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

Just ate a delicious rainbow tase here for the first time. What an incredible organization! Food…read moreand ingredients are looked at seriously here. I absolutely was surprised and can't wait to go back with my friends. My good friend took me here and we were hungry with no reservation! They are kind and so hospitable. My bowl was colorful, tasty and full of delicious surprises. Some flavors took me right back to childhood and happy moments! The experience is more like a workshop where you learn so much as you are eating the carefully curated food. I bought some of the fermented food from the fridge as well. Can't wait to share these with my family & friends!

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.

As an Algerian living in the United States, it breaks my heart that I have to write this review. I…read morelove my community, and I make a point of supporting small businesses, especially those owned by Arab, North African, and Muslim families because they remind me of home. My family, friends, and I have shopped here for a long time, but after what happened today, that will no longer be the case. With the World Cup playing, I knew this store was selling Algerian jerseys. I wanted to surprise two of my American friends who have been proudly supporting Algeria by buying them jerseys. Today, I asked a friend to stop by the store and buy two jerseys. The employee working at the store today 06/30/25 between approximately 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. told my friend that the jerseys were $40 each. My friend noticed the jerseys did not have the star on them and politely asked whether they could be $35 instead (we had previously purchased 2 jerseys that had 2 stars and were $40) . The employee responded by saying, "As a matter of fact, I'll charge you $45." My friend asked why and even mentioned that he was Algerian, hoping there might be some flexibility. Instead, according to my friend, the employee responded by calling him a homophobic slur in Arabic. My friend is one of the kindest people I know. He wasn't rude, he wasn't disrespectful, and he wasn't looking for an argument. He simply wanted to buy two jerseys. Rather than make a scene, he paid for the jerseys and left. He later called me, and hearing how hurt and humiliated he was absolutely broke my heart. No customer should ever have to experience that. It is disgusting, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable.Whether you personally agree with someone's sexuality is your own business. However, when you are working in customer service, your job is to treat every paying customer with basic human dignity and respect. Calling someone a slur because of who they are or as a matter of fact who you think they are has absolutely no place in any business. An employee represents the business they work for. Their actions reflect on the store and its management. If this employee felt comfortable speaking to a customer this way, I have to question what kind of environment allows that behavior. I'm not asking for special treatment, not asking anyone to change their personal or religious beliefs. I am asking for the bare minimum: RESPECT . Every customer who walks through your doors deserves to be treated with courtesy regardless of their race, religion, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation. I am very interested to see how the owners respond to this review. If what happened to my friend is consistent with how customers are treated, I believe it deserves to be taken seriously. No one should be subjected to homophobic slurs while simply trying to make a purchase. If they choose not to address this, I will consider reporting the incident to the appropriate agencies and organizations that handle discrimination complaints, as well as sharing my experience on other review platforms. This isn't about seeking revenge it's about expecting every customer to be treated with basic dignity and respect. I have always made an effort to support Arab, North African, and Muslim-owned businesses because they represent my community and my culture. That support, however, should never come at the expense of basic human decency. Until this matter is properly addressed, neither I, my family, nor my friends will be returning or recommending this business to others.

A really nice place with a good assortment of halal meat and groceries…read more Very good costumer service

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.

I've ordered with them several times and I am always ecstatic with the delicious oil and vinegar…read morethat they have! I love their flavored olive oil and their aged, dark balsamic vinegars, so many fantastic flavors to choose from, and I love them all! I have ordered for delivery and for pick up. Both are seamless.

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!!

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 :-)

IDK what kitchens or who cooks these but they are solid for the price. A little low on meat…read moreportions but prices are better than any sit down restaurant nearby. Only sells food 10am Saturdays. 9/10, hidden gem of Thai cuisine with sweet owners, would def recommend and def come again.

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.

I've been a really big fan of Strong Arm Farm's/The Sonoma Coast Seaweed Company's seaweed since…read moreour visit to Point Reyes, so when I saw that Preserved carried them, we stopped right in. Parking is a bit of a fight, but I loved that they carried an array of fermentation items for things like kefir, bread, and cheese. They had quite a few kitchen supplies and books, and I was able to clean them out of the Kombu seaweed they had. All in all, Preserved's service as incredibly friendly and helpful, plus they have a great selection so we will absolutely be back.

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.

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.

At Elmwood just waking off our dinner and we walked past Case De Chocolates, a nice lady waked out…read moreswearing by these chocolates and we had to try. Jesus one of the owner was super nice and stayed open a little longer just for us. Not gonna lie, opened up one of the bars walking to the car. Very unique flavors like Mole, Jamaica, so super Mexican flavors. Must try is your visiting up here in the Bay!

