Rockridge Market Hall

Why don't I usually shop here? Because it is for rich people. Of course all the fare is great. But even for what it is, it's overpriced. The service is OK, albeit understaffed. The other patrons can be friendly. Except for the ones who are so self absorbed that they step in front of you. Yeah, standard rich people in their store.

This place carries an interesting selection of uncommon and premium products and groceries. The butcher and fishmonger have especially fresh items. The Bakery is not too shabby either. An enjoyable shopping experience.

High end local market + fishery + produce + coffee + bakery. This place has a fairly large selection of quality merchandise, the fresh bread is great and the coffee is okay. Good for finishing touches but I'd only go here for a few small items unless your bankroll is infinite.

Good place to grab specific items. Butcher shop, veggies, cheese pasta and wine shops

Tasty snacks and nice coffee. Bustling atmosphere. Distinctly $$, but has unusual and delicious items that might be the perfect thing...

So clean, unique selections, high quality food and drink from every shop in the place. This was an amazing find after moving to California and we've been back almost every week since then. The cheese shop has cheeses I haven't been able to find in the states in years. The Seafood is so fresh and if you haven't hit the bakery for a sweet treat after grabbing a cup of coffee across the way, you're just crazy. You've got to get here and be prepared to be inspired to make an amazing meal or just pick one up... and don't forget to hit the flower shop on the way out.

This is a great Market. Something for everyone. Stop the the cheese and bakery counter (Disclosure-you will fall in love) the people are extremely knowledgeable of their products and always willing to help you elevate your dish! This market has everything you need from flower, produce, chocolates, oils, wine fish and so much more! Great place to grab a coffee. It’s location is perfect if you enjoy window shopping and the parking is surprisingly convenient having Bart next to it. I never have trouble finding a spot close by.

Amazing market place with all food and grocery you may need. All you can eat! Great collection of coffee, tea, high quality meats, cheese, croissants, bread 🍞. There are readily cooked yummy lunch and supper choices. I got sandwiches and cool cuts and salad for lunch. And took home bottles of Italian and Californian wine. You can buy all groceries and cook at your own place. Certainly very convenient for those who want to show off your cooking skills.

Super cool place, great place to spend an afternoon. Take a friend have a day. Ilove to walk this whole area

Love this place! A frequent stop on the way home from work for a quick treat or anything else I could possibly want this place has it all. You name it and in a cozy little part of Oakland to beat

This market sells all kinds of things- produce, spices, fresh meat/ seafood, a wine shop, cheese, refrigerated already made food, and a bakery. Pretty pricey though. Bought some sausages from the butcher and it was $13 for a little package of 4. At the bakery, we bought a slice of chocolate mousse cake, a slice of princess cake, a slice of lemon cheesecake, mini fruit tart, a loaf of sourdough bread, and challah bread- total was a little over $50+. The service was amazing. My husband was inquiring about how an almond cookie tasted like and they took one out of the case and cut it so we could taste it. Everything else we ordered though was delicious. Cheesecake was rich and creamy, the princess cake was moist, the mini fruit tart was fresh, and the chocolate mousse was rich. The challah bread was soft and you can't taste the good quality olive oil that was used. Added bonus is there is a free parking lot in the back. Free parking in Oakland?!? Heck yea!

We are IN LOVE with this place! Cheese! Sweets! Dinner! Pastries! The wait can be long to pick up some rotisserie chicken/salad/fresh pasta. It took us about 30-40 minutes which we used to roam around the market and discover more things to buy.

Everyone in the fish and meat department was friendly today. Same with the cheese department but I had a bad experience checking out in produce this afternoon. I saw this young woman cashier arguing with an older man as I was shopping. So when I went to checkout I tried to get into a different line but she said I was going the wrong way and to turn around and come back to her. I suggested that if they had changed the way the line works there should be a sign and she started arguing with me. When I asked about the cost of an item and plastic bags she again argued with me. I told her I wasn't there for a lecture. She left without completing my checkout and another woman came and finished it. I don't feel like someone who is working and having a bad day should argue with the customers. I would give one star for produce if I could, but overall it's a good market.

