217643 Thu Jan 06 20:49:47 -0800 2005 32 18 Manhattan 0 1158312 Hello. I just moved to Manhattan a few weeks ago. I live near Columbus Circle. I'm finding groceries to be very expensive here and am looking for ways to save money. Any suggestions? I discovered Fairways and do like it. Any tips would be well-appreciated. Cheers, Maya Thu Jan 06 20:49:47 -0800 2005 0 maya 1 1158315 Stay the F away from Whole Foods. Thu Jan 06 21:05:55 -0800 2005 1158312 0 doggybag 2 1158318 Whole Foods has many strengths, just shop sparingly - if you're willing to shop piecemeal. Otherwise, for chowish groceries, Fairway is a good bet. Thu Jan 06 21:36:56 -0800 2005 1158315 0 Nina W. 3 1158402 where is fairway? and what's it like? Fri Jan 07 12:04:31 -0800 2005 1158318 0 faraway 4 1158413 It's an overcrowded mess. Stick to Whole Foods. Fri Jan 07 12:29:02 -0800 2005 1158402 0 DanP 5 1158454 There are 2, one is on 73rd and Broadway. The other is somewhere around 125th Street on the West Side. I highly recommend Fairway for the combination of price and quality. It does get crowded, but if you can avoid the rush hours (they are open late), they have an excellent selection of quality products. Fri Jan 07 14:15:32 -0800 2005 1158413 0 layla 6 1158488 Or go early. I've been hitting the Harlem branch on weekend mornings. If you're there by 9, it's a breeze. They don't have the best of everything, but they're consistently good, have a wide range of choices, and are priced fairly. Fri Jan 07 15:26:06 -0800 2005 1158454 0 Striver 4 1158693 People who have been in NYC a long time are quick to dismiss Fairway - I am sometimes one of them - but it is a NYC experience not to be missed. Great selection, excellent prices, everything is wonderfully fresh, and/but the place is a ZOO. Early a.m. or late-night is really the only time it's not completely insane. Broadway at 74th St or 137th west of Broadway. (I hope I have the exact street right.) I LOVE Whole Foods but if you are new to NYC, don't miss the Fairway experience. Sun Jan 09 19:03:56 -0800 2005 1158402 0 Laura K 2 1158572 I second that ! Sat Jan 08 15:31:13 -0800 2005 1158315 0 Marty 2 1158594 Disagree. I have posted this elsewhere, but the bottled water, nuts, pasta, salsa, and Boca vegetarian products - to name a few - at WF are cheaper than what I've seen elsewhere. Sat Jan 08 21:10:04 -0800 2005 1158315 0 The Jumps 1 1158320 We and other friends have found that some freshdirect.com stuff are not only cheaper than, but are elso as fresh as, grocery-bought ones. Plus, the convenience of not lugging around heavy grocery bags is a big plus. Thu Jan 06 22:04:04 -0800 2005 1158312 0 rcc 2 1158322 I second the freshdirect.com recommendation. We stock up on staples from freshdirect once a week, and supplement this with shopping at local gourmet stores for speciality items. Overall grocery bills are slightly down since switching to this strategy - every little bit helps. Fairway, since you're near one, is a very good option. - er Link: http://enrevanche.blogspot.com Thu Jan 06 22:12:58 -0800 2005 1158320 0 enrevanche 3 1158363 If you don't mind my asking, do you tip the Fresh Direct delivery person? And if so, how much? Fri Jan 07 10:26:30 -0800 2005 1158322 0 Meredith 4 1158372 i usually tip the guy $1 per box. not sure if it is sufficient but coming from the no tipping rule, i think it's okay. usually works out to $4-5 per delivery for me. Fri Jan 07 10:53:28 -0800 2005 1158363 0 margaret 4 1158406 Meredith asks: >> If you don't mind my asking, do you tip the Fresh >> Direct delivery person? And if so, how much? I don't mind you asking at all. We live in a walkup, so they've got to tote the boxes up the stairs. I tip anybody who has to lug stuff up stairs. ;-) We give the FD delivery guys $5 or so, which usually works out to about a buck a box. - er Link: http://enrevanche.blogspot.com Fri Jan 07 12:12:21 -0800 2005 1158363 0 