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Categories: Grocery, Drugstores, Florists [Edit]
Neighborhood: SOMAMon-Sun. 5:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
"After learning the Mythbusters crew sometimes shows up here, I insisted we shop at Fantastico for a friend's Mexican fiesta-themed party…" read more »
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This SOMA Safeway earns the designation of three stars because it is not terrible, but not awesome, etiher.
Pros:
-You can usually get a deal on at least a few things that you're shopping for.
-The staff have always gone out of their way to help me if I was looking for something specific.
-They validate your parking if you spend at least $5 there.
Cons:
-Their selection is pretty limited...can't always find more exotic ingredients.
-The lines can be sloooow and this place can get crowded.
This is the best Safeway of all!
You only have to avoid it when there are ballgames in Mission Bay San Francisco, AT&T park, otherwise it's not very busy. It's located right between my real estate office (McGuire, Urban Bay) and my home at Park Terrace on Mission Creek, so I stop almost everyday on the way to or from work. The quality is much higher than other Safeways and they call it a "gourmet Safeway"
Wow, people sure like to bitch about grocery stores.
I like this Safeway because:
A) It's close to work
B) It's clean, the people are nice, and they always have lots of check-out lanes open during the lunchtime rush. I've never waited longer than 5 min. to check out, so the people who complain about the wait must be totally in need of a drink, a new job, and definitely a new attitude.
C) The sushi is fresh and there's tons of different kinds.
D) It's so much cheaper than the restaurants nearby.
E) Yeah, the selection of grocery items is limited but deal with it or go to Whole Foods.
F) They actually get in new items faster than lots of other grocers in the Bay Area.
G) They make a big effort to earn donations - good for them.
If you want something to bitch about, focus on the burned, plastic-looking slices of pizza. No one/nothing is perfect.
Bait and switch.
Clean aisles and lots of choices are great but when I buy a product I expect the price to be the same when I get to check-out as what is up on the in-store signage. About 2 months ago I noticed an error on my bill when I bought 6 protein bars and only 3 were discounted. Stupid me, I didn't go back and instead just have made it a point to check my bill every time I shop. And big surprise - the same shifty practice continues, mostly in the fruit and veggie area where (according to various "managers") somebody just stocked and hasn't had time to change the signs. Not a bad store but they do have quite the scam going here. Be careful and pay attention. Just like Mom always said.
I can never decide whether to give a rating from 5 down, or from 1 up. Let's try both.
5 star down:
-1 star off for having a pretty limited selection of stuff. Maybe I'm spoiled by the sprawling suburban-OC Safeways, but this place often doesn't have what other supermarkets (i.e. IGA) carry.
-1 star off for it being impossible to shop during Giants' game times. It's not so much the waiting in line that sucks, but instead, the obnoxious fans are just too much for my ears to handle when all I really want is to get the hell out of there, go home, and snuggle with my dog.
-1 star off for running out of baskets. More than once.
-1 star off for having the strangest layout ever. I'm not stupid or anything, but it took me forever to find where the refrigerated juice was; it was crammed in a very small corner, next to all the milk/dairy/soy products. What the hell.
This leaves us with 1 star. Let's try the other way around.
1 star up:
-1 star for being clean.
-1 star for having somewhat friendly and helpful staff.
-1 star up for having validated parking in a covered garage.
This leaves us with 3 stars.
I'm going to average and say this place gets 2 stars. If it wasn't closer to this supermarket, I'd be taking my paycheck to Whole Foods or Trader Joes.
Not-so-great things:
-Weird layout. Juice and milk are in the personal hygiene corner. I can't walk through the bread aisle without either knocking something over or having to touch someone.
-Checkout lines are long. Always.
-Several times I haven't been able to find a shopping basket without pushing my way through the lines to search for one under the checkout stands
-I like my bananas very green because it takes me a while to finish a bunch by myself, but I've NEVER found green bananas here. Only bruised yellow deformed ones.
Not-so-bad things:
-Validated 90 minute parking in the Beacon garage
-There's a security guard patrolling the middle at all times. I guess if a fight breaks out in the meat section, I feel sorta safe?
-I'm actually ok with the selection. Other than the lack of green bananas, I've been able to find all my basics here.
Awesome things:
-Dog-friendly, so I can walk my pup and pick up groceries in the same trip without needing to tie him up outside and worry about some crazy Giants fan stealing him
This is the strangest layout for a grocery store! You walk towards what seems like it would be the checkout, but you are at the back of the store!
I always feel very lost in here, and spend time wandering the aisle as it just seems to be mapped out backwards.
People who work here seem to be exhausted all the time, friendly but very tired.
