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Category: Meat Shops [Edit]
Neighborhood: North BerkeleyMon-Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
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Just got over a whole week of food poisoning/stomach flu and after a week of broth, rice, applesauce & toast I needed some protein.
Got one of their organic whole roasted chickens. And some fra'mani turkey galentine that uses both light and dark meat. And some of their house peppered roast beef and I got the little end because I hate rare meat and love pepper. Their house roasted turkey is very nice too and I got that last time but I wanted to try the galentine. Everything is delicious and I feel stronger already.
The young man who helped me was wonderful as were the women at the register. My wife who was waiting in the car with the 2 basenjis we are dogsitting want some bubbly drink and they had a nice selection.
Score!
Magnani's has gained another star because I just found out a about their new GREAT GREAT sandwich deal ....Well. new to me.
I just found out about it,because the time I usually do my shopping follows the rule "Never shop when you are hungry, because then you overshop ( or something)
And, sure, I am often hungry about noon. I AM AN AMERICAN.
But last week, I HAD to be at Magnani's at 11:46. And atop the deli counter, in a basket, were prewrapped sandwiches and a sign--
POOR BOY SANDWICHES $5.00
I am poor, I need sandwiches, this was for me.
When I got home, and it was a fast trip , because I was thinking about the sandwich.
And what a sandwich it is. I scarfed it down so fast, I didn't have time for analysis. But you know me, you trust me right?
They don't have them on Saturday, and probably not Thanksgiving Eve
when one half of Berkeley comes to pick up THE BEST TURKEY in town
Magnani's has settled down. The overly merry crew of sports analysts
has become efficient and…
Read more »
'Tis a sad, sad day for me. I have to write a very d*mning review of Magnani Poultry.
My father and I used to buy all our chickens and eggs from Magnani on College Ave. They knew my father so well that, when they saw him walk through the door, they'd put together his regular order for him. We practically lived off Magnani chicken and eggs.
That was 20+ years ago. Sadly, things have changed. My friend went to the Hopkins street store to buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts to contribute to a barbecue at our house. She said the shop smelled "a little funky" when she went in, but she decided to attribute it to the hot, busy day.
However, when The Spousal Unit opened the package of chicken breasts, he was hit with a miasma of unwashed feet. I took a test sniff as well; ugh. Into the trash can they went.
"Magnani's dead,
Magnani Poultry's dead
Their product has diminished all around
And the daisies in the dell
Now give out a different smell
'Cause their chicken breasts are buried in the ground."
Super-friendly and a great selection. I'm a huge fan of local sustainable, so it was great to see that they have a large selection of pastured beef and "happy" chickens, so I will definitely go again.
I live right near here, and as Monterey Market does not serve meat, this is an obvious must stop for my grocery shopping if I'm shopping at Monterey Market and have no meat at home.
I am the type of person that frequents 3-6 grocery stores on a regular basis. Magnani's is a smaller equivalent of the meat counter at Berkeley Bowl. However, they do have a bigger selection of sausages, and most anything that a meat-eating shopper could want. They also double as a deli, though I've never tried their sandwiches. Their sandwich meats are good, some are homemade, which I like.
One thing though- their bacon still has the skin on it. It makes it kinda chewy. I think I like my bacon without the skin.
The chickens at Magnani's were raised free to frolic the verdant hills and valleys of their farm, whilst being hand-fed only the freshest of grains by adorable girls wearing embroidered swiss aprons. Or perhaps they just taste that way.
Anyway, thank you Magnani's for the new dedicated check-out counter!
Now those walking advertisements for the Peter Pan Complex can get straight to the business of cutting, skinning, weighing, wrapping, grunting and labeling my always fresh and always delicious chicken without being slowed down by that wholly confounding money / new glove thing.
cluck, cluck.
From across the street, I saw the object of my obsession. Everything went hazy as I crossed the street. Was that a horn that just blared at me? It was so surreal! I didn't care! I entered Magnani's and felt like I was in the midst of a Penthouse Letter come to life. Luscious and full breasts, supple and firm thighs. Every man's dream. I took a number at the counter and gaped in awe.
The excitement and anxiety building...
3 lbs. boneless skinless, please.
NUTRITION FACTS
Serving size 140g
___________________________
Amount Per Serving
___________________________
Calories 231
Calories from Fat 45
___________________________
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 8%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Trans Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 119mg 40%
Sodium 104mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 0g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Sugars 0g 0%
Protein 43g
___________________________
Vitamin A 1% | Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 2% | Iron 8%
*Percent Daily Values are
Based on a 2,000 calorie
diet. Your daily values may
be higher or lower depending
on your calorie needs.
