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Saint Paul Street (b) (Green)
Mon-Sun. 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"This is our go to liquor store. They have a great selection, the staff is really nice, and they have parking! I love going here because I…" read more »
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I have been to this trader joe's dozens of times. I don't have one close by where I live, but I have a friend that lives near this one and grocery shopping is one of his favorite things to do ( I know odd, but it can work to your advantage at times).
So that being said, I normally walk here. I just happened to be in the area this past Saturday in between photo work and thought I would stop in for a couple of items.
HOLY COW, the parking lot was insane. Between the trader joe's and the microcenter it was just crazy. I don't know how I never noticed it before, but maybe I wasn't going at 4PM on a Saturday too.
The weird part was, once I was in the store it didn't feel particularly crowded (this store is usually pretty busy) and they had every register open so I went right through (on #4 Bobby Orr!). I was able to zip in and out for the items I was looking for (and some that I wasn't :) ) in probably the same amount of time it took me to park.
Hooray for trader joe's!
Go here for:
-- Frozen fruit
-- Frozen samosas
-- Lavender sachets
-- Fragrance and phosphate free laundry detergent
-- Phosphate free cleaning products in general
-- Peppermint Dr Bronner's for 9 bucks
-- Bagged tea for the office
-- Chocolate orange treats
-- Vegan ice cream
-- TJ sugar-free soymilk
Go elsewhere for:
-- Produce: It's over packaged and you can't tell the quality. Go to Russo's instead
-- Beer/Wine: LIVE FREE OR DIE. NH Booze Barns have a better, cheaper selection.
-- A parking spot. Seriously, ride your bike here on a weekend.
yep
this one's not hard. Trader Joe's is the best grocery store around. Reasonable prices. Unique selection of all kinds of foods. Necessary basics. Only minus one star for being a grocery store and containing wandering masses of humans who either stare at their feet or the ceiling, and never look where they are going.
Great Store. Parking lot stinks. Good I can bike if necessary...
I am not a wine expert but I am a wine fan and as far as I can tell this place is much better than most of the wine shops around here in terms of selection and prices. Their selection is not huge but is of good quality. And the prices are often lower than other wine shops.
Two words. Cheap Wine. Not cheap like this wine is horrible but cheap like, "Hey this same wine cost twice as much at other places." Once in a while you'll get a bad bottle, but what do you expect when you pay five dollars for a bottle of wine? It can get a little busy around dinner time but the people watching will keep you busy. Some of the old hippies that work here look like they're on a never ending acid trip. As food goes I recommend the roasted sugar coated peanuts, pirates booty, chicken gyoza, and frozen pizza's.
I am a big fan of Trader Joes! As an aspiring foodie, I've been introduced to so many new and exciting flavors and ideas.
Its a great alternative to the main stream grocery stores, and if you love purchasing organics... this is your one stop shop.
Today they were free-sampling chocolate cake.
I love Trader Joe's. I love the convenience food there when I don't feel like cooking, I love that I can buy their packaged, convenience organic produce for less than it would cost me to buy the inorganic stuff at Stop and Shop or Shaw's. I love that if you buy something and hate it, you can return it. I love their citrus bodywash, and that they sell beer and wine (although I don't love the Three Buck Chuck). I love that if you want to taste something, the staff will be happy to open the box for you and free-sample it out. I love that if you need it, you can probably find it at Trader Joe's--in fact, you can probably find an organic version of it--and you won't have to spend an arm and a leg to get it.
Two girls walked into a Joe's.
One girl asked another, "Hey, is there a place where I can turn on my sprinkler??"
Girl 1: "Yes! It's right next to where the free coffee and samples are."
Girl 2: "I lovee this Joe's!"
[After the release...]
Girl 2: "I love this free coffee! I love free coffee! Mmm.. I love Joe's."
Girl 1: "Did you see the cookie sample?"
Girl 2: "Cookie sample with the free coffee?? I luub Joe's even more now!"
Two MORE reasons to love Joe's: Tuscan White Bean Hummus and Mushroom Turnovers. Yumm!
You know that kid in high school who gave you that first beer / cigarette / joint / pcp dose? (I kid about the latter...I think.) That's Trader Joes. You'll see why in a minute.
