We always make it a point to visit this tienda every time we are in town. We don't have any…read moreHispanic food markets in upstate New York worth going to. Pros: Their food ready line is AMAZING! Lots of ensaladas and hot food options. Huge produce selection Cons: Candy/Bonbon section has shrunk a bit and they no didn't have any pinta azul paletas or the Bianchi's by de la Rosa. We were able to find them here in the summer time. We can get spices here that we cannot find anywhere else and they always have Serranos and specialty peppers stocked. You can find yuca plants and harvested yuca here as well. Their meat market is robust and will likely have every type you're looking for. Tips: Try to go with someone who speaks some Spanish - not everyone speaks English and can be challenging if you're looking for a specific item. I was treated with respect and I do speak some Spanish, which may have helped (attempting to speak Spanish went a long way during this visit) One of the shelf stockers spoke only English and was able to help me find something I was looking for.

I shop here because I'm old, and it's convenient. Customer service is non existent. The…read moremanagement is rude, unfriendly and unhelpful. They all need a course in customer relations.

I was so horrifically hungover after a great wedding and agonizing 4 hour drive when I found myself…read moreat Cangiano's doorstep. I dragged myself inside, ordered the roast beef sandwich, and upon my first bite, determined that I must have died and found myself in heaven. This is the best sandwich I've ever had in my life. If I wasn't so dehydrated, I would've cried. Thank you, Cangiano.

Listen... I walked in here like "lemme see what the hype is about " and walked out like *okaaaay…read moreCARGIANO'S, I see you* First of all -- this place has been holding it DOWN since 1919... like WHAT?! If you been rocking since 1919, mi amor, I **have** to come see what's going on. That alone made me wanna pull up And let me tell you... I walked from Jersey City Heights down to downtown -- not a bad walk at all, un chin de cardio before breakfast . Real "treat yourself, mi amor" type of morning. Soon as I walked in... BABYYYY I felt like I got teleported straight into a little Italian market Shelves full of Italian goodies -- pastas, oils, snacks... I was like *yo quiero todo esto* It was giving *ciao bella, benvenuti, mangia mangia* vibes all day. The staff? Súper nice. No attitude, no rush -- just good energy. I told them it was my first time and asked what they're known for, and they really put me on No gatekeeping over here. My husband got the #7 (on a roll) I got the #8 (on a bagel) We sat outside and did what married people do... switched sandwiches halfway Now listen... mine was good -- turkey, egg, pesto... she was cute, she had flavor, estaba bien ‍ BUT HIS?! Ese sándwich estaba otro nivel. I don't know if it was the roasted peppers or what but *Dios mío*... delicioso, chef's kiss Only thing? Next time I'm switching my bagel for a roll porque ese pan estaba hitting different. The roll? Soft, fresh, perfecto. Also... let me tell you about the BACK They got frozen pastas, little Napoli-style dishes, a whole meat section that looked crazy fresh, and you can order cold sandwiches too. Esto no es solo un deli -- it's a whole Italian experience, okurrr. And yes... it's a *little* pricey, no te voy a mentir. Pero honestly? You get what you pay for. Calidad, sabor, vibes -- todo está ahí. I skipped the coffee porque estoy tratando de behave con el budget but next time? And I'm coming back for that banana pudding porque I'm obsessed no shame. They got a little patio if you wanna sit, or you can take your food to the park and have a whole picnic moment. Real main character energy. Ponte linda, grab your sandwich, and just vibe out. Overall? 5 stars Good food, good vibes, buena gente. CARGIANO'S said "treat yourself" y yo dije... say less

I heard a lot of good things about Van Hook, so gave it a try on a random weekday for dinner…read more Because it closes at 7pm, I had to rush a little bit to grab dinner, though working from home does have its perks on days like this. When you enter, you're amazed at the selection of different cheeses, chips, crackers, etc. etc. I was tempted to buy them all, but showed wise restraint. After like 5-10 minutes, the grilled cheese was ready to takeout. I ordered the classic with spicy honey. It was solid, though I was a bit surprised with the bread chosen because I've always been used to seeing super thick and chewy. However, the benefit of that is that it becomes super yummy without feeling super heavy. I was thoroughly impressed. At just under $10, it's a pretty solid deal.

