Grace’s Marketplace

The food is very DELICIOUS, and the people are very friendly. I feel, if you not happy with a place don“t go. It shouldn’t matter what language the person speak while they work…

Excellent prepared foods. The produce can be expensive but is also always excellent. The bakery is delicious.
I have had their double chocolate chip muffins, croissants (both whole wheat and plain), donuts, sandwiches, chicken fingers, beets, garbanzo bean salad, soups. Everything is excellent. I also enjoy eating at the counter top. I can also attest to the coffee being delicious and the seafood being fresh. The staff works very hard and I’ve come to know many of them fondly. Thank you for being consistently good!

They changed the bagels, right? No way these puffy things are made the same way as the bagels Grace’s sold in the Third Avenue store.
Eh, it’s a nice space, they’ve got a good selection and quality of most items is above average, but this is a step down from the old store.

Came here for breakfast with some family. Our meal was quite enjoyable, and well accompanied by John our server/​cook. Good conversation and good food. My group shared a steak and eggs, custom omelet, and eggs Benedict. While I would’ve given 5 stars if they weren’t so heavy on the salt, the bang for the buck was incredible as the food was filling and delicious. I’ll probably be back the next time that I’m in the neighborhood.

I had a hard time figuring out a proper star rating. I was very happy with them for a long time, until…
Ok, this may ruin it for you, but needs to be said. I get that there are worms in nature. I may not necessarily enjoy the idea, but worms are actually smarter than humans and usually select the best of the best. So, technically speaking, if you found a worm, you hit the jackpot.
And then there’s smoked fish.
In smoked fish, a worm is a parasite.
I get that sh! t happens. You’re slicing smoked fish for a customer, you see a worm. Guess what? Pssst. You put that piece aside and later throw it away. The customer has no idea and doesn’t have dry heaves and continues buying your smoked fish.
I, certainly, will not ever purchase smoked fish here again.
It’s not that I’m oblivious to the fact that there are worms in nature. Nor do I not understand that in the process of smoking Sable, the worm died. It’s just that I DIDN’T NEED TO SEE THAT.
That way, I could have continued to pretend there are never any worms in fish.
*insert dry heave here*

Very nice and clean. The scale of the space is perfect! Layout and setup is a little odd, but, it’s not so big that you get lost. Very attentive staff and everyone seemed to be happy at work, great sign! Good little market that takes it to the next level! I really enjoyed my walk through today.

I sure miss the old digs on 3^rd Ave btw ⁷¹⁄₇₂ St. While it didn’t have everything you needed, it always had something close to it. The new place on 2^nd Ave is OK. The prepared food section at the new store is very nice, but not as terrific as the old store. While I’m used to close quarters at most grocery stores in Manhattan, the new Grace’s seems like it has less space than before. The produce area is smaller. Change is always difficult. Maybe I will like it better in a few months !

It used to be SO good. Before the move to 2^nd Avenue. The new store due to structural beams makes it nearly impossible to get around and get passed others who are shopping or restocking (especially if you have a cart, or a stroller, or a walker). Added that the store has filled every nook and cranny with products to sell. There are some very knowledgable people behind the counter (love them; they know me) but they are few and far between. The new staff, unfortunately, lack some very basic knowledge (difference between broccoli and kale; teriyaki and barbecue). Rather, they tend to cluster and chat among themselves. Given this is a premium priced store, attention should be paid to food and customer service training.

This new location is fabulous. It has the BEST specialty food selection in the city. Hands down!
As good as Dean & Deluca in it’s heyday (which, sadly, was over long ago).

My employer used Grace’s in the past for office events. However, our last catering order (December 8) was extremely disappointing. We ordered mini lobster rolls, a crudite’ basket, cheese platters w/​assorted dips, grilled asparagus wrapped w/​prosciutto and stuffed tartlets w/​hummus.
The asparagus, lobster rolls, and dips were spoiled. The crackers for the basket were stale. Our guests tasted the items and mentioned it to our boss. Embarrassing to say the least.
We contacted Grace’s the next day, and on ¹²⁄₁₀ then ¹²⁄₁₄. Each time we were told the Catering Manager would call back. As of today (¹²⁄₁₆), there hasn’t been a return call. We no longer recommend Grace’s for the food or their customer service.

Graces reached out, the points did NOT delete at the end of October but at the Years end. They were helpful and responded right away. I’m back at shopping at Graces

Their house made Chinese Five Spice powder will ruin any Chinese dish you use it on. It seems to be a blend of some spices they had on hand and is missing key ingredients, especially star anise, and other ingredients like fennel seed and szechuan peppercorns. It completely lacks that Chinese flavor for ribs etc. In this case, this reputable house has turned out a careless, amateurish product. The poached salmon is excellent, but they run out of it by late afternoon, which is ok by me.