I usually expect to be ignored and barely tolerated in any grocery store I visit. And I'm nice. I'm usually afraid that any question I ask, such as, "hey, do you know where I can find some Cool Ranch Doritos?" will be met with a baring of fangs and the brandishment of a machete (go to Johnny's Foodmaster in Somerville and all shall be clear).
But...but...the staff at Trader Joes is downright friendly. They're nice enough to unsettle this city-hardened misanthropist. That's a good thing.
When I was there last month, looking for my beloved white bean basil hummus, a staff member who was unloading inventory overheard my confusion and stepped up.
"Ever try the Mediterranean hummus?" he offered.
"Er, no," I countered.
"Oh, you'll love it. We're out of the hummus you're looking for, but you'll dig the other stuff."
The gruff-looking employee disappeared for a moment and reappeared with hours-old sourdough bread and a tub of the aforementioned hummus.
"Try it," he urged. And yeah, it was wonderful and I bought the stuff. I left with my hummus, wondering if I'd stumbled onto the set of Punk'd where everyone was just...nice. But there was no host jumping out from the cheese section telling me that the hummus was garnished with grated cat poo. All was...good.
The next time I visited was in the search of my favorite rosemary-garlic crackers. I mentioned to my SO that I was having a hard time locating said baked goodness, and a voice sounded from over my right shoulder.
"What are you looking for?" chirped a pleasant looking college kid.
"Er, crack-"
I couldn't finish my sentence before the lad proffered my crackers, beaming. He then proceeded to recommend a couple other brands he thought I might like.
And it's not like these guys are obsequious robots - they're all knowledgeable folks who know how to take care of a customer.
Here we are with that enablement kid to whom I referred earlier, that we all knew in high school - TJ is mine. Trader Joe's has introduced me to new hummuses and whole wheat crackers, and I'm developing new hors-d'ourvely habits. Trader Joes has exposed me to more things that I want to buy. That's my PCP (hummus).
Oh yeah, their wine is awesome for the price.
It's often crowded and parking can be a biznatch, but that's not the store's fault. Just know that it helps to go in off hours.
I'm so thankful that their parking lot is 3 times the size of the Trader Joe's in Coolidge Corner. It was crowded but it was still manageable. I made the big mistake of going on a Saturday which is a bad day to go to any grocery store so it was a bit of a mad house. I picked up the things I wanted or needed and was out like a bandit but not before I found a treasure. I found the Mystery 6-Pack. It comes in a brown paper bag stapled shut and promises that there will be 6 different types of beer inside so it truly is a mystery. All this for only 6 bucks! I didn't need any wine, but I think their wine selection is fantastic.
When I got to the check out line I was relieved that there enough cashiers. My cashier told me an elaborate tale of his New York trip and the wonderful health insurance Trader Joe's provides to their employees. So, while the story was grossly unnecessary , it's nice to know that they take care of their employees.
I really like Trader Joe's and if you're not in a rush, a trip to the store can be a mini-adventure.
The bf and I don't do all of our shopping here, but we keep coming back for our favorites:
- Chocolate lava cakes (not to be confused with TJ's chocolate soufflés). Perfect portions of chocolatey goodness that have earned their way into our hearts and onto our waistlines.
- Flash frozen salmon in chimichurri sauce + marinated ahi tuna. Flavorful and easy to cook fish, for people who don't know how to cook fish.
- Israeli couscous, whole wheat couscous + polenta. Easy to make/ quick to cook side dishes for after-work dinners.
What a huge difference some more square footage and beer/wine makes!! I made a planned pitstop here one day last week when I had a car, specifically so I could stock up on wine, beer, and 'things in jars that are heavy i.e. spreads and stuff'. I normally don't review different locations of the same store, but this location is so far superior to the one on Boylston I had to make note of it. Was it me or did they just have more selection along with all that extra space? Ouf. Love it.
92% of my kitchen is stocked with stuff from TJ's. I don't know how I could ever live far from one!!
Boylston, get on the ball, buy some more retail space and sell wine!!!
I don't get TJs. Everything always goes well for me there, I'm happier when I leave than when I arrived...consistently. It's hard to not start by mentioning the oddly happy staff. I hear they pay well but the staff is freakishly glad to be working there.
