Cool food, lots of organics, but also a few downsides...
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
I gave it 4 stars because it's got some stuff you just can't get elsewhere: organic meat and chicken for regular-people prices, nuts and cheeses and jams for a fraction of what you pay at the Food Temple (Whole Foods). And some nifty stuff that's just unique, like the nut flours and simmer sauces. Also wine at the best prices in town. Service is caring and cheerful, and they don't make you carry membership cards, which I give them points for . And the free hot coffee and samples can perk up your after-work shopping experience.
I haven't liked their house brands of most prepared-type foods, though. For example, frozen stuff: I've actually thrown away their burritos and tamales, because they just tasted kind of boring and blurry. And their house brand cookies would be ok to bring for a scout troop snack, but not what you'd want to serve if you had friends over for a really nice tea. The house brands are just blah, so don't put your expectations too high.
Produce is more expensive and worse than Safeway, and you have to buy their little plastic packages of it.
And their parking lots are in the running for the worst-engineered in the city.