Thanks to Magnani's, Madame was pleased with the award winning Mochiko Chicken of Cafe Kevo notoriety. I'll be back for their duck, quail, bacon and other fine offerings.
Feb '08 update: Yeah, the new owners are introducing more prepared foods (higher margins), but they still stock Fulton and Hoffman and they still have staff capable of skinning your chicken legs if you're going to cook them Indian-style. Still the best chicken shop in the Bay Area.
***
Original ROTD'd review:
It's so clearly the best place to buy chicken in the East Bay, and possibly in the entire Bay Area, that I don't know what comes second. (Maybe Cafe Rouge, but their selection is minuscule. Andronico's has some good stuff but is ridiculously expensive.) Their standard brand is Fulton Valley: no antibiotics or hormones or similar crap. More importantly, it tastes so much more like chicken than even other sustainable producers, let alone the sorry excuses for birds you get in most supermarkets, that I wouldn't advise buying anything else...
Unless, unless, you're going to splurge for a Hoffman Farm chicken, also available here, but only as a whole bird, where Fulton Valley comes in various cuts. I've never been able to bring myself to pay three dollars-something a pound for Hoffman, but my restaurant experiences suggest it's that much better again than Fulton Valley. Truly the alpha chicken.
Duck, well, at these prices I'll take my chances in Oakland Chinatown. But come here for chicken!
***
BONUS RECIPE~!: Stove-top chicken legs
2 servings, about 45 mins total
A day before cooking (although even a few hours before will help), rub 2 chicken legs with 3/4 tbsp of salt, 3/4 tbsp pepper and 1/4 tbsp dried rosemary (to taste). Try to rub more on the thicker parts (the thighs) than the thinner parts (the ankles). Refrigerate.
When you're ready to cook, warm a couple of tablespoons of butter or olive oil in a deep skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat. Add 2 cloves of garlic (chopped into about 4 pieces each) and the chicken legs, with the side with more skin facing down. When the underside is brown (about 5 mins), turn. When this side is brown as well (another 3 mins), add 3/4 cup dry white wine. The wine should quickly come to a boil; then reduce the heat so that it's barely simmering, and cover. Turn the chicken every 10 mins; meanwhile, drink some wine.
Stick a thermometer into the thickest part of the thicker piece of chicken; cook until the temperature hits 165-170F (if you don't have a thermometer, 35 mins should be safe). Take out the chicken and garlic and put them somewhere warm. If you're fat-conscious, scoop out the excess fat from the pan, add a dash of wine, then reheat and stir to make a sauce. If you're not fat-conscious, just pour the fatty liquid over the chicken. Mmm, chickenfat. Serve with rice and booze.
I've been coming to Magnani for many years. So many years that I remember when the main store was on College (around where Wood Tavern is now) and the small store on Hopkins (where Gioia is now) was kind of a branch. One virtue of the College store was that it was open on Sundays!
The Magnani people were good folks on whom I could always rely for a "small fryer cut up for barbecuing." In random stores that sell chicken, all the birds are roughly the same size: medium. It must be the high volume that enables these people to stock chickens whose weights are not always the same. I've enjoyed their prepared chickens (lemon-rosemary, teriaki,...) many, many times and also have fond memories of their spit-roasted potatoes and their barbecued ribs. I'd also dip into the freezer case for an occasional box of Genova ravioli.
In recent times, I've divided my poultry shopping among Cafe Rouge, Magnani and Kensington Fine Foods. I come to Magnani when I'm in the area, and usually I end up spending a fair amount of time in the store cooling my heels. As other yelpers have pointed out, the service can be slow and the personnel behind the counter can behave in an irritating way. I've been here so infrequently in recent months that I didn't even realize that there were new owners. I will pay more attention to what's going on over the coming weeks.
One review suggested the strategy of arriving at 9AM to be the first customer. Do that and you'll stand in front of the door for 30 minutes until they open at 9:30. I happened to be going by the store this morning at 9:31 and noticed that the door was still closed. While I put my Monterey Market purchases in my car, the door had opened, and I was actually today's first customer. That sounds good, but the display cases were completely empty and neither prepared chicken nor prepared ribs were ready yet. I asked about a small chicken. "I'm pretty sure that we can find one for you." The person who was helping me disappeared into the back for a few minutes and finally emerged with a really tiny chicken in his hands. He did an expert job cutting it up for me. I hope he washed his hands when he was done.
You'll get better tasting chicken pot pies from a freezer section---floor. Hell, you could get more flavor from a spoonful of flour. This also applies to their gagiolis (ravioli's for those of you who haven't tasted them).