The frozen section also does me right with mini apps (pastry bites, spanakopita etc) and the beer aisle is a pared down version of good beers, not cold but TJ can't do everything right. The only other big downside is that the produce can be less than fresh, but they have avocados for a buck a piece in the winter. Huge.
TJs just makes me happy. It makes me always want to be close to one because they have some one of a kind items (i.e. salsas, cereals, gyoza).
Every time I go to this Trader Joe's, I have a perfectly pleasant experience. The staff is always friendly and ready to help you, the selection is great, and somehow, even though I rarely spend less than $100 here, I never leave the store with more than three bags. It's amazing how well they pack up your groceries, especially compared to other stores.
Also, I love a lot of the Trader Joe's products: orange chicken, eggplant parmesan, shumai, potstickers, etc., etc. As I type this, I have a ton of TJ's products in my cabinets and freezer, and they are delicious.
Every time I come here, I always question why I even bother with Stop & Shop anymore. I really don't know (okay, I do know: S&S is 5 minutes from my apartment, and TJ's is like, 15 minutes away).
This particular location is the one I have been to the most by far. First off, terrific staff! Always eager to help find stuff and advise. They are also not afraid to tell you their own opinion of a specific product which I thnk is awesome.
Some of their products are very good, especially their shumai, pot stickers, breaded chicken cutlets, some of their produce and their wines. Some aren't as good, stuff like their cereal, cakes, and a few others. On the other hand, I have yet to find a frozen entree from them that I don't really like..
Overall they offer extremely good service and great value on most of their stuff. Highly recommended to anyone looking for healthy alternatives and for people who don't always want to cook from scratch.
Trader Jose's is pot sticker heaven
Accompanied by pre-packaged Saag Paneer
To wash it down with a $5 bottle of Quality Chianti
(since I'm holding my roommates TJ gift card hostage)
But usually I Eat at Joes; where the specials are chocolate cloud cake and sunny ice tea
mmmmmmmMMMMMMMMMMM
I love Trader Joe's but am consistently shocked by what a zoo this place & its parking lot become no matter what time of day it is. I always go back, even though I have to circle over & over again for parking because nowhere else can I get such great goods, delicious wines, and friendly service on the cheap but I wish there was a way this place could just calm the EFF down. seriously people. Eat your hummos and average joe beer in peace...
can't beat their prices when you need basically everything if you're having people over & they have an awesome selection of beer & wine all well stocked & priced...
still can't believe they don't sell Tahini here though. What gives?!
Three Buck Chuck!!!
And Charles Shaw isn't the only cheap wine they carry, they've got loads of drinkable wine for reasonable prices. Don't be surprised if you see people walking through the isles with shopping carts overflowing with wine. It's not just that this is where the alchies go, it's that this is where people go to "stock up."
They've got a load of yummy, snacky, organicy type foods better bread than most grocery stores in the area, for a much cheaper prices..
So come here for your cheese, your bread, your frozen goodies and jarred sauces and then drive around the corner to Wild Oats for you produce. And maybe stop next door for some Starbucks, if you dare.
A solid Trader Joe's - it's inconceivable to have a wine and cheese party without TJ's. The cheapest pita chips and crackers, salsa, dips, cheese, wine and beer? But for your regular grocery shopping, they just don't have enough produce to stock your fridge and the quality of the fresh foods is debatable. I find that a grocery trip to TJ's leaves me without enough healthy options and with a ton of carbs, packaged stuff, meat and cheese. Which is great if you have the time to make another stop at Whole Foods, Market Basket, Shaw's or the farmer's market.
Nonetheless, this is party planning headquarters.
Small selection due to small footage. Sells alcohol. It's Trader Joe's.
I have nothing creative or funny to say about Trader Joes, so I shall list my faves and fave nots.
FAVES
+ Frozen Tamales
+ Chile Verde (needs more spice, so ye gatta spice it up)
+ Three buck Chuck (is that a hint of vanilla I taste?)
+ Dried fruits and nuts
+ Cheap tasty beer
+ Cheese (including cheese curds!)
