I was sooo psyched to move to a town that has a Trader Joe's. Unfortunately, everyone else feels the same way and the parking lot reflects that. (Go between 8-9 pm and it's not as bad.) I usually go there first for grocery shopping, despite the limited selection (more on that in a minute) - for quick meals during the week, Trader Joe's is tough to beat (the different raviolis, the frozen stir-fries and pizzas, soups, etc. and an French ham and cheese tart that's fabulous). When I make jam or preserves, I often find that TJ's frozen berries and peaches are just as good as using fresh -- and much cheaper. They've also got some neat foods that aren't readily found elswhere, like tandoori chips and Mediterranean-style yogurt. The people who work there have customer service down pat and are fun to chat with. That said, my big gripe is that this isn't a place to get basics, like flour or sugar for baking. And the produce is catch as catch can. read more

One would think that all Trader Joe's stores are pretty much the same, but this isn't so. Two TJ's stores in the Boston suburbs -- on in Cambridge , the other in Arlington -- though less than five miles away from each other, couldn't be more different, especially in their fruit and vegetable offerings. While the Cambridge store offers on a daily basis absolutely fresh produce, the opposite is true of the Arlington store. Two weeks ago I bought a bag of apples there, only to discover, upon opening the bag, that every single apple had a bruise or a rotten spot. A day later, upon returning the bag to the store, the manager offered an exchange, suggesting that I pick another bag from the bin. This time I examined the bags more closely and, as it turned out, noticed that every single bag contained at least two or three rotten apples. And apples aren't the only problem in the produce section in the Arlington store. Yesterday I purchased a one-lb package of blueberries. Sure enough, when I got home and opened the package, I discovered that at least a quarter of the blueberries were rotten and another quarter just a day away from being so. read more

This TJ is pretty much like others. It is a smaller location. They have a big assortment of fresh flowers, stocked well, and well organized. read more

I love all Trader Joe's, and this one is no exception. Not my favorite location of the chain, but still a great store in it's own right. I still say for frozen foods, you can't beat this place. I've never had a frozen appetizer or meal that didn't WOW me. And that's not easy to do, being so awesome as I am! Fire-grilled corn is superb. Their frozen burritos and enchiladas are awesome. I also like the meringues which ain't frozen but still wicked awesome. Like me. read more

My little neighborhood Trader Joe's is great. It's on the smaller side, and the parking lot can be a s*$t show during busy hours, but it's got all the usual basic Trader Joe's awesome items at great prices. Staff members are super friendly overall and helpful when I can't find something. This is unusual in a grocery store (or any store) these days. I enjoy shopping here. read more

Prices are mostly good at TJ's in Arlington and much of the food is pretty high in quality. But there are definitely some negatives. First and foremost, the parking situation is a nightmare. I rarely go there anymore because I just can't deal with the lot (and there is often very little parking along the street), Second, I find the frozen fish to be rather disgusting overall. Third, the produce is a joke--can't tell you how many mealy apples I've gotten there. Fourth, the aisles are rather narrow and many of the people who go here are apparently the same folks who go to the Whole Foods in Fresh Pond (the term "excuse me" is not part of their vocabulary). Fifth, the help is friendly, but I feel like I'm on display when I check out, as they tend to stare and smile throughout the transaction. I still like to go to Trader Joe's every now and then, as I really do like some of the food there, but I don't go nearly as often as I used to. read more

Very friendly staff, manageable size. Produce is not great, "fresh" breads are awful, but otherwise everything is high quality, low price. read more

No matter my mood or how my day has been, a trip to this Trader Joe's makes it better. The folks who work there couldn't be nicer. They have several products I love - wholegrain pancake mix - YUM, their fun tea selection is so affordable and cheap dark chocolate when I need my sugar fix. It is such a small store that I wonder how I could possibly spend so much time in there, but outside of peak hours, it's just so inviting. Love this store...hmmm...I actually may need to head there now to start my day off with some smiles. : ) read more

