Metcalfe’s Market

I live in Scranton PA and called to order a basket for a dear friend who had just lost his dad. They were amazingly accommodating and took care of everything immediately, following my item requests and price range. What service! Wish I lived close enough to shop there :-)

I shop almost exclusively at Metcalf’s. I’m a veggie, so I can’t speak to their meat and fish, but their produce is excellent. I love that they stock local items. I also love their harder-​to-​find foreign foods. Their yogurt case is the best in the city. I love the free paper on Sunday’s. Their floral department is inspired. Excellent wine section. I sometimes get certain items at «Whole Paycheck», but find the prices much better at Metcalf’s.

A superior market. This review is about the AWESOME CHICKEN POT PIE SOUP I bought and took to the coffee shop to enjoy this past Saturday before shopping. Hearty; perfect flavor; a variety of ingredients. peas; diced potatoes; tender chunks of white meat chicken; some interesting herbs. I think Metcalfe’s is ONE BIG FIVE STAR WONDERLAND!

One of the best grocery stores in Madison. Very clean, helpful staff, and excellent selection of products from high end meats and cheeses to all the normal dry goods.
I live on the east side so one of the only downsides is they don’t have a Metcalfe’s on this side of town. Anytime I am downtown or near hilldale, I make sure to get my groceries at Metcalfe’s.
The one other thing I really like that I almost forgot was their support of local farmers/​ingredients. Some of the items say how far they traveled to get to the store which is pretty cool.

We have shopped here about once a week for the past 12 years. Great staff and great selection of local goods; it’s the practically the only place we shop.

Parking can be atrocious. I feel their fruits/​vegetables are solid and their cheese shop really shine. Appreciate the fact they bring in and feature local goods. Beyond that, it still feels like it’s former self (Sentry Foods). Call me spoiled but I enjoy the new grocery experience that HyVee and others deliver. More products. More services. More choices.

Reviewed in a contextual vacuum, Metcalfe’s would get 5 stars from me no question. Easily one of the best «fresh» and «gourmet» markets I’ve visited. But what did I say about context? Next to Whole Foods, it simply falls short in produce, seafood, and meat, my three key sources of food. There’s just way more grass-​fed beef and organic, free-​range chicken, etc., at Metcalfe’s competitor 5 minutes away. This tips the scale for Whole Foods, considering the prices are about the same. The coffee bar also closes way too early.
One place where M has Whole foods beat? The CHEESE department is unreal, just way more selection, and I know people who go there solely for this.

I could try to put some spin on things and say I’m thrifty, but when it comes right down to it I am cheap. I clip coupons, shop sales, and generally go generic. For some things, though, I’ll treat myself. Metcalfe’s will probably never be my main market, but it’s got some good finds.
My most recent stop was to find local items for a picnic I was hosting for Concerts on the Square, and Metcalfe’s does excel at offering lots of local brands. Their in-​house deli and bakery are also of good quality (holler back sprinkle brick!), and for being a smaller store their cheese game is on point. I was able to find several cheese orphans at a good price to sample, conveniently arriving just as their cheesemonger was dropping off a new batch.
There were some frustrations (no non-​saltine store-​brand crackers for my cheese, for instance), but to be fair the average Metcalfe’s shopper probably isn’t cruising for generic deals and will just pay the extra fifty cents for a name brand.
The store is clean and fairly easy to navigate, and the classical music piped overhead is a heavy-​handed touch that I find oddly relaxing. Perhaps someday I’ll find myself spending more time among the brand names.

I have never been very impressed with Metcalfs. I have always found then to be Overpriced, under stocked, rude and bad value for my money. I have always found Woodman’s Markets clean, well stocked and a great value. If I need something special or fancy I go to Costco or HYVEE. Just because they claim that they have so many local products, I have found that they overcharge go those same products that I can get cheaper elsewhere.

When I need to do my weekly grocery shopping (and wine shopping and household supply shopping) this is where I head. Great produce, friendly staff, and fresh meat/​seafood.
Plus, who doesn’t love being asked «Paper or Plastic?»

One of the Best grocery stores in town. It’s clean and well stocked. Marvin is one of the best front end managers in the business.
It’s a bonus that they offer and promote local Wisconsin products. They have a good meat, fish, and deli section. Their beer, wine, and liquor section has really good breath and is competitively priced. While the liquor section is only available until 9PM, the store is otherwise open 24 hours a day. Drive up is also available as is online ordering and delivery.

I like going to different grocery stores and trying them out until I find something I really like from each store. As such I would find myself going to different stores every weekend to get a bunch of stuffs from each of them.
For Metcalfe’s it is their huge selection of meat, especially steak, pork and lamb. They have all the different cuts, including the usual rib eye, lamb ribs, steak etc to the not-​so-​typical liver, stomach, kidneys, tails etc. More than enough options to satisfy my creativity in cooking!
It doesn’t take a lot to realize they are more on the upscale end. Your everyday items are going to cost more than the nearby target and copps. For someone with the spending ability for healthier options, vegan options, organic options etc, this would be a good place for all your needs. Until I find a real job one day ~~~~ *wistful look*

The newly remodeled Metcalfe’s are a real treat to visit. I love their focus on sourcing from vendors as local as possible. When I want to purchase local meats, cheeses and other specialty products, I visit Metcalfe’s first.
Their deli, salad bar, soups and other pre-​made items are delicious. The selection is so vast, it’s overwhelming at times!
I always find very friendly and helpful employees in the aisles.
It’s also handy to run in to the store whilst shopping at Hilldale.

