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A.G. Ferrari Foods
Category: Food Specialty Food Specialty Food [Edit]
2905 College Ave(between Russell St & Ashby Ave)
Berkeley, CA 94705
Neighborhoods: Elmwood, Claremont
(510) 849-2701
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7 am - 9 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
41 reviews for A.G. Ferrari Foods
Review Highlights
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"...selection of gourmet and imported Italian foods is far and..." In 3 reviews -
"Pretty delicious and fresh deli selections." In 11 reviews -
"Fresh cheeses, antipasto and such can be purchased too." In 12 reviews
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41 reviews in English
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Review from A L.
Albany, CA
4/13/2012
I would love to give 5 stars. Great cheese, sandwiches, and bread. Wouldnt buy my cheese anywhere else. Unfortunately, the 2 older ladies who have started working there recently are absolutely rude and know nothing about customer service. Hopefully they can find some new help soon
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Review from Nerd G.
Berkeley, CA
10/1/2011
I dream of their house-made pancetta. It ain't cheap, but it's amazingly good. I buy a bunch of thick slices and freeze them individually - it's wonderful stuff to have around for a last- minute dinner.
And yes, everything else is good too. -
Review from Angela L.
Mesa, AZ
3/17/2011
I went here for lunch yesterday and asked for a recommended sandwich. The nice lady working there said the #5 (which is the most expensive sandwich on the menu upon a fast glance). It was sooo salty. Salami is a salty meat, but topped with olive tapenade - yikes, it was like pouring salt in my mouth. There was only a one piece of lettuce in my sandwich too.
What I didn't like the most about A.G. Ferrari is that my sandwich should have came with a free salad, but they didn't give that to me, nor the next customer. They did, however, offer it to the third customer I saw, after he asked for it. I didn't want to ask for it, but if it's written on the menu, and on the sign outside, I think they should honor it.
I've been here before, and the turkey sandwich is pretty good. Gotta go with that next time. -
Review from Eli Y.
2/21/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I've been coming here since I was a little kid back when it was called Ultra Luca. This is a great deli.
Their sandwiches are all delicious, be it a special or something that you dream up and they make for you. The deli meats are all great and perfectly sliced upon your order. The vegetables are fresh and perfect. When it comes to bread they know what's up. They have all kinds of bread and it's always delightfully fresh.
If you want to buy some cheese this is also a great spot. There is a lot to choose from and you can often sample some to figure out what you want.
They also have a great selection of olives, wine and other drinks.
Their prepared food is also great. They have chicken, lasagna, and all sorts of good food including desserts.
The service there is also great. The employees are very friendly and pretty quick. If there is a long line you might have to wait a little while but it's never too bad.
So if you're in the area and want a sandwich this is a good place to go to. -
Review from HeartBeat Radio F. M.
Berkeley, CA
5/2/2011
A.G. Ferrari Foods is the kind of place where a little Italian American girl feels like she has died and gone to heaven.
This place is SO ITALIAN, I just love it! The selection of gourmet and imported Italian foods is far and away the best I have found in the bay area. The icing on the cake is the prepared foods section, which is also phenomenal. Try a slice of their hazelnut torte or a sandwich smothered in tangy sun dried tomato pesto. It's like heaven on a hoagie.
And in the true spirit of Mediterranean hospitality, the staff is very warm and welcoming. Consider stopping in during your next jaunt down College Ave. to snag some free samples of fancy European chocolates and cheeses.
Whether you're Italian or just only wish you were, a visit to Ferrari sure feels (and tastes) like home. -
Review from Daniel A.
San Francisco, CA
4/15/2007
When I was in Italy for about a week, I couldn't stop eating the sandwiches from little food stands and counters all over the place. I was almost afraid to waste stomach space on anything else.
So when I moved into Berkeley's Elmwood district at the end of that same summer, I had some pretty high expectations for the Italian deli a few doors down from me. I was not disappointed.
I will never say anything bad about A.G. Ferrari. Even if I were to discover something deeply horrible about it, I would block the fact from my memory because I am hypnotized by their olive tapenade.
