- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
A.G. Ferrari Foods
Categories: Event Planning & Services Caterers Restaurants Delis Food Specialty Food Caterers, Delis, Specialty Food [Edit]
4001 Piedmont AveSte A
(between Monte Vista Ave & 40th St)
Oakland, CA 94611
Neighborhoods: Piedmont Ave, North Oakland
(510) 547-7222
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7 am - 8:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
61 reviews for A.G. Ferrari Foods
Review Highlights
-
"The store specializes in Italian products and has a..." In 15 reviews -
"I bet their other sandwiches are good too, but I always..." In 3 reviews -
"It stocks mainly imported italian groceries." In 5 reviews
Loading...
60 reviews in English
-
Review from Albert L.
San Francisco, CA
5/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Was in the area today stop by here and got an sandwhich. Salame supreme was so dam good. Got the soprasata which consist of salame,lettuce,tomatoes,mayo. Comes with a small side salad with vinegrette dressing already splash on.
Their frozen freezer was the main focus for me on my next trip. Would love to purchase their lagsana and bake it off myself. When it comes to Italian food I will be there....... -
Review from Stephanie M.
Dublin, CA
This is how you spend a light weekend lunch: You come here after a massage at a nearby spa, you pick out some delectable nibbles, little pretty sweet things, grab a bottle of proseco and you head out on their outside seats for some chit chat.
There is a plethora of Italian foods and sweets here. Take your pick, have the store associates slice up some bread and pop your bottle open, and you've got yourself a day.Listed in: Kidless
-
Review from Katelyn S.
Oakland, CA
2/13/2012
Wait, hold the phones.
Fresh coffee off the pot first thing in the morning, bags of tempting sugar cookies, biscottis, and the smell of cheese. Smiling employee, big band jazz playing.....Did I just enter Christmas land? Oh, and the coffee is great! I can't wait to come back and try more. -
Review from Erich V.
Oakland, CA
A.G. Ferrari is the go to place to prepare your fancy "Oh my Spring is here in January" emergency picnic.
-
Review from Tom O.
Castro Valley, CA
3/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Deli 5 stars. Market 5 stars. Tried both happy with both, although maybe a tad on the pricy side, still worth it if you are picky.
-
Review from Joanna B.
Oakland, CA
2/23/2011
Food = 5 star
I know the food is five star because I used to come here every Thursday evening. I sampled most items. The staff was extrordinarily friendly, they'd check food ingredients for allergies and sensitivities I had. It was really wonderful.
It was so wonderful, I wondered why I stopped coming here. It had been approximately two years since I'd gone. I went last Tuesday. Apparently the really great, friendly people either no longer work there or just aren't there on Tuesdays. I'll go to the other locations.
The food is still wonderful! -
Review from Angela M.
6/9/2011
I absolutely love the amazing selection of pastas here, as well as the fresh foods and desserts to choose from. The prices are somewhat high though, but you do get what you pay for here. This is a great place to come when you're looking for the right ingredients for an authentic Italian dish that are often hard to find. I've had mixed experiences with the customer service here; the past few times I've walked in I was treated rather coldly, but the last time I went in the owner was very pleasant, so I'm not sure what to make of that. Samples are given for dishes and cheeses you'd like to try, which is a great plus. Check it out if you're in the neighborhood.
Listed in: Oakland, How I Love You.
-
Review from Guthrie S.
Oakland, CA
6/12/2011
So, I started going to AG Ferrari regularly in January of 2010. Before then, I'd stopped in occasionally to grab the odd sandwich or Orangina, but nothing serious.
Now, I'm in there 1-2 times a month, for my regular #5 sandwich, a drink, and a box of those cute, delicious, little donut-shaped crackers to share with my friends.
I'm constantly impressed by the warm and friendly attitude of the staff members. Any place where the workers make the effort to address me by my name and ask me how school's been lately definitely wins my vote.
Good sandwiches, with lots of meat, good food, good people. It's not cheap, but you really can get what you pay for. -
Review from Becka T.
Bay Area
9/14/2008
Looking for a super fresh sandwich? A.G's is the place to be...
