How could I give a supermarket five stars?!…read more To start with, when I first walked in, I thought I'd got the wrong place. There are these stunning bright red chandeliers set over a large dining table just to the side of the main entrance. Then I realised this was just a rather different supermarket shopping experience. I initially popped in just because I was in the area and in a hurry - I have closer regular supermarket. But whenever I'm around Half Moon Bay or feel like a change in the drudgery of grocery shopping, I always head in here. It's not a big barn of a place, and is actually quite small as far as supermarkets go, but it's packed with everything you'd expect from even the giant-sized competitors. I can't say how nice the shopping experience is - it's quiet enough to actually think, and the sometimes the staff greet you as you walk the aisles..! And a bonus; the sign on the door says it's locally owned and operated.

I never knew Why Knot existed until a few weeks ago when my sister's boyfriend mentioned a place…read morewhere you could purchase foods that are about to expire at very cheap prices. Why Knot is basically a grocery clearance outlet inside a huge warehouse. Here's a list of what you may find (and a few of my favourite things): - Coffee capsules compatible with Nespresso machines (3 boxes of ten capsules for only $5 = just over 15c for a capsule! Bargain!!!) I have had two 'ristretto' coffees so far and they honestly taste exactly the same as the Nespresso ones! - Rooibos tea (a personal favourite) - this is a herbal tea, and I was stoked to find it at Why Knot for only 99c a box! They also sell many other teas too. - Fancy cheeses which are about to expire unless you eat them within the week (easy to do). - Range of canned and cold drinks (you can get Dr Pepper and Cherry Cola here). - Snacks in general all all very cheap (Italian bread sticks, crackers, biscuits, chips, chocolate and candy). - 'Lisa's' hummus and dips (the day we went they had a great deal - 3 dips for $5 and expiring in the next three weeks. But that was okay, because those dips go a long way! Perfect for when you invite friends over for drinks! - Edmonds flour for 99c! - Cheap Killinchy Gold and NZ Natural ice cream. Also Litelicks (dairy free ice cream) is very cheap too. - Added extras, like FREE bottles of sticky date pudding sauce at the checkout! Wasn't expecting that at all! The only negative about Why Knot is that nothing here is really healthy, well apart from the tea and frozen berries. I am waiting for the day when healthy organic food is being sold in the bargain bins! Overall, this place is pretty awesome. The food here would be great for a weekend picnic, pot luck dinner or party at home. But beware, it gets incredibly busy!!! Try and get there as early as possible - although if you like to people watch and looking at what people like to eat, then this is the place!

Beware!!! Bought a large bag of Maxi Cat cat kibble which cost $50 from memory. Can't see any BB…read moredate on it. Gave some to my cat, next thing he has a broken tooth and won't touch it. Tested it with a knife to see how hard it was and the pieces are like pebbles and need a meat cleaver to split them. Took cat to vet for extraction under general anaesthetic- cost $750. I'm fuming. Cat won't go near the stuff now even chopped into little pieces and soaked in water and I don't blame him

This countdown has probably got the worst car park layout ever. It's just screaming out for a car…read moreaccident, but thankfully none occurred while I was there. It has a typical roof top, but the entry & exit is on an angle, so you can't see cars coming til their inches away from smacking your car. Also, one part of it is simply an exit in an awkward place (you'd rather enter the car park there). That said, there's little to complain about with this Countdown, living up to the standards of other Countdowns across the East ( and there are many of those). Having been to the Botany one that gives out 10c per litre fuel, then going here and discovering it's only 4c, you feel kind of ripped off. It's not the end of the world though. The layout and products were good, and the customer service excellent.

This supermarket has just about everything! The aisles are wide and the shelves are neatly stocked…read more What impressed me was how appealing the produce was arranged! The green vegetables looked like a flower shop full of green flowers! I'm just visiting from the states but will come back again.