At first, going there was kind of a novelty because there was so much else to choose from on College Avenue. But pretty soon I couldn't stop. I started getting sandwiches there before catching the bus to school - up to around four mornings a week. And sometimes I'd get another in the evening before they closed.
Every ingredient is great; it's not just about the meat or the bread. I imagine they must have a dumpster in the back full of mediocre vegetables that they wouldn't offer customers. And the people behind the counter are exceedingly friendly even if they don't know everything about you. Ask them to toast your sandwich, as they'll probably forget to offer but they're happy to do it for you.
Here is how to get the most out of you Ferrari experience:
Wake up hung over on a hot Sunday afternoon.
Add some pants and shoes to whatever T-shirt you slept in. Don't forget sunglasses.
Walk over and order something with prosciutto on a baguette, and buy a San Pellegrino Limonata (in the glass bottle, not the can).
Take a table outside, and eat in the sun as you watch the cheerful old people walking their dogs and the miserable students lugging their heavy backpacks to the nearby coffee shops.Listed in: Berkeley's Elmwood District
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Review from David W.
12/14/2010
We are so lucky to have such a great store on this stretch of College Avenue! I don't go here too often, but it's a great place for all kinds of purposes. The main downside is that AG Ferrari is not inexpensive. Still, their prepared foods are probably on a par with Whole Foods in cost and quality, and ...
AG Ferrari really does a good job with its Italian focus. Prepared foods are true to Italian flavors, and there is an incredible array of imported cheeses and other foods. Walking through the store is always so exciting to me, because I'll find all these delicious food items from when I lived in Italy that I didn't expect to ever be able to get in America. Granted, you can see the import costs' effect on the price, but there are some great finds at AG Ferrari.
AG Ferrari is definitely a great place to get a gift, as many of their products are very nicely packaged, and who doesn't love Baratti & Milano chocolate for the holidays?! (or any occasion) -
Review from Charles L.
San Francisco, CA
8/16/2008
Holy moly I wish I lived near the Elmwood neighborhood. AG Ferrari Foods is a little on the expensive side for a college student, but I think the food does justice.
The staff is super super friendly. When you walk in, it's like they've known you already! They have delicious simple deli sub-sandwiches (meat, cheese, lettuce) that hit the spot right for a light lunch or to grab and go for a picnic. They also have all the classic San Pelligrino sodas (including some more obscure ones).
They are generous with the portions if you get a panini. They come out to about $8, but they are insanely good. Also, I recommend you check out there deli section of Italian awesomeness.
Do you like artichokes? Because I love artichokes! They have a fried stuffed artichoke ball that's A-EFFIN-MAZING. If you want it right there, they warm it up for you and give you pesto mayo to dip. Think crab-cake consistency, with artichokes, and a bit smaller than a tennis ball.
If you don't check out anything else, get some imported cheese. They let you taste! -
Review from David H.
Clayton, CA
6/3/2010
This place is really, really expensive. I got a slice of cheese on my sandwhich and that single slice of cheese was $2.01 extra. Granted, it was one of the top three cheeses I've ever had (and -- curse me -- I've forgotten the name), but they charged by the eight of the slice of cheese. Also, I didn't see a deduction on my bill for the cheese the sandwich was supposed to come with. So I got a turkey sandwich and 20 ounce of pop for $11. That's a bit steep, even if ti was one of the top five sandwiches I've ever had (that I didn't make).
They have a tiny (two or three tables) outdoor seating section. If you do get a sandwich from here, it's a nice area to sit, relax, and people watch. And it's in an expensive area, the kind of place where the people who live in the vicinity can afford to pay $2.01 for a slice of cheese and $11 for a sandwich and 20 ounce pop.
Their grocery selection is weak, but their deli is amazing. Look, I worked in a deli for four years and I'm pretty familiar with delis and the kind of stuff they stock. This deli was amazing. These cheese selection was, bar none, the best I've seen ever. The meat selection was standard plus some imported Italian stuff I'd never heard of (and that's rare.)
So it depends on what you're looking for. The grocer, like the car, is for people with the means and interest to buy it. -
Review from Albert H.