Can you really love a grocery store??? Metcalfes makes me think so.
Great selection of products– everyday stuff and special stuff. They have the most fabulous selection of local products. They have a decent selection of «exotic» ingredients. It’s clean. The staff knowledgeable and friendly. Great Overall Grocery store.
What I love about them.
An Awesome Hot Food Bar and Salad Bar. Seriously going here for lunch/​dinner you can chose between Chinese, sushi, pizza, fried chicken, salad, soup, other hot foods and sandwiches. It is like a mini food court! And the food is pretty darn good. LOVE their FOOD quality. Especially if you are looking for quick American Chinese that is not super greasy– this is seriously my go to– not a Chinese restaurant.
So are there cons?
As far at Grocery Stores go Metcalfes is not the most affordable. I do not do my regular shopping her for that reason. But that date night when you want to get good ingredients– This place. That weird ingredient a recipe call for– this place. Food for company– this place! Great quality produce– this place. Local favorites (green bush, batch house bakery, summers kitchen, etc) — this place.

I’ve been going here for nearly a decade. Their meat section has definitely improved! They sell even the «throw away» cuts! I love organ meats and the odd bits and quality items are difficult to find in the Madison area! Their cheese section is quite good as well; they sell small ends left over from packaging cheese and it’s a great way to try new cheeses!
I do miss when they were open 24 hours. They also used to sell Bawls (favorite energy drink!) but I haven’t seen it here for a few years now.
Over-​all, I’d come here for more uncommon meat cuts, cheeses, and their excellent selection of fresh produce. Oh! And their to-​go sushi is actually very good! I have never had a problem with their quality!

I’m on a Madison grocery store reviewing rage!
Metcalfe’s is pretty much Wisconsin’s own version of Whole Foods. It has the same brightly lit displays and wide open layout. I think the prices are comparable as well.
Metcalfe’s carries all the local goodies (Potter’s crackers, Mad Urban Bees honey, etc.) that Copps and Woodmans don’t carry. Some items are a little more expensive than other places, but considering the convenience, I don’t mind paying a couple cents extra to pick something up at Metcalfe’s.
I was looking to pick up some side dishes for a picnic, and decided to stop by the deli to peruse their prepared dishes. I ended up going with the signature potato salad, which a hit at the picnic! I’d say that Metcalfe’s would be the place to stop after work to pick up groceries if you are too lazy or too tired to cook for the night because you could always make a pit-​stop by the deli/​hot foods/​salad bar before exiting!

I love this place, but now that they’re not open ²⁴⁄₇ I never go here. They have fantastic quality, but the prices are definitely high. Woodman’s is way cheaper, but the produce is hit or miss. The food bar is phenomenal, but they keep getting rid of my favorite stuff. This has never been my regular grocery store, but it was great for late night purchases. After all the stuff involving the owner and Brat Fest I’ll probably never shop here again.

As I prepared to leave my daughter’s family with a newborn and return home, I wanted to have some foods delivered to make life a little easier for them.
Metcalfe’s confirmed for me on the phone that they do in fact cover our area.
I ordered foods online, heard from the online shopping coordinator who had questions about my preferences, and received the order right on time during the bracketed period I had chosen on their website.
All the ingredients were very fresh and now there is a kitchen full of food for them to eat during this winter weather.
Thanks, Metcalfe’s! A great experience and I look forward to ordering again soon.

Metcalfe’s of Madison is a lot like Sendik’s of Milwaukee.
I love that they carry Boarshead meats, they slice to order and ask how you like it sliced, and their house-​made garlic Italian bread is addictive and soooo good with their roast beef and swiss cheese, add a little brown mustard and a little miracle whip and I am in heaven. I also love that they carry Greenbush Bakery donuts, and their produce is fresh and eclectic.

This place is like heaven to me. Yes, it’s a little overwhelming. Yes, it’s a little overpriced. But that spells the makings to a great grocery store to me! The selection is second to none… especially for us gluten free folk. Produce is phenomenal. And if you haven’t tried them yet their marinated chicken breasts turn a normally boring meal into a flavor explosion. (Seriously, try them.) If there’s something specific you’re looking for, you’re bound to find it here.
Only things I’d say they can improve upon:
1. The deli counter. I know it’s supposed to be super good quality deli meats but every single time I’ve gotten some they are pretty dry. Maybe I’m just ordering the wrong kind? (Suggestions anyone?)
2. The sushi area. I’ve never actually tried it but it always looks a little scary.
3. The prepared foods section. I tried getting a salad or something here once and the man working behind the counter had no idea what was in anything. Since I’m gluten intolerant this can be pretty important.
But even with these negatives, I keep coming back and actually look forward to going grocery shopping!