The weighted buffet has returned (pack food then weigh it at the cash register), but I will probably not be returning. I chose a container just large enough for me to pack one dinner without overflowing the lined cardboard container. The problem is that on the way home the container leaked all over my clothes. My shirt is ruined! I put a large number napkins under the container once I noticed the leak (the napkins were going to be used as actual napkins when I got home to eat, at least I had them), but it was not enough to prevent the sauces from soaking through the napkins and running all over me. Unfortunately, I did not know how bad the leak was until I got home and saw the condition of my waist pouch and shirt. My jeans and shoes are black and will probably not show a stain once they are cleaned. The light green shirt is trash. Not only did I pay for liquids that never made it home, but I could not get the sauce colors out of my shirt. When I got home I packed the food into a more durable container and noticed that much of the cardboard was soaked through and the corners were falling apart. The plastic-like liner did absolutely nothing to prevent leaks. If I ever return, I will only choose dry foods without any sauces.
Cali A.
This Whole Foods doesn't have much selection and service could be better compared to other locations but it's WAY better than 57st so I increased stars. There are literally no lines (after pandemic). Columbus Circle has the most enormous line? I was able to get basic items. This is the only location not cutting cheese despite a policy posted (other locations are cutting cheese). The lady at cheese counter was very happy not to help with anything. Checkout was very easy.
Nick F.
They always always always charge me for some exotic food when it's just buttonhead mushrooms, or eggplant, or broccoli. I will start checking my receipts before I pay. I've bought Jeff Bezos his fifth island with the incorrect charges from this place.
J Z.
WHOLE FOODS HAS NO RESPECT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS! I am am a first responder and over 60. I followed their instructions to come between 7-8 am for people over 60, no consideration for the first responders like Trader Joes, who are so kind to first responders and people over 60. This week I went to the seafood counter, and their elevator was broken, so they just had old seafood, had no idea when the fresh seafood would be on the self. So I asked Customer Service, Bernadette; if I come back, and not have to wait on their enormous line, I was told NO she refused, stating that it is not their policy, and that they have no policy for first responders, even when it was not my fault that their elevator was broken. When I got home I called the Whole Foods corporate office, and spoke with Mario, who wouldn't even call the store for me. He said they have NO policies put in place for our nurses, and healthcare providers who are out there risking our live to save others. WHOLE FOODS YOU STINK, they said I would have to wait the 3 city avenues in the rain with the others. How is it my fault your elevator broken!! Trader Joes would never do this, they are so kind to the elderly and first responders. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED WHOLE FOODS AS THIS IS A UNIVERSAL POLICY OF YOUR COMPANY!!! GROSS!!
Sarah X.
I came here at 8am right when it opened (after Senior hours) during the pandemic and there was a line that was starting to wrap around the block. I was worried it would be a long wait, but it was really only 20-30 mins and it's because they only let a certain number of shoppers in at a time to ensure safety, which I really appreciate. They sanitize all the carts before you go in and encouraged everyone to Purrell again before entering the store. I really appreciate the workers who were there - they were still very friendly and working hard, and I hope they are getting paid well during this time. The checkout lines have 6 ft of tape in between so people can continue to distance themselves. When I went in the morning, they had everything I needed including the staples such as milk, eggs, toilet paper, etc. The bakery, buffett etc is closed as expected but they still had some prepackaged / premade foods for sale. The prices here are extremely reasonable compared to a lot of other grocery stores which continue to price gouge and take advantage of a bad situation. I would recommend going early in the morning because once I left around an hour or so later, the line was continuously getting longer.
William L.