enrevanche 1 1158323 In late afternoon, especially in summer and fall -and sometimes in bad weather-, prices are slashed at the Greenmarkets. The same happens in other places before closing -sandwiches and pastries at Balthazar, breads at Amy's bread. Etc. Thu Jan 06 22:23:37 -0800 2005 1158312 0 Mar a 1 1158324 When the Union Sq. green market is out of season I take my rolling suitcase on the N train (Broadway) to the Brooklyn Costco (36th Street stop). The veal, beef, lamb, fresh tuna, and flounder are as good or better than most stores in Manhattan and 1/2 the price. I freeze what I don't use immediately. The only problem is lugging the loaded suitcase up the stairs from the subway. The Queens Costco is not near a subway, but is across the street from the beautiful Noguchi museum. Everything at Costco is satisfaction guaranteed including the membership fee. Avoid both Costcos on weekends unless you enjoy pandemonium and carts rolling up your ankles. Thu Jan 06 22:31:25 -0800 2005 1158312 0 jbeton 2 1158329 My mother, who is a very, very fussy shopper, swears by the meat dept. and the bakery at Costco. My father likes to go shopping with her, spending the entire time eating the free samples. With the $150+ that my mother spends, he loves getting a "free" lunch. Thu Jan 06 23:03:44 -0800 2005 1158324 0 rachelgreen 2 1158330 Queens Costco is a 10 min walk from N/W BWAY stop....I walk it all the time with infant in tow... Thu Jan 06 23:04:38 -0800 2005 1158324 0 King of Northern Blvd 1 1158325 Best bet is to check the weekly circulars for the various grocery stores and plan/shop accordingly http://www.thefoodemporium.com/weekly_specials.asp http://www.metfoods.com/weekly_spec.htm http://www.dagnyc.com/content.cfm?page=printads.htm http://www.mortonwilliams.com/ http://wholefoodsmarket.dailyshopper.com/ http://www.keyfoodstores.com/circular.aspx http://www.ctownsupermarkets.com/Menu2/Default.htm Gristedes doesn't list their weekly specials but you can get an idea from their online shopping page at http://www.gristedes.com/index.asp Often I've found that Gristedes online store is MUCH cheaper and better quality than the brick & mortar. Finally, while I do use FreshDirect.com, my experience has been that the prices are RARELY lower than my local (Stuy Town/Union Square/EVillage) local supermarkets. Still, the convenience and the par baked chocolate croissants are a nice option. Thu Jan 06 22:47:20 -0800 2005 1158312 0 bk 2 1158341 My thanks for a great listing! Fri Jan 07 01:32:08 -0800 2005 1158325 0 carlisle 1 1158327 Buying in bulk when things are on sale is always a good strategy. The stores around 57th Street and the Columbus Circle Area tends to be overpriced IMO. You might want to take a trip down to the Village some Saturday and compare prices. You can take the No. 5 bus to 10th and Fifth. I find "The Jefferson Market" on Sixth Ave. at 10th Street to be good value for the dollar, and there are some supermakets there as well as the greenmarket at Union Square nr. 14th Street. For paper goods and general housewares, find the nearest 99 cent store and stock up on paper towels, sponges, etc. Their glassware isn't bad for everyday use either, and when it breaks you don't feel so bad. :) One thing that bothers me lately is the price of dried herbs. I paid about $6 for a small bottle of tarragon the other day, oy. Must check out that Costco and stock up and herbs and spices. Good luck! Thu Jan 06 22:54:28 -0800 2005 1158312 0 Jon 2 1158416 I buy spices in bulk at street fairs in the summer, also for general ones (not tarragon - sorry, like oregano, paprika, garlic salt) you can find 99 cent bottles and boxes at drug stores like Rite Aid and Duane Reade. Fri Jan 07 12:44:29 -0800 2005 1158327 0 Core 1 1158346 For VERY CHEAP basic fruits and vegetable (potatoes, apples, greens, onions, fresh cilantro, parsley, basil, etc.) go to the vegetable market on 