Whole Foods Market

Reviews 5

JE

Jenn Fung

This location already wins brownie points because of the awesome views. You can see the Freedom Tower from the parking lot. The 2nd floor of the market has even better angles of the parking lot, city skyline, and the Gowanus Canal. The water was half frozen in a silent killer kind of way. I saw some ducks swimming or stuck in the water- hard to tell. This is probably my favorite branch of Whole Foods. I was able to go on a weekday when there wasnt a lot of people. They were definitely thorough in their inventory; you wont see anything at other Whole Foods locations that you cant find here. It might even have more of a selection. There were numerous tasting stands to sample from; I picked up a few items. I swear Im the most gullible consumer on this planet; I even sampled a kid-friendly veggie platter. Totally not on purpose; it was only after I saw the shapes my carrots were cut into that I realized I was 20+ years off. This is where I shame myself. Fast forward to Super Bowl Sunday, and the place had turned into a madhouse. Carts and children everywhere, people fighting for the last guacamole container- I fought one off a hipster. Hes still crying by the solar panels in the parking lot. I would avoid doing any hardcore shopping on a weekend if possible. However, I did get to scope out my favorite spot of this Whole Foods, which was the roof deck with the heated lamps. I wouldnt mind grabbing beers(plural) with some new friends(my old friends hate me and live in the other boroughs), and watching the sunset. Seeing as it is outdoors though, I have a question for the environmental science nerds: how slow of a death will I die from inhaling the air above the Gowanus? Are the last 4 letters indicative of a deeper meaning?

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JU

Julia Byrd

The people that run the catering portion are awful! Every time I call there I get transferred at least 4 times before I finally say that I have been transferred 4 times and they say, "Oh, ok. Im sorry," and they put the phone down and I can hear them talking to someone in the background who eventually picks up the phone. One time I even dialed the catering extension line (609) and they told me that I had to call extension 609 to get catering... I called one week before my event to place an order and they said they were too busy to take orders for the following week and to call back the next week. I called on Monday of the following week and they said to call back the next day, which was after my event. After some arguing, they finally took my order. When I did get my delivery, there were things missing from it. With about 2 hours before my event, I called them up to complain, and they said that I could leave a message and they would call me back tomorrow. After repeatedly explaining that my event was that day and having things missing was unacceptable, and having them tell me that I could not place an order now and needed to give them 48 hours notice (which I tried to do!) I finally got them to understand the issue and agree to call me back in a half an hour. To their credit, they did return my call in a half an hour and send someone out to deliver the missing items. However, it was just way more stressful and complicated than it needed to be. Food was OK, but the customer service is just so poor that it is definitely not worth it.

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FR

Fred Alluso

This 56k square foot facility has become a key component in this community. It offers everything a food lover or chef could want and then some. The glass-enclosed butcher’s shop offers a firsthand look at the skilled staff as they meticulously practice their craft. That theme is repeated again in the bakery, deli, seafood, produce and coffee departments. Third on 3rd offers many freshly prepared foods through their many fresh greens, salad bars, as well as the pizza station, ramen and sushi bar. Third on 3rd also offers some top notch coffee and teas at the in-house Allegro Coffee Bar. And if that’s not enough for you, head on upstairs to the second floor where you can enjoy indoor and outdoor dining with food and drinks purchased either downstairs or upstairs at the Roof Bar and Grill. While you’re dining, you can have your knives sharpened or your groceries packed for delivery. Heck, you can even have a personal shopper do all the work for you while you kick back and enjoy the free wifi to browse the Interwebs. This store and it’s staff have been on point from day one. I’ve been shopping here at least once a week since it opened in December 2013 and the only mishap I’ve had was a price missing on an item. A situation that was quickly resolved by a manager.

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RE

Rebecca Appel

My poison. Some people like jewelry and some people like nice cars. I love me some Whole Foods. I was so excited when I found out they were opening in Gowanas. I couldnt have been more elated when I stepped foot in the first time. The parking lot is awesome with lots of spots so no need to wait. The store is huge and immaculate. Lots of staff at every corner in case you have any questions. Im a sucker for their tiramisu and breads. Theyre always so fresh and delicious. They also have a huge buffet and always changing up the menu there. I recently bought tuna to grill at home. God! That tuna was so perfect. I feel like the fishmonger hand picks the perfect pieces to sell in store. The produce is always fresh and quite reasonably priced. Ive compared prices to a local store and was quite surprised to see WF charged less for the same or better quality. Huge fan of the express isles. We all know Whole Foods is a super busy grocery but the express lane is perfect for people like me who can jump in to the store just for a couple of items. If you do go by, check out the awesome upstairs area where you can sit and eat delicious Whole Foods with a great view of the Gowanas.

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EM

Emily Fisher

Ive been here 3x and while part of it is the novelty factor Ill probably continue to shop here regularly. Why? Its enormous, well stocked, and conveniently located for me (and for many others, apparently, given the number of shoppers and the challenge of finding a parking space). So far, the organic vegetables have been good and reasonably priced; the bulk food bins well stocked; and the employees helpful and smiling. The salad and hot food "bar" offers tasty food. I noticed the sag paneer and the "medium hot" guacamole I bought a few days earlier (selected from a bin that also included "mild" and "hot" ) both were a little higher on the Scoville scale than expected - fine for me but a little on the hot side for my younger daughter (age 8). Next time Ill buy the mild and add my own chile in a separate bowl. As for the Whole Foods "whole paycheck" factor... it seems pricier but better than Trader Joes for fruit and veg, a bit higher than for Fairway, with a wider selection than small and local Pacific Green, but its easier to get to for me (so I might end up throwing out less spoiled food and shopping more often).

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