Lacey T.
Yelp
After 14+ hours on the road, all I wanted to do was check into my dreamy treehouse of an Airbnb, stuff my face, and go to bed. Beyond the requirement of some semblance of dinner, I also needed decongestant and lip balm, and while Wildberries' appearance veered more on the side of "natural" groceries, I crossed my fingers that they would have everything we needed.
As we walked in, gorgeous plants and flowers greeted us: succulent gardens, prickly tillandsia arrangements, bright and colorful fresh bouquets, and more. Bistro tables line the windowed front of the store, and we were pleased to see a deli, salad bar, and hot food station, all of which was hoppin' with customers - good evidence that it had to at least be decent. I got a cup of tomato soup, a pint of "Asha's Lemon Cucumber Salad" (this was really exceptional), along with a container of curry and beet salad (I was really hungry, okay?!), my husband got ALL THE PASTA: pesto, spaghetti, and mac and cheese. There are napkins and utensils at the storefront, and all the food we ate was okay to great.
Along the opposite wall, we spied cakes, cookies, and other treats, under signage for locally owned
Ramone's Bakery. There was a menu for coffee and other drinks, and it was like a sweet mini café within the store.
When exploring a new supermarket I MUST check out the chocolate selection, and being from out of town, was excited to discover numerous completely unfamiliar brands. I think I selected and returned about ten bars before settling on Lulu's Raw Love (sweetened with coconut sugar, lovely texture and nuanced flavor), and Wildberries' own Raspberry Chipotle Truffle (made for the store by a local chocolatier, and while the packaging is rather humble, this was so so yummy). If I ever return, I will definitely stock up on those Wildberries bars as they were so reasonable at around $3 each, with 15+ different flavors. Oh! And they had an adorable solid chocolate banana slug, which we couldn't say "no" to, and made an excellent souvenir for our neighbor's boys.
In the end, Wildberries had everything we needed, and then some. They offer a good mix of natural and more conventional foods and products, with a strong emphasis on locally produced goods. The store is attractive and pleasant to shop. The variety of prepared foods was very convenient, and the addition of seating in the store is a nice touch. Prices were in line with similar grocery stores and employees were friendly. If I lived in the area this would likely be my go-to spot.