FAVE NOTS
- Frozen fishies
This TJ's is smaller than the one in Coolidge Corner, but it's still fairly easy to navigate and I'm able to pick up all my favorite things. My cashier was really nice, and the rest of the staff are helpful. They also sell bagged salads, rice and soy milk, and cage-free eggs for less than the supermarkets.
I'm taking a star off because they didn't have any sun-dried tomatoes! Seriously! How am I supposed to enjoy my elitist arugula and brie without sun-dried tomatoes?!
Where else can you start your day conversing with a Nigerian and a 7 ft. tall Russian in Japanese? Now I know you all know about the inexpensive groceries, tasty frozen entrees, dried fruit and wine galore. Let's discuss the lesser known qualities of this particular Trader Joe's.
1. Convenience...I only have 2 words: EZ Pass!
2. Breakfast....that's right, like Starbucks but cheaper.
You know that little voice that always nags you to do something but you end up ignoring it because you're too lazy to bother? In my case it's getting an EZ Pass...I mean, how easy would my life be with an EZ Pass? But nooo...somehow I always find myself running to the grocery store binge shopping so I can justify using the cash withdrawl option at checkout.
That's how I discovered convenience & breakfast goes hand in hand at Trader Joe's. Once I slowed down and just accepted my state of work delinquency, shopping at 9 a.m. for my most important meal of the day became ever so enjoyable.
Not to mention shopping in a clean and open environment with good conversation and better deals. Which leads me to this morning...Japanese isn't even one of the languages I can claim to speak, but there you are...breakfast, convenience, and intriguing experiences that can be found when you too shop at Trader Joe's.
I make a point of going on not-weekends. The place is a zoo and people don't watch their children and elderly parents, and then you end up hitting these people with your cart by accident and you feel bad about it (sort of), and nobody wins.
But if you can get here during the week, it's great. The selection isn't the broadest (I stop here for some produce and then at Whole Foods to fill in the gaps), but what they do carry is cheap and I like a lot of it. Raw almond butter for $5 a jar? Compare that to $11 anywhere else, assuming you can even find it anywhere else. Inexpensive recycled paper towels, organic unsweetened rice milk in big containers, and Ezekiel 4:9 cinnamon raisin bread. This is why I love TJ's.
Also, the cute guy who works there that I always see but never talk to. Him too. You know who you are -- the haircut looks great, and if you ever want to lift my phone number off the reusable bag gift card entry form thingie, I promise not to tell your manager.
I used to live very close to a Trader Joe's in Falls Church, VA. It was nothing to write home about, as its prices were higher than those of the nearby Giant and its offerings were not as varied as the Whole Foods across the street. I recently moved to within two blocks of the Prospect St Whole Foods, which is quite dangerous for my pocketbook. I enjoy being able to walk there with my reusable grocery bags, but have now switched allegiance to this Trader Joe's.
I'd heard the Trader Joe's was good but assumed that it had similar qualities to the Falls Church one I'd frequented for about two years. I like three-buck Chuck as much as the next bargain shopper, but did not feel like firing up the Hoobaru just for that. Earlier this week, I had to fire up Hoobaru to get a charger for my trusty Lappy 486 at Micro Center. I went right after going for a run at the gym and was starving by the time I procured said charger. I trotted over to the Trader Joe's to pick up a snack, and instead found a panoply of produce, CHEESE, tamales, chocolate sticks, and baby arugula. I have a raging fetish for those tamales now, and fully comprehend why one of my colleagues has filled up most of the teachers' lounge freezer with them.
I confessed to the cashier that I had regrettably waited to shop at his place of work because I'd considered it too far away--he laughed at me when I subsequently confessed that I live in Central Square, but in a welcoming way. Hoobaru, you're now back in suburban grocery mode...the gas you consume will be well worth the savings and the delightful groceries!
What a COOL Market! Everyone is so friendly, the lines aren't too bad, and the parking is easy enough. Best of all, the products are often higher quality or more unique than a supermarket, yet reasonably priced.
Though not high grade by any standards, the sushi platter is filling and INEXPENSIVE. It is a little over $5.00. Most supermarkets sell 1/2 that amount of sushi for $9.
We absolutely LOVE THE CHIPS & SALSA. Healthier than the typical, yet well priced. Eat your junk food and get your omega fatty acids with your fiber. Who said healthier food had to taste like crap?
