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Back To the Land
Category: Food Specialty Food Health Markets Health Markets [Edit]
142 7th Ave(between 2nd Ave & 3rd Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Neighborhood: Park Slope
(718) 768-5654
- Nearest Transit:
-
Grand Army Plaza (2, 3, 4)
7 Av (B, Q)
Union St (D, N, R)
- Price Range:
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$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Mr H. said: "Tony's is my go to Health Food Store. They are the best in the area and the staff knows what they are talking about and can actually help you find what you need. The have the most loose herbal teas of any store in Brooklyn and I just…" read more »
31 reviews for Back To the Land
Review Highlights
31 reviews in English
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Review from Emily S.
Brooklyn, NY
9/11/2011
I've been to every health food and gourmet shop in the area, and this is the only one that carries quinoa flour. They also have the lowest prices on almond meal. Of course it's expensive -- it's organic specialty food in a high-rent area. The prices are high but completely reasonable. I was having a hard time locating carob powder, and before I could even ask for help, a store employee asked me if I needed anything. He knew exactly where it was.
Best selection, relatively speaking the lowest prices, and a very helpful staff. -
Review from Lisa Jane C.
Brooklyn, NY
11/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
This review refers to the makeup only, so be advised. I was interested in some of the lip glosses but saw only the testers - the store doesn't have tissues, alcohol and what else you need to safely try the items. Even if I had found these things, I would not have been able to buy anything because I saw only the testers - where was the stock kept? Must be a well-guarded secret. Also didn't see any sales associates so I could get help. Will stick with Whole Foods.
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Review from Lama B.
4/18/2011
Wow, no one on Yelp loves Back to the Land. My mother refuses to remember the name and calls the Back to Earth. Same same but different. I digress...
I really don't mind this place at all. It is expensive, but for me the location is convenient and they are actually quite accomodating. A few times the produce was ruined, but they let us trade it out without a receipt and no questions were asked. The staff were actually pretty nice and they walked our groceries home even thought it was "after 7". They have lots of specialty products, including white miso and Tamari, as well as a whole bunch of tofus and organic meats. The vitamin section is extensive as is the herbal hair dye section. The juice bar is my favorite and they make a delicious green juice drink. Have it with ginger. Yum. -
Review from Kath B.
Brooklyn, NY
5/20/2011
They have a good variety of stuff, the prices are a little steep but I come here like once every month whenever I pass by. The yogi teas are at a good price, maybe they have gone up now since I have not been in a while.
Anyway, there is a dreadlock dude, he is pretty cool. The rest of staff is alright.
Just the prices irk me thats all. -
Review from Megan C.
Brooklyn, NY
12/14/2010
If I don't get my groceries from FreshDirect, I usually buy them at Back to the Land. They have a lot of good vegan and organic groceries, and some really yummy prepared foods as well.
The staff is a little strange and not totally friendly, and the prices are really high, but they almost always have what I'm looking for, so it will remain my FreshDirect backup.Listed in: The Basics
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Review from Haley C.
Jersey City, NJ
2/16/2007
As natural food stores go, this one is middle of the road, really the only thing fantastic about the place is the location. The selection's okay, but this place is pretty overpriced, even for Park Slope. Definitely caters more to PS residents of the yuppy variety.
Definitely makes taking the trip braving the crowds at Trader Joe's seem much more appealing. -
Review from Anne H.
Brooklyn, NY
12/20/2009
Echoing every other statement: yes, their ish is expensive. But Fairway is in Red Hook, I'm lazy, I'm high, and I need my gluten free pretzels before I bust a cap in someone's ass.
Their gluten free selection is pretty good. They sell Nut Thins, Bell and Evans GF chicken, and tons of cereal (like Ian's, Barbara's, etc). I've never encountered any new (to me) GF products, but I can always count on them having the usual suspects.
Professionalism is pretty much nonexistent here. When I was checking out, the clerk was talking to the other clerk about her 'coke bender' from the following night. Considering parents and kids come in, you might want to save that kind of rhetoric for your off hours, Susie Slut. -
Review from Jaimie L.
4/5/2011
I only come here to get a hair moisturizing must for my tresses made by Qhemet Biologics. And this is the ONLY location in New York. They only carry a limited quantity and it's not always in stock. Rather than call, which you may find yourself on hold for a very...........................very............... ...............still waiting.........................., very long time, I just head on over there. But, I usually plan a few errands in the area (lunch, a trip to Toy Space to get something for my nephews) in case they don't have my product in stock and that way my trip wasn't a complete waste of time. And that usually works out for me.
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Review from Amy G.
Brooklyn, NY
8/11/2009
Being the only real health food store in this hood, it's good in a pinch. Say you need soy whipped cream, or maybe looking for vegan gelatin.... however, it's kind a dump, it's way over pr iced and their selection of vitamins and supplements is greater than their selection of organic produce.
The staff is generally clueless, and not very helpful. When I asked for agar they told me they no longer sold it, and demanded to know what I wanted it for (a vegan cheesecake), which they then suggested I just buy one already made. Luckily I ended up finding the agar on my own in the corner.
