Compare Foods

I’m conflicted writing this review because on the one hand, it’s my favorite grocery store in my local area. I live much closer to the Key Food on Nostrand but go out of my way to shop here… it has a much better selection, it’s cleaner, and more spacious.
On the other hand, I have never gotten through the check out process without having something ring up incorrectly. Not once. I’m the type of person that is inclined to buy something if it’s on sale, and it’s so frustrating when the price is incorrect at the register, causing a relay team of the cashier calling the manager, the manager running to check the posted price, the cashier asking for the void card, changing the price, and then repeat 5x for the rest of the items that ring up incorrectly. And I don’t think they are trying to screw people, I think whoever is responsible for inputting the sale prices into the computer each week is just lazy AF, causing the customer (and the line of customers behind them) to waste time at check out or pay more than they should be paying.
Watch the screen as they ring you up, and then be prepared to wait while they void and reenter everything.

(²¹⁄₁₀₀)
Good grocery selection, location, and hours. I was in the city for a few days, rented and Airbnb, and needed some groceries to get me through. This store was nearby and had everything I needed. The prices were competitive and not at all skyrocketed because this is NYC as so many things tend to be. Checkout accepted credit cards and bagged my items. If I was a regular in the neighborhood, this would be my grocery spot. Tell your friends. ;P

Solid grocery store, but the real champion is the music. I’m serious. Every time I go to Compare, the music is great. I’m not saying they are uncovering amazing new artists… nope, but they know how to play music that you want to shop to. It’s just a solid mix of fan favorites, and I kid you not, it makes going to the grocery store better… not just for me. Look around – people are nodding their heads in the aisles.
The actual grocery store is good too. It’s not a destination grocery store, but the produce/​breads and meats look good and the seafood is decent too. Plus, they have a nice beer selection.

Not terrible, with friendly enough staff and some essentials not at Trader Joe’s (which, granted, isn’t close anyway).

Maybe it’s just me, but the prices at this location are ridiculous. If you don’t check your receipt they will charge you extra and their specials are never reflected in their machines. All I always hear is «VOID.» You have to pay attention as they ring things up that you get what they advertise, that they don’t charge twice and you get sale items. And usually what is in the circular is not on the shelf. Also their produce is way to expensive. Save yourself some cash and go to Costco, traderjoe’s or walk up to path mark or the supermarket NSA on Washington, I even drive and hike up to 5^th avenue Brooklyn sunset park just to get more fruits and veggies for my money. I only shop here if I am desperate, on my lunch break, or need One or two last minute items. Despite the fact that I’ve heard rumors that all the good guys that used to work there have been fired or let go, I can’t help but think of their reputation for how they don’t treat their employees with kindness and respect. the owner or manager always looks like you owe him money all the time with such a nasty look. Every time I walk out of here I always look at my receipt and shake my head knowing how much I’ve been cheated. And if you are wondering why the bread in the bakery section is always different and doesn’t look or taste as good or the same that’s because they can’t find and keep a good baker because they get rid of them all. Smh trust me I speak to many people in the community and it doesn’t surprise me when they say. «I don’t shop there anymore, or ridiculous prices, check your Receipt or did you check the price for the grapes.» Unbelievable

This is my favorite local grocery shop in the neighborhood — it has the best prices of all of the places closest to my apartment, it’s clean, and the staff is always SO DAMN FRIENDLY. Seriously. Every time I go there, the person behind the register is smiling and welcoming without being overly obnoxious. I look forward to going here every time.
But really: The prices. Being from the suburbs, I’m used to shopping at chains like Walmart and Meijer for my groceries, where the prices are consistently lower than the corner bodegas I’ve experienced in Brooklyn (I don’t hate them, my New York neighbors! I’m just learning! :)). But Compare Foods fills that low price void in my life. I go here for all of my groceries all of the time. Love it!

Good grocery store that is close to my apartment. Large, clean, good selection and friendly staff. Parking too!

A fantastic neighborhood market. Compare Foods tops Key Foods and Met Foods by a mile. The produce section is extensive, the beer selection is unique and the overall size makes it easy to navigate. The checkout lines can get a little out of hand during busier times. Regardless, I’ll be doing all my future grocery shopping at Compare Foods.

Great store. It’s always clean and all of the employees are polite and helpful. Always stocked with all the essential items and then some.
It’s very convenient to my apartment so it is always nice to have a good grocery store in the neighborhood. I’ve had good ones, bad ones, and everything in between. I will be shopping here for some time to come.

Too bad this is my local grocer. Every time I go in to this place I leave in much worse mood. Nearly every cashier has been rude to me– not even acknowledging my existence. Management really needs to do something different.

I love everything about this place!
I’m currently living in Bedstuy and could not find an adequate enough grocery store near the Utica stop so I had to venture off into another neighborhood to get quality food.
It’s only a few stops away on the C train and is incredibly clean and has an adequate selection of everything.
The staff is nice and helpful and seem like they enjoy being there. Love it!

