Gourmet Garage

I work around the corner and this is usually my go-​to lunch spot. I like the fact that they have so many options and everything is always very fresh. They have a salad bar with many fresh veggies, a soup bar that has a couple mainstays but for the most part they rotate different flavor options on a daily basis. My one gripe is the fact that they usually take away the hot lunch option so early, usually between 2 and 3 pm. If I don’t take my lunch before that time then I miss out.
Other than that fact I am very pleased with this place, the staff are all very nice and accommodating.

I ordered 3 items from them through Amazon Prime Now: a pound of fresh scallops, green onion and a can of crushed tomatoes. The deliveryman from Amazon came promptly and was very friendly, but I noticed only the crushed tomatoes came — the other two were missing. He said to call the store itself, so I did, and Gourmet Garage transferred me back-​and-​forth between departments twice before telling me to consult directly with Amazon. When I called Amazon, they said Gourmet Garage should have notified me if any items were out of stock or the delivery would be changed. I never received such notification from them, and I ended up having to run out last-​minute for those items that never came!

One of my go to places to pick up a quick lunch. This store has a little of everything, but are well know for their soup bar. Roughly 10 different types of soup that rotate daily. There is also a good selection of pre-​made sandwiches — or if you don’t mind paying a dollar more, a made to order sandwich station where they will make pretty much anything you want.
They also have a small hot foods bar and a moderate sized salad bar, though both are a little on the pricy side so I’ve never gotten them.
Aside from the prepared foods, they also serve as a boutique neighborhood market with produce, meats, cheeses, beer, and a variety of snacks.
The place is a little on the cozy side, though they did just open up another location a 10 minute walk away on Broadway that has a place to sit down and enjoy your lunch.

Message to whoever is in charge of the vegetable department here: PLEASE DISPLAY PRICES MORE CONSISTENTLY! I would say less than half of the vegetables have any visible prices and, while the majority of shoppers in soho might not be particularly price-​conscious, I regularly pass up buying vegetables here for this reason. In fact, I recently asked a guy stocking the shelves about it and he said, ‘well, all the bunches of vegetables are the same price.’ I then took a bunch of carrots and a bunch of swiss chard to the register to find out the actual prices, and one cost $ 1.99 and the other cost $ 4.99. Sigh… At least this motivates me to walk the 20 extra minutes to the Union Square Farmers Market for my vegetables…

It says on Unilocal you can redeem the free coffee offer if you check in but the extremely rude cashiers say they have no idea about any offers. The food here is pretty bad the few times I’ve picked anything up for lunch.

This place was just ok. I went to the salad bar and got a mix of things. The chicken was rubber-​like, and the mixed salads didn’t have enough flavor. That’s about all I have to say.

It was basically the crack of dawn when I showed up with a crew for breakfast. The (who I assume) manager on duty opened up the doors for us a few minutes before opening so we could all grab breakfast for the day. I don’t think you usually get that kind of service in NYC (actually, you don’t). I’m giving them four stars because they don’t make breakfast sandwiches unless you bring the counter person all the separate ingredients from the hot foods buffet (booo). But other than that, good sh*t.

Just like any other Gourmet Garage, you are paying «gourmet» prices. Whether or not you are receiving «gourmet» product, well that’s another discussion.
This place is about 200 feet from my apartment so I really just go there for the convenience factor. While they have a pretty decent selection of produce, none of it seems very fresh and I can never find a lemon that smells good or an apple without bruising or garlic that doesn’t seem to have started to rot. If you want fresh produce I’d suggest going across the street to Sunrise Mart… smaller selection but better value.
Cashiers are pretty nice. Have a pretty good cheese and hot foods selection, but I won’t buy pre-​made green salads from here anymore… found a bug in mine once.
Again, I’ll continue to go here for the convenience factor, but if something else opened up within a few blocks this place would be toast in my book.

I normally come here for their tasty soups in the winter. So happy to have stopped by here to pick up a pint of gelato. Today, was one of July’s hotest 97 degree weather days in NYC. They had plenty of salads, sandwiches, fruits, fresh produce, but all I could crave for was gelato. They had different ice creams and gelato to choose from. Nice to see a variety of Talenti gelato, even Crumb apple pie, a flavor I never saw before. Definite must to try! Elisha, the cashier, helped me with a smile and a greeting to stay cool! The price is very competitive compared to restaurants that sell gelato by the cup. You definitely get more for your buck! Will definitely come back here weekly for my gelato cravings.

