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Star Grocery is your REAL local Berkeley market. It's quaint with a homey feel and has the little unique things you can't find elsewhere. Although it has all these qualities, you should note that actually doing all your grocery shopping here is VERY EXPENSIVE.
I like the butchers in the back of the store for their deli meats. Hot coppa, salami, and all the other goodies.
And Star Grocery has an AMAZING beer selection! Not to toot my horn or anything, but I have been privy to some very unique beers and I have found them at Star Grocery for an affordable price! It definitely makes me think twice about heading out to the bars and spending a fortune.
Good meats, beers, and food...
actually came here to try the sandwich but they ran out of bread so i spent a few minutes to browse the grocery ' star grocery has a touch of trader joe's, a touch of whole foods, and a touch of an italian del,
samplings:
-scottish stout (500ml-3.99): actually pretty smooth for a stout, the roasted part i can taste but where's tje chocolate?
-old rasputin russian imperial stout (2.19)classic strong stout bite with a kick.
-green & black's organic chocolate (smooth drak chocolate with real coffee)3.79 very nice
-wallaby organic pink grapefuit down under yogurt(1.09) creamy, sweet with a pool of grapefruit on the bottom. nice
-bellwether farms strawberry" sheep milk yogurt'"2.49
-siggis pomegranted & passion fruit icelandic stye skyr strained non fat yogurt (spec 2.59)-very tart, creamy, smooth, has 4 live cultures, pomegrate and passion fruit not tastable.
-sigg "orange & giner" (2.59)thick creaminess with a little tartness and ginger bits
-the "classic" sandwich (8) pretty good 'wich'
carryouts:
-nice alternative to whole foods and corporate marketing with many of the basics (chocolate, yogurt, beer, meats, sandwiches) adequately covered. not that crazy about veggies nor fast food so that's not an issue.
-nice, laid back attitude here.
-parking on side streets.
In addition to being a great grocery store, Star Grocery has an amazing beer selection & delicious gourmet sandwiches made with meat they cure themselves!!
Here's their specialty sandwich menu:
The Classic
Ham, salami, hot coppa, provolone, lettuce, onion, tomato, red wine vinegar, olive oil, spices, and a touch of mayonnaise
Raging Bull
Turkey, pepper salami, provolone, olive spread, arugula, sun dried tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil
Brian Allen
Turkey, cheddar, hot coppa, arugula, tomato and chipotle mayo
Michael Henry
Roast beef, provolone, roasted peppers, arugula, balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, black pepper, and a touch of mayonnaise
Fat Albert
Roast beef, cheddar, chipotle mayo, tomato, and red onion
Goodfella
Genoa salami, hot coppa, fresh mozzarella, arugula, sun dried tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and a touch of mayo
Petit Sara
Portobello mushrooms, eggplant, roasted peppers, fresh mozzarella, sun dried tomatoes, arugula, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil
My cousin Vinny
Ham, fresh mozzarella, bruschetta, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil
Godfather
Salami, hot coppa, prosciutto, provolone, arugula, roasted peppers, olive oil, and black pepper
Soprano
Bruschetta, fresh mozzarella, arugula, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil
Tuna
Tuna salad, provolone, arugula, tomatoes, and olive oil
P.S. If you ask nicely & order ahead of time, they'll deliver large sandwich orders to nearby areas!
This charming grocery on the Claremont strip stocks all the right stuff! You'll find the everyday staples as well as specialty items you might need in a pinch.
Things I found on a quick stroll-through that will keep me going back:
House made sausage
Crusty bread from Acme
Fresh cilantro, dill and mint
A ginormous beer and wine selection
More varieties of chocolate than Willy Wonka
A complete Asian section
Friendly, helpful peeps
Cooking makes me happy. Eating makes me happy. Supporting individually owned business makes me happy.
If there is an equivalent to "local food" in the grocery world, Star Grocery is it: they've been in the neighborhood for years, are family owned, and their food seems entirely catered to the tastebuds of the neighborhood/area. There's a plethora of fine chocolates, breads, cheeses, and they have all the things that I was surprised to find in a "mom and pop" store: they have humane raised eggs, the butcher in the back has marin sun farm meat, and they have produce from local farms--recently, I spotted ramps!
I can't believe that I've missed this place for more than a decade. It wasn't until a friend of mine said, "Go to Star Grocery," that I dropped in and was totally surprised.
My husband (who also loves the place--he sees it as a mini-Berkeley Bowl without the drama of parking and the crowded aisles and the occasional crazy shopper) and I now view farmers market + Star Grocery as the perfect food sourcing pairing. They're definitely cheaper than Whole Foods--we spotted Meyers products there at almost a dollar cheaper.