They have an interesting selection of wines and beers and they're quite inexpensive.
The ready-to-eat dinners/lunches/etc. are tasty, somewhat healthy, and inexpensive. The freezer section has some yummy sorbets.
They often have free samples, as well.
Few people walk out of Trader Joe's with a sad face.
The staff here is really friendly and they have a wide selection of organic foods at fair prices. If you love eating healthier (or appearing so) I'd recommend shopping here.
But the real reasoning behind the 5 stars: 12 bottles of "2 Buck Chuck" wine for $36. 'nuff said.
Normally I avoid Trader Joe's like the plague because my past experiences have proven to be super crowded chaosness. I also recall the veggie section being random- as in today we have cucumbers and lettuce but no green peppers, sorry.
Last night I found refuge at TJ's while my now ex was removing her belongings from my apt. I had plans to meet a friend but there was a good 45 min space where I needed to hide and I stumbled upon TJ's. Perhaps I was dazed by my heartache and found the crowd soothing but it wasn't nearly as crowded as I remembered.
To boot I got some really great food and for way cheaper then whole foods. Now when I get my appetitie back I'll have some yummy grub.
This was my first stop after arriving at my new apartment in Cambridge. I was sick of fast food on my road trip here and desired wholesome food and snacks, pronto. It's the only TJs in Cambridge according to Google Text, but methinks it's better than the ones on Boylston and in Coolidge Corner. This parking lot is like 3 times the size of the one in Coolidge Corner, plenty of staff around to query, they have beer and wine, but it's crowded all the time to me. Maybe I should try to go during the day during the week...if only I didn't have to work to pay for my ridiculous rent.
Awesome healthy food, their store line of stuff tastes great from cereals to frozen pizzas to frozen meals-in-a-bag to Trader Jose's Mexican beer. So I can't cook. I blame the fact that I have one tiny saucepan and no knives until the movers arrive. Drawback - the last time I was here earlier this week, some of the produce was looking a little beat up.
I just discovered this Trader Joes after going to the one in Coolidge Corner forever. The drive from Beacon Hill is a lot easier, and the parking lot is a LOT easier to navigate than the one in CC. Plus, there's a Starbucks right next door. If you don't fill up on coffee samples while shopping, this is great!
This Trader Joes has everything you need, including a large wine and beer selection, cheese, produce, cereal, NUTS (I am so obsessed with nuts/nut butter/anything to do with NUTS), mixes, pastries, frozen foods... you get the idea.
Some of my personal favorites include:
- Large variety of hummus, including their hummus sampler (four different types of hummus in one package).
- Two Buck Chuck
- Frozen foods: Chicken Vindaloo, any of the Stir Frys, Roasted Corn, berries, Fettucini Alfredo (so good but so bad for you), Moochi.
- Huge selection of protein/nutrition bars. Probably the largest selection I've seen at any Trader Joes, and it's organized! Very important!
The people here are very nice. I was asked if I needed help (twice) and the guy at the register was a hoot, including yelling quite loudly that "Sara is in the house", asked me what my zodiac sign is, and on my way out, he told me to "stay focused". OK buddy, whatever you say!
I'll be back soon... if not for groceries, for a good laugh!
I gave this TJ's 3 stars because I feel, i guess, "medium" about it. It seems like it's bigger than some of the other ones, which is nice. They are incredibly inexpensive, which is awesome.
Certain things bother me though:
- Their produce section is pretty tiny. It bothered me that I couldn't just buy one onion. Buying a bag of onions does not work for me. I use one onion like every two weeks.
- They don't have REGULAR white rice or yellow rice. Weird! They only have basmati rice and jasmine rice. I LOOOOVE indian food but I haven't the slightest idea of how to cook it. I leave it to the experts.
- They don't have much steak. Ok, they have shaved steak and they have stew beef. That's it. No cuts though. Steak tips are one of my favorite things to cook. No steak tips. Also, no filets. No ribeye. No NY strips. Grrr. For you pork lovers though, they have plenty of pork.
Some positives:
- All of the employees I encountered were really nice and very helpful. A definite plus in a grocery store.
- They have a lot of tasty stuff. Cheap too!
