Whole Foods Market

My stir fry was spicy… there was much pepper that it looked like 101 Dalmations… (and I had NOT put any in). I had to take it back… and they commented that they would clean the WOK for me. My friend had finished his meal…
Disappointed with last 2 visits, thought I would give them a second chance… i’ll go to Longo’s from now on, when i’m downtown. Also, the salad bar is limited compared to Longo.

More expensive than other stores because of the area. They don’t have the same choice of foods and things can taste quite different. They almost never have samples of new products. Or perhaps I haven’t seen them. I prefer the yonge and Sheppard store

I like this Whole Foods, and I shop here almost once a week. I am giving it a mediocre rating, however, because it is an expensive store and at these prices they should be doing better. While the store generally is quite good, they repeat the same mistakes over and over. My peeves are as follows:
1. When the lines at the cash registers suddenly become long and are moving slowly, they seem to have no ability whatsoever to respond quickly and to open additional registers. I once mentioned this to the service counter, and I was met with a shrug and told that the soonest they could get a new line open would be 15 – 20 minutes. They need to be way more responsive than they are.
2. They don’t do a good enough job checking best before and expiry dates of food on the shelves. Too often, I find milk in the cooler that expired a day or two earlier. Just this past week, I found mayo on the shelves that had expired almost three months earlier, with another type of mayo with a best before date that expired three days earlier.
3. They move products around the store (fine), but rarely do they post a sign saying it is now available in a different location. Several times now I have thought that they were out of/​stopped selling a favourite product, only to find it weeks later somewhere else in the store. I shouldn’t have to go on a scavenger hunt to find my groceries. Small signs would be really helpful, guys. When I am at other grocery stores, I never find myself wondering what they have done with a product the way I do at Whole Foods.
4. They are not very good at getting out-​of-​stock items restocked. They will sell out of an item, and then take months to get it back on the shelves (yet there is no shortage, as other retailers are still carrying it). This has happened way too many times, with way too many different products, for it to be a problem with suppliers. This Whole Foods store is just not on the ball when it comes to restocking in a timely manner. Still waiting for them to get my favourite BBQ sauce back in. When you bring a particular missing product to the attention of staff, it reappears within days. But I shouldn’t have to track down a staff member every time a shelf is bare. And it happens a lot.
5. The food bank donation bin is often overflowing. I appreciate that the bin is emptied by the food bank, not Whole Foods, but for goodness sake, if customers are good enough to donate food, then the least Whole Foods could do is to help out, empty the bin and store the donations in the back until the Food Bank can pick them up. Instead, food items are often literally falling out of the bin, and customers have to try and balance their donations on top. Ridiculous.

Conroy the grocery manager was excessively rude when I was speaking to him on the phone about ordering case of certain products. He was abrupt, yelled, wouldn’t even let me explain the situation. It was so appalling. considering the prices of this place you should be given basic respect. I prefer to shop at farmer’s markets where vendors are friendly, polite or the Big Carrot which is smaller, and everything is certified organic. This place is overpriced and overrated!

I used to live near Square One Whole Foods and figured this location would be a ‘step up’. It’s not. Unfortunately, it’s actually not as nice of a shopping experience as Square One. The staff at SO are way friendlier, the layout is way better/​easier to navigate and find things, plus the experience is more zen and relaxing at SO here it is a bit more hectic.
I also found that the woman who is in the bakery is very unfriendly. No smile, no hello, she doesn’t keep an eye out for customers so you can be standing there for a while and even after she sees you she finishes her task without acknowledging you. Too bad at the SO location the bakery staff were super sweet and accomodating and fun to shop from.
I do like WF a lot but it’s not as amazing as you might think if you don’t shop there often. They have a great selection and some really interesting special items that you don’t see at your normal grocery store. You can find something that really excites you. It’s obviously expensive and in many cases over-​priced. Their prepared foods are hit and miss and after you’ve had them a few times they lose their magic and they don’t taste as good or fresh as you wish that they did.
I really like the sonoma chicken salad and the Seeduction bread. I like the frozen butternut squash ravioli that they sell. I like the coconut shampoo and conditioner in the body section. I’m probably forgetting something else that’s high on my list… I’ve had lots of favourites but as I said after you have it a few times it loses it’s magic. I find that dinners in their prepared section make life so easy they always tempt me. Like their quiche, salads, dinner for 2, etc. I’ve enjoyed the chocolate mousse and the brioche.
I live nearby so I think I’ll come here often for certain things but I’ve GOT to start shopping somewhere else for most staples or I won’t have any money left! :)

