As egg prices have skyrocketed I'm always on the hunt for the best deal on a dozen. As compared to Key Food a few minutes away this CTown seems to offer a bit better prices with some being on sale, where Key Food seems to have no break on prices or sales for months now. Gotta comparison shop and save a few cents whenever we can! read more

why do people still come here , everything is overpriced and not good quality in here

C Town Supermarket has always been on my radar when I walk past. Amazing enough until this visit I've never been inside a C Town that I can remember. I know nothing about this company. They do appear to have their own store brands for sale in addition to the big names. I found this store to be very well stocked, very reasonably priced and the cashiers are very friendly. Where else can you pick up a bagel to go for 59 cents? I know I'll be back. I wish it was closer to my apartment. read more

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They no longer have brown paper bags to carry your groceries home. And NYC has prohibited single-use plastic bags. So, in order to shop there, you must either bring your own bags or carry everything home in your hands. Their policy used to be that you could purchase brown paper bags for 5 cents. Now they no longer stock any brown paper bags. I've seen frustrated customers who had already picked out items to purchase leave them behind because they didn't bring a bag. When I asked why they no longer have brown paper bags, they claim that there is no distributor that sells them. I can't believe that is true. I think there are two possibilities: (1) gross incompetence by a manger who doesn't know how to contact any one of dozens of companies that would readily supply brown paper bags or (2) someone is intentionally trying to sink the business for some reason. There's no sensible business reason to not stock brown paper bags, especially when your customers are used to paying for them. This insane decision leads to customers either buying far less OR leaving the store in frustration. I used to spend far more in C-Town but since this new anti-customer policy, I can no longer just stop by without planning it in advance. And if I do go in, I buy two or three items instead of the 15 or so I used to buy. MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO AVOID AND GO TO ANOTHER STORE THAT IS CAPABLE OF CARRYING OUT THE MOST BASIC OF CUSTOMER SERVICE FUNCTIONS. Think about it--if a store is unable to source brown paper bags, how confident can you be that they are able to store meat and fish at safe temperatures? After all, it's FAR harder to maintain refrigerators than it is to stock brown paper bags, and if they're so incompetent that they're unable to stock brown paper bags, I have questions about their food handling procedures. I know this comes off as alarmist, but any grocery store that doesn't have a clue how to stock brown paper bags should be visited by the Health Department daily and have every detail of their operations closely scrutinized. read more

Everything about this store is terrific exclamation point I walk 16 blocks round-trip and because they don't deliver to my area I have to carry my groceries all that way. It is worth it! The store is very clean. The staff is lovely. Helpful and courteous. Their prices are the best of any store in the area. They have a frequent shopper card. That is a really nice perk. At Christmas this year you got a really nice reusable tote bag with no advertising! One year we got very nice keychain flashlights, which is very handy to keep in my pocketbook. One year we got really nice pens. They always try to do something to show they appreciate the customer. read more

I tried a new product that I noticed was on sale and it instantly made me sick. It was a 4-pack of sugar-free rice pudding - a dairy product that was going to expire in a month, but hadn't yet expired. I noticed it was marked down about half its price - perhaps because it was defective. I tried to return the product within 24 hours of purchasing because my stomach instantly started to rumble and the reaction was clearly caused by the product. When I presented the receipt to the cashier, he treated me condescendingly and said he'd ask the manager, who then referred me to another person who said there was nothing he could do and "it was me - not the product." Because of this horrible customer service and policy not to accept the return, I will not be shopping there again. It was a $3.50 purchase out of a grocery run that cost over $130 - it's not about the money, but I'm glad there are other options in the neighborhood. read more

On October 8th at 19:20:14 hours, I visited the C Town on 1999 1st Ave, New York, NY 10029 to purchase some meet to prepare for dinner on the following day. Upon unwrapping the package, it released a strong odor similar to something that has been fermenting. I immediately wrapped it and placed in the freezer so I can return it. When I called the store, I spoke with someone who stated that she was the manager but refused to provide her name. After informing her about the bad meet (ground pork), she told me that I could not return it because I was supposed to contact them immediately. I decided to post this review because I want people to be aware especially the elderly. I know that food poisoning is very command but now I have to worry about meet that appears to be fresh in supermarket because the owners have applied some type of coloring to it making it appear to be fresh. They do not give a damn who becomes ill or dies as long as they make their money. So guys be aware. I will contact the department of health as well and will not be returning to this particular C Town on 1999 1st Ave, New York, NY 10029. (212) 360-5849 . read more