New York, NY
1/14/2008
Yay for stinky cheese! A.G. Ferrari capped off a fun trip along College Ave with Stella.
Like she said, the guy who helped us with the cheese was FANTASTIC. My receipt says "Francesca," but I'm pretty sure that wasn't his name.. Anyhow, he guided us through a great selection of cheeses, with wonderful choices for my taste for potent cheeses, as well as stella's more mild preferences.
Despite my efforts to not buy cheese on out-of-town trips, I couldn't walk away empty handed after tasting so many great cheeses. I ended up buying some Ubraico Di Capra, an aged goat cheese which pairs exceedingly well with quince paste. I also picked up a slice of THE MOST DELICIOUS truflle mousse pate. Holy mother of God, that stuff is good! Seriously, a MUST BUY!
And as a parting gift, we got pieces of chocolate truffle filled with grappa! Oh my those are some strong candies.. Great service and great merchandise, you can't go wrong. I look forward to coming back. -
Review from Stella C.
12/27/2007
Albert H. and I came by since we got such great parking on College Ave. (rare!) and perused the store. I am normally a sucker for the prepared foods section but this time we got caught up in the cheese section. We didn't happen to catch the name of the guy who helped us but he was FANTASTIC. He was really laid back and friendly, gave us a ton of samples of cheese. I am pretty weak when it comes to cheese, so he gave me some to try that I might like. Albert, on the other hand, is not afraid of stinky cheese. I was able to smell some for fun, but really could NOT take a bite haha. He chatted with us and was overall really nice and funny.
Reliable store as always but what was truly outstanding was the service. We were just perusing the store and were treated so amazingly well --- he even gave us rum filled chocolate to try on our way out. Genuinely nice guy and definitely made this specialty store a step above the rest.
Aside from the fabulous customer service we received, the best thing we had that day was prosecco jelly. yummmmmmmm!!!
There is one closer to my house in montclair, but I wouldn't mind coming here to try the sandwiches if this is the amazing customer service you get! -
Review from Kat C.
Boulder, CO
2/17/2006
"What is there not to love about A G Ferrari. It truly is the Ferrari of Delis. All the imported meats, cheeses, sparkling water, candies, chocolate.... All wonderful and so very chic.
I particularly like getting a freshly made sandwich with a limon pelligrino.
The staff is super nice and the food fantastic. It's really hard not to bust your wallet when you go there
Kat's Best Place to feel like a Yuppy just because you bought a sandwhich 2007. -
Review from Eric R.
San Francisco, CA
7/22/2008
I've eaten here many times. I've never been disappointed. The employees are really nice and helpful, and the sandwiches are great. This is much more than just a sandwich shop, however - they also have great desserts (tiramisu), olive tapanade, salami, and pastas and lasagnas.
I also really like the small tables for two on the sidewalk. Realize that you will pay a little more here for a sandwich or what have you than elsewhere, but also realize that it will be well worth it. -
Review from Nelson W.
Alameda, CA
10/10/2008
I've only gone here for their sandwiches and they sure are good. One of my favorite sandwich shops. I like the Genovese and Lucchese in particular. A bit pricey, though, With tax, a sandwich will set you back $8.50. I've never regretted it though. The bread and meat are good and the pesto mayo is pretty tasty.
They have all kinds of imported Italian products and expensive cheeses that I've never tried. I get the feeling that everything here is high quality. -
Review from Emmeline S.
Berkeley, CA
6/26/2010
The grocery/deli itself is bright and inviting, but I can't say much for the products- I only stopped by for a quick lunch. My boyfriend and I shared the Umbria (roasted pork sirloin, truffle cream and Provolone on focaccia) and a Suppli (deep-friend parmigiano risotto croquettes filled w/ provolone.)
For me, the sandwich was fine, just fine. Unlike its description, it was very simple, much like a dressed up ham-and-cheese. The roasted pork sirloin was tender and thinly sliced, and the provolone tasted as provolone should... I could hardly taste the truffle cream; it was only a faint, slightly spicy aftertaste. The whole sandwich was one soft, chewy texture, which I didn't much like (no contrast for my mouth), but my boyfriend thought "it was the best sandwich he'd ever had (!!)" so... different strokes for different folks.
