Fairway Market

Great selection on two levels. Open early to late. Staff is friendly. What more can you ask for?

Good grocery store, moderately priced. Really long lines and super busy but normally the lines are well managed and move fairly fast. They have a lot of check out counters. Just be prepared, the customer service is pretty bad at checkout. The employees at the deli/​little market/​cheese counter are great and super helpful. The employees up front are always really annoyed and yelling at customers, even little old ladies, so I’m a little put off by that.

produce– good
lines– ugg
a complete cluster f of a store!
people that work there– questionable!
I wish this store was not so choppy and basic!
I think I just hate it so much cause its a mad house! and taking an elevator sucks and the prices are horrendous! but I get its NYC blah blah blah!

I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed Fairway. You have a combination of a grocery store and a Whole Foods type store all in one location. I bring a huge bag and stock up on items. I find the isles are easy to navigate, the stock and floor help friendly and knowledgeable.
They have all of the popular brands, plus the bakery, fish, meats, and dairy department. All have fresh food and knowledgeable employees. They have both regular and organic foods. They have a great selection of spices. They have both less expensive items or high end gourmet. Take your choice.
I’ve never had a problem with check out. They have a system and it works. For the most part cashiers are friendly. I bag my own groceries. You do need to expect a long line if you go at peak times of day. I get there early AM when they open.
I used to live by the Fairway on Broadway and 74^th Street. This store on East 86^th is a huge improvement.

Fairway has gotten worse since I wrote my last review. I bought some roast beef there yesterday. It was nice and red when I looked at it in the display case but when I got home it was grey and dry. Then there lobsters — they claims more meat and less shell. That is true but it is much less sweet and tasty than the normal ones. They keep changing things around like at the one in Chelsea they got rid of the meat department. I never a problem like this at Trader Joe’s. I am returning that roast beef because even my dog scummo won’t eat it.

Not a bad place to shop. Not overpriced — just very packed at prime times. Would suggest going early AM. Have a lot to offer. Lots of fish/​meads on bottom floor which is clutch when you cook a lot

They have an amazing selection of everything. The prices are right, much cheaper than the Morton closer to my apartment. They deliver. The service can be meh sometimes but I don’t care. My colleagues told me to stay close to Fairway when I first moved to the city, and I thought it was strange but it’s not. It’s the best grocery store the city has.

This fairway is a mad house during the weekend, its not as crazy as Trader Joe’s in Union Square but its still pretty crazy.
I would suggest carrying a shopping basket instead of a cart because you will probably knock down some people in the narrow aisles.
There are 2 floors– 1^st floor where you enter– they have fresh produce.
The floor below is where you can find meat, fish, pasta, sauces, frozen food, dairy etc. There is an elevator as well as stairs between the 2 levels. The elevators are big enough to accommodate a few shopping carts.
The lines for the cashiers can be long during the weekends but they move quickly.
My recommendation is to come during the weekdays when its less of a mad house.

Fairway has become super hit or miss, lately. I went in for pork belly, they didn’t have any. I went in for Locateli cheese, they didn’t have any. Bought some bone marrow and asked them to cut it lengthwise and I was looked at like I had to heads and asked, ‘how do you want it cut?’. I responded again with ‘lengthwise.’ I was asked again, ‘HOW DO YOU WANIT CUT? LIE DIS? LIE DIS?’. Ugh. Also, 2/​$ 5 on avocados… are they insane?! There’s nothing special about them– not organic or anything.

Fairway has an amazing selection of products from the everyday to the more exotic assortment of English condiments — think Branston pickle & Marmite — to Kosher foods. There coffee, tea, and cheese selections are stocked to the brim and it would be a rarity if they didn’t have what you’re seeking. The one thing I have found scarce here is the amount of pre-​made vegan food available.
Don’t bother going here around the after-​work crowd or you’ll be dealing with an inevitably long line — 15 – 20 minutes + some nights.
There are few things more taxing in life than an in-​attentive butcher-​boy. This was my recent experience at Fairway’s fish counter. I asked for only a quarter pound of the Irish Smoked Salmon, coming in at ~$ 40/​lbs, and after waiting for the salmon to be sliced, found out at the checkout after a 15 minute wait in line that i had been given a half pound of salmon instead. I was to tired to complain and didn’t have the time to go back to the fish counter to have them half my order and then get back in line again so I ate the $ 10 cost of the additional quarter pound and left. That said, for the price and wait, I may as well have gone to Russ & Daughters for some quality service and salmon.

