WARNING: this place is NO longer Northside Gourmet. They do NOT deserve the rating of the old place. The new owners (of this once-legendary NPR-famed purveyor of exciting and diverse global delicacies, where one used to be able to write whatever they wanted from all over the world on a whiteboard and have it ordered imminently, and where any kind of delightful non-alcoholic beverage nestled among the eclectic selection, as well as local and organic fare) have taken a true golden goose of a rare gem and for whatever reason slaughtered her and replaced her with the same kind of dog feces convenience outlet that sits on every corner of the city. Yes, where the labyrinthine snaking crowded endless aisles of NG once displayed the glory of the globe and local goods alike for a fair price in innumerable delicious and holistic forms unfound for purchase anywhere else in the city, now we have a paltry fraction of the aisles left in a near-empty redundant hole of drug paraphernalia, crappy booze, and mass produced American snack products. The unbelievable lack of foresight underscoring the new owners punching a gift horse in the mouth by replacing a famous-for-good-reason slice of multicultural perfection that was sorely needed and wanted, and beyond popular, with absolute BS one can get literally anywhere else not worth the "novelty" of 24-hour crapola, was well summed up by the new clerk shilling it as I wandered stunned in my miserable foray of this corpse of my favorite store today: "Kombucha? Never heard of it" said he. It was in every flavor and wholesome brand and size but you got rid of it. "Local scents? Not anymore." Pity. Seeing a lonely paneer leftover from the golden days, I brought it to the register. "Ew, what is this cheese? From India you say? I prefer American cheese. American cheese is the best" said he. Ah, makes perfect sense, I thought -- that tracks, with you turning a beautiful joy into garbage, that you would prefer plastic American cheese to traditional paneer. It's what the place is now -- pitiful trash, like plastic cheese. STEER CLEAR, AND HOPE FOR ABANDONMENT, AND PRAY FOR THE REBIRTH OF A NEW TRUE GOURMET SOMEDAY. read more

I saw rave reviews about the nightingale ice cream sandwiches so I had to give it a try. We went to north side gourmet which is where they are sold. They are located at the front of the store in the freezer by the windows. WOW! They had a ton of flavors and it was so hard choosing which to get. We met the owner Faizal who was super friendly and talked to us about these popular ice cream sandwiches. After staring at the freezer for a few minutes trying to decide on flavors we all ended up with 5 ice cream sandwiches - 2 strawberry shortcakes, pecan pie, miso churro & peach cinnamon. We got to the car and ripped them open. They got soft quick so be sure to eat them up quickly. These ice cream sandwiches were huge. Both sides of the sandwiches were thick and chewy and the ice cream in the middle was stacked full giving you that perfect bite. The flavors were all so so good!!! My fave though would probably be the strawberry shortcake which had chunks of strawberries in it. The pecan pie was very good too, my fave ice cream flavor is butter pecan so I knew I would love the pecan pie flavor. Can't wait to try more of these and we will definitely be back to north side for their full stock of them! Aside from the ice cream sandwiches this place was stocked with so many other items and food!! Check it out if you need some groceries and be sure to grab an ice cream sandwich too! read more

See all

So glad to see Northside grow and prosper! This market just opened today at the corner of North Avenue and Wickham. They sell everything from beer, wine, rice, spices, frozen food, almond milk... And even dog food! These are not run-of-the-mill brands. The water is Perrier and Pellegrino. The prices match. They're even working on a restaurant in the rear section of the building and the patio on the front is coming along. It'll be a great and much-needed neighborhood spot for Northside residents. And the owners Dean and Faiz are super nice. read more

See all

Northside has been long overdue for a great neighborhood market, the kinds of which you find all over the Fan. The owners have done a great job covering the bases without losing the flair and spontaneous selection such bodegas are known for. I regularly go in for something mundane like eggs or bananas and then find myself walking out with Mexican chocolate or a pineapple kombucha for fun. I asked the owners if they'd be willing to stock one of my favorite coffee sodas that I have trouble finding elsewhere, and they gladly agreed. Their selection is wide for the small amount of space they have on offer, and they do a good job of stocking plenty of local brands and fresh meats and produce. They have a patio out front that they plan to add seating to once the weather is better. This place has all the makings of an up and coming pillar of the neighborhood, and with such a prime location on GRTC's route 2 bus, it's easy to come by and check it out even if you don't live in Northside. read more

See all

Awesome beer and wine selection. Overwhelming food with a gourmet bent. If you've been eyeing a weird expense ingredient online they probably have it. Wish there was a bit more in the fruit/vegetable category, but can complain. Check the back case for fresh local eggs dropped off a couple times a week. read more

I grew up in the area years ago. I was so amazed when I went into the new market. It is so diverse and offers way more than your typical corner market. I am not in the area but I will be visiting the market every chance I can! Kudos to the owner! read more

This place not only sells quality beer and wine, but top-shelf grocery items. Sir Kensington Ketchup... they've got it! I'd like to see a little more produce, but that doesn't mitigate against all the great products they carry. This place is an upgraded mini-Whole Foods (if you're shopping between the aisles). The owner is a top-notch orderer--definitely knows clientele. We've popped in on any number of occasions to get something or other for a recipe. That is, in my estimation, precisely the point of a decent corner market. They've got the politics of quality odds and ends sewed up. read more

We've lived here in Northside for a few years now, and Dean and Faiz' market is a most welcome one! They have a great selection of beer and wine, and many great healthy food options. Prices tend to be a little all over the map, but that is to be expected with a new, small market. The owners are very receptive to suggestions and it is clear that they want to make this place somewhere the entire neighborhood can enjoy. Very excited for the restaurant to open up to serve the whole community! read more

The BEST customer service! Several weeks ago, I contacted Nightingale in search of a bulk order of ice cream sandwiches for my son's senior class (130 students). Nightingale referred me to Northside Market because they usually have a large inventory of the ice cream sandwiches. Long story short, I called the store to find out how many they had in stock so I could pick them up the next day. Faizal, the owner, helped me not only pick the flavors to fulfill the large order, but then offered to use his own coolers and deliver the ice cream to my son's school. Faizal communicated with me to insure he'd made the delivery and then confirmed that the kids received the treats by texting me several pics of my son and his friends enjoying them! I can't say enough good things about Faizal-I only hope Richmond supports his growing business! read more

I purchased non alcoholic beer at the North Gourmet Market this afternoon. My mistake in that I do not drink non alcoholic beer. I tried to return the product but the owner refused a refund. I pointed out that Viginia law allows a full refund for alcohlic products returned within 45 days. Here is the applicable legal wording..."You can only return alcohol products to the store where they were originally bought, and only by the original ID holder who made the purchase". I then pointed out to the business owner that as this beer I purchased is beer in name only because it is being sold as "non alcoholic beer". This did not change matters. The business owner is in error. If you seek to apply a rule, be sure you know the rule. read more