Western Beef

I’ve stopped here a couple of times in the mornings and there almost no lines and it’s pretty quiet which is nice and hopefully not bad for their business. Decent selections and sales, everything was easy to find and it’s next to a bunch of bus lines and a Dunkin Donuts so score.

Disgusting!
Be sure to check dates on EVERYTHING!!!
The most incompetent staff I’ve ever seen anywhere–
Dirty, dirty… DIRTY
Oh–
And if your there as a ‘regular shopper’ there’s no in and out–
You are in line forever waiting for the people with carts filled paying via EBT

Simple & quick check out. First time here. I think the on one forest is bigger and better. But this one has its own private parking with the rite aid. The other one as too packed with different store and crazy drivers always mess up other cars there.

Your best suited for EBT customers. The bakery and meat department work very hard, the manager actually cares. However the poor cashiers are screwed! Any EBT purchase never goes smoothly, manager has to come and slide key (everytime)… So as your stuck waiting looking at the terrible wigs and extensions, and wtf you was thinking way people dress. Now to the worst part, sale prices that don’t register during checkout. Their procedure overcharge you, force customer to customer service, take your receipt, credit or cash back, go upstairs to make a copy of your receipt (if you have to have it back) and your done. Wtf, put a copier at customer service… Don’t shop around the first and the fifteenth, if you do your screwed… Please change your policies and procedures…

Western Beef is not as bad as some of these people are making it out to be. Yes, there is definitely room for improvement but it’s a decent supermarket. I’m not quite sure what «Kimberly K» is referring to about the Deli she is obviously writing a review without ever have been is the store. I go often, and my cold-​cuts are handed to me there isn’t even a «window» as she is stating. Yes, there are many people using food-​stamps but how the slows down the process in unknown to me. The reason why it takes long to check out is poor staffing and not having all the lanes open during «rush hours». I mean the place can be classed up a lil bit but the people are nice the prices are decent and the fresh baked bread is delicious! Some people are extremely ignorant and I wish they would keep their remarks to themselves instead of spreading their negative harsh vibes.

Close cheap and affordable huge supermarket.
Food is fresh and good deals.
Can get super pack though and the workers and even shoppers are not pleasant. There can be some nice drama and shows in there also, I love when the cashiers flip on there managers too. Great management there!
Lines can be super long especially beginning of the month and weekends. Try to get there early which I know there open early because they have fresh bakery on premises with really good fresh bread.
Theres always cab services outside and security.
Big parking lot but shopping carts all over the place and even sometimes take up parking spots which is annoying.

i just go here when i need to grab some quick last minute things, I don’t recommend it for everyday shopping too busy in the afternoon and i feel like the security guard follow me around. the place looks old and not well maintained but you’ll find everything you need its hugeeeee!

Only come to this location if you have no other choice. Employees don’t care and managers care less.
They see you wondering around reading signs and dont even bother to ask if you need help. Lines are always super long and service needs improvement.
Prices are not the best but there isn’t any other super market in the area that can compete with them.

When we walked in here, a cigarette was on the floor, indicating that somebody smoked in the store or it somehow got in here (being blown in or being kicked in). And this was for the Forest Ave one, but I realized that I made one already for the specific store. Other than that complaint, everything else is good.

My very first time shopping in a Western Beef. Not sure why, there is one in Manhattan… for the longest time I thought it was just a meat market, and not a full grocery store — which it is.
However… I wasn’t won over. The place is a little run down and disorganized. The prices are all right, but not the greatest. (A watermelon of average size should not cost over $ 10.) The parking lot is full of potholes.
It does have a really good meat selection — if you’re looking for specialty items like lamb, goat, etc — you can get it here. They also have a lot of Hispanic and Caribbean products, to meet the demands of the neighborhood. So — for these kinds of items, I might go back. For just basic groceries, ShopRite still wins… though my neighbor has recently recommended Waldbaums. Gotta try shopping there next!

Western Beef, once a chamber of horrors, has gotten better. Though I still despise, and will never get used to the able-​bodied, freeloading parasites who buy everything with Food Stamps, store has gotten better. Looks cleaner, too.
But I’m still skeptical about the quality of their meats– after all, the Food Stamp addicts are not choosy about the grade of meats they buy (With MY money of course!), so store doesn’t have to worry abut poor quality steaks being returned from this scum.
Cashiers not the best, and always beware of a place where the «WE ACCEPT FOOD STAMPS» sign is the largest on the window.

Of all my years of passing by a Western Beef in Flushing, Queens I have never been to any of its locations, until now in Staten Island. Prior to a pool BBQ gathering of five whom I have the immense pleasure of an open invitation, we stopped for grocery shopping at Western Beef. Western Beef is a supermarket with a specialty of meat.
I rate it four stars for the somewhat steep price and lack of brand name choices. This Western Beef comes with its own private parking lot.

