Decent sized store in Downtown. As well as the usual offerings of everyday vegan staples they had plenty of choice of vegan products in the chiller and freezer sections too. I was able to find Just Egg, Miyoko Creamery cheeze and butter, a wide range of plant milks and yogurts, faux products etc. Much better range than the nearby Trader Joes, Target etc. Prices are a bit on the high side but I expected that. Updated from previous review on 2023-05-21
Aya R.
The Whole Foods Market Coffee Bar is a great option for your morning cup of coffee or afternoon pick-me-up. Several non-dairy options available including almond and oat milk.Item(s) ordered: Small cold brew with almond milk. The cold brew is a dark roast, so smooth that I didn't even need milk! Very impressed with the tasty cold brew. Value: Prices are standard $3.75 for the small cold brew (honestly lower than average 2023 Boston prices...hoping they keep it that way!).Speed/service: Speed is definitely important when you're stopping by during/between work hours. There is only 1 barista (one time while in WFM I did see 2), so it depends on their skills. My barista was quite swift! Be sure to avoid morning pre-work and lunch rush hours, as there may be a line.Parking: Validation for the parking lot is available at the register for visits under 1 hour. Ambiance: Located inside the Whole Foods Market in Cambridge St., the coffee bar is a counter just like the sandwich or pizza counter would be. There is a seating area adjacent to the coffee bar, with about 10 tables. All in all, its convenient location makes the WFM Coffee Bar worth your while. (Again, WFM, if you see this, please don't change the prices!)
937naras
Always a good choice to take a box and fill it with your choices of healthy foods. Easy and fair price.
craigmc
Lots of good options for grab & go food and a decent salad bar. Meat subs galore.
scarlet r.
Wow has this location fallen. everyone used to be wonderful. Not anymore. Today, the manager was walking around the store and cut me off when i was walking to the exit, did she excuse herself or acknowledge? no. Then she cut off an old man walking through the entrance! The poor guy was wondering if he could enter because without acknowledging him, she walked in his direction like she was playing chicken with him and then abruptly stopped and turned her body away from him so that she was blocking his path into the store! She was looking at something else but it was so rude and out of touch! the guy had such a frustrated look on his face as he walked around her. But the real reason I am writing is, WF never had great sandwiches. Like most of the Boston area (except Sam LaGrassa's), you wonder if anyone making sandwiches ever eats them, because they are horrible. So since moving to Boston I've learned to just don't order sandwiches. Panini, maybe. Burgers definitely. But sandwiches? Just avoid. That being said, post-covid WF closed the salad bar so i was there hungry for lunch and just thought i'd give the sandwiches a try again and whoah, they were excellent. I had sandwiches in September and October of this year that blew my mind, had me purchasing ingredients so i could make these combinations at home. I thought WF had finally figured out sandwiches. This week, learned that was the wrong conclusion. Back to the sucky sandwiches. I've already had 2 that made me want to barf. Yesterday it was the tuna salad no less--- even people who suck at making sandwiches usually make a decent tuna salad, come on! So today I got their New England Cranberry Artisan Sandwich (it had been excellent in September & October) and it is so bad I am ashamed of Whole Foods. The bread is excellent, the turkey is ok, but who made this spread? Ugh, gross. What happened? So I'm just going to have to give up on the sandwiches at WF again. So sad. So, without the sandwiches or the salad bar, what else is there?
Olivia Kelly
Foods are so expensive.Although the place was nice.
drichold
This was a god send as it was right by our hotel and it has a very wide selection of items. The fresh fruit cut up already is helpful when staying in a hotel and the rotisserie chickens were delicious. They have a wonderful bakery section too.
Thomas V
This is a high-end grocery store, a place to buy your groceries. They do have lots of prepared food and a place to sit and eat, but it is not a restaurant.
Chris N.
Great food and produce. Always stocked, even through most of the pandemic. Have shopped here for 6 years and will continue to. It's very convenient if you live in the city or work at MGH. Staff are always very friendly. Coffee is great.
