Gateway Market

Category:	Grocery Store
Address:	2002 Woodland Ave, Des Moines, IA 50312, USA
Phone:	+1 515-243-1754
Site:	gatewaymarket.com
Rating:	4.3
Working:	7AM–10PM 7AM–10PM 7AM–10PM 7AM–10PM 7AM–10PM 7AM–10PM 7AM–10PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 8

Mandi Moon

Ive been to Gateway Market several times. Each time I have visited their cafe, I have experienced less than favorable service. However, I have been a repeat customer because their food is great. I have attempted to overlook the poor customer service, but after my visit today, Ive realized just how important proper service is, regardless how tasty the food might be. Time and time again, I have dealt with the catty women who work behind the counters (foul-mouthed, unapologetic employees). For instance, today I experienced a young woman at the counter who had absolutely no personality and when it came time to sign my receipt, she tossed the receipt at me and flung a pen and said, "...sign it." If that wasnt rude enough, after I received my food, I realized my french fries were cold and soggy. I brought them back up the counter (to the same woman) and asked kindly to have a fresh batch. Without saying a word, she pulled the plate from me and went to the back where I heard her tell the manager (he didnt do anything about it, by the way). When she brought the fries back out in a bowl, she slid them onto the table and walked away, without a word or eye contact. Never did I receive an apology from her for the wait, OR the fact that I was dissatisfied with my order. Furthermore, I was left to eat my sandwich off of napkins as the fries were returned in a BOWL, rather than the plate my original meal came on. Unfortunately, this is the last straw for me and Gateway Market. The heavily tattooed man who is always working (I assume hes the manager), seems to have it together when it comes to serving people. However, if he is the one who is hiring, he should learn to opt for classier ladies who actually have a pleasant personality. I wont be returning and I will not be recommending Gateway to anyone ever again.

Abby Stermer

There were tasty sounding options in the cafe and I felt welcome to take my time in the busy marketplace. The staff and patrons were really friendly which made for a nice atmosphere. I got the vegetarian Ramen which though it was pretty expensive It has good fresh ingredients. HOWEVER, Im not sure how or why, but about half of the sliced chives were burned to a crisp. and when I say burned I mean black all the way through to the point of unrecognizable. I thought it was a new spice or vegetable at first so I tried to just eat them but the longer I ate the more the burnt flavor just took over. I tried to pick them out and in all there was about 1/4 of charred green onions that just broke apart and filled my soup with ash - like eating cigarettes. It was a shame because it totally ruined what was a pretty tasty soup. Im surprised they served it because it was pretty obvious there was a lot of burned material. I couldnt finish it and decided to pitch my leftovers because the flavor was so ruined.

A Private User

Gateway Market is a fun and great place to go to if you arent used to going to upscale groceries. The selection of local grown and gourmet foods is decent, but pricey. I am from out of town and am used to doing my grocery shopping at Whole Foods. While I am aware tha Gateway Market isnt the leading giant in organic foods, it is essential to offer competitive prices in order to succeed. On top of that, the staff has never offered me any help while browsing and some employees are borderline rude. I guess my point of writing this review (and to explan the title) is this: The staff is not very friendly, almost snobby, and it doesnt have that "neighborhood market" feel. Whole Foods, being the giant leader in this field, has way friendlier employees and way better prices. I will continue to go Gateway when I am in town so I can get Stam chocolate and my Vita Coconut Water with Pineapple.

Jonathan Becker

Coming from a frequent customer and former employee, this place is quite the grocery store. Realize, of course, that the store is a "specialty" store. Most of our products are organic, but they dont have to be. Theyre just not-your-average items from Wal-Mart, Target, or Hy-Vee. If youre looking for a place to enjoy a sandwich from a deli, look at some exquisite wine, enjoy a few candies, and look for some good high-quality food, the like which is only available at Whole Foods in the area, my suggestion is to come visit and let us show you what a local grocery store should look like. Remember! Were connected with Orchestrate Hospitality Group, so if you want to taste these foods in preparation, visit Centro, Malo, Django, or even Zombie Burger! =)

Isaac Hillaker

Gateway Market doubles as both a grocery store and a cafe. Cafe: Delicious food. Whenever we cant decide where to eat, this is where we almost always decide upon. My only problem is occasionally the dishes just wont be well done. Very occasional, but still disappointing. Food is a little on the pricey side, but luckily the portions (besides the steak tacos) are generous. Groceries: If youre shopping in a budget, this isnt the place to shop. They sale organic, natural foods, which are more expensive by default. However, the items are high quality, with may local farms and other businesses giving their items up for sale here too. So, it is pricey, but if price isnt an obstacle, this place has a decent assortment of goods to choose from!

Patrick Warren

Everything was fine until I went through the checkout line. There was only one register open operated by an overweight, unattractive hen-pecking female that was not even paying attention, and she ended up having to do 2 transactions for only 80 bucks worth of stuff. She was so rude I didnt know whether to call the USDA and report an outbreak of mad cow disease or just pretend like I was being forced to watch the View and get through it begrudgingly. I spoke with the manager named Jonathan about it, who himself sounded like the kind of trendy incompetent male who cannot come to terms with or handle employee problems. Go somewhere else. Save your money. Dont deal with Jonathan and the gang. Youll be glad you did.

Darren Wacker

This is a MUST stop every time I am in the Des Moines area. It is a great place for a quick, healthy lunch, a glass of wine or a coffee. The market is intimate, but with extensive variety and options from the bakery and produce, to the meat department and wine/beer selection. However, my favorite part is the cafe. The food is outstanding with several great options. I highly recommend the fish tacos. While the outdoor seating could be more welcoming, it is still great and the indoor seating options are extensive. However, if you are going over lunch, get there early because it can fill up quickly and is first come, first served.

A Private User

The cafe is good but generally more expensive than other places. The problem is that everything ranges from over priced to extremely over priced. The burgers are good and range from $8-10 but dont include things like fries which would seem obvious for a $10 burger. Then there are things like their fish and chips which is $10 and comes with plenty of fries but only 3 small fried pieces of fish. The grocery store is mixed. On one hand they have really good selection of cheese, meats, seafood, bread but the rest of the store is overpriced olive oil and $10 bags of organic chips. The service has also really gone downhill.