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Whole Foods Market
Categories: Food Grocery Food Specialty Food Health Food Store Grocery, Health Food Store [Edit]
2200 Westlake Ave(between 9th Ave & Blanchard St)
Seattle, WA 98121
Neighbourhood: Belltown
(206) 621-9700
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 7 am - 10 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Validated
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
220 reviews for Whole Foods Market
Review Highlights
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"The salad bar is absolutely wonderful." In 33 reviews -
"Stayed in pan pacific hotel which is literally steps away." In 4 reviews -
"Their produce is always extremely fresh and delicious." In 41 reviews
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220 reviews in English
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Review from Abby R W.
Evanston, IL
Whole Food is working class's BEST FRIEND!!!
On top of all the greatness of Whole Foods, this one has a place in the middle to sit and order sushi, pork chop rice, and noodle soup! Great sushi and bento and great bakery! Wish they have more types of cookie but really no complains. -
Review from Dave M.
Set up:
Whole Foods Market, Westlake, Seattle. We visit this store after visiting Seattle or if we have business downtown.
Pro's:
-Uniqueness of store
-Products bought locally
-Organic products
-Hard to find health items
-Friendly staff
-Amenities are more plentiful than any other area Whole Foods (Ice, 2 microwaves, etc)
-More seating and cleaner eating area than other Whole Foods
-More of a wine selection than the Bellevue store
-Rice and bean bar
-Access via public transportation from our home
Con's:
-Prices (($100.00 per bag on average)
-Small hot bar
-Lack of training with deli employees
-30 minute parking on top (in shopping area)
-2 hour parking in garage (this doesn't give you time to have dinner and shop)
-Products not always in stock when wanted
-Hot food bar is pricey
Summary:
This location is okay. The layout is a little odd compared to other locations I have visited. I don't like fighting pigeons to eat my lunch, I hate seeing people that tie their dogs to poles outside the store while they shop when it is too cold (which happens often).
I was irritated when I had shopped and had dinner and stayed slightly over the two hour mark and was charged for parking. I had asked an employee if it would be an issue as long as they validated the parking pass and she stated it would not, however it was.
I have come to this location, which I believe to be a little smaller than the Bellevue location, and was not able to get all the items I usually tend to get at the other location which was a little annoying and meant that I would have to go elsewhere to find the items I wanted.
For lunch, this location also has the salmon burgers, pizza and a hot bar. It is great for meals. I would recommend it if you are in the area, but if you are looking for real groceries, I would go to Bellevue. -
Review from Richard T.
Bellevue, WA
This a great Whole Foods market with a wide variety of food to choose from. I have to agree with other Yelpers that it is not cheap to shop here compared with other supermarkets since it is right close to downtown core. The quality is excellent and they do have mainly organic products.
We had came here mainly to try their deli area and it was just amazing. The different kinds of food from different cultures was which got me hooked since it provided almost like an international buffet. You just pick and choose whatever you want. They even have a meal preparation area to cook whatever you order. Two thumbs up if you're lazy to cook. It is the best deli area I have ever seen in the Seattle area.
If you come here they do have an underground garage that they can validate your parking when you have made your purchase. -
Review from Jamie O.
One of my fav Wholies! Yes I am a Whole Foods junkie hence my nickname for it. This location isn't convenient unless you live or work downtown, but it's a fabulous building and layout. Great customer service at this store and one of the better bakery assortments in my opinion. Staff is very knowledgeable, on my last visit I had a fantastic discussion with a staff member about olive oil, I learned so much! Only downside but I understand the reasoning is you can't use the bathroom without a code which comes printed on your receipt. Annoying when you really gotta go!!
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Review from Mandy S.
This whole foods has the following amenities:
- market cafe where they make breakfast
-sea___ cafe that cooks any seafood or poultry you purchase for free
-asian bistro (sushi/noodles/soups)
-deli (sandwiches & fresh pizza)
-huge hot food bar
-huge salad bar
-plenty of prepackaged meals
I'm so glad there's a grocery store a few blocks away from work that I can grab a healthy hot lunch without the grease from the foods at Westlake mall.
