Amar Grocery — Attraction in Fairfield

Today, I went to check out Amar Grocery, owned by Daljeet Johaul in Fairfield, CA. As an ardent aficionado towards the greater Indian culture and cuisine, I did not enjoy my first time experience there.

When I entered Amar Grocery at around 3:40 PM, I saw Daljeet-ji sitting at the cashier checkout, on the phone, while staring at the TV screens attached to the store wall. I don't think he saw or heard me, when I greeted him with the traditional "Namaskar ji" with folded hands gestures and a slight bow.

One of the staff, Daljeet-ji's son or grandson...I don't know who he was, but helpful and asked me, if I needed help finding anything.

Yes, I was that customer asking for kalonji and I was lead to the spice section. Santos brand 3.5 oz. kalonji sells for $1.99. This is not what turned me off.

As others have indicated, some of the items don't have pricing labels affixed. I grabbed a 3.5-lbs Nanak Desi Ghee toward the cashier for price check. I see Daljeet-ji on the phone and watching the TV screens. I gestured and waited until he finally saw me. He motioned me to come closer to the front section and he scanned the price and said, "$26."

IMPORTANT SECTION OF REVIEW

This is the kicker part and something others will be wary of. Amar Grocery also has a $10 minimum charge. Mind you, we're in the pandemic with COVID-19 a serious reality. No one should be using cash! I don't carry cash. My generation don't carry cash. We use mostly Venmo, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Zelle, etc.

Since Amar Grocery accept G Pay (Google Pay), I got my app ready to pay and leave. It was then his son/grandson/staff informed me of the $10 minimum policy. Unless I overlooked, I did NOT see that notice anywhere near that checkout area. If I had seen that notice the moment I enter, I would leave. All I needed was 3.5 oz (100 g) of kalonji (onion seeds).

There would be an extra surcharge of $0.50 on top of the price, because obviously my purchase and payment plan with G Pay (Google Pay) didn't meet the $10 minimum requirements. At this point, I was annoyed and left without purchasing any.

I literally drove down the street TWO MINUTES AWAY to Delhi Bazar (with the Krispy Chicken inside) and bought the same Santos brand 3.5 oz kalonji for....

Wait for it... Wait for it... Wait for it...

$1.69

I paid exactly that with G Pay (Google Pay) and left super happy I could complete my Nalli Nihari Masala recipe.

All in all Daljeet-ji and his staff could use some lessons on customer service from Neelam-ji Aunty, who runs and owns Delhi Bazar—literally 0.2 miles away!!!

When I parked at her storefront, I saw her helping her customer carry things on a cardboard tray and putting it in the trunk!!!

If you have claustrophobia or don't like small, tight spaces, consider avoiding Amar Grocery, because they are super small and not at all spacious. I felt like a rat in a rat maze navigating small aisles trying to...

My wife Shaina Lee and I Love This Store! Its not just because of this location being easy to drive to, or because this store has everything you could want. It in fact has everything and more you could want when looking for Indian, Pakistani, Or ingredients required such as Fresh herbs, Fresh various organic produce, or all the hardest to find Dried Herbs and Spices ones will need for the different types of cooking one might be doing. We have been all over the area, to MANY Stores! We searched hard and long all over San Jose, Berkley, Silicon Valley, Santa Rosa, around Sacramento, and we have to say This IS THE BEST STORE. The owners are Honest, Friendly, Helpful, and makes shopping and finding anything we are looking for a happy experience....

No doubt the stuff that Amar grocery has is great! However, I feel the owner uncle get very nosy, judgmental and at times passes comments on items bought that turn you off. Whenever we come to eat at the Amar restaurant or buy grocery, there is something said either by uncle or his wife that is not in a positive light. Once we orderd Papri Bhalla Chat at the restaurant, when aunty responded that they don’t have bhalla in Chat and we can mix it ourselves if we want but they won’t do it. On another incident, we went to buy turban when uncle commented on the color we want to buy since the color looks ‘old’ according to him. We respect uncle’s age and experience but we would enjoy our trips to his store more only if we ‘ask’ for...