I find the quality of almost everything packaged here is gross-ly close to it's due date, and even purchased a packaged sandwich once that was mold ridden inside. Ick. -
Review from Ryan Matthew P.
Seattle, WA
4/6/2008
They don't call it, "BACK TO THE BANK" for nothing. This place is so over priced I can't even tell you. I went here one day to buy a Tofurky and they charged $25. Keep in mind that at any other store including Whole Foods that same item is anywhere from $12-$15....yeah, you get my drift.
If you want organic groceries or at least a similar assortment of foods, it's definitely worth the car service to go to Fairway in Red Hook. Trust me, your bill will be 75% less and you won't feel like you were just bent over a log and f*cked with a stick.
Speaking of which, I think I'm still bleeding... -
Review from A. T.
Brooklyn, NY
7/10/2010
Back Of the Hand! Bad experience with their arbitrary return policy. Went to return a product for $5.95 within their "5-day policy" from a $35 bill. I had already spent twice that a few weeks prior.
Manager lady said if I didn't get an allergic reaction she wouldn't accept the return, "Because used products can't be resold so we lose that money," I asked her, "Do you recognize that by not accepting a $6 return (that abides by your own previously stated policy, for in store credit, money stays in the store), you lose any future money I would spend here?" She said, "Yes, I recognize that. I make the return policy up on a case-by-case basis."
Overall: quaint ambiance, small variety, staff not too knowledgable and as other reviewers have said prices are higher than average (most items cost less at Whole Foods). -
Review from Eve S.
10/10/2009
Santa Cruz Lemondade for $1.99 YAY
Yogi Tea for $2.99 (the only place I have found it cheaper is at vitacost online)
My fellow Yelpers are right about the prices and the general state of the place-I got some ready made sundried tomato baked tofu dumplings-YUM!
I have been making more of an effort to go here and get some things because they have been in the neighborhood for awhile and support yoru local businesses and such. -
Review from Arthur O.
Greenwich Village, New York, NY
12/10/2007
My friend used to work here so I got free freshly squeezed juices. My favorite was the Morning Cleanser. It's claim to fame is in its results - and the taste, too, I suppose. It also budded my still tender love affair with beets (who knew).
My friend got groceries for next to nothing, so I benefited from that, too, but now that she's moved on, Back to the Land is off our mental maps, maybe for good.
But honestly, if it was located in Fort Greene/ Clinton Hill, I would pay the extra bucks for some fresh produce and fruits. I'm so fucking sick of Associated Super-Shitty Markets. -
Review from Melissa M.
New York, NY
8/21/2010
Meh, expensive and mediocre, but I go here once in awhile to relish the joy that suburban people get to experience so often: that of walking into a grocery store, getting what you need, and leaving. The Park Slope Coop might have eggs for less...but shopping there is hazardous for your sanity. Whole Foods and Trader Joes aren't much better...
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Review from Eric F.
Brooklyn, NY
2/15/2011
Super stupid expensive, but sometimes I have to go anyway for hard to find faux meats. Staff seems weird and fairly unfriendly, but I probably would be too if I worked at a glorified hippie bodega.
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Review from Casey d.
Brooklyn, NY
6/22/2010
I really don't like being inside this place. It feels icky... like it's never been properly cleaned. I've bought food all to get it home and find that it's expired and/or moldy. Plus the staff is useless and rude. I stick to the packaged dry food because it's hard to screw that up and buy everything else somewhere else.
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Review from Jessica S.
New York, NY
10/31/2010
If you need bulk products, japanese teas (kukicha, gen mai cha) or vitamins, this place is fine. staff is weird and it takes too long to use credit cards (once a cashier left me for 5 min while she searched for a price). I don't care about much from my cashiers except for efficiency. They used to carry a vitamin I use, now they don't. The organization of the store is illogical (why is gen mai cha with japanese products in that one corner but the rest of the tea is across from the shampoo?) if you're patient and in the area and need something, it's fine.
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Review from Ro J.
Brooklyn, NY
8/8/2011
I sometimes buy supplements here because the selection is good and they offer attractive discounts and sales. The owners have always been helpful and pleasant. The layout, like in a lot of Slope shops, leaves much to be desired. They sometimes run out of products and fail to restock. I like the juice bar and wish they'd expand their offerings.
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Review from Jennifer S.
Huntington Station, NY
2/16/2007
The layout sucks. they dont have a GREAT selection and its way pricey. It is park slope though. I get what i need that i cant get in pathmark and thats cool. Pathmark needs a natural foods aisle.
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Review from Jessica M.
Seattle, WA
2/7/2006
Kiss My Face! Fruit leather! Chocolate! Sparkling juice! Emergen-C! Cookies that purport to be healthy! I agree with Alex H., it's too expensive for regular grocery shopping, but it works for extras and treats. Reminds me of the health food co-op in Williamstown, Mass., and anything that gets me out of city mode is a good thing.
