I think I figured out why I like this store so much. First, they have a lot of employees who have been there since I first started going there five years ago. That includes checkers and management. So nice to see familiar faces and competent people. The wait time at the checkout lines is never very long. Prices are reasonable. Not the lowest but some things are lower than Roche Brothers. The parking lot is easy to get in and out. If you go the two places across town, you know how treacherous those lots can be... Last, they play classical music and the store is always clean. Very consistent experience every time. read more

cafe is adding water to their chili. was more like soup. I have been a customer for years and this is not okay to do this.

Average supermarket. Good size. Has everything you need. Prices are a bit expensive and can be improved. Staffing is average. Ambiance of store is great. read more

They have a reputation for being pricey and I've been OK with that because it's a smaller store and the staff is personable. But today may have pushed me over the line. A 2-liter bottle of Pepsi was $3.69. LMAO Even Roche Bros. doesn't price gouge like that. And 2-liter Pepsi bottles are often 2 for $3 at Stop & Shop. I can't wait until the new Stop & Shop opens. All that said, I'll miss Donelans when they are gone :( read more

This is a fairly overpriced market. When ever I go in to grab something and I don't stick to my list I'll end up with a bag or two of groceries for $120.00!! I try avoiding it as much as I can.... read more

This store has changed dramatically since new owners took over from the original family. Prices and so much higher i.e. $2.00 for a gallon of PS water which is ridiculous. Everything has gone up because the new owners have priced all items more, and the quality has gone down. I used to buy fish here and never will again because I don't trust it to be fresh. I don't shop at this store anymore and would rather drive a few extra miles to get reasonable prices and freshness. read more

Editing my review to drop a star. Just got home and notice that my biscuit mix is going to expire in 2 days. Seriously- I'm going to eat a dozen biscuits before Friday??? I HATE stores that don't keep on top of their expiration dates. ******************************* Normally I go to the Donelans in Wayland, but this place is across the street from my chiropractor. So decided to stop in today. It's bigger than the wayland location. Has a little cafe area with seating so you can actually buy lunch and eat it there. Lots of prepared foods. Tiny deli. Large bakery. Tiny wine selection. Frozen foods hidden around aback corner. Donelans caters to the local population so selection varies from store to store. Attracts an obnoxious entitled clientele. Apparently I took up too my space on the conveyor belt. Do the lady behind me in line felt it necessary to start stacking my food up so she could put her stuff up. Then she thought I took too much time to push my cart out of the store and let me know it. I thought Wayland people were snooty, but at least we aren't rude. read more

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The cashiers here are always so nice. I wish the baggers would learn simply bagging techniques like not putting bunch of bananas on your bread or putting ur grapes with cans. Staff is usually helpful. Food is pretty fresh. read more

I don't shop here much, prices are insane. But do get a few things when priced ok. Had to return one such item here recently. One item, with a receipt. Was given a bunch of attitude in my face by Sarah L. Will never shop here again. Hope they can get replaced by a Shaw's or Stoppy (too small for Wegman's or Whole Foods) or something else. read more

This is an amazing market. The folks complaining are complaining for the wrong reasons. If you have the cash, or choose not to consume much, like me (by choice, thankfully) - then by all means, go to Donelan's. You don't go to a Donelan's because it's cheap - you go for more exotic ingredients, and basically because there is no Whole Foods in the area. With Donelan's, you don't need it. It is a nice mix of exotic, local brands and nationwide options. If you choose to consume things like soda and love junk food, then go to Market Basket, stock up and get the cheap stuff. If you are complaining about not being able to save $3 on 5 Fage Yogurts, by all means, go and waste that in gas travelling to another market. I personally live alone and have never spent more than $80 at a time on groceries alone, and I cook all the time and carefully choose ingredients that can mix and match well with others, and I very rarely ever throw away spoiled food. I have never filled a large cart with food, even when I was buying for a family. I prefer simply quality over bags and bags of chips and cookies overflowing from my cart. Donelan's not cheap, but as a Boston transplant used to her local Whole Foods (for the exotic stuff, mostly) I love that I can buy natural cleaners, herbes de province, and gluten free cake batter when I want to. Underconsuming and consciously living is a lifestyle, and if spending a few bucks more for good things bug you - then Market Basket is your store. (No disrespect to Market Basket - great store - but the brands are tired, same foods from 30+ years ago) read more