If you don't know about the seeded cheese crackers... go get to know about them, and don't just buy one. You'll be mad at yourself if you do. #fromexperience

Overpriced and terrible customer-unfriendly system. Although they offer a wide variety of European products and serve decent dishes from their deli section, their prices are outrageously expensive and their deli queue system, which for years has caused customers to wait 20 to 30 minutes for their turn, is ridiculous. Hire more staff or figure out a system that works for your customers, not just for you the business.

Market Hall's been a staple and firm favorite of mine for going on two decades. And recently they really reminded me why it's so great. On their easy-to-navigate site I was able to place an order. The following day, I drove up, gave my name, parked and everything I picked out online was brought to my car a few moments earlier. Thank you Market Hall for keeping folks in Oakland fed well, even amidst a global pandemic!

I only give it 4 stars because you basically have to haggle with the grouch manager to return anything at all! Written report would be easier! This woman, requires a detailed explanation and she would love to say no! Keeps trying to say your wrong! The food is usually outstanding and my pocketbook reflects that, however on the very rare occasion that I need a return, with receipt, within a day or 2 get ready for a low class intervention! Hopefully this unhappy manager will be let go sooner rather than later as most employees are friendly and happy to assist! This is a gourmet, refined establishment and customers should be treated with the upmost respect!

I mean... who DOESN'T love the Market Hall? One could go crazy in here buying up delicious meats, cheeses, pastas, and fruits! Yes it's pricey, but the quality of what they carry here is really unparalleled. So many different types of sauces and cheeses, many of them local and homemade. Naturally, I could spend hours in here just looking around, filling up my cart, and spending up my entire paycheck! And DON'T even get me started on their bakery or their pasta and cold salads section (now known as "Market Hall Foods"). I will keep those to review a for later date. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable and they generally keep their shelves shocked with goodies. The market is located right next to the Rockridge Bart station, so you can park there after the peak hours for free. I admit that I don't come here as often as I'd like to, especially since they don't stay open as late as other grocery stores in the area. But whenever I do get a chance to drop by, it's always a real treat.

We had ordered several platters of food for a birthday to pick up in the afternoon. As you would expect on a Saturday, it was pretty crazy busy. There was some confusion concerning my order and it was someone new working that they were training. At first he said someone had already picked up my platters, all paid for. However, before I could get annoyed or desperate, a manager and the owner came out and solved it almost immediately. In fact, they directed me to back with my car and helped load and expedite the matter since it was getting a little late. I appreciate the full attention given to solve it quickly and efficiently. We have been customers in the neighborhood for years, but are loyal customers too. Oh, and the food was excellent, a lot of compliments!

I can't say enough good things about this grocery and food hall. The prepared dishes are worth driving through traffic for, especially the kale ceasar salad. Market Hall also sells incredible homemade pasta, sauce, and sausages which are freeze-able and melt in your mouth if you cook them correctly. There is usually a line at Market Hall, but it moves quickly and it will give you time to peruse and narrow your selection down!

I had stopped by here for a quick look when I arrived at Rockridge early but it was not until recently that I actually took the time to peruse all it has to offer. It was thanks to the Chinese Noodle that I had at Hazel's that got me to stop at the pre-made food counter and boy am I glad I did. I got to get a large container of that Chinese noodle myself as well as a small dragon noodle and beets. Turnover for their food is so high that you usually don't have to worry that it has been sitting there too long and if you are unsure if you will like something, feel free to ask for a sample. Right next to that is a huge selection of fresh pastas courtesy of the Pasta Shop and who can say no to porcini truffle ravioli, which is understandably one of their best seller. Cheese is available just on the other side of the shop as well as practically any kind of sauce or oils that you could want for your cooking in between. Meat, fish, and fresh veggies are just a hop skip and a jump next door and having free validated parking available in the lot (up to a certain time limit) while you shop allows you to check every nook and cranny of the market hall without having to worry about running to pay the meter.

I have been delighted to shop here during the pandemic and cannot express how pleased I am that Market Hall limits entrance to 10 customers at a time max. Everyone has been super polite, customers and staff, and the management watches the line closely, as soon as the queue builds up, another register is opened. Thank you Market Hall for such a pleasant shopping experience and for your delightful, high quality foods. * I am so weak for your fresh pappardelle and prosciutto tortellini, learned today that the meat pastas are made with house cured Belotti meats!

