We have a child with multiple food allergies and WF is the only place we can get certain items.

I found a farm in gaithersburg that sells grass fed meat, fresh eggs, etc
Wf is only for occational stuff I cannot get elsewhere

After having been to grocery stores in Austin TX (WHole Foods, Central Market, even the local HEB), I hate the stores here. There is just NO comparison in terms of variety, quality, prepared foods, etc.

I like Giant.

Agree. Like Rockville WF.

[quote=Anonymous]Another former Texas resident missing HEB Central Market . . .

I shop at the SS WF. I actually do not find the fresh produce prices to be any higher than at the other nearby SS options, and do find the quality to be higher. Meats are more expensive but also higher quality. Bread is best for grocery store bread in area.

BUT in the last year, I have on MANY occasions found terrible customer service at this WF. There are several people behind the deli counter who are incapable of properly slicing prosciutto (or other deli meats). The pre-prepared food options are really so-so (oh HEB central market how I miss you!). Several times my purchases have been packed in such a way as to crush the softer foods (despite me putting them in order on the conveyor belt!). Some of the check-out people are SO slow and/or unable to tear themselves away from the conversation they are having w/another person/employee to actually concentrate on packing my groceries. I have bought food that has gone off unreasonably quickly. The parking lot can be a real drag & it is ridiculous that you have to wheel your cart all the way back to the front of the store (nowhere to return in the parking lot & no employees collecting carts in the parking lot which has cars circling for a spot).

I would love another good option in close-in SS. There have been rumors of a Harris Teeter coming to 16th & EW Hwy since I moved here in 2005. Sigh. I think SS WF is best option for now.[/quote]

This ++++1000000. The attitude of the customer service reps at the Bethesda WF. Horrible No desire to help. Yakking away in their maiden tongue. You hate to barge in and say, "Uh, would you like to do you job and check me out or would you rather continue discussing what you did on date night?" It's just ridiculous. No manager on site. I won't shop there anymore.

Central market!!! Can't wait to head back to austin!

Where are you posting from, OP? I find it hard to believe you're in DC if you thought your WF smelled like patchouli.

Another former Texas resident missing HEB Central Market . . .

I shop at the SS WF. I actually do not find the fresh produce prices to be any higher than at the other nearby SS options, and do find the quality to be higher. Meats are more expensive but also higher quality. Bread is best for grocery store bread in area.

BUT in the last year, I have on MANY occasions found terrible customer service at this WF. There are several people behind the deli counter who are incapable of properly slicing prosciutto (or other deli meats). The pre-prepared food options are really so-so (oh HEB central market how I miss you!). Several times my purchases have been packed in such a way as to crush the softer foods (despite me putting them in order on the conveyor belt!). Some of the check-out people are SO slow and/or unable to tear themselves away from the conversation they are having w/another person/employee to actually concentrate on packing my groceries. I have bought food that has gone off unreasonably quickly. The parking lot can be a real drag & it is ridiculous that you have to wheel your cart all the way back to the front of the store (nowhere to return in the parking lot & no employees collecting carts in the parking lot which has cars circling for a spot).

I would love another good option in close-in SS. There have been rumors of a Harris Teeter coming to 16th & EW Hwy since I moved here in 2005. Sigh. I think SS WF is best option for now.

I like the WF in Rockville. Produce there always looks great, as do the meat and fish. Only catch is that they are very expensive.

I buy most of our stuff at Trader Joe's because it's fun to shop there and so much cheaper. I do find their produce isn't usually as nice as WF's, but if you check it over before buying you can get some good things there. I buy their organic chicken, milk and eggs. THe chicken is usually good and cheaper than WF.

Fish - I save my buying for WF or specialty markets.

Thanks, I'll try the farmers market. Maybe I'm just picking bad stuff at TJs. I just bought cucumbers that I used the same night and when I took off the plastic, they were squishy and tasted horrible.

I buy produce at the farmers markets or at TJs, both of which hold up well.

Anonymous wrote:I really like the Silver Spring one, too.

We don't go super often but some staples are their asian tofu (from the cold bar), breads, olives/peppers from the olive bar, rotisserie chicken, chicken in general though we are not big meat eaters, their milk is really inexpensive, frozen foods, and I will get produce there fairly often but I have to say it doesn't do much for me (expensive, not much better at all).

I'm 10:00 who also shops at the SS WF - where do you get produce then? Every single time without fail that I've bought fruits or vegetables at Safeway or Trader Joe's, they have been inedible or molded within a day. I find the WF produce to be significantly better and well worth the price. Would love to know where you go!

I really like the Silver Spring one, too.

We don't go super often but some staples are their asian tofu (from the cold bar), breads, olives/peppers from the olive bar, rotisserie chicken, chicken in general though we are not big meat eaters, their milk is really inexpensive, frozen foods, and I will get produce there fairly often but I have to say it doesn't do much for me (expensive, not much better at all).

We have never had a bad experience at the Whole Foods in Silver Spring near the Metro. Do most of our shopping there.