Wagshal’s

I really don’t know where to begin. Let’s start here, if 0 stars was an option, it’d be my choice. I live near this new Wagshals and was glad when it opened. There isn’t another grocery option so close by. Well, their produce is often rancid and it seems as if they never check it. Their cheeses and dairy are ALWAYS expired. They have this section in their freezer of «exotic» meats that I’m sure haven’t moved since the day they opened and their freezer meals are always a mess. I think their main problem can be summed up as lacking consistency. They overprice their pastry goods and the holiday cookies are beautiful but are extortionist prices… and they ALWAYS have an abundance leftover after the holiday and still try to sell them days after, which is disgusting.
Their service is appalling. Adam, the bald-​headed, short-​tempered, crass manager is a disgrace. He’s rude to staff AND customers. I always feel so bad for the staff. Many of them are so nice. The cashier lady, I forget her name, she’s Hispanic and has long dark hair, goes above and beyond and is always in great cheer. The seafood and meat guy is also fantastic. I think his name is Alex. Their other manager, Isis, is a gem. She’s funny and really knows her stuff. She can tell you anything you want to know about wine (even though their wine selection leaves much to be desired). She has personally helped me shop several times and I really trust her opinion. She was out one day and I asked Adam to assist me and he blew me off saying something to the tune of: do it yourself. Well, Adam, I will do it myself elsewhere. You’re the absolute worst! Fire this guy already!

Three stars only because there aren’t many options for the people that work on the same strip. The setup is really stupid and confusing to people who dont pay attention… So, most of their customers don’t seem to get it causing the place to run like a madhouse some days. It’s tough for me on a lunch break having to get in and out. Inconsistent service and food. For example, I used to love the BBQ pulled pork sandwich until on several occasions the meat was too tough, almost hard, like it was old and/​or recooked.
The hot bar is pretty good because of the variety. Soups are always delicious.
The cashiers are generally nice, but this one guy is an ass. Second example, I am always eating to go so the lady-​cashiers ask if I need utensils as they do everyone else. This guy didn’t offer, so I asked. It took everything in me not to correct his smart self for pointing to the back of the restaurant to get my own utensils. Like what a jerk. Never had that happen. He totally should not be at the register and I doubt I trust someone with a bad attitude as a cook either. Every time I see him he treats people the same despite how busy or slow they are. The guys that bring the meals to the tables can be annoying too. They are not restaurant quality either… They will totally cut you off and bump into you without a sorry or «pardon.»
As soon as I walk in… I cannot wait to get out.

Excellent service and food. Adam the store manager has a great crew and a well run store. Julia and Lashiya are only a couple of the customer service superstars they have working there. I look forward to frequenting that establishment for many years to come.

We are avid customers at Wagshal’s. Getting used to the high prices in DC is unfortunate and Wagshal’s is, by no means, an exception. The sandwiches are delicious and there are different options like chicken liver and beef tongue. And, if you’re willing to throw down, we absolutely recommend the french fries. Also, look to the bottom of the fridge for fresh squeezed juices and lemonade – very refreshing!
The quality of food and quality of service are, generally, exceptional. Though, we did have one incident here when the individual taking our order got frustrated (we had a few adjustments to sandwiches, i.e. additions of mayo, substituting cheeses, etc) and began making snarky, rude comments.
So, Wagshal’s gets three stars. It does taste good, but the prices for a sandwich are kind of ridiculous. We’ll be back either way.
PS– If you have time, take a walk to the other side of the store for some gourmet foodstuffs and brews!

I stopped by today with a friend to grab a quick bite. Upon entering we were quickly seated and the waitress that took care of us did an excellent job as she was very attentive. I know what I like when it comes to sandwiches and went ahead with the Rueben.
Verdict: the Rueben was solid and it really hit the spot. The one downside was that it was a bit soggy underneath, so the lower half of my Rueben was not toasted to perfection the way the upper half was. Needless to say, the flavor profile was definitely there and I would get it again.
I think I’ll come back again.

Overpriced deli! Brisket sandwich is pretty good, but a lunch will cost you $ 13+ after you add chips and a drink! Not to mention, Sugar cookies were $ 4 for 2 cookies! Wow!

Not sure why anyone would give this place 5 stars. Ever heard the phrase «good from afar but far from good?» Well that’s exactly how I would describe Wagshal’s. The food looks delicious, but once you actually consume it, it’s pure catcrap. I had a very bland butternut squash soup in a bread bowl that had probably been made 4 days prior.
With so many other options for fresh bread, pastries, and sandwiches/​soups in the city, I will most definitely not be returning.

