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February 2024 by Annalisa C.
Good place for hard to find gourmet ingredients. Has a great olive and cheese counter, though I can't say I peruse it too much. My only quibble is that moving to their current location meant that their merchandise footprint was reduced. There's definitely a few things I used to be able to find at their former location that didn't survive the move. Ah well. Still glad to have somewhere I can get specialty French, Italian, and German ingredients. They still carry Dutch licorice too, so that's something.
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January 2024 by sylvia bengisoy
Í loved Big John's. Friendly helpful staff. Good price on Bulgarian feta cheese and Turkish olives. I loved that they carried bulk spices. I stocked up on spices for baking.
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January 2024 by SaraEatsDinner
Absolutely love this place. The staples that I get from here are: different flours, olive oil, wine, and baking chocolate.Of course, I also wander around and get pasta, canned tomatoes, little cookies and things as well. Essentially, I load my handheld basket up until it's too heavy for me.
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January 2024 by Dave
What a great store. We couldn't believe the selection of cheese and other imported foods. Hidden gem for spices too. Will be back many times I'm sure.
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January 2024 by James Barnett
You like cheese? Olives? Bulk and specialty foods? Look no further. Seattle institution. Domestic gorgonzola still the best deal in town!
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December 2023 by Kristy Metzger (WickedFaerie)
Cute store, excellent selection of imported goods such as European candies, biscuits, teas, wine, meat, canned food, Spätzle, bag-your-own spices. Some of the items are a bit over priced (especially if you've actually been to Europe and know how inexpensive the items are) and I wish they had Ricola Stark Menthols or Radler, but they don't. Staff is extremely helpful and courteous. I like to stop by every few weeks to buy a treat or more curry powder.
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November 2023 by Michele S.
PFI is a unique store for Seattle, as you will find many Italian items that are otherwise hard to find here. For that reason I would give it 5 stars, but this was my first back to PFI in the years since they moved, and I was a little disappointed by the sterility of the new space. It didn't quite feel like adventure of the old space. Nevertheless, this is a must visit place, especially if you grew up Italian American on the east coast where a lot of these items are more common (Hello Lupini beans and La Florentine torrone!) Great selection of meats, cheeses, dried pasta, cakes, candies and other delights. If you are entertaining, this is a smart place to put on your shopping list. Service is helpful if you ask. Parking is available in a garage under the building.
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November 2023 by Albert Kao
I used to love PFI. It has a great selection. Although I can get virtually all of the products from Italy on-line for less, I preferred to give my business to PFI. I have become increasingly unhappy with the customer service though. Sometimes I get a case discount. Sometimes I don't. I recently, I bought some cans of sauce that were marked as on a discount. The checker said, "I know the sign says that, but that's not the price anymore. We've been busy and haven't updated the signs. Thank you for pointing this out. But this is your price." There have been a few other instances, where a couple of dollars were worth more to PFI than my consistent patronage, which is usually $200 a trip. I now go online for many of my purchases.
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October 2023 by Maeve Reilly
I'm so glad I walked in today! Such an incredible selection of imported cheese, wine and food products. I'm in love and will be coming back often!
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September 2023 by Russell Strada
The product selection is good and includes many excellent brands, including imports from Europe; however I found a large number of items are easily sourced at other local grocers or reputable on-line purveyors for SIGNIFICANTLY less cost (including shipping). I did not expect to find “discounts” but also was disappointed to find the exorbitant markups on items like vanilla extract and pastes, canned tomatoes and dried pastas, specialty crackers etc. I spent approximately $200 and could have easily saved $50 if I had ordered online. I was happy to find several varieties of Greek cheese and pre-made pastry shells that were good values. I did not look carefully to see if the deli has a slicer (their website says they do not but will cut you a half pound or more of any item) - a nice range of meats and cheeses but it seems absurd to sell prosciutto that can’t be sliced. I’m not sure about the availability of street parking but the garage parking area was small and awkwardly laid out. It is a good resource if you need the convenience of a lot of different specialty items same day - it’s less valuable as a place for cooking enthusiasts to do a pantry re-stock.
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September 2023 by Drew Gill
Cool store with a great selection of specialty Italian (and some other Mediterranean) ingredients/productsWould definitely appreciate a bike rack near the front of the store though, currently the closest is on the opposite corner of the block
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August 2023 by Trachurus Symmetricus
PFI has always been a go to for European specialities and local startups.Given how homogenized corporate stores have become, PFI after all these years, still maintains their Benjamin like critic of foodstuffs.
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August 2023 by Christopher Blodgett
Come for the cheese and meats, stay for the bulk food selection. The staff are fun and friendly as well.
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June 2023 by Alana K.
It's so easy to spend way too much money here. It's like Target or Costco: you go in for just one item and come out a full basket and $100+ later... But every time it's a treat! Looking to put together an enviable cheese plate, charcuterie board, or picnic basket? Big John's PFI has exactly what you need to make an impression! Excellent international wine selection that won't break the bank, reasonably priced bulk olives, and incredible cheeses clearly indicating cow/sheep/goat and including taste profile. Plus the staff is always happy to offer samples of cheeses you're deciding between. Their minimum for cheese and olives is 1/4 pound, but I'm honestly fine with that. Others have complained about parking, but I've never really had a problem in their cozy underground garage. Maybe the trick is to go later in the day. Or maybe it's just my parking luck. Anyway, Big John's is my happy place!
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May 2023 by Felicia Bauer
An oasis, especially during any holiday season when specialty foods are brought in from around the world. Some people seem to miss the old store, but not having lived in Seattle when it existed, I'm quite happy to have the one that exists now.