I’m writing this partially out of the misguided, RUDE review by ‘Kimberly K,’: The ‘hipster’ who made those cracks about food stamps, etc.
I don’t know if she’s trying to be a comedian, or — if she even shops for food, but, her cackling were WAY off base.
I’m a native Manhattanite, but lived in St. George from ’06 — ’10 (May).
Having grown up with VERY expensive supermarkets, it was a (pleasant) surprise how much I saved at Western Beef.
Not only is S.I.‘s Western Beef a great place, on occasion, I’d have to pick up items for a friend — as the prices at the Manhattan Western Beef, were more than in S.I.
Yeah, I know: real estate prices.
Anyway, a good/​bad thing’s been taking place in St. George that I saw in my 3 years: a LOT of these twits — ‘hipsters’ — who would’ve previously moved to ‘hip’ places in Brooklyn, are flocking here.
With these people comes inevitable whiners who want everything for them tied-​up with ‘shiny bows,’ not realizing that it was cheaper for them to move there BECAUSE of the area’s lower income residents (who’d been there for YEARS!).
If this gentrification continues, it’ll bring higher prices, more of the whining ‘hipsters,’ etc, so — for NOW, I’d say that (S.I. In general) the prices, choices available are terrific.
The staff here — as anywhere — has good employees and bad ones. I’ve dealt with both, and found the best ones to stand in line for. They were speedy, efficient and friendly.
I don’t know about the panhandler’S’ (emphasis on the plural). I’d never seen ONE, much less more than that.
Right by the entrance, there are cab drivers who are available for hire. Something I found helpful. If this is what that person thinks are panhandlers, well, enough said.
As, I said, I left S.I. in May ’10. I’m back in Manhattan, and, even though I’ve 3 supermarkets — all equidistant from me, I’m now paying MUCH more, for less, not nearly the variety (the store brand prices are insane), and, I’m fining it MUCH harder to shop now.
I’d give ANYTHING if I just had the LIFE-​saving of S.I.‘s Western Beef now
UPDATE: August 19, ‘11
NYC Department of Consumer Affairs just released a list (the top 25 is available publicly) of NY City supermarkets that had violations (overcharging, unsanitary conditions, etc.).
ALL of these supermarkets (remember: top 25 violators) were in either Brooklyn or S.I.
Western Beef was NOT — repeat NOT on that list.
‘Nuff said. Kimberly K; hope you’ve left our ‘fine’ city, and found a place to put up with your bitching.

I am writing this review based on my previous experiences of shopping in the local supermarkets of bensonhurst. So shopping at Western Beef may not be the most ideal supermarket but its 10 notches above from what I was exposed in Brooklyn.
Western Beef is one of the most organized supermarkets that I have ever seen in NYC. They had stacks of fresh fruits and vegetables and an array of meats. I noticed that when I was browsing around, the managers made sure that the price stickers were up to date to the products that were stacked on the shelves.
Everybody in the store was extremely friendly and courteous and their prices are pretty much reasonable. And even though it can get crowded, the store can maintain the lines really well.
You may not experience Trader Joe and/​or Whole Foods products but I would take this supermarket over any over priced and over crowded store in the city anytime.

went here with my roommate & i realized it’s a few blocks away from our house via Van Duzer. it’s thanksgiving day the next day day, & the place was a madhouse at around 2pm wednesday. people were more probably busy with working on their last minute shopping list. my roommate wanted to buy just a few things for salad, plus wine. i just got myself 2 bars of dark chocolate. it was relatively quick, & looking exciting because of the crowd doing their shopping at this time of the day for a major holiday.
i’d say, i had a pleasant first time trip. i saw a lot of interesting characters. i think people who have problems or issues on skin color should rather stay away from shopping in this place, as they can get scared from seeing people of many different colors. or worst, don’t come here if you’re not comfortable shopping with other people below your class (w/​c in itself is pure BS)— the place as it is, is a great place to do your shopping (unless of course, if you’re looking for something else) — well stocked, well lighted, convenient, relatively spacious. trust me, i saw all these on a pre-​holiday so i could have had a worst first time shopping experience.

This place is a nightmare! Not only do the staff hate their lives… they tend to take it out on the customers. The cashiers are rude, loud and smack their gum like five year old children. Nobody can help you or tell you where to find that elusive item you’ve been looking for.
The line-​ups are long and slow due to people paying with food stamps and WIC cards and generally holding up the line as they get their food put on one bill and their alcohol on another.
The meat is cheap because it’s their primary product but everything else is ridiculously expensive. I blame this on the government footing the bill for most of the merchandise sold. I suppose if I didn’t pay for my own food, I wouldn’t give a shit how much it costs either.
On a good note, the guys at the deli counter seem to have graduated customer service class with flying colors. They are friendly and accommodating. Too bad the deli food has to be sent through a window straight to the cashier – no doubt due to ghetto thievery.
Be prepared to be harassed by panhandlers on your way out.