Taz S.
I shop WF. Lots of them. I've tried SO hard to make it work with this one BUT....too often the bread is frozen. The pastries are frozen. I know, because when I cut a cake recently it was still frozen in the middle and I didn't put it in the freezer. I've found: rotten pears, bruised blood oranges, rotten and moldy shallots - the same ones sitting for over 2 weeks! Sad produce. Used Prime for in the pinch delivery - got unwrapped chicken sitting on top of my groceries. Puke here. I threw everything away and did the walk of shame back to Wegman's for delivery. In 1 mile walking distance there's Roche Brothers, Star Market. Both have strong organics. Roche has better prepared foods and nicer less OMG could they be any whiter managers. Just can't support racist store with crappy food.
This is the worst store ever! i am a frequent shopper at Whole Foods, and have shopped many stores in my vicinity including Lynnfield, Dedham, Hingham, Allston and have not been disappointed. Charles River Plaza Whole Foods should not be allowed to carry the name. Ever since Prime came in they have gone down. There's many empty shelves, it has been a challenge finding what I need. Now, since the pandemic, it is even worse, if it even could be!!! This store gives the chain a bad name! It survives because it is next to MGH and there is nothing else around. it is not a good experience! Trader Joe's is my store of choice living in Boston. A quick train ride to Somerville. It is a good feeling walking in with the shelves fully stocked and very attentive friendly staff, never left with a bad experience. Star Market at North Station is awesome too!
Eric H.
Extremely racist environment towards African American shoppers who are always being watched. As an African American resident of Beacon Hill, I find it quite disgusting the way Blacks are starred at by employees and the store's White managers i.e. NO BLACK REPRESENTATION ON THE MANAGEMENT LEVEL. I have complained numerous times regarding being watched and followed. Simply because the racist ignorant poorly educated White staff of this location wants to believe that Black folks should not and could not be shopping at this location let alone living in such an expensive area in which their poorly educated ignorant selves can not afford. Again the White staff and White management are the most disgusting display of the legacy of racism steeped in Boston. Nothing the ACLU can not solve. It's quite humorous how this location hires minorities as cashiers, etc. but none are at the management level. NONE! Just ignorant racist disgusting White males. Apparently this location and Whole Foods as a whole are trying aggressively to transform this store into a Whites Only location there to serve the White community in the are only as to maintain Boston's proud history of racism. Consequently, the Beacon Hill Blacks and those Blacks working in the surrounding healthcare facilities as doctors, nurses, therapists, etc. have to be on guard while the White residents and homeless Whites that frequent the store on a daily basis are overlooked and FREE to shop and SHOPLIFT with the freedom that the White management feel that they deserve as White patrons. My many complaints about these conditions have been ignored by this particular store's management all White of course. When making a complaint I am met with stares and glares as if I am speaking jibberish. The nonchalant and cavalier attitudes of this store's management is typical of those who promote racist actions, cultural intolerance and passive aggressive racist actions towards those they feel are a thorn in their side and should be eliminated from Boston. BLACKS ARE NOT WELCOMED AT THIS WHOLE FOODS which is quite evident of the low number of Blacks who shop there. The numbers of Black shoppers has decreased significantly over the 4 years I have shopped at this location. Why? BECAUSE WE FO NOT FEEL WELCOMED! However, a group of my Black Beacon Hill residents been started and we will be voicing and submitting our experiences relative to this location to corporate. THIS TYPE OF INTOLERANCE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN 2020 and beyond! Whole Foods Charles River Plaza has been placed on notice. Cheers!
tifftunerr4
This whole foods location would be better if the lines were not so crazy long every single time... the offerings are amazing, the options are endless and the prepared foods really varied..but the lines...thats all.
Anne L.
The Whole Food Market really does their best. Service is normally terrIfic. Food quality is good. I buy most of my fruits and vegetables there.
Laurie M.
