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Categories: Health Markets, Caterers [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Logan Square, Fairmount, Spring Garden, Art Museum District"I first discovered Penn Herb Co. when I lived in Colorado and became enamoured with Chap-a-Grips. On a frantic search to buy a dozen or so…" read more »
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3 and a half stars.
I like Whole Foods in a WHOLE LOT of ways.
There is enough fresh produce here to ALMOST warrant a four-and-a-halfth star (but I like to TEASE you, WHole Paycheck, just like you tease ME). Just when I see that ripe TOMATO, I realize it's one of the "non-organic" ones, and I feel guilty. NOTE: there is a good selection of organic, but sometimes the best stuff ISN'T.
The meat is usually very good quality - quality meat (but you WOULD expect it to be for the $$$), so one extra star there which I shall take away later for the atmosphere over in cheese...
Cheeses are DELICIOUS and a good selection - PERHAPS not as good as South St BUT there is always someone "knowledgeable" to answer any questions - and samples sometimes!
Can be a GI-NORMOUS task to park at this location - luckily I live a few blocks away SO I can walk or if doing a lot of shopping know the local streets I can park on too...not a big deal but I COULD dock another quarter of a star for this.
The Sushi is good in a pinch or if I don't feel like cooking I can grab a roast CHICKEN - don't hate me Yelpers, sometimes I'm busy and don't "feel like cooking". What the hell is what I say!
OMG, and the cashiers are sooooo helpful....a SMILE costs nothing and in this world we all need one. So Whole Foods wins MY vote!
Like a lot of people, I have a love/hate relationship with Whole Foods.
I love their selection of specialty foods, I have been able to expand my cooking repertoire because of them. I love the cheese bin that Meredith also mentioned. I scored a little nub of Idiazábal on Sunday that I am way too excited about. You can make a great cheese plate for two or three people with these little pieces. I also enjoy their sales, especially on produce. They some times have ridiculously low prices on grapes, mangoes and avocados. The employees are generally nice, I think I've only met one disgruntled cashier ever.
On the other hand, I hate their high prices, especially when it is an emergency item so I can't shop around. I am not a fan of the clientele, but at least there aren't a million babies like at suburban grocery stores. The salad bar and hot food bar are sooooo expensive. Only made that mistake once. Meat is really pricey, even when it is on sale. And, finally, I hate, hate, hate the hot dog & hamburger buns they carry.
Or as I like to call it, Whole Paycheck. Nah, I am just kidding, I go to this place almost every day. The selection of food is great, if it weren't for their sometimes steep prices, I would make this my only food shopping source, but alas, that is impossible.
What is great about Whole Foods is that you can find great deals on some delectable produce or your favorite items, like organic honey-crisp apples for $1.69/lb. And of course, lest one forget the free samples that they have sprinkled throughout the store. Often I go there and don't even need to buy very much in the end because I have had the equivalent of a meal in samples.
There are two Whole Foods as well. One in South Philly, where I go the most and this one. For a better selection in the bulk and well, almost everything, I would say go to the museum.
Another cool thing about Whole Foods, for those of you on a budget, is that if you buy cases of things, you save 10%.
You can save your money, you just have to shop wisely.
It's Whole Paycheck. The prices are ridiculous and I have to say the food bar here, when I go during lunch always seems like things have a layer of "been out too long" over it.
I do not get my regular groceries here, because I'm not Caucasian enough to waste that much money.
Their take out sushi is cheaper than going to a real sushi place and getting take out. However, the lines as so long during lunch time you're not really saving that much time.
I think this one is a bit bigger and more well-stocked than the one on South Street. I was impressed by their bulk bin selection (I love bulk bins, particularly when I only need a little bit of something or want to try out some unusual flour or grain. I cook and bake a lot).
I'd advise not going on a weekend. I went on a Saturday last time, breaking my own rule about never grocery shopping on the weekend, since that seems to be when all the crazies come out to buy food, and some guy must have not seen me standing in front of the yogurt case or decided that I needed to move and plowed his shopping cart into me. That's not Whole Food's fault, but it speaks to the quality of co-shoppers you should expect if you go there--it seems to attract a sort of very self- centered- look- at- me- I'm- eating- organic -stuff-now-i'm-going-to-run-you-over-with-my-cart customer base.
This is an expensive grocery store. The atmosphere is relaxed, the fresh food seemed like it had been well-kept and the store was immaculate even though it was very crowded.
I was impressed that even while the store was busy it was still in very good shape and the employees were very polite and friendly.
