As a food lover, I love the people and places that painstakingly supply my needy tongue and stomach. The fishermen, the butcher, the grocery bagger. The farmer’s market, the local supermarket, the open at 5am donut shop. Missing that feeling of culinary wonder in sleepy San Mateo, I heard of little grocery store in the Mission that serves up some swell deli treats and is conveniently located next to the Dolores Park for a nice Sunday picnic. There stands Bi-Rite Market, which prides itself on being a community-oriented grocery market. I think they’re doing a pretty good job of living up to the billing.
Granted I am super spoiled by my four sweet years of living nearby the undisputed king of markets, Berkeley Bowl, I have to hand it to Bi-Rite for their extremely friendly and helpful service. They pass out happiness like candy and are more than willing to help you find what you’re looking for. Organic fruit, handmade chocolate, wines and beers… you name it, they probably have it and it’s locally-grown, earth-friendly, and/or artisan-made. Unfortunately, being a do-gooder ain’t cheap. Bi-Rite isn’t exactly on the cheap end, but they don’t charge you an arm and a leg like Whole Foods. Plus, you know this place is all about serving the neighborhood instead of stockholders.
They have a pretty sweet deli, with all the cheeses and cured meats you could ask for, plus a lot a lot of in-house prepared foods. I picked up an avocado chicken salad bacon tomato sandwich, which was probably the best chicken salad sandwich I have ever laid my teeth into. Well, we all know that bacon makes all things better, but the soft focaccia was the perfect complement to the chicken salad. I sat on the grass at Dolores while munching it down with a side of Black Pepper Kettle Chips and I was in a state of simple joy.
All in all, a great place for all your food-related needs. It’s too bad I live a little too far from Bi-Rite, otherwise they would probably have a new regular. I didn’t get a chance to try their ice creamery, which is just a quick jump across the street, but I will. By the looks of the lines and the screaming kids on a Sunday morning, it’s got to be decent. A neighborhood treasure, Bi-Rite is a market for the people, the way it should be.
Bi-Rite Market
3639 18th Street., San Francisco, CA 94110
415-241-9760
Buy local, buy fresh!
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