[Snakepit]

Many choices out there for sure but personally I like Stauffer's the best because of their perishables. Price may be considered higher but I think the quality is so much better as well as the customer service. The new store in Rohrestown reminds me a little of Wegman's. I would probably pick Giant next as far as prices but the stores are usually dirty with bad customer service especially at the delis.

[sandyinholtwood]

I hate grocery shopping ~ you spend alot and get so little!! With that said, my favorite store would have to be Darrenkamps at Willow Valley. Great selection of meats and I like the fact that I can order what I want and the guys behind the counter will wrap it up! They always have what I want ~ not like another store that I go to sometimes that is closer to home! Ferguson and Hassler in Quarryville would be my 2nd choice.

[bigstew]

I hate grocery shopping ~ you spend alot and get so little!! With that said, my favorite store would have to be Darrenkamps at Willow Valley. Great selection of meats and I like the fact that I can order what I want and the guys behind the counter will wrap it up! They always have what I want ~ not like another store that I go to sometimes that is closer to home! Ferguson and Hassler in Quarryville would be my 2nd choice.

God I love their flatiron steaks.

[onlyinlancaster]

darrenkamps

[bihfan]

SKH and Giant run neck and neck with me. I haven't been to Darrenkamp's (I'm an out of towner). I'll have to check it out when I'm up in a couple of weeks. Down here in NC we have the worst of the worst, Food Lion, Lowe's Foods, and Harris Teeter. Food Lion and Lowe's Foods are so dirty and ghetto, you folks would be shocked.

[Artie See]

I prefer to get fruit and vegetables at Cherry Hill Orchards (specifically for apples), Root's, Green Dragon, and Central Market, in that order. Since I work for a living (and live in downtown Lancaster), time restrictions mean that Central Market usually wins (except for apples).

As for grocery stores, Wegman's clearly wins over all others. Their selection and quality are definitely the best, with prices comparable to Weis and Giant. Unfortunately, the nearest Wegman's is over an hour east of here, between Downingtown and Exton.

My wife and I usually shop at the Weis on Fruitville Pike. It seems to be somewhat cleaner than any of the Giant stores around Lancaster, and Weis prices seem to be a little bit lower.

The cheapest place to get groceries is at Wal-Mart in Ephrata or Lancaster, if you don't mind a bit of DISorganization...

[dc]

I like Hill Top in Manheim. Actually it is just a few miles north of the boro. Very good prices on lunch meats and deli items. They have a lot, but not everything, which means that we get the rest from Weis in Manheim. They are not at the top of the list for us for many reasons......

[LicenseForMayhem]

I really like Darrenkamps in Willow Street. The store has almost everything, it's clean, and the people there are very nice and helpful. I like Fergie's in Quarryville, too.

[ace1969]

I have to go with Central Market, Mandro's and Weavers. I can get 80% of everything I need, on average at these three.

Chain stores: Wegman's is my favorite. I use to shop at Wegman a lot when we lived up state. There was one just across the New York line. Here SKH is as close as you get, with out a long drive. I am with DC on Hill Top. I end up at Weis in Manheim a lot, just since they are closest. I wish they had an actual butchers' counter. That makes a big difference. I did NY strips on the grill yesterday, did ya smell the grill DC?. They were from SKH and were very good. New potatoes in butter, sautéed onion, prosciutto and dill with a salad rounded out the menu. Shaw's in Manheim offers some good meat cuts and packages too.

[SMM]

I prefer to get fruit and vegetables at Cherry Hill Orchards (specifically for apples), Root's, Green Dragon, and Central Market, in that order. Since I work for a living (and live in downtown Lancaster), time restrictions mean that Central Market usually wins (except for apples).

As for grocery stores, Wegman's clearly wins over all others. Their selection and quality are definitely the best, with prices comparable to Weis and Giant. Unfortunately, the nearest Wegman's is over an hour east of here, between Downingtown and Exton.

