently, and the roll was soggy, the cheese way salty, and the turkey so fatty I took 5 minutes to dissect the sandwich so I could peel the fat off of it. Looking for deli? The Andronico's counter has them beat. Looking for raw meat to cook? This is a great place. One last warning - you *will* see dead, skinned bunny and duck at the counter. So be forewarned and watch out for small children if you got them. Me, I like eating bunnies and ducks so no problem on my end. read more

Wow, what has happened to this place? I've noticed for the last three or four weeks that this wonderful community meat market has really changed and not for the better. I asked for 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs and when I got home I had a mangled pile of chicken meat in many shapes and sizes making it difficult to grill evenly. Don't know what happened but it just isn't the same. Sad to see such an institution lose its quality. Thank goodness for Kensington fine foods at the Arlington market. We can get just about everything we need right there. read more

This place is great! The best part is that you can taste all the different olive oils and vinegars. My favorite vinegar is the oregano white balsamic! It's TO DIE FOR! The people who work there are also very nice and helpful! read more

I have to join the numerous other commenters in expressing disappointment with my recent experiences shopping at Magnani's - and we have been shopping there for many years, from the time when they were poultry-only in a tiny storefront further up Hopkins Street. There has been frequent turnover of staff and many of the newer faces just don't know what they are doing. One could live with that, but the more troublesome issue is the quality of the poultry -- more than once we've prepared some boneless, skinless chicken breast from Magnani's (should be a core product here, right?) only to find it had the texture of a tire and was inedible. To be fair, at other times I have experienced no problem with the service or the quality of the products. However, shopping here is a bit too much of a lottery of late, and I'll be trying some other local providers for my meats and poultry. read more

Been coming here for a long time, but no more. Since Tim sold the shop, it's been going downhill in service & quality. I have no confidence that that their organic meats are really organic. Be careful of meats with no prices. You can be told one price and charged another. I've come here because it is conveniently located next to Monterey Market, but after being charged another price once again, I am done. I love the Hopkins Street shops because they are what make Berkeley special but I am not an idiot. I just read other reviews and I am not alone in my assessment. read more

First time at Magnani's. Apparently ownership has changed hands and it's not what it used to be...? But I needed some specialty items that I couldn't get at Monterey Market across the street: olives that aren't from a can. I was directed to Magnani's. They have a nice variety of olives, green, black, and everything in between, for $9.99/lb. I got a small container and it ran me about $4.50. They also have a meat counter, sandwiches, frozen soups and some (very limited) groceries, like cookies and crackers. This isn't a grocery store, though, so if you're not coming for meat or olives, you're likely SOL. I grabbed a roast beef sandwich on my way out and it was pretty damn good. Meat is Nieman Ranch. Customer service was awesome, the cashier even went out of her way to grab a bag of ice for me to keep my frozen soup cold. I've never tried their chicken nor ordered over the phone, but for a meaty sandwich, this place is solid. read more

1) BEST olive bar in town. For the adventurous of palate, the delicious, to the deliciously odd, to the truly inspired flavors and varieties mean a little bit of heaven to an olive gal like me. I especially love the oil-cured, and the blood orange medley. DIVINE! 2) GREAT selection of meats (including some creative and delish sausages - lamb, lemon, rosemary = mmm). This includes deli cold cuts (including the Boar's Head brand, which is SO great). High quality and very good prices. 3) Also a selection of Italian (and other) sundries, for BBQ-ing and such, so you don't necessarily need to stop by another grocery store if you drop in here for dinner ingredients. 4) OVERALL: YES! read more

I really love this shop- they always have everything that Iook for. I always look for something specific like heart, liver, beef tallow and if they do not have it they make sure to order. They are very professional and surprisingly (considering the area) are not expensive. The meat is always high quality and fresh. read more

I've been going to Magnani's for years and years. Their barbecued chicken is amazing, especially the "original." They have great made-to-order sandwiches, a huge array of meats and salumi, plus some really good salads. read more

I've been coming here for decades. If you want an inexpensive chicken to cook, this is the place, if you want something that's a mid range free range chicken, this is the place. And, if you want an amazing lovely large organic chicken, they have this for you too. Nowadays they also have, in addition to chicken, other cuts of meat. If you have no time to cook, enjoy their pre-prepared chickens. Teriyaki happens to be my favorite. People that work here are professionals. read more

New favorite place to get my meat groceries , the prices were good and it being right next to the Monterey market is convenient and has a local neighborhood feel the blue haired gentleman was helpful and sweet be back soon read more

I've got my Magnani's back! Sometimes you can turn back the clock. The staffing problems have been sorted out, and the counter's staffed by knowledgable and friendly butchers who go out of their way to slice and dice it your way. And they are young, so hopefully we can count on great service for years. Through the changes, the quality never suffered; just be sure to all ahead for grass fed cuts, because the supply can vary. And their frozen, house-made chicken stock is low or no sodium, they say! Brilliant. And you'll save big bucks over Whole Foods while getting the best meat poultry (and amazing cheese raviolis). read more

Five stars for any place that offers fresh duck and fresh rabbit meat. I have been craving magret de canard and lapin au moutarde for the past year! Thank god there is a place to get both these items. Yelpers should come here to support a place that sells these hard to find meats. read more

We have been going to Magnani's for years, always bought the bulk of our meat there. I hadn't been there in months since some of the regular butcher's left and the person helping me had no idea what to do with what I ordered. Today I went in for a chicken and lunch meat...After wading through the 25 plus flies flying around, looking for a familiar face and checking out the lunch meat I ordered a chicken. I wouldn't touch the homemade lunch meats, turkey and beef looked liked they'd been there several weeks, dried up, disgusting. I asked if there were new owners, it was so different, an odd vibe, no, they just decided to get all new employee's?!?!?! I will not go back, very sad that this long time Berkeley institution is going in this direction. read more

I wish I could give more as they are my local butcher shop and perfectly located. FIne to pick up sausage or burger meat, but many of the guys behind the counter need to be trained properly. Most know absolutely nothing about the meats and products they sell, many don't know how to properly butcher meat and god forbid you need a deli salad or sliced meats because I have yet to encounter one guy who knows ANYTHING about those items. Super dry tamales. Super dry sandwich even though I asked for extra mayo and pickles to avoid that issue. Again, it works fine if you just need something to grill, but not worth going out of your way for. Oh, and ladies at the register? It's called customer service. Your funky attitude did not help my review. read more

I was shocked this evening when I purchased what I expected to be a FRESH Turkey leg and breast. I suspected there may have been a change in management, as the way the store is managed now, and the way some of the poultry (uncooked) looking less than pink and fresh are emblematic of a decline. Still, I took a chance with my purchase. When I got home, the smell of the turkey parts did not seem right, but I decided to oven roast them and go from there. My suspicions were confirmed when the taste and smell of both the cooked breast and leg were FOUL. and I had confirmation by a musical colleague. I called the store immediately and said I was bringing back the poultry in the morning, cooked and all. I luckily asked for a receipt so I will bring with me. Something has changed for the worse with this store, and I have been a customer for over 6 years--and now seeing a similar review among the Yelp commentaries, I know something is not right. read more