I don't know what I was expecting, but I was actually pretty disappointed with PFI. This place is pretty hard to find, when you look it up on Google while you're on the road, it initially directed us to their warehouse in SODO. That was NOT correct. We finally found this place near the stadium, and with the helpful tips from other Yelpers, we actually found this tiny little place that was tucked away inside of a parking lot. There are designated PFI parking spots, and if you do not park in these spots - you risk being towed. When you finally get inside the place is 1. A lot smaller than you would imagine, but still managing to have a warehouse feel and 2. A lot darker than you would hope for in a grocery store, reminding me of the DK Market out in Kent, except without the extra space that DK offers. There is a wonderful selection of spices, imported dry pastas, cheeses, and even a variety of salts - which I love. Unfortunately, it's dim, it's not very clean, a lot of the dry pastas that we were looking at were shattered (which was tragic because we wanted lasagna sheets), their checkout process (with their one cashier) took about almost 20 minutes alone, the cheese line was 30 people deep (and none of their prices are clearly listed, so we didn't get any), and I found a few items on their few shelves that had already expired... This place is fine. I might be back for their selection of bulk spices and grains, but the whole experience was lackluster after reading all of these glowing reviews. It just served as an example that one persons' fantastic experience has no contextualization when it comes to yelp. read more

I was on a quest for carnaroli. No luck at the major supermarkets. Somebody told me about this hidden cache of Mediterranean cooking supplies buried somewhere in the southern end of the International District, so off I went on a treasure hunt. I found the place without much trouble. I didn't bother picking up a basket -- I knew what I wanted, so I'd be in and out in two minutes. Twenty-five minutes later, I deposited an armful of groceries on the checkout counter. I found my carnaroli, and a bunch of other odds and ends. They have a big selection of dried pastas, and jars and cans of everything that can be jarred or canned. Mostly European products, but also the odd jar of Lebanese tahini, Moroccan Harissa, South Asian spice mixes and so on. Lots of confections, jams, tinned fish, oils, vinegars, pickles; you get the idea. They also have a few snack foods clearly targeted at homesick expats; I resisted buying a pack of McVitie's chocolate digestives for six bucks. Most of the products are pretty reasonably priced, though; if you can find it anywhere else in town, it'll probably cost about the same or less here. They've got little employee recommendation cards pasted on some of the shelves, like they do at bookstores. Nice touch. I did not explore the cheese and olive counter, but I did walk around the bulk spice section. I don't know how long that stuff has been sitting there unsealed. I found a couple of bags of extremely stale coffee from 7 Roasters*, which made me wary. If they are leaving locally roasted coffee on the shelves for 2-3 months, I bet that bucket of ras el hanout has been there since the '90s. I wouldn't buy spices here unless I absolutely couldn't find them elsewhere. For shelf-stable stuff, though, PFI is an excellent place to forage and stock up. ----- * That's one roaster named '7', not seven roasters named '1'. Does that make sense? Look, don't worry about it. read more

Included in my top 3 things to do, is to cook for friends and family! If you can't share the food you cook... you won't receive the adoring compliments. Yes, something needs to feed my ego. I decided to go all out for my 30th and prepare a menu for 60 guests, and went with a Mediterranean festive flair: - Greek Salad - Israeli Couscous (one vege. & one with roasted chicken) - Hummus with pita and fresh veggies - Olive medley - Cheese Platter with fruit - Lox with whipped cream cheese and crackers - Mini-caramel birthday apples Yes, Costco is great for party-trays and such, but when wanting to cater your own menu, Big John's PFI will provide you with that one stop shopping. Well maybe two stop shopping. Aside from the produce, chicken and lox, I managed to purchase everything else at Big John's PFI. This is what my shopping list included: - 2 lbs. of Israeli Couscous (pearl-size with a bit more texture) - 3 lbs. dried garbanzo beans - Aldiro Olive Oil - quality EVOO for a great price! - Tahini - 1 lb. Medley of olives (the large green ones are amazing!) - 1 lb. minimum of cheese included drunken goat cheese, feta - Capers Had I bought these items from DeLaurenti, I would have spent twice or three-times the amount! It is definitely located in an unassuming location but this warehouse style market is a gem for Seattle cooks! read more