It does get pretty crazy here. When I used to live on the UES, I would dread going to FM– and I would check to see if the lines were long before I stepped in. The layout is counter intuitive which still bugs me since I’ve been here quite a few times. There are two floors, and the stairway is pretty narrow considering the foot traffic.
Otherwise, I never had a problem with any of the workers here, and if I still lived here, I would just go early morning or late evening to avoid people (which is the case with anywhere in NYC I guess). In terms of freshness, it’s on par with other locations. The prepared foods are great, and so is the baguette.

Picture a girl struggling to carry a loaded shopping basket with both hands; she should’ve used a cart instead … that’s me. Now picture a girl slowly turning in a circle, looking up and marveling at the goodies in every nook & cranny … that’s also me. Every time I visit, I can’t help but admire at how densely stacked yet organized everything is here!
Although Fairway is one full subway stop from me, I find myself returning every week because they’re the only store that carry (almost) everything I need — abundant fruits & veggies, healthy snacks (thanks for introducing me to NuGo!), lactose-​free yogurt, milk, cheese (Daiya), and ice cream (Lactaid) … the list goes on! The space can get tight during peak hours, but that’s expected of such a great market in a prime location.

Nette Mitarbeiter, tolle Auswahl, niedrige Preise, 4 Blöcke von meiner Wohnung. Keine Beschwerden. Bin dankbar, dass ich nicht weiter gehen muss, um Lebensmittel zu kaufen.

I like this place a lot. Love buying fruit over there and mint. The mint is always gorgeous and the workers are very friendly and helpful.
Today I bought an ice coffee there and I was very disappointed in the size and how much ice they put in it. I understand that they have to put a lot of ice, but it was too much. The large ice coffee was really small. When I saw it, I thought it was a medium one. Other that this place is great!

Really rude cashiers lol
Love the selection of foods that they have.
They have two levels which makes this place really big and spacious.
If the stairs were wider it would make them more comfortable to navigate.
Overall, I much rather come here Than the whole foods located a couple of blocks away.

Since the opening of the Whole Foods at 87^th and 3^rd Ave, I’ve noticed a pretty substantial drop in the number of customers, and that’s not a bad thing. Checkout seems faster, and the specials/​sales have increased as a way to compete with Whole Foods. They now have $ 5 specials every day of the week, including sushi, sandwiches, and their hot food bar. Yes, this place is confusing, with items stocked on literally every available shelf, nook and cranny, and corner of the place. But the staff members are knowledgeable, the prices are (in my opinion) affordable for the quality of the products, they have a great meat and fish section, and their generic brand is usually top notch.
It’s still a confusing, busy store, but still the best supermarket option along the 86^th Street corridor.

The proximity to the 86^th Street subway station was what initially drew me to this particular Fairway location on the Upper East Side, but it was the exorbitant prices and grimy conditions that ultimately led me out. When you walk through the front doors, be prepared for a row of assorted oranges and berries that will look appealing at first glance, but at closer observation, will be revealed for what they truly are: overripe and overpriced. I was willing to forgive and forget, but as I continued scanning the produce section, the $ 4 bunch of broccoli and the $ 2 (single) apple only contributed to my disappointment. Eventually, I encountered the gigantic barrels of olives, which might as well have a «free samples» sign above them. Actually, the entire store seems to have «try before you buy» as its unofficial motto. Some reviews praise the price of milk here; passing by that aisle, I witnessed a lady pick up a gallon of milk, pull off its cap, and taste test right in the middle of the store. Fortunately, she placed the opened container in her basket (and bought it, I assume), but that incident hardly improved my shopping experience. There was even an employee stocking the shelves a couple feet away who didn’t react at all — either he didn’t care or he’s so used to this kind of customer behavior that it wasn’t worth the intervention.
Maybe, maaaybe I’ll return one day if Fairway has a sale on something I need, but until then I’ll be steering clear of this place.