NOTE: This review was previously removed because the community said it was not a first-​hand experience. I promise you that I live directly above this place and have been here. Maybe my review was removed because in addition to noting that the store is overpriced and not very good, I also noted that they were a poor neighbor. It seems better in the interest of full disclosure to include the fact that I may be biased and I also think that for something that is going for a «local neighborhood market feel,» the fact that they are a rude neighbor is pretty relevant and helps capture the essence of what this place is about.
This place is pretty terrible. Let me start by saying I’m somewhat biased because I live above them and for close to a year they were the reason I could not sleep past 8:00 on a Saturday due to loud jack hammering coming from their establishment. For this reason alone I vowed never to shop here (plus I was bummed the rite aid closed and I have to walk all the way to third avenue for my drug store needs).
Eventually, I broke my vow and came to grace’s a few times (when I was too lazy to walk to the food emporium on 68^th and 3^rd) and I’ve never left without being shocked at how expensive it is. Sure, they have some nice things and I understand that nice things cost more than not nice things, but pretty much every item they sell that the nearby food emporium (not exactly a bargain grocery store) also sells is marked up at Grace’s and there are items Grace’s sells that I can get more cheaply from restaurants delivering on seamless. I guess this model works, because their average customer isn’t very price sensitive, but I just wish this place would go out of business and something more practical would replace it (unless that means more Saturday morning jack hammering)

Best market in the area, and the food served at the bar is top notch! I highly recommend this place for a bite to eat if you’re in the area.

Want to get sick and overpay for food? Come to Grace’s Marketplace!
This place is disgusting. The fruits in the refrigerated section are regularly covered with mold and the employees make it worse. For example, I just pointed out a box of figs which is filled with mold to two people who work here. I’m literally standing here watching them pick out the moldiest figs with their bare hands. They are leaving the less moldy figs in the box, as well as the figs that don’t look moldy but were in direct contact with the mold. And they’re placing the boxes back on the shelf. This place is a health hazard.
They’re also not changing the price of the fig boxes even though they were priced by size, and they’ve just removed the moldiest figs. So they’re ripping off their customers.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. I’ve given these guys way too many chances to clean up their act. No more Grace’s Marketplace for me.

This place is such a mixed bag. They have a great cheese counter; the fellow who runs it knows his stuff and is completely honest about what they can and cannot offer. The bread counter is great. It is staffed by sweet women who are happy to offer suggestions. The prepared food area is different story. I wanted a simple chopped salad and had to deal with a stoned-​face, sour, non-​communicative woman who found the energy to communicate with her colleague in a foreign language but could do little more than grunt with customers. It was such a turn off. The people who ran the prepared food counter at the old Graces on Third Avenue were pleasant and attentive. This weekend at Graces saw my last dollar spent on prepared food.

I stopped into Grace’s just to see what the hype was about and I was so pleasantly surprised!
Grace’s has an EXCELLENT meat and fish department!!! Not to mention to the produce is very fresh!
The prices are much more affordable and reasonable than you may expect, and the quality is fresh. i will be buying all of my meat, fish, and produce from Grace’s in the future.

My favorite grocery store to shop at, hands down!
If you are truly knowledgable about quality of produce, prepared foods, fish and meat, then you will agree there is no better place to shop.
Their produce is top notch — grade A! The prepared foods are as if they were especially made just for you; from the kale salad, grilled vegetables, traditional Greek salad and the roasted yams — just to name a few and all restaurant quality.
The meat and fish, simply put, is top restaurant quality — the same quality only found in the top rated restaurants in Manhattan.
While I love all the food in the store, my personal favorite — being the sugar fanatic I am — is the bakery. They have the most amazing cakes and pastries, and I can sit at the counter anytime and enjoy a nice assortment with a hot cup of coffee. Their assortment of breads are truly amazing as well.
For those in need of a vast assortment of holiday foods to choose, Grace’s also stocks the store to support any and all all holiday needs with a wide selection for whatever you may need. The staff is tremendously helpful — all you need to do is simply ask for assistance.
You’d be crazy not to shop here!

Stopped by for a quick meal on the go. I went to the salad bar and picked up the container of mesculan. I then handed it over to the lady behind the counter for her to compose my salad. I chose some grilled chicken, grilled asparagus, onion, feta cheese and some mozzarella balls. For dressing I sprinkled a bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. She then chopped my salad into very small bits almost as it was in a blender. I loved it:) I actually ate it with a spoon. It wasn’t the best salad, but it did hit the spot. I only say this since most of the ingredients being showcased did not look too fresh. I also ended up perusing some of their goods in the marketplace and picked up brads kale chips insanely hot, seaweed touched with olive oil, chick peas with black pepper, and a California roll. Brads kale chips are seriously awesome! Seaweed was tasty and melted in my mouth. Chickpeas is a great snack when on the run. The California roll was just ok. It might be imitation crab since the price was relatively low. It’s also not a bad place to buy your organic veggies if your in need for a detox.;)