My favorite is the Genovese (honey smoked turkey breast with pesto mayo, baby greens, and tomatoes on a fluffy slice of focaccia) but when my pockets are feeling a little light... I go for a hearty meatball & provolone sandwich (not on menu)...
Usually, my bill comes up to be a little less than $10 for a regular sandwich so I try to get my drinks and snacks elsewhere ^-^... The only thing I wouldn't suggest is the Grilled Alpino Panini ... 8 bucks for a sandwich that was close to a grilled cheese with a fancy wrapper..
Definitely, a good lunch spot....... after pay dayListed in: Oaklandish!
-
Review from Vanessa F.
Covina, CA
5/26/2010
As I've mentioned earlier, I'm on a sandwich kick and don't have my own fixins at home to make one. In sticking with my "try somewhere new every time" I ended up here.
An Italian deli? Prosciutto? SCORE!
I ordered a $10 proscuitto sandwich that was served on the softest focaccia bread.
Good, right?
No, I don't know how much you've had prosciutto but I get it every chance I can get (it's my favorite).
It's best served on a harder bread like oh, baguette, sourdough, french roll, heck even a day or 2 old focaccia.
The whole thing was like mush, sorta doughy, just too soft, and bland.
For that kind of money I expected better. I expected something similar to what Genova would give me.
On the plus side, the ingredients were way fresh! -
Review from M. Jon A.
Union City, CA
11/3/2009
The food is good, and the workers are suuuuuper friendly. The only reason I gave them 4 stars is because their prices are so deng high!
I got the turkey pesto panini thing. WOW it was excelent! Probably the BEST panini I ever had, no joke! Good thing my coworker was paying that day.
I guess you can say they make up for their prices with great tasting food and great customer service, but with so many options along Piedmont, I tend to look at more cost-friendly places to have lunch. -
Review from chris c.
San Jose, CA
5/6/2009
Ag Ferrari is a specialty grocery store. It stocks mainly imported italian groceries. However, I mainly come here for a quick bite to eat from their deli on my lunch hour. I usually go for a panini. They do have other side stuff like rizoto. It seems a lot of people like to go there to get blocks of cheese and italian table wine. For me, 9 bucks for a panini is kinda high.
Other than the price the food is pretty good and service is fast. If you want a fast place to eat, you can stop here. They have little bar tables and stools to eat at. After you eat, you can get some shopping done. -
Review from Aspasia s.
San Francisco, CA
3/26/2007
It is nice to find a Ferrari deli nestled in Piedmont/Oakland. As expected, they offer a wide range of mainstream Italian sausages, meats, pastries and chocolates. Mainstream, since it is not a true macelleria (none exists in the bay area) with authentic cured in-house meats such as the porchetta.
Spent a quick business lunch meeting where I nibbled on a small bowl of a pesto farfalla pasta and four pieces of chicken wings. Though the pasta was not cooked al dente, it was alright; while I truly enjoyed the chicken wings' flavor.
I noticed that they already had many boxes of Colomba Pasquale for sale, as well as Gianduja chocolate bars. I will give them a nice four stars for an overall well maintained ambience, great selections for sale, and for playing Valeria Rossi's "Tre Parole" in the background while I was enjoying my deli lunch. -
Review from Whitney F.
Oakland, CA
7/1/2009
Ferrari is my curch and A.G. is my pastor!!!! This place rocks! What else is there to say? I used to get rosemary focaccia with honey turkey, sun dried tomato paste, honey mustard, mayonaise, lettuce, and avocato. Oh my god, i just drooled.
Italy, i don't miss you cuz i have A.G.!!! -
Review from Michael S.
Piedmont, CA
9/6/2011
I'm surprised it's taken me this long to write a review for A.G.'s on Piedmont Ave. I eat there at least 3 days a week. I suppose I just take it for granted. It's the bomb and everyone knows it. They are also in a very good location by Kaiser Oakland Hospital and its many hungry employees. Everything is reasonably priced and although I get tired of eating sandwiches for lunch everyday, there's a variety of sandwiches to choose from or you can just have them make your specialty sandwich.
