Pass the Shropshire. Balducci's covers a lot of bases. U.S.D.A. Prime dry ages steaks? Check. Real Sushi? Check. Shropshire, stilton, red dragon, duck pate, D'artagnon fois gras, and nuff du pape? Check all around. Don't bother griping out the price. This is not the place for coupon clippers...and if you're going to buy expensive cuts of meat, make sure you know what to do with them. I love walking over in the evening, or stopping on my way home from work, to buy something completely ridiculous and decedent to spoil my good Lady. There is very little in the store that I actually Need...the point is that I Choose to buy absurdly expensive cheese and caviar because I don't take a single meal I share with Mary for granted. Balducci's...an epicurean's playground. read more

Let's start with the plusses: 1. The store is conveniently located in Alexandria and has underground parking. 2. The deli/prepared foods folk, bakery staff and fish mongers are wonderful. Ask them anything. They're always smiling and helpful. 3. The store is always clean. Now for the minuses: 1. The cashiers are borderline rude if not downright rude. All of them. All. The. Time. Seriously, what happens between the few steps between the deli counter and the cashier? I've witnessed one make a fool out of an elderly man for not knowing how to use a chip credit card and others roll their eyes over a shopper's head about her!! I've heard them use choice language and complain about everything in the world - from their shifts to other co-workers to customers. Unreal. If I were still in operations mgmt and they worked for me? Well, they wouldn't work for me. I'd have fired them all. 2. The fish in the prepared foods section is farm raised. For the price they're charging, that's insane. Just understand the lack of product quality when you purchase. I assume the salmon used for the sushi is also farm raised. Really bad for you. Imagine thousands of fish packed densely into tight quarters. Imagine them dying on top of each other, defecating onto each other, getting each other sick all the time. Yes, that's farm raised fish. Feel free to pay the ridiculous rates they're charging for it there. You can get farm raised fish at Aldis or Safeway for almost nothing . . . 3. The salad bar needs rubber bands. Why am I paying the rates I'm paying only to have everything fall all over the place in the car? Every supermarket secures its food except here. Why? 4. The soups are bland, bland, bland. Be careful of those lids. They don't fit well. I would transfer the soup to a real container as soon as you get home - if it makes it there. Half the time I get a sandwich it's great. Half the time the bread is soggy or stale. Hmmm. 5. I can't fault them for selling the exact same products as Trader Joe's or Safeway or Giant and charging exponentially more. If you're willing to pay the price, that's on you. But you should know that there are lots of places selling what they sell much more cheaply. Bottom line? If I am paying 5-star rates, I don't expect 2-star food quality and cashier service. read more

Ok, I have driven past Balducci's for years without giving the place a second thought. I mean as you're flying down Washington street, it really does seem to be a bit of an inconvenience to pull over and search for parking. However, the other day the Gods must have stepped in, because I could feel their foodie food angels turning my steering wheel toward Balducci's One Hour Free Street Parking. "How bad can it be?" I thought. "I will be in and out in 15" Well, I was wrong, for it really took me about 30 minutes to browse Balducci's gourmet isles. This place has it All!!! But let me just say it loud and say it proud: Balducci's has Chopped Chicken Liver!!! Balducci's has Chopped Chicken Liver!!! Now, if you live in New York, this really isn't such a big deal, but here in Alexandria, finding a place that sells my favorite deli staple is about as easy to find as Bilbo Baggins snagging a magic ring in the dark. Why even our "New York" style deli doesn't carry it. So, Balducci's, you are my oasis of delicious chopped chicken liver deliciousness. However, it doesn't stop here, for Balducci's has a selection of gormet foods that would make the ghost of Julia Child smile. I really do suspect that she might be haunting Balducci's isles. Hey, maybe it was her steering me towards a selection of prepackaged Indian meals that have managed to change my refrigerator's landscape to the truly yummy. Yes, those shelves now overflow with Chicken Vindaloo, Chicken Marsala, and Chopped Chicken Liver. Yum!! Thank you foodie angels wherever you are.. read more