I think there are changes in their eggs. Yes the price has gone down but so has the quality . Also the broccoli rabe used to be organic Andy boy brand 3.99 but now they serve some other brand and charge the same price even though it's not organic. Furthermore they sometimes don't even have it. Update they have improved their supply Added note Their hot food bar has very limited offerings compare to upper west side location which is great. The person who runs the hot food bar here must really like spicy food! I really wanted to buy a box of hot food that was not spicy but the chicken was spicy, fish was spicy, even the darn kale was spicy , and they had ohh bbq tofu which is spicy. Only possible non spicy was some cauliflower and some sweet potato with nuts and Mac and cheese. I abandoned my box and am going somewhere else. I have been shopping at Whole Foods for years and something epic happened today. For the first time ever I was greeted by a cashier with a smile!! I think her name is Arianna?Thank you. update sunday afternoon they really need to keep up their supply I think their hot food section has gotten a lot better they now have a carving sect Update So because of the corona virus, there is a line outside. Points to Whole Foods for adhering to social distancing and lining the shoppers outside to limit the total number of shoppers . However while shopping today 4/7/20 I and several other shoppers witnessed a lady sneezing and blowing her nose profusely in the bread section on the second floor. No mask no face covering!!! Of course we quickly left. Whole foods need to implement more adequate safety precautions! What about all the packaging in that area. I went to A Matter of Health small grocery store. No mask or facial covering and no gloves means no entry . That's socially responsible and I am sure the people shopping there appreciate the steps that this little store is taking to decrease the spread of this virus. The tide is changing and with more people wearing protective gear whether it is a face mask or bandanna or even a long sleeve shirt held around the face, those who are not doing this are actually more stigmatized because they are the ones who are more likely to spread their germs. So I know many people who would prefer to check out with with a cashier wearing a mask than one not wearing anything. You're more likely to catch something from the person who's not wearing any face protection. Do what's socially responsible and wear face protection. In Asia people who don't wear face protection are socially shunned. What is the risk and benefit of imposing social distancing. There's a huge economic and social price because all nonessential stores are closed. What is the risk and benefit of wearing masks and face protection in public. I think the upside far outweighs any potential downside. Let's do what's socially responsible to ourselves,our community, and our health care workers. Wear face protection, stop the spread, and keep our community safe!
Stephen D.
So much respect for EVERY PERSON working here during the Coronavirus pandemic. Cooks, food prep, stockers, delivery persons, cashiers, managers... you are keeping our society strong and deserve so much credit. THANK YOU so much! I hope they quadruple all of your pay. You heeded the call when others were in hiding. People won't forget it!!!
Julie M.
Update: Did I predict the bread-line thing in my last review? Because seems like we're almost there. And we are grateful for it.
Becky F.
The vegan and vegetarian selection at this Whole Foods is seriously lacking. They barely stock any of the vegan and vegetarian 365 options and stopped serving a vegan option at the pizza bar a few months ago. The hot bar and prepared foods section are always full of meat options with no vegetarian protein. They'll occasionally have one vegetarian option but it almost always has dairy or eggs. The only options for vegans are roast vegetables and plain rice, which is so surprising for Whole Foods since they're known for catering to all different kinds of diets. Other locations have creative and delicious vegan options, but not here! When I brought this up to customer service, they told me they would pass my feedback along to the buyer and ask them to consider having more inclusive options. Weeks went by and nothing changed so I filled out a feedback slip saying the same thing and was told I would get a call back from a buyer, but I never did. It's really disappointing to a find a Whole Foods that so clearly rejects the Whole Foods ethos. As if that wasn't frustrating enough, a few months ago I discovered the vegan chicken soup at the soup bar was mislabeled and was actually meat. The vegan chicken and meat chicken look very different so it was immediately obvious to me, but it was confirmed when I saw that the vegan chicken soup doesn't have corn and this soup did. Corn is listed as an ingredient in the meat soup. When I told an employee he was very blasé and didn't even leave his desk to take a look at the soup. I asked if he could at least take off the vegan label while he waited for somebody to swap the soups and he did, but I can't believe that he didn't immediately think to do that himself. I wonder how many vegans and vegetarians accidentally ate meat that day. It was so disappointing and a really clear example of how this location discriminates against vegetarians and vegans.
Quin S.
Once you get past the one entrance and awkwardly setup cash registers- you're good to go The hot food staff is engaging. The in house Carrot Cake is the bomb The Cheese Sticks from the pizza section are Fave I appreciate the lower priced Produce The Sweet & Spicy Shrimp from the $12 entree section was tough I wish they make the Fried Fish for the buffet section more often What happened to the Candied Pecans packed in a Mason Jar? Such a great winter treat! 1.15.20
Pros: large selection of items and lots of organic produce at somewhat reasonable prices. Amazing olive bar. Good cheese. Good sales with specials for Amazon Prime members. 10 cents off for each reusable bag you bring. Helpful and friendly staff who can help you find things because the organization of this store leaves something to be desired. Cons: always lots of people no matter what day and time you go. Sushi has gone way downhill. Fish usually not the best quality and I often have to pick a few bones out of it. Supporting Amazon. Often out of many items especially now that Amazon has taken over.