2.6
Flowers, cakes and pies.
We always had a touch of Grace’s during all celebrations with my coworkers for several years. There was always fresh flowers for the honoree and a cake or pie for all us to enjoy.
Grace’s Marketplace moved a few months ago to this current location. As mentioned by others the space is tiny with questionable efficient organization and I would avoid when it gets crowded.
Truth is, items found at Grace’s Marketplace fall into the gourmet category and specialty foods. Sometimes when you look for those, it is actually a great option to have around. However, Citarella or Agata & Valentina (or even Food Emporium could do) are also in the area and I would consider those instead based on my latest visits to Grace’s.
Over the course of the years I think their cakes and tarts have decrease on quality and variety offered. Most of them are now chocolate based. They used to be incredible. Good texture and balanced flavors. The fruit tarts were our favorites. I recently tried their plum tart. It was good, but too sweet and the dough on the dry side as opposite to how it used to be. We also tried recently, the Cheesecake. It was much better and I would definitely purchase it again.
However, I would have a couple of considerations before.
First, I found interesting that Grace’s Marketplace advertise how their staff is «highly experienced and excels in knowledge and customer service» (read flyer or history available at
). The bakery section was unable at first (and found funny my question) which of all they pies or cakes were nuts-​free and cocoa free. Once the confusion (because of such difficult question) went away (after a while) at least she advertised the premises uses nuts. Which is good. Thanks. But she said that there was really nothing i could buy. Which I found funny considering they are the sellers and also because I can see several fruit tarts, cheesecake or coconut cake. Also red velvet cake. My impression, I was giving her extra work. It turns out, I could actually pick among a few. I chose the plum tart. The staff at the cashier wasn’t better. I had to wait a few minutes to be attended because of their chatting. Which by the way, I happen to understand Spanish (my first language) and the conversation was inappropriate for a public space. Anyways, really not a biggie.
Second and last, François Payard sells similar sized cakes or tarts for $ 24 (4 – 6 people) or $ 36 (6 – 8 people). The plum tart (4 – 6 people) at Grace’s Marketplace was $ 33. Price range goes from about $ 22 to $ 33 at Grace’s. Now, do I actually have to clarify which one you should pick? I would rather walk to Payard’s a few blocks away even in this cold to at least have an incredible cake purchased with incredible customer service.

Grace’s is tiny, but good!
They have a really great selections of gourmet foods for all occasions. If you don’t really feel like cooking, try out their expansive deli. They always carry really great food. If you do feel like cooking, they have everything you could need to make an impressive dinner.
They don’t sell wine, but if you take your Grace’s receipt to Whiskey & Wine Off 69^th just a block up, they’ll give you a discount.

Prices aren’t much different than DAGs or Food Emporium though selection can be a bit small. We were very surprised that with the impending blizzardgeddon that they were still fully stocked. The store tends to crowd up pretty quickly and can feel claustrophobic due to the layout of the market. There is a small selection of organic foods and there are also cheese, meat and bread counter service. Don’t let the little old ladies elbow you on your way out!

Very cute market which also sells the best red velvet cake I’ve ever had. Every bite of this cake makes you want more… and, before you know it, you’ve eaten a quarter of your birthday cake in about 10 minutes. It’s perfectly moist and the frosting is rich without being overwhelming.

The new Grace’s is cleaner and easier to navigate, but the staff is just as unpleasant. They just don’t seem to like working there. I think this is a senior management issue (as it always is). It is a shame, because their food is very good and often excellent. The owner’s just don’t seem to get it– that at these prices, service needs to match food quality. This was the issue at the old location, I was hoping they’d treat their workers better, who would in response, treat customers more appropriately at the new store.
Owners take note. If big box stores can get their employees to enjoy work, you certainly can too. If not, fire your relatives and hire people who know how to manage.

This grocery store is small but nice. It was a bit empty between 3 and 4pm on a rainy Saturday and although I was in a bit of a rush, I was able to walk around a bit without bumping into too many customers.
The store is a tad clustered. There wasn’t (that I could notice) any clear indication as to where holds what so come prepared to browse the entire store to locate what you’re looking for, if it isn’t at the front in the fruit and veg area.
The workers had a very laid back attitude and there were small clusters of them gather at various points just chatting.
I noticed seafood, cheeses, organic, Jewish and some usually hard to find food items.
There’s a deli, a bakery, and what looked like a wine area (but I didn’t walk to that section. It also looks as though there’s a separate dining area but I didn’t walk over there either.
I’ll try to visit again when I’m not too busy and pay closer attention so that I can give a more informed review.
The fruits I bought were really fresh (as though just picked) and yummy.
The End.

Grace’s Marketplace is a much needed new business on Second Avenue. They have a great selection of organic fruits at better prices than Whole Foods on Third Avenue.
This location sells fresh seafood and a good variety of meats at the deli department.
They have a separate espresso bar entrance that is next to the main entrance. You can not enter the supermarket from the bar and there aren’t any seats for you to sit.
The staff are extremely friendly and welcoming. The store is well lit and really clean but certain areas seemed a bit too clustered.
I can’t wait to revisit and try their dine in section.