By Jasmine Turner
Groceria Merante has been an Oakland landmark for more than 30 years. Established in 1979, the store is now run by first-generation Italian-American sisters Julie and Filomena Merante. Today, you’ll find students, young professionals and Italian families frequenting the Groceria– look for it at the intersection of Bates Street and McKee Place.
Groceria Merante is small, but packed from wall to wall with domestic, imported, and homemade goods. A handwritten sign posted on a shelf asks, “Feeling crowded? More food per square inch than Foodland!” The back section of the store, shown above, is a deli counter. Merante’s deli sandwiches are quality, but be warned—the full-length $10 hoagie comes on an entire loaf of Italian bread!
Not sure what to do with that little jar of squid rings on the shelf? If you can’t glean any inspiration from the handwritten recipes tacked up around the store, ask one of the employees milling around the groceria for recipe suggestions. From tips on thinning heavy cream to pasta sauce add-ins, there’s no shortage of kitchen expertise.
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