Oh Whole Foods, how I loathe you, yet somehow I can't resist going here at least once every two weeks. First of all, I will say that I've only eaten from their hot-food island (or whatever you call it) once, because it was so bland, yet so EXPENSIVE, that I never wanted to try anything else they offer. Having said that, I must say that their seafood soups are quite tasty, especially the lobster bisque, but they are also so astronomically priced that I can rarely afford to indulge. The only time when I buy something at Whole Foods is when it's on sale or from their bargain cheese bin (which everyone should check out if they go here... great deals!). Actually, one star is just for the bargain cheese bin. Without that, it would definitely only get two.
Without Whole Foods and Trader Joe's I'd be sunk.
So, Whole Foods - I am be-whole-den to you.
High prices and all - what choice do I have? My child must have chemical-free, persticide-free, herbicide-free non Genetically Modified organisms on which to feed.
And so I present - An Ode to WHOLE FOODS:
That meat case is impressive! As are the baked desserts. The juice bar is a saviour - and sushi never hurts!
O, Whole Foods - how I love thee - though parking really sucks.
A least they'll validate the lot and save me a few bux.
This is probably one of the best examples of proper employee management. Whole Foods does so well and beats out the competition because they manage their employees respectfully and give them the freedom to manage themselves. The best part of all, they're expensive as shit! And people are still willing to go there and spend good money because they believe in what WF stands for.
Someone on NPR made a joke that it's not Whole Foods, it's Whole Check. True, you could spend close to your entire pay on groceries there, but in a sense, it's totally worth it. We don't buy ALL of our groceries there, but we do buy some things like soy ice cream or any of their seafood soups and it's worth every penny. It kills me to go to Super Fresh (not to knock them) or any other grocery store and ask for something uncommon because nine times out of ten, they give you the blank stare and act like they don't even know where they are! But again, not to knock other grocery stores because it's hard to compete with Whole Foods.
Not only do they have amazingly good food, an incredible variety and a good work culture, they are very involved in the local community. I run a "green" painting company and there's no better place to post free small advertisements than in their store. They have an ad area where you can throw up business cards, flyers, pictures of things you're trying to sell, etc... it's like Craigs List on the wall. They also have a community board that keeps their customers aware of whats going on and where. It's awesome.
I grabbed sushi there one night (like a city yuppie) and they were out of wasabi (us city yuppies' can't have sushi without wasabi). I decided I'd buy some so I went back to the sauce isle and a woman in the meats department said, "Hunny, you looked lost - can I help you?" I told her I was just going to buy some wasabi and she said, "Are they all out in the front? Give me a minute, I'll help you." She took her gloves off, washed her hands, walked me to the front of the store and dug in one of the bins behind the sushi counter and gave me a few packs of wasabi. Yeah, it was a free condiment but still, you don't get that kind of service anywhere and that's why I'll keep going back.
Keep it up Whole Foods, you make me want to be a better man.
Wow! I can't believe I've been living in Philadelphia, only a mile from this place, and I've never made it out here! Also doesn't help that I live half a block from Trader Joe's.
Boy.
Whole Foods is so awesome! My jaw dropped as I walked in, it's a _real_ supermarket!!! The reason I made the trip in the first place was because I was making cupcakes and wanted to buy ready-made frosting. Unfortunately, they mostly had organic cake&frosting mixes, but I was still amazed at the variety of fruits, veggies, sweets, cards, ready-made food....
***They even sell world-class music. o_O
omg and I forgot to mention the best thing: THEY DEDUCT $0.05 IF YOU BRING IN YOUR OWN BAG. !!!!!!
I thought I reviewed this place already, but maybe not. While I do most of my shopping at Aldi, Save-a-Lot, TJ's and the parents' cupboards when home for a visit, I still find myself in Whole Foods once in a while. And I'm surprised to say that I've actually found a number of affordable things here that I "need" and can't find in my usual stores. From cheap silken and firm tofu to good sales on soy milk/yogurt to Bob's Red Mill whole wheat pastry flour, Whole Foods can actually be budget-friendly (and, okay, the free samples and pampered-soccer mom-meets-greenwashing atmosphere are nice, too). I'm best friends with Whole Foods' bulk bins, trying a new bean or rice here and there and restocking my hippie-pixiedust (nutritional yeast) or candied-ginger compulsion (it's great in baked goodies). Yeah, if I made more money I'd probably shop here more often, and I do think some things are overpriced and the store could be slightly better organized (though the employees are always helpful). I like this place for what it is, for me-- an occasional treat and my monthly "why did I buy yet another jar of nut butter and too many yogurt-covered pretzels" fix.
I stopped by this Whole Foods for lunch while visiting the museums in downtown Philadelphia last week. They had a fine selection of ready made sandwiches, a case of cold beverages, and plenty of available seating. The people there were friendly and it was a nice place to rest and have a meal.
Expensive, yes. But that is the only negative. The people who work here are incredibly nice and helpful. The pre-pared food is a working woman's dream. The Jamba Juice is perfect for breakfast or just to pretend you are in Cali.
