If I lived in the area then I would have to shop here and accept the prices they post on their products. Well organized and well maintained. It reminds me of Roche Bros Markets but with more of a family vibe. Every meat and chicken in that location was very fresh and easily marked and package but was in sticker shock of prices per pound. But you have to accept your not in an area of much competition or busy city customers. Mostly here I noticed a more upper class clientele and so prices reflect those who can afford it for convenience and location. I am sure that this place is a very busy location and it's evident that they catered to the best money can buy for their customers. I do lots of comparison shopping and mystery shopping to know where I get the biggest bang for my dollar. Nice location great historical area and for me nice to visit! read more

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Decent groceries but definitely overpriced. Got some berries and some nice organic tomatoes imported from Canada. Nice workers and all around good store. read more

I am generally satisfied but the check-out is usually terrible. Today I began to bag my groceries while the clerk worked his till, but he made no effort to take over until I indicated I expected it. Then he churlishly told me I had replaced the wire basket in the wrong place and tried to stare me down in what, when I was a teacher, I called dumb insolence. Last week a different checker ignored me completely while gossiping to a colleague during the check-out procedures. Having grown up in the grocery trade I know that a properly trained checker should exchange some greetings and if possible a smile to make the customer feel welcome and appreciated. Management at Donelans, wake up please! read more

The prices here are ridiculous! Ridiculous!! They've either jacked the prices up and are taking advantage of the pandemic (if so, screw them), or this place is out of touch. They make Whole Foods look like a bargain. Additionally, the workers, including the cashiers, wear no protective gear. My cashier blew her nose and proceeded to scan items! Thankfully the customer in front of me requested she wash her hands! The guy stocking the beer fridge was the only person who seemed to respect personal space. A majority of the customers were wearing face masks and gloves, so it boggles my mind that the ownership isn't making any effort to protect their customers or employees! Stay away!! read more

Bad customer service Just went to return a cheese packet I bought yesterday since it was bad and the female Customer service rep kept lecturing me that I did not have a receipt - did not even have the courtesy to apologize - pathetic service read more

Stepford-esque is how I would describe this idyllic little supermarket in the idyllic town of Lincoln. Warm colors, smiling patrons and a "just crowded enough to be lively" atmosphere permeate the mid-sized store, and all is takes is a five minute stroll through the aisles to become totally enrapt in this suburban paradise. The prepared foods section was small but creatively stocked, the deli had a nice selection of meats and cheeses, and there are plenty of reasonably-priced staples. If you lived in town, you'd be able to use the place as your primary supermarket and get virtually everything you need. And odds are you'd see some nice folks from your church, or one of your children's teachers there too. It's Stepford! That's what happens! read more

Highly overpriced for poorer quality produce considering Crosby's Market is 2 miles way. bought a 5 gallon poland sping water, was charged 7.99 deposit. I went back and only received 6.00 for deposit return??? They are fleecing shoppers, please be aware, I bet because a lot of elderly shop there? read more

The Supermarket from Mad Men Donelan's introduced itself to wildly naturalistic Lincoln in the 1950's with it's then modern and aspirational checkered maroon and white linoleum tiles, human-scale shelving units and bulletin boards littered with babysitter ads. It expressed the new televised abstraction of food isolated from farms, butchers, bakeries or any local origin. You'd expect Mad Wives with Virginia Slims hanging out of their mouths picking up Swanson's TV Dinners and Tropicana Concentrate paid in S&H Green Stamps. http://bit.ly/S5Tnv All that unappreciated history has been demolished. Still, examining the new a lá mode Donelan's, you Cultural Anthropology study of Lincoln ends here, after traipsing through the woods. A showroom-ready, jaw-dropping and pristine 15 foot wide display of array of ice cream conquers any Whole Foods. It is assumed that a good night in Lincoln is curling up with Netflix and doubling dipping in tub of Giovanna Gelato or other exotic flavor. Take your pick, they have everything from Julie's to Hood. And that's what you need to know about Lincoln. Still in absentia since the 1950's: Local Produce from surrounding farms. read more