- Good beer and wine selection. Again, CHEAP! I found a $3 dollar bottle. I mean, it tasted like it cost $3 but...I'm broke! So it works out for the best!
Anyway, I'll probably come back at some point. I mean, I didn't think it was horrible but I didn't think it was great either. Well, what the hell, I'll give it another shot.
I love Trader Joe's. It's the kind of store you feel good about shopping at. Maybe it's that they sell organic foods? It could be that this location has beer and wine? Perhaps it's that this is the largest TJ's store in the area with a huge selection? Or maybe it's just that the prices are really good here.
Staff is always friendly and helpful, and really it makes me wonder if they aren't a bit crazy... because I just could not STAND half the customers in this place. I'm only shopping there and I can't stand them. How do they do it? I'm amazed.
I just went there to get my weekly groceries and now I remember why I started avoiding Sundays there. The place is an absolute madhouse! What was I thinking going there on a Sunday at 3pm???? Finding a spot in the parking lot is a near impossible challenge. And then when I got in there I was behind a guy standing there drinking his coffee blocking all the carts.. UM can you either get a cart or GET OUT of the WAY until you finish your coffee! I mean seriously, like all the other shoppers have nothing to do but wait to get a cart while you finish your latte? I was about to say something when he finally moved...
Anyway, every single aisle was jammed packed. So packed you can barely get a cart down the aisle. And many of the customer seem oblivious that there is ANYONE else in the store besides them! They just stop in the middle of an aisle with their cart so no one can get around them! Move to the side! I gave up actually trying to navigate a cart in the aisle and put it to the side and went and grabbed things and brought them back to my cart. Meanwhile all I see is smiling friendly workers in there and I'm thinking if I'm in here 10 more minutes I will want to die... how do they do it?
But the food / selection is great so I suffer through the giant crowd of people. Huge selection of breads and tasty cheeses. A decent selection of chicken and meat. And I like that the produce dept. always has some interesting fruits, plus all the staples (if they haven't run out). Although I have to say I think the quality of the organic apples at Whole Foods are better than Trader Joe's, but otherwise I like their fruit and veggie selection. They have Fage 2% yogurt too - which I may shop here for that alone it's so good. Plus organic milk and Stonyfield farms organic yogurt smoothies.
They have three big aisles of frozen foods: ice cream and other sweets, veggies, tons of frozen fruit (perfect for fruit smoothies), various side dishes, fish, chicken, and lots of entree choices. All kinds of quick to prepare meals for a busy working gal like myself.
And the other great thing is the 2 big aisles of beer and wine. They often have samples you can try as well - today they were sampling a dark ale.
The only reason this review is a 4 rather than a 5 is the chaos of weekend shopping here. I find it much more enjoyable to shop here after work at 7 or 8 at night when I can actually get a cart down the aisle
Somehow I feel the selection here is not as good as the one in Brookline. BUT, if you drive, parking is not as limited as Brookline TJ's and you won't be going around and around in the parking lot for someone to leave first.
It is also less crowded than the TJ's in Brookline. A very good plus. Staff are friendly. My only beef is that they never have the 2% Greek yogurt Joge with the side of honey. What's up with that?
O Trader Joe's! How I do love thee! Remnant of my western youth, transported now to the banks of the River Charles.
Purveyor of all that is nourishing and good! Thy cheeses and thy nuts do none compare. Thy Two Buck Chuck is but the best: it giveth great value. Would that all merchants were so fair and modest.
All the stars in all the heavens are not enough to lavish on thee but I must content myself with five.
In the war for the hearts and minds (and wallets) of British expats the Cambridge supermarkets have been trading blows...
First up, Whole Foods melted my heart by stocking Marmite
Then came Harvest with a battalion of Marmite, PG Tips and Ambrosia
Trader Joes was lagging... Sam Smiths beer and Newky Brown were good but not enough.
And then they went and won it all by selling Weetabix. Yay for TJs!
(Like I needed YET another reason to love Trader Joes...)
Hey Joe,
I once was lost, but now I'm found - was blind, but now I see...
How could I have been so wrong for so long about you, Joe? We just got off on the wrong foot. Here all along I thought you were this overpriced specialty yuppie trap, when all along you were the answer to all my hopes, longings, and prayers for fun, tasty and CHEAP urban grocery shopping.
