Western Beef
“If you want to grab a deli sandwich their prices are very reasonable and the portions are large.”
“A complete supermarket but I go here just for their meat department – more specifically their bulk meats located right next to their butcher's area.”
“Additionally, they actually sell 12-packs of beer here, which is always fun.”
Western Beef
Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
Bike Parking: Yes
Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
Price range.
$ Price range Inexpensive
6 reviews
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Western Beef is amazing primarily because it is one of the few grocery stores where the variety of responses and divides bring out the same type of passion that only a small group of high-end or niche restaurants might get. As usual, I read through the reviews in an attempt to provide something "else". Here is the breakdown of your likelihood of liking this place…
1. If you are an OCD clean freak…
In NYC, this is not a large group, so yes, you guys get your own category; and no you will not like this grocery store. Instead, you will be overwhelmed by the clutter and questionably clean floor that comes from the other groups on this list who compulsively can't stay away. Oh you're not paranoid, groups 2-4 – since they're not OCD – are secretly are happy about that mess….
2. If you are ethnic and have traveled to a country that has made you appreciate a flushing normal toilet…
Oh man.. this place is heaven. It's one of few places outside of your peeps specific ethnic community where you are not made to feel weird for your food culture. You need goat? no problem. Ham Hocks… check the pork section. Chicken hearts? Yup, as much as you want. Sorrel, check check. If you're Latino or Carribean, but live in midtown, let me just say…. FINALLY!!!
3. If you're broke, stingy, or just like value and are not OCD….
Cheap. So Freakin Cheap. Even delivery is cheap. $3, and that guy will deliver it usually within 2 hours. Tip him and make sure to give it to him as soon as the last bag is delivered or before. I was delayed in giving him the tip and I can promise you that he will let you know his feelings in both English and Spanish (the one time I wish I wasn't from Florida….).
4. If you like to cook for a lot of people….
Wonderful! You can get Flintstones sized meat and normal size groceries for a normal price without trekking out to Costco, Brooklyn, or Jersey
These people will have a love-hate relationship and yet you'll always go back:
a. People in category 1, but also in categories 2-4
b. People in category 2, but have never been outside of the U.S.
c. People in category 3, but have never been to a country where the word "toilet" requires more qualification before a decision can be made on what to do next.
d. People in category 3 and 4 that have a studio and no ability to store food. This place is a zoo and multiple trips can wear you down.
All and all, the place is efficient given the number of people, their kids, and the amount people are buying. Because of the way the register is set up, you often can't see a few of the lines that are nearly empty. It takes a while to figure out where things are and how they are laid out but you get it after a few trips. People are nice if you just ask them where stuff is. Going early morning is key. This particular one is far larger than it's West Village counter part and therefore slightly less painful, but early… early.
I give it three solid stars!
I have a love/hate relationship with Western Beef.
LOVE: it's so close! Much closer to me than Trader Joe's, Gracefully, Whole Foods, Food Emporium, Gourmet Garage or Fairway. (Obviously near the Lincoln Center there is a plethora of grocery shopping options.) It's also quite a bit cheaper than any of the aforementioned grocers.
HATE: checking out takes so long, I'd probably be better off going to the Fairway in NJ to save time. There are never enough lanes open, and the express checkout counter is also customer service, so I usually get stuck behind someone buying lotto tickets or making a return.
The cashiers are slow, occasionally have serious attitude, and need a manager for everything.
That being said, Western Beef is where I go late in the evening when I just need a few things, or when I want some cheap, basic staple foods. Because of the convenience of the location, and the cheapness, I will keep coming back.
[Plus, during Sandy, they were the only place that stayed open and still had water and batteries. Just for staying available for the community, they earn extra brownie points with me!]
I love this place — there are always some amazing deals to be found… Need a 5 pound bag of mozzarella, a 5 pound box of corn dogs, a 5 pound box empanadas, a 5 pound box of sausages? Don't wanna buy a membership to Costco and make the trek all the way over to the far Upper East Side? Never fear, Western Beef is here!
Lapin and I went to this store after the circus. We were in the neighborhood and decided to pop in (Yup, like two old people). The store was pretty empty, a bit disorganized and somewhat clean in some areas. It had a decent selection and some items were affordable. There was only one cashier available and they were still open for another 3 hours. She was nice but the other employees had a bit of an attitude.
Since moving to 63rd/West End, Western Beef has received more than a few emergency visits from my wife and I. This market is reasonably priced and has a wide variety of goods. I still prefer TJs or Fairway to this market, but Western Beef has a few deals which are hard to pass up like $.99 five pound bag of potatoes. Sometimes they have specials for chicken breasts and beef for family sized packs. These can be great deals if you're cooking for the week or a dinner party.
One ding is the line situation. They need to get more organized, but something tells me that they don't really care. It's kind of a mess and you can get stuck in a non-moving line during rush hour.
All in all, WB is a cheap, convenient neighborhood market that I would only recommend if you live in the immediate area.
Meh, more of the same. I came in here again in need of a few things I cannot get at Whole Foods and was sick of over-paying for at D'Agostino. Low prices is the only thing that saves the place, IMO.
One of the aisles was mis-labeled. Certain sections smelled bad. For both the peanut canisters and the Diet Coke 8-packs I was looking for, I had to rummage around to find cans / canisters that were not dented.
What a mess.