The Grocery

The health food scene doesn't seem to be as prevalent here as in the States, and especially California, but there are a considerable amount of small and large stores catering to the health-conscious consumer. They can range from the moderately-priced to the exorbitant, and not all are worth what you pay. This little independent grocery store, however, not only has everything you need with quality you can trust, but the prices are actually worth what you get.

They have a little bit of everything, with carefully-picked selections to satisfy even the staunchest vegetarian, vegan, and even Paleo-lover out there. From fine meats and cheeses, to super healthy drinks and take-away meals, and even a little something to satisfy that sweet tooth, (and yes, that's healthy for you, too).

My favorites are the really hard-to-find items like the grain-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free granola and cereal options that are a bit pricey, but definitely worth what you pay for them, as a little bit will keep you going for hours, and tastes delicious. They have plenty of other yummy snacks like vegan coconut jerky and ready-made meals for on-the-go, including healthy juices and smoothies.

They also carry unique and interesting beverages like maple and birch tree waters that are high in magnese, zinc, vitamin C, and other minerals. They even have black alkaline waters with activated charcoal that acts as a magnet for toxins in your body.

Everything else from the bread to the booze also looks good, and while you may break the bank a little on a routine shopping trip, it will force you to spend your money well, invest in your health, and make it last.

Enjoy, my fellow health nuts!

This is a review for the cafe part of the store. Actually this isn't even about the cafe but a pop up brunch that took place here called Brunch at Fifi's.

TLDR: If you hear Brunch at Fifi's or "pop up" brunch, stay away.

I decided to take my friend for brunch here because I walked by, saw a nice place and found the menu posted outside to be quite nice. But when I walked inside this Saturday, I was greeted and told about this pan-African brunch they were serving. I was a bit surprised, but after seeing some standard brunch dishes on the menu, decided to sit down. Our options were actually very limited because there were only three items on the brunch menu.

Anyway, it took FORTY FIVE minutes for our two dishes to come out. There're only three other people + two groups of two-three in the restaurant at the moment. It was ridiculous. I was imagining them trying to grow wheat in the kitchen or something. Basically it was a pop up operation so no one knew what the hell they were doing. The food was mediocre and cold. I would come back to this cafe again to try their normal menu. But if I hear "pop up brunch" I'm running the other way. I find it quite irresponsible for the business to rent out this space and completely ruin the experience for new customers.

I bought two cartons of strawberries that were completely mouldy upon inspection the next morning, but I had already discarded the receipt, so I called and spoke to someone about going back to get a refund or replacement product. When I went in, the person I'd spoken to wasn't there, so I spoke to the manager, who I had to convince to give me a refund (approximately 4-5GBP, but he made it seem like I was asking him to give up his first-born child) despite my reference to the person I'd spoke with and my showing him time-stamped photographs of the strawberries covered with a thick layer of green and white fuzz. Because I couldn't remember exactly how much I'd paid for them, and they had since changed their vendor, he agreed to refund me 2.50 GBP based on the then-price of ONE box of strawberries. He then, instead of refunding me 2.50 GBP, just gave me one free grocery item (a carton of milk which was, coincidentally, LESS than 2.50 GBP). He did all of this while moaning about the inconvenience of having to resolve the issue and shaking his head at me as if it were my fault that the store had sold me rotten produce.

I've shopped here more than once and on a separate occasion, I had to ask the cashier to void a transaction and the same manager ended up having to help. He took his time getting to the till, griped about having to void a my purchase for a solid 10 minutes, and proceeded to blame everything he could possibly think of, on me-- including his own mistakes while punching things into the register, the fact that he had to open the cash drawer, the fact that he had to explain why he was voiding the transaction to his employees ("How am I going to explain this to people?"), the fact that other customers started to arrive ("Look, other customers are coming and now I can't close because I'm doing this for you"), the fact that it was late in the evening and he needed to get home, the fact that the store was closing in "15 minutes," (the store was closing in 45 minutes) and the fact that he couldn't deal with the 'complicated' request of voiding a transaction, etc. I stood there in silence until his 5th or 6th passive aggressive comment, when I said, "sir, if it's this complicated, you could have just refused to void it," at which point he scowled and barked, "No, I had to do it, because you are the customer!" Childish, much?

Frankly, there are plenty of other, better grocery options in the neighborhood, so take your business to another organic store: As Nature Intended, the Raw Store just around the corner, or Longdan Oriental Grocery on Kingsland Road. The manager here (I believe his name is JC) is rude and insufferable and should look for a new line of work if he can't resist penny-pinching over two cartons of strawberries, and is incapable of administering a minmimal level of customer service.

The Grocery is like the Shoreditch baby sister of Whole Foods. I really did try to resist this place. But given repeated exposure (I get massages downstairs at My Treatment Rooms) -- it was just too hot to handle. I admit it, I like this place. A lot.