Maybe I'm still riding on the high from my recent (and now regular) patronage of Trader Joe's, but I fee like a kid whenever I go here. I skip down the aisles, wax effusive over the turkey meatballs to strangers, and whistle in disbelief and admiration every time their ruthlessly efficient employees manage to cram an entire cart's worth of provender into two bags (I swear, they must have a masterclass on proper bag packing technique - it never ceases to amaze me).
I'm still barely scratching the surface, but here are my current favorites: Chicken Salsa Verde burritos; garlic naan; turkey meatballs; chocolate-filled chocolate Joe-Joes (their version of Oreos); Honeynut Joe O's (better than Honey Nut Cheerios, which I never thought possible); turkey meatballs (I can't mention them too many times); and of course, the best thing since bottled beer, peanut butter filled pretzels (actually, forget bottled beer - they're the best thing ever, period)
I'm not sure how much longer the honeymoon will last, but for now, Joe, my heart (and stomach) is all yours.
XOXOXOXOXO
Jake
Trader Joes is a goldmine for the lazy gourmet. With hundreds of $2-$4 ready-made sauces (I particularly love their masala, Cuban mojito sauce, picadillo, and tagine sauces), you can literally add fish/chicken/peas to the sauce, heat and have a cheap, quality dinner in MINUTES. They also have amazing pre-made frozen foods (I love the pad thai bowl) for very reasonable prices. Other finds include their 5lb bag of frozen chicken breasts (so cheap!), all of the pre-seasoned/marinated meats (just throw that baby in the oven for an hour and you are done!), various oils & vinegars, all of the spreads (olive tapenade, wasabi mustard, yum!) and the desserts (several pound chunks of ghiradelli chocolate, great cheesecake, and amazing gelato!) Their wine and beer selection is also UNBELIEVABLY cheap and quite decent quality.
Definitely recommend Trader Joes for those who wanna make a gourmet meal without the time investment! That said, this is NOT the best place to go for basic ingredients - the fruits/veggies are generally pricey, and you can get flour/sugar/rice/etc. (same quality) for FAR less money by going someplace like Market Basket.
TRADER JOE'S GENERALLY:
Amazing selection of frozen foods, meats, cheeses, cereal, bread-- you name it. Trader Joe's is inexpensive, and always a good time. The employees are helpful, knowledgeable and sometimes downright hilarious.
I have been a loyal Trader Joe's customer for years and as for the store alone, I give it FIVE STARS.
TRADER JOE'S, CAMBRIDGE LOCATION:
Clearly, people who rave about this location have never been to Trader Joe's in San Diego or Philadelphia. Philly's location has Cambridge beat on all counts (except alcohol--they don't have any... very sad). Better selection, better service, less crowded, and a less oblivious-zombie-like clientele. This location certainly has the Boylston Street location beat, but I almost feel like that one is more like a Trader Joe's convenience store because of it's size and selection. The Cambridge location is also pretty inaccessible without a car. Still, Cambridge has a great selection and is usually well-stocked and well-managed.
As a frequent Whole Foods shopper, my first trip to this Trader Joe's (which was my first trip to any TJ's, for that matter) was amazing. It had everything I liked about Whole Foods - great meats and cheeses, organic snacks, quality greens - at about 75 cents on the dollar. I was used to loading up on bread, cold cuts, cereals and dinner ingredients for the week at $60, and at TJ's I was paying $45.
The best testament to this place is that I dug out my car from the snow to drive here instead of simply walking to a nearby Whole Foods.
Wine 5% Percent Off
Neighborhood: Inman Square
Our Own Home-Grown Carrots!
Lexington, MA
Neighborhood: Coolidge Corner
Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Back Bay
Category: Grocery
Burlington, MA
Category: Grocery
Cambridge, MA
Category: Grocery
Neighborhood: Arlington Heights
Category: Grocery
Where-ever I roam... I can't stay away from these…
I'm not at home watching the TV or reading my…
When you want fast food, but don't want processed…
I don't cross over much, as a rule. But when I do,…
You're on a budget but you want to entertain. Make…
These grocer's have got what it takes to keep my…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
I love my new neighborhood, everything is so close…
