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The Milk Pail Market
Categories: Food Specialty Food Cheese Shops Food Specialty Food Fruits & Veggies Food Grocery Cheese Shops, Fruits & Veggies, Grocery [Edit]
2585 California StMountain View, CA 94040
(650) 941-2505
- Promotion lasts for 1 year from date of purchase. After that period, your Certificate is redeemable for the amount you paid. Not valid for the purchase of alcohol. Not valid with other certificates or offers. Only 1 certificate(s) can be purchased for own use. Must use in a single visit. Cannot be purchased as a gift. Subject to the Yelp Deals General Terms.
Deals Left 26
- Reg. Price $20
- Discount 25%
- Savings $5
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am - 8 pm
Sat 8 am - 7 pm
Sun 8 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
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$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
Mansi A. said: "An authentic neighborhood taqueria adjacent to a Mexican food market. I tried the chicken bowl with marinated pulled chicken (not on the listed menu) upon a friend's recommendation. Really delicious! The salsa/hot sauce bar was a…" read more »
410 reviews for The Milk Pail Market
Review Highlights
"This place is great for fresh produce."
(in 56 reviews)
"Finally, there's a Safeway across the street, so it's..."
(in 14 reviews)
"Be sure to try their frozen croissants."
(in 13 reviews)
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410 reviews in English
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Review from Sandra D.
2/1/2012
I love this little market!
It is simple... nothing fancy.
Their products are fresh and prices are great.
Obviously if you're fan of Wholefoods' perfect order and shine... don't come here.
This store / market is small, kind of messy: that is to say, you will not have perfectly shaped, bright red apples mounted like a pyramid. Instead, you will find a bunch of lettuces here, a bunch of mushrooms there etc.
You will find more local products and a more developed choice of cheeses, meats, dairy, patisserie etc. foods from Europe.
The staff there knows what they are doing and selling! I one day asked a question about a particular French cheese... The answer and details I received were much more elaborated than what I was expecting!
I just wish they expand soon! -
Review from Magda M.
Mountain View, CA
2/4/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Want super affordable cheese? Come here! Want to get tons of veggies and fruits without sacrificing an arm and a leg? Come here!
A busy, bustling little market where you can get a variety of treats for $10-15. A great find. But do be patient when coming here. -
Review from Nicole R.
Redwood City, CA
1/16/2012
Milk Pail markets itself as a European market. Europe is nothing like this. Maybe if European markets were run by Chinese people, staffed by Latinos and the food were shipped around the world before it arrived.
I agree the place is inexpensive, but you get what pay for. The produce doesn't taste good. True, I can get all the veggies that I want for my elaborate red curry recipe for under $10, but I won't want to eat the final product.
As for the cheese, I never seem to finish whatever I buy. It is marked down for a reason. -
Review from Enrico R.
Mountain View, CA
2/6/2012
The Milk Pail Market rocks Mountain View! I live a few minutes away from it and I come over now and then to buy vegetables, sweets and fruit. The market can be crowded at times but it has many neat things, especially international products of Europe. One time I drove by and bought Kansas Orange Blossom Honey. OMG! It's monofloral honey and it tastes like heaven! I never had honey that was that good. Overall, The Milk Pail Market is a convenient place for shopping although some things are overpriced, probably because they come from far away. All in all, I like the The Milk Pail Market and I give it 5 stars because it's a great place for shopping and a great alternative to major supermarkets.
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Review from Anna S.
San Jose, CA
1/23/2012
Love this place! Bought a few diff styles of ravioli (caramelized onion and veggie, smoked Gouda, sun-dried tomato and cheese), 3 diff types of cheese- all awesome, a bag of fresh German pretzels (OMG) and a few other items, the best thing I bought was the blueberry yogurt pretzels (I highly recommend). Very friendly staff, a bit too crowded on a Sat mid day.
The cost is what you make it, if you go crazy you'll spend a ton (easy to do). I bought some soft tipple cream French cheese for $1.39. Can't beat good deals. -
Review from Diana W.