If I could give ZERO stars I would! I left home specifically to get to this grocery store before they close as no other stores nearby sell the product that I was looking for. I was scheduled to arrive 11 mins before close but took the wrong exit and arrived 6 minutes before closing. I only needed one item. The staff and manager there had just blocked off the entrance and locked the main door - at 6 minutes to 9pm- and would not let me in!!!! They looked at me and then walked off! So rude! Will never shop here- would have been my first time at this store!!! read more

Balducci's - Locked doors at 8:54pm! - Grocery Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

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I hate this store with all my heart. It's pretentious, overpriced, and the deli counter couldn't be any slower if they tried, but it's the only place in Alexandria I can find San Daniele prosciutto. read more

This would easily get a 4 or 5 star rating if not for the ridiculous sky-high prices. Think of this place as an even more pretentious, high-end Whole Foods: unique, healthy, sometimes bizarre, always expensive selections. There is a hot bar, salad bar, cold sandwiches, and made-to-order sandwiches and such, in addition to a comprehensive, neat bakery. The yogurt covered pretzels are to die for. read more

Got Christmas dinner from Balducci's and it was SO disappointing. Skimpy portions for the price and very vague reheating instructions. Won't return. read more

A great little neighborhood specialty store. As you approach the automatic doors, you will see hanging baskets available for purchase - the morning glories looked amazing this morning! Grab a cart as you enter and stock up on fresh fruit, excellent cheeses, and dehydrated kale which is all the rage these days; counters are ready with servers ready make you a fresh sandwich, or buy fresh meat or fish to take home and make yourself. And there is both indoor and outdoor seating for your convenience! read more

Eva, in the Scarsdale New York Store is the best. She went out of her way to find baking chocolate that was not on the shelf. I needed the chocolate to bake a special cake for tonight. Its wonderful to have caring conscientious people like her working for this store. Thank you again for such great service. Denise Breda read more

Definitely has some overpriced items but I always drop by when I can if I'm on cake duty. Best Red Velvet cake in Northern Virginia. The cake is not too sweet, not too heavy but very very moist! Never will disappoint at a party. read more

This place has some good stuff, but a lot of it is overpriced. It's a gourmet grocery store with gourmet prices - even on things you can find at most other grocery stores for less. The salad bar is ok - better than the big boy grocery stores - but not as good as Whole Foods (which I hate for other reasons) and their hot bar has some good stuff on there sometimes, while other times it's a joke. The employees are nice though, and the wine prices are fairly competitive. I suspect that this store is kept alive primarily by clueless, insular, rich elderly Caucasians that have no idea about any other options. I don't feel too sad for them though - they have all that money you know. read more

Very poor service at check out. Five days earlier had been told to use my 10% coupon and save $10 coupon as that could be used any time. Specifically asked about expiration and told they "never expire". Today told $10 coupon had expired! Long wait while management was consulted, other shoppers delayed etc. Decided all this not worth$10, so I left and will not return to Balduccis as there are plenty of better shopping options. One expects better service at a high priced store read more

Again for a second week, Balducci's has hit it out of the park! Today it was CeeCee, I apologize if am butchering your name, pardon the pun:-) CeeCee gave me the same outstanding customer service I received as the week before with Marc. She treated me like a long time customer. She hand picked out a wonderful Sakura Wagyu ribeye, which I demolished tonight. It was divine. Ceecee was yet another example of customer that many specialty stores have yet to master. Bravo again for Mr. Knight's deft management of this Alexandria Balducci's. I am now officially an eternal customer! Thanks again:-) Gail read more

Great place to get my Napa Valley's ... Green Valley Organics lactose free butter supply and other high quality actual dairy products ..... and they deliver!!! read more

Horrible place! Their staff is downright abusive to customers. Most cashiers are incredibly rude and obviously lack proper customer service training. They refuse to say hello or thank you...even after saying thank you to them most typically just ignore. A woman named "Frey" is one of the worst. The meat/fish counter is also terrible. I remember a time last year when myself and another customer who was an elderly woman were standing in line waiting for service. It was at least an hour before store closing. A man from behind the counter came out and yelled at us both for standing there and said "the meat is closed for the evening!" This not only made us both feel bad, but was embarrassing. How would one know the meat/fish counter closed before the rest of the store? Today, I had another terrible interaction at the meat/fish counter with a man named Benjamin. It was shortly after 7 pm and the store was scheduled to close at 9. He was already in the process of taking all the food from the ice. I asked him if he by chance had any salmon filets. He looked disgusted at my question and rudely asked how many pounds I needed. I said I needed about 4 fillets. He rudely shook his head and claimed he didn't know what that meant, and proceeded to say "ma'am they are $22.99 a pound so how many pounds do you need?" while continuing to rudely shake his head. Usually at a meat/fish counter you can ask for 4 fillets and they will happily accommodate the request, often showing the first fillet cut and asking if that size was alright. Why is there such a rude, toxic atmosphere among employees at this store? Although the store looks nice, who would pay these prices to be treated like this by their employees? Shame on you Balducci's of Alexandria! read more

