The Food Emporium

I live a few blocks away from this supermarket, moved into the neighborhood almost three years ago. I was happy to have a supermarket so close, and have a food emporium in the neighborhood. Although their prices are ridiculous, the food was fresh! I recently shopped there a few weeks ago for a few things, and while there i picked up a few boxes of Steakums. I tend to eat steakums as a source of red meat protein because it’s a quick fix. Prior to Key Food taking over the steakums were always nicely red and fresh. The last two boxes I bought were disgusting. The meat was brown, looked like it had been thawed out and refrozen several times, i couldn’t even separate the slices. They were BROWN and really nasty looking. The dates on the boxes said expires October 2016, but it expired a long time ago. I had to trash them. I was not happy when I found out Keyfood now owned this store, because I knew the quality of food would go down. Keyfood is one of those stores that you find in all of the low income neighborhoods/​aka the ghetto in New York. They don’t serve fresh food, definitely not fresh meat. In fact the last time I was there, i smelled rotten meat. I knew at that moment that the quality of food being sold here was already going down. I won’t ever buy a meat source from there again. In fact I won’t buy veggies there either, because they don’t stay fresh very long. Keyfood has taken over this store, the quality of food is bad, and the prices are still sky high. Now I will have to find another store to shop at.

For the prices they charge they should really hire friendlier staff. There is one cashier who actually makes eye contact and is pleasant. The rest treat you like an imposition from them checking their Twitter. The selection of food is decent but the service is appalling.

Great ready made food items and to go salads. Tourists can pick up an inexpensive lunch or dinner, drinks, and go about their way. I stocked up on wraps and salads and kept them in my hotel fridge during the blizzard Jan 23. Happy camper!

Overpriced, and the produce is not particular fresh or phenomenal. They’re normally low in stock with most products. I feel it’s price is mostly attributed to its location. We only come here if it’s an emergency.
Staff can be nice sometimes but at other times disinterested.

If I could give a place 0 stars, I’d give it to food emporium. Their food is rarely fresh and most of the time they’re low on stock on everything. Even worse, their employees aren’t helpful at all. And to top that off, everything is overpriced.
I live around the corner so this is usually one of the few grocery stores I go to. On many separate occasions they’ve run out of the following: cauliflower, avocado, lime, and all alcohol (yes. I came here once and they only had 1 bottle of wine left in the store).
Then, the cashiers people are always checking their phone or eating while ringing up the items.
If only a fairways or whole foods could replace this place.

Apparently, as of four weeks ago, they are no longer Food Emporium. They are now a different store and no longer accept Food Emporium membership cards. When I asked what the new deal is, the cashier was tight-​lipped about it. As far as I can see the signs haven’t changed though. Prices are still a dollar or two higher than most other places.
The employees are equally distant, and we now no longer get Food Emporium card discounts… So basically this is a worse version of Food Emporium.
If that’s even possible.

Really like to stop in at the market. Right down the block from many of the theater’s on 8 th ave and 49 th st. Love their fresh muffins cost only 1.49 each. Make fresh salads you can sit at the counter and people watch on 8^th ave

Easy and not too expensive

This is just one of those places that inspires people to join Unilocal and write hate reviews.
The food layout, while confusing, is fine and so is the quality. The produce in particular is well maintained. The place appears clean and always stocked up. Variety is good. Prices are high.
Why two stars? The people who work here are ridiculous. They don’t look at you in the eye when you check out or speak directly to you. If you ask any question, they actually ignore you. I typically don’t generalize, but I’d encourage you to check these scene out for itself. Plus, my mobile coupons never load because the store is underground.
I can’t.

When the dining options in the area are Chinese with a side of fries, ramen made from Hokkien noodles, a restaurant advertised as selling sushi + pizza, this was enough to scare us to retreat to the Food Emporium supermarket to look for other options.
During our stay in NYC, this supermarket was our staple. It was the only place (apart from Whole Foods and similar supermarkets) with healthy options.
The ground level has takeaway options like soup and pizza (not healthy) and sushi.
The basement level is a high end supermarket and stocks all types of goods and brands.
Prices are high and service isn’t great — as the other reviewers pointed out, they seemed grumpy and inefficient. But on the whole, I was so glad to find Food Emporium! Bought breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks from here.

Kind of a cross between Whole Foods and Trader Joes with plenty of freshly cooked items. Although I didn’t try it they have a large on-​site bakery. If you are looking for take home this would be a good choice.
My four star rating isn’t intended to be negative it’s just that a grocery store with hot foods isn’t really a restaurant experience. To be clear I’ve taken food from here and enjoyed it, and I’d recommend it if you are looking for a take home meal.

Cashiers never know produce codes. They look confused and out of place, rummage around for the codes and put the wrong ones in. They have not been trained correctly.
Huge long lines. Only one cashier will be open while you see many employees over at the customer service area talking, including the manager.

As far as your options go in midtown for to go food and groceries, this is a good, convenient spot. Their prepared food selection is excellent, and it’s cheaper than getting takeout at a restaurant in this neighborhood. I eat there all the

I love this place, I have no idea why it has so few stars. It’s a real live grocery store in the middle of Manhattan. They have reasonable prices and everyone I’ve ever met here is genuinely nice: a rarity for NY if you know what I mean.
They have great fresh fish, they carry almost everything you could want and the prices are far better than any other grocery in the area (Amish Market I’m looking at you).
I wish they had more fresh produce and carried some more obscure things (pomegranate seeds if anyone is reading), but other than that this place rocks. It’s also open until midnight so it’s steps above just for that!

I will never complain about Gristede’s again!
Stopped here to pick up something on the way home the other night and descended to the grocery area downstairs. The upstairs is more of a quick deli/​bakery area where you can snatch prepared foods. It’s okay up there although things are pricey and you need to double check expiration dates.
However, the grocery store portion downstairs is not good at all. First of all, it smelled horrible. Like old garbage or bad fish, with the smell of bleach-​based cleaning solution trying to cover it up. I looked at some of the vegetables and realized there was no way I could eat any of them because they looked like they were on display from a museum. Based on the smell, the sorry state of produce and the general creepiness of this store, I wouldn’t buy a can of coffee down here.
I did, however, purchase a piece of red velvet cake upstairs. It was okay. At least the upstairs doesn’t smell bad.

I want some… strawberries… pineapple…papaya…and grapes… but…noooooo we don’t have any of that stuff …
yes…but i love how NYC has supermarkets everywhere in walking distance! with foods… crockery…knick knacks… card. etc …and all the choices of brands and food.
i hate very small versions of supermarkets… cute and unique supermarket and the quality was pretty good… but wayyyy too over priced… stuff is fresh… theres different types of foods… Two floors… the service isn’t that good and there is no one higher to complain to… The produces was pretty expensive… for the amount I’m getting.

Don’t come here. Just don’t.
Pros:
–they have seating for people who buy food here (and the tables in the back have a place where you can charge your phone)
Cons:
–the food sucks so bad. Everything is advertised as fresh, but it’s really not. I had an overly salty soup and my sister had a plain salad.
–service is horrendous. The people who work here make you feel like you’re in jail waiting in line to pay for your food. They’re just plain rude
–although they have tables, the area was dirty and had trash on the tables and floor
I’d much prefer whole food and even trader joes over this.

Au sous-​sol le super marché très bien achalandé, Presque trop.
Les tarifs sont un peu élevés, mais la quantité impressionnante d’articles permet de s’en sortir correctement