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Best U.S. Grocery Stores
Have you been on a vacation and shopped in a totally awesome grocery store?
When I visited Scottsdale, I was very impressed with the new Bashas' Grocery Store on Scottsdale Rd. I walked in and first saw a beautiful deli that even sold wood-baked pizzas to order. Their wine selection would make any vino enthusiast gleam with joy. Bottles of $200 bottles were out on the floor next to the $10 bottles. The meats and vegetables were fresh and beautifully presented. It was a huge store with great prices. You name it, - they had it. The store even offered child care facilities. I have shopped in a lot of cities, but this newer grocery store had all the others beat hands down. Seen something great? Do tell! |
Basha's is nice...perhaps that particular store is extraordinary though? The ones I've been in (all in AZ) are akin to Publix in FL, or Tom Thumb around the Dallas area.
We got an apple pie for Thanksgiving dinner from the Bashas in Sedona. It looked beautiful...about a mile high, golden crust...but when we went to eat it we found the bottom crust was still raw, as were the apples. So..we thought we were perhaps meant to bake it, although it looked done on the top, and there were no directions for baking. Put it in the oven at 350 and next thing we knew, our place was filling with smoke. We hadn't realized it, but the pie pan was perforated and everything was leaking out the bottom onto the oven heating element. We opened doors to the outside to keep the smoke detectors from going off. That also meant I had to clean the oven that night! ;) So much for that pie. We left it behind for housekeeping to figure it out if they wanted. My favorite store found while on vacation was actually in my home town when I was back visiting my parents. I'd heard my Mom rave about her grocery store before and sort of shrugged it off, but when I set foot in Guidos in Lenox, MA for the first time, I was <i>duly impressed</i>!! The meat cases had all sorts of tempting goodies...stuffed flounder, boned, rolled lamb stuffed etc. Gourmet salads, beautiful veggies, many unusual things you just won't find in any grocery. It was the grocery to beat all groceries. Even my husband loved it and we now make a point of going back any time we are in the area. You want a picnic to take to Tanglewood, just stop a Guido's and pick up all the fixings. Yum! |
Wegman's is a small family chain supermarket that is in NJ and PA that I know of and it is superb. Their prepared foods are gourmet and their fruits and veggies are outstanding.They also have child care and a second floor where you can eat (afte having selected prepared foods on the main floor.)
They also catered our end of the year luncheon twice at work and it excellent! Definitely NOT inexpensive however. |
I'm in Toronto, but once had to go to the USA to photograph food, and visited several excellent grocery stores.
AJ's Fine Foods in Scottsdale was one market we photographed, along with a Bristol Foods (Bristol Farms?) in Los Angeles. There are plans for a ferry boat to link Toronto and Rochester across Lake Ontario, and apparently one of the great attractions of Rochester, a city fallen upon hard times, I gather, is a Wegman's store. Tourists who like grocery stores and are in Toronto should visit Loblaws, at the foot of Jarvis Street, down by the lake. It's probably the number one grocery store in Toronto,judged by the human-staffed meat department, in-store bakery, fruit and vegetable department, and in-store facilities for eating. A European restaurant chain, Movenpick, has a Canadian franchise / license agreement with a Candian company, and it sells fine quality cooked choicken and excellent french fries, plus strudel that is cooked all the way though. They used to sell great French Fries but got greedy and reduced sizes and raised prices so they are not good value. There's usually live entertainment on the weekends, too. Prices are higher than at other Loblaws stores by a slight amount, and significantly higher than other stores that are part of the same company but branded differently (No Frills, for instance, is quite a bit lower on a great many items) As a general rule in Eastern Canada, Loblaws is the only major chain worth visiting by tourists for the fun of visiting a grocery store, and the Jarvis Street store is the best of all the Loblaws. In the tiny-chain world, Toronto has two great supermarkets in tourist areas. Whole Foods, in Hazelton Lanes, half a block from the Four Seasons and Park Hyatt Hotels, and Pusiteria's, two blocks away from the hotels, are wonderful high end stores. Both are places to buy food-gifts to take home but.... Attention American -- Big Tom the border czar is petrified of canned fish