Whatever you need, wherever it comes from, I'm sure Big John can obtain it for you. I went here a couple of times just to stroll through the aisles and buy some small things I've seen on the way, but when it became serious I knew where to go. I needed a few pounds of good white chocolate (did you know that this is super hard to get in regular stores?!) and I called ahead to inquire of the availability. And not only did they have white chocolate for me, they even had 3 different kinds! I was so glad that they could have smuggled dish soap in the chocolate bag, but they were super friendly and I was even allowed to TASTE all the different kinds of white chocolate to find the perfect one. The chocolate cake I made out of this chocolate was super delicious and I can't wait to go back and buy some more for future delicious experiments (Or just for eating it. You know, like a real chocolate hungry monster. On the way home. All of it). read more

I freakin' love Big John's!! Love it! I have to #1. Take a list. (I don't have to follow it.. just TAKE it. #2. Tie one hand behind my back. (otherwise I go haywire scooping all the bulk foods and before I know it I've bought 20 kinds of dried beans and 5 kinds of rice and .... you get my drift. #3. I tie a rope around my ankle and the other end to my car bumper so I don't get swallowed up! I know everyone mentions the cheese. But I want to mention the cheese too! They DO have the one-pound minimum. What? You can't eat a pound of cheese? share it with some friends! They have SO MANY cheeses! They'll let you taste them too. They have a bunch of olive mixes, olive oils, great pastas, vinegars.. SHUT UP! I'm telling you. Get yourself down there. You'll be hooked. Crazy great place. read more

This place has a great selection of some really interesting foreign products- and the prices are reasonable. Their cheese selection is second to none in Seattle. Their olive selection is killer (got some spicy green ones from Tunisia that were great- and only $5lb!) One thing I am perplexed by is why they wouldn't offer to slice meats/cheeses- and offer them in less than 1lb portions. I get that they are busy and that they want to be able to keep costs low by not offering full service- but I bet they'd be twice as busy if they offered full service. I'd be more than happy spending an extra dollar per lb if they sliced the meats and cheeses. Maybe Big John will figure it out at some point. Love their cheeses (albeit in 1lb chunks), got some killer chorizo there (1lb of it), and some really nice pesto and anchovies too. It's worth finding this place (not easy!) if you are looking for rare Euro products or some fancy cheese (in large quantities). For me- full service is good service. What am I supposed to do with a 1lb chunk of cheddar? By refusing to offer full service- they are guaranteeing disappointing service- thus 3 stars. read more

PFI is a great spot for groceries you can't find everywhere. They have an amazing selection of flours, spices, sugars and salts all in bulk 'bins'. You can find any kind of olive oil, pasta, and canned tomatoes all at super reasonable prices. They have a beautiful selection of cheeses (many of which I've never heard of) and the cheese-monger will help you find the best selection for your occasion. This is my new favorite store to peruse on a "I'm bored and want to cook something fabulous but need some inspiration" day. read more

This place is incredible! So many amazing products from Italy, sure, but also all of Europe. I could spend hours in here looking at the bulk and imported items. Their kitchenware section is also very large, and they can tell you about 20 different cheeses for your pizza. :) Staff is quite knowledgeable and friendly. A bit pricey, but worth it for high quality!! read more

Love this store. Great selection of anything Italian, spices, even baking supplies (good chocolates). Giant bags of frozen raviolis, which are the best simple dinner possible. read more

Bulk spices. Bulk specialty sugar. Bulk gourmet salt. Best part? I can fill five or six or eight spice bottles for $2. Since finding this place, I have branched out my recipes to more and more exotic dishes, and started creating my own spice mixes that now I can just keep on hand. They have dozens of different spices, including a couple pre-mixed (e.g. Herbs de Provence) and a couple that are hard to find in grocery stores (e.g. Hungarian paprika, smoked paprika, and hibiscus flowers). They have Hawaiian salt, finishing salt, course salt, pink Himalayan salt, and a dozen other kinds to boot. They have Belgian pearl sugar, maple sugar, and half a dozen kinds of colored sugar. And as long as we're talking bulk, they even have bulk dutch process cocoa, flax, steel cut oats, and other dry goods. You know what else - they have Scrappy's bitters, bitterman bitters, and a couple other kinds besides, for $4-6 cheaper than I've seen them elsewhere in Seattle. Cheese selection appears diverse and delicious, but I can't go through a pound of it without having a wine and cheese party, and I just haven't brought myself to host one yet. They sell "light pounds" (slightly less than a pound) for people like me. And they give you the brine if you bring your own container. Hours are short, and the place can be confusing as heck to find the first time you go, but it's so so worth the trip. read more