Julie B.
It has all of the things you'd expect to find in a Manhattan Whole Foods so I personally can't complain there. The location is great for me since it's so accessible to the the 3rd Ave busses. The layout, however, really isn't great. If you get prepared food and want to eat it there, the dining floor is a real pain to get to. Also the fact that you can only exit through the big checkout line even after you've used express checkout makes it super awkward. You'll be darting around and bumping into other people on the way out. The folks in the butcher department can be a little abrasive. Not in that NYC efficient way most people are used to and even kind of like. More like they just don't care and can't be bothered. Would be nice just to have basic civility, but oh well.
Medill H.
This store is truly the worst. Stock is always spotty, service is rude, milk always goes bad long before the expiry date, and they won't even deliver within a ten minute walking radius. On the weekend before Thanksgiving, they ran out of carrots- a sign of their poor management. Go anywhere else!
Brett B.
Great store and often better prices than many of the local chains, especially when items are on sale. I live next to Gristede's at 75th & 2nd Ave and I will gladly walk the nearly 15 blocks to this location. Gristede's is often at least 50% more expensive than Whole Foods. One example of the sale items I was about to pick up was $0.99/pound marinated Jamaican and Cajun chicken drumsticks. This price is unheard of! Not just Manhatten but even suburban USA. Another great deal is their 2 pounds of frozen salmon for $20($10/pound) that is perfectly portioned to 6 x 1/3 pound strips. So not only is the price/pound great, but it is nice to have it split into smaller portions. Elsewhere I routinely see $13-$14/pound. While this store is smaller than other Whole Foods, I do not find that it is missing anything and it is way less crowded than Columbus Circle. Their beer selection is great too! :-) (despite taking up a very small amount of space)
Ariana Carrillo
I love their Iced Chai Latte, refreshing. Also, their pastries were really good. taste and look delicious too. The service was friendly and prompt serving our order.
The weighted buffet has returned (pack food then weigh it at the cash register), but I will probably not be returning. I chose a container just large enough for me to pack one dinner without overflowing the lined cardboard container. The problem is that on the way home the container leaked all over my clothes. My shirt is ruined! I put a large number napkins under the container once I noticed the leak (the napkins were going to be used as actual napkins when I got home to eat, at least I had them), but it was not enough to prevent the sauces from soaking through the napkins and running all over me. Unfortunately, I did not know how bad the leak was until I got home and saw the condition of my waist pouch and shirt. My jeans and shoes are black and will probably not show a stain once they are cleaned. The light green shirt is trash. Not only did I pay for liquids that never made it home, but I could not get the sauce colors out of my shirt. When I got home I packed the food into a more durable container and noticed that much of the cardboard was soaked through and the corners were falling apart. The plastic-like liner did absolutely nothing to prevent leaks. If I ever return, I will only choose dry foods without any sauces.
This Whole Foods doesn't have much selection and service could be better compared to other locations but it's WAY better than 57st so I increased stars. There are literally no lines (after pandemic). Columbus Circle has the most enormous line? I was able to get basic items. This is the only location not cutting cheese despite a policy posted (other locations are cutting cheese). The lady at cheese counter was very happy not to help with anything. Checkout was very easy.
They always always always charge me for some exotic food when it's just buttonhead mushrooms, or eggplant, or broccoli. I will start checking my receipts before I pay. I've bought Jeff Bezos his fifth island with the incorrect charges from this place.
