Bites Nearby: Quezada Market in Novato Dishes up Yummy Meals

Each week, GraceAnn Walden picks a place to eat in Petaluma or Novato that is worth checking out. Here's this week's choice:

350 Rowland Blvd., Novato, CA  415-898-5600

Overview: Near where I live in southern Novato, I am always the only Anglo in the neighborhood bodega (Mexican-American store) despite that the butcher shop in it always has excellent meat at a good price.

The clientele is more diverse at Quezada Market on Rowland Boulevard in Novato. Anglo neighbors flock there for meat, vegetables and food to go. Larger supermarkets are an inconvenient drive away for many people in the area.

I have been shopping there and my own bodega since I moved here. But when I don’t feel like cooking, Quezada is my go-to place for a filling, delicious bargain dinner.

Décor:It's a small but nicely laid out market — clean with bright colors from pretty murals of cows and hanging piñatas. The meat is appetizingly displayed. You can have your lunch or dinner outside the market at a couple of tables.

The Drinks: Water, milk, beer, sodas, including Mexican sodas and my guilty pleasure, El Mexicano coconut juice with pulp. Interestingly, that drink is made in Thailand. I mix it half and half with sparkling water.

Appetizers: The housemade tamales, chicken or pork, are at the check-out counter and singly could be an appetizer or two or more would make an entrée.

Entrees: The entrees change a bit daily, but usually there is some cut of pork in chile verde sauce, ground beef cooked with onions and cubed potatoes, chicken in various sauces, braised tongue or birria (goat). There is also a changing soup offered. Needless to say, you can also buy soft tacos, burritos and super burritos.

I also tried the torta (sandwich) Cubano, which featured thin breaded beef sautéed, slices of ham, a shmear of refried beans (optional), onion, tomatoes, guacamole and lettuce on a soft torpedo roll.  

Desserts: There is always a wide selection of pan dulce or sweet breads. These mostly morning pastries are chewy, lightly sweetened Mexican breads topped with a sweet, decorative topping. They do not rival French pastries, but they can be good, especially the custard filled ones.

Service: Extremely friendly. Most of the workers are bilingual.

Cost: A dinner plate of rice, beans, tortillas, two salsas, pork ribs in chile verde or ground beef with potatoes is $6.99.

I also asked the cook-server, Ana Rosa Baralas, if I could have half pork and half beef and she agreed. Still $6.99.

Torta is $6.99; a half-quart container of goat, long stewed, was $6.22. Tamales (pork or chicken) are $1.50 each.

Pan dulce are two for a dollar. Burritos are $5.99; a super burrito is $6.99.

Disabled accessible: Yes, although the aisles are a bit narrow.

Noise level: Negligible.

I spoke to the new manager, Jose Argumedo, and he told me more changes are coming to this market, including more emphasis on the prepared food. Bravo!