I always look in the produce/fruit aisle for an afternoon snack and today they had large honey mangoes on sale 5 for $5! they weren;t fully ripe yet tho but the employee was already tossing out the old ones
I also like that they donating proceeds from certain meals purchased (today was buy one sandwich for $6 and add soup for $1.50) towards local charities.
today they had an afternoon tea party for only $5 which sounded enticing.
ps. i love the punjabi cabbage and how hot they keep their food at this location -
Review from jazzy l.
San Francisco, CA
Free 2 hour underground parking OR free 30 minute parking. It's was just a b*tch hiking up the stairs.
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Review from Chris Y.
I regularly come to this Whole Foods since I live nearby...
The produce is well stocked and I like that they try and source things from local farmers and highlight them. Sure things are a bit more expensive at Whole Foods, but I don't mind paying since they have things that QFC doesn't stock.
One of the great things is that you can buy fish or steak and have them grill it up for you. They don't charge extra for the service and you can get a choice of two sides for an extra $5 bucks. A great deal especially if you're tired and don't feel like cooking.
I'd like to point out that on a few occasions, I've bought things here that have been expired or past their use by date. Do check the date of the products here...especially if they aren't high volume items such as special creams and yogurts.
Parking is also excellent...they validate for the 2200 visitor parking area or 15 minute parking upstairs near the retail area. -
Review from Jerry G.
Seattle, WA
One of Seattles finest grocery stores. I will let you all know a little secret about his particular wholefoods location. Here it goes... Many music groups that are passing through the NW and perform an in studio session at our favorite radio station KEXP come here afterwards and get some grub. Next time you are shopping here be sure to have a look around at the shoppers - you just might be in the check out lane with your favorite artist.
Only negative thing about this place is the damn elevator. I think it just might be one of the slowest around??
Wheelchair friendly :) -
Review from David N.
Seattle, WA
Damn...Whole foods turned the grocery store experience into a culture phenomena. shopping here feels like hanging out...LOL.. I love it here, but yeah its pricey and can murder ur bank account. Though I listed my faves of reasonably priced items below. I try to balance shopping here wit Trader Joes, Costco.. Also u cant beat the food bar when ur lazy to cook and dont want to go out.
- Beer (wide selection of pilsners, stouts, and non commercial breweries)
- $13.99 pizza with your own topics (chicken, artichoke, goat cheese, mushrooms)
- 365 brand..not bad, their version of Safeway Select
- Rotiserie Chicken Mondays $6.99
- Yogurt (brown cow and Yami)
- Theo Chocolates
- Fresh WF Salsa
- Organic Bananas
- Organic Brocili which looks like brocilini
- Fingerling Potatos
- Oyster Happy Hour
- Organic Tofu Ice Cream Sandwiches
- Soy Egg Nog (Holidays)
- 365 Tofu
- 365 OJ
- Soy Creamer
- Organic Chicken Broth
- Soy Milk
- and hella other random crap on sale... occasional protein.
yah im addicted... -
Review from Jens J.
When all is said and done, this is my go-to Seattle grocery store. I love that there is always parking slots open up top by the Pan Pacific Hotel (30 minute parking limit). I've never used the parking garage, but parking is validated.
The meat and seafood counters are amazing, and some of the arcane items that recipes call for can always be found here.
But there is one thing.....
I'm puzzled about their hot tables, and well, not only at this Whole Foods, but also the Roosevelt Whole Foods. I've run out of fingers to count the number of times I've come in to find the hot tables at these Whole Foods completely barren of any food - with only salad ingredients available on the cold tables. Grrr!
At one point, I thought I had figured out the system - that if I came in mid-morning, there was the risk that they had already taken out the breakfast items - but not yet brought out the lunch/dinner options. My bad, I thought.
However, this past weekend, I came in a little past noon and the hot tables were barren then too! So I guess I don't really know when they are going to have hot food available. Too bad, because they have some great stuff, like the mac & cheese and barbecued chicken drummettes. -
Review from Rix G.
Nice store... Was in quick for lunch from the hot case. A bit pricey.
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Review from Kayan L.
I wish this place were more convenient.... but then again, I don't, because then I would spend way too much money on groceries and miscellaneous goodies. This was my first visit and I spend a lot of time dilly-dallying, because there was sooo much amazing stuff to oogle over!