My wife and I usually shop at the Weis on Fruitville Pike. It seems to be somewhat cleaner than any of the Giant stores around Lancaster, and Weis prices seem to be a little bit lower.

The cheapest place to get groceries is at Wal-Mart in Ephrata or Lancaster, if you don't mind a bit of DISorganization...

In case you find it helpful, you should know that there is also a Wegman's in Mechanicsburg, which is about forty-five to fifty minutes away. It is a beautiful store and worth the drive.

This post has been edited by SMM: 23 February 2009 - 12:06 PM

[Snakepit]

I have to go with Central Market, Mandro's and Weavers. I can get 80% of everything I need, on average at these three.

Chain stores: Wegman's is my favorite. I use to shop at Wegman a lot when we lived up state. There was one just across the New York line. Here SKH is as close as you get, with out a long drive. I am with DC on Hill Top. I end up at Weis in Manheim a lot, just since they are closest. I wish they had an actual butchers' counter. That makes a big difference. I did NY strips on the grill yesterday, did ya smell the grill DC?. They were from SKH and were very good. New potatoes in butter, sautéed onion, prosciutto and dill with a salad rounded out the menu. Shaw's in Manheim offers some good meat cuts and packages too.

Mandros is absolutely a pigsty. I went there once about a year ago after hearing about it for years. It's not much bigger than a closet and with so little product to manage you think they would be able to control their inventory a little better. I found some gourmet crackers on the shelf that were 9 months out of code!. Considering the place only has 2 or 3 aisles you think they could be on top of things.... I wouldn't trust buying anything from them. Here's a fantastic place to purchase cheese called Town Clock Cheese Shoppe located on 41 right before the the Clock Tower in Gap. They are a small retailer who sells to many of the area's restaurants but they have a nice selection of cheeses at better prices than you'll find at most retailers. I'm not saying cheap but cheaper but real cheese connoisseurs know what they should be paying for quality.
Shaw's square burgers are amazing by the way!

[dc]

Shaw's square burgers are amazing by the way!

I wonder if they carry square rolls to go with them....

[RedRosie]

Wegman's

I can't justify driving a hour to a chain store when we have good stores here! My impression of Wegman's (State College) was that it was SKH with better lighting. Oh, and it had an electric train overhead -- just like Oregon Dairy. Weis has good house brands but each store has its own weird layout: Where's the salad dressing on Manheim Pike (formerly Erbs)? In the back end of the produce department, between the potatoes and the bird seed. Who'd-a guessed?

[pml]

Sauffers on oherestown is great. Their produce lasts so much longer than other chain stores. I love the customer service, have never waited in line as they employee humans to take care of you.
There are some products they don;t have like Crystal Light fruit punch.

I thought you guys meant corner mom and pop and for that West End is the best. It does get busy and sometimes you ahve to wiat but they have a great stock and if we ever run out of anything from cigs to forzen veggies, west end carries it.

[ace1969]

Mandros is absolutely a pigsty. I went there once about a year ago after hearing about it for years. It's not much bigger than a closet and with so little product to manage you think they would be able to control their inventory a little better. I found some gourmet crackers on the shelf that were 9 months out of code!. Considering the place only has 2 or 3 aisles you think they could be on top of things.... I wouldn't trust buying anything from them. Here's a fantastic place to purchase cheese called Town Clock Cheese Shoppe located on 41 right before the the Clock Tower in Gap. They are a small retailer who sells to many of the area's restaurants but they have a nice selection of cheeses at better prices than you'll find at most retailers. I'm not saying cheap but cheaper but real cheese connoisseurs know what they should be paying for quality.
Shaw's square burgers are amazing by the way!

I don't know if I would go as far a Pigsty, but there is a lot of stock for a small store. Of course, there is always the overwhelming aroma of parmigiano-reggiano.

The next time I am South I will have to make a stop at the cheese shop.

I was wondering if anyone who shops SKH has had the dry aged beef? I keep considering it. Unfortunately, my wife insist I way overcook her steak and that's a huge no-no, especially on dry aged beef.