1/24/2012
Cute little market that has all your typical organic locale favorites that you just don't find at Safeway. The biggest win this place has? THE CHEESE SELECTION! When I first walked in, I just saw this one small area in front and thought "uhh..that's it?" Not impressed. But then I walked toward the back and the entire back wall is lined with refrigerators with endless types of cheese. It was seriously cheese heaven. Great cheese selection, fresh fruits & veggies, gourmet items here, this is pretty much the ish.
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Review from Euna K.
Mountain View, CA
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is a must if you live in the area! Fresh fruits & veggies at prices that won't rape your wallet like Whole Foods. I mean... 49cent celery? Yes, please. Yummy cheese samples? Oh hells yes. Fresh baguettes & other baked goods? Awesome.
They have a great selection of imported cheeses, chocolate, and other goodies. I tried the frozen croissants, and they were golden, flaky, buttery goodness baked in a matter of minutes! (Leave them out overnight to puff up on their own.)
Milkpail is like having a farmer's market all week long, and I come here at least once a week to stock up. It does get crazy crowded on weekends, so I try to stop by during the week for the most part.
Love you, Milkpail! -
Review from Lis B.
12/8/2011
How can you not love the Milk Pail? Almost like a permanent farmer's market, this place always has the freshest (sometimes too fresh - we'll get back to that in a minute) produce and cheese. Super cheap - cheaper than anything else around - and their stuff is always in season. I've gotten the best squash, beans, and melons here, without question.
I have two small quibbles - one, the place is always a zoo, and the small aisles don't help matters, and two - sometimes the produce is so fresh it's almost overripe. Just be aware what you're purchasing, especially the stuff that spoils quickly (berries, etc.).
Tip: There are multiple lines for the registers -
Review from Calvin H.
Palo Alto, CA
1/6/2012
The price is phenomenal and the selection is great for produce and cheese. The cheese samples are always tasty. They have some interesting meat and frozen products too.
The service is pretty good, and in the many times I've been to the MPM, I have not had any bad experiences.
One issue is that the produce can some times be past its prime, but you will certainly not be charged too much if you want to go scrounging through overripe tomatoes. A second problem is that the hours aren't conducive to my schedule, and when you arrive late, they may not be restocking certain items.
That being said, the Milk Pail still deserves 5 stars in my opinion. -
Review from Jeannie D.
Milpitas, CA
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Passed by this place before and came back because out was highly recommended by some friends. I live in Milpitas and came to check out out. The veggies are really fresh and the prices are cheaper than Safeway. I love the cheese selection. Lots of different kinds to choose from and they are a couple bucks cheaper than most places. I would come again just for the cheeses. Only down side its that it is small.
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Review from Logan H.
Austin, TX
11/27/2011
Thank you Milk Pail for liberating me from the Safeway Madness, the Whole Foods prices, and the Trader Joes conspiracy. This is a fantastic market if you miss the one every Sunday DT. I'll do all my shopping here from now on but only so long as the prices continue to totally kill the competition.
A word of advice: Don't go up to a register, just wait to be called! -
Review from Chels T.
Sunnyvale, CA
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Lol, I love how reviewers compare The Milk Pail to open air markets in Europe...The Milk Pail does indeed have an open air market section, but...yeah, moving on.
The produce is great, prices are very reasonable, the selection is wonderful, and those frozen chocolate croissants get me every time--so delicious! I have to agree with another reviewer that because there is so much and the store is SO SMALL, it can get very overwhelming in there. I made the mistake of doing my Thanksgiving grocery shopping there and I had to leave early--way way way too crowded :( -
Review from Annie L.
Mountain View, CA
11/28/2011
When I can't make it to the MV farmer's market, I come here. Great selection of fruits and veggies.
Check out the bargain fridge in the rear -- -
Review from Jenny L.
10/1/2011 5 Check-ins Here
This place has cheap fruits and veggies, cheap cheeses, fresh baked baguettes, Kinder chocolate, Milka chocolate, pate, truffles, gelato...EVERYTHING you could possibly ask for. I once asked if they carried tofu, and they did!
I shop here at least once a week. I love that I'm walking distance to my very own little bit of Europe! -
Review from Christopher S.