Ended up with some scallops, which were delicious, and curry chicken salad, which were also excellent. The bulk nuts were a lovely distraction. I think I spent $40 on half a bag of groceries. -
Review from Angie B.
It's a Whole Foods, so yes things can be on the pricey side. However, I do believe that in the case of most of the fresh food I have tried there, as well as the produce - you get what you pay for.
This location has a good selection of items, though it is not as large as some others. I see a lot of food & wine events there, but I've yet to attend them.
Gets really crowded around lunch time, especially in the summer. They do validate parking, which is nice.Listed in: Born to Shop
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Review from WhereMonkey T.
Long Beach, CA
Good market to get organic foods whenever you need it. Validated free parking garage. Always helpful and friendly. Please put a store at Southcenter.
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Review from Laura M.
I really am a fan of Whole Foods. I have to give a raving review of James from the specialty cheeses. I saw a featured sour cherry spread in "the whole deal" (brochure with coupons and featured products). I love me some sour cherries so I made the long journey across the street to pick it up. I looked around the cheese section; couldn't find it. So James walked me AROUND THE STORE helping me find it. In the end they didn't have it so he gave me a similar tart cherry preserves for free AND called another Whole Foods and verified that they had plenty in stock. That is service!
Some people call this place Whole Paycheck, but I think there are great sales and deals that really blow competitors out of the water. Hello? $6 sandwiches during lunch plus the buy 10 get 1 free punch card. Yes! My favorite sandwich is a turkey with pretzel bread, beecher's cheese, chipotle mayo, and mama's lil' peppers.
Thanks guys! -
Review from Georgia A.
Seattle, WA
What's not to love? It's huge and quite thoughtfully planned out.
Yes, WF is more expensive than most, but 1) it is worth it when it comes to fish/meat/produce, and 2) if you spend a little bit of time comparing goods, you don't need to spend a fortune.
My favorite parts:
-fruits (star fruit even!)
-fish selection
-wine, wine, wine
-cupcakes in the bakery
-veggies
I have to say that I'm not too crazy about their sandwiches and am not sure I'd pick this for lunch, but that's really my only issue.
Love it! -
Review from Tyler R.
Seattle, WA
Love the selection (tons of options for those with food sensitivities) and location of this Whole Foods, but I am NOT a fan of the poor customer service. Cashiers always seem more interested in chatting with their buddies instead of greeting or even acknowledging the customers they are checking out. Pricing seems reasonable for most things here, but is high for the fresh produce and hot meals.
To echo other posters as well, shoppers (especially those using carts) here are VERY Seattle passive and inconsiderate of others trying to shop around them. Be prepared to dodge carts/people. -
Review from Winnie S.
I come here practically every other day for my lunch break and just meander around, poke at food samples, and occasionally purchase a sale item or two.
I used to avoid Whole Foods cuz the costs were just unreasonable to me, especially produce. However, I realized that with their Whole Deals coupons coupled with regular sales, you can really get a good discount on everyday items (soy milk, coffee, soups, salads) if you look carefully.
Salad bar is always super fresh and staff are beyond friendly. -
Review from Sarah E.
After going to some other "organic" grocery stores, I have a new found appreciation for WF. Sure it's expensive, but if you know what to look for, their prices aren't that bad for what you get.
I work across the street and thought that this place was going to be absurdly expensive for lunch, but in reality it's not going to cost you any more that it would going to a nearby restaurant. They have a decent selection of fresh, healthy, organic prepared food that is delicious.
I also like that they carry the most obscure, bizarre items, so if I ever need something weird, chances are WF has it. BTW the Dr. Brew Kombucha is amazing.
The biggest and most exciting surprise was their massive selection of microbrews and wine. The beer selection is fantastic and costs just as much (sometimes cheaper!!) as any grocery store.
I would shop here for everything, however I am not independently wealthy, so I am selective in what I buy here. For now. -
Review from Dominique G.
Playa Del Rey, CA
Smaller than my local Whole Foods, but with the same great, friendly service, enticing hot food bar and cook to order grill.
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Review from Kristine H.