Ok, sure, yes… it’s pricey, but, it is what is it. It’s literally around the corner from the office and is super convenient when I want a yummy soup or some brown rice avocado sushi. Granted, I probably manage to avoid peak times, but I’m usually able to get in and out super quick. The staff has always been very nice when I’ve been in there, including the checkers, such as TAJA… nice, quick & efficient. I’ve even received several compliments on my sunglasses :)

I’ve tried to make this my go-​to lunch spot, but no bueno from many perspectives:
1. It’s constantly packed. I’m actually shocked sometimes how many people can fit into this labyrinth of a space
2. The salad bar is severely lacking. Ok, mainly I’m annoyed that they never have arugula as a base option. Otherwise, the salad mix-​ins are also limited and somewhat grungy looking.
3. It’s pricey. I get it, it’s a Soho store … but still. Nearly 3 dollars for an unripe avocado?!
4. The employees are grouchy, which honestly is probably more a factor of #1 than anything else.
5. It’s not at all wheelchair or disabled-​access friendly. Always something to keep in mind.

This is my local grocery and I visited frequently. A couple weeks ago, I got home to find spoiled ground turkey. Totally rotten. Then, next visit, came home with cherry tomatoes covered in mold. Last night, I went and put some strawberries and cherry tomatoes in my bag – both covered in mold. Luckily I noticed before I purchased them. Will be taking the walk to Whole Foods from now on.

Went here for lunch — got sushi and some Stumptown chocolate iced coffee. Both were delicious. Sushi was great quality, not that cheap stuff you get at other grocery stores. Stumptown coffee was great too, as always. Four stars because of lack of seating (they only have outdoors benches).

Very solid mini-​grocery store with a great variety of prepared foods, a deli, salad bar, and soups. This is my go-​to for a fast lunch to bring back to the office and the sushi and sandwiches are actually pretty solid. Plus, they have a good selection of bottled juices. Prices are reasonable for Soho, as well.

6pm on a Saturday, I was in desperate need of mussels that I had promised a friend I would cook for them. I’m in Tribeca and the Whole Foods that usually has everything has no mussels, and neither did my local Queens supermarket. After trying a couple of other nearby markets that didn’t sell fresh seafood, I found this place on Unilocal and gave them a call.
I frantically asked the woman who answered the phone if they had mussels that day. She said she had two bags left, and I begged her to hold one for me while I hightailed it over there. When I arrived the bag was ready and waiting for me and they even packed it on ice. Excellent customer service!
And for Manhattan (and Soho no less), the 2lb pound of mussels was really reasonably priced at $ 8.
The place is packed to the gills with food, while I’d like to explore I’d try to come during non-​prime time hours. The cashier line is very confusing, but that’s really just because the jam so much into the space that they have.

sucker prices
poor selection & service
on the plus side they have free samples of moldy cheese.

+++
— I really wanted to eat everything here
— Bacon brussels sprouts are awesome
++
— Baked goods and cookies are delicious
+
— Colloquial staff is nice
— I can’t wait to go back for the hot station
-
— Kind of expensive. $ 23 for two lunches two lemonades and a cookie
— No place to sit :(

Extra star because this is the best place for sushi in my work hood. And even though it’s hella cramped and crowded, I love their fresh produce. Prices are high, but so is quality.

Gourmet Garage (SOHO)
On July 3^rd 2014, I visited Gourmet Garage to pick up a quick late evening snack. Which included a «make your own» salad & cheese cubes (a mix of Montgomery jack, pepper jack, & mild cheddar Cheeses).
I devoured majority of the cheese before noticing that a chunk was infested with fungus/​mold. Upon discovering this newest food accessory I called Gourmet Garage in disdain.
I spoke to a manager who then questioned me asking «what would you like us to do? How would you like this to be resolved?» The ambiguity & nonchalant nature of his demeanor surprised me. I frankly stated that «I don’t know what I’d like to be done but I’d preferred you remove this cheese off of the self for future clients interested in such delights» he agreed & offered me a credit! I was under the impression this credit would have been for my entire bill which was a little under $ 12, yet it wasn’t. When I went into the shop to retrieve my reimbursement he only returned the cheese amount!
Poor on his behalf since I had severe stomach problems the day after which persisted throughout my entire work day!
I also was made aware that this isn’t the first complaint received for mold on their cheese but also their pies have had the same issue!
I’m trying to understand what kind of food connoisseur conducts business this way! The same said business that promotes «fresh» food! Who wants to eat Montgomery Jack cheese with a side of fungus?! If so visit Gourmet they’ll sell it to you!
–Sherrise ½ of Sherelle
We Review: Food & That!

Confusion is defined as 1. a lack of understanding, uncertainty; 2. The state of being bewildered…; 3. What a person feels when they walk into Gourmet Garage.
I should end the review right there because after being talked in to trying the driest saffron rice ever known to mankind the other day, I doubt I’ll be going back for a while.
But even with junk falling off the overstuffed shelves, the crowd of dirty, undercover millionaires that stand around the soups, and the sometimes downright unfair line system, this camouflaged celebrity frequented supermarket is one of my go to lunch options.
Because I like being able to get a soup for $ 6, 1 sushi roll and a Toblerone for around $ 10, or vegetable potstickers and a small serving of the chicken or turkey special for around 5 $.
And because the people that work there (not the cashiers) are friendly enough to make good suggestions.