Mountain View, CA
1/4/2012
Milk Pail Market is far an away my favorite market in the bay area. I can ramble on about the endless amounts of fresh fruits and veggies, the enormous local and foreign cheese selection, of the fresh bread... but it doesn't hold up to the uncooked frozen croissants.
If you venture out to this quaint market and fail to buy a half dozen of these delicious treats, you have not only neglected your taste buds, but you have brought a curse upon your family for generations to come.
Seriously, buy the croissants. They are fantastic and will not disappoint. -
Review from Lyn C.
10/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This may be the closest thing to experiencing Europe that I may ever get. Until I get the chance to go there, I will live vicariously through shopping at the Milk Pail.
They have many of my most favorite things:
Cheese
Fresh produce
Free range duck
Acme bread
Supporting local farmers
This place has a large variety of items you don't really find anywhere else and a great selection of things you can find anywhere else at a very nice price. I'm REALLY impressed that the duck was free range. It was a bit crowded and overwhelming at first, but after a few pieces of cheese things were better.
If only there was a place like this in SJ, I would shop here all the time!! -
Review from Gina S.
We just wanted to pick up some cheese. But suddenly our basket was filled with grapes for .99/lb, fresh figs $3.99/pint, cherries $1.49/lb, a fresh loaf of bread, cheese and more cheese.
It was hard for me to pick cheese, there were about 5 cheese they had samples of out to try and so many more that I wished I could have tried. Most of the cheese was super affordable, wedges for under $5. We ended up with aged Fontina, aged Gouda, California jack, Comte, mango & ginger soft cheese and a herb and garlic Goat cheese. The entire order was under $30.Listed in: Cheesehead
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Review from April B.
Sunnyvale, CA
12/18/2011
A few years ago this place was the bomb. I would come every week from Sunnyvale for my produce. Something changed last year the produce just is not as fresh. Also it is very hard to move around inside. Everything is crammed together in a tiny space.
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Review from L O.
San Mateo, CA
1/26/2012
Great produce variety and prices. The frozen croissants are a great treat. I let them rise overnight and then bake them at 400 degrees the next morning. Perfect!
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Review from Kit C.
Mountain View, CA
10/15/2011
Fresh produce for reasonable prices, even the organic produce.
Forget shopping at safeway or whole foods and try 'em out. -
Review from Dianna D.
9/5/2011
ORGANIC PLUOTS $0.49/LB!
First thing I saw. I knew that it was only going to get better.
$0.99/lb mature coconuts. Be sure to pick up one that is heavy for its size, about 1.5-2 pounds. Love cracking these open for both the water and the meat.
$0.25/lb onions. These are the cheapest around anywhere (and I've been everywhere, trust me).
$0.79/lb black seedless grapes. Not that big a fan of grapes, but couldn't help but to try a small one, which burst with flavor, and I was soooo tempted to get them, except for the fact that my bike basket was already getting so loaded up...
$0.99/lb sliced mushrooms. They were kind of iffy-looking when I was there, but then at the same time, I was at the store at the end of the day at 5pm, and you can't expect the mushrooms to look pristine if they cut them up in the morning, can you?
In terms of produce, they have a lot of variety. Standard fare like all kinds of greens, tomatoes, onions, seasonal fruits, etc. Then they have the interesting stuff like gobo, kohlrabi, parsnips, and gooseberries.
Cheapest 100% grass fed ground beef you can get anywhere. They ran out when I was there, which kind of sucked =( The employees were really nice about it, though, and they excitedly were telling other customers about alternative products and how to cook them. So nice of them to do that!
Then there's the cheese. Oh my, such variety, and at such reasonable prices, especially the ones that are on specials. I especially like the fact that they put 5 of the cheeses on specials at the back for you to sample. However, this is where Milk Pail loses its one star from my otherwise 5 stars just like everybody else's raves...
I was sampling the cheeses and contemplating getting one of them, when an employee came by and swiped a few of the fontina cubes with his bare hands. I understand that there were only very few toothpicks left, so I didn't think it was that big a deal. But then, HE PUT THE CUBES BACK and then took a handful of the swiss emmentaler. What the f...I sincerely hope that he had his hands washed, but I really highly doubt it =/ -
Review from Jennifer L.