I'd like to suggest something to anyone who reads this. Instead of a sandwich, try creating a meal from the individual items on display. A small piece of meat, vegetable, and another side dish comes out to about the same price (and sometimes less) as one of their sandwiches. Their three bean salad (butter beans, green beans, and wax beans) is out of this world. Their tortes are expensive at 4 bucks a slice, but I got a half piece of bread pudding and it was also out of this world for only $1.88. I don't need the extra calories anyways.
Sample their wines and cheeses. I like to look around the store and buy something that I haven't had in a long time. Gregg, Jeremy, and the rest of the staff are super nice. I love my regular lunch place! -
Review from Erin L.
Novato, CA
5/15/2010 1 photo
There are few things I enjoy more than a good gourmet grocery, and AG Ferrari did not disappoint when I visited for the first time. The store specializes in Italian products and has a wonderful deli counter, complete with prepared foods and an extensive made-to-order sandwich menu. I wandered around for a while, looking at the wine selection, the imported cookies and the gourmet olive oils. There are any number of things here that would make wonderful gift items or snacks to take home. Then, I got down to business and ordered a sandwich.
I ordered the Genovese; turkey breast with pesto and tomato on foccacia. My husband ordered the Lucchese: roasted chicken breast with sun-dried tomato pesto and parmesan on foccacia. Both sandwiches were large and reasonably priced at $7.50. They were both great. The meat was very fresh, tender and well seasoned. Personally, I preferred the Genovese, but I'd order either one again. We sat at at a table near the front window and watched people walk by on Piedmont. This is a wonderful place to grab a casual but delicious sandwich. I'll definitely return here the next time I'm in the area. -
Review from Ryan B.
This place has great artisan sandwiches with A+ ingredients.
-
Review from Schuyler W.
Oakland, CA
6/24/2008
If this were a bar, they would have had to cut me off by now.
I seriously wish the local and federal government would intervene with regulations about hot sandwiches containing almost nothing but meat and cheese.
They are so good.
I can almost hear myself getting fatter. -
Review from Christine P.
Hercules, CA
4/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place is walking distance from my work so I come here every now and then. Yeah, you're spending about $7-$10 for a sandwich or salad but you pay for quality and fresh ingredients. If you wanna get a cheap sammie, get a 5....5 dollar foot looooooong!!! I've only had a few of the prepared foods and they were just ok...I'd stick to the deli.
The staff is very friendly and have a sense of humor (btw, don't forget to take a number when it's busy). When you order a salad, they even ask if you want them to toss your salad *giggles*...gotta love it!! -
Review from John M.
Oakland, CA
11/16/2008
oh man. I got the Fiorentino sandwich. One of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten. I think it must have been the Pecorino Toscano that put it over the top.
anyway, I'll be going there a lot more often. -
Review from Rusty M.
Long Beach, CA
9/7/2007
I am easy when it comes to ordering sandwiches to go and my expectations aren't sky high. Take the order, give me options, articulate prices, wrap and bag my food.
My sandwich artist struggled with 75% of those tasks and was a snot to boot. I was in a hurry and I paid 9 dollars for a turkey sandwich and I wasn't even at the airport. I asked my sandwich artist why my sandwich was so expensive and his explanation was void of a clue.
Why order a sandwich from a place when I have to study a menu to accurately find out what things will cost you when I can drive 3 minutes away to Genova Delicatessen, where I get better food and much better service.
This is my third run in with bad service at the hands of different people there and why they have good food, at this point I would rather eat crow than eat one of their sandwiches. -
Review from sparkle f.
Oakland, CA
9/19/2007
Ugh. I've been to three different AG Ferrari branches in the Bay Area in the last 3 months and I just have 1 question...
how the hell can you F up a sandwich? It's really not that complicated to make one.
Note to self: Don't waste $8 on a really crappy sandwich. -
Review from Jenn C.
2/16/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Excellent store for fancy imported Italian gourmet & specialty items! They make great sandwiches and have a lot of very good vegan options in the deli (veggies, salads, etc).
-
Review from Crystan J.
Pittsburg, CA
8/24/2011
I stopes in on whim because it looked like a good enough spot to try a sandwich. I ordered a turkey on focaccia bread and it has to be one of the best sandwiches I have ever had! I will definitely go out of my way to go here on my lunch break again.