Huge selection of organic, natural, and conventional grocery items. It’s also very vegan friendly. It’s very similar to Super Foodtown on Fulton, but slightly more expensive. Perhaps the slightly higher prices are what enables the store to be so clean. The manager is also very friendly.

I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed this grocery store yet. It is (as other reviews have said) the best in the area by far. It’s always very clean, things are generally well organized, and the staff and polite and helpful. Once I went in looking for skewers, and couldn’t find them. One employee helped me look for like 25 minutes, even after I said it was no big deal, because he knew they had them somewhere.
The selection is pretty great, considering the area. I can almost always find what I’m looking for. The produce is always super fresh. Sometimes I opt to go here instead of the farmers market, because I know that they’ll have what I want at a decent price.
The bakery section is well stocked also. There are always a bunch of different specialty breads, in addition to the usual cakes and small desserts.
My one complaint is the cost. The prices are on par with what I pay at Whole Foods. The only reason I keep shopping there is because I would rather pay a little extra to have a great store close by then trek all the way to Whole Foods every week. I do still stop at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods for stuff that is markedly cheaper there.

Not a bad grocery store and definitely one of the better ones in the area. I was spoiled by the southern supermarket chain Harris Teeter prior to moving to Brooklyn, so I guess my standards are a little higher, too. This Compare Foods has aisles that are actually large enough to walk down and a decent selection. Not many sales on items that I usually buy, unfortunately, but the prices are generally decent. They occasionally have 5/​$ 5 sales on Greek yogurt, sales on frozen fruit for smoothie making, and a decent beer selection, so no complaints there. There is a pretty nice bakery section whose pastries look delicious, and their fresh bread selection is exceptional. They also take credit cards with no minimum. Meat and dairy sections are generally well stocked, and cereals are frequently steeply discounted. Good selection of canned goods and pastas.
A few complaints, however. Many items simply do not have prices on them or on the shelves below them, so it’s hard to compare prices. Cashiers are efficient if generally uninterested and will double bag EVERYTHING, so bring your own shopping bag if you can. All of the pharmacy stuff is behind a counter, so it’s kind of tough to see what’s available and you have to ask an employee for assistance, but the prices are pretty reasonable and they have a decent selection.
Other reviewers have mentioned it, but the fresh produce section is pretty rough. Fruit frequently sits on the tables far past the point of being fresh, and the entire section is pretty off-​putting. I would say that much of the produce is very overpriced, as well, especially considering the quality.
Good neighborhood grocery store that could be really exceptional with just a few improvements.

I just moved deeper in the heart of Crown Heights. Thanks to all of you Unilocalers for the recommendation. This place is WAYYYYY better than the supermarket I used to live next door to on Nostrand Ave.
As far as the prices, it’s not so bad in my opinion, it’s better than the other supermarket I went to. And I agree, the place practically looks brand new, it looks like the Krogers back home in Columbus, Ohio. Very clean.
I live about 7 blocks from the store, but it’s an easy commute on the B65, so I have no problems getting to and fro — the neighborhood is nice and quiet. Definitely my new grocery hotspot…

Opted for this grocery store after failing to find parking at TJ’s.
Location: cool!
Parking: street — but not difficult to find
Food options: awesome and they had some organics too
Ailes/​Cleanliness: Clean
Service: Good, I was asked if I needed help finding anything by one of the stockers and at register
Would I come back? Yes
Should you try it? Yes
:)

Biggest selection around, newest and cleanest and very expensive, as it’s catering to the latest gentrification crowd.
With the added space, this place tends to have more variety of items in one category, than most grocery stores in the area. Although sometimes they have every variety of something but missing the one that is common.

Easily the best grocery store in Procro, as these real estate guys are dubbing it. There isn’t much competition. It’s the cleanest, as in they are clean (as a grocery store should be). They’re polite. It’s the largest. They’re prices are great especially when things are on sale. They have a good quality produce section.
If there is anything to be said bad, the beer could be cheaper. Regardless 5 stars. There’s no one as good around and you’ll know that within 10 seconds of walking into the place, if you know it’s competition.

Good hours, aisles like a real world grocery store, and they stock local BK products and vegetarian lines. The biggest surprise is that their produce isn’t too shabby, although sometimes the greens are worse for wear. Pick carefully.

When I moved to Crown Heights a few years ago, finding a decent supermarket was difficult. There was Pioneer foods, a couple of small grocers, and a few other ones here and there. I used to ride my bike over to Park Slope to shop at Union Market, Key Foods on Flatbush, and the Food Co-​op.
Unfortunately, I moved out of the area before Compare Foods arrived. My standards for grocers is pretty high (I come from the home of Wegmans), and in NYC Fairway is my jam, but for Crown Heights, I think Compare Foods is what the area needed. Clean, bright, with good prices and terrific selection. In my experience, all of the employees were helpful and friendly, which can be rare in NYC. For those living in Crown Heights, consider Compare Foods a blessing.