The marinara is a pretty color, but don't be fooled, by golly! This packaging is as careful a ruse as the trailer for Daredevil. Both are red, and both....ah, forget it.
If you're over 90 live nearby, have money to waste or a gift certificate about to expire, and need to fill your stomach at no risk of indigestion from something too flavorful or rich, here's what I recommend: punch yourself in the stomach. It's better than eating here.
I only go here when I am grocery shopping in the area, but I actually prefer Berkeley Bowl. Yes, the meats are usually tasty, and I like the new checkout system, which has reduced the line-waiting time. They also cleaned up the olive oil/balsamic vinegar bar, which is a relief.
All in all, a solid 4+. Something's still missing though, not sure what.
This place has both 1 star junk and 4 star treats.
The Avoid List
Blander than wallpaper paste Chicken pot pies.
Half-ass marinara sauce with old herb flavor.
Ribs with sparse meat. Lotsa bone.
Baked potatoes drier than a road apple in Yuma.
The Good Stuff
It's a short list because first I discovered the bad stuff and haven't been back as often.
Roasted Chickens are spiced well and flavorful. Nice n moist.
Atmosphere is like a high school boys locker room. Lots of teenage hormonal imbalances at work here. Hooting and yelling and grunting. And if a teenage girl strolls in from the school down the street? Take a step back and observe the awkward courtship rituals of hyperactive teens in nature.
2 1/2 half stars.
I'm worried about what seems to be going on at Magnani.
I was there a few weeks ago (either the last weekend in October or first in November - can't remember). Counter service was moving at a glacial pace -- which was a mixed blessing, as I was able to run to the store next door and pick up a few things and my number at Magnani STILL hadn't been called. Ha!
I noticed that the bags of sauerkraut in the refrigerated section had a "September 05" expiration date -- one assumes that's SEPTEMBER 5, 2007 and not, gasp, September 2005, but you never know . . . and that's TWO WHOLE MONTHS past the sale date! Yikes.
I have to say that it was more than a little untidy around the place, too -- although that could be due more to the fact that it was a busy Saturday and they just hadn't had a chance to tidy up.
But most disappointing was the meager stock: it was before noon, so there was really no excuse. The non-smoked house rotisserie chicken was nowhere to be found, nor were the smoked pork chops. I plan to go back this weekend, probably on Friday, and will update after my next visit. For now, though, they only deserve 3 stars.
Holly Cow, or should I say turkey. I ordered my holiday bird from this highly reputable meat market and it was quite an ordeal. I called ahead to save time but when I arrived I found that I had to wait in not one but two lines. One to get a number and one to get the bird. I'm sure the bird will be tasty, but the process of getting the bird needs some work.
I've also bought some chicken and sausage and found it all quite fresh and tasty. It's added to my list of regular places, but I think I'll get a bird elsewhere next year.
I really love magnani's chicken and turkey. I have no idea about the other stuff since I don't eat it, but definitely go for bbq chicken, turkey, or the baked potatoes!
I think most of the reviewers are way off here. This place offers serious, high quality meats. When I shop at the fish place on Hopkins, I always wish I was at Berkeley Bowl. Not so here at all. They make their own delicious sausages (lamb/rosemary, spicy Italian with serious heat). I like to rotisserie, and these guys have it all -- good birds, rabbit, duck, lamb legs, etc. They smoke their own meats, have great pancetta for soup, great deli meats for sandwiches, etc.
What's not to like? Well, the line can be long, and they don't move very fast. Yes, it does have a kind of fratty/high school vibe. I don't ever want to buy any of their sauces, pastas, etc. But if you want that stuff, you get it at Monterey Market. You're here for food for the grill, and this place delivers.
I shop here a lot b/c it is close by and generally better than any other place nearby. However, I have my complaints.
Things to avoid:
Sausages: ok, but often dry
House Turkey: Dry, dry, dry
Prepared foods: Stocks are way overpriced, soups suck and other prepared foods uninspired
Things to buy:
Salamis
Chicken - both prepared and raw are tasty and meaty
Other raw meat products - sometimes a little over-priced, but I've had good luck with pork chops, skirt steak, flank steak, ground turkey, etc.
Olives from olive bar
On the other side, the salespeople are very inconsistent. Sometimes the "guys" are chatty with each other and slow, which is very annoying on a busy Saturday afternoon. Also, in recent times they have had more and more young people working there who know nothing about meat. Curious? If you ask if they have pancetta or certain salami, for example, they'll look at you like you are from Mars. IT"S A MEAT MARKET FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!