NEVER order catering from this place. We ordered $230 (!!) worth of food for a small office party and these platters were so small. Everyone was carefully tiptoeing around not getting too much and my boss was very nervous the whole time we'd run out. We called to clarify if this truly was the correct size of food. They told us it was and weren't really accommodating. We ordered 1 sandwhich platter, 3 side platters is all we got and we only had ~15 individuals at the party. Sure it's one pound each but don't let that fool you- it comes in a bowl the size of a small mixing bowl. My boss normally loves Balducci's but this time was just really disappointed and plans on never ordering catering from here again. read more

My office orders box lunches from Balducci's and I'm always psyched when that's the case. Their tomato and mozzarella sandwich is good, as is their grilled portabello. The box lunch comes with a mini packet of Hellmann's real mayonnaise, a mini packet of Gulden's spicy brown mustard, a plastic knife, a 2 oz. bag of "Dirty" All Natural Sea Salted chips, a giant cookie, and two napkins. Really it's more food than I need for lunch and surely enough to satisfy most appetites. read more

Balducci's - Grilled Potabello - Grocery Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I used to really enjoy shopping here but have noticed over the years the dismal customer service, i.e., nobody greets you or says hello, employees look unhappy, cashiers barely make eye contact or say thank you after ringing up the purchase. Despite the really cool kitschy hard-to-find items I like to buy even if it's a bit pricey, it's no longer worth my time or money coming here. The negative energy of the employees encompassing the store overrides any desire of mine to shop here. The last time I was here, an item I purchased the night before rang up the regular price instead of the sale price. When I came back the next day to get reimbursed, the female cashier gave me a hard time aka an " attitude". What I mean is that I had to interpret the receipt (that should be her job), tell her where the item was in the store (also should be her job to know), and conclude I wanted a refund for the price difference (also should be her knowledge toolbox). She never apologized for the error or inconvenience of having to come in. I won't be coming back. I'd rather walk a few blocks past this place to the Safeway or drive to nearby Trader Joe's or Harris Teeter. Management really needs to provide customer service training to employees or stop hiring people who do not want to be there. read more

Balducci's - I saw these sitting here when I came to the register - Grocery Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

After a long walk around old town I found myself about to swing by Safeway as I headed home. Chance brought me to Balducci's first, so I figured I'd stop there instead. I was greeted by a display of oranges prominently marked well over $1 each. There was no special label to distinguish them from regular fruit, but they did look slightly better than average. That trend continued as I made my way around the store. The produce and meats looked on average slightly better than usual, and all seemed to be priced 1.5 to 4 times what I'd expect to pay. For the only moderate improvement, I don't feel the cost would be justified. as I looked over the ground beef ($7.99 per pound) I realized shopping at Balducci's would probably cost about as much as going out to dinner, except I'd still have to cook everything myself. -1 star for shockingly overpriced items. -1 star for making the nearby Wholefoods look like a great bargin center -2 stars for reminding me that the cost of eating in Old Town is quadruple what I'd pay at home in Buffalo for identical foodstuffs. (these last two stars are personal, so I've left them off the official rating) Overall, Balducci's might be good in a pinch or if you need a hard-to-find high end item, but unless you're the sort of person that doesn't see a need to justify any purchase under $100, than the prices here will probably make you blanch. read more

Oh, hell. I have a like/dislike relationship with the big B. I like: The store is near my place They have yummy goodies like fresh cannolis, salads, sandwiches, and cheese. They have lots of fresh fruits and veggies. They have fun specialty crackers, olives, and other last minute party bites. The cashiers are nice. The fish guy is nice. I dislike: The freaking prices. Are you kidding me?!? I have gotten nearly-bad sushi more than once. The guys at the cheese counter can be kind of d-baggy. Some of the managers just seem kind of nasty and ticked off that you are in their store. Snotty customers. read more

