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Murray Hill, Gramercy Park, and Kips Bay are not blessed with well-stocked grocery stores, let alone, fancy food destinations, so residents have long been grateful for Todaro Bros., a family-owned business founded in 1917 as an importer of Italian products. They've been at their current location since 1961. Long before full-service gourmet groceries showed up, Todaro Bros. offered a range of products usually available only at larger stores like Balducci's and Zabar's. It's cramped inside, but easy to navigate: just inside the front door is a refrigerated section with produce; go straight for ice cream, frozen foods, canned sauces, and bottled provisions; pasta, olive oil, and cakes fill a separate room if you make a U turn past the registers; dairy and coffee are in the back. While the emphasis is not firmly Italian anymore—fresh pasta has been pushed aside to make room for sushi and salads—the fresh mozzarella is still among the best in the city. Cheese, meat, fish, and prepared food counters—the heart and center of the store—and are tended by friendly and knowledgeable staff, who will make a sandwich to your exact specifications or trim your poultry as you like it. Though the prices are a bit steep, locals shell out the big bucks because it's the only full-service shop in the area with consistently high quality local and imported provisions. — Nancy Davidson