Tomorrow, to Wegman's I go!
December 29, 2011 8:38 AM Subscribe
What should I get at Wegman's?
I'm going there tomorrow for the first time! What should I get?! Note: usually I shop at stores like Trader Joe's, Market Basket, Stop n'Shop, Whole Foods. I have NO food restrictions.
I'm going there tomorrow for the first time! What should I get?! Note: usually I shop at stores like Trader Joe's, Market Basket, Stop n'Shop, Whole Foods. I have NO food restrictions.
Which Wegmans are you going to? If you're in Rochester (home of the store), not all the stores are the same. Monroe Avenue is the Ultimate Grand Supreme, but a store like Fairport Road is going to be your Divisional Queen (I am, of course, using Toddlers and Tiaras analogies).
Stores outside of New York, from what I understand, are all Ultimate Grand Supremes, so if that's the case then you don't have to worry.
posted by Lucinda at 8:51 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Stores outside of New York, from what I understand, are all Ultimate Grand Supremes, so if that's the case then you don't have to worry.
posted by Lucinda at 8:51 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Olive oil and bananas.
Also, a job.
Also, a job.
Wegmans has appeared on Fortune's annual "100 Best Companies to Work For" list since its inception in 1998, and has ranked among the top 10 for eight consecutive years.posted by pracowity at 8:51 AM on December 29, 2011
COOPER CHEESE. (At the deli counter)
posted by brilliantine at 8:54 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by brilliantine at 8:54 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I am of the opinion that Wegmans' store brand spiral mac & cheese is the best of all mac & cheese varieties.
They sell a lot of Western NY foods even outside of the region. Weber's horseradish mustard and Chiavetta's marinade are both excellent.
posted by troika at 8:56 AM on December 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
They sell a lot of Western NY foods even outside of the region. Weber's horseradish mustard and Chiavetta's marinade are both excellent.
posted by troika at 8:56 AM on December 29, 2011 [3 favorites]
Wegmans' baked goods are awesome. The cheese counter is awesome. Even Wegmans' brand soups and soda are awesome. In conclusion, Wegmans = awesome.
posted by crankylex at 8:58 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by crankylex at 8:58 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh, the deli counter! Russel-brand bologna. This might be WNY-only, but a beef on week at the sandwich counter.
posted by troika at 8:58 AM on December 29, 2011
posted by troika at 8:58 AM on December 29, 2011
In general Wegmans stores have AMAZING bulk sections, so if you like things like a particular color of jelly bean or an obscure sugar-free coconut candy, you can probably find it there.
posted by kate blank at 8:59 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by kate blank at 8:59 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I am going to the (newly opened!) Wegmans in Northborough, MA.
posted by leedly at 9:01 AM on December 29, 2011
posted by leedly at 9:01 AM on December 29, 2011
Ultimate white cake. And a sub.
posted by notcreative at 9:17 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by notcreative at 9:17 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yes, a sub! Our favorite is the Danny's Favorite Sub. ::drool::
posted by Sassyfras at 9:22 AM on December 29, 2011
posted by Sassyfras at 9:22 AM on December 29, 2011
Grandma Brown's Home Baked Beans
posted by plastic_animals at 9:26 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by plastic_animals at 9:26 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
I thought i had lost my mind the first time I went to Wegmans. It is HUGE, bigger than any grocery store I'd ever seen. So big, in fact, that I had to step outside and pause for a moment before re-entering the store to shop. So, be prepared for that.
The olive and cheese bar in general is well worth checking out. But I'd steer you to their produce section, actually. The artichokes they sell are consistently the best I've had. They also have a remarkable fruit selection.
My Wegmans also has a great selection of nuts and dried fruits - better than TJ, in my opinion, which surprised me.
posted by cheapskatebay at 9:33 AM on December 29, 2011
The olive and cheese bar in general is well worth checking out. But I'd steer you to their produce section, actually. The artichokes they sell are consistently the best I've had. They also have a remarkable fruit selection.