The suppli tasted as though it would have been great a day ago... but reheated, it was soft and soggy, just as reheated & fried risotto would taste.
The one thing that really stands out about this grocery-deli is its friendly neighborhood feel. They have a great fundraising charity where they host a wine-and-cheese tasting in their store, (wine and cheese donated) you set the suggested donation price, and they give 100% of the proceeds to your organization of choice. Props to them for the great idea! -
Review from Lorraine d.
Hercules, CA
5/29/2007
Great sandwiches. Great, friendly staff. Great Italian gourmet grocer.
If you come here with a hankering for their sandwich, come hungry. The portions are big (for me anyway) and the sandwiches are excellent.
Also, this is one of my pit stops before I make Tiramisu. Somehow the staff always knows someone's going to make tiramisu. Perhaps it's the mascarpone and lady fingers that give me away. They always either ask for a piece or share their own tiramisu-making tips. Either is fine with me. -
Review from Matt J.
San Francisco, CA
1/13/2009
It's expensive, but, damn, their sandwiches are good. It's not Genova, and it's not cheap like cheese 'n stuff, but in a bind this place will pull through.
If you've been to one A.G. Ferrari, you've been to them all, so expect lot's of expensive Italian imports, a good selection of pasta (dry & fresh), olives, oils & dessert wines. Plus some tasty Italian candy as a bonus. -
Review from Joon S.
Washington, DC
5/30/2007
A.G. Ferrari is a wonderful place. This specialty store offers a good selection of products imported straight from Italy. For instance, you can get dry pasta, including the rare squid-ink pasta, canned and bottled sauces, peppers, cannelloni beans (which are great when combined with pork sausage and spinach), candies, and cookies.
They sell single portions of tiramisu, as well as family-sized trays. A sandwich, wrapped in white paper, is a gift from God.
They also offer some good beers, including Birra Moretti (try the La Rossa, or dark, version--excellent with Italian or Mexican... I'm thinking a quesadilla from Gordo's, specifically the one made with a small corn tortilla and filled with cheese, pico de gallo, and beans).
I love the wines they offer here! They offer wines from all over Italy, including Nero d'Avola from Sicily (an emerging wine region), which is usually plummy and peppery. They offer a delicious, very sweet Moscato d'Asti (it's effervescent!) for around $15--very popular with people who don't normally drink wine.
The best value is the house red, the Rosso di Annibale, which is 100% sangiovese, the grape in chianti. At $8.99, the wine is very reasonably priced. It's not the BEST wine, but it's extremely drinkable, light, and goes well with almost anything you can throw at it. It goes well with pastas in marinara sauce and with meat dishes. The house white, the Bianco di Annibale, is not as good--I found it a bit flat, with almost a plasticine taste. But then again, I'm more of a red wine sort of guy. -
Review from Hasham Y.
San Jose, CA
4/26/2009
This is another authentic Italian place like Genova where workers take great pride in there sandwiches. I must say they have great variety of fresh panini and sandwiches. Unfortunately during my recent visit, my experience wasn't as great as my friends. I tried Siciliano. Firstly the seeded role didn't compliment the egg plant and secondly they over did it with Vinegar. My friends really enjoyed their Lucchese so i will suggest that. they have few tables so u can eat it in the shop.
On my next visit i will try some salads and tuna sandwich :) -
Review from wheelchair t.
San Ramon, CA
1/13/2010 1 photo
This place was cute, yummy, and wheelchair accessible. Even though I paid more for a sandwich, chips, and a ice tea than Subway, it was way more delicious and worth it. At most deli's even Safeway I would pay about $10 for a lunch like this.
You can either sit by a window at or outside, either way, the deli guys were friendly and nice to bring my lunch to my table without asking them for help.
There's meter parking up and down the street but you might have to park a street over, either way, with a handicapped placard you don't have to feed the meter. Inside this deli there is a single uni-sex restroom in the back, which is wheelchair accessible. Just ask anyone who works there for the general direction.
