Il Mercato di Che Fico is Menlo Park’s new Italian specialty market

Walking into the newly-open Il Mercato di Che Fico in Menlo Park elicits an instant “Wow!” While small in size, it’s big in both beauty and offerings.

It’s the first market opened by Back Home Hospitality co-owned by chef David Nayfeld and Matt Brewer, who we caught up with earlier this week.

“It’s an Italian speciality store, one that meets all of a shopper’s needs,” he says. “We showcase our own products along with local produce, meats, fish and sandwiches. David and I are both dads, and we talked a lot about what we love to shop for, offering the best of the best.”

They are also interested in learning what the community wants and have placed suggestion notes around the market.

Asking Matt what his favorite dish is a bit like asking a parent to chose their favorite child. But he admits the gelato is “pretty special.” It’s made onsite and currently sold by the pint. “When the weather warms up, we’ll have a window where we’ll offer cones,” he says.

In-store shopping is available seven days a week from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.

“In the future, we’ll offer full-service catering for offices and residences,” Matt says. “And we’d like to open earlier in the morning and offer breakfast sandwiches and smoothies.”

Il Mercato di Che Fico is located in the Springline development at 1300 El Camino Real Suite A.

Photos by Eric Wolfinger