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 market sells all kinds of things- produce, spices, fresh meat/ seafood, a wine shop, cheese,…read morerefrigerated already made food, and a bakery. Pretty pricey though. Bought some sausages from the butcher and it was $13 for a little package of 4. At the bakery, we bought a slice of chocolate mousse cake, a slice of princess cake, a slice of lemon cheesecake, mini fruit tart, a loaf of sourdough bread, and challah bread- total was a little over $50+. The service was amazing. My husband was inquiring about how an almond cookie tasted like and they took one out of the case and cut it so we could taste it. Everything else we ordered though was delicious. Cheesecake was rich and creamy, the princess cake was moist, the mini fruit tart was fresh, and the chocolate mousse was rich. The challah bread was soft and you can't taste the good quality olive oil that was used. Added bonus is there is a free parking lot in the back. Free parking in Oakland?!? Heck yea!

First time in Berkeley Bowl. And it didn't disappoint. It was so many exciting items. My favorite…read moredrinks at a great price as well! Hawaiian Suns the tea flavor omg! $1.29 yes please! Then they have the cutest bags! Like so cute! I can't wait to buy more and send some to my cousin in Kansas. They have pink,purple,green and blue! Please see pictures thank you. Everyone was so nice. Then I left and saw someone with warm food! I went right back in delicious! Special only $10.99 wow! She put so much food in there she was nice enough to put a rubber band on it! She was very nice. The cashiers very pleasant. The lady that was stocking shelves very helpful. I can't wait to come back!

All grocery stores are (somewhat literally) a mixed bag, and Berkeley Bowl West is a grocery store…read more It is one of two Berkeley Bowl stores, and is the one of the two I have the most experience with. Berkeley Bowl West is celebrated for the vast variety of its produce. I like to shop as much as possible for organic items, and they definitely have fewer organic produce choices than non-organic; but there is still a reasonably large variety, of good quality. They have a nice variety of other kinds of items as well. Some prices are high, some are reasonable. I've been requesting delivery orders since 2020, so my in-store experience is dated; but in early 2020 and previously, the parking lot was impossibly crowded every time we brought a car, and the store aisles were relatively narrow, making the store also feel crowded at pretty much all times, especially in the produce section. Berkeley Bowl deliveries come from the Berkeley Bowl West store. Up until this month, they were a tolerable delivery option. I could order without creating an account, the orders would always arrive on time or early, they usually followed delivery instructions, and they were comparable to other delivery services in that I mostly got fresh produce and the items I ordered. Their team was responsive and nice if I got a wrong or defective item. This month, they changed their website. It's possible that some people love the changes. In my opinion, it is a vastly inferior experience. It's now mandatory to create an account in order to request a delivery, and they saved all of my data without permission! They used to tell you whether you were requesting produce by the pound or individual items; now you have to infer from the total cost of the item. The navigation system does not show all of the items in a category, at least when it comes to meat alternatives. The search for individual items isn't good either, but online store searches are often not great. It's unclear whether the system saves substitution preferences when you place an order. The system only recognizes certain types of addresses; if your address isn't in their system, for delivery or billing, then oh well. There doesn't seem to be any option to cancel an order. They have some unclickable edit buttons on your order page; why are they there if you can't actually edit that category? On top of all of that, they added a five percent service fee, in addition to their delivery fee and driver tip. Depending on the size of your order, that is a significant increase in fees, and was a big shock when it appeared on the final page during checkout. With this new fee added, the total delivery cost for my order today (and my last order for a long, long time) was about forty dollars for four bags of normal groceries; no extravagant items. That's ten dollars per bag! That's a crazy high amount; definitely a splurge, not a normal way to buy groceries, in my opinion. (People with a much higher grocery budget may disagree.) For comparison, if I was to rate other local stores, I would rate Safeway two stars, Whole Foods, El Cerrito Natural Grocery, and Good Eggs three stars, and Trader Joe's and Costco four stars. That's taking prices, delivery options, general staff morale, and item variety into account. Trader Joe's doesn't have delivery options (as far as I know), but everything else about their stores still averages out to a four, for me. I will still shop at Berkeley Bowl West, but sparingly. I would be sad if they didn't exist. I really appreciate the variety, and the general professionalism of their small local chain. I really wish they would roll back their online shopping experience to how it was before they changed it in July. As it was, because of prices, I would request a delivery from Berkeley Bowl West once a month at most; it will now likely be once every four to six months. At some point I will probably go back to occasionally braving the crowds in the parking lot and in-store, and bypass the convenience of delivery altogether.