Trader Joe's is a great store for prepared and shelf stable foods. This particular location has a fairly weak produce selection; however, there are so many other great stores in the area to buy fresh things at. Make sure to try some of their inexpensive ready to go Indian dishes or dig into a pile of their delicious spicy Thai nuts. Plan to arrive during the normal hours to sample featured products, like yummy lasagna or spicy cider. read more

This isn't a review of Trader Joe's as much as it's a review of this particular Trader Joe's. I love TJ's. While living on the west coast, I learned how to incorporate their items into my regular shopping. There are certain items I always buy here, the way there are certain items I can only get at Whole Foods or Shaw's (all produce comes from Russo's in Watertown). I can only nod my head in agreement about the insane parking conditions, and the sometimes full o'themselves folk who frequent the joint, but what bugs me is that the selection in this particular one is always a little "off." Every time I go, there's always something on my list - something was was purchased at TJ's that needs to be replaced - that they don't have. Last time it was ground ginger. Before that, chicken taquitos. Before that, chai tea. The stores are a lot bigger on the west coast, maybe because that's where they started, or maybe because that's how they do things in states that aren't as quaint (read: over regulated). I say all this to say: Trader Joe's in theory = 5 stars. Arlington Heights in practice = 3 stars. read more

Well I'm a little bummed. Stopped here on my way home from work. Well first I tried to go to Wilson Farms, but they were closed at 6:30 on a Tuesday night... what's up with that?? UGH anyway... I digress... I normally shop @ the TJs in Cambridge, but since I was driving through Arlington I figured I could just stop here. High Points: super friendly and helpful staff as always low points: didn't have some of my staples I expect and get in Cambridge - what a bummer! So this is a decent one in a pinch, but I think I'll stick to my normal Cambridge location. read more

I love Trader Joe's in general. I went there this weekend to pick up some frozen appetizer's for a potluck dinner I was going to. In the Arlington store, the tortilla chips are located right next to the registers. We were picking out chips to go with the guacamole we were buying (TJ's has awesome guac by the way!) and were about to get their white tortilla chips. A nearby cashier came over and told us that those were good, but that their round yellow tortilla chips were even better. So we decided to try those instead and got into the cashier's line to check out. He ended up giving us the bag of chips free since we'd agreed to try them!! And he was right...they were really good chips. I know parking is really tough at this store, but we've had luck by focuing on getting street parking instead of trying to find a spot in the actual parking lot. Not sure if this works all the time... read more

trader joes is a little expensive but I think the quality of the produce, as well as groceries is superior to any other supermarket, and the old saying "you get what you pay for" definitely holds true. The parking here is poorly designed, and could be improved. But overall from candy, to produce and gluten free products, the selection and quality is far beyond that of any other super market. read more

This place is great! The staff are really nice. It's a small store but good if you just need a few essentials. Plus, the play the best music from the 80s... read more

I always liked the place. It's not a substitute for my regular super market but they carry some unique items so when in the mood for something different I go there. Good frozen section, produce and sauces. read more

Before moving to Arlington, I'd never been to a Trader Joe's. I had received those "Fearless Flyer" promotions in the mail, which always intrigued me. When I finally went to a TJ's, I was kind of disappointed, it really is just frozen and packaged foods. (Produce is sold in bulk and is way overpriced.) TJ's is good for cheap cheese - great prices on Jarlsberg Swiss, for example. Also, it's good if you have kids - their frozen section has chicken fingers, pizzas, corn dogs, and of course, children's multivitamins- all that healthy stuff on the cheap. One more reason to shop at TJ's - their chips and "fresh" salsa sold in the refrigerated section. Yes, the parking lot is a mess, but parking around Arlington shopping areas is kind of a mess in general so I'm used to it. read more