I regret not buying and wine, breads, or deli salad because it seemed like everyone that came into the store left with a bag of food. I'll be sure to give this place more of a taste next time. -
Review from Nancy C.
Livermore, CA
Pretty delicious and fresh deli selections. I had a turkey sandwich with everything on sliced sourdough bread, all the ingredients were fresh and tasty! Their cheese selection is huge!! So many cheeses!! Service was AWESOME!! Very chill, laid back and patient! Mmm.... Will be back plenty!!
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Review from Daniel L.
3/20/2009
Without wanting to be repetitive about their great varieties of Italian cheese, sandwiches, and sweets, my experience with the place has much more to do with their imported wines. I enjoy fruitier wines but whenever I go to the supermarket I often stood in the aisle wasting time guessing and second guessing myself. By coming here, I get in-depth advise about their nice selections from Tuscany and Veneto, and the types of food that each would go with. Chad has been the most helpful but all of their staff are warm and friendly. The only limitation is a shortage of dessert wines but otherwise I've been happy with what they have in stock.
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Review from Camille K.
Alameda, CA
2/3/2008
Understand that when you shop at A.G. Ferrari Foods, you are buying carefully selected and imported products. Prices are high for many things. $11.95 for coffee grounds and $15 for chocolate truffles sounds pretty steep, unless you are in the market for it! Fresh cheeses, antipasto and such can be purchased too.
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Review from Natalie S.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 1/22/2010
Overpriced for what they have. I got ten brussel sprouts and it cost $7.01. WTF? This seriously cost more than what I can get from a restaurant. I remembered AG being slightly more specialty, but instead it just felt like an overpriced deli with bags of pasta and wine.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/28/2009
Although expensive, they have a great selection of everything Italian. I stopped by today to grab… Read more »
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Review from Megan M.
Berkeley, CA
3/17/2008
Expensive but delicious sandwiches! Every sandwich is made with fresh bread and their wonderful selection of deli meats and cheeses. They also have other great homemade items like lasagna, meatloaf, and pizzas that you can take home or have warmed up right there. It is definitely worth the parking hassle on College.
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Review from Johnny B.
Berkeley, CA
2/3/2011
Bought a bottle of wine, very mediocre for the price.
Bought a soup and had to through in a whole cube of vegetable broth to make it taste less like water.
Delicatessa italiana? Methinks not. -
Review from Inari T.
Oakland, CA
3/20/2008
overprrrrrriced sandwiches.
overprrrrrriced in general.
nice selection of overpriced foods and drink.
soups are limited and not very good.
best thing about this place is the selection of the cheeses.
cool little candies as well.
enh.
not for sandwiches i will stop here.
i'll just pick up some good cheese.
: IListed in: 3 and lower stars...., Boredom is bliss.
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Review from kevan h.
Berkeley, CA
8/19/2008
A little expensive, and sometimes I'm not sure why some of their stuff is as expensive as it is. But nonetheless, it's a quick lunchtime place, and their Genovese if quite good with its store-blend pesto mayo. They cater too, and each time our company has brought their food into the office, it's been a hit across the board: vegetarians to carnivores, tree huggers to whale killers (gasp), tall people and short people.
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Review from M M.
Hayward, CA
8/28/2011
Very good sandwiches, friendly service, but way over priced!
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Review from J. T.
Castro Valley, CA
9/24/2007
The grocery store part of A.G. F. is pretty good although this particular location is pretty small so selection (except wine) is somewhat limited. The sandwich portion of the shop is decent but, not great. The ingredients are top flight but, but the execution is just average at best. Prices for a sandwich are pretty high. Definitely not my first choice for a sandwich or for the area it is located. The do have some very good wine.
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Review from Fiona F.
Berkeley, CA
4/20/2008
The sandwiches are good, but not worth how pricey they are! you are better off just going to a regular deli.
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Review from Andrew M.