My parents often brought me here when I was a small child. I'd stand and stare, transfixed by the exotic dried fish on the walls, or open every single spice bin so I could smell the contents. I truly believe that having PFI as one of my earliest memories has contributed to my foodie nature today. I come here for certain staples - balsamic vinegar, bulk olives, tins of interesting things to give my parents as gifts. It's always good to wander the entire store making sure not to miss anything as products change often! (Also: be sure to check expiration dates.) And yes, sometimes I still open every single bin to smell what's inside!! (I'm much more careful not to sneeze these days though. Oh germ consciousness, one of the many things we develop as we age.) read more

After the reviews, I had to come here. Yup, they have lots of stuff. I spotted the ingredients we use in our Pasta and Pizza sauces, but at much, much higher prices than we pay for them. i did buy some chocolate for Valentines Day - saved me a trip - and made my wife happy with a huge chunk of semi sweet CHOCOLATE! PROS: They have a huge selection of imported foodie stuff. They have a good selection of anchovies (not for me - they go on other peoples pizza) The stuff on their clearance rack has some decent prices. CONS: They would be difficult to find if you weren't looking for them. The guy who helped me made it seem like kind of a chore to leave his behind the counter home and venture out into the store. Lots of the stuff seems over priced. They also do distribution to restaurants. I'll reserve further judgment until I see their restaurant / wholesale price list. read more

if you love food and you love strolling around getting ideas and inspiration from various cuisines of the world, pfi is the place to go. it's tucked away in a section of the city that people often overlook but it's well worth a visit. i've been going there for years but i make it a habit to only go on week days because weekends it's a madhouse. there are a lot of people who don't know that cheese is sold by the pound or that you can bring your own containers for the olives or other pickled goods that are sold in bulk from behind the counter. this makes for a longer wait when there are a lot of people but the positive part about going on weekends (if you dare) is that there's a fabulous mingling of different cultures coming through the doors. at any one time you can hear probably ten different languages which makes people like me appreciate the place even more! having traveled and lived outside the country i appreciate that i can go to pfi and find ingredients for recipes i'm replicating here but that hail from far, far away. if you're a foodie, prepare to start dedicating a portion of your monthly earnings to this place. you'll never be the same but that isn't necessarily a bad thing! read more

This is the specialty-food market that sets the standard for imported food products. Yes, some of it is expensive, but there are items here that you cannot find anywhere else. I generally go for excellent cheeses. Their selection matches the most well-stocked Whole Foods, but their prices (since you buy in bulk) are generally about 40% cheaper than Whole Foods. Now that I think about it, I don't think they sell anything that wasn't made overseas. While this is the antithesis of buying local, sometimes you need an amazing cheese and well-priced bottle of extra virgin olive oil straight from Italy! The fifth star is given for the customer service. Everyone here is fantastically nice and helpful. Keep it up, guys! read more

The smells are worth the price of admission alone- which is free. This is a great store for some items: cheese, olives, bulk spices and some specialty foods. The choice, freshness and selection of olives is great; the prices are superb. Cheeses are far les expensive then Whole Paycheck, but the selection is far less for artisan cheeses. Don't even think of comparing PCC to this place for cheeses or olives.You can find some bulk spices here that I still have no idea what they're for. They're no longer the bargain they once were for many other packaged goods: jams, sardines, olive oil and crackers which can often be found at Lenny's or other euro markets (even Trader Joes) at far lower prices. One caveat when buying packaged goods with pull dates, check carefully as they often sell goods close to or past pull dates. read more

If bulk spices or European foods are your jam, you need to get yourself to PFI right now. My most commonly bought items here are dried beans (especially chickpeas), dried bird's eye chilies, and various spice powders. Prices are extremely reasonable, and I have never had an issue with quality or freshness. I can confirm that the bird's eye chilies in my lunch burned my entire mouth very effectively. On the European side of things, the most important option is obviously wine gums. The ability to buy them by the pound is dangerous, so do be warned. The cheese display is also another dangerous place to find yourself--you'll suddenly NEED a pound of some random cheese you come across, despite the fact that you had no plans to buy any cheese. The staff is also great about letting you sample a bit of cheese before you buy. I picked up some Chimay beer cheese on my last visit, and it paired fantastically with a Belgian ale I had in my fridge. Olive oil, vinegar, and pasta noodles of any shape or size you can imagine are other good items to look at (and probably buy) while you're here. read more

hey, this is sort of a fun place to roam around. it's a warehouse, so it's sort of divey inside. but there are lots of things to look at and try. spices, cheeses, charcuterie...if that floats your boat. i never knew it was back here, but its a fun way to waste some time peeking at everything on the shelves and that they have imported. read more