On the 27th oF dec I popped in for a few appetizers for unexpected company. The tasting station was serving something up so I quickly went over and waited for the man to turn around and acknowledge me. I said "smells good what are you serving today ?" He waved his hand toward the display and said THAT. He then turned his back on me again. I waited a minute until it was clear he was not going to oFfer me a taste. So I left. If you don't want me to shop there keep it up. read more

My favorite Trader Joes in all of Boston! I drive out here for the more spacious interior and less crowded shopping experience. I like to be able to pick out my cans of organic black beans in near solitude! The parking situation is a challenge. But that's what you get for being right on the heartbeat of Massachusetts Avenue! Best time to come is a week day at 10am, after the morning commute, and right before all the stay-at-homes descend to do their weekly shopping. read more

All my groceries come from trader Joe's. Because the store is so compact, I can fill my car and get out again in fifteen minutes. I also appreciate the limited selection because the food tends to match my preferences: generally healthy, few ingredients I don't like. Most stores waste my time with 12 different Cheerios to choose from. Here, I just grab the one kind they sell and move on. read more

going from not having a tj's anywhere near me and shopping there being a big event to having this tj's be the closest grocery store to me ... i don't want to say the romance is gone, but i'm being a little more realistic about the nature of our relationship. the pros: chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels, corn salsa (actually, their salsa in general), great coffee at reasonable prices, lots of great little prepared side dishes, sauces and the like, all at prices comparable to the big chains. the cons: this is literally the worst parking lot i have ever been in anywhere. ever. evereverever. i hate to hold that against the store, but it really makes coming here suck. also, the more i come here the less i'm enamored with their whole model - almost everything is pre-made or pre-packaged. want less than 5 roma tomatoes? 6 slices of roast beef for a single sandwich? have the butcher hack you off 2 pounds of steak? tough, unless you happen to find a pre-packaged amount that's exactly what you need. want fresh fish? shop elsewhere. here it's all vacuum sealed and frozen. with a plethora of grocery stores and specialty shops nearby where you can get exactly what you want for comparable prices (s&s, wilson's farm, the meat house, whole foods, &c.), tj's won't make it as my primary grocery option, but works out well as a once or twice a month stop. read more

I love exploring big grocery stores, so for me, this Trader Joe's is disappointingly tiny. Pretty much all Trader Joe's stores are smaller than your typical grocery store, but this one is the smallest of the small. I shouldn't be too surprised though, since all of the grocery stores in Arlington are like that. Other than the size, everything else about this Trader Joe's is pretty much on par with other locations I've been to. Sometimes I like to get away from all of the mainstream food brands, and I often find that the Trader Joe's brand for a given item tastes better than the ones you find at say, Stop and Shop. The waffles and the tortilla chips are good examples of this. Trader Joe's is also a great place to pick up a treat like yogurt covered raisins. Yum. They don't have much in way of a deli though, but luckily The Meat House is a short walk down the street. The staff are exceptionally helpful and friendly, which seems to be a pretty much universal Trader Joe's thing. I do wish this location was bigger, but since it's the closest one to my apartment, I guess I am stuck with it for now. read more

What grocery store has better prices, a happier staff, and more fun, festive offerings? Plus "no cruelty" home and cosmetic products. Even recycled toothbrushes! I will never live far from a Trader Joe's. :) read more

RE: other reviews -- they don't have booze because that's the law -- there's no use penalizing TJ's for it as they have no control over this. I like this TJ's a lot. I generally only come here for specialty goods and not my every-day needs, though I definitely could. Parking here can be a challenge if you come on a weekend especially. I often come here on a weekday after work and always find a parking spot without any issue. +10000 points for having easy access to the bike path. I can load up on groceries, fill up my pannier, and bike back home. Rock. read more