Had quite an unpleasant experience yesterday but decided to sleep on it before writing this review. Here we are, after a good night's rest and I'm not feeling any better about it. My husband and I stopped to pick up a few items for a picnic at around 11am. Stood in line with our masks on, 6 ft apart from other shoppers as required by the store and pulled ticket #30 for the deli section. There's a yellow line about 1.5 ft away from the deli food items. When our number was called, I stepped my foot just before the line, slightly bent down to point at the item and placed my order for a kale Caesar (my favorite). Immediately the middle-aged, salt & peppered hair male deli clerk told me that I needed to stay behind the yellow line. "Oh, sorry about that." No big deal, that was my fault anyways. We finished the order and moved on to pay at the register about 8 ft to the right. He calls ticket #31 - an older Caucasian woman. During the entire 3-4 minutes she spent placing her order, she was walking back and forth along the food display, before the yellow line much closer than my 6.5 size foot had ever been for that split second. I'd like to add that she was about 5'10" and any possible contamination from her would have gone right over the glass case, directly at all clerks standing behind it. I'm 5'2" and was bent down below the glass case. Not a single word to her to move back behind the yellow line... I want to believe that this wasn't an issue of race but in the midst of this pandemic, it's rather difficult to think otherwise. Perhaps it was just a moment of poor judgment on his part, races aside, and simply forgot the rules (brain fart, maybe?). Or he felt more comfortable telling me, a young female in her late 20s, to follow the rule and not the older female in her late 60s (elderly respect?) I will never know. I'm probably just being overly sensitive. But these rules were put into place for a reason for all to follow, no exceptions. Regardless, I experienced and witnessed firsthand customers being treated differently and that is unacceptable.

My Experience in this store today was anything but pleasant. While in line I was told to put tape on the air pass ways on my mask. Which already has a filter in them. But whatever I did it anyway. Then while trying to shop a woman who seemed to be running the store asked me if anyone told me about taping my mask. I look at her like do you not see the bright blue tape on my black mask??? She than apologizes about not seeing the tape and proceeds to tell me she has gone to great lengths to call Oakland city officials and complain about the masks air pass ways. Like she deserves accolades. Doesn't end there she makes an effort to pester me more and tell my daughter and I to move back more in a line that was moving. PLEASE STOP PESTERING GOOD PEOPLE BUYING YOUR RIDICULOUSLY PRICED GOODS!!!!!! My mask by the way is far more effective than the stupid thin piece of cloth you are all wearing!

Yes it can be a bit of a crazy spot but the options and the quality can't be beat. Love this spot especially when I need a break from cooking.

This place is tops! No, I would not seek Rockridge Market Hall out as a planned shopping destination, but if we find ourselves in Rockridge, we have to stop! The bakery sells incredible breads and sweets. The 'deli' area has all sorts of prepared salads, soups, etc. along with a fantastic selection of cheese and specialty condiments. Fresh seafood and meat are amazingly fresh and a wine shop with a tasteful selection and staff that know their vino. It's all good and it's impossible to leave without something or lots of somethings! If you find you're in Rockridge and you know you're a foodie or a yelper... do yourself a favor and stop in. I dare you to leave empty handed!

If you want a food experience similar to Zingerman's in Michigan but without the shipping and waiting then go to market hall. From the pre mades to the deli, wine shop and fresh produce you will not be disappointed.

Recently found this great market while we were looking for fresh pasta in the area. They carry a variety of The Pasta Shop raviolis, gluten free pasta and non-gluten free varieties. That's what brought us but there's so much great specialty food here! There's a bakery just inside from the entrance selling cakes, bread, pastries and pizza. Past the bakery is - cozy area of hot foods, Italian meats, frozen foods, baking ingredients, jams, vinegars, I could go on and on. In the back is a seafood section and further back a meat section. Definitely a great spot if you're in the area and looking for something specific or just want quality ingredients.

The cheese counter is excellent, although I miss the tastings. We love the deli meats and prepared foods, and the staff is so well trained and professional. We really appreciate their attention to safety during Covid, and that's my motivation to write a review after years of patronage.

