I am really not a huge fan of this supermarket because I find it so overpriced at times and they have a very limiting selection of items. However, I find that they are improving the quality of items provided and the workers do their best to help customers. I was literally in here today, and one of the workers saw that I was buying the more expensive brand name eggs and wanted to remind me that they had another super sale item available. I thought that was a nice touch and that they were trying their best to provide that customer support when available, even if it meant potentially less revenue for the store. Overall, the grocery store does seem to be maintained well and the aisles are clean and free of clutter. I know I will come back just because it is in the vicinity and very convenient. But I only have three stars because it's really not my favorite supermarket to go to and it's definitely not my first choice either. Either way, if you live in the area, you can make this store work for you by watching sales and buying produce when you see the workers putting out fresh deliveries. read more

Wish I could rate 0 stars , this place is like the last supermarket on earth. Empty shelves, prices are ridiculous. Every other year they change they name. read more

I really do not like this store at all, but this review is specifically for the deli department. I asked for boys had low-salt ham. A pound sliced thin please. The guy behind the counter slice to the stickers he could possibly slice it. There's nothing more annoying than getting home to find that they did your order completely wrong. read more

Food Universe - a hand holding a piece of ham - Grocery Near Me - Fresh Meadows, New York

A very over priced food market. The produce is not the best. I was looking for apples and most were very bruised. Average prices for fruits were about $1.49/lb which seems pretty high compared to other markets nearby. I also wanted to buy some canned soup because I was feeling under the weather. A canned Campbell's soup was $2.49 a can!!!!! I've never seen Campbell's so expensive!!! I don't think I'll be returning to this market unfortunately. I'm still very surprised by their prices. read more

Ever since they took away the Pathmark from this area, grocery shopping places are minimal and not as up to par. Food Universe gets credit for having decent prices on certain fruits, vegetables, and definitely meats. Everything else though can tend to get pretty pricey in here. The selections are also somewhat minimal. Regardless this spot definitely beats the Key Food Market Place that replaced Pathmark. It also has a good selection of beers for good deals. The packed cut fruit here is also very good as well. There's also parking here but it's best to come after 5 when parking is free. read more

Food Universe - the inside of a grocery store - Grocery Near Me - Fresh Meadows, New York

See all

The worst place ever.. people over there at the self checkout just staring at you like, go find something better to do place is a rip off and people over there read more

My wife and I generally don't come to this supermarket to do our grocery shopping because generally a lot of items are overpriced. However, if you check, there are many items that are marked on sale and it is for the most part a good deal. So just keep an eye out for those deals. Always check for the expiration date on items not just for this supermarket but all, whenever items are marked at a "discounted price" it can mean it's expiring soon which was the case with the milk that was on sale. I do like coming here because this supermarket never has long lines and I've never waited in a line more than 3 people long (5 minutes). Although this supermarket is convenient located for me, I usually go out of my way to visit other supermarkets because the price especially if you're buying a lot of groceries add up quick. I would never rule this supermarket out, I'll definitely come back once in a while for the convenience and if there are any good items on sale. read more

This supermarket robs you blind ... I shouldn't gone in there when I heard someone arguing about the prices... 1st I got biscuits which the sales price is 0.99 can't but when I got the register 3.29 ...the cashier said oh its the long one I told her the croissant ...she said yes ...oh the sign said biscuits and that is croissant 2nd item 2 for $4 crackers ring up price 2.49 each ...the sign was on the crackers for sale and it expired date on it 3rd item potatoes sale price 2.49 ring up price 2.99 I would walk farther than go into this place again read more

Things can get pretty expensive and from what I've noticed they never have any no strings attached sales on soda. If I wasn't in desperate need of something I would never shop here. Deli market has good prices, the fresh vegetables and meat sections have good prices, but aside from that there is nothing I wouldn't specifically make a trip to somewhere else to get food from. Only reason to go here is if you're super local. Whenever I ask cashiers questions they tell me that they don't know the answer to my questions, or lead me down the wrong way. read more

This grocery store is okay. The staff is always pleasant and friendly, but unfortunately, the products aren't always the best. The produce is lackluster and is usually on its way out. Sometimes I have good luck, but sometimes I end up sifting through products that are on their last legs. There isn't always a great selection of other products, such as yogurt, but they seem to change stock frequently. And, in my experience, I find sometimes products are more expensive than other grocery stores. This is the only store I've been to where butter is half the time more than four dollars. It probably has a lot to depend on stock, but even so, butter for more than four or five dollars? Food Universe is great in a pinch, like you realize you're out of flour or cereal, but that's probably where the perks end. I really do wish it were better. read more