A year later and another frustrating & time-​consuming experience. They still don’t know the prices — or different people quote different prices — and their customer service is terrible. The food is usually good and the people are friendly, so I wish I could give them even 2 stars. But who needs all that hassle when you’re just trying to buy what they’re selling?
We ordered a bunch of pies for Thanksgiving. I called to ask if our order was ready for pickup and was told all orders were ready (they didn’t check on mine specifically.)
When I arrived, they had no record of it. Everything we’d ordered was available off the shelf but since yhey had emphasized that the order was final and could not be canceled, I was worried they might charge us twice and wanted to avoid that headache. Half an hour later I was able to get the invoice sent via email. Oh, they say, it’s Spring Valley Catering, that’s why we didn’t find it. Seriously?
Guys, we ordered from Wagshalls, were told to pick up at Wagshall’s but somehow they fill the order with a sister company and can’t figure that out? To add insult to injury, 45 minutes into my effort to pick up the order, the manager says, oh this is the wrong price for the dozen mini pies, they’re $ 1.50 more each, I can show you. I just said, «it’s a contract.» Their contract. He honored the price. They wouldn’t let me switch a pecan pie for a pumpkin pie, «because it’s a catering order,» even though they had a TON of each. Big confusion followed about how much the Thanksgiving cookies cost.
The manager had a nice kid bring the pies to my car. I tipped him $ 5 since it was Thanksgiving eve — he was psyched.

Food us great but the organizational set up is horrible. Who knows which line to use.

The convenience of this store from where I live is great and really the only reason I still come here. I was so exciting when it opened but the service is pretty poor. It can take so long to get checked out for one item even when the store is close to empty. Checkout process is very poorly organized and if you try to follow the signs and wait in line as directed you will never get checked out. Could really use some redesign but mostly customer service training.

hostile employees, and overpriced and puny sandwiches.
Try Whole Foods, Dean & DeLuca, or Stachowski Market & Deli instead.

Great addition to the neighborhood and obviously very popular among families, yuppies, and college students alike.
Nonetheless, the flow of purchasing food/​drink and paying is very messed up. People keep running into each other because the directions for where to go are nonexistent and because the space is pretty narrow.
Love the sandwich options, and the bakery is probably its best feature.
I’d say watch people get food — and stumble — before getting into line yourself. You’re going to need some time to decide what to eat, anyway.

I had a really terrible customer service experience here. When I came in the store I saw a few chalkboards on the counter advertising 10% off all raw meat and seafood. So I went to the butcher case and ordered a few things. On a piece of steak, the guy working the counter rang it up at $ 18.99/lb instead of the $ 14.99/lb listed on the price tag. When I pointed this out to him, his reaction wasn’t to fix the price, but to tell me, «well, I put in flank steak and $ 18.99/lb is what’s in the system.» I repeated that they had it listed as $ 14.99/lb, and after reaching into the case to check the tag, he begrudgingly agreed to ring it up at the listed price.
Then at the register, after I paid for the steak and a couple of other things, I looked at the receipt and realized I hadn’t gotten the advertised 10% off. I told the guy at the register this, and his response was «oh no, we’re not doing that promotion anymore.» I told him they still had it posted, and he challenged me, «where?» I pointed out multiple chalkboards with the promotion advertised, and he told me, «well, it’s not in the system so I can’t give you the discount.» I asked if he really wasn’t going to honor a promotion that was still being advertised in the store, and he made a big show of opening the register and counting out in cash the few dollars to make up the 10%.
It was just a few bucks, but I was really put off by back-​to-​back interactions in which I was only asking staff to honor the prices and promotions that they were advertised in the store, and the response was to argue with me and treat me like I was being unreasonable, instead of admitting the mistakes and making it right.

If you’re looking for a great deli in Washington DC, then look no further. I first heard about this deli on a top 10 sandwiches in DC and they were #1. Rightfully so. This is the newer location for Wagshals and while the food is the same at either spot, this one is where you should go for the better seating and more elbow room when ordering.
I usually like to get the Turkey Stuffing Thing (yep actually called that) since it is basically Thanksgiving in a sandwich. Its warm and delicious and amazing. The cuban sandwich or the brisket or the #25 (roast beef with russian dressing and cole slaw mixed together) are all fabulous as well. The deli has has a huge selection of unique potato chips which is a nice compliment to the sandwich and a large selection of gourmet sodas. Only negative to this place is that you will probably spend around $ 13 for a sandwich, chips and soda. But you get what you pay for.
You must go!