I was in the area to do some Christmas shopping at a nearby store. I thought I'd drop in to get some last minute groceries. This is a nice community grocery store. The prices don't seem terribly high, and they have a good selection of items. The two stars are due to their customer service and friendliness, specifically how they handled a local ID policy for the purchase of a bottle of wine. They ID everyone (I'm 42). I understand that they have to be careful. Apparently, in Lincoln, MA the only acceptable form of ID for the purchase of alcohol is a state issued driver's license. I've been in the military for 23 years and was recently assigned to a nearby base. I don't have a state-issued drivers license. I offered my military ID. They said they couldn't read the birthdate. This is the first time anyone has ever claimed that to me. The cashier made a production of going back and forth to the manager to make sure it was ok. It must have been, because I made the purchase. I wanted to clear things up with the manager, but after speaking with her, she gave a condescending, "I can't read the date either." I felt like his was undue scrutiny and my integrity was being questioned. I'm sure these people are kind and friendly to the locals. They seemed that way when observed. However, if you're not a local, or if you're in the military, I recommend shopping somewhere else if you're looking for a courteous, friendly experience. If you don't mind the attitude, you're not a MA resident, and you want to buy a bottle of wine, bring your passport! read more

Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got Till it's gone Joni Mitchell wrote that. We miss you Donelan's. Please come back. read more

So, they finished the expansion, and there's a huge produce section, a hot bar, a carving station, salad bar....you get the idea. Sweet What seriously puts it over the top, is that I walked in tonight and there was a Harpist serenading the shoppers. For Real. This place may now be too swanky for me. Officially. read more

As many of us living in Lincoln were painfully reminded during Donelan's nearly year long absence, this store is an important part of making life here pleasant. It's close by, it has everything you need at a reasonable price, and it has long opening hours. It does have local produce, and the produce origin is clearly labeled. They also now have beer and wine. Yay! Donelan's has all the staples you would expect. They also cater to the perhaps mildly eccentric eating habits of Lincolnites. They have both Iggy's and Nashoba bakery bread, fresh and delivered daily. The Iggy's usually sells out, sometimes before 5:30. The produce section is good, not as extensive as Whole Foods in Wayland but of equal quality. The muffins are very good. They have pine nuts and Terroir coffee. read more

A great Supermarket in Lincoln!! congenial, very helpful staff. Always a pleasant place to shop. EAsy to park as well. I love going there! read more

This is not Market Basket and it is not Whole Foods. Place is something in between. Since it is right next to the train station, it is very convenient to just pop in, grab what you need for dinner, and boogie home. Staff is friendly. Store is squeaky clean. Shelves are well-stocked. And there are always bunch prepared meals available. Sushi is pretty decent too. Solid B+ 4.5 star performer. read more

I love coming here! It's never crazy busy and it is a small store so it's not so overwhelming like others are. They don't have everything like the "go-to" grocery stores and it is definitely more $$ ... but I like to pop in to grab a few things, not my entire list. read more

We are lucky to have Donalens in Lincoln! They have a large selection of goods and produce has lots of organics. It can be a bit more expensive but it's a little smaller than tge average supermarket, no crowds, no waiting and nice service. read more

If you're looking for high quality niche products, mixed with staple grocery items, Donelan's is for you. The cashiers and baggers are always courteous, as are the employees working the counter. While the buying seems sporadic (holes on the shelves sometimes stick around for a week or more), eventually you can find what you need. Beer and wine is a plus, as is the local produce that is often featured. read more

I have been a regular customer at this store for years but unfortunately today I was not thrilled with my experience. This place has a prepared food bar which is popular at lunch time because the food is very good. However, they never have an express lane open. I was standing in line today with one item, behind two other people who had only one item each waiting for people with entire carts of groceries to be bagged in front of us. The manager kept yelling across the way for us to not stand where we were when the line was so long it was almost to the deli. Maybe if you'd open an express lane like every other grocery store on the planet then people wouldn't be lined up across your store. People who are grabbing one item for lunch don't want to wait behind people with entire carts of groceries especially when their lunch time may be limited. Only reason for 2 stars is because the food is good. read more

Donelan's provides an upscale feeling while shopping enjoy listening to live harp music or over the speaker classical or jazz ensembles. They always have fresh baked good available for tasting. Wine tasting occurs about once a week. Their prices are high, but you pay for convenience and ambiance. Food bar is pricey but the food is good. I only wish they had a better selection of frozen yogurt. read more

Donelan's in Lincoln is a nice market. It is very convenient to have such a complete market around, and the staff members are very friendly, especially the sushi man, who does a terrific job. It is indeed something between Whole Foods and Market Basket. I like it when I see they are making an effort to add more organic and local products. I hope they keep on that path. read more

I have come to prefer Donelan's to larger supermarkets because it is much quicker to get in and out. There is almost never a line to check out. They have 98 percent of the stuff that you would need at prices about the same as at Shaw's, Hannaford, Stop & Shop, or Whole Foods. If the goal is to spend 10 minutes shopping for a family dinner, Donelan's is much more efficient than the big chains. read more