Now bring me some figgy pudding! Wow, 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' was one entitled and bossy song. Skip the pudding and keep the figs, since no one knows what figgy pudding really is, nor why we're demanding it (we won't go until we get some!) If you're in Rockridge and you need some great produce, Market Hall is your friend. It is kind of like a gallery of produce, it's all carefully chosen and overpriced, but the quality is consistently good. I do this little mind game where I try to guess the amount of the total bill, and I am so ridiculously under that I wonder how I passed the 5th grade. They carry a good selection of Rancho Gordo beans, so if you're cooking au natural it is a good stop. The fruit is the best! In the summer, they carry the best stone fruit besides the farmer's markets, and the figs! oh the figs! are always amazing. And the winter brings its myriad pears and persimmons. yawn... I'm going to coin a new song that goes something like, "bring me some figs with truffle honey and blue cheese! I won't yelp until I get some!"

there's more space here than at the berkeley location. never had a literal run in with anyone here. happened more than once at berkeley location. excellent bakery. got an fab suggestion on chocolate grenache cake. ($30ish) years ago. so decadent and worth it. sadly, can't handle the cake caloric wise now, my SO doesn't eat cake except what she buys at costco, safeway (way too sweet!) the deli is worth a trip. parking available non peak hours.

Truly a foodie paradise, Market Hall is an East Bay gem. I feel like a kid in a candy store whenever I'm here. We frequent this place to get seasonal and beautiful produce, fresh and dry pasta, hard to find baking products, artisanal oils, vinegars and condiments, delicious prepared food (be it salads, starches or meats), CHEESES from all over the US and the world, lovely flower arrangements, high quality wild seafood, and grass fed beef and heritage pork. There is also a wine shop, bakery and coffee shop all in this complex. For parties I've had in my home, I've ordered platters of Orzo and Mushroom Salad, Green Salad with Black Beans platter and Southern Potato Salad. They were all loved by my vegetarian and non-vegetarian guests. I've also ordered the Black Magic Chocolate Cake from here for special occasions. Talk about decadent! You can tell they use high quality chocolate for this cake. It's just right amount of sweetness and it's very moist. I almost always get the Ricciarellis (almond cookie) whenever I'm in the area. It's fabulous! They're soft and very almondy! They stay soft for a few days too! As for savory stuff, my favorites are their Garlic and Thyme Rotisserie Chicken (usually get half), house cold-smoked salmon, truffle mousse pâté, chicken empanadas, and their thai tofu salad. I have a love affair with Elderflower and this place carries Belvoir Elderflower Presse and Elderflower Syrup. I have made a white sangria with Elderflower syrup bought from here and it was a hit! For your every day cooking and food needs and for entertaining your friends and family, this place is the place to go in the East Bay!

When you walk into this market its like Willy Wonka just let you into the Chocolate Room and all the wonders of your imagination in food tasting are at your finger tips. The selection was amazing. All of the Meat, all of the Seafood, fresh Brown Eggs, all of the Breads, Pastas, Flours, Confections and of course Croissants, Pastry and above all Cupcakes. Luscious cuts of Lamb and Goat. Fine looking Pork and Beef Tenderloins. We stood and gazed like drooling Agustus Gloop, as a guy made Sausages in front of us. I must be a pure carnivore because the smell of of the butcher station drove me wild. I loved it. So back to the Cupcakes. I usually always buy one Red Velvet, one Vanilla and one Chocolate. I need to make sure I get a well rounded judgment of all of them. They were delicious. Slightly dry, maybe from sitting out. For the husband we bought some of those delicious Macaroons and Sugar Cookies for my son. The yummy kind that have Chocolate on them too. We walked through here twice on the same day. I did want to buy everything. I'm poor so that would never work out. I wish I was Veruca Salt. Then Id make my dad buy the whole damn place. Both my husband and I have made a point to come back here often. I'm even going to make special trips, for you know, what ever the hell I want.

Great place to buy quality produce, prepared foods, peruse their extensive bakery, cheeses, meat section, gourmet products, wine, flowers, coffee.....it's like a mini Draeger's..okay, you can get a whole lot of delicious items here but it will put a major dent on your wallet....hey, its nice to indulge once in awhile! If you're invited to that dinner party, this is the place to go to impress your friends! you basically, can't go wrong with buying anything from here...buy something for your friend, buy something for yourself!