This place was so much fun to shop in! You have to buy a whole pound of cheese when buying cheese, but its ok. They let you taste the cheeses....which is always fun. I went in with an idea of what I wanted to come out with....but I of course left with a whole lot more. Everyone needs cherry juice and red lentils, right? Btw, my fiance calls this place Initial Initial Initial, because he can never remember what the initials actually are. read more

Baltimore, 1993. I need fresh pasta and there are, as yet, no fancyfood megashops in sight. Where to go. Little Italy (home to Sabatinos where the line spills down the stairs on Saturday nights and the smoky mirrors lining the walls in the vast main dining room lend dreamy views of couples dressed for a night on the town sitting close, and big family parties with plates piled high with fragrant puttanescas and vongoles passing from hand to hand. Little Italy, where real working class families (Bmore is a town of working class families) live on the second floor of the row house and the deli is on the street level). So, aproned man behind the counter looks at me like I'm some silly college kid (ahem) when I order my fresh pasta and tells me everyone, everyone in LI cooks with Barilla, a dried, packaged pasta from home. And he packs me up some olives from a shallow stainless steel tub, and a slab of fresh Parmesan, and samples me a slice of the most delectable prosciutto before slicing off paper thin sheets for me. And points me in the direction of the bread shop around the corner where I will find chewy, dense loaves.) Fast forward to Seattle 2007 and I push open the secret passageway leading to PFI and another era. Oh. My. God. So it's not huge or anything, but they pack everything on your Mediterranean wish list into this chilly, raw space adorned exclusively by the fabulous foods in stock. Any bigger and PFI would be a commitment. As it is, you can prowl the aisles once for overview and once again in gather mode, hit the cheese / olive counter (where they sample out everything as if they'd made it all themselves), and still be on your way in under (just) an hour. Thus, a combo trip to Uwajimaya and PFI is within the realm of possibility. And there's nothing really to eat on the fly from PFI, no breads to go with the cheeses for example. So if you're in the mood for a little snack, unless you're interested in delectable torroni or another packaged sweet, you're ID bound. The only thing missing is sawdust on the floor. Stretching from the front door across one whole wall of the dimly lit, chilly space, a fantastically long, luminous glass case filled with cheeses all chosen for wonderfulness. A sign you could just as well miss as see, high up over the register, lists an exotic selection of olives you can sample all afternoon. Row after row of packaged delicacies, dried beans and spices you serve yourself from barrels, dried pastas of delightful shapes and names you don't know, sweets from any old Mediterranean home country. I patted myself on the back for filling only one small, hand held basket (eggplant and roasted peppers from the unbelievable Zergut line, blood red sun dried tomatoes in a little jar from Italy, fresh anchovies, pasta tubes that look just like bubble tea straws(!), tinned pulpo, and so on) until I got to the cheeses and olives counter, where all bets were off. One thing that's tricky, you have to buy gigantic quantities of cheese - a pound at a time. For my money, that's a shame as there were at least 5 I would have wanted to mix and match this trip, and I ended up just taking one. They did offer to divide it in half for me, so I brought one half as a gift to friends on the way home. It would be nice if that practice would magically change to suit me. About the location: From the street you see a sign for *Big John's* which, oddly, preceeds the PFI. You have to drive down into this side street/parking lot where the entrance is located on "level B" which is just down in the alley. read more

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So, here's the deal. This place is totally off the beaten path (which makes it that much cooler). The stuff they have is awesome. Some of it can be found other places, some of it can be found a bit cheaper, but usually, if you can find the stuff elsewhere, it is a heck of a lot more expensive. They specialize in Mediterranean, but also have a good selection of European goods . Everything from Turkish coffee to vinegar from Jerez, from tahini to olive oil. The International meat and cheeses deli section is pretty impressive, but all of their selections are available by the pound only. Big John's also has a TON of stuff available in bulk. Decent spices, lots of grains and beans. In addition to all of this, everyone who works there is knowledgeable about the products they sell, and are great resources if you are, say, trying to decide which high end Balsamic vinegar to buy, or what the differences is between their many olive oils. Highly recommended. read more

Hole in the wall, lots of interesting options. The meat and cheese was amazing! Will go again.

