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Safeway
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
22 reviews for Safeway
22 reviews in English
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Review from Kate C.
Los Altos, CA
Updated - 9/25/2011
Update: Store is slated for 2012 rebuild according to the assistant manager. Nov-12 will get demolished and will reopen 3 months later in Feb-13. In the meantime the new Safeway at El Camino and San Antonio will be open (they are shutting down the California Ave location)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/9/2011
Wow I'm surprised that so many people hate this Safeway. I shop here every week - it is certainly… Read more »
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Review from Adam V.
Los Altos, CA
9/9/2011
I would give this Safeway 0 stars if I could. It's small and dumpy. It is the worst Safeway I've ever been to in my life. I've been to Safeway's in the middle of no where that are 10 times nicer than this one. The funny thing is this Safeway has always sucked. It's not like it recently became run down. There is only one reason why I come here, its the closest one to my house. The only thing I ever buy are everyday essentials. I wouldn't buy meat here or god forbid seafood. As Kevin C mentioned I've found items on the shelf that are past their sell by date. In fact it happens a lot.
Yesterday was the proverbially straw that broke the camels back. I decided to get some potato salad for dinner. Big mistake. I got violently ill. It was the worst case of food poisoning in my life. You know one of those times where you feel like death might be a better option. I absolutely punished the toilet bowl all night. Needless to say I won't be purchasing any more potato salad at Safeway again. I pretty much won't buy anything that has a remote possibility of giving me food poisoning here. There are 2 other nicer Safeway's within about 5-10 minute drive so I will probably be going to those more often. However, I'll probably keep coming back here because it's convenient. -
Review from Eve F.
Ilion, NY
1/2/2012
I know the inventory/facilities in this store are limited (after all it is a small/unrenovated store but updates are on the way), but I have received incredible service at this store. I rented a Rug Doctor from this Safeway and the upholstery hose was stuck in the machine; I was home alone with 2 kids (with my carseats pulled out so I could clean them), so I was kind of in a pickle. Mike M., a store associate, drove to my house to help me with the machine. Now that's 5 star service.
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Review from Tina A.
4/11/2011
I wholeheartedly agree with what the other reviewers have said; this Safeway is small and run-down. I'm surprised those that live in Los Altos haven't demanded that this place be remodeled yet. We'll lend you our construction team in Los Gatos once ours is complete!
With Draeger's down the street, these guys need to get with the program. On a side note: I came in to purchase flowers this week and they were all wilting. ET phone home. -
Review from Richard G.
Los Altos Hills, CA
4/23/2011
Like other yelpers have pointed out it appears to be a Safeway that time and corporation has forgotten about as they have updated others in Sunnyvale (new) and upgraded Sharon Heights.
Maybe it should be renamed the LOST ALTOS Safeway?
This is the closest Safeway to my home, but I have found it really lacking in the worst produce selection, often out of stock of items and since it is a small store it only stocks a very narrow selection of products.
On top of that they have one really wacko checker (you know who I mean) lady I try to avoid at all costs. She is the one that gives you a running commentary on what you bought and maybe what you plan on doing with it. Not very PC.
I treat is like the largest 7-Eleven you have ever seen since the store is open 24 hours and you pay a premium for that! What this translates to I have to drive further to get quality last minute items to prepare for my meals.
They really need to refurbish/expand/upgrade this Safeway. -
Review from Kevin C.
Los Altos, CA
5/13/2011
Agree with all the other Yelpers that is store is outdated, downtrodden and grimy. More problematic is that recently I found groceries on the shelf that were past their sell by date, and looked downright gross!
Seriously, what will it take for this store to be upgraded? The City of Los Altos should insist on some type of improvement, and maybe more of the residents of Los Altos will start frequenting the downtown area.
Its a real shame to live in Los Altos and have a Safeway store like this. -
Review from Betty N.
10/1/2010
**THIS SAFEWAY SUCKED MAJOR ASS**
Ghetto Safeway in Los Altos? Yes. Believe it.
Small, old, and drabby was the name of this Safeway.
I was craving ice cream (and no I am not pregnant), so dragged myself into this hell hole.
One cash register was opened.
Only one.
And there was a line forming. Mind you, it's only 8PM, not 2AM, it's 8PM. And there was only ONE cash register operating.
10 people in line.
Then 15.
"Excuse me, can you open another cash register?" I asked.
"Umm, the guy is on break" was the response.
Um really. How convenient.
One star you shall receive.
NOT RECOMMEND, keep driving.Listed in: IN THE LOS ALTOS HOOD
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Review from Kate T.
11/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
This Safeway used to be reputable.
Unfortunately, it seems like they're trying to differentiate themselves from Dragers a block away by being dirty and stocking only cheap garbage. -
Review from Archie R.
