Market Review

There are two grocery stores near my apartment. They both suck, but the Associated is considered slightly more high-end than Gristede's. I have lately been frequenting the latter, as it is never crowded and the prices are lower.

It first must be noted that several of the items on the shelves of Gristede's are, in fact, quite old. Take this Armour ham, for instance. The tin is aged enough so that the picture of the ham has faded and taken on a greenish hue.



The service at Gristede's is above par. The cashiers will look you in the eye more often than not, and will frequently see you off with a "Have a nice day." These niceties are somewhat of a novelty in New York. I really appreciate the change of pace.

Watersheds of any thorough market appraisal, Gristede's seems to have a passable selection of freshly baked goods, deli items, and gourmet cheeses and meats. These goods are reasonably priced, if not tucked in an odd corner of the store.

The final assessment: It may be a bit dusty and the advertisements may be low in quality, but Gristede's earns 3.25 out of 5 stars.