John in prepared foods was so accommodating! I truly appreciate the delicious manicotti. It will be enjoyed Saturday night. I thank you!
Decent sized store in Downtown. As well as the usual offerings of everyday vegan staples they had plenty of choice of vegan products in the chiller and freezer sections too. I was able to find Just Egg, Miyoko Creamery cheeze and butter, a wide range of plant milks and yogurts, faux products etc. Much better range than the nearby Trader Joes, Target etc. Prices are a bit on the high side but I expected that. Updated from previous review on 2023-05-21
The Whole Foods Market Coffee Bar is a great option for your morning cup of coffee or afternoon pick-me-up. Several non-dairy options available including almond and oat milk.Item(s) ordered: Small cold brew with almond milk. The cold brew is a dark roast, so smooth that I didn't even need milk! Very impressed with the tasty cold brew. Value: Prices are standard $3.75 for the small cold brew (honestly lower than average 2023 Boston prices...hoping they keep it that way!).Speed/service: Speed is definitely important when you're stopping by during/between work hours. There is only 1 barista (one time while in WFM I did see 2), so it depends on their skills. My barista was quite swift! Be sure to avoid morning pre-work and lunch rush hours, as there may be a line.Parking: Validation for the parking lot is available at the register for visits under 1 hour. Ambiance: Located inside the Whole Foods Market in Cambridge St., the coffee bar is a counter just like the sandwich or pizza counter would be. There is a seating area adjacent to the coffee bar, with about 10 tables. All in all, its convenient location makes the WFM Coffee Bar worth your while. (Again, WFM, if you see this, please don't change the prices!)
Always a good choice to take a box and fill it with your choices of healthy foods. Easy and fair price.
Lots of good options for grab & go food and a decent salad bar. Meat subs galore.
Wow has this location fallen. everyone used to be wonderful. Not anymore. Today, the manager was walking around the store and cut me off when i was walking to the exit, did she excuse herself or acknowledge? no. Then she cut off an old man walking through the entrance! The poor guy was wondering if he could enter because without acknowledging him, she walked in his direction like she was playing chicken with him and then abruptly stopped and turned her body away from him so that she was blocking his path into the store! She was looking at something else but it was so rude and out of touch! the guy had such a frustrated look on his face as he walked around her. But the real reason I am writing is, WF never had great sandwiches. Like most of the Boston area (except Sam LaGrassa's), you wonder if anyone making sandwiches ever eats them, because they are horrible. So since moving to Boston I've learned to just don't order sandwiches. Panini, maybe. Burgers definitely. But sandwiches? Just avoid. That being said, post-covid WF closed the salad bar so i was there hungry for lunch and just thought i'd give the sandwiches a try again and whoah, they were excellent. I had sandwiches in September and October of this year that blew my mind, had me purchasing ingredients so i could make these combinations at home. I thought WF had finally figured out sandwiches. This week, learned that was the wrong conclusion. Back to the sucky sandwiches. I've already had 2 that made me want to barf. Yesterday it was the tuna salad no less--- even people who suck at making sandwiches usually make a decent tuna salad, come on! So today I got their New England Cranberry Artisan Sandwich (it had been excellent in September & October) and it is so bad I am ashamed of Whole Foods. The bread is excellent, the turkey is ok, but who made this spread? Ugh, gross. What happened? So I'm just going to have to give up on the sandwiches at WF again. So sad. So, without the sandwiches or the salad bar, what else is there?
Foods are so expensive.Although the place was nice.
This was a god send as it was right by our hotel and it has a very wide selection of items. The fresh fruit cut up already is helpful when staying in a hotel and the rotisserie chickens were delicious. They have a wonderful bakery section too.
This is a high-end grocery store, a place to buy your groceries. They do have lots of prepared food and a place to sit and eat, but it is not a restaurant.
Great food and produce. Always stocked, even through most of the pandemic. Have shopped here for 6 years and will continue to. It's very convenient if you live in the city or work at MGH. Staff are always very friendly. Coffee is great.