HINT: Near their checkout lanes grab a couple tuperware containers full of prepared soups such as Split Pea, Clam Chowder and Parmesean Broccoli. It's like having homemade soup at home or work without all the messy cooking and cleaning!
Back in college, I boycotted Whole Foods, Kroger, and the Mount Olive Pickle Company on behalf of the United Farm Workers.
Sadly, in the last few years, I have reneged on my boycott of Whole Paycheck because I love Jamba Juice and Anne's Green Garlic dressing.
I've been to many a Whole Food, but so far this is the only one that sells chocolate dusted almonds. Even though I live a few blocks from the South Street Whole Foods, I am more than willing to make the drive out to the art museum to get me some chocolate dusted almonds.
Yes, I'm addicted.
You'll be too.
Seriously people, you really have to try them.
Not sure if there's a support group or not yet though.....so be careful.
Doesn't it seem like a lot of conversations these days start with " I just found this great (insert stinky cheese here) and Whole Foods/Trader Joe's. You've got to try some. Don't you just LOVE Whole Foods/Trader Joe's?"
I like Whole Foods, but I'm not one of those bourgeoisie folks who defines themselves by shopping there. If you're buying raspberries in November folks, they didn't come from anywhere around Philly. Some days, though, you just need a sushi snack after hitting the art museum. As far as Whole Foods locations go, this is one of the better ones because it's really large and spacious, unlike my tiny co-op. Also, the prepared items seem to be more extensive here. I like that Whole Foods carries Ceres juice, something I fell in love with while living in South Africa. As much as I loathe the prices, who else carries the flaxseed meal I need for my vegan cookies? And the employees are pretty nice unless they've got that obnoxious hipster vibe because their jeans are six sizes too small. I also may have a slight crush on one of the cashier dudes, but what else is new. I'm not about to blow my paycheck shopping there regularly.
This location is superior to the South Street one. Here, it's got the space that it takes to be a super market. Baked goods are delicious for sure. Much more varied and interesting selection of products than the standard Giant/Pathmark/Acme ::shudder:: fare. But let's face it: the prices here make this great food utterly unaffordable for most working people with multiple mouths to feed. I understand that that results from factors beyond Whole Foods' management, but it's still not acceptable that the 'best' food is unreachable for so many families. If Trader Joe's weren't a few blocks south, there wouldn't be an affordable large food retailer in the Logan area. Here's to you, Trader, a place where I can get bags of food for $30. Rant over.
Whole Foods highlights: the coconut oil (which is a solid-funky!) in the body section is a sensual moisturizer. It melts from a soft solid into a liquid with the heat of your fingertips. If you have dry hair, introduce it to this oil. The prepared foods make excellent quick meals. The 365 product line is the company's stab at an affordable option; I appreciate the gesture.
I've been going to Whole Foods all year now, it's my main supermarket. Prior to that, my exposure to Whole Foods as a chain was pretty limited-- I had only been to the one in Pittsburgh a few times. I was well-aware of the fact that Whole Foods was high-end, primarily organic, and reflected a healthy or even "green" lifestyle. What I didn't know was that Whole Foods is one of those "Retail 2.0" companies that nurtures their employee culture, and that Whole Foods works with smaller food producers (although this claim on their part has been disputed in the news by critics I think are just looking for reasons to complain about Whole Foods).
This particular Whole Foods is located very close by, and conveniently next-door to my gym.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
Walking in, you might think this is just another supermarket, as it visually doesn't stray far from your Genuardi's. Take a closer look, however, and you'll notice (or you won't notice) the majority of brands on the shelves are not ones you would find in the big supermarkets. Rather, you would expect to find some of this stuff in little shops around Center City or something.
THE FOOD:
The food here is the reason this place is so popular, regardless of how expensive it is. Not only does it taste good, but it also makes you feel good-- you're eating healthy and more natural food, you're supporting the little guys (who are fortunate enough to make it onto Whole Foods' shelves). But who cares about the meaning behind the food, what about the food itself? I am very big on their meat and fish offerings, many of which come in an entre-sort of form-- apple and cranberry or spinache, feta and pine nut stuffed Salmon, Macademia-crusted Tilapia filets, Chicken, Burgers and Blueberry breakfast Sausages. I originally was a bit put-off by the fact that I wasn't seeing the stuff I was used to seeing in supermarkets, but I got over that quickly when I realized it's time to change my eating habits for the healthier, and I now love the flavors I've been getting into since. For those who prefer not to cook themselves, there is an entire section for ready-to-eat, although I haven't gone there myself.
THE PRICE:
It is more expensive than the other guys, significantly so...that's up to you and the weight of your wallet. I don't think it's that big a killer, but others might find the higher price and little-known branding to be a bit superficial.
