Let’s share current Lidl product recommendations and cautions here.
(I had somehow completely missed that they now have multiple stores in NYC now, all more easily accessible than the single Aldi).
Qualified YEA for the Maryland crabcakes – this was an impulse purchase, but at under $6 I figured it would be no great loss if they’re terrible. They really weren’t, though – they were quite good. Not $20 restaurant jumbo lump crabcake good, but with crabmeat as the first ingredient, they were much better than I expected.
MEH for the corned beef point (had planned to get a flat, but they were way bigger than I wanted) – not a full fat cap, so maybe that’s better value, but if you’re buying a point, you’re not looking for almost no fat either.
YEA for the surprising availability of Faroe Island salmon. Not cheap, but cheaper than anywhere else. Also steelhead trout that looked very good.
And they have cubed, organic butternut squash, which was a surprising find. Not too many other organic vegetables, though, unlike TJ’s.
NAY for the terrible store layout, upkeep, and stock. This and Aldi in NYC really make me not want to be in their store. I will check out the other location to see if they are better stocked and better kept – this one did not have many of the things I had on my list.
Nonfat Greek yogurt - good, but not as good as Trader Joe’s.
Cottage cheese - watery, not great.
Sour cream - fine.
Cheetos - bad, too aerated, not cheesy enough.
Eggs - thinnest-shelled eggs I’ve ever seen in my life. You can break them by breathing on them, practically.
The layout at my local store is fine. I was surprised by how not cheap some things were, like hair conditioner.
Kips Bay? I’m going to take a look there soon, because a lot of things online showed as in stock there but weren’t in Harlem.
Oh - YEA for 49c butter croissants. Quite good, and even better warmed up at home.
(I was too late to see the other bread, but seems promising.)
Speaking of eggs, the white eggs I got at TJs last have the thickest shells I’ve ever encountered.
I had not thought much about shell thickness until then.
Grand Street. It replaced the Rite Aid.
I make a lot of boiled eggs, so shell thickness is a concern! Don’t want any leakage to mar my beautiful soba bowls or deviled eggs.
Wot! I didn’t see there was a third one.
Well, TJs white eggs then.
Whereas I like an egg to crack instead of having to hammer on it with shards falling into the pan.
Somewhere in the middle is balance.
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We have one in Yonkers too - opened last fall, I believe. We’ve been a couple of times, but I haven’t been keeping track of what I bought or whether it was good. I’ll start next trip!
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They had some interesting pate, cheese, and things like that when I looked online, but the store I went to didn’t have any of it. Will check another location when I’m in the neighborhood.
Can’t believe I didn’t know that they opened several years ago 
.
In a three block stretch, we have Fine Fare, Metro Acres, Lidl, Trader Joe’s and Target. Let’s see who survives, 'cause I can’t imagine they all will.
Good for customers.
I can spend an entire afternoon comparison shopping.
