Whole Foods: Trick or Treat

Last evening my wife and I went to a newly opened Whole Foods in our area to look around and have dinner, that's right, have dinner. This new Whole Foods your see, in addition to boasting a pretty comprehensive prepared meal area has a nice little bar/restaurant. My wife and I decided to belly up to the bar and check it out. I had pork tenderloin medallions with asparagus while my wife chose a three salad sampling. I had a nice cold beer and my wife chose a sampling of three wines. That's right I had a beer and my wife had wine in a supermarket restaurant.

Even when you calibrate your expectations to the fact you are in a supermarket, the meal was really good, but not with out flaws. The menu stated that the salad sampler was served with fresh fruit, well when my wife received her meal, there was no fresh fruit to be had. When we asked about the fruit our server said "ah yeah, there are a few problems with that menu, that salad does not actually come with fresh fruit" WHAT? Now I would expect that type of response in your typical supermarket setting, but if you are going to have fresh fruit on the menu, then serve it, or change the menu. Then I had to remember that we were after all in a supermarket eating dinner.

This store is however, a fantastic example of how a food store should look and feel. Lots of fresh food, well staffed and merchandised departments, and outstanding conditions. I will go back.

But tune in later for an overview of how Whole Foods really makes the dough with their produce department selection and approach to pricing.