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Review from Marie F.
New York, NY
11/29/2009
I like a lot of what they sell at Back to the Land, but their prices are INSANE. One man who works there was very nice & suggested something for me but the cashiers are always very preoccupied & indifferent, and this older man stared me down as if he were waiting for me to steal something rather than asking if I needed help. I spent twice what I would have at Trader Joe's and only went here because Trader Joe's is such a chaotic mess especially on Sundays. I think dealing with the chaos would be better than forking over so much money on so little food. Organics & natural foods should cost less & this store is only perpetuating the reasons why so many people eat junk food: it's cheap!
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Review from Randi C.
Brooklyn, NY
12/1/2008
I like the store - quaint and cozy, but it is pricey. I don't do food shopping there - I only go to buy a brand of hair products that's only distributed to that store.
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Review from Jess H.
Brooklyn, NY
8/16/2009
I go here when I have a hankerin' for Tofurky, which is fairly often. They have some pretty great little items, but yes, they are pricey. Just pretend that you're putting that saved subway fare toward the grocery bill.
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Review from Kitty Z.
Lake Hiawatha, NJ
1/20/2011
layout sucks, rude staff, but great expensive selection even though its laid out weird. ok one whole star for the giant coconut water.and one for THE ONLY AUTOMATIC DOOR in all brooklyn lol!****edit**** ok so i went back after trying other groceries in the area this is the best one. and the past few sales people were much nicer than the first one. one more star. id give u five but everyone single one the the horn rimmed glasses wearing workers needs to go.
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Review from m l.
Brooklyn, NY
5/30/2010
if only i could give no stars. It's not that the store doesn't offer products that i want and need, but the attitude of the employees is beyond unbearable. there is obviously no management in this store. employees stand in groups talking to each other, blocking aisles, not offering to help. after searching for what i needed for 10 minutes, i asked someone in the department if they had the brand i was looking for, and was told she "didn't know" and to "hang on a minute", then she went back to staring at her co-worker. i assumed they didn't carry it, because obviously she should know if they did. the people at the registers, who are in a position where they would have to interact with customers, manage not to by talking on their cellphones throughout ringing customers up. seriously. i left without making my purchase, its so not worth it.
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Review from rachel g.
Brooklyn, NY
11/23/2008
i want to love this place, i really do, but honestly, it's just ok and kinda overpriced. it's a decent go to place when in a pinch for run of the mill natural foods and products but that's just about it and the staff can be a bit snooty for my liking.
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Review from mag m.
Brooklyn, NY
5/26/2009
super expensive and not actually carrying brands that are terribly organic, i don't get it. also their meat and deli section is pathetic. key food is two blocks away people. the quality is comprable and key food is far less a) expensive and b) pretentious (although where would one find a pretentious key food? oberlin?)
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Review from M S.
Brooklyn, NY
7/25/2010
This is a nice place to stop by when you need just a few things and have no desire to schlep to Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. They have a big selection, not the friendliest staff, though. And, yeah, the prices are pretty high...
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Review from arielle g.
Brooklyn, NY
2/28/2010
I must admit that I have a special place in my heart for Back to the Land. The first time I was in Park Slope, looking at an apartment and thinking about moving to the neighborhood, I came across Back to the Land while wandering along 7th Avenue. I loved the coziness of the store, as well as all of the interesting products they sold. Now that I've been living in the Slope for over five years, my love for Back to the Land is not what it used to be, however, I do stop in a couple of times a week for some special items. Yes, most of the produce there is very expensive, but much of it is local and often a decent price. And yes, some of the people working there are a bit strange and not the most helpful. But, there are a handful of people working there who are extremely helpful and kind, like the stock guy, who always gets the box of tea that I can't reach and the produce guy, who chats with me about fruits and veggies. If you love Yogi Tea, this is the place to get it, at the cheapest price ever! And of course, I would not survive without the Kisses Knishes that they sell (you can find me there stocking up on delivery day).
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Review from Nikolas K.
Brooklyn, NY
6/26/2009
I go to the juice bar here, which is good. Otherwise I do my shopping at the Coop.
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Review from lynn w.
Brooklyn, NY
1/15/2009
About a year ago I was very ill and wanted to have some wheatgrass. I called to find out what time they would be selling wheatgrass till. The girl I spoke with on the phone told me up till closing time. So I made a special, out of my way trip to the store. Well, the juice bar was already closed and when I told them that I called and asked, a cashier told me that I was wrong and that she meant that they sell frozen wheatgrass and pill forms up until closing. Of course they do...they sell everything from the store up until closing. Instead of offering me an apology...this girl yelled at me and told me that I was the one that was wrong...I asked to speak to a manager because this girl was SCREAMING at me....there was not one to be found. I have never ever been treated in such an outrageous manner. THIS STORE IS THE WORST PLACE I HAVE EVER BEEN IN! I WILL NEVER GO BACK IN THERE AND I TELL EVERYONE I MEET ABOUT THE AWFUL WAY THEY TREAT THEIR CUSTOMERS.
