Bi-Rite Market Market / Ice Cream Shop

Every time I come into Bi-Rite I am happy to see fresh, regional, and sustainable produce. They truly have a diverse wonderful selection.

My Take: Bi-Rite Market is a staple of San Francisco. A trip to Bi-Rite is necessary in order to be inducted into life as a San Franciscan. I visited the new store on Divisadero (the original is in the Mission) and was incredibly impressed by the beautiful layout of the store. The produce was some of the freshest I have ever seen, with apples, oranges, and everything in between stacked to perfection on the displays. Everything in the store was bursting with color and freshness and I felt as if I had wandered into my dream grocery store. As I meandered through the aisles I was incredibly impressed at how clean and organized all of the products were. Nothing was out of place and the employees were very helpful about helping customers find what they needed and recommending products that they have enjoyed. As I perused the products I found myself wanting to buy every single thing, as they included artisan created pastries, health foods, allergen free foods, and handcrafted snacks, desserts, and bread. Overall, I was incredibly impressed by Bi-Rite and a part of me wishes I worked here so I could enjoy the atmosphere and employee discount. The Scene: As a public market, Bi-Rite has an incredibly diverse scene. On the Saturday morning that I visited it was mostly young couples out doing grocery shopping or dropping in after brunch for a few items. Families also frequent the store, out doing errands and grocery shopping. Yet there are also young students, perhaps making the pilgrimage to this iconic spot for their famous ice cream. This location is brand new and therefore extremely clean, well organized, and the staff is enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the products. Overall, Bi-Rite’s new branch on Divisadero merits a visit, even if it’s just for the ice cream. Cocktails & Cuisine: As a public market based in San Francisco all the food and drinks are artisan fresh, local, and organic. Bi-Rite’s dedication to fresh, locally sourced produce and meats are clearly evident as soon as you walk in. Everything in the store is beautifully presented and of the most pristine quality. If you are a beer or wine lover Bi-Rite is the place to go as it is filled with handcrafted beers from bay area breweries and vintage wines from around the world. If produce is what you are looking for, look no further! The organic fruits, vegetables, and fungi (yes there is a section with gourmet mushrooms that you can bag yourself), are plentiful and tempt your eyes with their color and quality. The butcher case is filled with the juiciest steaks, chicken, fish, and seafood and will give any meat-lover something to drool over. The bakery section is tempting; the bread is all freshly baked and still warm and made me want to scoop up each and every baguette, pretzel, and bagel. Finally, the piece de resistance is the ice cream section. Bi-Rite is most famous for its handmade interesting flavor combinations. The flavors change regularly and can be found by following their twitter, Facebook, or checking the website. Any ice cream parlor that has its own twitter and Facebook is clearly worth a visit. Prices: As a public market based in San Francisco that is dedicated to the highest quality products the prices are pretty steep as compared to some mainstream grocery stores. While the prices are on par with that of Whole Foods (or more commonly referred to as “Whole Pay Check”) they are well worth it for the quality you are buying. Meats generally are priced pretty high, with house smoked salmon reaching up to $34.99/lb. But overall the high prices are reflective of the mission of Bi-Rite: to provide excellent quality and a return to the local food movement. What to Wear: No dress code, shoes and shirt will suffice. Although you may want to wear pants as well to avoid stares. Insider Info/When to go: On my trip to Bi-Rite I had the pleasure of coming into contact with the ice cream server. I explained to her that I had never tried the ice cream before and with a gasp she instantly starting recommending flavors to me and gave me samples of each and every flavor. We got onto the topic of conversation and she was one of the sweetest people I have had the pleasure of coming into contact with. She was very down-to-earth and told me that she had gained probably 10 lbs. since she started working there but that it was so worth it! I loved her attitude and enthusiasm and she really made my experience even more enjoyable. It is employees like this that just show how local businesses such as Bi-Rite Public Market need our support and have so much to offer to our city.