Fairway has annoyed me for quite some time now, It’s extremely overpriced and overcrowded but it’s better than gristedes that is until whole foods opened!
One of the most disgusting things I have encountered at fairway is people tasting food and olives with their bare hands and the employees just watch. Even when I made it a point to tell someone they should do something about it, the girl was very dismissive and nonchalant.
I live and work in the neighborhood so I used to eat from their salad bar in the café section UNTIL my coworker found a ROACH in her salad … I would post the photo but it’s so disgusting I don’t even want to share. When she went to complain they treated it like it was no big deal and told her it had happened before !!! Unbelievable !! They proceeded to solely give her a $ 30 credit and a half ass apology !
I will NEVER shop here again and neither will any of my coworkers who make up at least 30 people who used to buy from fairway. We will be taking our business to whole foods and hale & hearty.

You know you’re getting older when you feel compelled to leave a review on your local supermarket.
Would you like to have the most aggravating grocery shopping experience ever? I’ve seen shorter lines at the DMV on a Saturday. I’ve walked into this place and immediately turned around when seeing the type of never ending lines that force you to curse under your breath. The food selections are awesome and they truly have an impressive variety on display. It’s the experience that takes away from the awesomeness of this place.

I’d like to say that I’m done with this place, but the UES Whole Foods won’t open for another couple of weeks (oh yes, it’s in my calendar), so I guess I’m stuck with this disaster until then.
Please stop writing reviews that say: «So it’s crowded! Get over it! It’s New York!» The crowding is entirely Fairway’s fault, and they have done nothing to address the many complaints.
In fact, it’s gotten worse. I regularly find full-​size ladders abandoned in the middle of aisles. Endcaps are stacked so far out that they impede traffic. Whole shelving units are pulled out and left that way. Shoppers have to go single-​file because the dairy aisle is being restocked ALL THE TIME. And no one polices the ends of check-​out lines, where I’ve seen out-​of-​towners and the elderly close to tears.
Is there a manager on staff here? Anyone?
Some of the cashiers are pleasant, but most employees seem to be under tremendous stress, and it shows. I’m sympathetic; I couldn’t last an hour in this environment, never mind 8.
Pros: The olive oil selection is good.

I was so happy when this location opened a few years ago. Before, I would travel to the UWS and hit Trader Joes and Fairway in one shot and sometimes even fit in Whole Foods. Now I just pretty much stick to Fairway for my main shopping. Great and fresh produce, meats, cheeses, bread, and a wide selection of organic foods. I liked the prepared foods and Whole Foods better, but the prepared foods at Fairway are alright.
The prices are decent. Not super cheap, but they are not super expensive either. The organic foods are definitely cheaper than the local health food store. I stock up on vitamins and kombucha here too.
I give this store 4 stars because I love it here, but there is definitely room for improvement. It’s a crap-​shoot with the service. All the counter people seem friendly and helpful. Some of the checker’s here are excellent. Others however, don’t seem to want to be bothered with with helping you get your groceries out of your basket, or even looking up to say hello. I have had several bottles of kombucha leak or explode because they don’t want to listen to directions on how to handle it. The other day, one of the baggers put in a cupcake upside down and placed stuff on top of it. I asked nicely if she could help me fix it, and she did with deafening silence. Often times, they place your bags on the floor. Really? If you are gonna do that, at least hand them to me when I am ready to leave (bad back here). When I remember to bring my own bags, it solves some of these problems.
The other downside is that this store is a little dangerous. Boxes everywhere, sometimes the stock people throw small boxes down when they are done even though there are people everywhere. Watch out when they are trying to wheel tall stacks of boxes through. I came here midday once after a Dr’s appointment. NEVER AGAIN. I was scared of all the shopping carts, it was like Super Market Sweep meets The Autobahn. What was scarier, were the nannies with the strollers, using them as plows with small children inside. Eeek. After work is usually busy, but you if you know where you are going, it is pretty easy to navigate. Just have a plan before you go. Best times to come are later in the evening.
Happy shopping, and don’t forget a helmet and protective gear!