My Wegmans also has a great selection of nuts and dried fruits - better than TJ, in my opinion, which surprised me.
posted by cheapskatebay at 9:33 AM on December 29, 2011
Dinosaur BBQ potato chips.
posted by brujita at 9:40 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by brujita at 9:40 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
The store-brand wing sauce. Their BBQ sauces are also pretty good. On preview...so are Dinosaur BBQ's, which they should also have.
Cream filled donuts. Not that Boston-style cream everyone in New England thinks makes a cream donut. White cream. They also have sour cream donuts.
I must enthusiastically second Jahaza on white hot dogs.
If you like Fresca, you'll really like the Wedge line of Wegmans soft drinks.
Mo's Bacon Bars and other low end Vosges treats.
And I am a total sucker for the Coco Pop experience.
posted by gnomeloaf at 9:55 AM on December 29, 2011
Cream filled donuts. Not that Boston-style cream everyone in New England thinks makes a cream donut. White cream. They also have sour cream donuts.
I must enthusiastically second Jahaza on white hot dogs.
If you like Fresca, you'll really like the Wedge line of Wegmans soft drinks.
Mo's Bacon Bars and other low end Vosges treats.
And I am a total sucker for the Coco Pop experience.
posted by gnomeloaf at 9:55 AM on December 29, 2011
Wings of Life salad, says my dad. (Apparently it's vegetarian.). And their prepared foods and store-brand foods are excellent. Also, eat the samples.
posted by wyzewoman at 10:00 AM on December 29, 2011
posted by wyzewoman at 10:00 AM on December 29, 2011
Old fashioned chocolate cake --be prepared to be caffeinated.
Wegmans submarine sandwich oil.
If they have a restaurant attached -- french fries with aioli dipping sauce.
posted by vitabellosi at 10:06 AM on December 29, 2011
Wegmans submarine sandwich oil.
If they have a restaurant attached -- french fries with aioli dipping sauce.
posted by vitabellosi at 10:06 AM on December 29, 2011
First of all, get a meal there. the hotbars and salad bars are pretty amazing in variety and quality, as are the pizzas and other foods made in-store. As for groceries, I was pretty impressed with the bulk teas and the cheese department. And there's not only an entire liquor store in there, but it's an impressive one. Anything store-brand is going to be quite good. I was impressed that their ordinary stuff, like chicken breasts, were comparable or cheaper compared to Stop & Shop.
Having grown up with Wegs, and recently visited the Nboro store, it's not just nostalgia talking when I say they really are all-round fantastic.
posted by Lou Stuells at 10:07 AM on December 29, 2011
Having grown up with Wegs, and recently visited the Nboro store, it's not just nostalgia talking when I say they really are all-round fantastic.
posted by Lou Stuells at 10:07 AM on December 29, 2011
The new one in Northborough is HUGE. Get some lunch, the hot bars are pretty good. Better than Whole Foods we thought, though I'm sure there are plenty of artificial ingredients, since Wegmans sells normal grocery items with artificials. Budget enough time, we could have spent a couple hours there.
posted by santaliqueur at 10:10 AM on December 29, 2011
posted by santaliqueur at 10:10 AM on December 29, 2011
I'll be making my first trip to the Northborough store next month. I can't wait. The first thing I'll be getting is the garlic tuscan bread from the bakery.This bread is excellent.
posted by bryghtrose at 10:32 AM on December 29, 2011
posted by bryghtrose at 10:32 AM on December 29, 2011
Nthing Wegmans brand spiral mac & cheese
Their pretzel rolls and chocolate chip cookies are excellent as well.
posted by thewestinggame at 11:38 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Their pretzel rolls and chocolate chip cookies are excellent as well.
posted by thewestinggame at 11:38 AM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
This time of year, they have a Wensleydale cheese with dried cherries (cranberries?) that's pretty awesome on raisin bread.
Not sure whether you're a budget shopper, but imo, Wegmans store-brand paper products (paper towels, napkins) are comparable to premium name brands like Bounty, and greatly superior to other store brands I've tried.
Bulk meats are also cheap and good-- they've offered a loss-leader special with chicken breasts and ground beef for $1.99/# for the duration of 2011 (I will cry if that goes away come Sunday).
