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Whole Foods Market
3761 State St, Santa Barbara
Phone: (805) 837-6959
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Reviews by the General Public
Great sandwiches, 7/3/2010
Reviewer: Elena
from Santa Barbara, CA
I used my axxcess cards and ordered their sandwiches - both were vegetarian and they tasted great. In fact I didn't eat them until later and the bread still held up with no problems. The staff person making the sandwiches was very nice and offered suggestions for alternative fillings, etc. I will return for sure.
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Compared to what?, 5/3/2010
Reviewer: Ashleigh Carracino
from Santa Barbara, CA
It's a great grocery store in its own right. It's better than the average grocery store for its selection of fancy/diety/rare/gourmet stuff. It's got a nice atmosphere. It IS expensive, but yeah, go somewhere else; save some money. I frickin' love this place. It's so clean and efficient seeming, too. I personally go to grocery stores to buy food and waltz around looking at cool stuff, so I'm more than satisfied by Whole Foods. I don't really go to grocery stores for customer service. The staff here is never UNfriendly... and really that's all I ask. 2 thumbs up.
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Disappointed, 5/2/2010
Reviewer: dave
from Santa Barbara, CA
The hot food bar looked really good but when I went to eat it, the Honey Roasted Chicken was raw inside and had to be thrown away. The Red Roasted Potatoes were undercooked and hard and the rice was tasteless. Not what I expected. Maybe a staffer can check(taste & texture) the food before it goes out.
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Overrated and Where's the Customer Service At??, 4/12/2010
Reviewer: Cam
from Santa Barbara, CA
I agree with the "What's the Fuss About???" review. Sure it's a nice store, but there is nothing special here that I can't find somewhere else.
I find their customer service to be lacking quite a bit compared to friendly service I always get at my local Vons store. I have been here on several occassion and have never been greeted once (besides at checkout) or asked if I needed any help finding something - even when I was standing standing at the seafood counter (on Easter Day) and a girl came out to stock some fish and left without even asking if I needed any help. I'll stick to my friendly Vons and Trader Joes stores.
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Small Whole Foods, 3/15/2010
Reviewer: Paul
from Santa Barbara, CA
This Whole Foods would seem amazing if I hadn't been to any of their other locations. This one is really small! Also I was a little disappointed with the cheese selection, I love French cheese and live close by but I guess I will have to continue to go downtown to C'est Cheese where they have a bigger selection. The meat section here is really nice, so if you are looking for a good steak this is the place to go.
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Could be better!, 3/15/2010
Reviewer: Sarah
from Santa Barbara, CA
They really need to work on their salad bar - they should run over to Gelsons and take notes!! Hot food bar and salad bar both not nearly as good as the one down in LA! Ive tried it 4 or 5 times now and each time Ive been disappointed.
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What's the Fuss About???, 2/20/2010
Reviewer: Germaine
from Santa Barbara, CA
I've shopped at Whole Foods several times and so help me, I can't see what the fuss is about. Their oranges taste like oranges, their meat tastes like meat, and their milk tastes like milk. I can't tell their products from what they sell at Trader Joe's or across town at Scolari's on Milpas Street, except they are waaay more expensive at Whole Foods. I'll go there if I can't find something somewhere else, but the place underwhelmed me after all the hype.
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A 'best of' grocery store chain, nationwide, 2/8/2010
Reviewer: Kent Magnuson
from Kearney,NE
Always a favorite grocery shopping spot for us, nationwide. Wish there was a Whole Foods Market closer to home.
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Pretty good food, good selection, people very nice, 2/4/2010
Reviewer: Glenn
from Buellton
Looks like they have a lot of food selections from what I can see and are not all just drinks from the previous comment.... A store for all the organic and gluten free people and the rest of us. Wide meat selections. The store looks really organized. Tried the salad bar and was decent but had some uncooked or overcooked rice/pasta issues as did previous reviewers, maybe they need to invest in a better rice cooker, Jack in the Box has one across the street they could maybe borrow? Need better flavored chicken in their bowls too. I'm sure they are still fine tuning things. Not too crowded when I went. They have picnic tables outside. I suggest getting there via Hitchcock/101 over dealing with State St. People exceptionally nice there. They have various local products like Debbie's Delights among other things.