Seattle, WA
I'll stop here on my way to the library, grab some items from their prepared foods counter and realise that stuff adds up quickly! It's never the best I've ever had. It always seems to need more seasoning with one exception... when they put out a tray of fresh macaroni + cheese, I am horribly tempted to get more than I should! They have a sandwich loyalty card for their sandwich bar. Grab one of their pre-made sandwiches or make one to order but don't forget to get it punched before leaving.
Two hours validation with a purchase inside so bring your ticket to the cashier. This means you can grab some stuff at the market then head upstairs to Tutta Bella for some lovely pizza, if you need.
Staff is always friendly and I can usually find what I need without too much assistance. Parking is simple with the exception of people that cannot seem to colour in their own lines. Seriously... an open message to patrons of this market with large, unwieldy cars... learn how to park! -
Review from Julia W.
I had never been to a Whole Foods before even though I work right down the street from a pretty nice one.
I finally stopped in to get a missing ingredient for a dish I was making for dinner and was pleasantly surprised. It was right around the 'dinner' time rush and the store wasn't too crowded.
The prices 'are' steep so let's not discount that for those who don't want to pay a ton of cash for food.
But..
They did have a LOT of prepared foods as well as some good-looking produce. For some, that may sound weird but to me, I judge on the produce department.
We did not have a lot of time to wander since I had to get home to get dinner going but would definitely come back and check out the rest. -
Review from Snuffle U.
Seattle, WA
Lots of cool stuff but super expensive:/
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Review from Jen T.
Ask my co-workers, No lie. This is my favorite place to go to lunch downtown.
Everything is ALWAYS fresh and the salad bars are ALWAYS clean.
My top picks:
- White Pizza
- Mushroom Barley soup
- Random salad bar favs.
- I also heard that the salmon teriyaki with brown rice is a must try.
I promise you this is the cheapest and healthiest/ satisfying place to have lunch if you work downtown. Not to mention quick either! -
Review from Will M.
Arguably the tastiest most affordable lunch in South Lake Union. Choose from a range of fresh sandwiches, an enormous salad and buffet bar that includes Indian food, deserts and bbq. Also there's an excellent taco bar, brick oven pizza by the slice ($3.99 for a huge slice), tri-tip and roasted veggies.
But wait there's more! Sushi, asian noodles and bento boxes!
Top secret: go to the meat and seafood counter in the back, buy a cut of meat, and use have the chef in back cook it up to order on the grill. -
Review from Michael K.
Seattle, WA
The truth is, the only reason Whole Foods loses a star is because they make my wallet cry buckets of anger tears. I would shop here all the time if I could afford to spend two hundred plus dollars every time I went through the doors.
First, everyone who works there is either beaten if they don't smile, or they really enjoy their jobs, because they're all smiling and joking around. Gotta love it. Some folks don't really appreciate a friendly/funny gesture coming from an employee in the service industry, but I find it utterly mood-changing when I'm not the one who has to make the blatantly obvius quip in the checkout line. Just a pleasant and fairly attractive atmosphere all around.
The store itself doesn't feel that big until you realize that you've entered one of Harry Potter's tents that looks like it's normal sized but than stretches on for the length of a football field. With the promise of Chris W's chili and rum on my mind, I located delicious bread, cheese, hummus, and sushi for snacking while he cooked and we inevitably got drunk. The cheese selection at Whole Foods is daunting, which anyone can appreciate, although the amount of cheeses they have for around 20-40 dollars per lb is again frustrating. C'est la vie - must work for cheese.
Love the sushi they have as well - nothing like the sushi I had for dinner the night before, but I'm very pleased with the new age of grocery store sushi chefs. Sometimes you just need to go affordable.
***The samosas were good too, even cold... and their dessert bar made me want to go into thief mode... which I did not!
***I can see how parking COULD be an issue, but we arrived at about 6pm on Saturday and were lucky enough to find a spot right in the middle of the upper lot. -
Review from Diana C.
It's smack in the middle of downtown so I'm guessing rent must be a fortune! Maybe that's why a piece of fruit is like $5.... oh no, wait... it's just because it's organic. :-) I love having options and whole foods is definitely an option I love having!