I recently converted from going to Whole Foods and TJ to only shopping at CTown. Huge selection with great prices. Also really nice staff and there's never a checkout line. read more

When we needed to do some serious shopping the experts pointed in this direction. My daughter comes here regularly so this is where she sent us. We almost walked by the entrance because it is inconspicuous, but once inside I was surprised, it is quite large and like many places in NYC, it is a maze. It is obvious that it wasn't meant to be a large market, but that is of no matter. You just need to try to remember where you came from a la Hansel and Gretel, but without the breadcrumbs. They might not appreciate it. I found everything I was looking for, even a specific type of cornmeal to make Arepas with. Prices are NY prices, but not bad. My first choice in shopping when in my second home. read more

Solid supermarket on the UES with $2 delivery and a good selection of niche beverages (cactus water anyone?). The store itself is much smaller than Key Foods so the selection is not as great but if you know what you want and the normal inventory for the store, this is a great option. It is not nearly as crowded as Key Foods and the bulk foods selection is better if you are looking for freshly packed nuts, seeds, sweets, etc. Plus, the staff is great and they have yogurt-covered pretzels (don't ask). Yes, I do have my priorities straight. read more

I really like this market. The staff is really friendly and helpful. I have gone shopping here (First Ave) several times while visiting my son. I have not had a bad experience at CTown, unlike the Whole Foods a few blocks away. Keep up the great customer service! read more

A very good "small" supermarket in terms of product, people and service. It does get busy especially between 5-7p and can be frustrating to navigate the store during peak times. However, the cashiers as well as other employees, are consistently nice and helpful. They generally carry anything you would need for day-to-day, and items are of good quality. The store is always clean and they run good sales as well. A solid 4-star establishment. read more

This store is amazing... From its MANAGER CHRIS to the assistant manager to the stock boys to the register people... If you can not find what you are looking for they will TRY their damndest to get it... When you are looking for those SPECIAL things to make that THANKSGIVING DINNER SPECIAL they again make it happen... Thank you read more

Cheaper by the Dozen Buy in bulk here and save a bundle. When i was in college C-Town was a savior. As a semi-professional, I go here when i need a lot of something for a reasonable price. Not great on freshness or quality, but you get what you pay for. Best for getting, dry goods and canned food, stock up for the winter with the weekly sales and hibernate with some mac and cheese, trust me you will survive. read more

these are the most rude people you'll meet in new york. there are so many great places to choose from, a few doors down from this location. i recently moved here and will never visit this store again because of the amazingly rude service. you'll find great customer service and even better kept stores of this chain close by. absolutely the worst grocery store in manhattan, bar none. read more

Not too far from where I live, but still farther than the Food Emporium. I still prefer C-Town between the two. Probably within the same price range, but their selections are better and everything just looks nicer. I am used to C-Towns being a but run-down in the other boros, so I was pleasantly surprised at this location. I would definitely shop here during the week though, and not right after 6pm to avoid the rush. It definitely gets busy here, particularly on the weekends. read more

Decent store with decent prices.You wont go crazy shopping and nor will you spend hours browsing through aisles..(Not sure about ya'll but i spend a lot of time in grocery stores(the ones I love).Somehow the back aisles feel dark and dingy and the aisles are very narrrow and its hard to find a staff around except for the ones at the cashier Most of the time you will get what you are looking for and you need not go to Food Emporium which have insane prices.They dont carry a wide selection of all items which kinda restricts you to choose amongst the couple brands they carry.Their produce doesn't look very exciting. Overall not a bad store and you get your basics without any fuss. read more

