Cute shop with artisanal and unique goods! This is the perfect shop to check out if you're looking for a food gift, if you're into food or looking for specialty ingredients. They have a ton of cool pantry items from olive oils, tinned fish, pastas, spices & condiments and more. They also have bakery items including bread from local bakeries like Tartine, and chocolates, candy and other sweet treats too. read more

The Epicurean Trader - Specialty Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

I wandered into this location for the first time looking for some cute culinary gifts for Christmas. They have a ton of cute things from snacks to drinks to random kitchen wares. This particular location seems to have less inventory than the Hayes Valley location but that's understandable as they probably have less foot traffic - there were maybe two other shoppers in the store at the same time as me. I'm a slow shopper so I meandered through the entire store for a bit before choosing a box of candy near the front of the store. I would have wanted 3 boxes but only saw the one box sitting by itself so I asked the only staff member I saw if they had any more. He said something along the lines of "we're not Safeway, we don't have a bunch of inventory laying around" - kind of cold and unfriendly so I didn't even try to ask if other locations might have any or if there was any other similar products he could recommend. I just bought the one item but if I had felt a bit more welcome, I would have potentially bought several more gifts. YMMV. read more

No doubt it has interest products. I got some chocolates with nice presentation yesterday. I requested a receipt. When I looked at the receipt today, I was shocked to find that there was a 3% credit card subcharge! They did not tell me about this charge. No sign at the cashier warned me of this. This is not fair practice. If you want to shift this cost to your customers, you should let them know before payment. This secret charge is basically a theft and not in compliance with laws. So headsup to anyone who shops at this store. read more

Very Disappointing and Hurtful Experience I'm extremely disappointed by the way my family and I were treated during our recent visit to this store. We had been here before and were treated kindly by a different employee, which is why we came back. Unfortunately, this time was completely different. The employee who helped us was rude, dismissive, and made us feel very unwelcome. As a Mexican family, we couldn't shake the feeling that we were being treated differently--like we didn't belong there. It was upsetting and honestly felt discriminatory. No one should be made to feel like that when walking into a store. We support small businesses, but this kind of experience makes it hard to come back. I hope the owners take this seriously and work on making their store a welcoming place for everyone. read more

Great lil shop for treats and beverages of all kinds. Love it. Very friendly and helpful.

Awesome little shop in Bernal Heights with friendly staff, great alcohol selection, tons of snacks, sourdough bread from local bakeries, specialty grocery items like spices & jams, and some basic groceries like milk and yogurt. Cute unique gifts can also be found here. read more

The Epicurean Trader - Refrigerated section - Specialty Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

Absolutely the worst customer service. I placed an order on 12/4 and it still has not shipped. This was purchased as gift. I have sent 4 emails and called multiple times to try and find the status of order with no response. Mailbox is full so you can't leave a message. I will have to file a scam report with my bank. Will never ever purchase anything from this place again. Does not look like anyone even works here... If I could give zero stars, I would. read more

Food- I love going to this place and find unique things I never planned to buy to begin with. Today I went in for a loaf of bread and bought some other items. The store associates recommended these yummy rosemary thyme crackers. Also, found a unique shaped pasta. They also sell some local goodies from tartine, dandelion and Wolf and Badger. Service- the service is awesome. Very friendly. Always happy to recommend items and look for specific things for you. read more

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Love, love, love their matcha latte. I am a matcha snob and hate how so many places add sweetener into their mix. This is high grade, au naturale. The staff is also super friendly and the place is charming. Thank you Epicurean Trader for making my SF trip a lovely one! read more

Came here to buy a quick gift and they delivered. They also have a decent assortment of whiskey! Good spot to get a gift if they person you are getting a gift likes candy, alcohol and other goodies. The staff is also really friendly, so there is that as well. Overall, a nice little spot in Sf. read more

