Agata & Valentina
“Simple staple items like orange juice or crackers and its produce are rather pricey compared to other local favorites like Fairway.”
“Personally, my family and I prefer it to Citarella, but that's just us.”
“Sure, you pay a little more than at Associated or Gristedes, but A&V is a perfect example of "you get what you pay for."”
Agata & Valentina
Take-out: Yes
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
PokéStop Nearby: Yes
Price range.
$$$ Price range Pricey
8 reviews
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LOVE!
When I need to prepare a meal for guests, or parties, I have come to Agata V to help me shine! 😀
Seriously. Besides having good pre made items to have for lunch and dinner, they have so many pre made sides and items from salads, soups, appetizers, fresh fruits, desserts … As well as ingredients to help make meals… I do not like to cook much, and can get nervous doing so, but I've pulled off 5 course dinners and hosted a few parties that present and taste beautifully with many items from here -appetizer, soup, salad, side and items / ingredients making it much easier and more efficient and less stressful pulling together…
They have anything and everything –with sections devoted to/ including:
-Fresh fish and seafood as well as seafood salads
-Sections of cheese cheese and more cheese
– Huge selection of hummus, spreads and dips
– Bakery
– packaged pasta
– Fresh fruits and veggies, salads, packaged mixed fruit salads
-Soups
-Breads
-Coffee, tea
-Huge selection pizza and focaccia
– 2-3 large areas of pre made food items which are made on site
Definitely recommend as a place to help you prepare your dinners for guests or parties or just to get great fresh groceries
Can't give this place five stars because it's so pricey, but it's worth a visit anyway! This store has the feel of a European grocery store. I never thought I'd use the word "cozy" to describe a grocery store, but here I am. They have a lot of specialty items here (specifically European products) that are very hard to find in the US. For example, they have La Mere Poulard cookies which are from a very specific region in France (Mont Saint Michel,) and they sell very good European butter. What I really like is the bakery! Best red velvet cupcakes in NYC, hands down. They also sell this very unique lemon ricotta cheese wheel in their cheese section- it tastes just like cheesecake, but it has no flour in it and it's imported from Italy! I've never seen anything like it anywhere else. Also of note are their homemade pastas. I come here all the time to buy gourmet gifts for people. I would not buy the produce from here because it is some of the most expensive I've ever seen… better off buying those somewhere else. Sometimes they do have sales, you just have to look for them.
It is great to have Agata around the corner, especially when I'm short on time and need to grab a quick bite or just don't have enough time to prepare a full dinner! They have everything from sushi to popcorn shrimp and brisket to sandwiches, empanadas and wraps. There is an entire section of stuff that is ready to eat (and a seating area to eat in store, but it gets very crowded), a section of prepared foods to go but that are warm and prepared foods that are all cold, most of which need to be heated to serve/eat.
I also come here regularly for all of my fresh produce. They don't have much packaged stuff…don't come here if you need something like Tropicana or Chips Ahoy, but you can find fresh squeezed orange juice and fresh baked cookies! There are a few "packaged" things like Tates cookies or you can find crackers and things like that, but not a ton.
Their cheese selection is fantastic! As is the sushi bar which is made fresh right in front of you and is fun to watch if you have a few spare minutes.
The one thing I will always have an issue with is that most stuff doesn't have an expiration date or a use by or best by date. I don't know what the rules are for this – I'm not saying they are breaking them. But even if it didn't need to have a use by date, it would be nice to know when I'm buying stuff like fresh salad dressing!
Also, not to worry if the line is around the corner, which does happen at dinner time. It does move pretty quickly!
Are you kidding me???? Ok, maybe the owners or manager can explain why they would sell cold soup now. Yes, cold soup, not gazpacho but cold soup that's meant to be hot and their containers are not microwave safe (learned that the hard way).
Imagine Stew Leonard's….
Then imagine no theatrics…(though they're fun to look at).
Well, that's what comes to mind when you're shopping at Agata & Valentina with its 'natural' essence going on- in a more condensed version. But, Agata & Valentina, has it all and I don't have to go to multiple markets- to get what I need.
First Avenue entrance, entices you with their Pizza station, a small seating area and baguettes. As you continue with your shopping, you'll see the many departments: Produce, Cheese, Meats, Desserts & Fish. And as you walk by all these sections, A & V , lures you with the best of the best. For instance, there are cheeses that I can't find- not even at Whole Foods, or yogurts with delectable flavors. What I particularly like, is that unlike the typical grocers/supermarkets that carry a million and one items, A & V stocks up on fresh, great-quality essentials.
Second entrance/exit on the very far left, leads you to their Dessert section with lots of prepared cakes of every flavor, small pastries, and Chocolate Mousse cups that quickly grabbed me instantly. And I just knew, that it'll be good. But, I gotta b*tch this one out……My only huge disappointment was the fact that their chocolate mousse cup, (though it looked delicious) 'Gelatin' was listed on their ingredients label. No thank you- not in Chocolate Mousse!
Listen, of course there are some items that you can get somewhere else for about a buck or two even three dollars less, but contrary to popular belief, this UES prime neighborhood grocer, is not overwhelmingly pricey- a decent find, if I'm in the neighborhood.
Get ready to be overcharged.
Hey, don't get me wrong. I don't mind paying top dollar for fresh seafood, meat and produce if it really is top quality.
Most of the seafood here is from questionable sources overseas.
The premade food is mediocre at best and a case of food poisoning at its worst. Not kidding. Learn from my experience and do not order the fish from the cafe for dinner.
The meat selection is lacking. The produce is not as fresh as you'd expect.
Also, the hot food bar has too many crappy tasting options and not enough good ones. The calamari is bad. The fried chicken is bad. The duck legs are bad. The San Marzano chicken is bad. The Mac and cheese is bleh. The shrimp are blah.
The only good things left from the hot food selection are the rotisserie chicken and pasta. Kinda sad for a market that prides itself on excellence.
I will say the chocolate mousse cake is good though.
This could be an A+ place if the prepared foods were better. I hope something improves at this place.
Great gourmet grocer on the upper east side. They essentially have everything you could possibly need to cook up that feast you've been planning.
Agata & Valentina seriously has everything you could possibly imagine – fresh vegetables and fruits, incredible cheese stand, entire butcher department, fish department, dessert department, fresh pasta ….. who can ask for anything more? This place is a food lovers dream.
This place is not as large as Fairway —- which is a positive as far as I'm concerned. They seem to take a bit more pride in their offerings.
When I need to shop for groceries on UES and need something special, I need look no further than Agata and Valentina to meet my needs.
A local gem. Love their fresh baked breads, soft nutty cheeses, handmade pastas and yummy desserts! Never too crowded but when it is, the line snakes around the store but moves rather quickly. They have organic meat options as well. A lot of people don't shop here for fear of escalated prices (and yes, that is true) but A&V do have a decent selection of items that are within the range of your run-of-the-mill Manhattan grocers. Hard to remain on a diet when you're surrounded by heavenly goods nearby!