I shop WF. Lots of them. I've tried SO hard to make it work with this one BUT....too often the bread is frozen. The pastries are frozen. I know, because when I cut a cake recently it was still frozen in the middle and I didn't put it in the freezer. I've found: rotten pears, bruised blood oranges, rotten and moldy shallots - the same ones sitting for over 2 weeks! Sad produce. Used Prime for in the pinch delivery - got unwrapped chicken sitting on top of my groceries. Puke here. I threw everything away and did the walk of shame back to Wegman's for delivery. In 1 mile walking distance there's Roche Brothers, Star Market. Both have strong organics. Roche has better prepared foods and nicer less OMG could they be any whiter managers. Just can't support racist store with crappy food.
Restaurantji Recommends
This is the worst store ever! i am a frequent shopper at Whole Foods, and have shopped many stores in my vicinity including Lynnfield, Dedham, Hingham, Allston and have not been disappointed. Charles River Plaza Whole Foods should not be allowed to carry the name. Ever since Prime came in they have gone down. There's many empty shelves, it has been a challenge finding what I need. Now, since the pandemic, it is even worse, if it even could be!!! This store gives the chain a bad name! It survives because it is next to MGH and there is nothing else around. it is not a good experience! Trader Joe's is my store of choice living in Boston. A quick train ride to Somerville. It is a good feeling walking in with the shelves fully stocked and very attentive friendly staff, never left with a bad experience. Star Market at North Station is awesome too!
Extremely racist environment towards African American shoppers who are always being watched. As an African American resident of Beacon Hill, I find it quite disgusting the way Blacks are starred at by employees and the store's White managers i.e. NO BLACK REPRESENTATION ON THE MANAGEMENT LEVEL. I have complained numerous times regarding being watched and followed. Simply because the racist ignorant poorly educated White staff of this location wants to believe that Black folks should not and could not be shopping at this location let alone living in such an expensive area in which their poorly educated ignorant selves can not afford. Again the White staff and White management are the most disgusting display of the legacy of racism steeped in Boston. Nothing the ACLU can not solve. It's quite humorous how this location hires minorities as cashiers, etc. but none are at the management level. NONE! Just ignorant racist disgusting White males. Apparently this location and Whole Foods as a whole are trying aggressively to transform this store into a Whites Only location there to serve the White community in the are only as to maintain Boston's proud history of racism. Consequently, the Beacon Hill Blacks and those Blacks working in the surrounding healthcare facilities as doctors, nurses, therapists, etc. have to be on guard while the White residents and homeless Whites that frequent the store on a daily basis are overlooked and FREE to shop and SHOPLIFT with the freedom that the White management feel that they deserve as White patrons. My many complaints about these conditions have been ignored by this particular store's management all White of course. When making a complaint I am met with stares and glares as if I am speaking jibberish. The nonchalant and cavalier attitudes of this store's management is typical of those who promote racist actions, cultural intolerance and passive aggressive racist actions towards those they feel are a thorn in their side and should be eliminated from Boston. BLACKS ARE NOT WELCOMED AT THIS WHOLE FOODS which is quite evident of the low number of Blacks who shop there. The numbers of Black shoppers has decreased significantly over the 4 years I have shopped at this location. Why? BECAUSE WE FO NOT FEEL WELCOMED! However, a group of my Black Beacon Hill residents been started and we will be voicing and submitting our experiences relative to this location to corporate. THIS TYPE OF INTOLERANCE WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN 2020 and beyond! Whole Foods Charles River Plaza has been placed on notice. Cheers!
This whole foods location would be better if the lines were not so crazy long every single time... the offerings are amazing, the options are endless and the prepared foods really varied..but the lines...thats all.
The Whole Food Market really does their best. Service is normally terrIfic. Food quality is good. I buy most of my fruits and vegetables there.
John in prepared foods was so accommodating! I truly appreciate the delicious manicotti. It will be enjoyed Saturday night. I thank you!