Caviar on a beer budget! The analogy is so very fitting. There is a 1lb. minimum on all items behind the counter, which they seem pretty flexible on this so long as it's close to a lb., but you won't be disappointed with your extra treasures. The staff is very knowledgeable and friendly. Every time I go there I have great confidence on the staff recommending the best ingredient for the meal I maybe preparing. The open "try it" motto they have is undoubtedly the best I've experienced in any grocery store or specialty food store in the Seattle/Bellevue area. In my opinion it even beats Delaurenti's @ the Pike Place Market. That is just another added bonus of PFI's...NO Pike Place Market traffic and parking hassle. I'm a firm believer of supporting the local economy and w/ the long standing reign as a premier food importer, this business has proven it's quality by it's 50+ years of establishment in the community. read more

We love this place; it's our favorite specialty food store in Seattle, with a much more intimate feel than Whole Foods or Met Market (and cheaper). Excellent selection of cheeses and meats, very friendly and helpful staff, and they have all kinds of interesting exotic foods in cans, buckets, bottles, packages and who knows what else. Lots of sometimes obscure foreign products, from Australian liquorice to Marmite to halva etc etc, plus bulk spices and herbs. Although it isn't a huge store, wandering through it is definitely a (fun) exploration. It's a bit hidden: if you go north on 6th Ave from Holgate Street to the point where 6th dog-legs to the left at Airport Way, it's on the left IMMEDIATELY before that intersection (and after a pay parking lot), set back from the road a ways. read more

Great store, classic and very friendly and helpful staff. Extensive selection best in town. read more

Great place to get bulk beans, spices, rices, and herbs at REMARKABLE, AMAZING, STUPID-REASONABLE prices. As the economy continues to suck, it's nice to know folks can shop here and eat like a king off of a variety of beans and rice for super cheap. The cheese selection is robust and the prices are reasonable for the quality they offer. Kind of an odd location, when I go there I sort of feel like I'm in no man's land, but that adds to the mercado-esque experience. I really like this place, staff has always been down to earth and helpful during my shopping. I'm always amused at how much beans I can get for $20 (really a freaking buttload). read more

PFI is a little off the beaten path but worth the occasional trip Searching the aisles we always find interesting items to try. The primary attraction for me is the wonderful selection of olive oil and vinegars. However, we've gotten some wonderful cheeses from the counter as well. The 1lb minimum is a problem unless you really like cheese and don't mind spending extra time at the gym to work it off. Not someplace we hit weekly, but it makes for a fun side trip every few months. read more

In my afterlife, I imagine there will be lots of imported cheeses, delicious olives, and select charcuterie. So I suppose that makes PFI something like my Heaven. Loooove the cheap prices and big selection. Wish I didn't have to buy everything in bulk, but it's understandable of course. The staff are knowledgeable and helpful. Everything is fresh and tasty. The unique stuff that lines the shelves is pretty awesome to browse. An all around cool place. read more

I was hoping for a large selection and amazingly low prices, like a premium foods version of cash n' carry.... it's actually pretty small, and the prices are okay but not go-out-of-your way amazing. For example, the french olive blend is $8.99/lb., versus $10.99 at DeLaurenti's. And, there's a one-pound minimum on all the olives, meats and cheeses. The staff is nice and helpful and parking is easy. read more

They have a fabulous cheese selection, but with employees that are rude and so clearly don't want to help customers, find a better cheese monger... read more

Beans, beans, the magical fruit. And at Big John's Pfi you can find almost any type of bean in bulk, along with spices, flours and other goodies. And that is just the bulk part. Then there is the deli-counter, filled with delicious olives and delectable cheeses. The only down side is that you have to buy a pound of each cheese which would my shopping very heavy. Apart from that they have sections of Italian stuff, Bulgarian stuff, Turkish stuff, Greek stuff. I think you might get the point. And the prices are good too. Go there. Oh, and it is down to the lower ground floor towards the stadium, right where 6th Ave S starts. read more

Fun place to go. Amazing selection of items. Things I love: -selections that you just scoop out of a barrel -ginormous cheese selection, I mean ginormous! -prices -spices -imported food items -funky place (if you can find it you are in the club) -you can take old plastic barrels from them in a side room. help yourself. -hand written signs everywhere -and much more Go check them out. Always a fun experience! read more

Oh the wonderous beauty that is PFI.... Please, Big John, open a PFI in San Francisco so I can eat your delicious imported food every day! I have searched long and far for a place like this in San Fran, and simply put.....all the cheese shops here are filled with snobs, and charge 3 times the actual cost of the cheese because they can. You know why I love Big John's? 1)They throw samples to you of whatever they are cutting 2)It's by the pound only.....but sometimes...sometimes they have "leftovers" and give you just short of a pound if you ask for it. 3)They introduced me to Pecorino tartufo nero! The cheese of my dreams. 4) They have a fantastic selection of Italian groceries to boot! read more

