Every time I get up to Sonoma I find myself rendering an opinion on whether I could live there. On…read morea recent drive through I concluded that I could not or maybe that I could but didn't want to. Later that afternoon I found myself at El Brinquito and that all changed. Owing to the population, Sonoma has what us Marin-ites can only describe as a plethora of Mexican food riches. As for me, from here on out I need only one. This one. El Brinquito is a market and a meat market and a provider of what I can only describe as some of the best steak (super) tacos I've ever consumed. How good, you ask? After the first visit I was back again inside of the week for the exact same thing. On the weekends they barbecue chicken which, from the way the girl at the register said it, I garnered the impression that it was something worth trying. Maybe, but I'll have to get it to go. From here on out, I won't be passing through this area without a stop for Carne Asada Super Tacos (under $5 apiece).

Best chicken in Sonoma! Wed Fri Sat and Sun. Also they are one of the only places that carry…read morechampurrado. I often get it in the mornings.

Meeting Angelo felt like catching up with an old friend we just hadn't met yet. From the moment we…read morewalked in, his warmth and kindness made the whole experience feel personal and genuine. If you get the chance to meet him, you'll understand why people talk about him like he's an icon. And the food... wow. The jerky is absolutely to die for. He even told us to stop back by before we headed home because he was making homemade focaccia. We came back, and he wasn't there, but he had the focaccia waiting for us anyway. That small gesture says everything about the kind of person he is. We left with jerky, his amazing garlic horseradish mustard, and summer sausage, and we already can't wait to come back. Next stop will definitely be his deli. Angelo is the real deal, kind, thoughtful, and unforgettable.

I first stopped by Angelo's in 1987, before Yelp and GPS. During the five years we lived in San…read moreFrancisco, when time and money was tight, I would carve out some time at least once a year to make a pilgrimage to Angelo's to get the best jerky in the West. The jerky is great - meaty, smoky, chewy and addictive. The staff are friendly and helpful.

I haven't been here in a long while, and only a few times at that, but decided to stop in today for…read morememories sake to get some frozen meat for family meals next week. Figured I'd add this review to my list of places to remember and go back to. Really cool spot with an amazing assortment of meats. From duck to quail. Venison to veal. Boar to chicken. Frozen to marinated meats. Jerky, summer sausage, cheese, spices. All kinds of things alongside the unique frozen meat that you won't find in your everyday grocery run. The butchers are hard at work in the background providing excellent quality cuts to their customers (and no, the store doesn't smell like a butcher shop). It's a homey little spot as you go down the driveway that opens up into the parking lot. Great and friendly service. This run I picked up: frogs legs, rabbit, boar sausage, summer sausage. Some of tried in the past, and was craving something unique for the family meals. My aunt is a picky eater who will shy away from such things if she knew what it was. . . so I won't tell her. .

Nice local farm. Plenty of variety. There was meat cheese and bbq sauces. The prices were really…read moregood. The workers were friendly and helpful. There was cute goats you can pet and feed if you have a quarter for the feed machine. I definitely recommend this place for your meat needs. Shop local, save $$ and get great quality food here!

Great local meats. Variety of cuts and poultry. Fresh or frozen. We like the brisket. Nice to…read moresupport local butcher!

This is a super high end meat shop that offers just about every kind of animal product. The…read moreofferings cover all the species including beef, lamb, duck and pork. Staff are friendly and helpful and they have a 50% off bin that helps with cost on some items but it's totally random. They also have bags of bones for stock and four legged friends. Prices are on the high side but this is an artisanal shop.

This incredible local 'Petaluma' artisan meat shop is also a weekly vendor at the Marin Thursday…read moreCivic Center Market. I've had the savory pleasure of trying their duck sausage baked into the nirvana of pastry masters Fire Swamp Provisions. Definitely check out their stall, you'll be happy!

Give me all of the meats!!! We came in hoping to try out their pizza BUT they only have the pizza…read moreoven going on certain days. Staff was welcoming and friendly, there were samples of 3 different kinds of Salumi, one of the guys was pressing thick hamburger patties behind the counter, great selections of meats, spices, bacon, sausages, wine, etc. I wanted to buy everything, but that's probably because we were hungry for lunch and appreciate a great Salumi / Charcuterie board. We ended up trying out their Italian Sub and the kids ordered their Ham and Cheese. Both were awesome; perfect meat to bread ratio with rich flavors. I wish they were offering their burger that day, but that just means I have to come back and try it out next time.

This place is awesome. Super high quality cured meats and just a crazy good selection. Tons of…read moresalamis, fresh butchered meats, great cheeses -- basically charcuterie heaven. Their deli sandwiches are legit too. Everything just tastes fresh and dialed in. If you're into good meat and cheese, you'll love this spot.

While waiting for our drinks from Tia Maria Panaderia, we noticed Sonoma County Meat and decided to…read morewalk in. They do have a small lot to park in. Otherwise, there is street parking. The cozy shop is simply decorated. We were greeted warmly by Paul. He was friendly and helpful. He selected a few beef jerky samples to let his customers sample. Sriracha Beef Jerky - tender with heat Classic Beef Jerky - soft, tender with a bit of heat. Rope Jerky - firmer, chewing, beefy flavor. My wife and I picked up a beef and bacon meat stick and some classic beef jerky. Come support your local business.

Excellent service! Meat is quality and they even have food for dogs. Pleasant place. They also…read morehave a variety of frozen selection and apparel.

