Russo's - Watertown

A Russo & Sons, Inc.
560 Pleasant Street
Watertown, MA 02472-2408
(617) 923-1500
www.russos.com

Have you ever read a recipe and come across ingredients you a) had never heard of, and b) had no clue where to get them? To solve the first predicament, look the ingredient up on the internet. To solve the second, go to Russo's. Not only do they have the most ridiculously diverse assortment of fresh (and often local) produce, but it frequently costs a fraction of the price compared to major grocery stores.

There are huge packages of fresh herbs, many herbs, vegetables, roots, and more used by other cultures, and nearly everything is available individually, as opposed to forcing you to buy way too much of something you'll never finish. The bakery is sinful, including both breads and sweets, and the cheese selection is absolutely incredible. Their pasta is made fresh each day and costs less than pre-packaged imported pasta from the supermarket. These markets are no longer "super" to me.

And this is all inside. The outside boasts an amazing selection of plants and flowers. During the fall, this is your pumpkin resource.

Every time I mention Russo's to anyone, I always hear the reply, "I love that place!" And how couldn't you? Many, many products are from New England and everything else is as fresh as it can be. Kinda strange, but this place gives me a reason to call "gourmet" inexpensive. And please ignore me if you see me frolicking in the flowers.

Why it's a gem:

Fresh, often local produce
Great cheese selection
CHEAP, compared to major grocery stores
Pretty, very pretty

Tips:

A great place for fresh pasta. In the section with ingredients for many Asian foods, there is freshly made lo mein for $1 per pound; each bag is about a pound. So yeah.
The website tells you the best foods for the month.