5/5/2008
If you didn't get a chance to visit soviet Russia when the place was collapsing, you are in luck.
Just roll on out to the Safeway in Los Altos.
With it's barren aisles and it's relentless pushing of "State sponsored goods" (Safeway Select), you will get a glimpse into the daily life of an early 1990's communist.
Given that I was in Central America for the past 14 days, I wanted four things when I returned.
Diet Pepsi.
Salami.
Triscuts.
Heinz Ketchup.
Simple enough right?
I took my Rubles and walked the aisles only to find that each and every one of my products was not in stock.
Apparently those items were being saved for the Premier and the other heads of state.
Oh well.
Nostrovia! -
Review from Ryan T.
Mountain View, CA
1/5/2009
No, it's not like your shiny remodeled Safeways as in midtown Palo Alto or Bailey Park in Mtn View. But hey, this store has not just the basic necessities, but some of the higher end stuff as well (seeing as its a Los Altos store). I really just happened upon a chance visit when spending time with a friend when he needed a few things from there, and so I followed suit, picking up needed bath tissue for my place. I don't intend to impugn my fellow Yelper's commentary on this Safeway, but for my browsing and the one needed item, this place did just fine. Oh no it's not cheap here (no, the sign outside _does not_ say Grocery Outlet), but again, this is Safeway, and in Los Altos.
Happy day, shoppers!Listed in: Chain of food (and more)
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Review from Kristen T.
Los Altos, CA
2/14/2009
The crappiest Safeway I have ever been to. (Can i say that?)
One would expect that the prestigious Los Altos would have a Safeway with toilet seats plated in sterling silver and a red carpet lining the aisles. Maybe even valet parking. But no. Don't even bother going into the bathroom. Just hold it.
One star, because at least they carry Annie's Organic Macaroni and Cheese and some candy called "Nips". Only because I am immature and easily amused. -
Review from Annie N.
Menlo Park, CA
6/2/2010
Quite poor. I only go here if I am in an extreme rush. I have had my car wrecked in the parking lot with the elderly drivers who take too many drugs. I am NOT joking. The elderly drivers in Los Altos are frankly......leathal! It is DANGEROUS to drive in this town.
If you manage to get in the store in one piece.... there can be ONE teller and he/she looks at you like you are insulting them to be there. I was in the other day and there were two of us in line. The teller checked me out and threw my groceries on the counter and started checking another person out like they were on Meth or the place was on fire. It was 8:30 in the morning!
The prices are also unusually high. They often don't have a good selection. I also would like to know why Safeway now categorizes anything that is a bean "Mexican" or a noodle "Asian." A little strange. -
Review from Shelley B.
Los Altos, CA
6/30/2009
As someone who just moved to CA from the East Coast, I'd heard positive things from my local friends about Safeways so popped my head in to get a small bottle of tequila for a party that night. I hope that this Safeway is not representative of the whole chain because the store itself was dingy and tired-looking.
Anyway, they did have tequila although it was in a clear locked case, obviously you had to track down an employee to open it. The only employee around not at the checkout was working in the florist area, so we asked her could she open the liquor cabinet. Of course, she didn't have a key so she paged someone. We waited, and waited, and no one came. We asked the florist employee to page someone again, which she did, and still no one came to open the cabinet. In all we probably waited over 20 minutes before finally giving up and buying tequila at Draeger's next door- which we should have done anyway. They lost a $50 liquor sale because no one would help us. We'll now be taking our business elsewhere. -
Review from j s.
Mountain View, CA
5/20/2011
Agree w/ all the other reviewers. I've never seen a Safeway this poorly managed or this decrepit. It makes the ghetto Safeway on California St in Mountain View look charming, and the Shoreline Safeway and the Miramonte Safeway look palatial by comparison.
One important caution: if you decide to shop here, do yourself a favor and *check* every item you take off the shelves for expiration dates. In my experience it's very common to pick up an item off the shelf that expired weeks earlier. In fact, when I do shop here, I often have to look through every item on the shelf to find one that is still unexpired and has a reasonable amount of life left in it. Doesn't matter what the item is: milk, yogurt, sliced deli meat, salsa, tortillas, ground beef, chicken, bread, etc. Check everything!
Produce selection is limited, and you have to check that carefully too. Last time I was there, I skipped the melons because they were tiny and past their prime.
On a recent visit, there were two checkstands open, and two lines with (literally) 15 angry people in each line. It was so unbelievable i snapped a picture of it and sent it to my wife to explain why i was taking so long for what was supposed to be a quick trip.
Last time I was there (6pm on a weeknight), there were absolutely no boneless skinless chicken breasts in the fresh meat aisle (they normally carry 3 different brands). What kind of supermarket runs out of chicken breast?