Overall, convenient, pretty good, but definitely things to avoid.
Five stars for any place that offers fresh duck and fresh rabbit meat. I have been craving magret de canard and lapin au moutarde for the past year! Thank god there is a place to get both these items. Yelpers should come here to support a place that sells these hard to find meats.
Being a poultry place primarily, it is a good spot to buy Muscovy duck. You can get just the legs, or a breast, or the whole bird. I made the mistake once of asking some friends who had ducks in their backyard if they kept them for food....bad move...they were pets, but they sure looked tasty!
This place is really very simple to describe: the best meats (and more!) and prices in Berkeley, hands down.
An excellent butcher shop, Magnani always has the highest quality meats. They have a full assortment of cooked and uncooked natural poultry, pork and beef. The meat sold here always produces a quality barbeque. They also have a full line of olives, seasonings, lunch meats, dried pastas, and prepared side dishes. There is always a line, so dive in the door and make a beeline for the number machine, or you will get passed quickly by the 3-4 people coming in the door right behind you! The people behind the counter are helpful and efficient, and they provide a wide variety of music for your listening pleasure while you wait.
Magnani is hands down the best smelling shop in town. Just going in there intoxicates me. Between the roasted chickens and the smoked duck--Mmmmmmmmm. However, I have been seduced by the scent and bought ribs, which were tasty but did not fall off the bone the way I would expect.
However, the raw meat can't be beat: where else can you get Hoffman Farms chicken, yummy rabbits, Salmon Creek pork . . .? This place is an essential stop on my weekly shopping journey.
If you want to buy prepared food, do not read on. If you actually know how your stove works and tend to use it-- excellent poultry, pork and a great selection of sauages (including lamb). They are also great if you want to to order large quantities for parties and the like. They know how to butcher meat and don't hack up your (very expensive) duck which saves you the hassle of doing it yourself. They do a very nice roasted turkey in house that they slice well which is perfect for sannies. It is a meat market, and a very good one, so go there if that is what you are looking for. Parking is stinky.
The meat at Magnani is absolutely superior. It's best to go early (9am) if you want to zip in/zip out. They do an incredible job of deboning and their prices are very reasonable. We made a turducken for Thanksgiving and they deboned all 3 birds for us and it was a very reasonable price given all birds were free range and no hormones.
If you arrive later in the morning you will wait to get served. I recommend grabbing a cup of coffee across the street and just chillin' while you wait. It's worth it.
Someone who is into property and "works" at Monterey Market has bought Magnani's. The "Magnani" family is no longer involved, and for the time being the name has remained. The counter people seem to change from day to day, and some days the wait can be gruesome. If you know what you're ordering, it's a great place with high quality poultry and certain meats.
Awesome food and great people. I wanted to eat everything in there.
When we have a party often the turkey is a precooked bird from Magnani's. I cook the ancillary stuff, like caviar pie and guacamole and my special antipasto. Alan's the one who picks up the turkey, just before the party, so I never go there. Until yesterday. We were having friends over. I wanted olives and Nina has told me Magnani's olive bar is less expensive than Andronico's or AG Ferrari's and has a good selection. Since she was to be one of our guests and she and I have a thing about olives (we once bought a mixture of 19 different types at a farmer's market in France) I couldn't just serve Trader Joe's Greek olive mixture. So I went in and picked out a nice assortment. I listened to someone pumping vinegar from one of the large containers into his own bottle. It's a cool place which deserves a little more than the quick visit I gave it, so I'll have to go back. With company coming I didn't have time to linger. Staff was friendly and helpful.
I love to run across the street and get a chicken that is already cooked and cut up and tasty on my way home.I love the bizarro selection of beverages.Fair prices and lots of selection this place is a meat lovers dream.
I've shopped here a few times but I'm not convinced they're the best place for happy meats. The times that I dropped in they had a very minimal selection and the prices seemed fairly high.
Well i heard all about their chicken but i have to say - eh..it was all right. I got a little spoiled before living near the piedmont grocery and their butcher but i will say their sandwiches are pretty good.
before they moved into their new, spacious store, they were much cooler, but even now a tender, succulent rosemary lemon roast chicken for $7.99 is *amazing*, as are their spare ribs (consumed about 5 pounds of those today) sausages, and other goodies. really the only place to shop if you're on the northside.
Neighborhood: Claremont
Category: Meat Shops
Kensington, CA
Category: Meat Shops
Neighborhood: North Berkeley
Category: Fruits & Veggies
Neighborhood: North Oakland
Category: Meat Shops
Neighborhood: South Berkeley
Category: Grocery
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