The Epicurean Trader sells "Bi-rite" crème brûlée ice cream in a pint. It didn't even last the ferry ride home. It was so delicious, the perfect compliment to my "carbo" load lunch of the day. I originally started on the pastry side of the business with the pastrami and cheese croissant which was pretty good, not excellent but much more tasty than the sandwich I got at golden gate meat company in the past. The croissant was flakey and the cheese and pastrami was spread rather well than most lunch pastry croissants. However, the highlight of my midday ferry ride was definitely the crème brûlée ice cream pint. It's the first time I devoured an entire pint on my own in one sitting but it was totally worth it!!! read more

The Epicurean Trader - Bi-rite crème brûlée ice cream pint - Specialty Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

I don't intend for meals out to turn into foodie field trips but it isn't uncommon for me to grab coffee, dessert, & gourmet snacks for later after a substantial lunch or dinner. Food Rules Everything Around Me, as WuTang once said. Case in point: for the past five years, a meal out in Bernal Heights usually concluded with nosing around The Epicurean Trader, a well-curated market offering fun-to-browse food products. Their chocolate wall is hard to pass up, as is their condiment selection. I almost never left empty handed. Obviously I'm a fan, but this review is for my latest find in their deli -- Salami Pickle Grilled Cheese ($11.99.) Pressed between Tartine's Country Loaf bread is Zoe's Genoa salami, McClure's dill pickles, & melty gruyere & Swiss. Salty & savory & made with simple but lovely ingredients. Discovering this one item upgraded The Epicurean Trader from a stopover to the actual destination. read more

The Epicurean Trader - Genoa salami, pickles, gruyere, & Swiss on tartine's country bread - Specialty Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

A tastefully stocked and welcoming store, items from world over grace the aisles - chocolates, curries, pickles, spices, sauces, oils, spreads. The cashier gave me some great advice to help me pick some great chocolate, it was $15 but damn was it delicious! (ethically sourced and made within California as well). read more

There's that fun store called Whole Foods that everyone loves to shop at which we jokingly called "whole paycheck." If I had a lot of money to spend on goodies like wine, imported cheese, and fancy chocolates that cost $10 each, this would be the place to go to. This is the place I imagine techies go when they want to burn through money, or lottery winners when they have a party that needs the best ingredients and some Pizzazz and flare. All the items look amazing, delicious, and there wasn't one thing that I wouldn't buy if I had won the lotto. The guy was super nice and remember me from before I guess due to my Star Wars sweater, and this time around I tried there Grilled cheese with salami sandwich. They're truffled grilled cheese sandwich also rocks but for all intensive purposes I feel like all their sandwiches are toasted to Perfection and are just delicious. I've tried the chocolates here before, My Friends by wine from this place, and I love their sandwiches. Great service and great food for a great neighborhood store this is what Bernal Heights is all about. read more

The Epicurean Trader - Specialty Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

Lots of really great products that are local (really loved their emphasis on local). Great selection of wines, bitters, liquors, etc. All kinds of stuff for everyone. I really enjoyed browsing and discovering new stuff! The prices are decent and left with two bottles of fun wine. read more

I like the selection and the layout, from the cheeses to the spirits. The staff is approachable but not overbearing.

Fabulous staff, grocery, and deli - I love their selection. From deli meats & cheese to savory jams & sauces to the best breads available... plus sweet spreads, nut butters, chocolate, chips... And one of the best liquor selections I've seen anywhere... I love The Epicurean Trader and am lucky to live within a 15-minute walk. I shop there 2-4 times a week. read more

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My go-to for the best coffee this side of Oak St, a truffle grilled cheese that will make everything right in your life, delectable pastries from bakeries all the way in the Mission that I would otherwise rarely get to enjoy, and any food or spirit-related artisanal delight for gifting (to others or yourself) that you could dream of. Also the friendliest and most delightful staff who will remember you and add a heaping TBS of joy to every salted honey latte you order. So happy the little shop on Union expanded into the cafe!!! read more

Amazing customer service! Products you can't find elsewhere. Sandwiches and pastries are awesome. It's my definite go to for foodie gifts! read more

