Do you eat at Whole Foods market? (Duane: apartment, organic)

[ny123]

I have eaten there a couple times and the dining area is almost always crowded. In my opinion the food there is overpriced @ $7.99/lb. A moderate amount of a lunch could cost at least $15 (at that price, one could go to a restaurant for a 'real' lunch). Do you eat like that every day? It seems some people are paying for socializing there.
What do you all think?

[Young Herman]

I've shopped at Whole Foods a few times, but I'm not a regular. I think they are way over priced too. Slapping organic on the label and charging a much higher price is nothing but a scam in my mind.

[HarlemNewbie]

Their Organic 365 product line is pretty reasonably priced- but I prefer just to go to Fairway instead. They have a lot of organic options and aren't as overpriced. For example- I get a pint of Ben & Jerry's there for $3.79, whereas at the grocer next door to my apartment it is $5.19. A two-liter of Pepsi there is $1.29, at Duane Reade it's $1.99. These things may seem trivial, but if you're a B & J and diet soda freak like me it adds up quick. Oh wait, were we talking about health food?

[ny123]

Hi, I was talking about their cooked food, the buffet and the catered food. They have a 'food court' with tables and chairs so you can eat there.

[wisescorpiogirl]

I've tried their buffet food a few times. I would not say they are great or terrible. They were average. I guess my comment did not help you one way or the other

[ny123]

Originally Posted by wisescorpiogirl

I've tried their buffet food a few times. I would not say they are great or terrible. They were average. I guess my comment did not help you one way or the other

I also think the food is average, but don't you agree it's very overpriced, given the quality?

[jcoltrane]

The food at Whole Foods is for people who INSIST upon eating Organic/Natural. If that is not your choice then why eat there?

BTW, $15 for lunch in NYC is chump change! McDonald's can cost that much!!!!!

[mayorofnyc]

Originally Posted by wisescorpiogirl

I've tried their buffet food a few times. I would not say they are great or terrible. They were average. I guess my comment did not help you one way or the other

Originally Posted by ny123

I also think the food is average, but don't you agree it's very overpriced, given the quality?

That's the idea behind these "trendy" chain eateries in Manhattan. It's overpriced because there are people who are silly enough to pay $$$ for "average" food just to say they ate there. I could make the same argument with Chipotle, Cosi, Trader Joes, Spice, etc...

Oh and it seems that "Organic" is more of a cute marketing term rather than a classification of how a product was actually produced.

[mgt04]

What's not expensive in the city? :P

Ive eaten at the Whole Foods in NYC and not really impressed. Sandwich I got was good, but was expensive and like you said the dining area was extremely crowded.

[Doobage]

You eat two pounds worth of food for lunch?