STOP N SHOP Pennington, NJ
The Good: Neat, well lit, roomy aisles, polite for the most part employees. Decent variety of organic items and store brand Nature's Promise items. Love the prepackaged chicken breasts. Good deals with shopper card,i.e., discounted items, free turkey, gas discount and $5 off your next order. Pharmacist is super nice and helpful.
The Bad: Meat selection is so so. I have never had good beef from here. Always on the tough side no matter the cut.They only offer baby lettuces and spinach in bags.
The Ugly: Seafood department is the worst I have ever seen. Most is farm raised or previously frozen crap.The sushi is fake.
WEGMANS Princeton , NJ
The Good: Nice lay out, has a European feel to it somehow. Also has a liquor store inside! Great prices for wine and beer but make sure you have your ID handy. Don't feel special if they card you THEY DO IT TO EVERYONE!! Some sneaky genius also puts beer and wine displayed oh so temptingly throughout the store. Wegmans has fabulous store brand items. I love their coffee beans and tuna! Nice meat and fish department. Workers are very friendly and helpful, Wegmans is always rated a top employer. The best selection of foods from around the world.
The Bad: For such a big sprawling store you would think you could find every brand imaginable! Not so. For instance, only one or two types of Pepperidge farm bread, my kids love the oatmeal, it is not available here. Not enough organic fruit, vegetables or meat for my liking.
The Ugly: It is always crowded here. The patrons are also rather rude and will run right over your foot with their cart and not even look back.
SHOPRITE Lawrence, Hamilton Marketplace, Ewing.
The Good: All: Lowest prices, good selection of all the major brands. Friendly, courteous employees.Hamilton: beautiful new store, friendly and courteous patrons, great selection of organic at low prices. Ewing:selection of exotic fruits, vegetables and meats, mostly Caribbean.
The Bad: Ewing: poor selection of organic foods most of the time rotting. The store is not kept up as well as the others. Lawrence: usually crowded, a little difficult to get in and out of Mercer Mall.
The Ugly: Nothing really, but I do notice a Police Officer at the Ewing store at times. Not sure if it is a "trouble spot" or what but I have never felt unsafe. (cross my fingers)
WHOLE FOODS Princeton
The Good: As you would expect, a large selection of organic offerings. Visually pleasing store. Great place to stop for a quick bite.Pleasant and efficient workers. Surprising affordable for everything excluding meat and fish. I love the selection of nuts and seeds and the grind your own nut butters.
The Bad: Forget finding paper products or a box of Pampers here. Theoretically, cloth diapers are great , but in reality, sorry , that's a no go. Same for sandpaper the thickness of onion skin for toilet paper!
The Ugly: You better remember your reusable grocery bags or buy some if you don't want to be shunned by the self righteous (some of whom will either be driving a Prius or hilariously, an Escalade)
TRADER JOE'S Princeton
The good: One of the most pleasant grocery shopping experience you will ever have. Cute packaging on everything, fun, enthusiastic staff. Nice produce, lot of organic offerings. Great frozen appetizers. Beer and wine sold here.
The Bad: almost everything is Trader Joe"s brand, which in itself is not bad, just don't expect to see national brands here. Also not a place to shop for paper products or pet food.
The Ugly: it is either crowded or the aisles are small, can't remember which, maybe both?