I miss this Donelan's location and hope that things get settled soon and they re-open. I loved it because it was on my way home from work and they had great items to 'just run in and pick up a quick dinner' (great salad bar too) . As well as some specialty items and of course 'normal' groceries. I keep waiting for that big REOPENED sign, but no luck yet. COME BACK!!! read more

I love this place!! Sushi bar and prepared foods, soup, fantastic & friendly employees. Great selection of produce and food items, and they definitely stick to quality items and brands...... read more

First of all, the convenience of having a grocery store in tiny Lincoln is amazing! The store is clean, organized and stocked well. The produce is fresh and the meats are nice. There is also a great prepared food section. Best part - they sell wine and beer! Prices are on the higher side but they do have some sales on frequently purchased items. Not a place to do weekly shopping, but a great place to pick up a few key items (or run to by 9pm to grab a quick bottle of wine)! read more

I like the supermarket in Lincoln is very close and convenient but they change the manage and she not allowed me to buy any Liquor my passaporte and I was buying there whole time with my passaporte after they started sell liquor so very very disappointing never Buy any grocery or anything any more there I told my wife and my kids no one going to spend one penny there anymore very very unprofessional and discrimination!! Sad read more

This is a small supermarket with a decent selection (including alcohol) that costs more than stop & shop etc, but generally slightly less than whole foods. I usually go shopping with my toddler, which means i have a very short window within which i can comfortably shop. In order to distract him, i usually get some fruit for him to eat (i always get another of the same fruit to weigh twice and pay when checking out). As such, i ask someone at the deli counter to wash the fruit before eating. A few months back one of the staff gave me a hard time about this and basically accused me of stealing the fruit. I thought it was just a crotchety old staff member, so i ignored it. However someone today refused to do the same, so i'm now assuming it must be a policy of the store. People stealing fruit in lincoln must be a big problem... Am i being unreasonable with this request? Maybe. But the staff at whole foods and stop & shop in wayland and market basket in waltham are always happy to do so. I've never had anyone think twice about washing a piece of fruit elsewhere....anyway, i'll be giving my custom to these stores from now on read more

Great in and out place. I laughed at the previous reviews-not by locals. Funniest thing about this place is, if you live in Lincoln you will see 3-5 people you know at Donelan's. Also, all the cashiers will know you by name and ask how you are. Donelan's fits a niche. The sushi is very good. One caveat, stay away from the deli meats. Because there is so much choice, it's rarely fresh. Also, prices on some things can be outrageous. But if you are looking for pine nuts in Lincoln, you will find them. They know their demographic. And contrary to one review, they often have local produce. We counted 23 types of apples on a single day-for my child's school project. And, like other lincolnites, I love the harpist and look forward to seeing her. read more

@Lili G. The only Bullying or "harassment" I see here is that which you have demonstrated of the English language or lack there of. How is anything you stated "harassment" Or "bullying" exactly? This place has always been great to visit and everyone is very friendly who works here. Look at most ANY of the other reviews compared to yours. Honestly just randomly stating negative things about a company is borderline Liable for slander in the legal sense. If you want to make a negative point fine! but make one that makes sense! I could not understand a word you said...not a one. If English is not your first language feel free to type it in whatever language is! But stop slandering a local loved town stop unless you are going to be coherent at the very least. read more

This place is a fixture whenever I visit Lincoln, and is a part of my childhood memories whenever I went shopping with my grandmother for sweets. It's a cozy little supermarket with decent service, and probably the only thing to me that stands out In Lincoln besides the woods read more

Great place to shop. Well-stocked, reasonable prices, helpful staff and not crowded.

I am a fan. Perfect sized supermarket, good selection of produce, good beer and wine, and an interesting mix of everything else. There is never a line of more than a person or two at checkout, and they have great hours. What more can you ask for in the center of Town? read more

This is a really great grocery store with a huge candy and ice cream selection, lots of nice fruits and veggies and a wonderful hot bar/sushi bar with 3-star food. I walk here on short days from my middle school with friends, it being the popular hangout where we can grab some food, and mostly candy, and hang out on the benches around the Lincoln Mall. read more

this place is terrible. they have abandoned their customers. i hope they never come back. their prices were too high and selection terrible. I would love to see a store like price chopper go into this space. that would blow donelans out of the water. Donelans is mediocre at best, and they will never have any loyalty from prior customers. read more