Not bad for a local market. It's close and convenient, it has it's own parking lot and there is a section in the front of the store restricted only to those shopping in the market but no one really follows the rules. This place used to be Foodtown, Met Food, and a crap load of other names. It will take me a while until I get used to the new name "Food Universe" lol Not much has change aesthetically since then. The products did change a bit. The prices are overall the same. I guess there's a problem with theft because they really don't like it when you bring shopping bags from other stores into the market. The store is pretty clean inside but I know there's a huge rat problem in the back alley and the basements of this strip mall. I'm sure that issue exists at a lot of places but just knowing about it makes me pretty hesitant to get any fresh stuff from the stores located here. I prefer to go to Key Food. read more

Food Universe - the front of a restaurant - Grocery Near Me - Fresh Meadows, New York

See all

My first review was spot on but now don't buy anything that is not sealed. There was a worker standing over a garbage pail opening up the container of blueberries, picking out the bad ones & throwing them away and replacing them with good ones. Two weeks ago there was another worker opening the bag of sandwich rolls and taking the moldy ones out & switching the good ones from another bag. read more

I gave this one star because I have to give at least one to give a review but oh my god what a disgusting dirty overpriced run down store this is. While I was checking out the cashier was busy talking so intently with the other cashier next to her that she didn't say hello and was stopping to talk while I was trying to give her money that I had to say excuse me so she would turn around and pay attention to me I came to the store once before when they first opened thinking that maybe they needed to get there start because they were brand-new but it's only gone down hill and I will not be ever returning again read more

This supermarket is okay for quick shopping. I found some decent sale items while there. They are located in a strip mall but parking could be a little congested as they share the lot with multiple stores. The staff seem relatively nice and they will show you where to find your items. The fruit seemed fresh. I didn't get to check out the meat or deli department so I'm not sure about those items. read more

This supermarket needs to be taken over by a real supermarket! It's not clean the prices are very high they sell expired goods all the time! Make sure you check all your expiration dates on products here we bought a cake in November it expired in June I bought it back two days later he refunded me the wrong amount I know he did it on purpose because he didn't want to give me the receipt back! They just don't care about the customer here very poor customer service I will never step foot in this supermarket again plus the fact a lot of the times you can't get a spot they have meetings at the electrical union and there's absolutely no parking stay away go to the one on 164th St. Key Food read more

Local supermarket. Limited fruit selections. But the fruits are fresh (somehow..) Good for buying groceries!! read more

I swear i only come here when i have too because its the closest supermarket around me . They sometimes have some good deals but the service is terrible. All the young cashiers chit chat amongst themselves too much especially the Spanish ones as if i don't know Spanish, they love making fun of the costumers. Besides the employees i some times would pick out an item and it would already be expired !! And thats nothing, I've seen flies in their bread before!!!! How disgusting. read more

A very poor store with slow service. Although it has a larger selection of food than the nearby Keyfood, I despair of being able to get in and out in a reasonable amount of time. The lines take forever, and you are likely to find a checkout abruptly closed after you have wasted 20 minutes on line. Finding someone to help you locate an item is utterly impossible. Worst of all, before you can even enter, you have to leave your bags behind as if you were entering a maximum security prison, and then wait on line to retrieve your goods. Goodness knows who will reimburse you if something happens to your own parked goods while you are shopping. Skip the trip. read more

Worst service at a grocery store I've ever seen. Employees barely greet you. When the lines are long employees just stand around in their phones before opening another register. Usually the food is expired or rotting. read more

I used to live a block from Food Universe when it used to be Waldbaum's. It wasn't good then. But wow what a difference ! The Food Universe is clean, well organized, good variety of organic produce, gluten free, All the food I've bought is fresh. Many is kept in all new, immaculate, top of the line enclosed freezers/fridges for dairy, meat, etc., BUT what makes me come here, when there are food stores that are larger and even closer to where I live is the incredible attitude of the staff here. From produce, management, meat dept. and cashiers who go out of there way to help me when I even look a bit lost. I haven't seem customer service like this in years. That's the real reason I come back-friendly staff that go the extra mile, with a smile! Shop here-you won't be disappointed. read more

OK this supermarket suffers from the same problems that markets near the projects suffer from. The general distrust of us customers requires that everyone check their bags at the entrance. The meat department is deplorable - DON'T buy your meat here, that is the general rule, another thing that's very common with project supermarkets. I've seen meat literally turning green and have had the misfortune of buying chicken breast that looked fine until I took it home and opened it. Needless to say it did not smell good and I had to toss it. Their saving grace is their produce department. If you are Hispanic you will appreciate that they carry very large plantains and fresh yucca. Pineapples, fresh grapes, berries, avocados, watermelons, lemons, apples, pumpkin, cantaloupe; you name it. And all fresh and not wrapped in plastic like the nearby supermarket. They have an impressive cheese selection as well. It's a mixed neighbourhood so they cater to many. There's also many sales that are worth checking out. read more

the store in bayside on Francis Lewis don't restock items that sell well like Manhatten special diet soda and other items