I love whole foods so much– their vibe, selection of merchandise and mantra really appeals to my Eco-​friendly, organic-​buying personality. I don’t come to whole foods very often because my money goes down the drain way too quickly, but it’s such a lovely place to buy fresh guacamole and delicious, gluten-​free baked goods.
They have an extensive skincare section with products that also coincide with their healthy reputation, and their deals are acceptable; you have to stock up on the kombucha that goes on sale before they’re all gone!
This location is pretty spacious and their products are organized in an easy to find layout. I prefer to come here for more specialized items instead of the stuff I can buy from my local grocery store; for example I would rather buy bread at Metro instead of at Whole Foods.
Whole Foods is fabulous and pricey but worth the money if you spend wisely! As well it always smells so good from either the scent of freshly-​baked cake or roasted chicken.

I have very mixed feelings about Whole Foods. I much prefer farmers’ markets and little local shops when it comes to breaking bank on grocery shopping. Fiesta Farms on Christie North of Bloor is also a pretty great store for accomplishing getting great groceries, but I have to admit, there’s just something about a well laid out Whole Foods that brings me joy. Sometimes this joy overrides the guilt of picking up my weekly goods from an American chain.
This hippie chain’s pre-​made foods, butcher and fancy pantry items are second to none, but you should know, my BFF and I spent over $ 300 on groceries that will last us about 10 – 14 days recently. That’s ridiculous. Trust me, when we left we weren’t feeling smug and healthy, we were feeling like ass clowns.
This Whole Foods validates parking. That last sentence was fun to write.

Like many others have mentioned — HORRIBLE SERVICE. The cashiers and people at customer service are full of attitude, even knowing that they made a mistake in the transaction. No apology for ringing in the item wrong and over charging me. All I got was a very impatient look and a LOAD OF ATTITUDE. Please train your employees properly.

Too pricey. I had a lunch in there with their hot meal but i ended up paying almost $ 10 for 1 small quiche, 1 butter cod, 3 tablespoon of pasta and a cup of chips and guacamole. Not satisfied, the taste was ok except for the chips and guacamole which was cold and hard. The portion looks like a kids meal. I can definitely use the $ 10 and get a good decent meal and feel ridiculously full. Once is enough, I’ll never going back again. Not worth it.

This is my favorite (really, my only) place to shop for groceries in Toronto. It doesn’t compare to most of the Whole Foods stores in the US, especially the hot bar, which I usually find disappointing, but if you’re looking for fresh produce, meat, good olive oil or balsamic vinegar, etc., then this is the place for you.
However, about the hot bar — their mac and cheese, cornbread, and chili are all really bland, especially compared to my samplings of those dishes at American Whole Foods stores. I have also found the pasta dry and crusty sometimes. Their prepared foods section is quite limited, especially compared to American Whole Foods, but it’s the best you’re going to find in Toronto.
The salad bar is great, and I especially enjoy their Sonoma chicken salad. I also really like their corn pie when they have it, which is rare, but when they do, it’s great. I am also a fan of their parfaits. They have a huge selection of salad dressings, and their fruit and vegetables are always fresh and yummy. I really like that they sell cabbage and carrots already cut up for coleslaw, and that they sell peppers already pre-​cut as well. If they don’t have pre-​cut peppers or cabbage on the shelf, you can ask someone who works there and they will have the people in the kitchen cut it up for you while you wait.
Parking is free if you spend more than $ 25, and the staff are great. Especially if you’re looking for hard to find foods, or if you just want really good quality, fresh food, this is a good place to go.

People watching, and you will spend a lot of money here very fast.
Probably one of the more amazing places to spot hot single women. Just realize you don’t need 75% of the really tempting things WF sell and some of it may be cheaper elsewhere. It is just a really good store though with some unique items, one-​stop gourmet really.

First of all, I was cashed out by the friendliest and politest Asian lady ever. That made me very happy. These little things affect my (and most customers) experiences at such stores so I just had to come here and praise her.
Now, the Canadian whole foods is very different from US which is a shame. Huge selection of items but that also comes with a bigger price tag as lost is organic, fair trade or healthy in some way or the other. I did find a lot of items I was surprised to see there as I find them to be bad corporate grocer store products.
The salad bar is amazing. Love it but remember to eat wholesome healthy food will cost more but that’s not to say that I haven’t paid $ 8-​$ 10 at a crap restaurant for a caesar (type) boring salad before (ahem keg!)
I spent hours here only because I knew I couldn’t afford everything so took the time to compare value of items.
Happiest purchase and find was the organic eggs. I used to buy eggs from a local farmer and was so happy to find them here easily accessible to me from the same farm!!!