I really like this Safeway. Most of the reason I like it is because it is located near the Caltrain station, and they sell booze. Perfect way to end a day: walk over to Safeway, grab a tallboy, pay and get out and then have a smoke and beer before the train leaves. Win.
What's better, they even have food here. Wow, I know!?
I've left this Safeway empty-handed twice in the last two weeks because they don't carry foods that I consider basics (greek yogurt, dry lentils, an assortment of fresh produce, etc.). Maybe I've turned into a bit of a food snob (tho I still love T-Bell) b/c I'd much rather pay a premium at Whole Foods for the selection and quality.
Two other things that suck about this particular location: 1) Game days; 2) The checkout lines always back up into the grocery aisles - it's like Brownian motion in there
This is the worst Safeway I've been to.
Pros: Great location, by the train station, obvi. And not dirty or messy.
Cons: Here we go..
- I got a rotten moldy tiramisu cake from here. I didn't know it was rotten until guests at my party starting pulling me aside telling me they think it's gone sour.
- There's nothing left at the end of the workday. Yeah I get it that this store gets lots of traffic but isn't this opportunity for re-stocking and selling *more*? I think I got the last carton of milk once. I've never seen a mass market like this be empty of milk.
- "Express" lines don't mean much. They're long and they don't move that much quicker. I had to abandon cart one day because I wasn't getting through the line quick enough and really didn't want to miss my train.
This is the exact store that made me switch to Trader Joe's as my go-to weekly grocer.
Seems like an odd complaint, but this is the most befuddling layout of a grocers that I've ever experienced. I can't find anything in here without slowly pacing each aisle methodically until I come across it. And the checkout area is always super congested -- not just because there are lots of people there, but because they have no where to stand with their carts (seems like about 3.5 feet of space between the checkout and the aisles). The extremely over-priced organic stuff is regulated to a tiny corner next to...cleaning supplies? Milk is in the corner by the pharmacy? And why the hell isn't vinegar in the same aisle as the oils and spices?!?!
And on top of it all, I don't think they carry any Asian glass noddles. This is SF, people, not Milwaukee.
One of my favorite Safeways. Always clean, always well stocked, and the staff are always friendly.
Perfect for picking up "cuties" (as in fruit) when they're in season by the cartful, Inari to go, gossip magazines, cheesecakes to go, champagne for baseball after-partying, and glitter pens (high quality glitter pens as well).
All the makings of a good night...
So I've recently grown to love my local Safeway due to five things.
1.) Fresh, doughy french bread
2.)…
Read more »
I'm spoiled.
I would hate having to drag my ass up those hills to get to cala foods in my old apartment. Now Safeway is conveniently right across the street!!
I can cook whatever I want whenever I want and if I'm missing parsley or tomatoes, no problem. I'll trek across the street and get right I need.
This place is always clean, and is open rather late.
:)
I have shopped many times at this Safeway. Today I called to see if they have a certain cleaning product available, because my boss wants to buy a lot of it.
First I got the expected main menu of an answering service, and I hit 8 for customer service.
Customer Service 1: Hello?
Me: Hi, I was wondering if you carry a certain cleaning product? It's called Green Works Cleaners.
CS1: Hold on, let me check.
Me: Thank you!
"I hear the ticking of the clock, I'm lying here the room's pitch dark..."
CS2: Alo, bakery?
Me: Uh. Hi, someone was checking to see if you have a certain cleaning product... I think I was transferred to you by mistake.
CS2: I'm sorry, wha? You want... deli?
Me: Uh, no. Customer Service.
CS2: Ok.
"No answer on the telephone and the night goes by so very slow..."
CS3: Hello?
Me: Hi. I'm looking for a particular cleaning product, called Green Works, by Clorox?
CS3: Green Works?
Me: Yes please.
"I never really cared until I met you, and now it chills me to the bone. How do I get you alone?"
CS4: Hello?
Me. Yes. Hi. I'm looking for a cleaning product. Someone was looking for it, I thought... Green Works? Clorox?
CS4: Huh.
"You don't know how long I have waited..."
CS5: Hello?
Me: Hello. Cleaning product. Clorox. Green Works.
CS5: Hold -
"And my love for you is still unknown, alone..."
CLICK
ring
ring
ring
ring
ring
ring
Celine Dion is a fucking asshole.
Edit: I deduced from the product locator that this Safeway does, in fact, carry the Green Works All-Purpose Cleaner. We need lots of it, and we aren't going to buy it there.
Why is it that they have an express check out lane at the entrance, but never staff it?
Why is it that it takes 10 minutes to stand in line to watch them hastily make ONE sandwich that tastes like a** and will most likely, give you instant stomach cramps within minutes of the first bite?