Belmont, CA
7/1/2011 11 photos
Sometimes an apple is more than an apple. Sometimes an apple is a crunchy, sweet, crisp revelation. I bought several organic Fuji apples for .79/lb (a steal!) and they were not like Fuji apples I've bought elsewhere. They were crisper, fresher, and more delicious. Mr. L, Little L and I really got into these Fujis.
I also bought some white nectarines and a jar of Amora Moutarde de Dijon, probably the most delicious mustard there is. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
This is a great store with high end produce, cheeses, specialty foods, breads, and groceries. The prices are extremely reasonable. http://www.yelp.com/bi... This independent market has been here for over 30 years and earns an easy and enthusiastic 5 stars.Listed in: Cooking Healthy for the Family
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Review from Elise G.
Cheap, fresh, locally grown produce.
Veggies:
Corn on the cob 3/$0.99. Romaine, butter, red leaf, and Iceburg lettuce. Green, yellow, and white squash. Bell pepper, jicama, cabbage, spinach, asparagus, carrots, green beans, peas, herbs, just to name a few.
Fruit:
Sweet nectarines, white and regular peaches, apples of all kinds, berries, bananas, cherries, both red and white, apricots, some variations of plums that I haven't even seen nor heard of before. Bright red roma, cherry, and vine tomatoes. Oranges, canteloupe, and even more on the other side of the market.
Dairy:
Cheese of all sorts with an entire refrigerator full of different types. Free range chicken eggs, locally farmed.
Bread:
They sell a particular brand of Apple Cinnamon Bread that I haven't seen since my childhood.
Price:
Dirt cheap. My basket was heavy and full and I walked out of here with merely $27 less than I had arrived. -
Review from Michael D.
San Jose, CA
12/29/2011
I love that place, they have a great selection of cheeses and reasonable prices. It is THE place to go if you're in need of a cheese fix.
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Review from Jenna K.
6/11/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Everything in me wants to rate this 5 stars because...
- the abundant international foods selection
- the CHEAP and high quality produce
- they carry Strauss family milk
- they carry eggs from pastured chickens
- their prices are great (for some items)
- they have really interesting cheeses
- they have international chocolate!!
- they allowed a man to take home a handcart because he lived nearby with the promise he return it later
- if you want something they don't have, they are happy to have you fill out a request form
However there are some down sides:
- there are only about 6 parking spaces near the actual entrance. You have to park near the Ross and walk across the parking lot (...sometimes I'm lazy ;)
- this place is TINY! And popular...you are constantly stuck standing in front of the cheeses...just because you can't go anywhere else.
- some items are a little more pricey than elsewhere.
- the registers are so chaotic and unorganized
After weighing both sides...I really don't feel like I can rate it anything but 5 stars. I don't know why it took me so long to check this place out. I will definitely become a regular. -
Review from tong t.
San Jose, CA
11/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is awesome!!! Seriously best grocery store ever. Has it all!
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Review from Karin H.
Los Altos, CA
8/19/2011
If you enjoy having a nice selection of cheeses but you don't want to pay an arm and a leg, The Milk Pail Market is the place for you.
They have a very comprehensive selection of both domestic and imported cheeses. The other day I bought blue cheese and there were several different types to choose from (two domestic, one Danish and a couple French). They even have Ski Queen Gjetost, a Norwegian goat cheese that is difficult to find. Their cheese prices are extremely reasonable and are far less expensive than what any neighboring grocery store offers -- including Trade Joe's.
The produce selection is amazing but I think the prices are slightly better at Foothill Produce.
I remember going to the Milk Pail when it was a drive through. What a strange concept -- a drive through dairy store. Then again with a teenage son who drinks gallons of milk every week, maybe it's not so odd. -
Review from felicia c.
Cupertino, CA
8/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is the place to get the cheese. On numerous occasion has this place been referred to as the "cheese bucket".
The produce is always fresh, the staff is always friendly, and there is a fair selection of import foods (aside from the cheese) such as Cadbury Flake and other tasty things. It's the perfect conglomeration of hard-to-find items and stuff you need anyway which makes this the best place to shop. Quality over quantity for sure, as it's a small place. Also, it looks like they have a great selection of mushrooms. I hate mushrooms, but I've never seen such a variety in a grocery before.