They have really good breakfast burritos that are delicious and surprisingly cheap! They are huge and have really tasty fresh ingredients! YUM! -
Review from Carlo X.
Portland, OR
Best Wholefoods on the planet! I've never seen anything out there more organized and had everything, yes, every-MF-ing!
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Review from Madeline k.
Seattle, WA
Best place to go for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! It's so convenient and they have lots of healthy options! I love Whole Foods!
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Review from Andrew T.
Seattle, WA
I've become convinced that one of the primary purposes of this Whole Foods is to train me to become a produce inspector.
It seems like every time I come here, I end up finding rotten, moldy fruit. A nectarine with a big moldy spot? A box of blackberries full of fuzz? An entire display of raspberries that look like they had been freeze dried? Yep, the list seems to grow every time I come.
Don't get me wrong, I love Whole Foods. In fact, I don't even mind paying the premium for their occasional higher-quality products. And, usually I would excuse an occasional bad apple (no pun intended). However, putting bad, disgusting, and/or moldy fruit on the floor is becoming a consistent trend.
The convenient location in Seattle and the prepared food department save this location from a rating of 1. -
Review from Angel I.
This is the nicest and largest Whole Foods Market locations that I've ever been to. There is everything you can imagine at this location, and the staff members are all awesome and super friendly. You can have an entire gourmet meal here because the self serve selection is just that amazing. I used to think Whole Foods was pricey, but it's cheaper than PCC. There's a coupon in the Chinook Book for 1 free large dozen eggs from 365 Whole Foods when you make a purchase for $10 and a free pizza slice (no purchase necessary) so that's pretty awesome. Also, this location validates parking in the underground garage for up to 2 hours which is plenty of time to browse and shop at Whole Foods. There is also 30 minute parking street parking as well if you know you'll be in and out and don't want to park in the garage. :)
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Review from Jon L.
I have been to this Whole Foods a number of times. While this location is centrally located, close to Seattle Center, Downtown Seattle and Capitol Hill, this location seems somewhat small. Compared to the ones on the Eastside, the selection is a little more limited.
Though this location is one of the most popular ones around town. This is evident especially if you go during weekday lunch hours. Seems like a lot of the Amazon crowd migrates here for a bite. The dining area by the coffee bar is pretty packed during those hours. And why not? The view, especially in the outside seating area is gorgeous with the Space Needle backdrop. Wish there was more seating, but square footage is limited here.
Certainly would not like the deli being downsized to add seating. The refrigerated case of deli items was a bit lacking when compared to the one in Redmond. Though this is an apples and oranges comparison. Urban locations are just going to be smaller.
And for an urban location, this Whole Foods is respectable with a decent size deli, produce section and bakery. Plus a sushi bar with seating to boot!
So while it is a little smaller than the ones on the Eastside, I still like this location because it is a great place to pick up something to eat if you are visiting or working in the area. But if there is anyway to expand the seating and to-go refrigerated deli case section, that would make me like this location even more.Listed in: The Grocery List
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Review from Arie M.
I think the prices at Whole Foods at least in some way explain the irony of why the poor/hungry tend to be overweight. Good stuff costs more money though I'm sure you can find many equivalent items for cheaper at Costco if eating healthy is going to be a regular thing for you or you have more mouths to feed.
Anyway, I was staying in the area for a little while and this Whole Foods was my main source of sustenance for getting good food. This was the only store within walking distance that I found in downtown and even later on when I had other choices, I would go there.
Their soups are ok, not great (the tomato soup especially could use more flavor), but their salad and hot food bar are very nice along with their wraps.
So there you have it. If you're poor, sorry...finding affordable healthy foods will take a little more searching and work, but if you can afford them, they have nice things and this particular Whole Foods is the best one I've seen. The foods are fresh, and lots of angsty looking eye candy (in Houston it's mostly wealthy housewives or their maids). -
Review from Luca T.
West New York, NJ
When Whole Foods is around you always have a place where you can be confident of finding something to eat.
Sometimes it is expensive. -
Review from Holly G.
Seattle, WA
For those who complain about the prices, I'm going to be honest and say you just don't know how to properly shop here. There are some killer deals at Whole Foods (WF) if you know what to buy.
