I have heard a number of good things about Metcalfes but have never shopped there until today. Overall it was sort of a mixed bag. Let me list the reasons why.
First the positives: There is an emphasis on cleanliness right when you enter the store with hand sanitizers and also a clean floor and clean doors. There is a lot of room which is in contrast to other grocery stores that do not leave enough room for you to shop. They carry some unique selections on cheese, sausage and other items that you will not find at other stores. They have a nice bakery, meat counter and deli counter with adequate and knowledgeable staff. I bought a T-bone steak and it was truly delicious. Nice bags to carry my groceries home with.
The negatives: Pricey. I found a number of items that were more than I usually pay for them at my regular grocery. Disorienting. One department blends into the next without a clear defining line. This is only in the outer areas of the store. Maybe this is something you can get used to if you shop there a lot. I got some filled doughnuts and they were way too sweet for me. Too much frosting and too much filling. One doughnut was difficult to finish. The bags are so nice but I wonder about their environmental impact and cost.
Overall you can tell that people are really working hard here to make this a good store and I am personally glad to have them here in Madison. But, I get a strange vibe here and don't know for sure what it is. I love grocery stores, how they tantalize my taste buds and get me to consider buying new items. I didn't get this here. Instead I felt led toward high priced items and turned around this way and that. I almost never shop the middle of the store except for a few items so the outside is what needs to draw me in and keep me coming back for more. The one thing that did do this was the meat counter. Their cuts of steak were not only beautiful and thick but the ones I purchased were terrific. So I will stop back again if only for some steak.
Update:
They have cleaned up the front area so it is easier to navigate. This is a really nice store. I find myself shopping here more for some very good selection and great steaks.