In a concerted effort to avoid any Gristedes Supermarkets, I began frequenting this supermarket and have never looked back. I will agree that the layout is labyrinthine and when it's crowded, it's a game of bumper carts and strollers, but if you can avoid peak times it's a non-issue. I'm not sure how they have managed to fit as many products into limited room but they have, making this one stop shopping. I've always been impressed with their produce and their meat selection is a real plus. The thing I like most is that there is always something I need on sale. I never walk away feeling like I didn't get a great deal, which is rare for a grocery trip these days. Sometimes I find myself going twice a week just to stock up on the bargains. (There are three 64oz bottles of Ocen Spray on the kitchen floor right now) The thing that makes this C-Town stand out a little more though is it's international flair. There are many regional foods all different nationalities, skewing most toward Asian fare. Think curries, rices, teas, sauces, and marinades. Does your supermarket carry mochi, Yan Yan, or Hi-Chew? Three rolls for $1.25. How can you go wrong? read more

Overall the store is nice, but the layout is horrendous. If there are a lot of people in the store checking out it is a hassle to cross the store. The lines quickly start to form in the aisles behind the registers. The deli is friendly but small. I think the store is a little smaller than Key Food around the corner, but is still a good size. Try and go early in the day to avoid the mass, Saturday and Sundays are the worst, so try and and get there early or before closing. read more

Clean and cheap. Surprisingly fresh if limited produce section. Yes, there's an odd layout -- the frozen section swells into its own semi-autonomous space in the back, like a camel's hump -- but one visit is all it'd take to familiarize you with the space. C-Town has obviously made an effort to seem slightly more gourmet here. Alongside its own suppliers' Krasdale brand you'll find all the staples of a Citarella or Whole Foods. I've been up and down the Manhattan supermarket chain ladder from Key Food to Fairway to Gourmet Garage. This uptown location of the downmarket C-Town puts most mid-market retailers to shame. read more

We go here every week. It's okay. The sales are good. Be careful with sales on meats -- they sometimes sell it after its "sell by" date. I would NOT buy produce here. I accidentally dropped an apple and it rolled a good 20 feet away from me. When I picked it up and gave it to the worker there (who saw the whole thing) he dusted it off on his not-too-clean coat and placed it front and center. Other than that, the prices are pretty good. I will not over pay for Gristedes -- there is no point in paying $6 for orange juice at Gristedes when you can get the same orange juice 2 for $6 at CTown. I do wish it was nicer looking, though. The aisles are small small small and yes, the placement of things make no sense. read more

It was the first store I walked in since I lived in this area. The entrance is quite confusing, but it isn't a big issue. You almost can get everything you need here. The cooked-section draws my attentions, cooked ham, cooked turkey, lasagna, broccoli, drumstick, fried rice and french fries etc, I will try them tomorrow. read more

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Great supermarket. Has everything you need at the best prices on the upper east side. What I like is, even though when you look in and go in , the place looks crowded with customers, the check out line moves super fast because they have so many open registers, just look and pick the short one with a person ahead of you with a fee items on the conveyor belt and you will be out the door with your bags in less than two minutes tops. I can't stand those other places that make you wait 5+ minutes to check out and pay for their overpriced merch. And this place has convenient hours 8am to 10pm every single day. It's beautiful and I just love it. read more

I don't mind walking the extra 2 blocks to rid myself of 'food eporium' and get cozy shopping at 'c-town.' Not only is everything cheaper, but the selection is more diverse and the atmosphere is inviting....which is weird because this store is at least 3 times smaller than 'food eporium'. Ok, they also have Asian food randomly dispersed throughout and a shelf of kosher friendly foods if you are looking for those kind of items. The radio plays nostalgic music. It has happened more than once that people in the store are singing along or humming. It cant be helped. Want to be happy when you shop? Shop C-Town. read more

This really isn't a bad little store, despite its small size and somewhat small selection. The store is always clean and has many items on sale. The fruits, veggies, and meats are of good quality and the deli counter has a good selection. Moreover, the meats are packaged in pretty small containers, so they are ideally sized for a single person or couple looking to cook a quick dinner. This probably isn't the kind of store for a big grocery trip, but if you're looking to pick something up something for dinner, then you can get in and out of here quickly. Overall, I enjoy stopping by this store when I don't think I can brave the chaotic mess of Fairway after work. read more