In order to avoid knee-buckling to the unhealthier lunch options that abound in OT, I stopped in Monday to stock up on lunch fixings for the week. I bought some roasted turkey and smoked ham that do, in fact, make my knees buckle. Being used to slimy U.S. deli-style meats, these were flaky and dry of texture and damn delicious. Not very cheap, but deli stuff normally isn't. The stunner was the $6 I paid for HALF A LOAF OF BREAD. And that's because a full loaf of this "multigrain split-bread" was $12. Sure, I have done some indulgent shit in my day ($400 for shoes, $50 for face wash, etc.) but $12 bread seems outrageous. Except it's delicious. It irks me that B doesn't put nutritional info on its house-made bread. I have no idea how much fiber I'm getting. The main ingredient is "6 choice grain mix (oats, wheat, rye, millet, corn and barley)" which rings in my ears better than the usual "enriched bleach flour, HFCS, etc" shit one normally gets. However, something tells me there has to be a great bread for a more frugal price, somewhere out there. Sing it, Fivel. read more

This is the only place that I know that can cut my Proscuitto just the way I like it, thin but not ripping in parts see through thin. Other than that, Balducci's is over priced. This one in Alexandria doesn't seem busy so I would be leary of how fresh the prepared food is. Do like me, grab half a pound of proscuitto, a block of cheese from their vast assortment (I have found Trader Joe's sometimes has the same cheese at a much better price), and some crackers and bee line it to the cashier. If you start snooping around, you might end up spending $100 on one paper bag full of groceries. I made that mistake before, I will never do it again. read more

Balducci's is a great little food market that has the basics (and lots of cheese). I certainly wouldn't be coming here to do a weekly shop, while the prices are quite expensive here. You will find better quality cuts of meat then your regular supermarket. I live in the area and regularly stop in the pick up organic milk, eggs, craft beer etc. The prices for the things i do get are comparable to other stores in the area. While other shelf items can be a little higher in price. What makes Balducc'is great? the sushi. The takeaway sushi here is amazing, always really nice fresh salmon. I also use the hot food every few weeks. Once again, Delicious salmon sometimes makes it way onto the hot bar, I would certainly recommend that, especially for the price per pound. The same staff have been running the place for a while now and service is always speedy. They also have a rewards program, and you can get cash coupons to spend once hitting a quota. Overall for what it is, Balducci's in Old Town gets 5 stars. read more

Yes, it's expensive. Yes, it has less of a selection than Whole Foods or any generic grocery store. Yes, both of those facts makes it hard to even like a place like Balducci's. BUT if you're in the mood for a great bottle of wine, some cheese, crackers, and maybe a gourmet dessert, Balducci's is a great option. As someone who enjoys torturing herself by going to a store and peering through the glass at rib eye steak that goes for $20 a pound, I really like Balducci's. Don't get me wrong, I don't go too often because it would most definitely add up, but I do enjoy purchasing appetizer items if I'm having friends over for dinner, or if I don't feel like baking, getting some delicious looking (and tasting) brownies. Plus, usually there are a bunch of good specials every day, and if you get on their mailing list, they send you 5% savings coupons every month. So in a recession-ridden America, Balducci's might not be all that practical. But hey, it's yummy. Treat yourself once in a while. read more

My first encounter with any Balducci's was actually at the Old Georgetown Road store in Bethesda with Lesly S. Now, I am a regular at the Old Town Alexandria store. I can always count on this place to help me feed my stress, especially now that bistro meals are $4 off on Thursdays. Thank you economic downturn. I swing by the Balducci's and grab a grilled salmon, artichoke risotto, and grilled vegetable "bistro meal" almost every Thursday these days. The first time I purchased it, I thought the salmon would be all dry and tough after nuking, but it was just as tender and juicy as the moment it came off the grill. When you add a Grand Red Velvet cupcake and a bottle of wine, it's heaven. No, now that the weather is nice enough to sit outside at their little tables and eat, that's heaven. read more