For 12 years I was happy to buy American food and things like toothpaste with peroxide and baking…read moresoda not otherwise available in NZ from Martha's. During those 12 years one of the owners frequently went to America to buy the stock. And for many years they got special orders for me. But ever since the pandemic they have lost the plot. They refused to accept special orders and their shelves rarely offer me what I want. I have repeatedly asked them to figure out a new method of getting their supplies which they refuse to do. How they stay in business is a mystery without desirable stuff to buy. They're old and no longer seem to give a damn. I find it remarkable that they stay in business. Not worth the trip.

Ever have the feeling of giddiness as an adult, that makes you say 'get ahold of yourself now?' But…read moreyou can't and your smile is ear to ear. Well that's what Martha's Backyard did to me. I was instantly hit with Americana as the doors spread open for me. No need to trouble yourself with pushing a door American, here let me automatically open for you. Star! Since the owner was clearly using her consumer... ahem marketing skills, the first sight upon entering was a stock pile of Stars & Stripes regalia. All that was needed was the Star Spangled Banner playing in the background. Independence Day is only a few days away, so stock up. Martha's Backyard which of course is a play on words, (think Martha's Vineyard) has many American culinary favorites from candies, seasonings, sauces, cereals, beverages and snacks. I walked out with Cholula, Louisiana Hot Sauce, Lawry's Seasoned Salt, a pack of Lawry's Taco seasoning, mini Butterfingers and 2 boxes of Cap'N Crunch cereal for under $40.00. Not a bad price for imported happiness.

Slightly bigger than your average convenience store, Four Square could almost be a proper…read moresupermarket, boasting much of your grocery needs. In this particular one, I experienced the most outstanding customer service. Not only were they keen to help, and knew their products well, but apologized for being in the way while they were stocking shelves. I have never had a proper apology for that in any supermarket ever! They moved and offered to take down anything I might need from a shelf I couldn't reach. (also a first!) It really made we want to return, but unfortunately I moved quite far away, so had to change convenience stores. So if you happen to be living in the area or passing through, pop in!

My favorite local grocer. What is not to love: locally grown/produced food at reasonable prices and…read morereally friendly staff. Throw in the delish Milse ice cream and this place is a winner.

What I really like about this Pak in Save in particular is the parking, it has great parking at…read moreground level but also has an awesome covered carpark. The covered carpark just makes it that much easier when you need to shop during the winter months when we all know how windy and rainy and just horrible Auckland weather can be. But this Pak n Save is great as it has a lovely covered carpark. The supermarket itself is actually also pretty new and therefore has a really good layout, wide aisles and lots of check out lanes so makes for stress free supermarket shopping apart from the packing at the end, but the prices are worth it.

This used to be my favourite supermarket but lately it has gone a bit downhill. Their meat - I…read moredon't know how they store it but with these new recycling packs the meat smells horrible after a day in the fridge if kept in those recycling packs and we have a very good fridge. Their Fresh Fruit and Vegetables is not really that nice they don't have the best looking produce and quite often ill buy their onions and the middle of them are rotten and green possibly because they use the sacks of onions and just tip them into their bin. They have changed the layout again and to be honest its so difficult to find things at the moment but the extra space is nice, their variety section seems to have disappeared which is a shame as there was good stuff in there. Their product range is limited these days and I find myself doing my main shop here but my meat and veges and other products shopping at Countdown or New World. They have baskets now which is great but I'm forever having to go to the checkout aisle to get a basket as they don't bring them back as often. And the self Checkouts are great but quite often the machines need assistance from the staff - who more often then not are busy gossiping about their lives and not paying to much attention to what is going on and missing the trolleys full of more than 20 items at the self checkouts. I will continue to shop here but I hope it gets better again like it used to.

Tucked away in a quiet part of Howick, it's easy not to know this place is there until you drive…read morepast. That's when you spot the big, multicoloured South African flag, begging you to make a beeline for it. The South African Shop has an interesting layout, with an upstairs filled with meat and alcohol, as well as a downstairs for some of your other needs. They make all their own boerewors sausage and biltong (It's very fresh and tasty!), and have plenty of advice to give about cooking each item. I really enjoyed my visit here, and they are open everyday like your usual corner shops. If you have a Creme Soda craving one hot afternoon, they have a fridge full of it!