Vallejo, CA
2/10/2009
They have great sandwiches. I was meeting up with a friend for lunch, and I was late, so I didn't have time to look through the deli area or to thoroughly examine the menu. I ordered the roast beef sandwich, aka #7. I don't know what it was actually called, but it was essentially a roast beef sandwich. Not too bad, a little more expensive than I expected to pay for just a sandwich, but I was hungry, so whatever. We lucked out on a spot in front of the store and ate outside (because it was an unusually warm January day). It was an off-peak time (around 1pm), so it wasn't crowded. Seating would be an issue, if there was a lunch rush, but luckily, it wasn't when I was there. Overall, great authentic Italian-delicatessen-y vibe, great food, great quality, great service.
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Review from Nicole B.
2/13/2008
Everything about this place is wonderful! I love going when they have wine tasting, so I can have a little something while I eat my delicious sandwich. I lived right down the street, so I would always stroll around the Elmwood district for a bit and then stop by to pick up some food on my way home. Be prepared to spend some money here because the food here is not cheap, but oh is it worth every penny!
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Review from Sierra M.
8/3/2009
Nice open seating inside and outside the store located in the charming Elmwood district. Sandwiches are tasty, but pricey, with many authentic Italian products/ingredients. Enjoyable but not exquisite.
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Review from Gareth B.
Berkeley, CA
3/19/2008
As overpriced sandwiches go, this place is usually pretty good. But last time they served me a sandwich on stale bread. Overall, I think that the food could be better. I may just be spoiled by the sandwiches you can get over in the City, especially in North Beach.
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Review from Dennis F.
Oakland, CA
12/27/2008
I've been doing this place since it was Lucca on Telegraph. (Oakland was an Italian city at one time - Lucca and Genova (still on Tele) were the competing deli's.
A few years back they upscaled tehir name but the food has always been top notch. It deserved a stronger brand and three generations of getting it right should make you want to put your family's good name on the place.
Anyway - you gotta try it. They have some stuff year 'round but mix it up regularly so you can taste a little more of the old country.
Try the Pesto Mozzarella Lasagne - killer! or the Timbalo - Italian Mac and Cheese -- you'll realize why Kraft had to do EZ Mac. This stuff with a real gooey warm flavorful blend of cheeses will blow you away. Mind you your kids will never eat EZ Mac again so you are warned.
Great people too. Really helpful. And the wines are a bargain.
And their catering platters are always a hit. -
Review from c c.
Emeryville, CA
4/2/2010
I actually signed up for yelp just to write this review.
my first experience at a.g.f consisted of buying approx. $25 worth of various dishes from the deli. all of them bad! it is not cheap, so when I pay upwards of $12/lb for lentils, artichokes, swiss chard ands mozzarella salad I expect it to be good. the tomatoes were rotten the chard tasted days old, the artichokes were so sour I could not even eat it...
I would have to guess that all of the food in the deli was not fresh and not at all worth the price. not even edible. only the packaged food seems safe. -
Review from Laurie S.
Woodland, CA
4/10/2011
The food gets 4 stars (and on good days, 5). The service gets 1 and on good days 2. To be fair, there are really great employees there who do a nice job. But the negativity of one employee can really ruin the whole experience or it did for me at least. A shame too because the food is good! (don't go here if you're in a rush though. Making a few sandwiches to go, even if there is no line, takes longer than you'd think)
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Review from Sati K.
Berkeley, CA
11/13/2010
I came to A.G. Ferrari late one evening and was quite disappointed by their sandwiches. I ordered some sort of turkey sandwich which might have been average if it wasn't for the cheese that had gone hard along with the bread. Maybe upon a second experience my opinion will change, but I do not want to go back for a pricey sandwich that might have stale stuff in it.
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Review from Kris G.
5/1/2009
i always go here when i do my laundry, since it's right down the street. the sandwiches are expensive, as everyone has said, but they're really tasty. i like the perugia - roasted pork sirloin, black truffle butter and asiago cheese on toasted olive oil focaccia - absolutely scrumptious! i always have fun looking at all the cheeses, pastas and other italian goodies while i wait for my sandwich. i prefer sputino di ottimista in SF, but this is right down the street from my house, so i go there when i can't make it into the city.