THE SERVICE:
I think it's charming (in a strange way) that the people who work there, who are mostly young, mostly hipsters of some form, clearly concerned with the environment and all those factors surrounding Whole Foods as both an economic and political entity. My understanding is that the company is very democratic with their employees, and we all know that empowered employees are happy employees, so they are generally very pleasant. This was really a breath of fresh air from the service I'd get at places like Acme, moronic cashiers who could give two shits about the impact of their being a part of that company. It might be strange, but this has an impact on my perception of a supermarket, and it makes the higher cost worth it.
ABOUT BEING A RESPONSIBLE CORPORATE CITIZEN:
Since I can't seem to separate this aspect of Whole Foods from the rest of my review, I will leave a couple final notes: this country and this world cannot sustain the kind of mindless consumption our culture and society has imposed on our natural resources. The bigtime corporations are now all trying to cash in on this "green" trend, as it's virtually all you see now in marketing...it disgusts me, because I know that what they are actually doing to help the environment is very different than what they say. I think that Whole Foods is not one of these companies, at least to an extent much greater than so many others...they try to steer their customers toward greener lifestyle practices, like transporting groceries in your own reusable bags, and then rewarding those who practice this with discounts. This is why I was so impressed with what I saw and why I have continued to go back since...what was once a choice to shop at Whole Foods based on necessity and practicality is now a choice to shop based on my ideas of more responsible consumerism.
THE VERDICT:
Preachy anecdotes aside, Whole Foods is a worthwhile supermarket. If you can afford the slightly higher prices, and don't mind saying goodbye to Tyson Chicken, Tastykakes, Pringles and all the other bullshit, you'll be pleased with what you get in return.
For some reason I am able to come out of Whole Foods with lots of groceries having only spent like 80 bucks. I can't do this in any other supermarket. Theoretically, Whole Foods is expensive. It an establishment that sells high-end organic produce and grain fed meats, yet I can rock and roll the joint with less than a bill.
What Whole Foods is really great for is freaks like me who are allergic to things. For instance, I am allergic to cow dairy. I still like cheese and yogurt but it has to come from a goat or a sheep or something like that, which Whole Foods has and most large chain grocery stores do not. What I don't like about Whole Foods is that being a large chain grocery store they run independent organic markets out of business like crazy. And it's a dilemma. For me to get the same amount of food at Essene that I get at Whole Foods, it would cost me around 30% more, which I can't afford, so often I end up at the big store.
Like Nicole, I am somehow immune to get vacuumed in the pockets here. I really hate the location on South Street, so when I want the shopping experience, I bless this locale.
I'm always a fan of Whole Foods' breads, cheeses, and yes - the desserts make me weak in the knees like SWV, and I'm a guy who doesn't often delve in sweets. The flan kills me. I also like the unique sodas they have.
Most Trader Joes regulars, which I am, hate on Whole Foods. I refuse to. I just know I can get in and out cheaper and healthier when I'm at the "all business" TJs.
In the battle of the Philadelphia Whole Foods, this place wins hands down. We like to walk to the South Street location for a late-Sunday morning snack and a handful of random groceries, but we like to shop for real at this location. For the bulk bins alone (h/t to Kevin W. for mentioning the cocoa-dusted almonds), it's worth braving the horrible parking lot.
The salad bar is amazing. That's all I can say.
So usually I do not want to find a reason to shop at a place with an underline liberal political statement along with higher prices. But right now, whatever is behind Whole Food's mission statement I would rather ignore so I can justify wanting to shop there all the time. Grocery shopping is not a favorite task of mine, nor would I guess of most others. But, like I saw mentioned in some other reviews, everyone who works there is so helpful you would think that none of them have ever a bad day. Or maybe there is too much kume by ya singing going on in their heads after just one whole Foods training session to ever become miserable or angery again. Whatever it is, they need to keep doing it because it works. Not only to mention that the prepared food, soups, deli, and bakery are to die for and addicting, I have never had a food dilemma they could not solve. They saved my ass for a company lunch when I needed 20 sandwiches, with only a 2 hour advance notice, when other places (neighborhood deli's and commercial) turned me down. They even gave me free serving trays and displayed the food. Another time they saved me on cheap bottle waters for an event. With no hesitation they pulled what I needed from the back and all 8 cases of water were waiting for me at customer service when I wa done shopping for other item. Like I mentioned, grocery shopping sucks form me but Whole Foods has made shopping a much better world.
the only place to buy fresh fruit that actually ends up tasting like fruit.
Neighborhood: Washington Square West
Category: Grocery
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Category: Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Category: Grocery
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Category: American (Traditional)
I'm moving to South Philly on Sunday, and although…
