I really love Metcalfe's produce, fresh seafood and ready-to-eat meals.
While I love Willy St. Co-op, the selection of fresh seafood there is scarce, in my opinion. The bigger chain grocery stores around Madison are not better when it comes to fresh seafood. Metcalfe's fish counter is wonderful -- all the fish I've tried has been great quality, reasonably priced (considering that it's fresh/wild-caught) and tasty!
Other than the fish counter, here are my opinions of the rest of the store:
- Great deli selection and ready-to-eat meals: I've had the creamy coleslaw and some other salads from the deli counter, and they've all been great. (I like to LOOK AT the ready-to-eat desserts available at Metcalfe's, but I've done a good job avoiding the temptation to buy them, so I can't comment.)
- Good and reasonably priced salad bar: I filled up a whole salad container that totaled $5 at the register. ($2.50/person = nice!) The items on the salad bar are fresh.
- The aisles are okay: I actually feel that the organic/natural aisles at Woodman's provide better selection than the aisles at Metcalfe's.
- The classical music over the speakers is lovely!
I definitely recommend Metcalfe's to anyone looking for a great selection of produce, fresh seafood and deli/ready-to-eat foods!