and fruit cakes, so before you leave the USA, check the tules about what you can bring back. There are new rules, and fees to be paid, and forms to be filled out, but apparently Scardy-Tom-Cat hasn't figured out what to tell the border guards. so getting food into the USA from Canda depends in large part on guard ignorance. Those who have not been told any rules will act intelligently. But those who have been told rules are unlikely to have a clue what the rules mean, since they are written so badly. This is one of those examples whan a little kknowlege is a bad thing. A rule example, you request???? How about the fact that each item needs a $4 fee, so one of those food gift baskets with ten items in in --cheese, creackers, jams, jellies, canned fish -- would have a $40 administrative fee at the border. Unless a guard thought one basket was one item, so it is $4. BAK |
Next time you're in Texas, check out the HEB Central Market stores. They are truly amazing! There are huge selections of fresh meats, seafood and produce from around the world. The wine and beer selections are some of thebest available. The bakery produces wonderful baked goods and artisan desserts. And (my favorite) the Cafe To Go has gourmet food, including fresh sushi, that is ready to be packed up and carried home. And did I mention the Gelato bar? If the item you want isn't there, the staff will order it for you. It is truly an experience!
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We loved the Queen Annes Thriftway when we lived in Tacoma, WA. They have a great bakery/deli (with plenty of hot food available) ...even fresh sushi made right in front of you. From the fresh seafood to the produce....everything is wonderful and the selection is impressive. I was also captured by the "look" of the store...it felt more like a neighborhood grocery than part of a chain...lower lighting, very friendly staff, "homey" feel. And obviously, as expected in the Puget Sound area..they have an espresso bar!
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In the DC area we have some great markets; Whole Foods (formerly Fresh Fields), Sutton Place Gourmet, along with some good Italian specialty stores but I fell in love with Wegman's in northeastern PA. That is a store to behold - case after case of foods that you only dream of OR you're running around trying to find. It reminds me of Balducci's in NYC.
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Fell in love with Whole Foods when visiting out of town and waited a year to get one in Atlanta, then a couple years later they opened one that was huge in midtown with everything you can imagine. Expensive but I love it. Tons of natural products and their house brand stuff is great. They have an extensive fresh/deli section as well as normal departments.
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The above reference to Wegmans fails to mention that it is born and bred business from Rochester NY that has expanded to some other areas. We are proud to have by far the most amazing grocery store anywhere. Our Wegmans in Pittsford is an amazing 130,000 sq feet. It has a fresh sushi bar, Kosher deli, French pastry shoppe, Godiva chocolate counter, large organic foods section, real butcher shop and the Market Cafe. Our Wegmans have clean, wonderfully landscaped stores full of very helpful clerks. Some of the Wegmans even have free (and fun!) babysitting. Even Cher stopped by on a recent tour here! If you're ever in Rochester (I know, I know) stop by!
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My three favourites:
Fairway on the Upper West Side in NYC - completely chaotic but they have everything you've ever heard of and a lot you haven't, and a great cafe upstairs Tops International Market in Niagara Falls, NY - we stop there every time we're in Buffalo - there's always some new product that isn't available in Canada. We can't take produce or meat across the border, though. Trader Joe's - both of my daughters (one in California, one in NY) live near a Trader Joe's. They have great organic food. I always buy chocolate "Cat Cookies" for my sweetie there - they're not meant for cats but they're shaped like them! |
California;
Andronico's Trader Joes Whole Foods And some Safeways have become surprisingly nice! |
A second vote for Trader Joe's. We love ours. In France, we vote for Casino Supermarkets. They come in large and small. The large are super but the small ones are very friendly.
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Draegers in the bay area.
www.draegers.com Wine tasting, restaurants, cooking classes, a bazillion kinds of dressed duck. |
I agree, Draegers and Mollie Stones
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Another vote for Trader Joes and Whole Foods!
