Arcangeli Grocery Co. — Restaurant in Half Moon Bay

This review is about the so touted artichoke bread , garlic bread, and some attitude at the sandwich station. (June 2, 2023) The first part is about the sandwich station. If you are here for the bread, feel free to skip ahead.

We went to this bakery because someone said “the artichoke bread was to die for”. Being artisan bread lovers and reading the reviews on the internet, we decided to give them a try.

We were hungry so we got some sandwiches to eat at the little picnic area they have behind the building.

Well, we had two chicken pesto sandwiches. They are supposed to have dried tomatoes in them according to the menu. One had, but the one I had did not. I went inside with sandwich in my hand, to show it to the ladies who made them, and told them that my sandwich was missing the dried tomatoes. They said it is under the cheese. I showed them the layers and said that there were none. One of them, while telling me that it’s just two pieces, turned her back and gave me a little cup filled with dried tomato pieces.

Well, it was not my mistake; I was there with the evidence. And it’s not just about missing tomatoes. This could have been a better review if there was a humble acknowledgement of a little mistake and an apology, rather than making the customer feel uncomfortable for showing up for making the item they want complete.

The bread… We got one artichoke & garlic, one garlic. They both have the classic Italian herbs. There’s nothing special about them.

In fact, both are quite salty, be warned. I expected more artichokes in it and rolled into the whole bread rather than as if trying to stick it into the bread like it was a last minute decision.

Because the tradition seems to be “eating the bread as soon as they are purchased and while they are warm”, I concluded that people might be positively biased towards the smell of a freshly baked bread. It stimulates the brain’s reward center. There’s no denying that the taste of a dough product, especially when warm, soaked in oil, garlic and Mediterranean herbs is tempting even when it’s a packed product.

A day later, the texture of both breads were exactly like those of the grocery store-made bakery breads; not like the spongy texture of the long enough proofed artisan breads, but more dense. But they cost like an artisan bread. So, I don’t understand what people are losing their minds about.

I am leaving a few photos of the artichoke bread.

Personal verdict: We had very high expectations about the bread, but this “artisan bread lover” couple’s opinion is that both breads are...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Arcangeli Grocery Co. and I now understand why it has achieved legendary and iconic status. The star of the show was undoubtedly the artichoke herb bread, a delectable creation that can only be described as a mouth-watering fusion of an artichoke pot pie, artichoke empanada, and artichoke loaf. The bread was served piping hot and straight from the oven, thanks to the attentive staff who consistently restocked the bread display with freshly baked loaves.

Speaking of the staff, their pleasant demeanor and helpfulness added to the overall experience. They were more than happy to assist with any inquiries and made the visit all the more enjoyable. Additionally, Arcangeli Grocery Co. offers a diverse range of other tempting items, ensuring there is something for everyone.

If you're planning a trip along Highway 1 from San Francisco to Santa Cruz or Monterey, I highly recommend making a stop at Arcangeli Grocery Co. for some of their exceptional bread. Trust me, it's an absolute must-try that will elevate your journey to a...

We heard about this artichoke bread from a friend so we decided to go during our drive around Half Moon Bay last summer, even though it was a 30 minute detour.

Luckily we came at a time when the bread was pretty fresh -- not piping hot, but quite warm. I got the artichoke garlic bread. I thought the bread itself was not that special. It was hearty and doughy, and I liked the seasoning on the outside. I was surprise to see that the artichoke component was just a huge hole in the bread filled with artichokes -- I expected they would be folded throughout the bread. The bread was a bit dry on its own so it was nice to have the artichokes to balance that out.

We also bought some other artichoke items. It was a nice experience to pair with our artichoke sightings in Half Moon Bay. I would say the bread is overhyped because I didn't think the bread was particularly special. But given that there are artichoke farms along the coast, it's fun to have this homey shop with lots of...