WHOLE FOODS HAS NO RESPECT FOR FIRST RESPONDERS! I am am a first responder and over 60. I followed their instructions to come between 7-8 am for people over 60, no consideration for the first responders like Trader Joes, who are so kind to first responders and people over 60. This week I went to the seafood counter, and their elevator was broken, so they just had old seafood, had no idea when the fresh seafood would be on the self. So I asked Customer Service, Bernadette; if I come back, and not have to wait on their enormous line, I was told NO she refused, stating that it is not their policy, and that they have no policy for first responders, even when it was not my fault that their elevator was broken. When I got home I called the Whole Foods corporate office, and spoke with Mario, who wouldn't even call the store for me. He said they have NO policies put in place for our nurses, and healthcare providers who are out there risking our live to save others. WHOLE FOODS YOU STINK, they said I would have to wait the 3 city avenues in the rain with the others. How is it my fault your elevator broken!! Trader Joes would never do this, they are so kind to the elderly and first responders. YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED WHOLE FOODS AS THIS IS A UNIVERSAL POLICY OF YOUR COMPANY!!! GROSS!!
I came here at 8am right when it opened (after Senior hours) during the pandemic and there was a line that was starting to wrap around the block. I was worried it would be a long wait, but it was really only 20-30 mins and it's because they only let a certain number of shoppers in at a time to ensure safety, which I really appreciate. They sanitize all the carts before you go in and encouraged everyone to Purrell again before entering the store. I really appreciate the workers who were there - they were still very friendly and working hard, and I hope they are getting paid well during this time. The checkout lines have 6 ft of tape in between so people can continue to distance themselves. When I went in the morning, they had everything I needed including the staples such as milk, eggs, toilet paper, etc. The bakery, buffett etc is closed as expected but they still had some prepackaged / premade foods for sale. The prices here are extremely reasonable compared to a lot of other grocery stores which continue to price gouge and take advantage of a bad situation. I would recommend going early in the morning because once I left around an hour or so later, the line was continuously getting longer.
I think there are changes in their eggs. Yes the price has gone down but so has the quality . Also the broccoli rabe used to be organic Andy boy brand 3.99 but now they serve some other brand and charge the same price even though it's not organic. Furthermore they sometimes don't even have it. Update they have improved their supply Added note Their hot food bar has very limited offerings compare to upper west side location which is great. The person who runs the hot food bar here must really like spicy food! I really wanted to buy a box of hot food that was not spicy but the chicken was spicy, fish was spicy, even the darn kale was spicy , and they had ohh bbq tofu which is spicy. Only possible non spicy was some cauliflower and some sweet potato with nuts and Mac and cheese. I abandoned my box and am going somewhere else. I have been shopping at Whole Foods for years and something epic happened today. For the first time ever I was greeted by a cashier with a smile!! I think her name is Arianna?Thank you. update sunday afternoon they really need to keep up their supply I think their hot food section has gotten a lot better they now have a carving sect Update So because of the corona virus, there is a line outside. Points to Whole Foods for adhering to social distancing and lining the shoppers outside to limit the total number of shoppers . However while shopping today 4/7/20 I and several other shoppers witnessed a lady sneezing and blowing her nose profusely in the bread section on the second floor. No mask no face covering!!! Of course we quickly left. Whole foods need to implement more adequate safety precautions! What about all the packaging in that area. I went to A Matter of Health small grocery store. No mask or facial covering and no gloves means no entry . That's socially responsible and I am sure the people shopping there appreciate the steps that this little store is taking to decrease the spread of this virus. The tide is changing and with more people wearing protective gear whether it is a face mask or bandanna or even a long sleeve shirt held around the face, those who are not doing this are actually more stigmatized because they are the ones who are more likely to spread their germs. So I know many people who would prefer to check out with with a cashier wearing a mask than one not wearing anything. You're more likely to catch something from the person who's not wearing any face protection. Do what's socially responsible and wear face protection. In Asia people who don't wear face protection are socially shunned. What is the risk and benefit of imposing social distancing. There's a huge economic and social price because all nonessential stores are closed. What is the risk and benefit of wearing masks and face protection in public. I think the upside far outweighs any potential downside. Let's do what's socially responsible to ourselves,our community, and our health care workers. Wear face protection, stop the spread, and keep our community safe!
So much respect for EVERY PERSON working here during the Coronavirus pandemic. Cooks, food prep, stockers, delivery persons, cashiers, managers... you are keeping our society strong and deserve so much credit. THANK YOU so much! I hope they quadruple all of your pay. You heeded the call when others were in hiding. People won't forget it!!!
Update: Did I predict the bread-line thing in my last review? Because seems like we're almost there. And we are grateful for it.