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I would guess if you liv in Southern Calif, any store where workers are not on strike gets a vote as a favorite
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OMG... it is so true, Christie!
Central Market is my addiction. If you like Trader Joes you would simply not believe Central Market. While in CA I prefer the Bristol Farms stores and Central Market is like a Bristol Farms on steriods. Amazing stores! The Plano store orders me special products all the time. They get me a case a week of Hansen's Energy Water in Lemon flavor. I am currently waiting for a special Zum Body Spray. The handmade tortillas are to die for... oh, I could just go on and on! |
We lived for ten years in Atlanta and I loved the Dekalb Farmers Market. You can get food there from all over the world. Their fresh fish and meats are not to be beat and the produce! Fruits and vegetables you've only seen in magazines, you can find there. I saw more unpronounceable foodstuffs from all corners of the world there than I've ever seen anywhere else. It's a culinary adventure to walk through their doors.
Also in the South is Publix, which OliveOyl has mentioned. Their stores are so bright and cheerful! Now that we live in the Midwest, I have to wait until visits down South to taste their wonderful White Mountain Bread. We now have a Trader Joe's, which I love! Before we got our own Joe's, I used to stock up on trips back to New England to see my family. We'd go to the store in Cambridge, Mass. and I'd buy bagsful of groceries full of interesting food. Thank goodness we drove a large car or I'd probably have strapped a kid to the roof to make room for the maple syrup, meringue cookies, cans of this that and the other... |
Trader Joe's. We're lucky, it's in our city. Can't live without that two buck Chuck [$2 a bottle Charles Shaw wine]. And their French roast coffee is the best we've found at a reasonable price.
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Our kids live in San Antonio and the Central Market is ALWAYS a stop when we go to visit. It is a branch of the HEB grocery chain--HEB are the initials of the owner. The story goes that Mrs. HEB came home from a European trip and complained to Mr. HEB that she just couldn't find the cheese and foie gras that she was used to in France. So he said "just never you mind, honey, I'll get you a place to shop" and Central Markets were born. They have cooking schools where their food to go is prepared, sponsor cooking classes with well known chefs. The cheese selection is unbelievable (and I've been to Whole Foods a lot also). Since this is a branch of the H.E.B our kids refer to it as the "Gucci.B.".
And it is a full size supermarket. Their olive oil selection is an 8 shelf tall, maybe 6 feet wide section. Same for balsamic vinegars. Their French bread is made in an oven imported from France with the proper steam injection. In house tortilla maker. |
The Boston area is also well-served by Trader Joe's and Whole Foods markets, which are deservedly popular.
But the best markets around are a small local chain improbably called Roche Brothers (yes, it's pronounced "roach"). |
Shopped at Trader Joes, Shopped at Whole Foods, but wish I lived in Syracuse so I could shop at Wegman's...absolutely great!
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There is nothing better than Wegman's, the selection atmosphere and so much more. It makes grocery shopping feel like not so much of a chore.
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Another vote for Wegman's. We have several here in Buffalo. I agree with Jibboo, grocery shopping doesn't seem like a chore at Wegman's. Their fruits and vegetables are awesome, and they have an incredible meat, seafood, and cheese departments. I hate grocery shopping, but love that store!
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Treasure Island in the Chicago area!!
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Stew Leonard's in CT. Tough to describe...proclaimed the "World's Largest Dairy" by Ripley's BION. It has a petting zoo with live animals outside, and inside, it has animatronic vegetable playing music in a band. If you have LSD flashbacks, it could be a bad experience. Great grocery store, great seafood and high end products. Also regularly named one of the best companies in America to work for by one of those financial mags (Fortune?).
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If you're ever down by the Jersey Shore, Delicious Orchards on Route 34 in Colt's Neck, NJ is a great place for farm fresh produce, cakes/pies/pastries, meat, etc.
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I vote for Trader Joe's too, but Two Buck Chuck??? YUCK.
