I have recently started to frequent this wonderful little neighborhood grocery store. It's a nice size, not too small or too big to get overwhelmed. Fresh and organic fruits and veggies. There is a separate refrigerated section for eggs, a nice touch, especially during this current nation wide egg shortage. I LOVE the deli and bakery here! The fried chicken is delish! Heavenly pies and breads! The cashiers are very helpful... there even an attendant that bags your grocery for you, just like back in the day. What's not to love? read more

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You have to try their chicken pot pies. You couldn't make a better one at home. And at just $8.99 it is the best, most complete meal you can get for the money. The crust is perfectly browned, buttery and flaky. Filled with generous chunks of chicken meat with peas, carrots, corn and a few green beans. Aside from that signature item, they have a full bakery where you will find lots of sweet treats and fabulous breads and rolls. I know, it sounds like I'm on the take -- but honestly, you are in for a pleasant surprise (I'm not one to complement a business just to be kind.) And if you sometimes feel overwhelmed by the mega grocery chains this is the place for you. All the basics are here, with friendly service to boot! read more

There is no way you will not love this place! The Hot food bar and deli are amazing. The bakery department, you cannot find better anywhere! Fresh vegetables and fruit. Neighborhood market that welcomes everyone and great friendly faces! You've got to stop by! read more

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Since Heights bakery closed I did not know where to get the huge donuts. I walked in to Almstead's and found them. I will ge back.

Needed a few things and stopped here on a whim. Great small shop! The staff are all friendly and helpful. If you're wanting to supporting a local business, this for sure is the one. Their produce was fresh and at affordable prices. read more

We were reminscing on the fresh bread made when we were kids, using cake yeast. The powdered stuff just isn't the same. No one is carrying it any more. Gave Almsteds a call, and they are going to order me 2 cases! That's personal service you will not get anywhere else. Shipment is expected in a few days, and this will give us a good excuse to drive into town to visit my mother in law's favorite grocer. They always treated her and our family like no other. I can already smell the bread. Wish they had a facebook page, where I could leave a review there too! read more

Very nice small grocery store! The best bakery in a grocery store in Minnesota! Yummy baked goods and is local grocery store! You should stop in! read more

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I love taking my grandma here, mainly because it's her new favorite grocery store but also because I love the atmosphere of a "small town" market. Lots of great finds, amazing bakery items & perfect portion sizes if you have a one or two person household. Parking is easy, as there is a parking lot. I recommended going here if you like small portions of groceries! read more

My coworkers and I have been to this market a few times. The prices are very close to those of Trader Joe's and cub food, and other stores. It's local good service very courteous young staff. Plenty of parking with easy access at a corner. The place was clean. Shopping here will save you at least 1 gallon of gas if you live in the neighborhood. I see many locals walk or drive here. Hi still have to try their chicken and their bakery... so far I only tried fruits and vegetables. read more

I like the deli and the convenience of a small store The bakery and choice of meats great I go a long way to go there read more

What a special place! A lovely small grocery store doing things the right way! Friendly service, phenomenal fried chicken and deli, and outstanding bakery goods. They have a great selection of goods and it is such a pleasure to shop in a true store of the community. The big chain stores can keep their cold, sterile and manic self-serve atmospheres - not to mention their ever growing private labels of generic "food". I'll take Almsted's all day long! read more

My first time here...LOVE the bakery & deli. The fried chicken dinner is fabulous! The coleslaw is flavorful and the fried chicken outstanding. Their bakery items are very good as well. The staff was very friendly. Will definitely be back. read more

Almstead's tagline is "Your Neighborhood Grocery Store" and that's exactly what it is. This grocery shop has been around forever (though I still remember when it was called other things) and it has that flavor of the mid-century, first-ring suburb, small grocery store. The floors are a bit uneven. The selection is a bit small. The displays feel like a bit of a throwback. . . But the service is top-notch, the atmosphere is charming and you feel like you're stepping back in time. Into a nicer time. Almstead's isn't the cheapest grocery store--it's a small mom-and-pop-like organization, so they're not going to be the cheapest. They do, however, make up for it in service. My grandma is not so very mobile, and this is her grocery store of choice. They always go out of their way to give her phenomenal service; to get something down from a high shelf, to help her find something, carrying things out for her, etc. I've noticed the same when I've gone in there. Oh, and the stuffed fold-over date cookies that they make in their bakery section? To die. Get a package at your own peril, because you'll end up eating all of it. Perhaps in one sitting. Then again, perhaps you have more self-control than I. Don't go here expecting to find that specialty item, or to save money shopping in bulk or whatnot. It's not that kind of place. Go here to get great service and to have a really genuinely pleasant grocery store experience. read more