So I've been looking for a descent store with descent prices and hopefully good customer service. Yes, I know but I stayed hopeful. I literally live behind a grocery store on York but I walk out of my way to make it up to C-town. The prices are great and they have a large selection of gourmet items. I love that they always have yogurts on sale. That's my "go to food " instead of chocolate so as you've probably guessed I buy a lot of yogurt. The yogurts are usually for $1.00 which is unheard of here in the city. The aisles are a bit cramp but I'm beginning to understand that's the norm here in the city. The lay out is easy to remember and it's clean. I try to go early in the morning so it never seems crazy in the store. I've always been able to go in and out of this store without any problems. The best part of this store is that the check out lines are great. They actually move quickly. The employees are helpful and nice. Don't expect a perfect store but for me....they have the items that I need for a good price. read more

Ctown has good quality items at fairly low prices. They don't compete with other groceries like fairway though, because they don't carry as many varieties. For example, they don't have a bakery with cakes or cupcakes. They exceed in quality but don't have as many food items as other stores. If your planning a big event then I would go to a bigger market or at least buy main meals at a more primary place and stick to Ctown with appetizers or snacks. Overall Ctown is a good market with a reasonable selection of snacks and food at generally good prices. read more

This place has all the basics of a proper grocery store at decent prices for the city. The only problem -- it smells funny. Don't let the smell deter you, there isn't much better choice around this area, unless you are ok with a longer walk. read more

I came here to gather supplies for a bridal shower and was able to find everything I needed from fancy Izze's sodas and bags of ice to gluten-free crackers (they're back in the maze by toward the frozen section not by the other chips) and a variety of salsas and cheeses. I am from Tennessee where grocery stores are large and in charge, but honestly, I wasn't expecting that grocery shopping would be so easy in NYC! Good work, C-town. read more

This is a pretty decent grocery store for the city. C-Town has just about everything you could possibly need at quite reasonable prices. Of course the nice thing is that since this is the City, in the event they don't have something, another store --- such as Eli's for example --- will be located nearby to meet your needs. I am very happy with this C-Town and don't see the need to go anywhere else for my regular grocery needs. read more

I think C-Town is a fine grocery. It's on the small side (maybe not for NY standards), but it does carry most of the things I need. The produce here is ok, not great. I bought some tomatoes and green squash recently, and while both were a great price on sale, I really had to pick through them to find fresh, unbruised veggies. They usually have quite a few things on sale. I recently got boxes of pasta for $1, salad dressing for $2, and mayo for $3. Not too bad. But if you pay regular price here, it can get a little out of hand. The aisles are also a little narrow, so it can be a little tricky to navigate if you come here at peak times when it's packed. Just a note: do not buy the off brand paper towels here...they are terrible. They fall apart every time I try to clean up a spill. Yes, they were like 75 cents, but I would recommend spending the extra $$ to get decent paper towels. read more

I love this place. I used to live a few blocks away and would walk by and it looked unremarkable. Now that its less than a block away I thought I should check it out and see how it is, and I was so impressed! Let me start by saying I'm a total foodie. Unfortunately, my budget doesn't allow me to shop at Zabar's and Dean and Deluca all the time. I've tried Key Foods, and it kind of grosses me out. This is the perfect balance. They have all the organic, higher quality products but also normal, generic, lower cost products for the places you want to save money. It's really clean and the produce and meat sections are fresh. The weekly specials and prices are great - I feel like I get double the groceries for the same cost as other stores. And, I don't feel like I sacrifice anything to save money, like I do when I shop at places like Key Foods. It's not a high-end gourmet market by any means, but it does a great job at being a normal, clean, fresh neighborhood store! read more

Least expensive store I have found in the area so far. Good palce to get some name brand items like Doritos and Pepsi. I dont think Fairway carries that kind of thing. And I detest Gristedes. I usually grab up whatever goes on sale that week. Delivery is only $2. read more

I love C-Town so I decided to make the trek 30 blocks with my backpack and check this one out. Everything is SUCH good quality and its just big enough to have everything you need and then some. On par with Trader Joe's pricing, which is AMAZING on UES. I took a 1/2 price via home in 10 mins - totally worth the trip! I went on Sunday, early evening, and the lines were super fast and the store wasn't overly crowded. read more

