3.5 Stars
I normally don't shop at grocery stores in Georgetown asides from Trader Joe's. However, I will go out of my way to specific grocery stores (see my reviews of H Mart) if I feel it is worth my time to go there, since don't own a car. I love to go grocery shopping, even at ridiculous hours like 10 or 11 at night. By and large, I am not a big fan of Safeway. Their prices, even for certain sale items, tend to be more expensive than Giant. Some of their produce is okay, but it isn't as fresh as Whole Foods or H Mart. But, I had to go and check out the "Social Safeway" that just reopened last week. It was easy to catch a 30-series bus on M Street heading up Wisconsin Avenue. There is a metro bus stop right outside the grocery store, as well as one directly across the street for the return trip.
The layout and its prepared food offerings reminds me of the Whole Foods in Reston (Fair Lakes). It's not as overwhelming as a trip to Wegmann's, but I kept overhearing people say, "It's so big!" (that's what she said). Everywhere you went, there was an employee offering free samples. You could get samples of chunky chicken noodle soup, chips and salsa, signature sandwiches, wine, and there was one woman in the meat area who kept saying, "Gulf shrimp!" like a broken record.
I went through the produce aisle. Very nicely laid out. Big selection of organic produce. All the bagged and boxed salads, however, looked old and wilted. Strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries are on sale, but don't look that hot. I did like that their fresh herbs were in some sort of incubator-thing to keep them fresh. If you are in the mood, you can get black truffles for $999.99. Overall, the produce was hit or miss.
The nut bar looked interesting, as did the wine cellar. But again, if you are used to shopping in the suburbs, this won't impress you too much. Much to my amusement, the hummus shelf was depleted, and there were Greek yogurt displays everywhere... okay, we get it, yuppies love Fage and Chobani (though to be fair, I have never been to a Safeway that stocked Fage). Sale price for Fage is 3 for $5--which is a good deal for that brand and on par with TJs and Target which sell theirs for $1.79 regular price, respectively.
Pricing--really annoyed at all the "sale" stickers that claim "new lower price" but their original pricing is highway robbery. This is one of my main pet peeves, and why I don't shop at Harris Teeter on a regular basis. Take Simply Orange, for example. They have the "sale" price of $3.99--which is the regular price at any other grocery store, even Target. Many other products have similar markdowns.
Overall, it's a nice grocery store. Compared to the 24 Hour Harris Teeter in my neighborhood, this Safeway be mad pimpin'. I ended up not buying anything. I think if you are budget-conscious you will have to be careful and know what they're charging for goods at other competitors. Otherwise, this new and improved Safeway is a great addition to the area. read more