A great local grocery store with everything you need. Whenever I tell people I'm headed to Almsted for groceries, people always makes sure to tell me that this place doesn't have as much selection as other groceries stores, but I'm not sure what kind of "selection" they're talking about because Almsted has the same things as any other store: your basic veggies, fruits, meats, dairy and canned goods. Have always found everything I needed here. I love that they have different options for carts. Most other grocery stores only provide those HUGE cumbersome carts because Americans love BIG everything. Whereas at Almsted, they have those same huge carts, but they also have plenty of mini-carts, which is much more manageable when navigating through the aisles and the perfect size for me. Their food bar is small and won't have a huge fancy or "healthy" selection if compared to Whole Foods, but for what they do have, the food they make is SO GOOD. I love the simple fried chickens, mashed potatoes, potato wedges, mmmm, so finger-licking good. The big chains like, Whole Foods or Hy Vee, cannot compete with Almsted's fried chicken, mashed potatoes, potato wedges -so tasty, warm, good 'ol, comfort food. The plastic bags they provide are REALLY strong and don't rip like other flimsy ones you'd find at like CVS or TARGET. I usually walk a mile carrying heavy bags of groceries with the Almsted plastic bags and not ever have the plastic bags shown any signs of ripping and causing a disaster. There is a small town feel to the store somehow. The staff are always really friendly, down to earth, attentive and caring. read more

Do you want to shop at a store where the people actually say hello and are happy you're there? You need to try Almsted's. It's such an easy stop, they literally carry everything on my list and have a great bakery, produce, deli and meat department! It's a great place, not too big and impersonal like so many other grocery stores in town! From the staff on the floor, to the checkers, to the baggers and carry out people I feel so welcome! Almsted's is a great asset to my local community, give them a try! read more

This place is great! Yes they're small, a little pricey (hence the 4/5), but they have great sales, an amazing in-house bakery, and delicious deli food. They also carry the Earl's brand popcorn & chips, which I LOVE! Almsteds is my favorite go-to if I don't need to do a full grocery shop. Plus, their staff is always friendly and helpful. read more

The bakery is outstanding! They have great baked goods. I just ordered a cake for my son's first birthday party and said "Goodnight Moon and it doesn't have to be too fancy." This is a photo of the beautiful work the baker did. My jaw dropped when I picked it up. The store manager told me she was also a cake decorator at Dairy Queen, so she has a ton of experience. The cake was very reasonably priced as well! read more

Almsted's Fresh Market - The baker at Almstead's made this beautiful "Goodnight Moon" cake! - Bakeries Near Me - Crystal, Minnesota

**update: since I started clean eating (organic mostly) this store is rough. I was looking for organic produce & I found only a small (I eat a ton) greens mix. It looked like a majority of the meats were Hormel. Just not the products for me anymore. Previous review: I love this store. It's a great size and they have a very comparable selection to Cub. Love the local family-owned vibe! read more

Love stopping here when I don't feel like going to one of the huge grocery stores. The bakery items are excellent. I decided to try out some deli items. I went to the counter and the woman working walked to the back and left me there for a few minutes. She came back and said "do you need help" in a tone like she was annoyed I was there. I asked for potato salad and the summer fresh pasta which was marked at $2 something a lb. Conveniently she charged me for the chicken cashew pasta that is over $7 lb!! Unfortunately I didn't notice until I got home. I loved the summer fresh pasta but I think I will try to make my own so I don't have to deal with the bitter deli lady again. The rest of the stores customer service is great and if it wasn't for the crappy deli service I would rate them at 5 stars. Update...couldn't figure out how to make the summer fresh pasta salad myself so I've been back a few times (more like 10) although the good customer service out weighs the bad in my experiences, the bad is really bad and it's happened probably 3 out of those 10 times. My 72yr old mother also had a ridiculously bad experience where the deli employee was outside the deli stocking and she turned to my mom and said, "see that bell? It's there for a reason, so we know if people need help". Really?! Seeing her stand there wasn't enough? I don't know if these employees are just unhappy with their job for whatever reason but, believe me next time I will ask for a manager immediately. Disgusting! read more

