Union Market: Delish But No Bargain
Given Clinton Hill’s limited selection of gourmet food (L’Epicerie, that’s it), we decided to head over to Union Market (at Union and Sixth Avenue) in Park Slope on Saturday to shop for a dinner we were giving that night. We had a great experience–decent cheese selection, great meats, not too crowded–until we got to the…
Given Clinton Hill’s limited selection of gourmet food (L’Epicerie, that’s it), we decided to head over to Union Market (at Union and Sixth Avenue) in Park Slope on Saturday to shop for a dinner we were giving that night. We had a great experience–decent cheese selection, great meats, not too crowded–until we got to the cash register. Ouch! $1.79 for an Emmi yogurt? Manhattan prices to be sure. But the pork loin that we seasoned with just a little garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper and threw on the grill turned out great so we weren’t complaining. Guess you get what you pay for!
ameraleed, I’m a food co-op member so I won’t jump on you. But I dunno if it would be worth it if I lived in Clinton Hill like Brownstoner. (Yes, I know some members come all the way from upstate and beyond.)
Park S1oper, to each his own but I think people exaggerate the “oppressive rules” at the co-op. I belong to PSFC only for the food and the prices. I don’t care about most of the political underpinnings of the co-op philosophy, I eat meat (including cruelty-licious meats like veal and foie gras not sold at the co-op), and I gladly patronize large evil corporations. But I just show up for my shift every four weeks, do my damn job, shop happily the rest of the month, and I’ve never had a problem with rules or PC members. Long lines are another issue, but it’s worth it to me.
And OE, I respectfully disagree about Costco. Love it. It’s surprisingly good for food — you won’t findd prime meats there, granted, but it’s great if you shop carefully… it’s hard to beat the deal on, say, a whole beef tenderloin or a boneeless leg of lamb, and quality is good for choice-grade meats. Occasionally goood frozen seafood too. But I pine for a Trader Joe’s. When is that coming?
Finally, if you want to go the local-stores route, I second the recommendation of Sahadi, and from there it’s a short jaunt to Staubitz on Court for your meats, or Fish Tales for your seafood.
Karrot on Clifton & Grand is terrific for health food/organic. They even have a small produce section. Definitely check them out.
Key Food on Fifth Avenue is pretty great. Produce is ok, but excellent meat selection including D’Artagnan. Plus they have a parking lot!
Fresh Direct has better, fresher food than most of the neighborhood grocery stores. I live in Brooklyn Heights and despite the fact that there’s a Key Food and a Garden of Eden within two blocks of me, I still tend to order from Fresh Direct more often than not. I really like their focus on regional farm products.
And certainly Costco is great for some things, especially baby stuuf, diapers, formula, etc. I also like their Australian lamb chops – in fact I had some last night and they were delicious!
I love Costco. I think their meat and poultry are great and yes, you need to buy 2 flank steaks at a time, but sheesh.. I can eat that. Or freeze.
It’s where I buy my books too. And juice, soda, Tide, Pampers, etc. I love Costco!
I also belong to the local CSA. I live in Cobble Hill but Clinton Hill has one too.
You’re worried about FD pollution and then complain that you have trouble driving your car around parked trucks?! What about the pollution caused by you driving a car to get groceries, as opposed to one truck delivering groceries to fifty people? Hmm. To each his own, but jeez, such opionated hyperbole and hypocricy.
Considering that my neighbors all use fresh direct in clinton hill, I don’t see how it is at their expense. FD is good for basics, stocking up, but for other specialty items, I go to the local stores. I think that is what most of my neighbors do too.
fresh direct, the plague of a neighborhood. no they don’t pay rent but will put your local supermarket out of business. no they don’t pay rent but will double park so you can’t pass with ypur car. no they don’t pay rent but they will polute your neighborhood with their trucks running and making noise. i’m tired of the fresh direct elitism and customers who use them let it be known it comes at the expense of your neighbors.
Have you considered the Park Slope Food Coop? They have many of the same items as Union market- probably better cheese and vegetable selection and nearly equal meats. Prices are much better and you get another way to participate in the community.
I am prepared to be attacked here by nay-sayers who reel off the long list of histrionic complaints, but really: 12,000 members can’t be wrong.
Union Market is deadly expensive. It makes Whole Paycheck, uh, Whole Foods, seem cheap. When is the Fairways going to open in Red Hook? Is it going to be affected by the lawsuit issues at 160 Imlay? Is it in that building?