-
Review from Kiarash Z.
Lima, OH
4/26/2007
The first place I ate after helping a friend move to Oakland, on my first trip to Oakland, was Ferrari.
I absolutely loved my sandwich and stocked up on cheeses and breads before driving back to Marysville.
The Drunken Goat cheese was delicious, as were other varieties whose names escape me. -
Review from Roseabelle M.
Dublin, CA
7/30/2009
My husband and I were hanging in the hospital with my sick daughter and picked up a couple of items during our stay to avoid the awful hospital food. The first trip - sandwiches, mine was an grilled eggplant sandwich on a seeded baguette with greens and a balsamic vinaigrette. Not cheap, but very good on the palate. The next trip was a beet salad and a Orchiette pasta salad. both very tastey and again, not cheep but very fresh and tasty which make the price worth it. Last trip will be picking up of their imported grocery items that I don't find in the valley - carnolli rice, farro, etc. . .
Definitely a place I would consider to pick up some cheese, bread, charcuterie for a picnic. . .walk down the street some and there are 2 wine stores to supplement. . . -
Review from MIchelle M.
Oakland, CA
6/17/2011
Polpette is Mama Mia!!!! Delicious! Best olives next to The Fat Lady. The only down side is the location.
-
Review from Vivian d.
Pleasanton, CA
11/8/2007
*** Disclaimer: my review is strictly based on their cheese counter ***
This place kind of reminds me of a mini V. Sattui minus the wine tastings. They sell lotsa gourmet food products and they have a cheese counter. However, their cheese selection is relatively small and well . . . select (especially compared to Farmstead). I will say that their Cacio di Bosco al Tartufo--a hard cheese infused with truffles--is TDF. -
Review from Angela O.
San Leandro, CA
7/18/2008
I love A.G. Ferrari! I love their Genovese sandwich... the pesto mayonnaise is so yummy! I bet their other sandwiches are good too, but I always order the Genovese.
They have a great selection of pastas, sauces, wines, cheese, etc. The burrata cheese is fabulous, so creamy and delicious! It's a bit pricey, but the taste is just amazing. -
Review from Christine U.
Berkeley, CA
1/15/2009
I often go here for a reward of the Siciliano eggplant sandwich (#4) after a yucky visit to the doctor's, but I think I've finally come to realize that their bread is always dry dry dry. The veggies were great, but I think I'll just have to buy a pint of it and bring my own bread next time, or something. I brought a salame sandwich (#5 Toscana, I think) back to the office for a co-worker, and he bugged me several times about the dryness of the bread (dude, it's not my fault!).
Anyway, I'll try some of the other places reviewers mentioned before I come here again. -
Review from Tiffany L.
San Leandro, CA
1/5/2010
i say the sandwich was good! OK! They are high enough for it to be great! I know they have speciality food and I have had their Lasagna but still....breads are fresh and lots of variety, which I am a fan of, oh and I love the garlic mayo (or aioli).
They do cater which is good for meetings and family events...great customer service yet still pricey -
Review from Neil C.
Oakland, CA
7/4/2011
A decent deli with an Italian bent. Good selection of cheeses, meats, and specialties. Sandwiches are pricey -- good, but not at the price. Same with most items; good stuff but overpriced. Staff is adequately knowledgeable and very friendly.
-
Review from Juan R.
Oakland, CA
4/11/2011
Great if you're in a pinch and need a sandwich or some specialty Italian foods. The problem with AG is that there are people doing everything that they do better...see Genova for sandwiches, Market Hall for pretty much everything else.
-
Review from frankie c.
Oakland, CA
9/20/2008
Best caesar dressing ever. Save yourself a few bucks and get the half pint to make a salad at home instead of the $6 ready-made one. I prefer Genova's sandwiches, but if i'm hoofing it in the area and have $10 bucks burning a hole in my pocket, I'll definitely stop in for an (expensive) bite.
-
Review from Noelle Q.
