grocery stores

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

comment on quality of different grocery stores near davis?  also comment on car vs. t accessibility (both or fine, i'm just curious).  i've been using the one in porter but want to branch out.  also any other convenient stores (e.g. target in everett) etc.  thanks!

Comments

[saraheeyore.livejournal.com]

There's a Foodmaster at Clarendon Hill (Broadway & Rt 16). It's cheap, but has a lot less selection, especially produce.
Also Market Basket on Somerville Ave near Union Square, which is similarly cheap and has lots of veggies, but is usually REALLY busy.

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

If you haven't been to MacKinnon's (on Elm Street), and you like meat, go there instantly. MacKinnon's = decent meat, dirt cheap. It has other groceries too, though it's not really full-service, but it rules for meat.

There's also a nice farmers' market Wednesday afternoons, though it doesn't run nearly late enough and I imagine it's winding down now. But if it isn't, get the gingered goat cheese.

[jennyelfenmass.livejournal.com]

Where abouts on Elm is MacKinnon's?

I also recommend them

[agnosticoracle.livejournal.com]

MacKinnons, I couldn't remember the name quite right. If you are standing in Davis Square walk towards and past Desiel. It will be on the left side several doors down. If you reach Downtown Liquors you have gone too far.

Re: I also recommend them

[androidqueen.livejournal.com]

i also recommend. cheap-ass high quality meat. fruits and veggies also rather cheap, but don't have the shelf life that you'll get from star.

Re: I also recommend them

[la-ti-da.livejournal.com]

i just walked in there today! thanks all.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

The Star Market is convenient...but it's the only large supermarket I've ever seen to run out of basic staples on a regular basis...And the lines are insane, the customer service perfunctory, and the baggers have no clue. Still...convenient.

There's a Target on Somerville Ave., just past Union Square (towards Boston from Davis/Porter)

Price, Quality, and Selection

[agnosticoracle.livejournal.com]

Pemberton Farms on Mass Ave is one of the best quality groceries in the area. They have fresh fish, organic veggies, and an assortment of other things. They are a small store so their selection is small, so you often need to go to a Star or similar large grocery to finish out a shopping list. There prices can be a bit high but the food is good. I shopped there a lot more back when the economy (and my pay checks) were booming. I still go there for fresh fish and sometimes for veggies.

McCormicks (sp?) is an good priced and good quality butcher shop in Davis Square slightly down from Desiel. They have a good assortment of non-fish meat that is tasty. They have a small selection of other things and the quality of veggies is just average.

Shaws in Medford (off route 16 across from Kohls) is a alternate to the Star in Porter Square. It is only accessible by car but the parking is a lot easier and the store is a little larger. If I'm buying more groceries than I can carry such that I need to drive I usually go here. It takes a little longer but there is no parking stress and it isn't as crowded as Porter, so it makes for more relaxed shopping.

Costco (off route 16 back of the shopping center with Target and Home Depot) is the best value. As with all Costco's you will need a membership of course. It is a good place to do bulk shopping for a month. Its big draw back is that they don't have all brands like a regular grocery store so you will still need to get some things at Star/Shaws. I do most of my stocking up here.

Re: Price, Quality, and Selection

[dmaze]

If you're going to drive to the Wellington area, there's also a Stop and Shop (by Fellsway and Riverside Ave.; go to the 16/28 intersection, head north on 28, left at the first light into the plaza, then right before you run into the Outback Steakhouse) which is impressive for its sheer volume. There's a brand-new Stop and Shop, which I haven't been to yet, at 28 and 93 (on the south side of 93 and the east side of McGrath). For bulk shopping people I know generally go to BJ's rather than Costco; from 16/28, go north on Middlesex Ave. (in between 28 north and Kappy's), and it'll be on your left just before a railroad crossing. Same caveats as the Costco, but when I looked at the Costco I was kind of unimpressed.

Re: Price, Quality, and Selection

[ceo]

Actually, I found Costco to be about an order of magnitude above BJs in terms of quality and selection. Plus, Wall Street hates them because they pay their employees well and have good benefits.

[cold-cold-water.livejournal.com]

there's a wild oats in medford. i'm not sure if it's bus-accessible or not but i like it (i drive). it has a pretty good selection and if you check on their website sometimes you can get a great sale (like half-gallons of silk for 99 cents a couple times a year). there's also a foodmaster on 16 kinda near the intersection of broadway & 16. you could probably walk or t it but, again, i drive. foodmaster is good, good prices and a decent selection, but they have this weird "no-carts-outside-of-the-store" policy which is annoying if you stocked up and want to bring stuff out to your car. i feel bad having people from the store have to bring my stuff out ot the car for me and then they wear these "no tipping" buttons which make me feel even worse. but anyway. :) hope that helps!

Some suggestions...

[nowalmart.livejournal.com]

I do not own a car, so all of my suggestions will be accessible via busses. I live near Teele Square.

Foodmaster (Broadway and Rt. 16) has a pretty poor selection, and I find the prices pretty high. Of course, it is within walking distance of my apartment, so... Also accessable via busses.

Star Market (Porter Square, and on Broadway) is an average grocery store. Good selection, average prices. Easy transportation.

Market Basket (Somerville Ave.) is probably my favorite. The selection is acceptable, and the prices tend to be cheaper. Avoid it during rush hour times (4pm-6pm on weekdays) and on weekends. Bus, or an easy walk from Porter.

Re: Some suggestions...

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Market Basket is a hike (not only do I not drive, but I don't take the buses...I only have a subway pass), but they have a great selection of ethnic ingredients, especially produce for Mexican and Asian recipes.

Then, too, there's the Reliable Market in Union Square (follow Summer to the end and it's next to Citizen's Bank), which is the lareget Korean market in New England. It's awesome. I go there quite often...it's a walk, too...but well worth it.

(I do a lot of Asian cooking.)

Re: Some suggestions...

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

A recent newspaper survey thing showed that the Union Sq. Market Basket was indeed one of the cheapest places to shop (as I'd figured). They must keep the prices low by only being open when they're busy as heck, and they stock and everything at the same time, so its usually a zoo, but worth it. I find the produce lasts longer than what I get at Shaws or Stop n Shop, perhaps because they don't sprinkle it with water constantly. It might be worth the trip, at least in good weather.