So--you'll feel good shopping at Star Grocery (for all the reasons stated above but also because the place feels local and has a feel-good vibe) and you won't regret it either because it won't be an act of altruism. There's good stuff here and it's priced well.
Oh and if you like the booze, they've got a great selection.
Five stars to the guys behind the butcher counter!
I went to the Star Grocery next door to buy ingredients to make sausages. (I had taken a pork butchery class few days earlier and thought it would be fun to make sausages with my friends.) I started chitchatting with the guys and before I knew it they were giving me sausage-making tips and volunteering to grind the meat up for me! The next day, I went over with my marinated pork to do just that, but I got invited behind the counter. I got to grind, mix, and stuff the sausages! Whoa! Way cool! The best part was that they were so nonchalant and friendly. They just won themselves a loyal customer.
I like beer. Many people like beer. The people who like good beer, would appreciate that Star Grocery is worth the trip out to Claremont if you don't live in the area.
They have an amazing beer selection with great breweries like Dogfish, 21st Amendment, and more. I'm a huge fan of 21st Amendment's Hell or High Watermelon beer, which is infused with real watermelon flavoring (no concentrate here). This beer gets even better... it's in a can! I thoroughly enjoyed having something else other than a Coors Light on Super Bowl Sunday this year.
I also liked the pasta selection here, and satisfied my pasta craving by buying some great noodles to make for dinner. The cashiers were all very friendly, and I look forward to buying beer and pasta here again.
I wish I had discovered Star Grocery when I lived three blocks away! It's right near my parents' house, but, inexplicably, was never a regular grocery stop for us. Now I'll probably make the trek up there anyway, or combine the odd shopping trip with a family visit, since it's just a little bit further than the Berkeley Bowl, and has a lot more going for it.
It's the kind of well-stocked local grocery store that feels almost like an anachronism. The selection is quite varied, considering the size of the store, and prices are surprisingly low for the great food they have. Their produce section is small but second in quality only to the farmers' market, including a wide range from local farms -- yesterday I got local Cara Cara oranges, Full Belly Farm beets, and Willey Farm leeks and parsnips, and passed by Full Belly wheat flour only because I still have half a bag left at home. When I have a little more money I will surely be back to check out their chocolates, meats, pantry staples, etc....
My mom lives a couple of blocks away and I take her here occasionally to shop since she's not driving anymore...this was the place we came as kids, as I mentioned, but they have stayed really current regarding what people like these days...including...frozen cornbread pizza crusts...which I've died for for years since Viccolos near Hayes St. closed. Yum.
Can't believe it! I'm the first to review this place. It's been the neighborhood market since… Read more »
I used to haul my ass to ledger's liquors whenever I needed some good beer, but now that I've found star, no more. They have an unbelievable selection of single bottles, with lot's of unusual brands and styles. Looking for the Hitachino nest ginger beer? They got it. That crazy flemish lambic? They got it.
The meat selection is up there (not quite ver brugge, but what can you do?), lot's of fresh produce and fruit (including plenty of local farmers' products), great natural food, and plenty of household supplies.
This place is a like a small little distilled berkeley bowl - they don't have as much of the pre-packaged or frozen stuff, and are missing the awesome asian aisle, but in terms of convenience this place can't be beat. Plus the staff is friendly and helpful.
I can't believe I only found out about this place now.
Star Grocery is a true gem...a reason to live in this neighborhood...how do they know exactly what we need for some obscure holiday dish...it has gotten better than ever now that the new meat market has moved in. The meat is high quality, the sandwiches are big and yummy and the owner is a super nice guy who seems to be friends with all of his customers. He actually delivered a chicken to my house recently.
I babysit nearby and this is known as "the bagel spot" for them because they have bagels for $.75. They also have a great selection of dried goods that are sold by the pound. I absolutely love the Vanilla Almond Granola. Very good. They have fresh produce, liquor and a wide selection of other goods - tissue paper, garbage bags, mustard, cheese, and meat! The staff is incredibly friendly and they even post local flyers in their window to assist the community - such as baby sitters, piano lessons, domestic assistance, etc.
The only thing I thought was a little much was the pricing of some things - $2.50+ for a small box of kleenex. Yikes.
This place has so much history and yet is so up-to-date at the same time. I absolutely LOVE this market. This grocery has been in business a long time and the Pappas family are now on the 3rd or 4th generation to run it. They carried neighborhood folks thru' the Great Depression by allowing credit when that was a risky proposition. They still allow people to sign for their groceries and they have an extremely loyal following.
Pretty much everything you need can be found here including an alarming array of chocolate, fresh produce (the produce section is managed by Misake who is incredibly knowledgeable) and lots of organic options. The wine selection is aces and today I even surprised Stuart by locating a hard-to-find Kermit Lynch Cote du Rhone he likes. The meat section has changed a couple of times and is an old-fashioned butcher shop. People tell me the quality is excellent.