This grocery store is awesome. My dad and me love there potato salad, and the customer service is great. Whenever we go there we have never had a cranky cashier. If you are looking for a small business to support, THIS IS THE ONE. read more

I love Almsteads! This is a mom n pop type grocery store. I love how everyone is very friendly and willing to help. You ways feel welcomed. Makes me feel like I live in a small town. They don't have a huge selection of groceries but this isn't cub. They're priced a little higher but ill support the local business I don't mind at all. They jojo's are so delicious! I suggest getting a fresh chicken pot pie as well. I love grabbing food grom the deli. They've got just about everything you need and with great service. I love how they help you carry out your groceries when needed and they do it with a smile. Everyone should support their local business and shop at Almsteads once in a while ;) read more

Great hometown feel, been shopping there for years and always treated well. It's a great place to stop in for a quick trip and get in and out easily read more

This place is awesome. I usually stop here 2-3 days a week to pick up fruit or some perishable items for dinner on the way home from work. Access to the parking lot from 3 direction is key. Deli has fantastic food. Fresh fruits and bakery items. If you really need 7 different options of black olives, you will have to go to Cub. This has everything you could ever need at a grocery store. Prices may be 5 to 10 cents high per item, but if you are buying only items between large shopping trips, this is great. read more

This place is wonderful. It may be a little pricier than some stores, but you don't get such personalized service and such friendly smiles anywhere else. Their bakery is also amazing. And a big plus is their day old bakery selection; you won't find anything else like it in town! I love shopping here because I know I'm supporting a neighborhood business. read more

I love this store. Like many people have already said, this is a mom and pop grocery store. The prices are a bit higher, but they do have some really good sales that beat even Walmart prices from time to time. Their deli fried chicken is out of this world good. Who needs KFC? Not me any more. Getting an 8 piece bucket of chicken at Almsted's, the wonderful Jo Jo potatoes with some of their corn bread, when they have it cause it sells out fast, makes for a perfect quick dinner. A little more expensive than KFC, but oh so worth it. You might even want to try the potato salad, yum! Their chicken pot pies are also marvelous! Lots of big chunks of chicken and veggies with a super flaky crust. You don't need anything else for dinner, because it will fill you up! The customer service is out of this world. My husband I go to the deli so often that they know us by name. Having shopped at Cub and Rainbow for so long, it still surprises me that they bag your groceries for you and will take it out to your car if you do buy a lot. I love the small town vibe that you get here and will continue to shop there on a regular basis. read more

Two months ago, I bought two turkey legs from this place to make for dinner. I was horribly sick for two days but shrugged it off as a stomach bug. Today, my wife bought some beef to make dinner with, and the area between two of the steaks was so discolored it was practically GLOWING, with a slight smell to it as well. The manager tried to tell me, "that's just how it gets." I used to work in a grocery store, and when meat looked like this, we threw it out. read more

I have had nothing but pleasant customer service at Almsteads. It's a great neighborhood grocery store with a friendly staff and an enticing bakery section. The chicken pot pies are good from the kitchen in the back, but get them early because they will be all gone by 5/6pm. They have helpers at the registers to bag your groceries and offer to bring them to your car if needed. Almsteads is not a high end grocery store, and can be a few bucks more than your big box stores, but it feels good supporting local regardless, and who can afford high end in this area anyways? read more

I love this little place! Like the other posted stated, they do not have the cheapest prices, but the offer great service! I love being able to be in and out in just a few minutes when I just need a couple of items, versus having to roam a massive store. read more

