My mom and I discovered this shop around the corner from The Peasant & The Pear in Danville when we…read morewere waiting for our takeout order. Come to think of it, it makes sense to have a store that offers balsamic vinegar and olive oil tastings in quaint downtown. The walls are lined with so many different flavors you can read about and sample. We stayed in the balsamic vinegar corner where there were all types of fruit flavors and had signs offering recommendations of how to use it (on salads, fruit, cocktails, even ice cream). We didn't wander to the olive oil section, but I definitely will next time. They have the following price breakdown for bottle size: Small: $8 Medium: $14 Large: $21 They also have tinier bottle sizes and gift bags which would be fun to give/receive. I believe the owner rang us up and she sealed our bottle for us to preserve freshness (it was just corked when purchased). She said to come back with the empty bottle for $1 off!

Came here to shop for a birthday gift for my friend, and we got their most popular lychee and…read morepineapple vinegar and couple olive oils. I also bought the raspberry vinegar for myself! The store offers free tasting cups and the staff would explain how to select the right olive oil and vinegar. Nowadays things are so expensive and I really appreciate this gourmet food boutique still offers high quality products at such a reasonable and affordable pricing! The shop also offers other gift selection such as cute oil sucers, towels, jams, and spices. They also offer gift wrapping.

My wife and I stopped by Amphora Nueva after grabbing lunch at The Station nearby to replenish our…read moredwindling supply of aged dark balsamic. Like most artisanal olive oil and vinegar stores, this one allowed for sampling of nearly all their products. There are so many interesting oil blends and flavored balsamic vinegars, I would encourage you to take your time to try out anything that piques your curiosity before making a purchase. We ultimately picked up a bottle of their 25 year old aged, Denissimo balsamic. This balsamic had a wonderful sweetness to it and was beautifully viscous. I can't wait to drizzle this on top of a tomato burrata appetizer when summer comes around, or on some vanilla ice cream. Another balsamic I really enjoyed trying out -- that would also go lovely with vanilla ice cream, was the espresso flavored balsamic. I would definitely recommend checking out Amphora Nueva for all our olive oil and balsamic needs.

We first tried their product at a party--just a splash over sparkling water--and it was delicious…read more From that moment, we were hooked. Now it's in regular rotation at our house as we work our way through all the new flavors in the store. BB

I have probably ordered $500 worth of sandwiches from here over the past year, which should say a…read morelot. Their sandwiches are incredible. The staff are very friendly. I come back here once every week or two after placing an order via fax for my work place. So why only four stars? They unfortunately can get rushed, and miss stuff on the faxed in order sheets. Basic stuff: "please serve hot" or even as simple as basic ingredients to include like mayo or mustard. Don't get me wrong, I'll keep coming back here. If they could just get the orders more accurate it would be an easy 5/5!

Love to see Diablo Foods doing a great job as a small independent grocer. Focused on quality and…read morecustomer service, they always seem to be on the mark. If you want 24 rolls of toilet paper cheap this is not your place but if you want an in house dry aged New York with paired with store selected wines, produce, cheese, and breads then this you place. Keep up the incredible work.

I visited to get another bottle of the: Sepay Groves…read moreFrantoio EVOO which is cold-pressed olives with a high poly- a bit peppery, grassy and (to me) a tad bitter. I use as a finishing oil drizzled on roast vegetables or for pasta dishes. Frantoio olive oil also has known health benefits! A great antioxidant, reduce inflammation, help with lowering cholesterol and for heart health due to high polyphenols. I'm all for it...a daily tablespoon or two will do ya! If you're a bit more adventurous you can go with the other high polyphenol EVOO of Spanish olives called Hojiblanca. Plenty of options of vinegars and olive oils to sample before you buy. Bought the 18yr old aged balsamic which elevates any dressing and your friend's will comment "how come mine doesn't taste like yours" (evil laugh!) ...quality ingredients make a difference! Staff helpful and will provide ideas for pairings with food and educate on the wonderful selection of products. Store shelves were not fully stocked (when I visited in Jan) but you can ask and a bottle will be filled in the back. Plenty of street parking and towards the end of First Street. Make it a destination for waterfront hike, shopping and eating! Support small business

I really like this place. Both owners are knowledgeable and pleasant…read more Their patience with me as I ask stupid questions about olive oil and vinegars. I like what I like but have no real knowledge. That's why I like Sepay. Lots of surprises in the store beyond oil and vinegars. Soup mixes that are really good. Pasta, dips... you just need to go to the store. Next door in a wine place that opens at 4:00 that can round out the journey.

TL:DR - wow!! Just…read morego and revel in its full glory. You will gain weight but it's okay! Mini beignets are a must-try. Pro tip: they will reheat for you. Gelato - outstanding stracciatella

Great gelato spot in Walnut Creek. The gelato was delicious, with a smooth and creamy texture and…read moreplenty of flavor. They have a nice selection to choose from, so there's something for just about everyone. Tifa is a great place to stop for dessert if you're walking around downtown Walnut Creek. I'd definitely come back to try more of their gelato flavors.