Cheesy Vegetarian here:…read more I am in cheesy heaven - so many options and so little time, what can I do?!?! Findings: Unique cheeses and crackers Place is veyr well lit Staff are cordial and friendly

My quest for rose water naturally led me to the area of Egyptian shops around Journal Square. This…read moreone was particularly nice, well lit, clean, with friendly staff. This is a bazaar style, meaning there is more than just food here. On one side is a row of ceramics with an Egyptian theme, in the front is a wealth of different types of perfume oils. Most of the Middle Eastern perfumes are oils (no alcohol used) and they are mainly oud based (woody) for the men and fruit (peach, apple) and flower (mainly rose) for the women with an amber and/or musk base. The perfume oils have potent sillage, projection, and longevity, which is why some can be very expensive. They are expensive to make as well, esp if the perfume has saffron or other ingredients that are difficult and time consuming to source. They are some less expensive roll ons by the counter. The grocery area is well stocked with everything you can imagine. [Except for Joray apricot fruit rolls that I used to get from Sahadi's in Brooklyn. Joray are semi local: NYC made for years by a Lebanese family, and I think everyone would like them if they decided to stock (hint hint).] Anyways, lots of great stuff. Try new spices like sumac on your fish, add some mint water to your water bottle or rose water to your coffee, branch out!

This place is a rare gem in the neighborhood…read more Their seasoned Halal chicken is so delicious. You can make burgers, throw it in pasta or just make chicken over rice with it. Highly recommend! I go there once a month now after using their meats for a barbecue. Everyone loved the Chicken burgers we made with their seasoned meat.

It's a hole in the wall and rather far from other Indian grocery stores, but the meats and…read moremarinated cuts of lamb, etc are of really good quality. Large range of groceries and spices and some frozen goods. Highly recommend.

If we go to Jersey City on a week day to hang out we sometimes catch the Farmers Market. It's a…read moregreat spot for the Farmers Market with so many of the local farmers that we also have coming into Manhattan to sell at our local Farmers Markets. New Jersey has some very good farms with fresh vegetables and we can get some here before we head back home to Manhattan on the Path Train.

First time at place. Liked that the produce was fresh and the cashiers were quick. Will like if…read morethey get few more stands for variety. I guess it's still new. But for starters it's awsome. I can pick up food after workout on my way home very convenient location.

If you're a chocolate purist, this is your new happy place. I stopped in and tried the…read morechocolate-dipped Madeleines, and they were perfection - soft, fluffy, and coated in a high-quality chocolate that actually snaps when you bite in. My friend's hot chocolate was also excellent - rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced. I spent a good five minutes just staring at the display case, especially the pistachio cake and lemon cheesecake. I'll be back for a full pastry run soon!

Cute little chocolate store, friends have brought over pastries before that were very good. The…read morechocolate and regular croissants were just ok - ended up buying some 72% chocolate bar with nuts and candied ginger to bring back to SF.

Jersey City Fish Stand is an intimate storefront with an open kitchen run by a friendly husband and…read morewife duo. I was drawn in by a sign saying that they now have Spicy Tuna Handrolls. I was just looking for a snack, so I walked in and looked at their refrigerators expecting to see the handrolls there but was told that they make them fresh to order which took just a couple of minutes. The rice was warm, the tuna was very fresh, the flavors were simple yet exceptional, and the price was very fair. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of ordering only one. I highly recommend ordering a few next time that you're in the area!

The fish and seafood I buy there is excellent. There is sometimes a limited selection, but that is…read morebecause everything sold there is so very fresh. I highly recommend this small but excellent purveyer of fresh fish and seafood.

I used to really enjoy coming here when Belka managed it, there was a noticeably warmer atmosphere…read more Lately things have shifted and I am deeply concerned about the quality of the food and items sold here. It's declining....something is off & unsettling. it's also troubling that there's no option for something as basic as a $1 water. For those in the neighborhood who may be on a tight budget, not even being able to afford a bottle of water makes it feel less like a community spot and more like a convenience for profit.

This organic fruit, vegetable, and food store at 138 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ is lovely…read more Oliva has a wide assortment of tasty and healthful products. It is on the enticing Newark Avenue pedestrian walk. Manager Sejal and the women at the cash registers are friendly, helpful and efficient. And Oliva has the tastiest blueberries, blackberries and avocados in town.

Lovely store with an excellent selection of organic wines, for those with allergies. Knowledge…read morestaff, regular wine tastings and a nice team that works there.

They have a nice, curated selection of quality wine. They also helped me select a wine after I told…read morethem what I was looking for. Highly recommend this store.