We ordered a 7 bone standing rib roast and it was fantastic. Chris's expertise, customer service…read moreand helpful advice made the whole experience exceptional. Every staff member we communicated with was caring and knowledgeable. The quality of the beef was top notch. Unfortunately, they were out of prime grade, but the Choice grade that I was offered was marbled and beautiful. We smoked half and oven roasted half and both were succulent and deeply flavorful. Our guests devoured it all! Willowside Meats will be our go-to meat store from now on.

Last year we bought a quarter cow from Buds Meats with the cow from Stemple Creek. We had a great…read moreexperience with them and tried to do it again this year but they weren't taking orders, which led us to Willowside. We opted this year to do a half cow, which now seems to me probably overly optimistic, but that's what we did. We wanted grass fed/grass finished which is usually more expensive and harder to get, but Willowside told us no problem and we put down the $100 deposit. It seemed like almost overnight they were able to get all the stars aligned to get the cow ready and they were already calling me for preferences on cuts. I love the attention to detail we were given on education of different things, because for me having been a vegetarian for many years, this is a lot of info building still. We found out our cow topped the scales at over 800 lbs so our half share was about 412 or so and cost about $2300. We opted for vacuumed packed rather than butcher paper, and gave them our preferences on size of cuts. When we arrived to pick everything up we did have some challenges with making sure we had everything - I was told it would be 8 boxes but it only ended up being 6, and we couldn't find the bone marrow which was one of the big selling points for the half cow. Undaunted we took our prizes home and I set out packing two complete freezers full of meats and bones. I have yet to try the beef but it looks beautiful. Overall it was a good price, quick turn around, and I especially liked that the grass fed cows come from Full Circle Ranches which is in Petaluma and is run by a friend of the owner of Willowside so that's good local business. Definitely looking forward to burgers and roasts in the very near future!

Their sandwiches are excellent. I stop by and grab a sandwich sometimes when I don't pack a lunch…read morewith me to work. Rocky's Quality Meats is the perfect name for them because they do have quality meats. I've ordered their turkey and cranberry panini a couple times as well as the rueben and the tomato and pesto panini. They don't skimp on the quantity of meat in the sandwiches either. They are tucked inside the Santa Venetia market and are a separate business. You have to pay for whatever you ordered at the counter and not the front cashier. Besides their sandwiches they also offer homemade sides, various raw meats, sausages, frozen ravioli and they bbq ribs and chicken outside the market every Friday. The guys behind the counter are always fast and friendly. Be prepared for a long line during the lunch hour. It's worth the wait.

A hidden gem tucked inside a local market, Rocky's Quality Meats offers a fresh butcher shop as…read morewell as delicious sandwiches. It's inside the market but it's own business (as I understand, partners with the SV Market). It's open Monday-Saturday and they offer top quality meats - from seafood, locally sourced free range chicken, beef and more. I love their homemade Chicken Apple Sausage while my wife prefers their spicy Italian Sausage. We have also enjoyed their sandwiches (beware around 12noon there is a line from folks working at the Marin Civic Center). Our favorite is their Reuben sandwich - with pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand island dressing then heated in a Panini press. And most every Friday Dante and team are out front smoking and barbecuing. Folks in the community know to come by for Chicken, Ribs, and Tri-tip. Friendly service, reasonable prices and high quality food can be found at Rocky's Quality Meats.

Salumeria Ovello has become one of those places I look forward to having all week long. The smell…read moreof fresh warm focaccia coming out of the oven, simple ingredients that actually taste fresh, and sandwiches that somehow feel both light and deeply satisfying at the same time. Simple ingredients done really well; fresh meats, crisp vegetables, soft bread straight from the oven. It's the kind of lunch that reminds you how good simple food can be when the ingredients are quality. The owner and staff always seem genuinely happy to be there, and it gives the whole place such a warm and welcoming feeling. They also have little Italian drinks, snacks, and specialty goodies that make it fun to grab something extra alongside your lunch. It's a smaller little shop, so I recommend taking your sandwich to go and eating over at the Sonoma Plaza. Such a special little spot in Sonoma.

I was doing a day of exploration in Sonoma --- mainly the missions --- and arrived somewhere…read morein-and-around Vallejo House. As I was heading back to the square (where there is an abundance of restaurants), I didn't want the busyness of the scene; thankfully, I got on Instagram, typed "good eats in Sonoma", and BAM! Salumeria Ovello popped up on my feed, and thank goodness it did! An easy 4-minute walk from Vallejo House, Salumeria Ovello is owned by Andrea, who is a Michelin-star chef from the area of Piedmont, Italy. Having been to Italy twice this past year alone, I remember quite well the quality and taste of the classed Italian Sandwiches. The worker who served at the counter was very helpful, and within the restaurant --- there are just a few seats. I'd say, 3 tables with two seats at each table. For my food, I decided to order the Massimo --- which is on "sliced Focaccia, and has sun dried tomatoes, stracciatella di burrata, prosciutto cotto, basil pesto and crumbled taralli (crackers)". Each sandwich is made fresh-to-order, and you can taste the quality. Each ingredient worked together in harmony, and to satisfy the americani in me, I definitely enjoyed the taralli in the sandwich --- reminded me of putting chips in my sandwiches in school. While I waited, Andrea also brought out some slices of salami for me to try --- free of charge, which was very kind of him to do. All in all, if you want to get away from the busyness of the Mission Square, take a 4-minute walk to Salumeria Ovello, and you'll find a little piece of Italy in Sonoma! Ciao tutti!