Almsted's has the best baked goods in the area. Just give John a call (or anyone in the bakery) and they'll go out of their way to accommodate. Their apple/cherry/blueberry turnovers are scrumptious with the flakiest of pastry. And their angel food cake pared with strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream are the best. I worked in this bakery back in the 60's - still going strong and the aroma's are sure to draw you in. read more

My family goes to Almstead's Fresh Market every week, we live close and they have the items we need. Our bulk shopping still occurs at Cub Foods, the prices at Almstead's are just a little more than Cub. We always get the Sunday paper and thier add for the week is in there, my wife always finds good deals on cheese, milk, and meats. Sometimes other items as well: fresh fruit or canned goods. The Deli is underated, check out the Potato Salad: GREAT! The Chicken is very good, and other salads as well. My daughter is a big fan of the mash potatoes and chicken. Bakery is good as well. It's a balance between saving and supporting a local business, so we try to do both at Almstead's Fresh Market. I would just hate to see them go and nothing replaces it. Good people and helpful as well. Hey they still bag your grocery's and will take them to your car for you, find that at Cub! Aaron O. Crystal read more

Almsteds is a family owned store with many of their products made fresh in-store daily. I was introduced to Almsteds by a friend after a last-minute change in plans and finding the need to feed at least 50 people for my Son's groom's dinner which was now going to be held outside-barbecue style. Being disabled and sick at the time, I wasn't personally able to go into the store to speak with anyone or look at and taste different products. However, I trusted my friend and had personally tasted some of their bakery products in the past, so was left praying everything would work out. I was connected with Roger, the store manager who assisted me in putting the order together with food being ordered from every department. Having no idea how much of each item I'd need, I explained to him the type of people I'd be feeding and that I'd much rather have way too much than not enough. Together, we decided on 3 different flavors of brats (which everyone loved and were made fresh by their butcher)different style hamburgers, buns for both items-made fresh in their bakery, gallons of 3 different type salads, made fresh from their deli, many different pastries also made fresh from their bakery and 200 cupcakes (after realizing how much more cost effective it was to buy them here vs Sam's club) for the wedding day. Along with all this food, we added additional misc items, condiments, and anything you could possibly need for a large barbecue! Roger was such a great help, I honestly have no clue what I would have done without him and his wonderful staff that brought this all together so efficiently. I had changed my mind 3 different times within the week concerning quantity and adding more to the list which most stores would not have accommodated, though Roger and his staff were always patient and more than accommodating, making sure everything was just as I requested. When we finally did arrive to pick-up the order I was completely frazzled and 2 hours late due to the extra last minute running we were called to do along with it pouring rain all day and continuing to do so. However, walking into the store being greated by Roger and seeing my order there all packed up nicely and ready to go, with the meat and other perishable items being packed tightly on ice in coolers (my friend brought ahead of time for me)completely changed my mood to a happy, relaxed one. After thanking everyone and paying for my order, the manager along with a couple young men also brought it out and packed it into the vehicle, having to move many things around to do so, beings it was more than half full with other items. Yet another example of excellent service extended! When it actually came time for the groom's dinner, the food was well beyond my expectations. They had even boiled the fresh brats for us so that they could cook along with the hamburgers, versus taking extra time. All of the guests who attended the dinner raved over the food and many asked where it came from. Also, many were extremely thankful and thoroughly enjoyed that there were left overs the next day while setting up for the outdoor wedding and again asked for the name of the store. I believe Almsteds gained customers for life with not only me, but many of the guests, my family as well as the bride's. The "above and beyond" serviceI received from this store and its employees was unlike anything I have ever experienced. I have used them since when having family/friends over and will continue to use them for all my small and large events alike. Thank you Almsteds for exceeding my expectations in price, all-around quality, the amount of different items available in your store and the great pride your management and employees have in their work! I thank you for everything, as you go "above and beyond" in service along with exceeding the expectations of your patrons!! read more

Love the mom and pop feel of this place, and the staff are always friendly. Unfortunately it is always a few bucks more than what I would have spent elsewhere, so unless I only need one thing or am feeling really, really lazy I just drive the extra few minutes to Cub or Target. read more