Here's some examples..:
WF Hummus - particularly the roasted red pepper - $2.49
WF jarred sauce - roasted vegetable - $1.79
Blocks of cheddar or fresh grated parm (depends on size for pricing) $2 - $5
Watch the sales for fruits and vegetables. They tend to sell majority of their far superior produce for way less then Pike Place Market but somehow people believe they're getting something special at Pike Place (you're not.) Buy what is in season, or realize you're going to pay a lot for the things that are not.
Salad Bar:
I'm actually weirdly not a fan of salad bars in general, and was not happy with WF's either although I know a lot of people love it.
Sushi Bar:
LOVE the brown rice cucumber/avocado roll. Since this is all I really like, I can't comment on much else. My husband loves the spicy tuna, and pretty much everything else he's tried from the sushi bar.
SeaSmoke Grill:
Husbands favorite. Pick out whatever meat/fish you like from the butcher/fishmonger and then bring it over to the Grill. Tell them how you'd like it cooked and voila. Done. Really cool if you love fish but aren't particularly fond of cooking it.
Hearth Pizza
I have a weak spot for the tomato/basil/fresh mozzarella pizza. It can be hit or miss though depending on when it was made. If its fresh out of the oven, grab a slice!
This is a gigantic Whole Foods, sure to have something for everyone. Enjoy. -
Review from Norman L.
Seattle, WA
I'll weigh in on the PCC/Whole Foods debate a little bit later.
There are two things I always notice when I walk into the Whole Foods. #1 is the staff. The workers here seem to be comprised of a bunch of young, hip, fun liberals. #2 is the clientele. They tend to be wealthy and have a lot of money to spend (obviously). They also seem to have a strong sense of entitlement... You can see this from the written comments posted near the utensils in the eating area where they complain about the littlest things and threaten to shop at Met Market if things aren't fixed etc etc. You can also see this with the way they interact with the cashiers if things don't go smoothly or the cashier makes a mistake. I have seen them blow up at the cashiers for the smallest things... I guess it's not limited to this Whole Foods either, as I have seen it occur in the Roosevelt Whole Foods as well.
As for the PCC/Whole Foods debate, I personally like to shop at both. Whole Foods wins out on product selection and hot, prepared foods. This particular Whole Foods has a much more extensive hot food selection compared to Bellevue and Roosevelt. And Seasmoke! You can buy anything from the meat or fish department and they'll grill it up for you for free!
As for the pricing, yes, things are expensive here. But deals can be had, especially with coupons and sales. And there are a lot of things that cost even more at PCC. Just off the top of my head: Organic maranatha peanut butter is $5.99 at Whole Foods, $6.19 at PCC... Milk and yogurt is also cheaper at Whole Foods.
Where PCC wins out is the grassroots feel when you shop around in there. More down-to-earth people, a more "green" clientele. After all, it is a co-op. -
Review from Connie D.
Seattle, WA
I really appreciate the validated parking -- there are times when I just need to use my car!
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Review from Arry Y.
Yes... the rumor that Whole Foods is actually code for Whole Paycheck is no joke. But really - you're paying for all the sparkly shiny food with glittery stars and hearts all around it. Well organized rows of food, well labeled with neat cards, well placed items all over. Not a single item out of place or not in a neat straight row. Great lighting. ... It's the cleanest most well organized grocery store you've ever been to. And everything is supposedly organic or socially conscious - which of course means you pay a bit more. ... did I mention the place is SO clean....?
Parking is below, and semi convenient.
Also next door to one of my favorite yoga places ever, Beluminous Yoga.
The best thing about this place is most definitely the expensive salad bar - but it is really really really awesome. My last salad there was $12. ... soooo good. I didn't even use any salad dressing. -
Review from yekta a.
This is the only Whole Foods that I'm not so sure I'll ever return to because the employees don't seem very nice or helpful, especially in the marketplace restaurant.
Parking is hard to find anyway! -
Review from Jasmine L.
Manhattan, NY
Who doesn't love Whole Foods? Fresh salads, fruits, sandwiches, desserts and anything else you might want or need.
This Whole Foods, like all of the ones I've been to is clean and fully stocked!