San Francisco, CA
11/3/2006
Ok, its more of a 3.75 review, but I'm feeling generous so I'll round up. This location can get busy at lunchtime, and if you forget to take a number, they are not the most sympathetic, so be warned. The pumpkin ravioli is wonderful, but spendy at $8.99 a batch. But, if you need to entertain with a wonderful meal, cooking that up at home makes it worth every penny. The sandwiches are good- and you can get them warmed. The panna cotta is also wonderful.
Listed in: The Fall Trifecta- Butternut…
-
Review from Michelle W.
Vallejo, CA
Updated - 9/26/2007
pretty good selection of italian foodstuffs, but the deli sandwiches are somewhat overpriced. i purchased a vegetarian sandwich the other day, and it came with grilled veggies. so what exactly did i get? for almost $8, i got ONE piece of cucumber, ONE piece of zucchini, and ONE piece of tomato slapped between two pieces of bread, a slice of cheese, and a squirt of aoli. WOW, THANKS!
seriously, at that price, i'd rather pay for a $15 lunch two doors down at gregoire's!1 Previous Review:
-
4/2/2007
BESTEST.SANDWICHES.EVER.
(in the $7 range)
great friendly service as well.
-
-
Review from TL C.
Philadelphia, PA
2/3/2008
oh such a tease -- and that's all Ferrari is.
A nearly perfect reproduction of an old Italian deli that is until you walk inside, realize it is really a chain and see what they actually sell, which is nothing out of the ordinary -- the same or a little less than you can get across the street at Piedmont grocery, although unbelievably slightly more expensive (and believe me Piedmont grocery is no slacker when it comes to prices.)
Unfortunately, I get suckered into coming here fairly often -- I'll be walking by, daydreaming, remembering some little Italian deli in NYC or Philly or Boston, thinking of some little nosh that I used to love so and I'll stop into AG Ferrari - I don't think they have ever come close to satisfying a single craving and the few things I have purchased seemed way too overpriced for the quality. -
Review from Nicole C.
Santa Cruz, CA
5/25/2008
This was probably one of the most uncomfortable lunching experiences I've had. I am struggling with using the word "racist," and it helps AG Ferrari's that several people on here seem to think their deli workers are just plain a**holes and not revving the racecar, but anyway... lemme explain...
I'm a Latina woman and dating a white dude... all we want in the world is a tasty sandwich to fill our bellies... we go into AG Ferrari looking forward to the experience and notice the servers tense a bit even as we walk in. They are extremely friendly to the older, white couple ahead of us and talk at length with them, but are extremely curt with us. Having gotten an unwelcome vibe during the whole walk down Piedmont that day (weird cause i never felt that way before on Piedmont in spite of the lack of brown folks like me), I got the hint and tried to bail to the other side of the room. My boyfriend didn't quite catch on til later on when even as he paid the worker and said "thanks!" enthusiastically, the worker would not even acknowledge him or look him in the eye.
It was just a really uncomfortable experience and I'm not sure I can describe a "vibe" accurately in words, but I think anyone who has encountered oldskool blatant racism knows it. I'd like to believe that it's not the case and that they're all-around jerks without an ideology behind it, but yea...
even if that is the case, when we got home and ate those sandwiches.. they were like cardboard and thinly sliced fat.... what a buzzkill! not even our sandwiches had love to share!
if you ever want a real Italian deli to swoon over, I recommend Zoccoli's in Santa Cruz... change your life! -
Review from Marsh-Silog P.
Union City, CA
1/17/2008
OK...just that OK. There are a few people behind the counter that are friendly, the others seem to act like you are bothering them. They have a good selection of pasta and ready made salads.
-
Review from Josh L.
Alameda, CA
11/28/2008
If you ever have a baby at Oakland Kaiser and need a nice break from the hospital, Piedmont Avenue at 8:30 a.m. is so refreshing. We had our baby this past Monday and I needed a nice walk and some lunch. Each day I would take a nice walk to A.G. Ferrari. I saw the one in SF and always thought it was pricey. It is, however it's one of the best places that takes me back to Italy. Each day I had the #3 Pannini Sandwich Naopolean which is fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, pesto spread and ground pepper on a rustic roll. Super fresh and really good. I also tried a risotto ball and artichoke ball. Good stuff and always fresh. Wish they opened one in Alameda.
Read more reviews for this business:
Italian (1)
