The Cookbook Store

Does anyone know if these guys are still open? I have tried to call a few times and the number is disconnected…

Great collection. I bought a book by Milliken and Feniger on Mexican food. Will definitely come back.

I can’t believe I have never heard of this store … It’s fantastic! The owner was so nice to talk to as well. I found several books that were out of print and others that I just paid full price for listed gently used for half price. Fantastic! Go before lunch and stop at the Burger Lounge next door to admire your finds while waiting!

YAY! I finally made it too the cookbook store after seeing the ad and talking about it for the past few years, my friend and I popped down to Kensington to check it out. 3 hours, 32 books, and 60ish dollars later we made it out… not by choice but because we were hungry after going through all those books (and I barely got through half… slow reader). There were stools and chairs to sit on as we browsed the huge selection
There was a great selection, some of the prices I think I could do better at swap meets, ebay/half.com or thrift stores but I also got some great bargains. Loved the lady that ran the store, lots of fun and very helpful!
We can’t wait to go back!!!

I have been to the store several times and sold quite a few of my used cookbooks. Her price was very fair. sure you could maybe do better on
e-​bay but i didn’t want to go to the trouble. Barbara is very nice and knows her stock. She comes out to the car (helpful to me) and looks the books over. and the burger lounge is right in her mall. how yummy is that? I would highly recommed her if you are looking to lighten your load or add to your already bulging collection.

I’ve seen the ads for this Cookbook store for years, but never could find the time to go search for it, didnt want to fight the parking.
Today I stopped in their little mall for something else, because there was great parking right there. I looked up, and, LO AND BEHOLD, the clouds parted, Hosanahhs were sung, a single beam of golden light shone onto… the COOKBOOK STORE SIGN! I ran in, and the kind owner kept the doors open beyond closing so I could search through their delicious shelves: OH WOW!
Now, I dont actually cook, but how much fun is it reading those cookbooks… and then giving the yellow-​highlighted pages to your favorite cook… but I digress.
First, yes its a great place to buy gifts for your favorite chefs, and yes, it has GREAT PARKING (that’s a big deal for me) and yes it is PACKED with cookbooks, but WHATAFIND! Treasures beyond Measure!
For example: Chicklet loves raspberries: low and behold a Raspberry Cookbook. My mechanic is Irish: low and beyond a dozen Irish Food Cookboks. My Banker is a vegetarian: a whole SLEW of Vege Cookbooks. My neighbor grows tomatos: of course a tomato cookbok. And oh my gosh these are cheapcheapcheap prices for quality books.
Ya GOTTA go here, even if you dont cook. Really. Just Go. Then write me a thank you note.

I love this little store! I happened passed it by accident and now I enjoy returning just to browse through the clustered towers of cookbooks.
As all the other reviewers have pointed out, the store is a bit cluttered but I find it quaint and inviting, however I can see how some folks might get turned off from it. Some books have made their way to the categorized shelves but other are simply stacked in their appropriate vicinity… i.e. vegetarian cuisine, international cuisine, notable chefs, etc…
I’ve had a few conversations with the owner… I didn’t find her distant or rude like a few of the other reviewers. She even offered to call me if she received a specific cookbook I was looking for… still no call but it’s the thought that counts, I suppose.
So the gist… great little store if you’re into collecting cookbooks but claustrophobics beware!

I sold all 50 of my cookbooks here as I simply had no room to store them all anymore and since I am on a restricted diet anyways I saw no need in having them anymore, it was a sad day, but I guess not a big deal as I never used a single recipe as I cook by intuition anyways. I love to look at the pictures (books with bad pics or no pics are not worth having) as I get most of my ideas just by looking and reading the recipes. The only recipes I find necessary are baking recipes. Cooking with instructions is just not as fun.
This place has so many books you can’t even walk around. I love cookbooks but it’s hard to leaf through any when they are stacked to the brim. One of those places to go to if you are looking for something hard to find.

I couldn’t make heads or tails of it but Barb the owner was fantastic. I asked for 1 old book (fist print 1954) and Sam the Cooking Guy. She knew the old one I was requesting and right where to find it in her crazy little shop. She said Sam’s must be a good book she’s only ever had 1 come in and it was sold ASAP.
Great prices. Much more affordable than Ebay or Amazon.

I wish I could give less then 1 star to this horrible business. Barbara the owner is ruder then hell and doesn’t know anything about customer service and how to treat a human being with a little passion. Buyer Beware!

Don’t bother.
The ad says they buy cookbooks at great prices. However they fail to mention that the lady that owns the store really isn’t interested in buying your cookbooks.
I brought in a bundle of unused books in great condition without the expectation of making much on the sale. The owner lady told me that she wasn’t interested in the books because they are too common and they wouldn’t sell.
PS-​The store is an absolute mess with books from floor to ceiling-​I cannot fathom how a person can run a business in such clutter.

This store is great. You can find (almost) any cookbook you have ever wanted in here.
On a recent journey I picked up; Moosewood’s Restaurant Cooks at Home, The Vegetarian Feast, an original copy of Beard on Bread, a Time-​Life Indian cookbook from the early sixties (for .93) and my personal favorite, Getting It All Together– Down to Earth Cookbook from 1971.
It starts off, «You don’t have to be young, long-​haired, sandal-​footed, or healthy, to dig the fresh flavor of down-​to-​earth, organic foods where grains are whole, fruit is for real, and vegetables are good enough to live on.» RIGHT ON MAN! Is that Freedom Rock?
Anyway, I’ve seen great cookbooks in this place. Sure it’s a congested, cluttered, fire-​trap and the woman who runs it absolutely owns cats… many of them… and they smell… but I digress, I just wish I had enough money to buy all of the great books I have seen here… SOMEDAY.
She gives a discount to chefs and culinary students and will give you a good deal if you pay cash over using your credit card. Go check it out, just on kitsch-​factor alone.

This is the Bookstore of ALL bookstores when looking for anything involving food, new or used.
Tucked into a shopping center on Adams (behind the out-​of-​business JUST FAB and a liquor store that has a decent deli & sandwiches) sits a cute, cluttered bookstore run by a very quiet and helpful woman. She won’t give me her secret on how she determines prices or where she gets her books from but she does give you a 20% discount if you are in the industry or a teacher. And when I say «industry» it can really stretch the definition and she’s cool with it. Chef, owner, vendor, food-​writer. YAYYYY!!!
Lots of old collectibles.
Lots of out of print.
Lots of new books people just turned over.
You can ask this old woman (that I think lives w/​a lot of cats) if you are searching for a particular book. She will take your information and follow up with you.
I LOVE THIS STORE.
My garage is lined w/​bookshelves and books — yeah, I’m a nerd like that.
Remember, why pay full price. Check this place out.
(umm– I am almost regretting giving you my secret place ;)
Hours M-​F 11a-​5p