I wouldn’t recommend buying raw fish especially sushi.
I got spring rolls with raw salmon as my Saturday treat and had to spit the food out — the salmon wasn’t fresh.
This is the second attempt to buy their raw fish. I tried a wrapped salmon a few months ago and it was obviously far from fresh with the smell and taste of fish that no longer good.
Very disappointed.

My Favorite store and this location is HUGE. They carry alot of good stuff. Be alert on their Flyers with nice sales. They have alot of interesting things in here be sure to look inside. As the food is very fresh. The customer service is A++ Amazing if nothing is as per your standards hit up customer service im sure they will make it right. I have shopped here for as long as i could think they just opened a location at Yonge-​Sheppard that is my hot spot. The Salad bar is amazingily good and they have bulk chocolate coffee beans to buy in bulk i have searched high and low for the good types and they sell it here! Free Wi-​Fi while you shop added bonus!

It just doesn’t feel right! The fruits, veggies, meat are all the same as other local grocery stores but in whole foods they are a lot expensive. People are buying organic foods yes but I’m not sure about the food the store sells. The salad is good tho, huge varieties of selection, but expensive… This store is so different from ones in the states too… I’m just not satisfied…

This review is SOLEY for the two women working the bakery counter the evening of July 28^th. They were both quite rude and and I am not quite sure why they work in customer service. I came to their counter looking for an impromptu birthday treat and was greeted with an impatient employee, that couldn’t even muster a fake smile and quickly dismissed me once I didn’t have an immediate choice in mind. Then once I had made a choice, which took longer because I was considering walking out after the interaction above, I was handed my item by the other employee; and before I had even walked away the woman that handed me my dessert looks in my direction and giggles, as if i am unable to hear her, and says the the other employee, «They took so long to choose!» Then the other one says, «Yeah, it isn’t like we have so much to choose from.»
It took everything in me not to say something to them. I didn’t feel like having a confrontation with them was the way I wanted to spend my time on the first vacation I have had in over 7 years, but I felt that this needed to be said.
I am not knocking Whole Foods as a whole, but maybe you should review basic human courtesy with your employees to avoid this type of rating in the future.

I do shop here from time to time but its not my favorite for organic or Whole Foods store. This is like the train song that goes «I think I can I think I can» but never does.
Besides being nothing more than slightly better than ordinary, you still pay the premium price associated with stores that do it right.
My biggest gripe:
I would like this store to have a minimum standard and stick to it. I find it insulting sometimes with the samples they have as you walk through. Most are not organic or whole foods yet they are permitted to give samples in a store that should promote the opposite. They present the samples like it is going to change your life, what they dont tell you is to read the label on some of this stuff.
I understand a store this size has to carry products other than organic or whole food for many reasons, but draw the line at in store promotions on items that in some cases are not fit for human consumption. Give the floor space to those up and coming products that are really what this store should be all about.
I reluctantly give 3 stars because they do have a lot of stuff that can be hard to find.

I support smaller merchants in my neighbourhood so I am fairly selective with what I buy at Whole Foods — it’s definitely not my main place to shop given the general high prices (which are not a surprise given the Yorkville locale). It’s odd though, certain higher quality staple items (brand names) can be cheaper here than other popular grocers (Loblaws, Metro) — this is not a complaint; it makes me happy. Having figured this out, I will stock up when I’m at Whole Foods.
Dairy (milk), almond or soy beverage are priced commensurate to other stores (if not lower, in some cases). Wide section of vitamin/​nutrition related products, as well as beauty/​bathing products. Some items you may be able to get elsewhere, but also some unique items.
Every once in a while I will have lunch at the hot/​cold food bar. Generally find great quality, nutritious selections, selection in general, freshness, and prices are not too exorbitant (i.e. food dish price is by weight of contents that you’ve selected). In house bakery items are great quality.
Store is clean and generally well organised. It’s also always busy but I’ve never waited that long in any line.

This is where people with a 600 dollar a month budget go to buy food for themselves only. On the plus side you can probably eat about $ 50 of samples before you leave. On the other hand, you could probably pick those same items up for $ 5 anywhere else.
If you like spending more money than you need to, and sounding superior when you talk about where you got your food, this is the place for you!

It’s a 3.5 really, and i’m only rating whole foods against itself respective of other stores, not as a whole.
Overall, this is a small whole foods. And as a result, they have limited shelf space, so breath and depth of products you may come to expect at whole foods isn’t readily available here. However, who ever is in charge of optimizing shelf space is doing a good job.
+bonus points for the cheese selection. + bonus points on some great sales too