Also hate that this supermarket doesn't have a bakery (not surprising considering its size and its low-budget decor). The bread selection is OK all things considered, but don't expect to pick up any muffins, bagels, pies, cookies, etc that aren't Sara Lee brand (i.e. not fresh, and chock full of preservatives and HFCS). -
Review from Mark A.
Cupertino, CA
2/6/2011
Ghetto Safeway - probably the worst Safeway in the chain. It's dirty. I don't mean a little, I mean really, really dirty. The floors are sticky, the freezer case is totally grody, like college roommate fridge grody. The produce is wilted, the meat looks like it's from one of those end-of-the-world scifi movies. The clerks and checkers? IF they even bother to stop talking long enough to help you, they're completely incompetent. This place is depressing - go a block South to Draeger's for meat, produce, deli, if you need cleaning supplies and canned goods drive down Foothill expressway to Lucky.
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Review from Rob P.
Mountain View, CA
4/3/2010
This place is tight! I mean literally tight. If you're off to buy some serious groceries, this isn't the place. But if you need a few stuff, it's OK.
Checkouts are really bad, so better be ready to wait and stand for a few minutes. -
Review from Della Q.
San Mateo, CA
12/18/2006
ordinarily i would never even think to write a review for a place other than a restaurant, but i just had to voice my opinion on this grocery store in particular.
if you have a choice, DO NOT come here. there are much better options out there, such as the Draeger's about two blocks away.
this Safeway is smaller (and more run down) than its siblings in the vicinity (by San Antonio shopping center, and the one on the corner of Miramonte and Cuesta), so they have less inventory on hand. they are constantly running out of things-- bottled water is a prime example. a few times i have also seen moldy/rotting food still sitting out for purchase.
the employees there are not very happy, so as a result they are much less willing to help you out if you have a question. i once had a lady lie to me about running out of cases of bottled water, but i could clearly see a stack of them through the porthole on the door leading to the stockroom in the back. i think she just wanted me to go away (all i wanted was a case of bottled water).
if you really need to go to a Safeway, drive the extra mile and a half and get yourself to the one on Miramonte. -
Review from James G.
Foster City, CA
1/20/2007 1 Check-in Here
Smallest Safeway I've ever been to in California. Not updated (yet). This is the closest grocer to my office. It does the job but disappoints if you are used to the ultra new mega-sized stores or high end grocers like Andronicos, Draegers, and Whole Foods.
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Review from Josh J.
San Francisco, CA
7/9/2009
Pretty small with limited selection of a lot of Items. Good location, but way too small.
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Review from John R.
Menlo Park, CA
5/5/2010
I don't live in Los Altos, but I was raised in the area back in the 50s and 60s and am a former resident. Every time I go to this Safeway I get an awful feeling. The workers have no smiles on their faces. The lines are too long. I was in there yesterday, called twice for more checkers. I asked a female worker when she walked by me if they had more checkers. Her response: "Don't know. I'm not one."
Some manager showed up and asked to help the next customer, which wasn't me, apparently. My checker, who looked like she had a permanent frown, asked me how I was doing and I didn't respond to teach her a lesson. Two dogs were on a leash outside the store barking menacingly at anyone who walked on the sidewalk, yet no manager in the store seemed to care. I called the LA police department and they didn't seem to care, either. The whole town seems screwed up. Nothing but unfriendly snobs hang out there now. Very sad. -
Review from Ocee D.
Los Angeles, CA
9/3/2008
If I wrote this review 2 months ago, it would be 2 stars, but the ladies in the deli saved it. I was starving and wanted to get a quick snack to eat. Since it was 2 hours before practice, I didn't wanna eat too much, but I didn't feel like getting anything healthy, so I went to check out their deli and hot foods section. Both of the ladies working were very nice. They offered me samples of everything, but I didn't have time...had to make a decision quick. I ate a sample of the burrito (more like a chimichanga) and it was good, but probably too filling, so I got 3 jalapeno poppers instead. The burrito was good (hot though....burnt my tongue) and the poppers were good too, so I'll definitely be back. As far as the checkers and everyone else goes.......1-2 stars max. I don't think this place interviewed the rest of the employees before hiring them....like having a group of zombies run a store.
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Review from Maria P.
Mountain View, CA
3/15/2010
This is the WORST safeway in the area. I work night shift so when I come in I am usually headed to work, but all the employees assume I'm just there shopping so they take their sweet time. Most of the time I have to wait for them to stop gossiping to each other before they even ring up my groceries. The Last time I was here the bagger thought it was appropriate to point out that the roots of my hair were starting to show by saying "Oh, I guess you didn't like being a blonde" and motioning to my hair. Not Very Professional.