I love visiting my sister in California because she always has something in her house from The Pasta Shop. The store is on her way home from work. The Pasta Shop is located just outside Oakland's Rockridge BART station inside the bigger Rockridge Market Hall (http://www.yelp.com/biz/rockridge-market-hall-oakland) on busy College Ave. These businesses are specialty gourmet grocers. True to its name, The Pasta Shop specializes in a rather wide assortment of fine quality handmade pastas. They have several prepared and ready-to-eat foods which are made in-house from scratch daily. Their glass display cases are full of colorful and delicious-looking meats, cheeses, and salads. I'm a huge fan of the kitchen's kale Caesar salad. I also really like their crackers, crostini, brie, olive oil, and fig spreads. They almost always have food samples sitting out, so be sure to try them. Also, don't be afraid to ask for samples from behind the counter. The staff are polite, efficient, and most are quite knowledgeable about the different items for sale, particularly the cheeses. Most recently, we stopped by The Pasta Shop to pick up two skewer platters for my niece's first birthday party. Each skewer platter had 40 miniature skewers and cost about $60. The platters came in their own disposable serving trays, but we ended up not using them because we had other (better) trays we wanted to present the skewers on. The skewers were served atop a bed of greens. One of the skewer sets consisted of Thai yellow curry chicken. The other skewer set was vegetarian. It consisted of tofu, zucchini, red bell pepper, and purple onion. Both sets of skewers came with creamy dipping sauces. The pieces of chicken and tofu on these skewers were nice and big. The skewers were tasty and a hit. They were all gone before the party was over. The Thai chicken skewers had tender, savory chunks of chicken. Both the chicken and the tofu had large grill marks on them. The tofu was surprisingly good with just the right amount of appetizing firmness. The chicken used on the skewers was all-natural and cage-free. The tofu and veggies were organic. High quality stuff all around and healthy too. Whether you're looking to pick up a ready-to-eat meal, quick side or snack, or platters to entertain guests, The Pasta Shop is an excellent choice.

So sad I moved a few cities away form this place. They make the best chicken liver mousse pate ever. They have savarin brillat triple cream brie, Fra'mani sausages and the bakery makes delicious ricciarelli cookies. The perfect place for picking up all the necessities for an afternoon snack.

Beautiful products and great selection. They have really great jams, pastries, and chocolates from many different countries. A little pricey but for the quality, I'd say worth it.

I'm getting more and more obsessed with the Rockridge Market Hall. It started maybe 3 weeks ago when I decided to pop in to grab a quick bite. I walked around and grabbed a ticket to wait my turn. When it was my turn I decided on the small container of the orzo & feta. It had lost or green onion and sun dried tomato. It had a nice light dressing. It was one of the best decision of my life to stop by. Ive been to the market hall bakery for their tarts, but never gone into the cooked food items area. Today I tried the kale Caesar salad with farro. It was quite salty. I probably would've appreciated much less dressing. The croutons were packed with flavor and were not soggy (that alone is a win)! It could've used more farro. The dressing was pretty lemony which I enjoyed. The lady in front of me took the last bit of the orzo and feta. I was sad. On my way out I noticed that they pasta section has fresh made raviolis! The kind you take home to boil yourself. A friend of mine informed me they're next level! I must grab some next time! I also saw a slice of lemon mascarpone cheese cake that looked like heaven when I walked by the bakery. Drool. I didn't get it. ):

Everything I've ever had here has been top notch. It makes meal planning for the week so much easier knowing that I can get almost any one of the prepared meals, or fresh pasta and sauce, and everything will be tasty.

its the amped up version of whole foods gorgeous and gourmety love this place basically love rockridge!

OMG! Never really perused MH except for wine and flowers. BART delayed required a quick fix for GF and I for a quiet evening. Rosemary spit chicken, Mac'n Cheese, baguette, and a bottle of Pino Gris. $50 picnic well worth it. A shout out to Janet L., aka, J-Lo, for her gracious service, delightful smile, and loving attention!