The almost only good thing about living in Arlington. !!!! Great management and employees - great changing selection. Yes, parking is bad but well worth. It. I have never appreciated TJ 's so much until WF appeared in my neighborhood. I appreciate some WF items as I eat organic, veg but the management( team leaders ) and a lot of employees are non- responsive., and some rude. I always leave Trader Joes feeling good. Their upper management needs to,teach other stores how,to choose employees and treat customers well! read more

Although this is not my favorite location, it does the trick. I have not done full shopping here, but it does not look as though I'd be able to complete an entire list. The checkout area is a little muddled, as there is a shelf directly facing the lanes. Everyone is chipper enough, and I'm always able to duck in and out reasonably quickly with the few items I need for dinner. I'd be much happier if they had a wine selection. read more

This is a small Trader Joe's but they have all the things I look for in a Trader Joe's (except 2 buck chuck). They always have samples for tasting, and the employees are super nice. Unfortunately, I can't stand going in here because it always seems to be overrun with unsupervised hyperactive kids who run wild with those mini shopping carts. Parking is challenging, but I usually walk, so that's not a concern. Since I assume all Arlington Heights parents monitor and discipline their children appropriately, I suspect it's interlopers from Arlington Center, Lexington and Belmont who cause all the traffic problems both inside and outside the store. read more

This is the teeniest, tiniest, itty bitty-est Trader Joe's I have ever seen. The selection is shameful. Among the things that I could not find were organic chicken breasts, fresh berries of any kind and Joe Joes (the horror). The service is fine, the actual food is quality, but it is definitely worth the extra mile to the much bigger TJ in Fresh Pond. read more

Use caution shopping the cheese and meat department. At least three times I 've purchased cheese that out of date or just a day before sell by date. Last week I bought a pre-cooked roast sirloin. At the check out I carefully checked the sell by dates of every cheese I bought. Got the groceries home and discovered the meat was 5 days out of date. The same trip, cans of fruit with heavy dents were prominently displayed. Sure, I love the mango chutney and jams and the Apple Blossoms. But I don't love at all having my guard up for products that should not be on the shelves. read more

This Trader Joe's is the closest grocery store to my house, so we shop here a lot. A LOT. The staff here is friendly and welcoming, and fun to chat with. During peak hours, if you don't mind climbing a set of stairs, you can avoid the insanity of the parking lot and park down by Hurd Field (get there from Drake Road). read more

I love TJ's. I especially love this location. Sure, it's small and crowded at times, but it has everything I ever need and the people are the nicest. What's nice about Trader Joe's is that there are so many unique things to try. The prices are great and encourage trying new things. However, there are a few staples that I will never leave without: -Silvergoat Goat Cheese - Zico Coconut Water - Dark Chocolate covered raisins - Hash browns ($2 and amazing) - Olive Oil! One thing I would suggest you skip here though: meat. read more

This TJ's used to be great when they had the old captain with the wheel!! They brought a new guy in and in the last year you can see the morale of the store going way down. This guy is a complete and total jerk!! He constantly is yelling at his staff and the group is much sadder. He doesn't know how to run a store....they are always out of everything!! I heard that they are opening a store in Fresh Pond in May, where the old Ground Round is and guess what...they actually might be closing this one. Sales are down, people are complaining and the neighbors have had it with late night delivieries. The new store will be bigger, have better parking and be close to the T. The best part about this place was that I could sit and sip my latte at Strbucks, check my email and gab on the phone for awhile then go on here, and if they had it, I could get my Pelligino, brie and crackers and take a leisurely walk home. Now with this store closing, I'll have to either go to Fresh Pond or take the bus and train to Memorial Drive. I wonder if they will have a bigger demo at the new store. This one is so small and they give you such little portions!!! At least if they are demonstrating say some bolognese lasagna, they can at least give you a full plate!!! What is it with these little cups??? Again its the mean captain who is doing this. I depend on this demo for my dinner some times, don't you?? I just really appreciate it that I can take my bike and walk it through the store. Nobody bothers me. My girlfriend often takes our dog into the store. She gets the demo food and let's Midgy eat it. The crew is great..they give Midgy spoils!!! I'm really going to miss this store when it closes! read more

Definitely not my favorite Trader Joe's. Poor selection and parking is a pain!