52nd bet 8th and 9th. South side of street next to a car park (you might miss it if you didn't know it was there). It is very small and does not have a huge selection but it is unbelievably cheap. I'm shocked at how little I spend everytime I'm there. Like $1/box of strawberries, avocados for 75 cents, 12 limes/$1, etc. It won't be beautiful or perfectly ripe like at whole foods, but its all perfectly good. Also, as it serves the hispanic community in hells kitchen, you can often find cheap papaya and mangos. Fri Jan 07 08:41:00 -0800 2005 1158312 0 Tamar G 2 1158383 Totally agree - this place is inexpensive, fresh, and little known. Fri Jan 07 11:30:37 -0800 2005 1158346 0 a&w 3 1158395 It's also a good place for nuts and dried fruit. Fri Jan 07 11:54:33 -0800 2005 1158383 0 Wisco 1 1158354 For even more savings at Fairway, go after 11pm at night. Many items go on sale, bread and rotisserie chickens are substantially marked down. Large bags of ripe veggies (which must be cooked the next day) are sold for a dollar, and it is not crowded. Fri Jan 07 09:56:43 -0800 2005 1158312 0 Ted 1 1158374 Get down to Chinatown! If you take the D/B from Columbus Circle to Grand Street, there are two vegetable markets right on that corner of the subway. Also, there are two seafood markets. Also, the supermarkets in Chinatown are great for Asian ingredients. The butcher shops (especially the one on Mulberry south of Canal) have good prices on pork. Fri Jan 07 10:57:21 -0800 2005 1158312 0 Pru 1 1158405 There is a guy (or guys) who sell inexpensive produce from a truck on 48th just east of 6th Ave. I've loaded up on about five or six days' worth of vegetables (and I eat a lot of them) for $8. He's there after 4 PM or so on weekdays. He picks out the stuff for you, but it's fine - I've never gotten anything wilted or rotten or bruised. I haven't gotten anything from the truck since late September so I don't know if he's there in the winter - anyone else know? Fri Jan 07 12:10:16 -0800 2005 1158312 0 merry 2 1159085 i happened to come across this post yesterday, and as i needed some veggies i went to check. no one there yesterday at 6:00, though it may have been due to the snow. i'll update if i see them there (it's right by my office). Tue Mar 01 10:38:54 -0800 2005 1158405 0 biscuitboy 1 1158529 Thanks everybody for the great suggestions. I wouldn't have thought of half of these myself. Appreciate the tips. This is such an awesome forum!!! Maya Fri Jan 07 21:15:52 -0800 2005 1158312 0 maya 1 1158616 This probably isn't helpful advice as you've already signed a lease, but if you're finding groceries too expensive in your neighborhood (and, incidentally, you're in one of the most expensive in the city), your neighborhood is too expensive and you might consider moving to a more affordable one. I'm not trying to be mean, but food is part of the overall expense of living in Manhattan. That said, a few tips - If you have a car, go to the uptown Fairway, or, better yet, hit Costco and Stew Leonards in Yonkers. If you can't afford a car, see paragraph 1. Also, be sure to hit the greenmarkets. This map is extremely helpful: http://www.cenyc.org/HTMLGM/marketlisting.pdf (there's one on 57th & 9th on Wednesday and Saturday, and another on 66th and Columbus on Thursday and Saturday. Both are year round.) Sun Jan 09 01:05:29 -0800 2005 1158312 0 Caviar 1 1159042 The best way to save money on groceries is to keep a notebook tracking prices of all the things you buy on a regular basis. Note the price, units, store and a description of the item. Then you can calculate a per unit price. That way, if you keep your eyes open, when things do go on sale, you'll know if its a good deal and be able to stock up. This method takes some effort, but its worth it if you want the best prices. The best price isn't always where you expect it to be. Thu Jan 13 17:35:17 -0800 2005 1158312 0 Cleo