I walked through the Epicurean Trader wanting to explore a bit of Bernal Heights before having dinner in the area. While I did not buy anything, I absolutely loved the feel of this store. It had all my loves available - cheese, chocolate, unique cooking oils, ample spirits and spices. Prices were definitely a little high for everyday purchases, but I could see myself purchasing gifts for family (read: for me) to experiment cooking foods for them (read: for me) one day. read more

The Epicurean Trader - Specialty Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The service at this shop is wonderful. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable about their products. Lots of unusual food and drink; many from local small companies. I like to browse and never feel pushed to buy. read more

What a treasure trove of edible treats! Not only are they an outpost for Tartine, I scored the most delicious Raspberry Rose small batch jam by quince & apple. Be sure to grab one of these specialty items, whilst getting your Tartine fix. That small additional purchase will help insure this fabulous store sticks around read more

We stayed at the Beck's Motor Lodge for 6 days and didn't discover this place until the second to the last day - bummer for us! It's just around the corner and was a perfect spot for coffee and bagels in the morning. It looks like there were lots of choices for high class snacking. If you are in the area I would recommend stopping by. read more

This is my new go to for sweet special gifts! The shop is well curated and has absolutely adorable unique items. The fresh flowers are stunning. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The beverage department has many unusual items to choice from (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic option) Although the Bernal shop may be considered small, give yourself plenty of time to ohh and ahhh :-) read more

This is my go to spot for all my gift giving all year round. They have an amazing selection of elixirs, spices, alcohol, chocolates, the list goes on. Very unique and a lot of character. If you want some talking point for your guest they have great items for your bar area. The product placement in this store is well put together. If you're looking for one of a kind gifts with a sense of flare this is the spot. And their deli section/menu is pretty tasty as well. read more

Stopped in for a look-see while we were in the neighborhood. WOW I had no idea there were so many locally made spirits - of every kind - rye, scotch, vodka, gin, herbal spirits etc - amazing. We didn't buy anything but it was a feast for the eyes and would be a candy shop for some people for sure! read more

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Lovely shop with great items! I found these specialty beans from Rancho Gordo I've been seeking out. Great vibe!

I visited The Epicurean Trader on Cortland for the first (and likely, last) time today with my partner. We had already picked up some items, and continued to browse their admittedly appealing selections. Approaching a refrigerated section, which was in no manner marked off, or closed, we were practically yelled at by a sales lady, saying, "This section is closed!" OK... the whole room, just the refrigerator? "I said, just here!!!" (By the way, no logical reason whatever that a customer couldn't peruse this section) My partner is French, and has some familiarity with brusque service. Here in San Francisco, this sort of behavior simply doesn't fly, especially in an upmarket shop, clearly hurting for customers. We put down our items, and my partner said, "You've just lost a customer." Not a word from this salesperson. If she is merely an employee, she needs a new job quickly. If she is the store manager, the business is in trouble. read more

This is one of my favorite places in one of my favorite neighborhoods in San Francisco! Such a fun selection of treats for your tummy and the kitchen - good soundtrack while browsing all the goodies! read more

This market is so cute and unique I just love coming in here! Pretty bougie but I love it lol I specifically come here for the chocolates, specifically the Thomas Keller chocolates. It's $15 a pop but it's sooooooo gooood. They also sell sandwiches and coffee which are bomb too. Highly recommend! read more

The Epicurean Trader - Thomas Keller chocolate - $15 - Specialty Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