Why is it that they have literally hundreds of bags of @%#% croutons lined up in the window for NO @%#% REASON?
Why is it that the people they hire could care less that customers can hear them complain about: Not getting a break, not having a day off, wanting to punch their manager, scheduling issues and lazy co-workers?
Why is it that I'll walk to Whole Foods or Trader Joes -- in the rain, heat or in the snow (ok, a slight exaggeration) to avoid this Safeway for any reason?
Seriously, I cannot say anything positive about this store. I'm sure there are some redeeming qualities, but I'm finding it hard to spend money here.
I just wanted to say that we stopped here after 21st Amendment, on the way to the Giants/Cards game last Saturday to pick up some cheap beer. Well, cheap beer before we go into a stadium full of $8.50 beers. Anyway, even though there were tons of people in there due to the game crowd, we were in and out in like 5 min.
Also....If you from Texas and you have a Tom Thumb rewards card. It works here too. They are owned by the same company. Just a tip.
Peace out,
MZ
Ok once again I go on in here and the cashiers suck ass. Seriously is it that hard to not toss my groceries into the bag? Yes they are boxes or cans but freaking in the same bag as the eggs? Why is it I always need to re-bag my own groceries every time? At least this time I didn't have to check my receipt to make sure they didn't F* it up.
It's small and the cashiers suck. It's in a booming area and the cashiers act like they're working… Read more »
They should change their name to AwefulWay!!
I've been going to this store for years and over the past few months things have turned bad...really bad!
No shopping carts available, bad produce, handcuffed crims being escorted out the doors.
It seems as though no-one buys organic produce, as their cucumbers are slimy, their green beans covered in mould, and zucchinis flop in my hand like a limp you know what!
And the sound of thunder to warn you that the sprinklers are about to erupt, should be changed to a loud siren warning people to duck for cover.
My toes got wet which sparked an idea that my little asian neighbor could do quite well with a little stool offering pedicures.
It's a shame because the store is convenient although the cashiers need to learn how to validate parking cards properly...there has been many times where people (including myself) are stuck at the gate merely because the cashier can't remember which way the black stripe gets inserted into their machine. It's not rocket science people!!
I'll be avoiding this store as much as I can and head to Potrero Hill location instead....although the boys in the F&V section are eager to undress you with their eyes...so in saying that, Rainbow, I'm whole-heartedly yours!
I don't know what you guys are crying about on how 3 stars this place it. I guess you haven't been to the other Safeway in the city.
This one I have to say is the most well organized and the whole presentation of this place is just like WOW.
#1 The employees are so great. Their nice and I love how they get to wear SF Giants gear on game days.
#2 Subs Yes over prices, but really their sandwiches are really good!
#3 Once the clock hits 12pm its ways busy there people are hungry for Safeway sandwiches, maybe go there before work to grab your lunch so you don't have to complain about how you have a 30min lunch and you been in line for 15 mins.
I this is the only Safeway I actually like going to. Hands down to this location!
There has been better Safeways. Whoever does their cash office needs to schedule more cashiers. I had a line up 7 people deep in front of 4 cashiers on a Wednesday at 8:30PM. Its not like this was 5-7 rush hour. My popsicles were practically melted by the time I put them down. Please no more understaffing.
Its hard to find anyone who is actually walking around if you can't find something, and the mangos were wrinkling from sitting out too long. This place needs some TLC form their managers!
The most poorly designed Safeway in history.
If you live north of King St, the building stretches all the way across the block, and the side entrance is only a couple feet from the main entrance on King, on 4th at the intersection. There is no way to get in before that, you have to walk around the store staring at the inside, and dream about your impending grocery purchase.
Worse, the side entrance has two checkout counters, but they aren't open except during baseball season, when, inevitably, this Safeway will become completely useless because of all the people buying tons of beer and junk food anyway.
Worse YET, there are no carts or baskets available from this side entrance. You have to walk all the way to the checkout counter to get some.
Also, it's entirely overburdened after work hours (6-7PM), and yes they don't staff the place well enough to open the side door checkout counters to alleviate the load during those times.
So yeah, a cow's internal organs are laid out better than this Safeway, but at least my main man Derf is always there to help put my shit in a paper bag. 3 star
The location is convenient for me so I come here a lot.
It's really big and has tons of stuff.. but somehow I can never find anything I want.
Their produce is consitently bad, I've never been very happy with the fruit I've gotten here.
There are often long lines when I go, perhaps they aren't predicting the busy times well enough.
It's fine though, just not remarkable in any way.