Friend them on Facebook! They post deals pretty often there. The last fun deal I took advantage of was mentioning their having cows in Orland and scored a free pint of Ben and Jerry's. -
Review from Sunny W.
5/23/2011
I'm surprised there isn't more reviews. This has to be a clear case of "tragedy of the commons"
Down to the chase...
PROS: Cheap produce (and I mean CHEAP), great selection of CHEESE, carries ACME bread, large selection of FRUITS, carries kitchen staples, has affordable HERBS! You can find dried and fresh PASTA, eggs, milk, frozen breads, jams, chocolates, COFFEE beans, ice cream, and a variety of chiles/hot peppers.
For such a small place, they do carry a good amount of items.
CONS: Gets insanely busy at times and this place is smaaaaall.Comment from Steve R. of The Milk Pail Market 5/23/2011
And yes, we have unbelievable hand made "bake your own"… More » -
Review from Richa A.
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
What everyone else said.
I don't come here regularly because I don't live in this area anymore, and honestly it gets way too crowded for me to want to come here regularly, BUT it is the perfect stop for specialty items and cheese.
My mom tends to get produce here because it's cheaper than anywhere else, but it's also better quality. Unusual but way appreciated combo.
Last time I was here I bought these lemon chips (like, for baking) because they looked intriguing. I don't think I've seen them anywhere else and I didn't really know what they'd taste like, but I took a guess that they would be delicious and go awesome in cookies, and I was correct. I hope I'm able to find them again! They also have things like cappuccino chips and a selection of nuts etc. Perfect if you like to experiment with baking/ desserts. -
Review from Jean-Marc L.
San Jose, CA
6/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
The Milk Pail, a little hole in the wall supermarket on California St. is a little surprise to what you can find in the bay area.
I was introduced to this place by my friend Thierry to try out something as a super trader joe's. Plus the fact that we both came from France and wanted to get real baguette and french cheese.
The selection was amazing...i did not find expect to find some rare veggies, french sauce, dressing, spice, cookies, sausages and best of all CHEESE!!!
If you do not love cheese, then you are not french...
They even have a small section of cheese for sale for couple bucks! Roquefort, Camembert, Brie etc...
My friend Thierry said in french "What i like is that they focus on the quality of food and dont give a hoot about the look of the place. It feels like a real french epicerie"
They also sell petit suisse!! European Butter!! Patte, mouse de fois gras, rillettes!
A must try. -
Review from Steph G.
San Jose, CA
6/9/2011
WOW, this place is crowded in the middle of Sunday afternoon. I would recommend that people go at some other time of day.
On the plus side, the wait for the register was not that long, and the staff is semi friendly (some of the guys putting out produce were nice, but I cannot say the same for our surly cashier). So if you can stand constantly bumping into people and not being able to use a cart, you can save yourself a alot of money and time by coming here. Not only are the prices great, but you are almost guaranteed to leave here with something. The only thing is, it's so crowded that it's hard to find anything. Thankfully it appears that other customers are nice enough to point things out to you if you don't know where they are. And they accept debit cards, which not all produce places take. -
Review from jennifer l.
Menlo Park, CA
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
HOORAH, Milk Pail Market!
I go to Milk Pail Market because:
1. they have an awesome selection of cheese!! though i'm a cheese n00b, it helps that they let you sample cheese here!
2. they have a huge selection of produce straight from local farmers!
3. they have milk in old-fashioned glass bottles
4. they have baked goods made from local bakers ie) Cookie Momster (http://www.momnomnom.com)!
Whatever the reason is, it's just fun to shop around and discover new products here!Listed in: The Peninsula Cheat Sheet
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Review from Ashley Q.
Santa Clara, CA
4/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I LOVE their selection of fruits, veggies, and cheeses. This is where I come to satisfy my cheese addiction - truffle tremor.
I HATE trying to get through the aisles past all the pushy, grouchy weirdos who shop here. Would it hurt you to push your cart down the side of the aisle instead of the center? I've played chicken with way too many rude shoppers... and they always win because I don't particularly enjoy having my toes rolled over by a shopping cart. -
Review from Brian K.