Over priced and staff is unprofessional, unfriendly and uncaring - We have been placing online orders the past month or so, ALL have had missing items that we were charged for OR had to go back to the store to retrieve a bag that they forgot to give us. The electronic receipt they provide you with online after they 'pick' an order, DOES NOT match the physical receipt (if you actually get one) and the actual over-priced charge is discrepant as you get multiple receipts???? The woman I spoke with on the phone to confirm a missing item was nothing but rude, unprofessional and unapologetic. Rather than helping, she was accusatory and demeaning. This store is not worth the price or the aggravation you go through when experiencing an issue with an order. I will not be spending another penny at this dump run on ignorance. I will be sure to share my experience with others- read more

Waaaay overpriced! Coke hardly ever on sale and if it is- it's $5 case!?? Deli gets my order wrong half the time. Management follows me around sometimes at the Wayland store because I'm frumpy and look like I might steal I guess. Fagè yogurt 1.69, other places $1.00 or $1.25. The sales are like other places regular prices..lol It's a store for the Elite who don't know the prices of anything b/c they don't need too. read more

So before I start the review process here: I must preface this with, I have never given a one star review for what you are about to read. What has happened here today is traumatizing, disgusting, and should lead to some serious disciplinary action. I have never urged for the firing of an individual but I hope you'll understand why now I think it's necessary. Ok, so I went to Donelan's today to do some shopping because I was at The Fish Nook around the corner. I entered Donelan's, and the minute I got there, I noticed a woman- AN EMPLOYEE- pretty intensely looking at me. I switched aisles to escape her glare. She was still behind me. When my white male companion and I (Latina female) split up the first time, she transitioned to the aisle I was in. I thought- no big deal, we'll lose her. We moved toward the meat in the back. She was still behind us. We moved closer to the butcher shop; she hovered over us there as well. We looked at each other and moved down one aisle. She followed. We decided to split up. Guess who she followed? Well, it wasn't a young white man. It was me, a Latina woman. Coincidence? I don't think so. In an era in which even would-be politicians think it's okay to make people like me feel like criminals, it still hurts at my core to have to be reminded, by a stranger, that no matter how hard I've worked for everything I am, they will define me by my skin color. When I asked her why she was following me, she said, "I'm not following you," and then I responded telling her she's taken every single step I've taken and been hovering over me the whole time. She said, "I'm just shopping," clearly overwhelmed that someone with my skin tone could not only speak English but also call her out on her BS. She was not a shopper; when I was checking out, I saw her put back all the groceries she'd falsely taken off shelves and heard her answering an elderly white woman's questions. This was a woman in a managerial position who let her prejudice dictate her work life...a middle-aged woman in her 40s or 50s with blondish hair and a beige shirt. This was not a coincidence. I was wearing a black jacket to (1) deal with the air conditioning in the car and (2) conceal a heart monitor I wear under it. This was not visible to her, as it was clear all she saw was brown skin and the embodiment of criminality. She did not see a middle-class, employed, Ivy League educated adult. She saw what she wanted to see: my skin tone. This is the most disgusting interaction I've ever had with a business and I commit to boycotting them and urge any of you who so desperately want us to all be equal, to do the same. read more

Ridiculously overpriced! If you don't believe me compare for yourself. A supermarket with convenience store prices. A perfect place for housewives or husbands who don't know the value of a dollar, or don't particularly care. read more

Overrated! Very expensive. Ya it's well staffed & clean. But I don't think anyone on any sort of a budget could afford to shop here regularly. Noticed produce often on its last legs, probably because they don't sell much because its so expensive! Ya they pipe in fancy music, I even heard on New Years Eve they have a harpist? Beer & wine is a good touch. I'll stick with the crowds at Market Basket. read more

I always like coming here. It's a manageable size, you can park close and get in and out fast, the bakery is good and for the most part the prices are actually the same as any other supermarket, except maybe market basket. You always think little supermarkets are going to be insanely expensive (I'm looking at you Crosby's) but this one is not. read more