Yes, it is my local grocery store and yes, it is literally across the street from my apartment, but seriously, is there anytime that this Safeway isn't crowded??? I mean, don't even try to pick up a few groceries if there is a Giants game. You will seriously stand in line for at least 20 minutes.
I seriously think nobody at this store knows what customer service means. I have been shopping at this Safeway for a few years, but I have never left the store feeling very satisfied. Even the store manager is very arrogant.
Okay I am mainly focusing on two things here:
1. The Sandwich Counter
2. The Meat & Fish Counter
Now, I have to say the quality of the produce is good; the sandwiches are especially tasty and a damn sight better than a boring old Subway, and the meat and fish are fine too, if not a patch on some of the mouth watering produce available in the Ferry Building.
But the quality of the mental staff? HIGH!
I really want to know where they recruit from because a few of the staff are either on something or have been through a Police-Academy style training programme (yeah that's how we spell it across the pond folks, we're not lazy counts!) Don't get me wrong, I love the quirkiness of it all, it makes my wait for a sarnie very entertaining and when I have 'found everything alright', I am happy to reply in the affirmative to the guy who asks that of every person who walks past him.
Safeway...Ingredients for Laughs.
Convieniently located and it is an actual grocery store with most of the things you would expect from a grocery store. Across from CalTrain, so you can definitely stock up on alcohol for your trainride (its completely legal).
Otherwise, it has a fairly minimal selection, the produce section is not too fresh, and the beer selection sucks and is very overpriced. Wine and liquor isn't so bad though.
For beer or produce, you're best bet is Trader Joes or Whole Foods. Cheaper or similar priced, but more selection.
At the end of the day, its a grocery store in an urban environment, which is always a good thing.
This has got to be one of the busiest Safeways in the city. If you come here at 8pm on any night they're likely to be out of some staples (milk, eggs, etc). I've never been here when I wasn't about 5 people deep at the checkout line.
The selection is not great (no arugula, not much of a health/beauty section) but no worries -walgreens is across the street and Whole foods is about 3 blocks away.
It is a nice, clean, modern looking grocery store in a great location (right off the Caltrain!) It seems to have slightly less fancy stuff than the Marina Safeway location. I just wish they'd stock it full of more variety - there's space, they just don't seem to use it all very efficiently.
Pretty decent for a grocery store, and there is validated parking. You will probably want to avoid going here when there is a ball game since it is so close to AT&T park.
Ok, it gets 5 stars because it's a Safeway and because it's very very close to my place (I'm so jealous of the people living at The Beacon because the live above it, literally). It's pretty small but it's big enough to fulfill my bachelor needs as well as my French dude gastronomic requirements. It's only open until midnite but honestly, who cares?
Big up for their French baguette which is not too bad.
Being fair, if you go there and know:
1) Only buy things on sale
2) Always look at the bottom racks (cheaper products there).
3) Buy the Safeway products.
4) Never ever buy fruit or vegetables
Is not that bad.
When this store first opened, the service was spectacular. Now, as many other reviewers pointed out, the service is crap. I don't expect anyone to kiss my ass, but I do expect a bare minimum of politeness when I'm paying money for their groceries. Half the time, they are shouting conversations to each other while they're scanning your items and treating you like they're doing you the hugest favor against their will just by standing there. I've been tolerating this bullshit for years! Today was particularly off-putting because the cashier decided to solicit a donation from me AFTER I already declined giving one on their monitor. When I told him no, he pushed AGAIN for a smaller donation. I declined again. After that, he copped a huge attitude, shoved my receipt at me with no eye contact, a smile, or a thanks. What the fuck? NO means NO, asshole! And I shouldn't have to say it three times at a motherfucking supermarket. I donate to very specific charities--not to grocery chains who solicit on behalf of organizations I know nothing about.
The lay-out of the store is dysfunctional. Good luck finding the sour cream, cottage cheese, tofu, and guacamole where they'd normally be in other supermarkets. Juices and cereals are also separated with your mainstream stuff in the main aisles, and the smaller organic brands behind a stern looking guard.
And if you're a vegetarian, forget this place and walk up to Whole Foods where they actually have plentiful options. I believe that's where I'll be shopping from now on.
Three stars mainly for having lower prices, free parking, and a wider selection than the nearby Whole Foods at 4th and Harrison.
I guess I've been spoiled by the bigger suburban Safeways, with their wider aisles and great selections (at least in Fremont). This Safeway is very densely packed, but they don't carry a number of things that I've seen at every other Safeway. However, they do have most of the things I want, and they have more reasonable prices than their competition in the area.