They also stock greeting cards that are slightly higher-end and less hokey than you'd find at your average Hallmark.
posted by Bardolph at 12:05 PM on December 29, 2011
Not sure whether you're a budget shopper, but imo, Wegmans store-brand paper products (paper towels, napkins) are comparable to premium name brands like Bounty, and greatly superior to other store brands I've tried.
Bulk meats are also cheap and good-- they've offered a loss-leader special with chicken breasts and ground beef for $1.99/# for the duration of 2011 (I will cry if that goes away come Sunday).
They also stock greeting cards that are slightly higher-end and less hokey than you'd find at your average Hallmark.
posted by Bardolph at 12:05 PM on December 29, 2011
You lucky duck. My mom lives close to a Wegman's, but up here in MA I'm nowhere close to one.
I like their Indian and Thai buffets quite a bit. Any of their prepared dinners is a safe bet; a widowed family friend of ours gets solo dinner there quite a bit.
posted by Currer Belfry at 12:07 PM on December 29, 2011
I like their Indian and Thai buffets quite a bit. Any of their prepared dinners is a safe bet; a widowed family friend of ours gets solo dinner there quite a bit.
posted by Currer Belfry at 12:07 PM on December 29, 2011
A SUBMARINE SANDWICH. Their sub bread is the best thing about a trip to Rochester. I haven't been to the new one in MA but I assume the quality is the same.
posted by tetralix at 12:08 PM on December 29, 2011
posted by tetralix at 12:08 PM on December 29, 2011
Wegman's was the only reason I was able to tolerate living in small-town Ithaca NY as long as I did. (Nothing personal, Ithacans! Just too small for me.)
Seconding Chiavetta's dressing/marinade for all its oregano goodness.
And seconding their house brands of paper goods and dry goods. Talk about cheap staples! Also: frozen processed foods, for when you need something super convenient, tasty, AND cheap for the kids or a super bowl party or whatever.
Their meats are excellent, and their butchers are trained not only in cutting things to order, but in extraordinary customer service. (As are all their employees.)
Go to their cheese counter for inspiration. In addition to individual cheeses you can take home, they'll have pretty and delicious assemblages in their case that they want to charge you something like $25/pound for. Don't do it. You can buy all the ingredients right there in the cheese dept and make those things yourself for much less. It's where I got this idea for a fig-brie-mascarpone "layer cake," and how I've hit a home run at many pot lucks over the years.
As for eating in the store, I can particularly recommend the pasta bar, the Asian bar, and--if your area is pizza-challenged and/or you're not a pizza purist--their pizza is really good.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 12:25 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Seconding Chiavetta's dressing/marinade for all its oregano goodness.
And seconding their house brands of paper goods and dry goods. Talk about cheap staples! Also: frozen processed foods, for when you need something super convenient, tasty, AND cheap for the kids or a super bowl party or whatever.
Their meats are excellent, and their butchers are trained not only in cutting things to order, but in extraordinary customer service. (As are all their employees.)
Go to their cheese counter for inspiration. In addition to individual cheeses you can take home, they'll have pretty and delicious assemblages in their case that they want to charge you something like $25/pound for. Don't do it. You can buy all the ingredients right there in the cheese dept and make those things yourself for much less. It's where I got this idea for a fig-brie-mascarpone "layer cake," and how I've hit a home run at many pot lucks over the years.
As for eating in the store, I can particularly recommend the pasta bar, the Asian bar, and--if your area is pizza-challenged and/or you're not a pizza purist--their pizza is really good.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 12:25 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Tomato pie.
Chocolate chip cookies.
Glazed blueberry bagel.
Coco Pop.
Hot pretzel.
Buju & Ziggie cat food (if you have a cat).
posted by candyland at 12:36 PM on December 29, 2011
Chocolate chip cookies.
Glazed blueberry bagel.
Coco Pop.
Hot pretzel.
Buju & Ziggie cat food (if you have a cat).
posted by candyland at 12:36 PM on December 29, 2011
The Wegmans generic version of GoLean Crunch (can't remember what it's called) is better than actual GoLean Crunch.