They had me even before hello! This place is stunning, both in looks & inventory. Lots of natural light, & elegantly rustic. It's stylish & homey. Think Restoration Hardware married your favorite deli. If you like cheese & wine, cured meats, or specialty items at all, this place is an absolute must. A first rate beer, wine, & liquor selection. They say small batch, & do they ever mean it! They carry brands I've never even heard of. You'd be hard pressed to think of something that they don't have here. Everything from very predictable items like olive oil, to such unpredictable things like lavender lotion or a stylish set of liquor decanters you can have customized & labeled to your personal specifications. Totally chic. We strolled in & only needed a couple of things. Only open for 3 months, they said they're still working out the kinks. Sounds like they're from Australia. They were welcoming & courteous, greeting us when we walked in, telling us that if we need anything or have any questions, to just let them know, etc. We'd actually just come from Lucca on Valencia, where we'd gotten some fresh pizza dough. And while perusing the very attractive aisles here, we came across some chipotle pizza sauce. How perfect is that? We moved on to the cheeses, & found some goat cheese Gouda. Done. The Epicurean Trader is obviously a labor of love for the owners. This city has many specialty food boutiques, but TET successfully sets itself apart. A new gem for Bernal Heights, & for SF. 5 stars for selection. 5 stars for aesthetic. 5 stars for service. read more

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These guys are just wonderful. The food is amazing and the people are amazing. Uber took forever to send a driver and they kept in touch with us the whole time and send us a treat. They kept the sandwiches warm and stayed post closing till the driver picked it up. What more can I say read more

Grabbed some hot spicy askinosie chocolate along with mango chili chips.Recommend only the former. Great joint.Lovely people behind the counter.Informed me about the farmers market in the neighborhood. This tiny place has great items.Check it out when in bernal heights downtown. read more

The Epicurean Trader - Askinosie chocolate-hot spicy! - Specialty Food Near Me - San Francisco, California

Fantastic store !! They carry wonderful goods . Fantastic cheese assortment, even Murray's cave aged Swiss , so good . I bought so many items here for Christmas gifts . Wonderful bar supplies , great tea , honey , Cookies ( locally baked ) great bread . Really high end liquor , some unusual bottles . Service mostly is good , but one day , the register did not have a price of one item , and they spent way too much time & it created a long line . This was so Unnecessary , as the price was on it , and it seemed incredible to keep us all waiting , because the POS was missing an item . I have only been to this location , but I drive by the union street store , have to pop in sometime . This neighborhood is cool , parking sometimes, not easy . But this shop rocks !!! Lastly , they make sandwiches , I have not tried , but I did get a fabulous whiff , as they were preparing them . Check it out !!!!! read more

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This place is packed with treasures!! I came across it after passing it on the street and was instantly drawn in by the various items. There are so many different types of alcohol, meats, some fresh vegetables and other food items. They also carry colorful pasta that I was tempted to buy, but since I don't live there it probably would have cracked in transit back to Hawaii. My favorite were the baked goods they had that day. There were so many good options but we went with the Apple Cider Doughnut and was not disappointed! If you've ever tasted Andagi, it tasted a bit like that and had a similar texture. It was perfectly spiced and not too sweet. We also ended up buying some beautiful cloth napkins, which goes to show the variety of items this shop carries. I would have loved to try some of the sandwiches or meats from this place as well. It's a small butchers area but there's a great selection of food. read more

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Love this shop! They always have the things I need and Bridget is so friendly and helpful! I love the flower section here too! They also happen to make my favorite grilled cheese in the city!Definitely a gem on Cortland. We are lucky to have it in the neighborhood. read more

Love Epicurean Trader! They have the best truffle cheese, tomato and ham paninis. Along with a lot of artisanal and cute products that I want everything. Thank you for being in Bernal! read more

I went with my girlfriend to get some coffee at the cafe and was met with an incredibly condescending bald barista. All I wanted was light ice in my drink. I didn't need to be met with sass for light ice. read more

I did not use to shop there because it seemed kind of too high end for me. Pandemic changed that because this is the only place near me with bread I love. The staff is amazing. I don't know there names but it is two ,en. One is o;see and has English accent. The other is African American gentlemen with a warm smile. They are working every day under extremely difficult and stressfully conditions. I wish I had droplet shields to donate to them. Amazon store and wonderful staff. read more

Amazing selection of gourmet food, tartine cookie bread, fresh flowers, and everything epicurean. There is even a craftsman and wolf coffee and baked goods counter. This place is amazing. read more