I'm not going to complain too much about Donelan's. The store is clean, well organized and they have a fair selection of just about everything. I like the prepared sushi bar and its reasonably priced. Here's what's not reasonably priced: everything else in the store. I'm an observant shopper and this place charges a little bit more than the other guys. This must be some kind of extra tax for living in Acton. I'm not saying that shopping at Whole Foods would be less expensive, but at least you'd be getting organic, natural, whatever products. On a final note, whats with the freakin' Harpist?? read more

Starting to stop here a little more often - and less to Roche. Mostly because of my commute (I am officially boycotting the horrible mess that is Rt2 these days). Its somewhere between Roche and a normal grocery store. Pretty good overall, but not as good as a Whole Foods by any means. Staff seems generally well informed and quite pleasant. No real complaints here - and must give them some credit for carrying Terroir coffee - impressive. One big benefit over Roche - this parking lot was not designed by some sadistic whacko. It works properly. read more

Came here to pick up some stuff when I ran out of supplies during my bbq at nearby Nara Park. I really liked this store. Came inside and was blown away with how beautiful the inside was.. it looked so much fancier than Market Basket and Stop and Shop. I went up to go peruse the bakery aisle to pick up a birthday cake and found the selection to be pretty good. The prices weren't the best but from what everyone told me about the taste.. it was well worth it. I asked them to put some words on it and the bakery workers were nothing but smiles the whole time. Overall experience.. liked it a lot. read more

This is a great grocery store, sort of a combination of Trader Joe's coolness and Whole Foods wholesomeness and all-around fun-times during a shopping expedition. I have been to the smaller Donelan's in Groton, across from Filho's and up the road from the phenomenal Herb Lyceum (HA! There's my gratuitous reference to Gilson's in this post!) and it is fine, but the one in Acton is over the top for a smallish chain of grocery stores. I happened to stop in to this store while Christmas shopping and in addition to the food items I actually went in to buy, I got: a wonderful assortment of Mexican salsas, bean dips and things, to add to a theme food basket gift, as well as a really nice bird feeder and sack of bird seed for meaghan s. Ya just never know where and when gift-giving inspiration will strike! read more

Local, family-owned supermarket. Good variety. Courteous staff. Great atmosphere. I would call their prices fair not expensive. I need amend my review here: This store has clearly responded to the perception that their prices are high - they have sales in every isle and their regular prices are the same as Roche Bro's and other places I shop. Not expensive at all. read more

We use instacart for a disabled family member. One of the deliveries got mixed-up and became a pick-up. When we realized the error, which was from a phone call, we asked them if the food could be delivered to our family member. The hour was latter than expected, and probably a shift change going on, it is 5pm more or less, and the store manager stepped right-up and said HE would. With everything going on I would have sent someone else. You know the saying about the cat away... The delivery worked without a hiccup. We were so thankful, oh ya did I say we lived 2 hours away from Acton, we bought a "DD" gift card. read more

I work near Donelan's, and many of my coworkers rave about what an awesome supermarket it is, from the salad bar and prepared food section, to the cool atmosphere, like the harpist who I have caught playing Stairway to Heaven. Here is something my coworkers do not rave about: diarrhea. Yes, I said diarrhea. I have eaten at this supermarket's salad bar several times, and each time developed crippling, awful, camping-out-in-the-bathroom-stall-for-an-hour, flushing-repeatedly-to-hide-the-wails-of-agony diarrhea. I don't know why after two incidents I kept trying, but I did. And it kept happening. Every time I ate there, and only when I ate there. Now, a lot of people say that you don't get symptoms of food poisoning within such a short period of time, but a quick Google search on "fast-acting food poisoning" indicates that Staphylococcal Food Poisoning can start displaying symptoms (including, surprise, diarrhea) within as little as 30 minutes. So, I have reason to believe that certain items in their salad bar are rife with bacteria shedding these ill-making toxins into the food. If I had to guess, I would say it is the feta cheese or the chicken, but these are just wild guesses. If you are feeling adventurous, maybe you want to try it out and test your luck. As far as the rest of the restaurant goes -- I'd like to offer a hearty "meh". I am from Westchester County, NY, and this store would fit in right there. It exudes an atmosphere that allows shoppers to think they might be in some "Real Housewives of Acton, MA" television program. It's a pretentious atmosphere, with normal grocery products (usually marked up) on the shelves broken up by the occasional display of premium luxury items, like an $8 mini bag of chocolate covered almonds or organic locally-made soy candles. It can be fun to browse, and you can find a few fussy luxury items you wouldn't find elsewhere, but overall it's overpriced, fussy, and trying a little too hard to be hip. And for what? It's a supermarket, for crying out loud. read more