The cashier had a coffee cup sitting on the counter and he spilled the cup over my groceries. He tried wiping it up with a box a tissues but everything was still wet. Got no apologies and now my hands smell of coffee putting my groceries away. Don't get me wrong, I like coffee but not on my salmon and oranges. Next time please tell your employees not to place their open drinks on the checkout counter read more

This is a smaller TJ's, but they get the job done. They pack a lot into the small space. I usually find everything I need here, and when they don't have something, they're usually willing to find out why they don't. The sample station is often disappointing, but they also don't have much of a space to work with. Plus, it's great to have a Trader Joe's so close by! And with the Starbucks and Walgreens right there, you can get a lot of errands done in one go. Parking sucks though - that parking lot is one of the most poorly designed ones ever made. It's often better just to park on the street, even if you have to walk a bit further. read more

Nicest, most helpful people on the planet! Food wise, it's a den of the very best kind of temptation... May they never leave! read more

Traders Joes. What is there to to say. Either you like it or love it. Hard to hate. A great alternative to Whole Foods, but selection isn't as big, but pricing is way better. read more

What's good about this Trader Joe's is what's good about all Trader Joe's. They have a great selection of foods, light on preservatives and heavy on flavor, at very reasonable prices. With the exception of Trader Joe's breads, which aren't always fresh, you can't go wrong with most any food item on their shelves and in their coolers. I do have two minor complaints about this particular location, though. They're rather stingy with beverages at the free sample booth. I've popped into the Back Bay Trader Joe's on a number of occasions and they often make a drink dispenser filled with a tasty chilled tea or fruit drink available to customers, allowing customers to fill their own cup and quench their thirst on a hot day. At the Arlington store, these cheapskates pre-pour what appear to be 4 ounce paper cups containing one or two ounces of beverage. That just doesn't cut it on a hot summer day. Many of the shelving clerks and cashiers can be overly fragrant. Trader Joe's stores, like Bread & Circus, offer an outstanding selection of all-natural soaps, toiletries, and household cleaning products; exactly the sort of products favored by people who may be chemically sensitive or otherwise allergic to perfumes and colognes. Considering that some of their customers are people who need to purchase products like these for health reasons, it seems a bit inconsistent for their employees to wear heavy amounts of fragrance. You wouldn't expect to see a box of donuts in the waiting room at Jenny Craig, and you don't expect employees to be overly fragrant at stores like Trader Joe's or Bread & Circus. read more

The parking is definitely a challenge. However, all the employees are so worth it! I love stopping and talking about life and groceries! They are very helpful and give great suggestions. I would highly recommend this TJs! read more

Trader Joe's is the best store in the world. They have the best marketing, the best logos, the best signatures, the best products, the best ambiance, and ..... my mother shops there for therapy. read more

The staff at this TJ's is fabulous, especially the guy in the back who unloads the trucks. He knows where everything is and although he is shy, if you ask him something he will gladly help you. He knows everything about the place!!! The ladies in the back who serve up the samples are great. They give advice on what to do with things and are always in a good mood, even if they aren't. The full timers seem to not care. They act like they are just passing through. They seem bothered when people ask them questions. The biggest problem is that the store always seems to be out of things. I go there and I can never get everything I want. But if I ask the guy in the back he finds things for me. I usually go the Starbucks next to the store and get my latte then I go shopping. I usually bring my labra-doodle Muffy into the store and everyone seems happy to see her when we come in. There is a worker named Jose who always opens up the dog food and gives it to her. He isn't there all the time though, he goes to Central America an awful lot. Don't know what that's all about :/ Anyway, if you want to relax and poke around a neighborhood feel grocery store...this is the place. But the parking IS terrible!!! read more