I like the fact that the floors are wooden and worn. I like that there is no canned Muzak. I like that they hire kids to ring up your sale, and help you to the car if you need help. I respect the way they do business and that they listen to customers. I think every neighborhood should have a grocer like Nick Pappas. He's a hold-out to the way things used to be and I think this store is a fine example of shopping local. Go and support this place. You will feel good, and you will feel connected to this neighborhood. Who knows? You may even find a babysitter (they post ads in the window), a gardener, a dog walker, or just the perfect bottle of wine.
star grocery has big breasts.
chicken breasts, you perv; that was just to get your attention.
i stopped by today to grab some stuff for a picnic grill out at lake sonoma and chatted with the fun and friendly butchers, who were excited to hear my plans for the day. the head butcher immediately referred me to his young apprentice, who is apparently quite the fisherman! he hadn't yet been to lake sonoma, so he had no tips for that spot, but once he heard i was a fishing-neophyte (as in ain't never been, but always interested in trying new things), he directed me straight to the russian river as the best place to drop a line. and i surely intend to find out if he's right!
berkeley is the amazing city that it is because of the people that live here. the ones that are kind to newcomers and will take a minute or two to share a part of the area that they think is really special. the ones who choose to get out of their apartments and DO something, instead of watching tv, and bike to work instead of driving, and are proud to bear the name locavore. the ones who sit outside your office by the BART entrance singing loudly and forming a drum circle (or playing the spoons) to entertain you during those sleepy afternoons after your morning coffee has worn off. the ones who turn a cell phone into a microscope to capture images of a patient's blood cells in the field, and send the pics back to experts at medical centers (berkeley students are SMART!). and especially the ones who run teeny, tiny grocery stores that carry everything you need (like their exceptionally large chicken breasts, wide variety of cheeses, ample wine section, and assorted produce) plus all the exotic extras (like maple ginger snap gelato, french berry lemonade, and rao's homemade spaghetti sauce!). the people make this a great place to live, and i am very grateful that it's the place i currently call home.
when i first moved to berkeley, i only knew of a whole foods on ashby, so i shopped there. as i… Read more »
A neighborhood gem! They have everything you could want and then some! I have yet to find another place that carries bread in can!(you know....for emergencies)
Head on to the back of the store to the butcher shop to find my all time favorite-Lebenese Bologne!
Mikey, who runs things, makes sandwiches that you will end up dreaming about-I usually order two! Yes, they are that good!
And to top it off, if you are clueless on how to prepare the meat or fish you are buying, just ask Mikey! He will give you simple and tasty recipe.
Star gets 5 stars!
Most awesome grocery store with a whole WALL of chocolates!!!!!
the meat and fruit is really fresh, and they sell ben and jerry's peace pop thingys. those are soooooooo good!
They also sell swedish fish that aren't all packaged.
also have the biggest selection of Dirty potato chips ever!!! yum!
nice staff and yummy red licorice.
bread here is yummy too.
and look at all of the vitamin waters!!!!!!!!!!
awesome place.
: P
This review is totally biased
I know the owner
the managers
many of the employees
I used to be an employee
They've employed other members of my family
I go there often
There was a time when I'd have been happy dining on Kraft mac and cheese for the rest of my life, working here, however, spoiled (elevated?) my palate, vastly increasing my grocery bills....
They have a fine selection of high quality foodstuffs, awesome produce, and an excellent meat counter. A great wine selection, a good wall o' liquor, and a deep selection of craft beers.
A special mention should go out to the hand wrought signage within the store ;-)
Just the perfect place to shop:
Pop in, get great quality and fresh meats and food, dash out.
Vegan, gluten free, low sodium, healthy-diet-friendly goods.
They have a surprisingly wide selection of items for a small market. They have gluten free flour and lactose free milk for example. Although they don't have my favorite brands sometimes I still enjoy being able to walk to a local market.
Since I moved from the NW corner of Berkeley to the SE corner I have greatly missed Berkeley Natural Grocery (http://www.yelp.com/se...) and while not a complete replacement it is certainly better than my other walking distance alternatives.
Star Grocery is a wonderful place to explore new foods. The variety and quality of their drinks, snacks, candies (especially chocolate), teas and foods is amazing. For me, entering the Star is about the small things, like lavender flavored soda and peppercorn chocolate. I have a friend whose grandparents used to live one block away, and they have had an account here for more than 50 years and only had great things to say about it (yes, the old fashioned I-trust-you-to-pay-your-bill-at-the-end-of-the-mon th kind).
In general, they sell upper-end, gourmet goods at prices that are lower than other shops of their caliber, even those which specialize in one item, like tea or chocolate.