Management in this store obviously takes customer service very seriously. My wife stopped by the fish counter to inquire about mussels listed in the circular as being on sale. Unfortunately they had none in stock. Not only did the fellow behind the counter call to another store to ask if they had any, within the space of five minutes four more people observed her standing there waiting and asked if they could help her. When we got to checkout she asked to speak to the manager and the response was instantaneous - obviously concerned that there was a problem - when all she wanted to do was compliment him and his staff on their helpfulness. Kudos to a business that appreciates their customers and wants to see them satisfied. read more

Found this store on a Saturday I was in Acton for a Volleyball tournament with my daughter. Fantastic grilled pilgrim turkey sandwich. Unexpectedly good especially the carved turkey breast. read more

Donelan's used to be a nice place to shop, but not anymore. It has become a very expensive grocery store. Plus, management seems horrible and I have seen them yelling across the store at employees. Covid has been challenging for everyone and I can imagine especially for grocery workers. It is terrible to see workers get yelled at and treated badly. Makes me know I can not shop there anymore. Donelans is just not the business they used to be. read more

Expensive? Yes. But food shopping is something you have to do weekly so it might as well be in a comfortable environment. It's super clean and their produce is top notch. The staff is extremely helpful and cheerful.....like stepping back in time to a simpler, happy place. You can find anything under the sun and don't have to fight for a parking spot miles away. I've never waited in line more than a minute or two either. Now you might conclude that the prices keep the masses away and therefore it's quieter. That's probably true and it doesn't bother me one bit. It's a personal choice how one spends their money. For me, the extra cost is worth it. Think Home Depot vs local hardware store for a comparison. read more

The Donelan's in Acton actually has a small sit-down area to enjoy a quick lunch from their hot foods section (Littleton does not have a sit-down area). There is also a coffee, cupcake, and gelato area as well. This location is bigger and feels slightly more upscale than the one in Littleton. read more

This a pretty good grocery store- they have most of everything that I need as well as wine/beer! On top of that, there are certain cashiers that are incredibly nice and I enjoy going through their lines. They don't have much of a beauty aisle, so most of those purchases necessitate a trip to another store. I grew up with Wegmans, so nothing really compares to it. Donelan's is a nice store and I have found that I go here more often than the other local grocery stores. read more

I thankfully saved all my receipts from the local grocery stores to compare pricing and holy f@&$.... To give you an idea, feta cheese at market basket or stop and shop is about $2.99, donelans has it at $5.99. $1.00 lunchables at market basket or stop n shop, is $2.45 at donelans Milk at donelans is roughly .50-.75 centers more expensive then any other market. Bread at donelans is marked up Juice is marked up Soda is marked up Every thing is marked up.... I asked for a membership card and the manager goes , "Here at Donelans, we don't have a membership card cause everyone gets the best price that beats every other store around" Sorry but I don't foresee myself ever coming back read more

Really nice prepared food section. Tried their fried chicken and was really impressed. Fresh with a light crunchy coating and great flavor. You can choose legs or breasts. Very helpful workers. In the deli section, they have in-store baked ham and turkey. Both look worth bringing home. Debit check-out was kind of a pain with a communication error. Third try was the trick. I really liked the store and would go out of my way for their fried chicken. read more

Donelan's Supermarket - Acton Location - Delis Near Me - Acton, Massachusetts

All staff members are accommodating and helpful! Twice recently staff have tracked me down to make sure I understood what I was purchasing. This year I was hosting Christmas dinner for 18 family members. I discussed this meal with several members in the meat department both prior and after purchase. In fact I think everyone in the department heard my story! I left for NY a week before Christmas and needed a large piece of meat. With everyone's help I purchased a 13.4 lb Rib Roast. The staff there, cut the bones off but tied the roast together, then wrapped it in freezer paper for me. They even held it in the freezer for me for a day. The roast was perfect and a huge success! Thank you MIke Taylor and all your staff for your help! read more