Wonderful dinner last night at Locanda Positano in Lafayette. Locanda Positano is tucked away on…read moreBrown Street in Lafayette. So much delicious food in a wonderful atmosphere. We savored the Locanda Salad, Fritto Misto, incredible focaccia from the Bread Basket, Arancini, Linguini Alle Vongole, Penne Alla Vodka, and the evening special: rigatoni with braised beef and sausage. Every dish was delicious! I'm still thinking about the Locanda salad; it was fabulous! We enjoyed dinner at the bar. The drinks were fantastic, Danny provided excellent service, and Renato and the rest of the staff made us feel right at home. IG: robinmwood

Their average star rating exactly reflects everything at Locanda Positano. Nothing spectacular,…read morejust solid all the way across the board and in the up and down experiences provided by most restaurants these days, there is something to be commended in consistency. Food is good, potions of pasta are a touch on the small, I recommend ordering a starter for the table to share. Service is excellent; attentive and friendly both indoors and out. Ambiance is right out of the "how to decorate an Italian restaurant" playbook, but that doesn't mean it's a bad thing. Currently sitting comfortably in my #2 Italian Food spot in the area.

This store has really stepped it up. The new owners have brought in a fresher, more local selection…read moreand made the layout much more inviting. You'll find all kinds of gems here -- from fresh gnocchi and local tortilla chips to craft coffee, Model Bakery bread, and incredible pastries. My wife and I often stop by with our family for a beer and some snacks before heading to the park -- it's become one of our favorite little rituals. Highly recommend checking it out if you haven't been in since the ownership change!

UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP. They are currently working on turning this little store around from the…read moreprevious (dated) produce store to a new source for all sorts of niche grocery products including my favorite dressings I buy at the farmers market. This will be a great addition to the neighborhood.

This compact specialty market has been open for over a year, and I really like how the merchandise…read morereflects local purveyors with no corporate brands. Starting with an arresting blow-up of Italian movie star Monica Vitti behind the checkout, it's a visually pleasing emporium because it's not overcrowded with idiosyncratic products. The wine collection is particularly interesting with labels unknown to me. I've been tempted by the delectables in the Grab & Go section, but I've demurred for the sake of discretion. In fact, having almost no knowledge of any of these products, I only recently bought something here because I want to support them. I got a box of Rooibos tea and a jar of Hawaiian masala (Photo 10). I look forward to buying more in the future, though one thought I had was that this store would benefit from samples. On a previous visit, there was a bakery pop-up in front (Photo 8), and I think more of that activity could encourage more in-store traffic. It'll be interesting to see how this business evolves. RELATED - Exploring Solano Avenue? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/eyjAJU1VZv

I LOVE THIS STORE SO MUCH!!!…read more It's so lovingly & carefully curated with yummy items. I come in every week or so to check out new items. Great selection of gourmet goodies-- I regular go in for snacks, cooking sauces from around the world, ice cream, canned drinks, honey & condiments. Appreciate they have plenty of vegan options. They also have a good selection of wines. The owners & staff are super friendly. They love to chat & answer any questions you have. It's a small but mighty space. Very clean & cheerful (not sure how else to describe it? I always smile when I enter!) SHOP LOCAL AND SUPPORT OUR WONDERFUL SMALL BUSINESSES

I've been here a couple of times for business events…read more Today we had the salmon and lamb, and both were excellent. The wines are always tasty, and the complimentary bread with herb butter is soft and fluffy. The strawberry salad was especially good, even better than the arugula salad. Lemon tart and tiramisu are both great.

The ambiance is lovely, our waiter was fantastic. As long as you don't eat the food, you'll have a…read morewonderful time. The prices only add insult to injury. Our pasta dishes were horrible...goopy and weird tasting. I don't know what the curly white stuff on top of the angel hair pasta was but it was certainly not Parmesan cheese. The abundance of fried garlic chips ensure that you can taste nothing else. The flatbread is, well, flat (and flavorless). I don't know how they can call the dessert we ordered tiramisu. It tasted like a slice of cake from Safeway. Having said that, the chicken and the Acme bread were fine. As someone who lived in Italy for several years, this is a terrible excuse for an Italian-ish restaurant.

We have been going to this restaurant for many years in the original location in San Francisco and…read moreat least 5 or 6 times in walnut creek, we went to a play at the Lesher theater and they partner with Montesacro for dining before the theater and provided 10% discount we enjoyed a wonderful burarrata with sliced peaches with balsamic glaze and gnocchi in a wonderful ragu meat sauce and brazzino fish, the restaurant was very busy and server was a bit swamped and wait times for ordering and getting our drink order ( only had one bartender) was slow regardless of the wait the food was fantastic...

The place gets an extra star for the service. Otherwise it would have been one star…read more Decided to try this place for the family Friday dinner. Two adults, two kids (total bill was ~$450). Observations: 1) The place is very small. They sit you outside in a very windy alley. The food gets cold within 5min or so. Heaters don't help that much. 2) When you make a reservation on OpenTable you choose "Standard seating" - it doesn't mean inside. Inside capacity is about 50 or so ppl with 10 or so by the bar. So capacity is very limited. 3) We ordered lemonade for kids. They serve it in short glasses filled with ice to the brim (despite our ask for "no ice"), effectively reducing the liquid volume. We paid $35 for lemonade. 4) Food is very uneventful, nothing was remarkable. Their gnocchi with meat resembled Chef Boyardee from back in college times. Not sure why this place felt so pretentious with really no substance to back it. With so many options around like Montecatini, Doppio Zero, Benvenuti, La Fontaine, etc, not sure how they are still in business. Definitely not recommended for families, and have a hard time figuring out what audience they cater to.