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Another vote for Central Market with Whole Foods a close second (only due to prices) Luckily, we have both here in Austin. Got the best chipotle BBQ sauce at CM last week. Also, they have a huge assortment of wines from all over the world, and their wine staff are experts.
Weenie - Attened college in Rochester and cruised Wegmans many times. Bat McGrath even penned a song about cruising Wegmans! |
I have to say that I don't get it about Whole Foods! Perhaps it's a personal thing with me though. I used to work at a store called The Merchant of Vino in Rochester Hills, MI. There were four other stores in the area. Store started with a small store in Birmingham that primarily dealt with wines. Had a HUGE cellar in the basement that held their top shelf selection. I almost fainted when I saw it.
Anyway, it grew into this small chain of specialty stores that had anything and everything you could possibly think of. High end meat, cheeses, seafood. Produce was heavenly! And each store had a fabulous wine and beer selection, I actually ran the beer department at my store as well as working with the wine department. I loved the days when vendors would sample wines with us, ahhh those were the days! Then came Whole Foods. They bought out the chain, and implemented their "healthy" and "organic" policy. Took away half to three quarters of the wine selection. Did the same thing to me precious beer department!! Sliced and diced the specialty food sections. So, I left. Never been back since. Store just isn't what I look for in a "gourmet" market. Health food store maybe. But, that wasn't the concept of the store. I know that a lot of the clientele went to another store in the area, although they developed their own following of health food types. Ah well. Papa Joe's, the other store, is nice, but it's no Merchant. |
In the Hamptons, we went to a small grocery that had the most beautiful displays of fruits, veggies, meats and oh my goodness the fish. It was crowded and expensive but so good. Better than Balduccis which I love too. Cannot remember the name for the life of me.
Here at home we have a small store called Tendercrop Farm. Best steak tips in the world, good bakery bread, fresh veggies, really nice cheese dips too. Reminds me that I have to order my Christmas prime rib today. Hope its not too late. Wish supermarkets in Mass could sell wine and beer. Would make life a lot easier. |
Oh, I forgot to mention the homemade tamales at Central Market. Everyday, no just during the holidays!
The best Whole Foods is in Toronto, near the Four Seasons. MUCH better design and inventory that US stores. Pittsburgh has a great new Whole Foods, too. |
In Minnesota its Byerly's. Their flagship store is featured on bus tours of the Twin Cities. From the crystal chandeliers in the entry to the gift gallery featuring a $7000 table, its THE place for all your needs -deli, meats, seafood, coffee bar, wine shop, post office, French bakery, pizza shop, Chinese deli, olive bar, cards & gifts, flower shop, photo finishing, restaurants, culinary specialist on duty, culinary school, and even a Northwest Airline ticket counter. They bag and load your groceries from a drive thru and will even loan out umbrellas if it starts to rain while you're shopping.
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I always thought this was a funny name-When I was a kid visiting my grandparents in Biloxi, Missisippi, we went shopping at the local grocery store named "JITNEY JUNGLE"....of course there are "PIGGLY WIGGLY'S" too...:@)
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I like Trader Joe's also. We also have a store here in Columbus called Hills Market, north of 270 on Rt. 315. They have salmon roasts in the summer and their deli/take out section is as good as any restaurant in the area. The Anderson's General Store also has a nice grocery section and meat dept.
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Larry's in Redmond,WA
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I have friends who call the "Piggly Wiggly" "Hoggly Woggly." :-)
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I like Byerly's and Lund's in Minnesota and Trader Joe's and Gelson's in S. Calif. The Byerly's store in St Louis Park is something. We always take friends there when we go to MN on business. They are impressed.
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In the San Jose Bay Area:
Cosentino's Lunardi's Zanotto's Andronico's Draegers |
Another vote for Trader Joe's.
When I moved from L.A. to Seattle, it was the only thing I missed about L.A. (besides my best friend)...when they opened up here, I was so happy! |
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