02/20/09

Horrifying, rude, obnoxious cashiers. Do not go!

by Mike988

Excellent selection of food is ruined by obnoxious, rude cashiers. Do NOT shop here. You're only rewarding them for it. There are other stores that carry excellent produce and don't treat you like you're garbage. Go to Garden of Eden or Whole Foods. The fact that management tolerates such horrible rudeness at checkout shows that they hold their customers in contempt. They scowl; they don't respond to you when you say hello or thank you; in fact, there is never a thank you. This place is abominable. Shop elsewhere.

• Pros: Good produce.
• Cons: Horrible, rude, obnoxious service at checkout. Miserable cashiers take it out on the customers.

04/10/08

The best of the NY gourmet markets

by vm61

Everyone talks about Citarella's fish (and they should because you won't find fresher anywhere), but I love the meat department. The butchers are always friendly to me and make suggestions for cooking, if I ask. Of their prepared foods, I love the lobster salad, broccoli rabe (always cooked perfectly) and there is nothing like their rotisserie chicken, which you can smell from the street. I don't know what they do to it, but no other chicken tastes like Citarella's--it's moist and flavorful and completely yummy. Some of my other favorites: Lemon Tea Cake (has a very tangy kick), Apple Strudel, fresh mozzarella and the Citarella sauces in the jar. They taste as good as homemade and are very reasonably priced. In fact, many of Citarella's products are reasonably priced. In the case where items are expensive, it's definitely one of those 'you get what you pay for' things. I'd rather have a truly satisfying steak or soft shell crabs and pay a little more, than something mediocre at a bargain price.

• Pros: Excellent quality and clean
• Cons: There isn't one closer to my house

12/12/06

Horrible catering

by sirivipab

They called it "catering service". I ordered "prepared" food for a company party. The food showed up on time, which is great, but everything was freezing cold. I called these guys for CATERING, and all they did was drop off trays of freezing food for a company party. When I asked if they were bringing in the sternals and heating/chafing dishes in a bit, the guy looked at me like I had 3 heads. Then when I called Citarella, they said, "we don't do that". So, I had to run around the neighborhood trying to find a cafe that would lend/rent me sternals. Cafe 28 by the way totally came through. It's located on 28th b/w 5th and Broadway and they were AMAZINGLY sweet. Not only did they lend me sternals, but they sent two guys who came to help me set it up and charged me only for the alcohol heaters. I should have gone to them for catering in the first place!

Boo to Citarella. Go to Cafe 28!

• Pros: excellent food
• Cons: It's freezing cold!!!!