Uncle Giuseppe's Marketplace, Long Island

[menton1]

Has a few locations, and I've heard mixed reviews about the place. How is it, and how does it stack up with Fairway?

[linsue]

Generally Fairway is better, but it depends on what you are looking for. Fairway has better meat,cheese and a wider variety of produce and cheese. I think Uncle Giuseppe has nicer prepared foods. Bakeries are mediocre in both locations.

[jennbakes37]

Just went to the Smithtown store after visiting friends and I was amazed! Best prepared foods I have ever seen - everything we brought home was delicious! I went to a Fairway in NJ and do not remember them having prepared foods like that - loved it!

[mcf]

Really??? I think that Smithtown store paled in comparison to the Plainview Fairway. I pass it often, am never tempted to make a return trip to UG. Less variety, nothing of superior quality and higher prices... no thanks.

[kolleen]

If you don't mind paying to be treated like a second class citizen then by all means go shopping at Uncle Giuseppe's. If you prefer to be treated like a person and respected as a paying customer, you're much better off at Iavarone Bros, Trader Joes, Fairway or Whole Foods.

[EM23]

I sometimes shop at the Port Washington store. They have a decent, but small, selection of specialty pastas, oils, vinegars, bread and cheese – nothing compared to Fairway’s selection but I’m glad to have them nearby. UG’s fresh mozzarella is very good – better than Fairway’s IMO. Their meat selection is ok but, again, nothing compared to Fairway. I prefer UG’s much more than North Shore Farms (mentioned above) where I have bought stinky seafood and expired cheese a few times.

[mcf]

You can find plenty of Waaaaay Past Prime cheeses at Plainview Fairway, too. They seem to collect them in the case at the end of the cheese dept. nearest the back of the store. Seriously, they have cheeses back there that anyone else would throw in the garbage. The rest of the cheese case is impressive, as long as you're careful to note the condition of each cheese. I'm not impressed with their fresh mozzarella, either. I'm addicted to the fresh buffalo mozzarella from Costco, though.

[menton1]

If you notify the Cheese Manager, he WILL throw them in the garbage! Fairway makes mistakes, but they always will correct them.

[mcf]

I'm not talking about a piece here and there, I'm saying it's often most of the contents of the case, has been for years, and if they can't possibly not know it. I don't think it's a coincidence that all the bad old cheeses go to that one refrigerator case to die. :-)

I haven't had great luck correcting problems at Fairway. In fact, I've taken it upon myself to call a supplier to get delivery of a product because they couldn't be bothered more than once.

[menton1]

Next time, ask for Steve Jenkins, point out the problem. Steve wants a spiffy cheese dept.

[mcf]

It's been that way ever week for years. If he hasn't noticed the issue, he's not interested.

[menton1]

Aldi's?? This is a packaged-generic hit or miss place, something of the likes of A & P Basics. All bargain stuff of varying quality. It's got the same management as TJs, but a totally different store. Doesn't belong in the conversation with Specialty, prepared and exotic foods.

[mcf]

Not even half as good as Fairway... I went to the Smithtown store a couple of years ago after DH told me folks at work raved about it. I thought it had junky stuff, poor selection and at higher prices than elsewhere, quite the opposite of Fairway. I left without buying anything, and scratching my head over the recommendations.

[Motosport]

Oh, how I wish we had a Fairway out East. We've got Stop and Shop, Waldbaums and King Kullen. All dreck in my opinion. Mediocre meat and produce.
The best market for produce and meat is Best Yet.
Sorry, I know you asked about Uncle G's. I've never been. It's a haul from Rivercity.

[EZ Pass]

I like Uncle Giuseppe's, particularly the Smithtown store. Prepared foods are generally very good as are fish and meats. Excellent cheese department. I've never had a problem with the produce and there's a good selection of imported Italian pastas, oils, etc.

[coll]

Best Yet has a nice supply of unusual products: Asian, South American, Italian and so on. They are my primary store, rather than Waldbaums or Stop and Shop. Their bakery items are imported from the city, bread and pastries especially. I hope they never disappear....too good to be true. Now I'm hearing Aldi's is coming, I'm sure it's in direct competiton with Best Yet, hope it doesn't change anything.

[scunge]

Aldi is ok but don't compare to BestYet or Trader Joe's.all are different . One of my disappointments with BestYet is all the small salumi on the counter has corn syrup added anyway thats for another post .

[stefathena]

There is nothing special about them, their produce is ESPECIALLY bad. I've had one near me in Port Washington for a long time and always prefer North Shore Farms just down the way.

[Salsiccia Creature]

Totally agree with North Shore Farms being superior to Uncle Giuseppe's in all categories. For meat, I still much prefer Iavarone's to either.

[mike259]

I find nothing wrong with the meats at uncle giuseppe's. They have great quality. I use to go to a small local pork store, I find uncle giuseppe's better in all departments. I wouldn't say Iavarone's is any better

[Scott_R]

I've been to a few locations and have been supremely unimpressed--nowhere close to Fairway. If you're looking for Italian specialization, go to Iavarone Bros.

[linsue]

Uncle Guiseppe's has chocolate fountains that dip chocolate covred fruits.Neither Ivarone or Fairway has anything like that. For most other things Ivarone or Fairway is superior.

-----
Guiseppes
3680 State Route 7, Hoosick Falls, NY 12090

[menton1]

Yeah, but I hear that they use the cheapest "Hershey" type chocolate, cloyingly sweet with little chocolate taste...

[coll]

Smithtown is great, I could spend half a day there, similar to Fairway: while Pt Jeff has nothing going for it. So weird, why did they bother? And why are they so different?

[mike259]

I have been to both. I now usually go to Port Jeff. Do not see any drastic difference you sound like you are talking about. I actually think Pt Jeff is a nicer store, but far as the food they are the same.

[coll]

I'd have to try going to both on the same day to be sure, but Smithtown seemed to have much more stock of specialty dry goods, which is what I go for. Pt Jeff seemed to have half the amount of high end Italian oils, vinegars and the like, just one regular grocery aisle, while Smithtown was overflowing with choices. The one time I shopped at Pt Jeff I wanted to send a "care package" to my sister in California and it only took 10 or 15 minutes, compared to the hour or so I usually spend at Smithtown. Hey I could be wrong, but I was looking for specific brands I had bought previously, for example Acadamia Barilla, and they weren't at the new store. Maybe it's expanded in the last 8 months?

[menton1]

Why don't you just make one trip to Fairway and save on gas?

[coll]

I'm coming from the East End, I always visit Fairway in mid winter and stock up. Takes up half the day if not more. In the summer, I barely have time for Trader Joes! (And only because it's near my doctor's office.....)

[Shawn]

Nothing special. Not even close to Fairway.

[scunge]

I agree