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Ordering Groceries in Boston?

profanitiprofaniti Brighton, UKRegistered User regular
edited March 2013 in Help / Advice Forum
Hi Forum,

I hope this is okay to post here, but I could do with some help from someone who lives in Boston, or know hows US grocery ordering works!

I am staying in a house with a group of people for PAX, and I offered to order groceries for the house, so we could get by with breakfast, snacks and pizzas if we need to.

I made the assumption that I could just go to a local supermarket website, order online and get it delivered to the house (which is very common in the UK), but now looking through grocery store websites it does not seem to be that easy!

Does anyone have any tips on where/how to do this, or if it is even possible?!

Many thanks in advance.

zerzhul on

Posts

  • CabadrinCabadrin Boston, MARegistered User regular
    We have a couple of supermarkets in the area:

    Shaws / Star Market
    Stop n Shop (Delivers vis Peapod)
    Roche Bros (May deliver)
    Market Basket
    Whole Foods (Limited delivery)

    Stop n Shop is your best bet, they're the supermarket that delivers food door to door here in Boston. It depends on where you are, but it may be easier to walk to a supermarket, grab groceries, and walk back rather than sign up for a one-time delivery. PM me if you have any specific questions, I live in Boston and can help answer or point you in the right direction.

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  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    I am going to move this to Help/Advice, as it's really not PAX specific at all.

  • profanitiprofaniti Brighton, UKRegistered User regular
    Alright, thanks Zerzhul - sorry about that, I was not sure if it was the right place!

  • schussschuss Registered User regular
    also check out Peapod?

  • Pure DinPure Din Boston-areaRegistered User regular
    edited March 2013
    I know some people really like using peapod.com (owned by stop and shop) but it is a love or hate sort of thing. If you're looking for breakfasts, frozen foods, snacks and such trader joes has really good prepared foods and you could get a taxi back. They sell lots of vegetables meat and fish that are already washed and cleaned and seasoned so you just throw them in the oven and have dinner in 15 minutes.

    Edit: for comparison, here is a yelp page of people in Boston talking about peapod: http://www.yelp.com/biz/peapod-watertown

    Pure Din on
  • CelestialBadgerCelestialBadger Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    Ordering groceries online is not nearly as common as in the UK. Expect to pay more and get worse service. You probably have to go to the supermarket.

    I really don't know what is wrong with the USA in this regard. In my area you can get any cuisine delivered at any time of day or night for dirt cheap prices, but there's only one grocery company that delivers and it is extremely expensive.

    CelestialBadger on
  • EsseeEssee The pinkest of hair. Victoria, BCRegistered User regular
    Seconding "just go to Trader Joe's if you can" because Trader Joe's is the best supermarket, with the most delicious food, anywhere. Ever. And I miss it so.

  • DruhimDruhim Registered User, ClubPA regular
    Trader Joes is hardly anywhere near the best, but it is convenient and pretty good if you're looking for pre-packaged frozen meals that you can toss in the oven or a skillet.

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  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    edited March 2013
    The best is Wegmans, but sadly not that many people get to experience it, and there's only one or two in Mass. It's mostly NY and PA, with some branches out into MA, MD, and VA now.

    zerzhul on
  • profanitiprofaniti Brighton, UKRegistered User regular
    Would you say these places are cab-able back to the Stony Brook area?

  • schussschuss Registered User regular
    There appear to be a shaws and stop & shop right nearby. Stony Brook is a bit "out there" city wise, so there won't be many cabs there.

  • EsseeEssee The pinkest of hair. Victoria, BCRegistered User regular
    edited March 2013
    To be fair, I have never visited Massachusetts specifically, so I wouldn't know if there's something local that's superior. :P I was mostly speaking from California Trader Joe's experience.

    Essee on
  • SiskaSiska Shorty Registered User regular
    Could always see if Schwan's delivers to that area. Hubby loves their pizza, chicken fries and popcorn shrimp. I like their bag of frozen mashed potatoes (plain or garlic) and their chicken (asian style teriyaki or chicken bites) and meatballs when I feel lazy (about 5 minutes in a microwave). Their seasonal strawberry cheesecake flavored ice-cream is quite good too.
    http://www.schwans.com/

  • Pure DinPure Din Boston-areaRegistered User regular
    profaniti wrote: »
    Would you say these places are cab-able back to the Stony Brook area?

    I think the Coolidge corner trader joes shouldn't be too far for a cab, and you can buy beer and wine there (another difference you should know is that most Boston grocery stores do not sell alcohol)

  • DarkewolfeDarkewolfe Registered User regular
    zerzhul wrote: »
    The best is Wegmans, but sadly not that many people get to experience it, and there's only one or two in Mass. It's mostly NY and PA, with some branches out into MA, MD, and VA now.

    I want to understand you Wegmans cultists. They have a nice buffet, but it's a grocery store.

    I've used peapod. You pay a bit of a premium and I wouldn't use it to get anything that should be fresh, but if you want canned or frozen things it works.

    What is this I don't even.
  • PantshandshakePantshandshake Registered User regular
    Also, Peapod? Usually, they'll deliver beer!

  • MichaelLCMichaelLC In what furnace was thy brain? ChicagoRegistered User regular
    CelestialBadger wrote: »
    Ordering groceries online is not nearly as common as in the UK. Expect to pay more and get worse service. You probably have to go to the supermarket.

    I really don't know what is wrong with the USA in this regard. In my area you can get any cuisine delivered at any time of day or night for dirt cheap prices, but there's only one grocery company that delivers and it is extremely expensive.

    Obviously will vary somewhat by region, but we've been very pleased with Peapod. Did a comparison shop with one of the better stores here, and it was pretty close. They've were out of a few things for our last order, and you usually don't find out until delivery. Sometimes they'll substitute, but not always.

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