This is the latest in my series of reviews of local restaurants and markets that I have to say I had passed by for years without stopping in and I wish I had stopped in sooner. This gourmet market includes staples with a luxurious twist. I stopped in because I do not typically eat meat but had to buy sausage and wanted to be sure to purchase from a butcher shop. Market Hall had exactly what I was looking for with homemade sausage and knowledgeable butchers. What I was not expecting was how much fun I would have walking around and sampling different products. I look forward to returning to purchase some homemade pasta. Due to the high pricing at Market Hall and gourmet products it may not be a supermarket substitute but remains an excellent place to pick up specialty items. I would compare the pricing and product offerings to a Dean & DeLuca more so than a Whole Foods.

This reminds me a lot of Faletti's Market in SF - just down the street from where I used to live. Basically, a smaller, more expensive super market that focuses on organic, farm-fresh food and charges prices that are about 20-40% more than a typical supermarket (and about 10-20% higher than Whole Foods). They definitely have some good stuff and a well run operation - in particular, I think that the system they have for holding pre-cooked and deli food behind the counter and giving you a number to show the cashier works really well. The place was busy too, so it seems that their business is doing just fine.

Go after 3 and park illegally in the Bart lot across the street. Try a container of thai beef coconut soup in the freezer section. The take out salads are really good; both the chicken and the tofu. Always fresh, quality ingredients.

Oh, Market Hall, how I love to love you. Market Hall Bakery makes killer desserts- a particular favorite is the chocolate hazelnut torte, which they make cake-sized or individual servings (soooo considerate). I often pick one up en route to dinner parties or occasions, and it's always a winner... In fact, I'm pretty sure I've gotten invited back b/c people are hoping for a repeat performance! The Pasta Shop seems woefully misnamed, as people come as much for the prepared foods as they do the handmade pasta. They have whole chickens (the tequila lime is amazing), quiches, side salads (think kale, corn & avocado in fancy combos), cheeses, pints of organic ice cream... They even have pre-made gourmet sandwiches if you want to grab lunch. The turkey sandwich with emmental cheese is delicious. Warning: everything here is terribly overpriced - so, unless you want to spend $40 on a jar of honey, plan on buying your basics down the street at Trader Joe's, and save Market Hall for special occasions!

This place is a hipster trap, but I love it so. Some items you can find here that I've seen in few other stores in the US: * Mariage Freres teas * Balsamic DOP vinegar of Modena (for a few hundred bucks!) * Bottarga by the pound * Echire butter ...and many more. There's shelves upon shelves of fancy olive oils, jams, sauces, and other intriguing vials and jars. A robust cheese counter, with samples hidden throughout the store. An excellent selection of cured meats and fresh ravioli. An entire shortbread island, for crying out loud! I admit it's a little disappointing to find some of these products for almost half as much elsewhere, but the selection is impeccable and the convenience can't be overstated. Every time I walk in here to "just look around", I end up spending another $50 on some delicious BS.

The food gem of Rockridge, packed with specialty foods from around the world and also locally made foods. I especially love the interesting baking ingredients, from marzipan to candies fruits and chocolate. The selections change seasonally so it's a great place to get food and cooking accessory gifts. Lots of cheeses and a little odds and ends bargain cheese bin. Love love it.

I have been a loyal shopper for years but today's experience of waiting in line for 1/2 hour only to have the manager decide to allow seniors to come to the head of the line, including any arriving in the next 1/2 hr, would mean I would never get in. This is a good policy in general but you need to have clear signage so those of us under 65 don't waste our time. I also don't see this policy on the website. I will shop elsewhere for now.

One stop shop!! BF and I came here Sunday morning mainly for the cheese shop! We've been trying to find good quality, yet strong and pungent cheeses in the Bay. The guy at the counter was super helpful, answering any questions we had along with letting us sample ones we were interested in. We ended up choosing 5 different cheeses that were all delicious! Then how can you have cheese and not wine? So we bought a nice Bordeaux that was pleasantly affordable. Passing by the butcher area, BF wanted to get some prosciutto and Serrano jamon for what is now turning into a bougie dinner. The lady helping us was really friendly and let us sample a piece to make sure it was the right thinness for us. And since there was a bakery right there, we decided to grab a baguette for the final touch! Last but not least, we bought an ice coffee from Highwire. I think this is my new favorite speciality store!