I love this little grocery store. It has the simple, down home charm of a local grocery store with a few unusual and hard to find items. If you're looking for a little inspiration, you might pop in and see what you can find. Don't forget to browse their great selection of Dagoba single source chocolates--fabulous chocolate at a good price.
Star Grocery is what a local business should be about. They have what you need (fresh produce, breads, flour, sugar...) and what you desire (chocolate, wine, coffee...). Prices are fair, service is friendly and the place definitely has roots. They seem to care about their clients (credit slips, offers of assistance) and their customers definitely care about them.
Stop in on a weekday afternoon and see the kids from the preschool down the block shoppings for snacks and dinner with their parents. Stay a little later as the refugees from the San Francisco commute make their way back home. Get a coffee, or maybe a piece of fruit to enjoy on the wooden benches out front. The awning keeps you protected from sun and rain so you can watch the joggers, cyclist, dogs and everyone else run, ride and drive past on Claremont.
Good selections of what they do carry, from PG Tips tea to bulk foods to a deep wine list.
Kudos to Star Grocery for setting the standard for how a business can be a great neighbor.
Great produce and groceries. Excellent beer and wine. AND an awesome butcher with QUALITY meats. Forget Berkeley Bowl, Star Grocery is my new fav.
An outstanding local grocery for those who managed to get their mitts on a piece of the primo real estate in the vicinity. old school grocery with heavy doses of charm and very likely to have what you need. high quality overall. but what brings me to this market, far from my own beaten path, are the remarkable roast chickens you'll smell on the spit the moment you enter the store if you arrive after say, 4:00p. Follow your delighted nose to the rear of the store and lay claim to one of these fine birds. Crazy good stuff. Weirdly, I believe there's a link between the current butcher shop and Star and my former butcher and chicken roaster extraordinaire formerly with the now defunct Woodminster Market butcher shop (was it Bob's Meat's, how the mind goes). If you are looking for the quintessential fat, juicy roast chicken without turning your own oven past low, look no further.
Really cheap produce, eggs.
This place has some produce (mostly the vegetables) that are organic and/or pesticide free, and still cheaper than even Berkeley Bowl. I will from now on only buy my vegetables from Star Grocery. Same with the eggs, the eggs (Clover, from Sonoma) are cheaper than the cheapest eggs at Berkeley Bowl (Petaluma eggs)
The meat selection is sparse, but it looks good and the prices are reasonable... I haven't tried it, yet, though.
Oh, and there is no inventory tracking system at all, everything is rung up as 'GROCERY' and I'm not sure if the prices are so incredibly amazing it blows my mind, or if the cashiers are just terrible at ringing everything up properly (always in the customer's favor, it seems)
I used to work here back in the day and the place hasn't changed much since. Sure Adrian put in the bulk bins, but this place still has the most cutting edge foodie goods. It was the first place to carry Frog Hollow Peaches, even before market hall jumped on the bandwagon or befor e San francisco pier whatever fame. They were gormet before Julia Child ever poured her first glass of wine. Just the other day, I was looking for hot buttered rum mix and couldn't find it anywhere, Star had it. Granted Adrian had to climb on a chair and reach to the back of the top shelf of the liquor wall, but he knew exactly where it was. Its always a treat to see Nick and get his quirky "oh Hello" . Howdee to all neighborhooders that know me and know that Star is a staple.
Not only does Star Grocery have a fantastic selection of just about everything (but cheese-- their cheese offering is tasty but limited), but their butcher shop is exceptional. I wanted to buy humanely raised short ribs that were still in my budget. While Mi Ranchito sells short ribs for under $4/lb, I had a feeling they weren't "humane". Andronico's carries Niman Ranch meat, but their short ribs ($6.50/lb) are only USDA Prime. Cafe Rouge's short ribs, while probably just what I was looking for, are almost $10/lb. Verbrugge's, at $6/lb, are hormone-free, etc., but grain-fed. Star, however, carries Niman Ranch short ribs, at $6/lb, hormone-free, humanely raised, and grass & grain fed. Delicious.
Man, I love this place. Everything you need is there. The customer service is amazing. You feel appreciated as a consumer.
i can't believe this place has only 10 reviews. it is the oldest grocery store i have been to in the area. furthermore, i can't beleive baron's butcher shop in the back of the store hasn't been reviewed. the grocery store carries fresh local produce, and hard to find specialty items. the employees are young locals, who seem to really care about the store and know lots about the history of the place. great spot to shop on the weekends. it beats the crowds at whole foods, and the prices are better too.
Neighborhood: Claremont
Category: Meat Shops
Berkeley, CA
Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Grocery
El Cerrito, CA
Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: North Berkeley
Category: Fruits & Veggies
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