The vegan and vegetarian selection at this Whole Foods is seriously lacking. They barely stock any of the vegan and vegetarian 365 options and stopped serving a vegan option at the pizza bar a few months ago. The hot bar and prepared foods section are always full of meat options with no vegetarian protein. They'll occasionally have one vegetarian option but it almost always has dairy or eggs. The only options for vegans are roast vegetables and plain rice, which is so surprising for Whole Foods since they're known for catering to all different kinds of diets. Other locations have creative and delicious vegan options, but not here! When I brought this up to customer service, they told me they would pass my feedback along to the buyer and ask them to consider having more inclusive options. Weeks went by and nothing changed so I filled out a feedback slip saying the same thing and was told I would get a call back from a buyer, but I never did. It's really disappointing to a find a Whole Foods that so clearly rejects the Whole Foods ethos. As if that wasn't frustrating enough, a few months ago I discovered the vegan chicken soup at the soup bar was mislabeled and was actually meat. The vegan chicken and meat chicken look very different so it was immediately obvious to me, but it was confirmed when I saw that the vegan chicken soup doesn't have corn and this soup did. Corn is listed as an ingredient in the meat soup. When I told an employee he was very blasé and didn't even leave his desk to take a look at the soup. I asked if he could at least take off the vegan label while he waited for somebody to swap the soups and he did, but I can't believe that he didn't immediately think to do that himself. I wonder how many vegans and vegetarians accidentally ate meat that day. It was so disappointing and a really clear example of how this location discriminates against vegetarians and vegans.
Once you get past the one entrance and awkwardly setup cash registers- you're good to go The hot food staff is engaging. The in house Carrot Cake is the bomb The Cheese Sticks from the pizza section are Fave I appreciate the lower priced Produce The Sweet & Spicy Shrimp from the $12 entree section was tough I wish they make the Fried Fish for the buffet section more often What happened to the Candied Pecans packed in a Mason Jar? Such a great winter treat! 1.15.20
Restaurantji Recommends
Pros: large selection of items and lots of organic produce at somewhat reasonable prices. Amazing olive bar. Good cheese. Good sales with specials for Amazon Prime members. 10 cents off for each reusable bag you bring. Helpful and friendly staff who can help you find things because the organization of this store leaves something to be desired. Cons: always lots of people no matter what day and time you go. Sushi has gone way downhill. Fish usually not the best quality and I often have to pick a few bones out of it. Supporting Amazon. Often out of many items especially now that Amazon has taken over.
It has all of the things you'd expect to find in a Manhattan Whole Foods so I personally can't complain there. The location is great for me since it's so accessible to the the 3rd Ave busses. The layout, however, really isn't great. If you get prepared food and want to eat it there, the dining floor is a real pain to get to. Also the fact that you can only exit through the big checkout line even after you've used express checkout makes it super awkward. You'll be darting around and bumping into other people on the way out. The folks in the butcher department can be a little abrasive. Not in that NYC efficient way most people are used to and even kind of like. More like they just don't care and can't be bothered. Would be nice just to have basic civility, but oh well.
This store is truly the worst. Stock is always spotty, service is rude, milk always goes bad long before the expiry date, and they won't even deliver within a ten minute walking radius. On the weekend before Thanksgiving, they ran out of carrots- a sign of their poor management. Go anywhere else!
Great store and often better prices than many of the local chains, especially when items are on sale. I live next to Gristede's at 75th & 2nd Ave and I will gladly walk the nearly 15 blocks to this location. Gristede's is often at least 50% more expensive than Whole Foods. One example of the sale items I was about to pick up was $0.99/pound marinated Jamaican and Cajun chicken drumsticks. This price is unheard of! Not just Manhatten but even suburban USA. Another great deal is their 2 pounds of frozen salmon for $20($10/pound) that is perfectly portioned to 6 x 1/3 pound strips. So not only is the price/pound great, but it is nice to have it split into smaller portions. Elsewhere I routinely see $13-$14/pound. While this store is smaller than other Whole Foods, I do not find that it is missing anything and it is way less crowded than Columbus Circle. Their beer selection is great too! :-) (despite taking up a very small amount of space)
I love their Iced Chai Latte, refreshing. Also, their pastries were really good. taste and look delicious too. The service was friendly and prompt serving our order.