I will never be able to look at another grocery store without comparing it to Donelan's. My first visit to this marvel market left me feeling like an over-stimulated, unsupervised child in a toy store. That's MAGIC. Before setting foot in the door, I knew I would love this place. Stationed next to the shopping carts was a stand dispensing anti-bacterial wipes for use on the carriage handles! I nearly swooned. That's just so darn thoughtful! Thanks for being concerned about my health, Donelan's! The produce section is, simply-put, amazing. Fresh fruit beams up at me proudly and begs me to buy it and eat it. (I'm more than happy to oblige!) The bakery offers a wide range of butt-bolstering baked goodness, and the friendly woman behind the counter apologized profusely for not being able to immediately slice up a loaf of Italian bread because their slicer was on the fritz. (Sheesh, lady. I'll survive, I promise!) Here, "Deli" may just be short for "Delicious" as their selections are delectable. The meat is so fresh, one can practically hear the "moo", "ber-ka'aww" "gobble-gobble" or "sn'oink" coming from the roast beef, chicken, turkey or ham. The cheese is outrageously stinky, which when talking cheese, is a compliment. Everything from this deli is so yummy that none of it has yet survived 'til trash day, which is a miracle in our house. The most pleasant surprise, however, is the almost magical way that this store has EVERYTHING. I'm sure there have been countless instances of their selection exceeding that of any other market, but these examples stick out in my mind: Metromint Water, Spearmint: A friend introduced me to Metromint about a year ago. She recommended the spearmint flavor for me (hers was yucky peppermint). I've searched everywhere for this water. I've hunted all around Boston in random 7-11 & other convenience stores, at Trader Joe's. I've checked the website. I finally found it in SEATTLE, but only in peppermint. My quest continued until last week when we just happened to stumble upon it at Donelan's while looking for FruitWater. They had no FruitWater, but the affable employee promptly promised to order it STAT! JollyRancher Fruit Chews: We first discovered these in a little bag at the movies, and have only found them elsewhere in little dusty, overlooked packs similar to Starburst packs in dusty, overlooked convenience stores. Lo and behold, Donelan's has a bag of them sitting casually on the shelf, all "Hey, 'sup? You want some o' this?" as if it's the most natural thing in the world to be chillaxin' there. (Nevermind the fact that I've checked countless grocery stores, convenience stores, gas stations, websites, cinemas, pharmacies, and candy stores looking specifically for these obscure little chews). Luna Sunrise Bars in Vanilla Almond: I detest energy bars. I usually don't even like Luna bars. On my way to work one morning, I encountered a stranger handing out samples of Luna Sunrise bars. Rather than being *that person*, I took the bar and stuffed it into my desk drawer upon arrival. There it sat for several weeks until I was ravenous, broke, and extremely busy - in other words: desperate. I decided to suffer through the bar. To my utter shock, the bar was AWESOME. I loved it. Packed with protein yet not absurdly high in calories, it keeps my tummy from trying to eat its way out of my abdomen for several hours at a stretch. The problem? I couldn't seem to find these bars ANYWHERE. I could find the Strawberries-n-Cream flavor or the Blueberry Yogurt variety, but no Vanilla Almond anywhere. I was finally able to track the bar down at a local co-op, where each bar went for $1.75. I grumbled, but bought them anyway because it'd still be a cheaper and healthier breakfast than grabbing something greasy, gooey, or girth-generating. But when I was in Donelan's, I again found a little miracle: Luna Sunrise Bars in Vanilla Almond - for $1.25 - almost 30% cheaper than the only other place I was even able to find them!! College Inn Beef Broth: Every store in the area sells this broth - in puny, 14.5 oz. cans. When I use it, I'm usually making something that requires a large amount of broth, so it helps to have the 48 oz. can - which is readily available for chicken broth. Donelan's is literally the ONLY place I have EVER found the beef broth in the 48 oz. can. As if all of that wasn't enough to win my undying love and loyalty, the store is clean, warm, bright, and even has a little caf with a fireplace! Their floral boutique rivals standalone shops. One would expect a grocery of this caliber to be pricey. Surprisingly, that's not the case. In fact, I spend less money on more groceries at Donelan's than at the larger grocery chains including Foodmaster, Shaw's, Market Basket (Demoula's!!), or Stop-n-Shop. I just wish Donelan's would bring a location a bit closer to home. Even still, it's definitely worth the drive. read more