6/11/2011
My wife and I just move to Palo Alto from Seattle and she often has feelings of wanting to go back. The cost of living, aggressive drivers, and snobbiness can be tough. Places like Milk Pail have helped change her mind.
AMAZING produce, cheese, imported foods, and local foods at rediculous prices make the Milk Pail a must. I just bought peaches that were .69 per lb (versus $3+ at Safeway, Whole Foods, and even Trader Joes).
This is a one of a kind market. Parking isn't amazing, but is plentiful in the ajoining Ross parking lot. The market can get crowded and the lines at the register unorganized and chaotic, but that's all a result of how amazing this place is.
Between here and Piazza's - we get everything we need! -
Review from pj n.
Mountain View, CA
Updated - 10/27/2011
They now have meat too! We bought a chicken and we were very pleased. Cheap, small, fresh and clean! Good alternative to Dreger's but my husband is still waiting for Dittmers to reopen. Good bargains on sale too (cookies and cheese).
Listed in: Food Shopping
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/7/2008
My fav grocery store for fruits and vegetables. Price can't be beat and they're really fresh. Great… Read more »
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Review from Yun C.
6/7/2011
Ok, I admitted that I was missing out!!!
I've lived around the corner from Milk Pail for almost 2 years but I was reluctant to shop here until last weekend when my curiosity got the best of me and I decided to drag my bf (who hates grocery shopping!) to go to check out the produce after our gym session.
WOW, what a surprise!!! I had previously thought their prices would be higher and more expensive than Safeway (I'm a regular at the one across the street!). I bought 4 bags worth of fresh vegetables, fruits, herbs and CRAZY YUMMY WAFFLES!!! for around $23!!! enough to feed TWO big veggie and fruit eaters for a whole week!!!!
I went back the the Saturday after and bought FRESH SWEET Cherries for 99 cents/lbs! WHAT A STEAL!!! especially.. I bought some at Safeway the week before for $3.99/lbs!
Although..I found that some of their veggies and fruits..maybe bc they are left outside without refrigeration...don't last long. The eggplants that I bought started turning brown after just 4 days and the mushrooms started to turn brown after 2 days. The cherries were fresh from a new box (I happened to be there when they pulled out a new box) and they were ver very very fresh....comparable to the ones I bought at Gilroy at the farm stand!
It's now my favorite store...also I was very intrigue when I saw that they sold FRESH jackfruit!!! I ate this a lot before..and the prices here (for the fresh one) are EXTREME and it's not easy to find. They weren't that fresh looking, so I didn't buy it..but I'm hoping I will see fresher one in the future so I can buy it :) -
Review from Adige G.
Mountain View, CA
7/8/2011
Since I am on a budget this year. Whole foods is out and the Milk Pail is in. I got cherries, tomatoes and persian cucumbers $5.... Whole foods would have been around 15 for the same. I guess I will be goind semi organic. There were tons of old folks and you know they know the deal!!!!
How the hell did I live in MV for over 10 years and miss this little gem?
Milk Pail I apologize for being the Whole food snob that I was. Please forgive me. I'm on board. -
Review from K H.
Mountain View, CA
10/21/2011
Milk Pail has an a great cheese selection. a neighborhood 'find'. Wonderful produce and an assortment of all sorts of delicacies.
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Review from barbara w.
Sunnyvale, CA
4/9/2011
The best selection of cheeses with affordable prices. Just brought home some French Brie for a whopping $1.70, Safeway would have charged $2.99 or more for the same item. They have a variety of sliced cheeses for grilled cheese sandwiches for the same price. A big tub of Italian Cream Cheese at $2.99 for spreading on waffles.
The best cheesecake ever as well, tad tiny on the size, but it is so good. Taste homemade, not generic.
The place looks like a nightmare when first walking in, but the lines move really sufficiently. All the cashiers seem to understand the system well. They ring up with the speed of light. No waiting for 10 minutes on a mgr. approval. You don't see that crap in here, it's worth the madness.
a very mom and pop atmosphere
