sushi
non-pareils
stuffed cabbage in the hot prepared entrees bar
Good produce
Cute cards
fresh bread
brownies

I love this store!

Bakery
Fresh ground peanut and almond butter
Coffee!
Bulk candy and nuts
Nice produce

If OP is referring to the new one at Bradlee shopping center:
I was really disappointed in the fried chicken. It was too spicy and not crispy. I did love the cake I bought from the bakery. Agree with a PP that the jarred pesto is bad and if there is refrigerated pesto there, I couldn't find it (one employee had never heard of pesto)
The parking lot is a total nightmare. Why are those spots SO tiny??

They have some really good crispy cookies at the bakery.

they also have some good bulk goods selection.

Other than that, not too impressed.

I went to the new Alexandria one for the first time, and yes, I was one of the people wandering around slack jawed, circling the store multiple times, probably in everyone's way.

I wasn't very impressed with what I bought. The baguette was way too chewy and hard. The tuna salad sandwich I had was gross -- I just didn't like the tuna salad at all. The jarred pesto I bought wasn't tasty, and I'll probably throw away the rest of the jar.

I just didn't really get the appeal, but maybe I need to try it again and get my bearings. The chicken special does sound like a good deal.

I did like the slice of red velvet cake that I bought.

I don't understand the point of Fresh Market. What is its niche?

I work very close to the one in Rockville and it seems like a GIGANTIC space, with aisles 3x as wide as any other store I know. But when I actually start to shop ... I couldn't find much beyond cutesy expensive boutique one-of-a-kind items.

Do not get me wrong -- I like cutesy expensive handcrafted pistachio biscotti dipped in tabasco chocolate as much as the next gourmand. But I would expect that a whole store devoted to this sort of product would be a cutesy boutique -- not a cavernous brown Walmart-type warehouse with 30 ft. aisles and no staff.

Their organic milk is cheaper than at Giant. So I buy it there. Their $2.99 chicken special that a PP mentioned is good, too. Also, they have Neptuna tuna, which I love. I haven't found it anywhere else yet.

Anonymous wrote:I went by when I heard about it opening and it sucked lol. It was almost $5 for a fresh pineapple that wasn't even organic. But I guess it's cool since there isn't a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods near by.

There's a trader Joe's just up the road near Bailey's crossroads.

oh and 9:33 here again- Tuesday deals are awesome- $2.99/lb for antibiotic free chicken breast and ground chuck.

I went by when I heard about it opening and it sucked lol. It was almost $5 for a fresh pineapple that wasn't even organic. But I guess it's cool since there isn't a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods near by.

blueberry corn bread. so yummy....

Their bakery items are delicious - just don't read the list of ingredients. I stopped buying them after doing so.

I had a cranberry orange muffin..it was deeeelicious and cheap ($1.25)! Didn't like any of the stuff I got from the bulk bin section (bourbon praline pecans, bacon choco pretzel balls, bacon choco toffee balls).

So you are one of the ones at the new King Street location wandering around slack jawed and in everyone's way? No snark, I promise- but man that place is packed now! I love their bakery for special occasions, their sushi (and spring rolls/Thai soup) in the prepared section is good & cheaper than takeout. I also love Beecher's mac & cheese (stores in NYC and Seattle but so expensive to ship) and they carry it in the frozen aisle.

One opened up near me recently. What kinds of things do you like to buy from Fresh Market, that are different or that you wouldn't normally get at your regular grocery store?