I forgot curry leaves at Patel's the other day. Rather than going all the way back to Norwalk for…read morethem, I decided to see if there might be a local source by doing an internet search. As luck would have it, I found an Indian grocery nearby at 151 Spruce Street, across from the hospital parking lot. It's Aapnar Bazar. And what a surprise. The store is bright and sparkling clean. It has many staples for Indian cooking, including curry leaves. Among other surprises there, I spotted some tiny masoor dal lentils and bought a bag. Yesterday I cooked up a batch based on a recipe from Raghavan Iyer's masterpiece, 600 Curries. The dish was delicious. Aapnar Bazar has lots of very fresh vegetables and quite a lot of good looking frozen fish. I was very impressed with the shop and have been recommending it to everyone interested in the best ingredients for home style Indian cuisine. Many items, particularly the vegetables, are suitable for any style cuisine.

Very helpful and kind , if you want to order halal meat call ahead for the order so it's ready…read morebecasue it takes time for them to freshly prep. They have fresh vegetables and array of items choices and lentils. Prices are also reasonable.

Having visited many markets in Fairfield County over the years, I was astonished to just discover…read morethis hidden gem. Slightly off the beaten path, I surmise it is well known to Darien residents. The layout is somewhat unusual -- you enter into the dairy aisle, with produce at the other end of the building. Make sure you try the prepared foods -- the chicken scarpariello meatballs are our favorite item so far. Soups were excellent -- chicken matzo ball, sausage gumbo and carrots ginger all pleased. Pulled pork was savory but could have used some sauce. At Easter they were sampling delicious ham and scalloped potatoes. Fresh meats appeared to be of high quality, I can vouch for the hamburger patties. The fish counter is small and is not attended by a fishmonger. I've only had free samples of the baked goods so far, but they look great. Produce is solid, but as expensive as you would expect from a gourmet market in Darien. Service from the counter folks and check out was uniformly excellent.

Shopping at Palmer's is always an experience. Yes, the prices might be slightly higher than Whole…read moreFoods, but that's really beside the point, you're not just buying groceries, you're investing in a lifestyle. Where else can you stroll the aisles with a free coffee in hand, pretending you came in for "just one thing," while slowly filling your cart with items you didn't know existed but now absolutely need. And the rotisserie chicken might be the best financial decision in the whole store. Somehow it's the one thing that feels like a bargain while everything else gently reminds you that quality comes at a price. In the end you walk out with great groceries, a lighter wallet, and the comforting feeling that at least you did it with a cup of free coffee in your hand. Honestly, worth it.

LaRocca's has become my favorite country store of all time even better than the country stores in…read moreCalifornia and Texas. The assortment is fresh and tasty. Their liquor store is well stocked and if they don't have it, they'll ask their distributor for it.

Good food, but they're already sold out of rotisserie chickens at 4:15. Drove out of my way to be…read moredisappointed. I try to give family owned businesses the benefit of the doubt, but had to go to Whole Foods

Great stuff. I love trying new stuff and the staff are so helpful. Lots to choose from for such a…read moresmall place. Definitely check it out.

This place is awesome. Amazing place for polish sandwiches. The staff is super friendly and there…read moreare tons of polish snacks and groceries. Such a gem

Just sensational! The highest quality product, customer…read moreservice and knowledge! Just sensational!

It is no wonder that hey have been around 37 years. Tori and Ken are delightful and engaging…read moreturophiles.

This place is expensive but, in my opinion, definitely worth it…read more They know a ton about cheese. A friend has a penicillin allergy but loves soft cheeses and they were the first to find me a soft cheese that he loved that didn't use penicillin mold! They do a great job of pairing cheeses with jams and crackers for their boxes. A recent unexpected favorite is asking for a cheese to pear with their pear mostarda (you have to try it!!!). Also, loooove their chocolate selection. I never leave without at least one bar. They have a Singaporean white chocolate that is now my favorite.

This cheese shop is the best. The staff is very very knowledgeable . The grilled cheese sandwich…read moreand their other baguette sandwiches are so good. Everything is top notch and very clean too. The owner could be a little bit more personable but his staff makes up for it.

I had a really great experience with Michelle and Curated Creations a few months back. I was…read morehosting a team event in Stamford at Pinot's Palette and had asked Michelle to make us a charcuterie and veggie platter. I also had some special requests such as separating the meats and cheeses as much as possible (a few vegetarians in the group) and a specific delivery time. She was super responsive through text and adaptable to my requests. She arrived exactly on time! I would highly recommend her for any event. The platters were both beautiful and delicious!

I couldn't be more pleased with Curated Creations! I sent my family a charcuterie board as a gift…read moreand they absolutely loved it. I was so pleased with the excellent presentation, and the quality was top notch. It was super easy to place an order and the communication is quick, and they're great with updates! As a restaurant owner, our standards are pretty high and Curated Creations never disappoints. I highly recommend these boards as a gift, stress free gatherings, or as a treat-yourself gift. Life is short, so enjoy it!

My friends and I stopped at this location of Maruichi Japanese Food and Deli after lunch at Sally's…read moreApizza just across the street. We grabbed snacks and treats for our train ride home. I got an egg salad sandwich and a few other snacks, which were definitely great for snacking on the train. This location is a little smaller than the other location we visited on our day or two in the area, but it has more seating for enjoying what they make/offer. Another really nice shop/store whether you need to do some grocery shopping or are hungry for a snack, lunch, or dinner (those fresh onigiri looked delicious)!

So many amazing authentic Japanese items! We just so happen to stumble upon this place and snagged…read morea bunch of snacks. Would love to come back for Ramen. The cashier was friendly. Very clean shop.

Ordering online was simple and pickup was available sooner than expected. Oysters are surprisingly…read morefresh with right amount of brine. Definitely worth contacting for parties/picnics featuring a raw bar.

I feel like, this is the definitive British store in New York, even beating the ones found in the…read morecity! The Hamlet literally has so. many. stuff. from Britain, its awe-inspiring. From classic snack imports, books, football merch, cards, limited editions, this store has an impressive selection and reasonably priced! I've shopped here twice, one online and once in store and both times I have walked out with almost $100 in merchandise because there is so much to choose from! In store, keep yours ears perked up because it sounds like a lot of Brits in the area love frequenting this place, a testament to its authenticity. Overall, literally the only store I will frequent for my British goods. Love, love, love this place!

If you're on the hunt for some unique British goodies, especially candy, this store is a…read moremust-visit! They have a fantastic selection of items, and you absolutely have to check out the vinyl vault, which is bursting with vinyl records from all over. Plus, they sell meat pies, cheese, and our absolute favorite, breakfast sausages. Parking is super easy, whether you're driving on the street or in the lot. It's a real treat to just wander through all the items--some of which you might just need in your life!