Thank you, Kemal at Wagshal’s for educating me on all there is to eat and love about Wagshal’s on New Mexico Ave in NW. I used to live down the street, and I am legitimately bummed I didn’t know of their GF HOMEMADE BREADS — YES PLURAL, BREADS!!! I am enjoying a Wagshal’s #275 as I write this review. Yesterday I had it on gluten free white but today I switched it up and went sundried tomato (cheddar also available). This sandwich is perfection — turkey, russian and coleslaw. A classic. There are so many cold and hot sandwiches to choose from, but I am a #275 loyalist. If you have a hankering for kosher-​style deli, this is the place. $ 7.99 for sandwich and pickle.
In addition, this market has a butcher and fish counters on the premises. It’s pricey but the quality of the meat is apparent and better than what you’re getting a your local grocery store. They also have a nice bakery selection.
Outdoor seating available.

Super friendly people that work there which I love. It’s a little pricey, but that’s to be expected. Everything is fresh and there’s a lot of organic stuff so I’m pretty excited that this place is within walking distance. Oh and I noticed a ton of gluten free pastries which made my day! I’ll be back shortly I’m sure.

Have had good experiences at the Mass Ave location, and we specifically sought this new location out. Got a brisket sandwich and a pulled pork sandwich. Unfortunately they’re mostly bread, VERY stingy on the actual meat. Which sucks since you’re paying quite a bit.
I would have given two stars but I’m trying to be nice.

Deli sandwiches are good but pricey. $ 11.00 for lunch every day adds up so I cant eat here often but its fine for a splurge.
But my God is it the most confusing place to navigate! They missed an opportunity when they built this place. Why are the signs and the queues so confusing? You know it is a bad sign when it takes a small army of staff members to point you in the right direction.
I guess Bill (is that his name?), the curmudgeonly owner drew up the plans for this place.

I come to Wagshal’s often, both for groceries and a quick bite to eat. I understand why some Unilocalers have problems with the set up. It’s quite complicated where you have to order at one booth and then pay at another. The prices for the prepared food really is not too bad. A nice panini is about $ 7.50 and it comes with a pickle but it does take them forever to grill it. I love their cold sandwiches because they are packed with veggies that are super fresh!
As for groceries, the produce is always fresh and prices are good. The meat is expensive but you get what you pay for… quality is amazing. Their breads are nice but sometimes they can be super stale so I’m always asking them to give me a new loaf, etc. Some of their desserts are good (crème brule yum!) but some are not (chocolate cheesecake. bleh) and the price is decent but the portions are SMALL.
Some of the people behind the counter can be a tad rude but then there are those who are super sweet and helpful. Wagshal’s is convenient and therefore a bit expensive but give their hot foods a try!

It’s so nice to have a new lunch option near the office! A bit less expensive than the other neighborhood options, with a good-​sized menu, plus plenty of dine-​in area: Wagshals is a welcome addition.
The salads are my favorite thing here, especially the Kale College (with sliced apples, celery, flax seeds, and curry vinaigrette.) They’re not cheap, but you get a lot of salad for your buck. My husband loves their sandwiches — the reuben and Italian cold cut have been his faves so far. You even get a little latke and pickle with your sandwich, which is fun.
There is certainly some room for improvement. The vegetarian sandwiches here are exceedingly boring and I’d love to see some more fun, interesting options for meat-​free fillings. Also, there aren’t any ingredients or dietary info listed for the soups, which is unhelpful. A vegetarian coworker recently came back to the office with a cup of their lentil soup, not noticing the chunks of meat until he had taken a bite.
With all of the fun stuff in the pastry case, it’s hard to resist, but I’ve found their sweets to be hit or miss. Anything that you might find in a NY deli has been solid, like the black and white cookie and the poppy seed hamantash. The cake pops are truly awful — reminiscent of a stale donut hole dipped in confectioners coating. The double (or triple?) chocolate cookie was a bust as well, surprisingly bland, dry, and too sweet by a mile.
A few small changes would have me singing the praises of this deli, so I’m curious to see if they up their game once the students return to campus for the fall. Right now, it’s a solid 3.5 stars.