I've got a lot of options for grocery shopping in my neighborhood, but there are three major stores within walking distance from my place. One of them is a pretty run-down place that's a bit intimidating, while the other two are more pleasant. The nicer one has a pretty extensive selection of prepared foods and baked goods, and that's where I usually end up going. I'd pick up a few things while I was there, like mushrooms on the hook - I loved getting those.
But then I saw a video online that really put me off. It was from a city pub, and it showed a guy trying to pick up a fallen item from a shelf only to find a rat sitting under it, surrounded by crumbs and other debris. The rat just looked up at the camera like it owned the place, and it didn't even flinch when people walked by. The video was pretty disturbing, and it made me realize just how unsanitary some of these places can be. I'm already pretty squeamish, and the thought of rats crawling around in the food prep area and in the produce boxes made my skin crawl. Especially since I wash my mushrooms without any special treatment.
Needless to say, I won't be going back to that store anytime soon.
I have to say, despite the video causing a stir and riling up many locals, there was no information about the store being closed for sanitizing, which is pretty unimpressive, especially given the comments from the 'Pyaterochka' reps.
But for months now, I've been dying to try this Dubai chocolate. Paying full price for a trendy product was a bit of a turn-off (I'm not a fan of Eastern sweets or overly sweet desserts), so I started searching online. First, I checked out the 'Magnit' stores, but they don't even carry it. Neither do 'Perekrestok' or 'VkusVilla' (I would've tried the tartlet), so it's down to 'Pyaterochka'. I cautiously made my way to the nearest store near my work (not the one where the rat became a star). You'd do anything when something gets stuck in your head, right?
External appearance-wise, the 'Pyaterochka' where I was is one of the most uncomfortable stores in the city. Behind the automatic doors, we're greeted by self-service kiosks. They're pretty common in our stores and
Walking inside, I'm greeted by a dimly lit, greenish-gray room with an ATM from T-bank and some sort of decorations hanging from the ceiling. The photo captures the exact mood, taken in the morning hours.
And honestly, they don't look very festive to me - more like dull and lacking. There's no sense of celebration, just a feeling that they're trying to cut costs.
Right at the entrance, there's a display case with freshly baked bread. That's a definite plus for me. The marketeers at Perekrestok haven't forced me to navigate through the entire store just to get a discount coupon! In other supermarkets, it's the opposite approach entirely.
I also want to mention the wide aisles between the shelves as a plus.
Two trolleys can easily fit side by side without any issues.Assortment, product displays, and prices:
First and foremost, the boxes with products on the floor really get to me in Perekrestok.
Hey, you're not exactly going for a discount vibe, are you? A solid retail network like this can't even manage to put products on shelves? No "Magnetic Strips", no "Money Clips", and definitely no "Tape" for that. This is on the level of "Traffic Lights"!
Then why are your prices like traffic lights too?
Take sunflower oil, for example - it's one of the priciest in town.
The prices for Indilight products are absolutely nightmarish. I saw their famous Mexican-style steaks yesterday for 409 rubles, and my appetite just vanished.
My way of preparing a Mexican-style steak in just a few minutes, along with some recipe options and a favorite salad recipe. No wonder my fridge is full.
By the way, the frozen meat compartments are almost empty.
At first glance, it's not the most appetizing place. The selection of ice cream is pretty small, but what I've tried is actually pretty good. The real bonus is that they're one of the few shops that still sell ice in bulk - that's a lifesaver when you're hosting a party!
They've got a ton of frozen pre-made meals.
As for prices, I haven't really compared them to other shops in the area, since I don't usually buy this kind of stuff. Even when I do want to grab something quick, my husband usually ends up eating it anyway.Something they do consistently well is their dairy products and cheeses.
They've also got a range of local and Russian brands, so you can find some decent ingredients for salads and sandwiches.
Their prepared foods section is pretty impressive, with a lot of options for complete meals, salads, and soups.
I haven't tried it, but it looks nice. To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what the point of buying pre-made meals is. We've got a great selection of cafes in the city where you can get similar food for the same price, or even cheaper, and it's made fresh right in front of you without any preservatives. I'm not the only one who thinks this, judging by the full display case!
This is a decent choice for baby food at reasonable prices.
Somewhat average sausages,
sparkling drinks,
household chemicals,
and all sorts of junk food near the checkout counter!Honestly, this store doesn't stand out from the rest in terms of variety or prices. It's just like everywhere else. So, I wouldn't go out of my way to look for these products here.
I was pleasantly surprised by the selection of veggies, mushrooms, and fruits, though.
I used to shop here regularly, but the time I found a rat in the store was the last straw. Plus, they usually have a decent selection of freshly baked goods.
Some of the items are actually pretty good and can make for a decent snack.However, I was looking for the Dubai chocolate and, of course, it wasn't there. I asked the staff, and they said they hadn't even received a shipment! No surprise there. Despite that, I still made my purchases. For 423 rubles, it's a bit of a letdown, if you ask me. But, I did end up leaving the store feeling satisfied. I even managed to find pre-made dough for чебуреков, which is a real treat. I love that stuff, and it's only available at 'Pятерочка' stores.
I've bought this product multiple times, and I'm always impressed! If I'm craving чубрики made the Tatar way, I'll go out of my way to get it. Plus, when there are discounts, I try to stock up on it.
To be honest, it's not a traditional goulash, but more like a delicious stew. And who cares if it's not traditional, as long as it tastes great?
Eastern goulash - unexpectedly DELICIOUS STEW. The taste of natural pork and... childhood!
I still keep going back to this store for the чубрики dough and the tasty stew. In fact, I often end up buying more than I intended. Yesterday, I grabbed the last pack of the dough, but unfortunately, they were out of the stew.
Delayed and low-quality products: I've never encountered a delayed product in this store, but I did get a low-quality item once. I bought a piece of salted salmon at a discount with a great expiration date, but when I opened it, it smelled terrible. I returned it the next day without a receipt, and they accepted it without any issues.
My experience with the store:I've found that it really depends on the specific store. The one I've been to is super friendly. The cashier didn't even remind me about a salad discount, and the girls in the sales floor helped me with a question about Dubai chocolate. But the main store (the one where I saw a rat) has a mom who's always complaining about not getting a discount on a chocolate bar, or not getting all the items on the cash register. One time, they refused to sell me chips on sale, saying the yellow price tag was no longer active, even though they hadn't had a chance to change it yet. I didn't want to argue, so I just decided not to buy them.
I don't have much praise for 'Perekrestok', but I do have some complaints! That's why I won't be giving it more than 3 stars. I'll still go there to buy the things I need, but I'll also pick up some other essentials, and on a regular basis, I prefer to shop at other stores.
- they have some quality products;
- there are sales.
- prices are average to above-average for the city;
- sometimes the product display is a mess;
- there's a lack of cleanliness;
- the stores can be pretty uninviting.