Whole Foods

Chelsea
250 Seventh Ave.
at W. 24th St.

P: 212.924.5969

Midtown
10 Columbus Cir.
Time-Warner Center
at W. 59th Street

P: 212.823.9600

Union Square
4 Union Sq. South
between Broadway/University Pl.

P: 212.673.5388

SoHo
99 E. Houston St.
at Bowery

P: 212.420.1320

TriBeCa
270 Greenwich St.
at Murray St.

P: 212.349.6555

Whole Foods sells both organic and conventional produce, organic meats and poultry, cheese and dairy, fish and seafood, and prepared foods. And who knew so many junk food processed foods were made with organic ingredients? Prices can be steep but the quality is usually very good, certainly in the produce and meat areas. Staff is only as knowledgable as in any supermarket so don't expect anyone working the unimpresive fish counters to know how to fillet a sea bass. If they even sell sea bass.

What's great:

The produce is excellent, especially the large selection of organic fruits and vegetables. The meat department offers a good selection of aged beef and other meats, although priced as high as any top butcher (and yet you can't be sure there will be a butcher who can help finish cutting what you want so be prepared to buy meat as it has already been put in the case). The bakery area offers Sullivan Street breads, and the prepared food area usually has recently roasted organic chickens ready to go. For a store that calls itself a supermarket, the cheese department is excellent, with many cheeses available to taste and have cut to order.

What to avoid:

Buy fish here only if you can't get to a real fish monger because the selection is always narrow and the prices high. I've often seen the counter 75% filled with shrimp and salmon. It's a mystery.

What to know:

They sell some gluten-free and other allergen-free products, including frozen bread and pizza doughs. A substantial amount of the stores' floor space is dedicated to things that come in jars, boxes or sealed bags.