Also, if you're cooking and need specific meats and fish, I'd recommend staying away from the delivery service. To test their delivery service, I placed an order that included rib eye steak, tilapia, eggs, and various herbs and veggies. I got everything except the steak, tilapia, and eggs. I have a hard time believing they ran out of eggs (no substitutes whatsoever?) and all the other meats I ordered. My beautifully omnivorous selection had mysteriously turned into an herbivore subset. Maybe there's an activist anti-meat shopper there. In any case, don't count on receiving everything you ordered if you've placed a somewhat complicated delivery order.
Packed, packed, packed! Way too cramped, if you ask me.
Here's the plan: we'll convert the rail yards into a whole new city. We have all the room we like, and it stretches all the way to the Daly City line. On 4th Street, let's build a multi-use building that covers the entire block. And then, let's put a supermarket in the southwest corner of it that resembles the labyrinth of Minos.
Yes, the place resembled a corner convenience store, only bigger. Aisles and inventory folded back on each other like a whale's intestines. The "front" door with the open registers was on the interior of the block, near the garage, and no registers at the outside doors were open. Perhaps this had something to do with my being there at 11:45 am, just before the lunch rush when everyone in the neighborhood was going to show up, I don't know.
Considering the price of lunch in this neighborhood, it was logical to try Safeway. I found that the sandwiches were the same as everywhere else, but there was a deli counter with some deals. Salads at the deli counter were priced by weight, and I asked for half pints. The clerk made sure I understood the difference.
1/2 pint of chicken salad + 1/2 pint of broccoli salad = $6.64.
I'll update this review if I run into a minotaur trapped in the middle of the store.
This is a really small and dinky Safeway. It's really 2.5 stars but since it's located right under us and convenient, I will bump it up to 3 stars. They are open until midnight and open around 6am. It's located right next to the CalTrain. All in all convenient but they often run out of stuff or they don't carry it because it's so small and tight.
I mean what do you expect for it to be in that location. The service often varies and when it's cold outside there is this one area near the first cashier where there is this steaming heat blowing on you. It's good if you weren't all bundled up in layers!
All in all it's just an aiight Safeway. It's good for a quick grab if you live near it and you don't want to drive too far elsewhere. Also there is validation so the parking is free.
Still 4 stars for the validated parking, having Soyrizo in the veggie department with the tofu, and occasional good deals on beer.
I've been trending toward Whole Foods lately as their produce is a little less picked over than Safeway's. Maybe it's all about finding the "sweet spot" shopping time to get the fresh produce.
Perhaps this is only in comparison to Whole Foods up the street, but I think Safeway's produce… Read more »
This is such a commuter Safeway; I laugh every time I'm there.
Wanted a ribeye and the pre-packaged selection was lacking so I was about to shop for other stuff when I saw the butcher area. Hmmm...perfectly pink and meaty little steaks just sitting there waiting for Sparkely. Then the *nicest* butcher-dude offers to help. One ribeye and a few minutes of fun convo and I was on my way. And the shocker is that it wasn't more expensive. Can't wait to devour that baby.
It is such a convenience to have Safeway (and Walgreens, Borders and WAMU) right next to the train. Thank you for the good planning as I regularly hit all of those businesses on my walk from work to the CalTrain station.
I don't think of this particular Safeway location as your typical grocery store. It's more of a… Read more »
You can shop with your dog!
Deli sandwiches: Now with BITS OF FOIL!
Safeway's deli sandwiches have been through a lot over the past few years. The large sandwich was dropped from the menu and later reappeared, the buy-9-get-one-free deal disappeared and later reappeared, and they seem to always run out of the Rustic Italian bread... as if they never noticed the other million days that they didn't bake enough!
But whatever. It's a faceless chain supermarket! That they have semi-decent sandwiches is kind of amazing. So I have cut them slack and not reviewed them... until they made a terrible, terrible change to the sandwich-making process: FOIL-BACKED PAPER.
Now, each sandwich is carefully wrapped in foil paper, and then sawed in half with a serrated knife. GUESS WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FOIL? Flecks of it go in your sandwich! What genius thought this up??? Someone with a metal deficiency? One (tinfoil) star.
the staff love to argue.
good luck finding a shopping cart.
understaffed 24/7.
Honestly... I thought this Safeway would be AMAZING for Safeway being in the highly sought after SOMA district. However, this Safeway just sucks. It doesn't offer as wide of a variety as other Safeways I've been to and their produce section is weak and their fruits and vegetables look pathetic and sad.
The checkers are too busy making conversation with one another to pay careful attention to bagging groceries and validating parking.
The only good thing I liked about this Safeway is that it's very clean. I definitely won't be doing my weekly grocery shopping at this Safeway.
Kangen water now available!
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