In a nutshell they have extremely inconsistent quality level food at exorbitantly high prices. For instance, if you don't check every sell by date before purchasing you'll regret it when you get home and realize your item has already or will expire within 2 days. Secondly, their prices are outrageous for sometimes disgusting food. I have purchased two steaks for $40 bucks which were not even edible. Oh and let me add they weren't Kobe beef for that price, they were ny strip. We were so angry about the waste of money when we couldn't eat it, that I called them immediately. The manager said if we came in they'd refund the money. I did that the next day and the cashier seemed bothered when she should have apologized. So I got my money back, returned a few weeks later, spent $20 on 7 scallops and was horrified at the quality once again! I never complained since the first time because they seemed so annoyed before, and I stupidly returned on a handful of occasions for the salad bar and deli. The salad bar literally barely changes every day, so you can't get a variety. The quality is meh too. I have had some good roast beef. sandwiches there which were tasty, but before I can compliment too much, I'll add that my fiancé and I went tonight and had 2 disgusting roast beef sandwiches for $17. They most certainly were not rare Kobe roast beef like they sold them as, they were inedible low quality barely chewable well done slop! This is the last time I'll go!! But the owners should take note. You can't charge like you do for low quality food. I'll go to whole foods for deliciousness and save money. End of story!!! read more

Girlfriend brought me here for a quick lunch. I had a relatively short wait to order. I ordered a tuna sandwich on rye. While it tasted alright at the time, it did not sit well. Without being gross you could say it upset my stomach greatly, churning and gurgling all night. The event kept me at my house for the rest of the day. The restroom was clean. The people behind the counter were nice. Based on my "experience" after eating the food, I would not eat here again. read more

Ordered a custom Tiffanys cake on Tuesday for a pickup on Friday. THE BEST CAKE I've had in a long time. Not only CUTE but tasted great with a reasonable price. This made my 40th birthday party awesome. read more

Poor customer service. I have shopped here for five years and have noticed A steady decline in customer service and food quality. It is over priced And needs to correct its game plan and send the staff and checkers Back to customer service school if it wants to survive. read more

OK, so for reasons that will take too long to explain right now but that involve Matt's previous experiences working as a cheese buyer for them, we're somewhat anti-Whole Foods in our house. My best friend has been raving about Balducci's forever, and today we finally checked it out. Holy crap. Matt still gets in his happy place around a good cheese counter. Balducci's has it. Its better than WF, fresher, and with a stronger inventory without overstocking. We decided to get some of our favorite cheese, Midnight Moon (made by Cypress Grove creamery in California), and the stock they have right now is young but creamy, fresh, and all around tasty. Highly recommend it. The pieces they had out were all too big, but they were more than happy to slice us a piece closer to the size we wanted, and even cut us off a little sample before weighing to make sure we were happy with it. Balducci's may be small, but it has a great cheese counter, fresh seafood counter, wine section, and just about everything else. The staff seemed laid back, engaging, and helpful. Its closer to us than WF, and while its a smaller store, prices seem to be equivalent if not a little bit better than WF. And Matt says I'm supposed to mention the yogurt section, which was absolutely amazing. The only complaint was that they didn't carry the Odwalla Limeade that Matt's been craving. This is our new favorite specialty food store, beyond a doubt. We'll be back. Can't wait to sample the made to order sandwiches! Edited to add: the baguette we bought was absolutely perfect. Too many stores are selling baguettes that are too thick, too dense in side, and not crusty enough on the outside. This one was just what it should be - long and thin, crusty on the outside, and fluffy in the middle. YUM. read more

No, it doesn't have the selection of Whole Foods nor is it as inexpensive as Trader Joes . . . BUT, this store has the BEST selection of wine in the area. Check out their website and every 4-6 weeks they have a wine sale: 25% off any mixed case of 12 or more bottles . . . before buying, ask for Janet's help . . . she runs the wine department and is FABULOUS. Oh, and if you're going to stock up on wine, don't overlook the cheese department, another strength of this store. Pricey? Yeah, a bit. But you'll find things here that you won't find elsewhere. read more