I am relatively new to using this CTown since I live over 25 blocks away - BUT, I have been pleased with the fact that this location seems to always have the flyer items available & that with beforehand online perusing you can find some super deals. The last time I shopped there I got 6 of the low-fat cream cheese blocks that they had for .99 & I'm seeing 27 oz frozen pies for 1.99 advertised currently so thinking about making the trip. Certainly better prices than anything I find at Gristedes, Food Emporium, DiAgostinos or Whole Foods. read more

When it comes to grocery stores in the city, this place is the closest to prices that you find outside of the city. No doubt, at least 20% cheaper than the alternatives, gristedes, fairway, and wholefoods. They run regular sales on items that I actually buy, which is always a big plus. There is a large selection of fruits, veggies, and basically everything except for meat. The quality of meat is good, just limited selection. You will definitely not find a steak here or a wide range of ground beefs. They do have the basics though, and that is plenty for my standard weekly shopping. It has been rare that I can't find something off a recipe here, they are well stocked for sure. The owner and his staff are very helpful as well. The store is super clean and I have noticed updates throughout the years, they definitely take care of the place. Possibly the best thing is that you will never wait more than 5 minutes to check out. Typically, no wait at all. read more

ok, we all know city prices are outrageous...but c-town is priced right...actually priced AMAZINGLY. Good meats, if you know your stuff, great sales, fresh vegetables, only good shoppers shop here. Worth the trek uptown, believe me! Also, they sell a lot of ethnic specialty foods, if your in the market for that sort of thing. read more

I'm not one of those Upper East Siders who can drop $40 at Fairway or Whole Foods for a week's worth of groceries. I like to browse weekly circulars and stock my pantry up with whatever's on sale. And man oh man does C-Town have some great deals! Typical prices: -$1.99/lb for green/red/yellow peppers, when on sale green peppers are $.99.lb (rarely though) -$1.99/lb for tomatoes on the vine -$.99/lb for onions and they have spanish, yellow, white -$1-2/bunch for a variety of herbs such as cilantro, parsley, dill, basil -An astonishing $2ish for scallions? :( boooo -Usually around $2-3/lb for chicken breast but there was this one time when it was on sale for $1.49/lb!! That's the lowest I've seen since 2008. Definitely not organic. -Whole chickens were being sold for $.89/lb - great for making stock/soup -$1.99 for a decently large bag of Domino's sugar. Their baking section is pretty stocked! Sales are frequent here too. -$1 for Duncan Hines cake mix -$2ish for Jiffy's peanut butter -$3 for Tropicana OJ -$4 for spam -$3-4 for Talenti or Ciao Bella gelato if you wait for the right time (don't steal my pistachio stash) -$1 greek yogurts -$8-9 for 6 pack of beer and they have larger packs available as well. Respectable selection which includes Leffe (love my Belgians), Sam Adams, Blue Moon, Blue Point, Buds, and definitely some seasonals in there. They carry RonnyBrook milk (skim, whole, chocolate) too. It's sold in Chelsea market and comes from a local farm in upstate NY, and their milk is delicious! Comes in a large glass (and this is heavy duty glass) bottle. At first the price seems hefty for milk (~$2 for whole and ~$3 for chocolate), but there's actually a $2 bottle deposit if you bring the bottle back to C-Town after you're done! You're helping the environment and supporting cows who are loved :) It's kinda tight in there and you really gotta squeeze in between other shoppers and their carts, but it's so worth it for these prices! Cashiers are friendly and no matter what time I go, I never have to wait on a line of more than 2 people to check out. read more

If you are trying to stick to a budget, C-Town is the best place to go. The layout of the store is a little different but you can usually move around easy, although it does get tight around 6pm and on the weekends. Good selection of items and their store brand (Krasdale) is typically good quality and the lowest price. I recommend checking out their weekly specials on-line before you shop to help save some money. Definitely the place to go if your trying to avoid the outrageous prices of Associated and Gristedes. read more

I love this store, it's not only the closest grocery store to my apt, it's the best. I am basing this off of a comparison to 3 other stores in my area (Foodland, Gristedes, and Key Foods). The food is cheaper, the specials are actually special, and the staff is top notch. I have nothing to complain about here, it is a fabulous shopping experience everytime. read more