One stop here and I love it already. Great advice on cheese and olives. Wonderful European import items...olive oil galore, Belgian sugar chunks, Dutch candy, Italian breadsticks. All the things I miss when I am stuck in the states too long. I only wish they carried Icelandic candy too. The atmosphere is warehouse-ish, but I like it. Heads up: One has to buy cheese in minimum 1lb amounts, so this stop is for entertaining only (unless you have a huge household). read more

I have a forbidden romance with cheese. Diagnosed as lactose intolerant a few years ago - I really should stay away from it. But like a crackhead yearning for his next fix, I too can't turn my back on the food I crave most. Though a cheese habit is less expensive than a crack habit, it ain't cheap either. Luckily - Big John's PFI makes my addiction somewhat more affordable. Cheeses are typically about 20% cheaper than you will find at grocery stores. Selection is way better than any grocery store, and they're happy to let you taste as many cheeses as you feel like before choosing. The quality is also significantly better than you'll find most places. As has been mentioned, you do have to buy at least a pound of any cheese that is under $20/pound. However they will cut you some slack on this occasionally. They have a good selection of bulk dried beans and spices, which makes me happy. Oh, and sun dried tomatoes. Cheap. So cheap. So tasty. And olives. Ohhhh olives. And just about everything else (I mean, they have something like 5 different types/brands of tahini for sale). The employees here are friendly and tend to be pretty knowledgeable. All very friendly. Oh, and word to the wise: Big John does not work in the retail store. Do not mistakenly ask any large gentlemen that work there if they are John. They are not. Feelings could get hurt. If you like cooking, go here. read more

Looking for cheese you wouldn't normally find in a regular grocery store? Check out Big Johns. Looking for a good price on fresh olives? Check out Big Johns. Looking for bulk spices that won't cost you a fortune? Check out Big Johns. Looking for great customer service? Check out another store. read more

What a goldmine of imported foods! My husband has been trying to get me here for a year, I'm so grateful he didn't give up!

I appear to have a small Yelp problem in that I don't seem to bother writing up a review unless I get extremely excited about a place. That tends to lead toward a lot of five star reviews, and I occasionally feel bad that I don't have a nice bellcurve for you all to enjoy. But heck with it - five stars to PFI! Short form, PFI is basically like Whole Foods meets Trader Joe's - especially for cheese. Prices are ridiculously cheap, and you can order amazing worldclass cheeses (like my favorite Humbolt Fog) for at least $4-5 less a pound than you'd pay at Whole Foods or Metropolitan Market. Yes, there's a minimum requirement of a pound (unless the cheese is $20/pound or more, in which case you can order half-pounds), but at the prices just go for it. Case in point, I just bought 5 pounds of amazing cheese plus crackers for $55 - and trust me, these weren't on the low-end scale. Beyond that, PFI is great for staples - pasta, imported italian tomatoes, olive oil, olives, and spices. Yep, the bulk spice bins rule - want a half-pound of star anise for your bulk five-spice chicken making plans? This is the place. Only negatives are pretty minor. One is that the place is hard to find - seriously, print the directions, follow them, and don't be surprised when you end up driving to the back of a sketchy parking lot next to an aged building in SODO. Second, check the hours! I can't tell you how many times I came by on Sunday only to find (again) that they're closed. read more

One of the most reliable places around for finding things you normally can't find in your normal market. Whether you're looking for bulk foods, imported pastas, the getting-really-hard-to -find kippered salmon or a selection of fine cheese sold by people who care about your satisfaction, this place is one of my favorite stops on those all too rare occasions that I'm able to make it to Seattle. read more

I love Big John's PFI because they carry Ribena!!!! other than that, I don't know much about italian food, but they have a great selection of olive oil, cheese, olives, pasta, flour, and spices. read more

I absolutely adore this store. They have the best selection of italian essentials: olive oil, pasta, olives, cheese. I'm not kidding, they have an entire rack of olive oils...amazing. They do have a one-pound minimum on cheese and olive orders but they are reasonably priced so it is no hassle at all. I've tried several of their marinated olive varieties and they are all tasty. With cheeses they are great about suggesting new ones to try and working with you to find something you love. Some things can be expensive (they are imported after all) but they have lots super tasty stuff for about what you would pay at a grocery store. I'm a big fan, always coming back when I need a cheese and olive fix. read more