God, I love Wegmans. My most common recurring dream is that a Wegmans has opened up in Chicago, and when I wake up and realize it was all a dream I want to cry.
posted by enlarged to show texture at 12:43 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
God, I love Wegmans. My most common recurring dream is that a Wegmans has opened up in Chicago, and when I wake up and realize it was all a dream I want to cry.
posted by enlarged to show texture at 12:43 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Lucky you! When I went last month, the place still smelled new!
Being a habitual Whole Foods shopper (but reluctantly, as there are no co-ops in my area and Stop & Shop is crap if you've been to grocery stores outside of New England), I noticed that many of the things I buy at Whole Foods were cheaper at Wegmans. If you rely on WF as much as I do, you'll appreciate that.
Also, the prepared foods are really good. I bought mr. metarkest a spinach pizza he said was quite tasty. The conventional produce I got from there was far better than anything I've ever gotten at Stop & Shop.
Now if it was less than 50 miles from my home, I might go back.
posted by metarkest at 1:54 PM on December 29, 2011
Being a habitual Whole Foods shopper (but reluctantly, as there are no co-ops in my area and Stop & Shop is crap if you've been to grocery stores outside of New England), I noticed that many of the things I buy at Whole Foods were cheaper at Wegmans. If you rely on WF as much as I do, you'll appreciate that.
Also, the prepared foods are really good. I bought mr. metarkest a spinach pizza he said was quite tasty. The conventional produce I got from there was far better than anything I've ever gotten at Stop & Shop.
Now if it was less than 50 miles from my home, I might go back.
posted by metarkest at 1:54 PM on December 29, 2011
Pick up a jar of Wegman's brand vodka sauce. I know, I know. It's jarred pasta sauce but it's really quite good.
Their mini scones are also excellent . The chocolate chip ones are so, so delicious and I will admit that I have eaten an entire container of them in 24 hours.
Their bakery items are exceptional, too! I like their red, white and blue bread (careful with this in toaster; the sugar melts and burns something fierce if it gets on your skin) and their cranberry orange bread, both of which make great french toast. They also have a loaf of bread that has all sorts of seeds and tasty stuff in it that is awesome that I can't recall the name of.
I will also throw in a vote for their pizza and subs. Give me an old fashioned any day!
posted by godshomemovies at 2:52 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Their mini scones are also excellent . The chocolate chip ones are so, so delicious and I will admit that I have eaten an entire container of them in 24 hours.
Their bakery items are exceptional, too! I like their red, white and blue bread (careful with this in toaster; the sugar melts and burns something fierce if it gets on your skin) and their cranberry orange bread, both of which make great french toast. They also have a loaf of bread that has all sorts of seeds and tasty stuff in it that is awesome that I can't recall the name of.
I will also throw in a vote for their pizza and subs. Give me an old fashioned any day!
posted by godshomemovies at 2:52 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]
Wegmans is a brilliant place to eat lunch - their in-house restaurants are great.
Their house-made soups (in one of the chillers by the pre-cooked food deli counter) are to die for, especially the spicy chilli soup.
Rustic breads are excellent (baked in house), as is the flavored cream cheese.
They also sell wonderful, fair trade coffee beans (which can be ground at the store).
Last, but not least, they have a great international foods section: good curry sauces, great British candy bars, and European cookies.
If you're in one of the states that allows liquor to be sold in Supermarkets, Wegmans often have a really excellent selection of beers, wines & spirits at very good prices.
posted by Susurration at 5:51 PM on December 29, 2011
Their house-made soups (in one of the chillers by the pre-cooked food deli counter) are to die for, especially the spicy chilli soup.
Rustic breads are excellent (baked in house), as is the flavored cream cheese.
They also sell wonderful, fair trade coffee beans (which can be ground at the store).
Last, but not least, they have a great international foods section: good curry sauces, great British candy bars, and European cookies.
If you're in one of the states that allows liquor to be sold in Supermarkets, Wegmans often have a really excellent selection of beers, wines & spirits at very good prices.
posted by Susurration at 5:51 PM on December 29, 2011
The prepared foods are great; I second everyone who said to have a meal there.