It's just so damn appealing. And expensive. And...LOOK at this selection of tea. All the tea! And organic things. Many organic things. Homemade things! The soups in particular have very limited ingredients (read -- no crap) and are really great. Try the butternut squash/almond and split pea/ham.

I'll be honest -- I can only take the bright lights of Tesco/Food Co-OP/Sainsburys for about 30 seconds before I want to expire along with all the fruit and veg that are hanging on to their last dying breath before some sucker takes them home. I might as well be on "Supermarket Sweep" -- sometimes I'm in and out so fast I barely know what I got. I just loathe the experience so much I want to be just as short as possible.

This is the only grocery shop in London that I actually ENJOY. It's a nice, manageable size. The aisles are wide enough for 2 people to be in them at once. I enjoy looking at different products.

The Grocery may be expensive, but as Steve B says -- "it sells nice things." And sometimes you've just had enough shrink wrap/pre-fab food from all those other crap supermarkets and you want some nice things and its worth the investment. Nice wholesome, diverse food. It's novel and it's nice. There, I said it! I tried to resist but sometimes (usually?) the hipsters are spot on when it comes to topics such as these. The Grocery is a winner.

*takes cards.
*there's a little takeaway coffee place right near the registers.
*cash machines outside.

Parent Fact:
*this is one of the only places I've found that carries Nanny Care Goat's Milk Infant formula. Totally random, but I was quite happy to find this out! (I usually order from Amazon, but nice to know there is a local place to pick it up). Otherwise their baby food stuff is crazily overpriced, for the record!

Nice little grocery store in Shoreditch! Good selection of high-quality products & fresh produce (similar to whole foods in that way). Aside from the grocery store section, there is a cafe. I arrived at lunch time to find a nice assortment of ready-to-eat salads, sandwiches, and protein dishes. I got a frittata with salmon & broccoli. It was very tasty. In addition, it was high-quality and cheap; which are two things that typically do not go together.

As I discussed in my review of 'Planet Organic' I have mixed feelings towards Organic boutique shops. Most often they are overpriced and a bit too sterile for their own good. Though The Grocery has elements of this, it seems a bit more down to earth and I would probably say it was my favourite of all the bigger organic stores.

The best thing about The Grocery is its very well labelled ready meals. I have a lot of friends that I find it quite difficult to cook for because of gluten/ wheat intolerance's or vegetarian/vegan diets. The main course can always be figured out but when it comes to dessert I'm at a bit of a loss. The Grocery has cleverly cottoned on to this and labels all its meals 'Vegan Friendly' or 'Wheat Free'. I bought a gluten-free-vegan-friendly-cheesecake from here once (which was better than it sounds) and my friends were very touched to be able to tuck in with everyone else.

However, for my budget The Grocery is still too expensive and personally I don't think its stock is as good as in my local fruit and veg shop (The Newington Green).

I'm a big fan of The Grocery for one key reason: they have reasonably priced gluten-free beer and stock my favourite, St Peters. However, there is more to it than that, they stock a whole array of food and drink and even do things like gluten-free gnocchi which is impossible to get anywhere. I wouldn't do a weekly shop here as some of the food is expensive but it's perfect for the odd luxury item or hard to get gluten-free items.

They also have a lovely little cafe area where you can drink in either wine or beers chosen from the chiller. You do have to pay for corkage fee but it costs no more than you'd pay anywhere else and the choice of beers available outweighs any negative on paying corkage. The cafe seems to be a little-known secret as its almost always empty. I've been for a drink with a friend on a Friday and it's the perfect little retreat from the hustle of bustle of Shoreditch which you re-join as soon as you leave The Grocery.

My housemate being a wheat intolerant vegetarian finds this place perfect for her! Having a huge selection of wheat free products - cereals, breads, pastas, crackers and a great selection of tofu, quorn sausages, and healthy looking vegetables. You never feel rushed to shop quickly and the staff are very relaxed. The thing I especially love is the selection of liquorice and other sweets!

Also within this fantastic store is a delicious Cafe with yummy homemade biscuits and cakes and real coffee. You can sit at big farm kitchen tables, read the papers, have breakfast relax and chill out any day of the week - a real treat!

I can't say enough good things about this place. It's a local version of Whole Foods right in Shoreditch, and they've got tasty fresh-baked breads, an amazing selection of cheeses and they've got skyr!

Not to mention the fresh produce, the quality beers in the back or the abundance of amazing chocolates and coffee beans.

My go-to shopping destination whenever I'm in Shoreditch.

Fantastic artisan selection of snack items. Prices are appropriate to quality of products. You'll find uncommon and local items--healthy and tasty. Friendly and helpful staff.