Really cool neat oH place to bump into the many bustling bodies, that all convene here to fulfill their various needs of: wine, deli meats, cheeses, spices from around the world, produce, chocolates and sweets, coffee, foods from various cultures... and my favorite... samples. Samples galore! I also found this cool mix of spices and herbs, that's called the Egyptian Blend. It's so super crowded, so you have to walk through this large one spot shop carefully, so that you don't step on someone's toes. The area where it's located, is a perfect spot to walk out and enjoy the various shops. College Ave, reminds me of Union Street in San Francisco, or the Lower Pacific Heights Fillmore Street. It's best to go with peeps who enjoy to slow down, and really look at all the great sights, and inhale the great smells, and touch what calls to be touched. They have a spot of specialty sweets, and MARZIPAN! Oh dude, man this stuff is my kind of heaven in your mouth. It's an acquired taste. But MARZIPAN, next to the glorious Baklava, and of course, Halva... yummeeeeeeeeeeeee! They're all deep in flavor, and the textures are just so luscious and quite different from any other sweets. It's not like chocolate, cookies, or ice cream... the tastes linger and linger... and they change, as your saliva mixes with their molecular structure. Anyhow, yep yep... this place is so great! One star off, because it's pretty expensive! OY! so only saved for special days, with special peeps!

Love this place! I agree that the prices are high but the finds are amazing. The grocery store has the BEST fresh OJ anywhere! The cheese shop has rotating samples that catch me every time. The prepared foods section has delicious meals you can pick up on the way home from work and have dinner in a pinch (the mexican cesar, roasted chicken, creamed spinach, kale salad to name a few). From the bakery, I love the little sourdough wheat loaf with the sesame seeds, the cheese bread, the morning buns, the pizza the quiche, the flat bread and the alfajores. It also has delicious balsamic vinegars, local jams, truffle anything (honey, salt, oil, truffles). I think I'm headed over there now as this review has made me crave all of the above ;)

L O V E It is in the air and managed to stray a few tendrils here and there until I floated into the Pasta Shop and again, found it, staring right back at me. Now I know where to go for my consistent craving for fresh pastas. After I meandered a bit looking over the cheese section I decided to pick up a half pound of several items that sounded too delicious to be true: Arugula Pear Chevre Ravioli Spinach Pinenut Ravioli Garlic Gnocchi Porcini Truffle Ravioli Winter Squash and Sage Ravioli Nothing compares to fresh pasta. We tossed these in a light butter white wine reduction dotted with sprigs of fresh sage and topped with shaved Parmigiano Reggiano. I was in bliss. My favorite was the Winter Squash and Sage ravioli. The squash lent a slight sweetness to the already savory dish while the sage warmed things up a bit with earthy undertones. The gentleman behind the counter assisted us with the questions about keeping the pasta refrigerated/frozen and in addition to the fresh there are options of purchasing the day old pasta if you are so inclined. In addition to fresh, they have a wall of assorted dried pasta, including a fave of a good friend (he loves it) Bucatini, Cochiglie, Campanelle, Casarecci....I could go on. I managed to pick up a bag of Maccheroni Al Torchio for a dear Italian friend of mine in secret hopes that he would whip up something for me soon. Prices are slightly more expensive than average but again, it is reflected in the quality of their wares.

Rockridge Market Hall's quinoa salad with toasted garbanzo beans is soooo good. In fact all of their deli items are pretty outstanding. I picked up a pound of their quinoa salad for a healthy party the other night - and figured since I had some time to kill - that I would have a bite or two - before the event. Big mistake. I ate a whole pound of that delicious quinoa all by myself. I had to sheepishly head back into the market hall and order up another pound of quinoa, forcing them to go upstairs and grab a whole new batch - so I wouldn't show up empty handed to the party. It all worked out though and the quinoa was a huge hit at the gathering. Trust.

Now I know what you get for the ultra high priced Bay Area real estate...gratuitous food porn! This place is so wonderfully over the top with pricey farm to table/dock to table/snout to tail offerings that I so wish we had something analogous in my beloved OC or even in trendier LA. So much freshly made pasta, fresh produce, gigantic osso bucco shanks in the butchers window. Giant scallops, sometime geoduck. so good! There's even some crazy ass mad science experiment looking coffee machine with two giant vacuum bulb looking apparatus in their high wire coffee shop. They call it "ground control". This place is a tourist attraction by itself. Must see! Don't use the parking lot cause it's a cluster F#@k. Park on the street or in the BART lot. Also, there's an awesome restaurant, Oliveto's on top as well as many others on the same street.

