Garden of Eden

This is my favorite store in NYC. I try to go in there every time I'm in the City. The food is fresh, the employees all seem to be friendly and helpful. I think you attract to you what kind of attitude you give off. If you go into a place with attitude, you'll get it back wherever you go. Also, the prices are not any higher than Whole Foods or other places I've been to. I've had food delivered and they were on time and the food looked fresh--unlike other places where they leave the food out in some truck for hours. Try the place out. They have several locations around the city.

I used to be a big fan of this place having lived around the corner for more than 10 years. With a very few exceptions, the staff is RUDE, RUDE, RUDE....they could care less about the customers and make that very clear. If you go to the prepared food counter be ready for plenty of attitude as they do you a big favor by even coming over to serve you--and don't even bother going after 9:00....an hour before closing they have everything wrapped up tight and it is a BIG EFFORT to unwrap which they will be sure to let you know.

I would come here often to grab lunch as it's near my grad school. I find while it's visually a nice place, the prices are too rich for me and the food quality doesn't seem to match. While no where near as crowded as Whole Foods in Union Square down the street, it can get a bit full fast. In the future, I'd rather deal with the lines and crowds and prices at Whole Foods because at least there I've never been disappointed in the taste - and that is the most important thing in a good lunch yes? Also, the cashiers are rarely friendly and often seem bored. That's never fun.

I live near Garden of Eden and have been a loyal customer to Garden of Eden and was astonished to find how unhelpful the cashiers were/bordering on rude and then how absolutely rude the late night Indian manager was. Doesn't anyone remember customer service? After wasting 20 minutes of my time, rather than wait 2 more minutes to resolve the situation, he says that ""we will have to re-ring your cart."" So I have been trying to resolve the situation with him and he decides to just send me to the back of the line. At that point I left $50 of groceries and told them to forget it. I fully intend to speak to a higher up manager during the day because if this is the way they behave I will walk further and purchase elsewhere. You would think that with a Whole Foods down the block they would be working to keep their customers. NOT SO.

Certainly the quality and the selection are top-notch, but many items are overpriced to the point of absurdity. If you carefully watch the prices, you'll do OK, but if you're not careful, this place can make Whole Foods look like a bargain basement.

Garden of Eden is ultra-expensive. They're going to price themselves out of business for the value they offer and the customer service they provide(or lack therof.) I firmly agree with the other post about their rude, rude, rude service. The employees treat you like it's a privilege for you to be buying something from their store. They have about 4 pleasant and courteous cashiers/counterpersons - and that's it.

Since the store is kept so meticulously clean and well-stocked, be ready to be pushed aside by employees rushing around or having to wait for an employee to finish what they're doing before you can shop in the aisle or section they are working in. They will not move for you and you are in their way - at all times.

I don't see this particular Garden of Eden surviving the recession in 2009 unless they do a complete 180 degree turn in their pricing, customer service practices, and general attitude. I've stopped being a regular customer of this store for quite some time now because of the reasons above. I just went in again and noticed that the store was EMPTY of customers. Businesses that offer unreasonably high prices with very little value will see themselves going out of business during a recession.

This store is a gormet's delight. If you were looking for something special and had a hard time finding it this would be the place to go. I love the fresh veggies and fruit there, though they are alittle expensive the quality makes up for it. They have a wide variety of specialty food products, that you wouldn't find everywhere. The store is very clean, I didn't know the sold fresh seafood until I saw the delectable assortment the had on display.

The staff is very helpful and knowledgable. I believe that other person's review was just an advertisement for his own business - that was totally uncool. Then again sometimes the way we act is we are treated. I had no problem finding out about anything I ask, and if they didn't know they told me where to go to find out.

One of the best all around gourmet shops. Excellent quality, selection and the helpis knowledgable and extremely helpful. You can even phone in orders for delivery and they get everything right!

They have beautiful food but they customer service (or lack of) from the snarly employees will make you never come back. In this world of Fresh Direct why even put up with it?

I think this Garden is amazing, I can find everything I need here to create amazing entertaining dinners in a snap. Makes my life so much easier.

The staff are always there when you need them for help or advice.

Thanks