The Worst of Wegmans

This is a dining-out review that I feel compelled to write after one too many of the same experience at Wegmans Market Café. While I can only speak of the Wegmans location near my work at Transit and Losson Roads, I imagine that recipes and preparation methods are similar at stores throughout the chain.

I have tried numerous stations at the Market Café, and tonight I finally had a realization: I don’t think I’ll be trying any more.

SUB SHOP

The subs are bland. Period. No amount of oil, mayo, cheese or anything else you stack on them can salvage this. And I always ordered mine on a wrap instead of sub bread. Opt for the traditional bread, and the tasteless ingredients will be lost in a mountain of dough. Even the flavored wraps, such as jalapeno cheddar, lack any flavor reminiscent of their name. Going to Subway for a $5 foot long will save you money and disappointment.

PIZZA SHOP

The pizza is ok, but way too expensive at $2.49 a slice. Wegmans also advertises all sorts of specialty pizzas, but I came to find out most had to be special ordered. I’d stick with Sbarro if you want fast gourmet pizza.

HOT FOODS BAR

One St. Patty’s Day I tried their corned beef and cabbage, and this, I gotta say, was excellent. But at $6.99 per pound, you’d be better off to visit just about any restaurant during mid-March—they’ll have it for about the same price you end up paying for a take-out meal at Wegmans.

ASIAN WOKERY

The gigantic sliced vegetables look oh-so-good, but are sometimes undercooked. Most of the Asian food is no better than what you’d get at a decent Chinese buffet. However, unlike a buffet, Wegmans charges $6.99 per pound. Make yourself a decent sized plate, and you end up paying as much or more than you’d pay at an all-you-can-eat joint.

SOUPS

I’ve only tried the spicy red lentil chili. This vegetarian soup is excellent, and—assuming the other soups are as flavorful without being over salty—this might be a brighter spot. It damn better be at $3.49 for a small bowl.

$6 MEALS

Wegmans advertises these all the time, and it’s one of the few good prepared-food values. Choose one entrée plus two sides for six bucks. The time I went, they were just opening prepared foods (11AM), and everyone behind the counter ignored me. When I finally got waited on, my choices were very limited. In fact, I find the stuff that’s advertised is usually unavailable; all I’ve ever wanted to try is the roasted sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts side-dish options. OK, I work in retail and I get it: advertised items may not be available in all locations, but it’s still frustrating. (Buffalo News “Cheap Eats” reviewed $6 Meals recently. See what they had to say.)

SALAD BAR

A lot of fancy and strange stuff on here for $6.99 per pound. The fat-free Italian dressing (a.k.a. sugar water) sucks. The roasted peppers were so garlicky I couldn’t finish them. You could buy a whopping head of lettuce for what one salad costs here.

COFFEE BAR

For Buffalo-area Wegmans would-bes, two words: Tim Hortons. Those outside of the Buffalo area, two words:  Dunkin Donuts.

AMBIANCE

I will admit, the Market Café is a fantastic environment to sit in. Like the rest of Wegmans stores, it has a dimly lit, pleasing vibe to it along with plenty of comfortable seating including leather chairs near the coffee bar. Microwaves are provided for heating $6 meals (or cold, greasy pizza slices). A hand washing station makes a nice touch.

I haven’t tried all that Wegmans Market Café has to offer. The sushi bar, for one, scares me. But almost every time I’ve gone there what I came in for is unavailable. There’s always drama at the check out too (before I even see my total). I’m usually always directed to the wrong register, or no one is there to cash me out, or employees just ignore me while I stand around like a fool.

As a grocery, Wegmans offers clean, shoppable stores; better variety than Tops; and excellent sales. I just can’t see wasting any more dollars on subpar prepared food.

I’d love to have the money back I’ve blown at Wegmans Market Café. I think I’d go out for a nice dinner or two at Salvatores.