best grocery stores (Chicago, Mark: house, buying, live)

[rparz]

Mariano's on Belmont and western can be the best value, but everyone is in on that secret and the place is always jammed.
A modestly priced, yet superior shopping experience can be found at Strack and Van Til on Elston just south of Logan. Get in, get your stuff, get out, not spend all day in line, and boom.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by Drover

The Tony's in Irving Park is a pit.

Hah, I've found some very, very good deals there before. Unless you're trying to find a premade cake for someone or something...Yeah you aren't going to find some exotic fruit/vegetable, but they have good deals.

[Vlajos]

Edgewater Produce and Harvest Time are amazing for fruits and veggies and ethnic items. Stanleys has great produce as well.

[ChiGuy2.5]

Originally Posted by MassVt

As a frequent Chicago visitor, I found that Dominick's has a very good selection, and good prices ( based upon the store in Park Ridge). Being open 24 hours is certainly a plus..

I thought everyone basically hated Dominicks! I think their prices are ridiculously high! Aside from one good sale here or there. Also, their produce is disgusting.


My List
Stanleys - Best produce in the city at very cheap prices. Their general grocery items and deli meats are expensive though. I only shop there for my produce.

Jewel-Osco - Best selection and good sale prices. Anything that isn't on sale is generally too expensive for me to buy.

Whole Foods - Best selection of organic and fresh items. They also have reasonable prices on everyday items, but usually its more expensive than Jewel.

Trader Joes - Great prices but low selection. All organic and/or fresh items. They have great healthy produce as well. I would shop here all of the time if I didn't have unhealthy eating habit requirements.

[Drover]

I was kinda disappointed with Stanley's. So far I haven't found a produce market that touches Fresh Farms in Niles. For overall selection and price, Woodman's gets my vote; unfortunately there are only 3 in the Chicago area and they're scattered around the periphery of the metro area (two on the Randall Road corridor in North Aurora and Carpentersville, one in Kenosha). Their produce sucks though. Thank goodness for the Caputo's just down the street from the Carpentersville Woodman's to pick up the ball that Woodman's drops.

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by ChiGuy2.5

I thought everyone basically hated Dominicks! I think their prices are ridiculously high! Aside from one good sale here or there. Also, their produce is disgusting.


My List
Stanleys - Best produce in the city at very cheap prices. Their general grocery items and deli meats are expensive though. I only shop there for my produce.

Jewel-Osco - Best selection and good sale prices. Anything that isn't on sale is generally too expensive for me to buy.

Whole Foods - Best selection of organic and fresh items. They also have reasonable prices on everyday items, but usually its more expensive than Jewel.

Trader Joes - Great prices but low selection. All organic and/or fresh items. They have great healthy produce as well. I would shop here all of the time if I didn't have unhealthy eating habit requirements.

I'm basing my opinion of Dominick's on one store in Park Ridge, near the Cumberland stop on the Blue Line. Seems very nice, spacious and convenient both for permanent residents and for hotel room occupants looking for a few late-night/early morning snacks to tide them over, as I've never bought a cart full of groceries from a Chicago-area grocery store..

[quigboto]

I second the recommendation for Strack and Van Til at Elston and Logan.
Mariano's is awesome too, but I'll only go on a weekday, because its too crazy on the weekends.

[supportyourschools]

Originally Posted by Drover

I was kinda disappointed with Stanley's. So far I haven't found a produce market that touches Fresh Farms in Niles. For overall selection and price, Woodman's gets my vote; unfortunately there are only 3 in the Chicago area and they're scattered around the periphery of the metro area (two on the Randall Road corridor in North Aurora and Carpentersville, one in Kenosha). Their produce sucks though. Thank goodness for the Caputo's just down the street from the Carpentersville Woodman's to pick up the ball that Woodman's drops.

I love Woodman's, but you are correct about their produce. I was just there yesterday (North Aurora) and noticed that they now have a local produce section. Maybe that will help with quality issues. I go to Cermak on Lake St. in Aurora for my produce and meats, and Woodman's for everything else. For what I buy on a regular basis, I've found Woodman's prices to be lower than even Wal-Mart.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by supportyourschools

I love Woodman's, but you are correct about their produce. I was just there yesterday (North Aurora) and noticed that they now have a local produce section. Maybe that will help with quality issues. I go to Cermak on Lake St. in Aurora for my produce and meats, and Woodman's for everything else. For what I buy on a regular basis, I've found Woodman's prices to be lower than even Wal-Mart.

I have been to the Woodman's in Carpenterville, Kenosha, and Janesville. In general, their produce is NOT a real strong point and it is pretty expensive. It is not Jewel-Dominicks expensive but expensive nonetheless.

I would rather go to Joe Caputos, Josephs Marketplace, Eurofresh and and of a dozen local independents who have a better selection and quality of produce.

Mariano's also does produce very well and some of their specialty produce is very reasonable.

[glass_of_merlot]

Originally Posted by Chicago South Sider

Food for Less, Aldi and Save A Lot.

Food For Less!! I Love it. It is a Kroger company store and the prices great for the same stuff as you buy at Jewls or Dominicks.

Jewls are extreamly expensive.