The store brands are pretty cheap while largely being as good or better than their name brand equivalents (I particularly like their granola cereal, pasta sauce, pet food, frozen ravioli, and these mini brownies they usually have in the regular bread area). Friends who drink soda stock up on Wup when they visit. The bulk foods section of most Wegmanses I've been to have been larger than any other grocery store I've been to. Chocolate covered ginger, mmm.
Their produce section is comparable to Whole Foods in quality but in a less snobby way, and less expensive--I was very sad when I moved away from an area with a W's and was very happy to return, for the produce alone.
posted by tchemgrrl at 6:15 PM on December 29, 2011
The store brands are pretty cheap while largely being as good or better than their name brand equivalents (I particularly like their granola cereal, pasta sauce, pet food, frozen ravioli, and these mini brownies they usually have in the regular bread area). Friends who drink soda stock up on Wup when they visit. The bulk foods section of most Wegmanses I've been to have been larger than any other grocery store I've been to. Chocolate covered ginger, mmm.
Their produce section is comparable to Whole Foods in quality but in a less snobby way, and less expensive--I was very sad when I moved away from an area with a W's and was very happy to return, for the produce alone.
posted by tchemgrrl at 6:15 PM on December 29, 2011
For us, Wegmans is our regular supermarket, so it's hard to say. Things that make them different...
Wegmans store brand food. If there's other store's brands that you've tried, and thought "Oh, I guess I need to buy the name brand..." try Wegmans. I get their peanut butter, and that's something I never thought I'd get the store brand of. Nthing their prepared foods counters and their international food section. It might also be worth walking through their health food section - there's a great selection of protein bars if those are your thing, plus a variety of other food.
Also, my Wegmans has a 6 beers for $10 make your own 6 pack deal. It's excellent for trying new beers.
I don't have a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's near me, and when I get to one of them, I don't find a lot to pick up that I can't get at Wegmans.
posted by booksherpa at 6:43 PM on December 29, 2011
Wegmans store brand food. If there's other store's brands that you've tried, and thought "Oh, I guess I need to buy the name brand..." try Wegmans. I get their peanut butter, and that's something I never thought I'd get the store brand of. Nthing their prepared foods counters and their international food section. It might also be worth walking through their health food section - there's a great selection of protein bars if those are your thing, plus a variety of other food.
Also, my Wegmans has a 6 beers for $10 make your own 6 pack deal. It's excellent for trying new beers.
I don't have a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's near me, and when I get to one of them, I don't find a lot to pick up that I can't get at Wegmans.
posted by booksherpa at 6:43 PM on December 29, 2011
OMG I forgot all about the red, white and blue bread, and the cranberry orange. My mom sends them to me in care packages from time to time.
posted by Lou Stuells at 7:07 PM on December 29, 2011
posted by Lou Stuells at 7:07 PM on December 29, 2011
A Taste of India butter chicken in the frozen section. Best frozen meal ever. Also their house brand grain mixes are delicious.
posted by biscotti at 5:17 AM on December 30, 2011
posted by biscotti at 5:17 AM on December 30, 2011
Wegman Rosemary Loaf with Olive Oil and Sea salt
posted by HoldFast at 8:13 AM on December 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by HoldFast at 8:13 AM on December 30, 2011 [1 favorite]
This question put the Wegmans bee in my bonnet, we drove out to one yesterday. I reckon leedly's already gone, but here are some other recommendations I had forgotten: the store-brand frozen pierogis, sponge candy (usually near the register during the winter), sriracha peas (like wasabi peas, but...srirachier, in the Japanese aisle), and basically anything from the bakery.
posted by troika at 4:26 PM on December 31, 2011
posted by troika at 4:26 PM on December 31, 2011
Our local Wegmans now stocks Biscoff Spread - speculaas cookies, now in spread form!
posted by zamboni at 7:28 PM on December 31, 2011
posted by zamboni at 7:28 PM on December 31, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by slmorri at 8:47 AM on December 29, 2011 [4 favorites]