I really like this grocery chain, and always try to stop in if I have time and see one. They have an amazing selection of beer; my friend and I picked up a few brands that we've never seen before and you can't say that very often for a supermarket beer selection. This location had a bakery and prepared meals section that looked tempting. The prices overall are very good, and they have a huge selection of brands that I just don't see in my neck of the woods. Their meat prices are really good; I'm making lamb chili and was able to get my lamb stew meat (kind of hard to find) for $10 cheaper than what I would have paid locally. If I lived in the area, I think this would be my market of choice. I hope they expand closer to where I live! read more

Usually a grocery store is a lot about the food for me, presentation, lay out and selection. Donelan's does a nice job in these categories. But let me tell you why I shop there and I why I will continue. Walked in the other day it was 10 past 8pm so the place was closed. They had left the exit door open because there was one customer still inside beating the 8 deadline. I slipped in and then through the other exit door. Right abut then one expects to hear , "hey we are closed, sorry". But the young clerk checking out the final customer asked me what I as looking for. Said I was in need of ice cream he said go for it the would hold the register open for me. Didn't hurry me, smiled on my way out. It was a Saturday night. The service was way above the call of duty. I've added a new criteria to how I pick a grocery store. It needs to have nice people. Food is personal, Donelan's is personal and goes the extra. So yes all things being equal shop there. read more

When we moved to Massachusetts oh so many years ago, the only supermarket close by (within 5 miles) was Donelan's, formerly Triple A. We lived in an apartment and didn't have much storage space or a pantry, so I went shopping once a week, like everyone else. Then came the construction boom in the next town and our move to a house. As most of you have seen from my other reviews, there are now many supermarkets within a small radius...and I seem to have tried every single one, reserving Donelan's for when I'm in the area for banking or a trip to Trader Joe's or to my favorite bagel place. Donelan's is extremely clean (they even provide anti-bacterial wipes for the handles of the shopping carts), and the sections are well-organized. A fairly new addition to the store is a sit-down café for coffee and muffins, etc., and this location also stocks wine, which is unusual for this area. When I'm in Acton, I come here to purchase freshly made sushi for my husband (the sushi is prepared right before your eyes) as well as 2% Kraft Cheddar, which most other stores don't carry. There's an extensive salad bar and bakery section, an expanded kitchen department with daily specials, an impressive deli and seafood department, a beautiful flower/plant refrigerated room, and an appealing and well-designed frozen food department. This store plays classical music in the background and often features wine tastings and local musicians, my favorite being a harpist. Parking is plentiful, cashiers are pleasant, and this location is never too crowded, but the prices are on the high side (i.e., the sushi jumped $1 in the last week, and the amount of wasabi included in the package is now the size of a pea), so I hesitate to do a full week's shopping here. There are less expensive alternatives in the area. read more

Fabulous salad bar. A great selection and couldn't be fresher. Thanks for having lots of dressing choices and not all non-fat!

Prices are bit more expensive than your standard grocery store, but not horribly so. The place is well lit, clean, and organized well. Attendants and check out personnel are friendly and helpful. The store has a pretty good balance between high end items and your standard fair (no its not Market Basket - but that's not necessarily a bad thing). My biggest complaint with this Donelan's location is the deli - they can't seem to slice to a thickness you request and they always over cut on their servings. If you ask for a thinly cut, 1/2 pound of ham you get 3/4 lb of thick cut ham... and when you question the reason for the over cut you get an annoyed look and a "sorry - sure you don't want extra?". No - if I had wanted it like that I would have requested it originally. read more

Donelan's Kitchen Littleton. I just purchased 2 turkey dinners TO GO and was charged 6.99/lb total bill $ 21.87. I don't mind paying 6.99 for turkey but they also charge 6.99 for mashed potato and stuffing. I feel this is a rip off and am now boycotting Donelan's. I spend over $ 150.00 per week at this store and I do not think they care. I called a couple of weeks back and told the manager and nothing happened. Richard H. read more

I'm a fan of this supermarket. Though they are a tad expensive compared to others, I like their selection. I also really love the bakery items - they are very fresh and tasty. read more