Urban Rustic Grocery & Cafe

 

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14

meowella s.

Brooklyn, NY

I totally agree with Tashi. I was so excited when this place opened, because the idea and concept is great. But after stopping by a couple times and trying to actually SHOP, I  found it a bit offensive. They tout themselves as purveyors  of organic, locally grown groceries. However,  everything in  this place can be purchased at Tops, Millenium, most grocers these days all along Bedford or even C-Town for significantly cheaper.  Also, I would guess that only 50% of their stock is local.  It's definitely put together in a pretty curated "rustic" dollhouse fashion, and I understand why that is attractive for some, but dude you can walk across the street to McCarren Park on a Saturday and get the same Red Jacket Juice for a buck cheaper at the farmers market.  I will say... the coffee is good.

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24

61

Joshua S.

Brooklyn, NY

Coming from someone who lives in the neighborhood, is a long time consumer of organic food and supporter of local business vs whole foods, I really wanted this place to be great.

It isn't.

Without fail if I come into the store in the morning hours their produce deliverys are sitting boxed in the middle of the retail floor.  The wait time for prepared food is approximately 15 minutes.  The employees has neglected spills and fallen produce.  The prices are not consistent with other "natural c-stores" in the area (they are significantly higher for some items, and marginally more expensive for most)

The waiting area for prepared food pickup is nowhere near the glass countertop where the food is placed, this could be simply fixed by having the food brought to the waiting area, or to at least alert the cashier to beckon the customers over.

At least they stock vegan treats desserts, and I can almost be out the door with a purchase in under 5 minutes, if the cashier happens to be at the front.

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Elite '08

309

182

Nadja M.

Brooklyn, NY

I don't know nothin' bout the midwest, I'm strictly a coast girl, east or west.  I fly over the fly-over states.  So, I can't really relate to Stephanie M.'s review.

This place reminds me of the little gourmet shops in Big Sur where the customers and the staff are a little too friendly, in the California tradition, but magnified by 12 because they're also high on the organic-hydroponically grown wacky-tobaccy.  Yeah- so that's what the staff is like...Super friendly.

I can't afford to come here often but, it is quality.  And, big ups for the salad bar that is extremely reasonable.

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0

1

Will h.

Brooklyn, NY

Offensively overpriced.  It's one thing to charge a lot for an organic sandwich, but $5.98 for Seventh Generation toilet paper?  Even freaking SUNAC fake natural foodz wouldn't try that!  I mean, WTF, are you trying to make the world a better place or just trying to rip off people who are trying to make the world a better place?

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7

46

Christine L.

Brooklyn, NY

I read The Omnivore's Dilemma and made a secret promise to myself to try and eat more food that comes directly from the farmer.  I would be lying to you if I said I didn't go to Whole Foods often (big organic is better than no organic at all) but having Urban Rustic less than a mile away may change things a bit.

The produce is excellent, some of the best I've ever had -- I would argue that you really haven't tasted what certain food is supposed to taste like until you've purchased something fresh and local.  Try the local yogurts -- their creamy freshness is far better than any sugary attempt I've had in the past.

Also -- the staff?  Super nice, helpful and down-to-earth.  I have absolutely no complaints.

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0

8

tashi s.

Brooklyn, NY

I love the mission of this place but they are not executing very well. I spent $20 on two sandwiches recently and was soooo disappointed.   The breads were stale and crumbly (it says on their website that the breads are "home baked"... I'm not sure whose home or on what day they were baked, but they were definitely not fresh)  and neither sandwich really had any sort of condiment.  So it was a very dry, bland flavor experience.  And so pricey!  The offending sandwiches were the Colvin and the Phelps... not sure about the rest of the menu.

Regarding the groceries, it's a very well-curated collection but it's all stuff you can buy at Tops in Williamsburg or The Garden in Greenpoint for cheaper.

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Elite '08

24

63

Stephanie M.

Brooklyn, NY

Urban Rustic reminds me of the fact that all the Midwesterners who move here still sort of crave the locally grown, salt-of-the-earth kind of vittles. (Hey, nothing wrong with that.)

I thought this place was going to be bigger, but that aside, they did have a really neat selection. (I almost accidentally ate a slice of blue russet potato, thinking it was a sample and not a "hey-look-at-the-inside" display.) I loved the coffee bar too, and the very excellent pastries. Try a strawberry muffin.

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3

35

Vallen S.

Brooklyn, NY

I didn't go out the night before solely so I could be at Urban when they opened.  lol, it's true.

So, the place is fantastic.  A small grocery selection, but what they have is exactly what you need.  The produce is great, seasonal (obvs) and not only is it local, but they have information sheets on each of the local farms from whom they buy.  i heart the staff, and cannot wait to eat the sandwiches.  

Word is, there should be beer soon....

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9

22

Lindsay M.

Brooklyn, NY

Once again I couldn't be happier to add another place to get local, organic and ethically raised foods to my growing list of outposts. For those ethically and consciously minded, openings like this are the mark of good things to come. Urban Rustic is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. They stock local produce from within a certain radius of miles (ie local). The stock is displayed artfully in ceiling high (and they've got high ceilings!) cubbies. Not only do they provide me with my weekly produce but they've got prepared foods and a cafe. I have been assured that their meat/poultry has been ethically raised and organically fed which to me is priceless. Please go, support them and you are supporting a greater good. Oh and as a bonus the staff wears one piece Dickie's jumpsuits, score!

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Elite '08

31

141

Monica H.

New York, NY

Brand new grocery store AND cafe. Between Williamsburg and Greenpoint. No need to schlep into Manhattan anymore for Whole Foods, we've got the improved version right here next to McCarren Park!  Most of the products in the grocery store are from within a 100 mile radius. The cafe has breakfast, sandwiches, vegan soups, blue plate specials, smoothies, fresh organic veggie and fruit juices for $3small/$4large. The guys who own LODGE own Urban Rustic...what a treat!

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2

10

Olivia P.

Brooklyn, NY

What I like about this place is that the food is cooked and prepared as if you would have made it at home. Minimal ingrediants, not greasy and just the right amount of seasonings. Their goat cheese and fig panini is soooo yummy!! I've also found it rather hard to find any good soup in Williamsburg w/out it being too salty or just not fresh tasting and this place is a winner for some good homemade tasting soup.

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0

3

Kristen S.

Brooklyn, NY

When Urban Rustic opened we were completely thrilled. Pastured organic meat in the neighborhood? Brilliant! I am really rooting for this place but the service is so totally abysmal that we find it easier to go to the Greenmarket in Manhattan. We have been given turkey instead of ham, we have been asked questions like "what is that?" answer: cabbage.

There is one guy there who knows what he's doing and seems to really care but the counter staff is woefully uninformed and slow as holy fuck. You end up checking all the prices for them, telling them what things are and they really don't seem to care at all about what they're doing. If there are more than two people in front of you, you will literally wait for ten, fifteen minutes to be checked out. They seem to believe that the vague notion that they're doing "good" is enough. With fugazi bullshit popping up all over Williamsburg, I really hoped this would be the real deal. But the tedious hipster service means that if anyone else decides to do this in the neighborhood, these guys will be done in five seconds flat.

Like I said, I am really rooting for them, but good intentions aren't enough. Respect your customers and your products! LEARN something about what you're doing. I swear we want to love you but jesus you make it hard.

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