Excited to have a place relatively near us that has a sufficient fish counter. They seemed to have some unique/fancy offerings of other things too - the ice cream section was pretty good! But back to the fish counter.. they did NOT have sashimi grade fish any of the times we went - I had initially expected them to have it since they seem to be known for unique/fancy options. I also expected them to have a much better and more diverse wine selection than they had and was a little disappointed. Oh well, a new Harris Teeter is coming soon and I am excited for that! What else is here: plenty of fancy cheeses, lots of fancy sauces, a small meat section. Not a bad place, but not necessarily worth going out of the way for, especially because it is expensive. read more

This place was extremely overpriced. It was a unique market experience but it wasn't worth the price and selections inside the store. Associates were friendly and available to assists and answer questions. Free parking for customer on the next street over and little right inside. Maybe next thing we may try with this place is getting or ordering a cake. Otherwise, not our grocery scene in there at all. read more

OVERALL: Looking for a specific specialty item? They'll have it here...but you'll pay for it. LOCATION: Balducci's is on the corner of St. Asaph and Franklin, a few blocks out of what I call the Old Town Central Zone along King Street. On the plus side, you may actually be able to find a place to park. On the down side--at least for the store--very little foot traffic wanders in. SELECTION: There are prepared foods, a deli, a bakery, coolers/freezers, and shelf-stable goods. Where Balducci's excels is the hard-to-find stuff, especially the hard-to-find ethnic/international stuff. If you're a gourmand, you'll find inspiration here. (If you're a regular person with a regular palate and a regular budget, not so much.) PRICE: Expensive. I was expecting something on par with Whole Foods; I got something more on par with Eataly. I had a 10% off coupon, so I grabbed some pasta sauces and interesting baked goods...but I'm not sure I'll be back. My needs are met by Wegmans and Trader Joe's. I don't need $5 cookies. SERVICE: I didn't need any help while shopping. Checkout was super-fast, probably because there were twice as many employees as shoppers on the Sunday afternoon when I visited. Yikes. Everything I bought was carefully wrapped, including putting the glass pasta sauce jars in brown paper bags. read more

When Sutton Gourmet was in this location I shopped here at least once a week. The Big Corporate brains at Balducci's decided to dumb down the inventory and make it more like a regular grocery store. They succeeded, but kept the high prices. I'll pay a high price for something unusual...not so much for Rice Krispies. They still carry the anchovies I like, so I still stop by once or twice a year. On the whole you'll be better off in terms of selection, quality and price at any large Safeway. read more

I live very close. While convenient, it is not my first choice for groceries as the same name brands you can get elsewhere are overpriced here. Unless I am missing something, there is really nothing unique here. There are nicer and more affordable grocery stores in the area. They do have a decent wine selection here. Tonight I stopped and they had the preview station for XM radio repeating "don't you hate commercials on radio stations? sign up for XM now" blasting the whole time. It was annoying. read more

Great produce, but the cashiers are extremely rude. I normally take it, but not today. Today is the day I lashed back. I am the client in this equation. Get your people in line and make them understand that the client always comes first. I am a loyal client and the cashier today took out her anger on me. Spinet $155 dollars to be treated poorly. Management there does not seem to care. Listen up Corporate Balducci. read more

Is it weird to have a special occassion grocery store? Probably. Whatever. Balducci's is way too spendy for regular, every day grocery shopping and, frankly, their selection just isn't built that way. But there's not a better place around for fancy cheeses, deliciuos baked goods, single serving bottles of champagne, sixty different types of gourmet potato chips and amazing deli sandwiches. It's my favorite place to stock up for a picnic in Old Town. It ain't cheap, but it's tasty! read more

mostly stopped going when they closed down their hot food and salad bars. but I did stop in for a cup of coffee the other day. only to discover that they are charging 11% tax on the coffee!!! Firehook around the corner charges something like 2.5%. Both charge $1.95. the tab with tax at Firehook is $2. at Balducci it's $2.17. Makes you wonder what other fast ones they're pulling. read more

Poor customer service. My dad had a 10% coupon and we were shopping separately in the store. We intended to meet up at the register and use the coupon on one purchase, but he accidentally used it on just his. When I showed up a moment after the transaction and tried to get the coupon applied to our other basket of stuff, they wouldn't let us use it again. Left a bad impression, and also I ended up not buying most of what I had picked out. read more