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Where's the Food?, 1/29/2010
Reviewer: claire
from goleta, ca
This is the worst Whole Foods Market I have ever been to. Where are all the food options? After I went here for the first time, I could not believe how many aisles were dedicated to just drink options. Then when I go there again this past week, they have added a new drink area in the grab and go section! WTF! That is now a total of four separate LARGE areas dedicated to just drinks! Where are all the ethnic food areas, specialty food products? I was looking for water chestnuts and had to ask two employees where to find them(they both didn't know what they were) and found the last can. Then in the meat department the butcher didn't know what Niman Ranch beef was? Come on people, this is crazy! Did the owners of this Whole Foods go to other stores before they designed this one. The options here are way too slim. This is called Whole Foods not Whole Drinks! Guess I will be going to the IV Co-Op and Lassens!
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"Fresh" Food Deli, 12/23/2009
Reviewer: Mary Richardson
from Santa Barbara, CA
Okay, Whole Foods is Whole Foods right? The "it" place for the best, fresh, organic, special foods place anyone who is interested in preparing meals with special ingredients or a convenient healthy meal thinks of first! This past weekend, this is what we expected when we visited Whole Foods for a bite before some holiday baking buying. The smoked chicken was dry as the bones, and tasted awful. The salad, and rice crust pizza was all wrong. The $5.99 raw foods "Whose Your Daddy" pie was at best, raw. One of these foods was the culprit for a 24 hour stomach upset that meant spending 12 hours near the bathroom. Our Whole Foods visit was the only meal we had had that day. Sad about our experience, and sorry we won't be spending our hard earned money for food that made us sick, or the so-so customer service. In our previous home towns, we had been consistent customers of Whole Foods organic and special products lines. What happened? Unsure. Don't know what's missing here.
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Love it, 12/23/2009
Reviewer: Marla wilson
from Santa Barbara, CA
The staff is always helpful. So great to have a store in Santa Barbara that is really commmited to healthy eating and healthy living- yeah that means there won't be any in-store flu vaccines but plenty of vitamins. I love that they will cook any fish for you. They do still need a little work on the hot food section often therice is not cooked or something is tooo too hot spicy. But over all just great- wonderful selection and warm friendly staff
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finally after 4 years in this town.....a whole foods, 11/13/2009
Reviewer: Monica
from Santa Barbara, CA
I am THRILLED with our new market....I have lived here for 4 long years with no whole foods....for those of you who don't know--it is the market where you do not have to read labels...there IS NO HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP in the entire store...they are amazing and do good community work (5 % back days, tours for schools ...supporting local growers)... YEAH santa barbara! finally our whole foods has arrived!
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A Whole Foods Convert, 11/11/2009
Reviewer: Barbara
from Santa Barbara, CA
Three days after opening I attempted to go....In my mind was "if I find parking I am going to shop"......found parking...but once I got in the store it was so busy I freaked out and left.
Few weeks later attempted once again and what a different and pleasant situation. Found parking ...Staff was helpful...even knew a few people working at Store. It may be big but friendly.........
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Please Get Organized., 11/5/2009
Reviewer: Derick
from Santa Barbara, CA
First off. I LOVE whole foods. I've shopped at them for years in many cities, and was looking forward to having them in SB.
The biggest complaint I have with this store, is the organization, or lack there of. Many items are not priced, so you have to run around the store scanning an item to find the price. (Not too easy with some produce.) They've had several weeks to fix these problems, and are working at a snail's pace.
Also, the parking situation is horrible. You can barely fit your vehicle in the spaces. I've already incurred a dent.
Finally, why in world would they choose to remove the entrance by the bank? It forces more traffic in an already tight area.
Hopefully these will be resolved, and I'll continue my shopping again.