I can't tell you why I always go here, because then when I go, there won't be any left ... but I can tell you that the people at Market Hall are so gourmet. The food is great ... and it is usually worth the visit, even if you have to wait. I get a number upon arrival and wander around until it is my turn. They carry all of the necessary staples one must have for an fantastic picnic ... including: * amazing cheese (some packages are wrapped with just s few slices of cheese so it is easy to make a sandwich) they usually have a cheese or two to try and they have a sampling of some sauces and olive oils too * great bread (acme, my favorite) * olive bar * yummy vegetarian choices ... and non-vegetarian choices ... meals already prepared. My husband loves their tofu! * terrific homemade pastas and sauces - ravioli with the onion cream sauce is so good ... add a salad and we have a perfect meal for guests with little hassle * organic roasted chicken ... yes it is expensive, but it is worth it if you want chicken or chicken salad ... go organic ... know where your chicken came from and what she used to eat ... know that antibiotics were not part of her life ... it is much better for you if you have the choice * bakery ... yummiest of treats and the cutest little birthday cakes you ever did see. They will personalize it in just minutes. A real hit! * fruits and veggies ... best of choices, generous samples, nice displays, beautiful organic section ... drinks, nuts, other grocery items found here * supplies - they have a lot of little bowls and ramekins that are useful and generally affordable * there is a coffee shop at the main entrance so I can get a cup of my favorite coffee or tea while I wait until my number is called * Bart is directly across the street for easy accessibility and easy escape for an adventure. Now that we have good food for our picnic, we can go anywhere to enjoy it in just a matter of minutes. San Fran here we come ... and for my daughter, Bart to San Fran is an adventure she awaits with great anticipation. * cons ... parking can be tough, parts of the store are very small and can get very crowded, there can be some rude people, it is expensive expensive expensive ... it is true, with the good things, there is some bad too. AND you get what you pay for in so many ways. Be aware of where you food comes from and you can make better (and usually more expensive) choices.

Precious. The closest I've seen to a European marketplace in the U.S. Love the independent sellers, the bakery is fantastic and Highwire Coffee roasters is not to be missed. Folks who work here are a little smug, the only reason for 4-stars. From organic produce, great cheese, top-notch chocolate selection, breads and and and... it's good. Again, the independent shop owners make this far more experiential and special.

This place has everything a gourmet's heart could desire. Wine shop, bread shop, cheese shop, butcher's, gelato, etc. etc. Basically if you have to double-check prices, you can't afford to shop here. On the hunt for carnaroli rice to make risotto (I've been told it produces a creamier dish), I did stumble across a small bag. Like small. Good for one dish. But for $7.95, I just couldn't! Especially since I now am financially supported by the good ol' folks at EDD. They do sell dried pasta by the pound and if you are after a special one, I'd recommend this place. I was tempted to buy some squid ink spaghetti pasta, it was on sale for $7 a pound, but then I know my family would look at it, admire it and leave it untouched. Like one review noted, it can get coooold here during chillier days. Not exactly the type of place to have a cozy latte.

Took a trip to the different parts of Oakland. My friend offered to told me about the Market Hall, I already hooked on. So we drove to the Hall and just stole my heart. I LOVE this place! The sheer preparation and customer service is just unbeatable. I can literally spend the whole day here just looking and sampling different varieties of Charcuterie and such. The produce is just gorgeous, everything is nicely placed and so neat. The neatest I have ever seen! The meat looked great, some nice 100% grass fed beef. Reasonable price if I say so myself, coming from working in a butcher shop The exciting part is the FOOD and something I haven't gotten the chance to see before, A Cheese shop! There is so much selection and it was hard to choose as well. Everything looked so good, but of course the price wasn't cheap too. I picked a couple of items plus a drink came out to be about 15 bucks. I paid for quality over quantity. Everything was yummy and enjoyed the atmosphere too. Definitely coming back!