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If Jesus had a Supermarket, 10/22/2009
Reviewer: Fletch
from Santa Barbara, CA
I don't no what the craziness over Whole Foods is about.Produce very limited,cheese selection limited,fresh bread rock hard.The fish guys didn't even bother with me.The prepared foods are very good but I'll stick to Gelsons.
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I Won't Mind Having It In Town, 10/19/2009
Reviewer: Justine
from Santa Barbara, CA
I have to admit, I did a bit of eye-rolling as people I know were going on about Whole Foods opening here in town as if it was the 2nd coming of the Spaghetti Monster. I used to live in the Bay Area and we had WF there--to me, it is a high-priced natural food market, along the lines of Lazy Acres here. But I read an article recently about how all their produce is organic and most (all?) is local. So I went in yesterday and some things were not as expensive as I expected. I do love the local angle, and can see myself picking up produce here instead of Trader Joe's. They also have a whole lot of creative prepared food, and every Wednesday, the salad bar and hot food bar price is reduced from $7.99/lb. to $5.99! And in their dessert case, I found something I have been wanting lately: tapioca pudding in other flavors besides the ubiquitous boring vanilla. They had chocolate and butterscotch (which I tried and it was delish!) The decor and layout are attractive and staff was friendly. I'll be back, I'm sure.
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Too New, 10/15/2009
Reviewer: Colby
from Los Angeles CA
I will wait a till I go back. Just soooo many people. Its nuts. I wonder if they thought about the parking before they built this place. No parking but maybe it will be better when the hype dies down a bit. It is a Whole Foods and they all are nice
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Layout sucks but overall amazing., 10/10/2009
Reviewer: JS
from Santa Barbara, CA
Its like a maze in there. I saw salad dressings in four different places...why not have all the dressings together? I felt it was very cluttered, but honestly I am just so grateful to have one here!
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finally! food nirvana!, 10/10/2009
Reviewer: prue
from Santa Barbara, CA
...the smoked indian candy salmon makes me weep--it's that good. the staff behind the fish counter are so friendly and helpful and their little fish monger outfits are super adorable! in fact every employee i have encountered has been completely accommodating and seems to genuinely care--whole foods staff are a rare jewel in the crown of santa barbara's infamous seemingly acceptable bad customer service. great selection and prices too--love ya whole foods!
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whole foods, 10/8/2009
Reviewer: Michael Guthrie
from Santa Barbara, CA
Been waiting years for a real store in Santa Barbara.....Parking will be horrible, worse that horrible, but there is only one stop required instead of three or four. The attitude is something you almost never see in Santa Barbara. We are here to help you..... we want you satisfied........WOW!
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Great experience @ Whole Foods!, 10/8/2009
Reviewer: Ed
from Santa Barbara, CA
It definitely has the selection & quality of food that everyone is raving about. It was very busy but also very well staffed, which meant hardly any waiting. From parking my car to grabbing a shopping cart, there was help at every turn. The service was incredible. Everyone had a smile on and was more than willing to help. The best example of this was today when my 2 year old nephew fell asleep in the shopping cart. I was waiting in line to pay when a friendly gentleman(David) pulled me aside and opened up his register so that I could get home and put my nephew to bed. I highly recommend this market to anyone!
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Finally, food nirvana, 10/7/2009
Reviewer: David
from Santa Barbara, CA
Santa Barbara has a lot of money, but not a lot of taste. Let that sink in for a while. I am so glad to have a serious market in town. I always have problems finding ingredients in SB. Veal bones? Forget it. Duck? "All we have is this frozen carcass hidden behind the TV dinners. Is that ok?" Mushrooms besides shitake, portabello, crimini, and button? Nope, sorry. Whole Foods is what SB needs to open their eyes to the kinds of food the rest of the world is eating. Staff was friendly and eager to help. The store was bright and clean. Parking is terrible. Oh and the selection? I found fresh duck breasts in 2 packs. I only needed 3 and asked the meat manager if it was possible for them to separate it. He said "anything's possible" and directed his employee to repackage 3 for me. Thank you Whole Foods.
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