Pioneer Supermarket in
New York (NY)

On a recent visit to Pioneer Supermarket on the Upper West Side, I was deeply disappointed by both hygiene and product quality issues. I observed a staff member handling produce in an unsanitary manner, which was unacceptable and prompted me to leave immediately without purchasing. Additionally, the produce quality was subpar, with wilted greens and overripe fruit, falling short of expectations for a grocery store. As a New York professional, I value cleanliness and quality in local businesses. I urge management to address these concerns to ensure a safer, higher-quality shopping experience for customers.

Produce so fresh the herbs still smell like earth. Fishmonger filets everything to order and tells you how to cook it. Their house-made mozzarella is creamy perfection. Staff greets regulars by name.

We bought scones and they were full of mold, so please make sure to check the expiration dates and the condition of the product itself.

Love this place. Staff is amazing. Cashiers are awesome. My only complaint is they don’t actually close at 9 PM. They close at 8:50pm. I asked them to update it on Google maps so everyone knows. There were many more like me trying to get into the store around 8:50pm.

Butcher counter where they'll cut steaks to your exact thickness. Fish comes in daily at 10am - get there by noon for the good stuff. Produce isn't always pretty but tastes real - tomatoes that actually smell like tomatoes. Their house-made sausage sells out by 11am on weekends. More expensive, but you get what you pay for.

Carries local dairy in returnable glass bottles and bakes bread fresh throughout the day. The produce manager remembers how I like my avocados (firm today, ripe for Friday). Their house-made pierogi are legendary - get there before noon.

Lots of vegan options here! I hope they order more chunk foods because they were getting low! (Edit: they have a lot of chunk foods and blackbird foods vegan food, loads of vegan stuff, and even vegan white chocolate chips which are hard to find! Best place for baking and vegan and health food in the Upper West Side)

I purchased fresh ravioli here that was not expired, but I later discovered had grown mold. I encourage the store to review their shelves to prevent customer illness.

It's pretty amazing for one grocery store to have the highest prices, the shortest hours, and the worst shopping experience in the neighborhood, but you gotta hand it to Pioneer! They also have a terrible produce selection. Only giving a second star for their good selection of plant based foods and good beer selection (though both with high prices). But overall, even though this is the closest supermarket to me, I avoid it as much as I can.

The worst & most expensive store. Even eggs cost $15.

You know this supermarket may look like a dive from the outside but it is incredibly well stocked, and anything they don’t have, if you speak to the manager (nice looking man with longish white hair) he will order it for you. He is such a nice guy, as are all the ladies in the front.

I would like to renovate their front facade for them but then the place would be overridden with shoppers, so I think I’ll just keep this secret to myself. :)

Now that a grocery bags is charged many of us bring our own bags but now we also have to do the job of the registers since they don’t want to do it, we the costumers must pack our groceries, today a very rude cashier told me “it is your job to bag the groceries “ what is next ?

Great place to shop for basic grocery items. Looks small on the outside but has a good amount of diverse goods, especially from various cultures. Wouldn't shop for gourmet goods here, but Adam, the manager is always friendly and the clerks efficient. Also has basic household items every day which is very convenient.

this pioneer location is the best supermarket on the upper west. it’s got the best quality for the best prices. the staff is super friendly and they will help you with anything you need. i HIGHLY RECOMMEND this place. it’s jus fantastic.

Pioneer has an exceptional curated selection of meats, fresh vegetables, milk/eggs/yogurt, oils/spices, and baklava! My husband and I shop at Pioneer exclusively. We've cooked much more because of Pioneer and it has been fun. And I'd like to mention - the staff is kind, efficient, and welcoming to all. Thanks Pioneer!

- Kathleen, one of your neighbors and customers

I really wanted to like this place because it's sort of retro and near me. I've given it several chances, and every time it's been beyond unpleasant! Apart for the prices being outrageous, the employees look absolutely miserable to be there. One employee kept insisting I go to a cashier when I knew that cashier had another customer. When I finally went to get her off my back, they other cashier rudely snapped that she was with a customer (even though they were done). They are incredible unfriendly and rude and look like they're forced to be there. Won't return again.

Not a bad neighborhood grocery and decent selection, but certain items are quite overpriced. For example, impossible meatballs were being sold for $12 when you get can them for $8 at fairway. And, employees were a little rude when I went into the wrong aisle (I was using cash, aisle was only for credit card users).

Nice and clean. A neighborhood fixture for over 40 years. Oh and the best beer selections from around the world. Good selection of fresh vegetables and also hard to find seasonings including hot pepper sauces.Nice selection of breads and cakes, always fresh. Check out the choices for piping hot pepper sauces too.

This supermarket has friendly staff as well as clean store and well organized. I come here mostly for there big beer selection and they’re constantly updating the beer varieties which to a beer lover is always great! Plus they let you mix match single beers which is also very good

My favorite supermarket. My only complain is that the isles are pretty tight. It’s hard to get through on a crowded day. Especially with a baby carriage. Other than that the prices are great, the guys especially Diego, are always helpful. As a Latina I appreciate the things I’m able to find here! I don’t know what I would do if this supermarket didn’t exist in this neighborhood. Especially with some of the products I buy for cooking. Great selection of brands as well, and meat/produce always fresh.

This place may not look like much from the outside, but their food and produce is top notch, with lots of fresh organic options and no crowds or long lines like at the bigger supermarkets. As a bonus, they have one of the best beer selections on the UWS!

I shop Pioneer regularly. Its clean, and I find the staff the staff to be super friendly. I am more than satisfied with the selection of all dry goods but the produce is way below standard. Fruit and vegetables are often just shy of moldy. Ive had so many instances of picking up a container of tomatoes to find a furry spot or two. The potatoes are almost always a shade if green.
Im writing this with the sincere hope that management changes its vendors and gets fresh items at least on par with Fairway down the block. I understand you are catering to some older folks in the neighborhood and perhaps want to keep prices somewhat down, but I fell this place is close to being a neighborhood gem if it just gave a sht about the quality of its fresh products.

Your staff is always helpful& kind. The prices on the REAL meat actually aren’t too bad at all! Chickens are very good. Good to see a wide variety of pet foods! Please stop the” are you eating plant based “ propaganda at the top of the ads.. I find it offensive. Everyone knows what’s available. It’s actually not healthy.

Great supermarket for beer. They have a wide selection featuring all kinds of American craft and foreign import beers. They will also have the occasional special release brews. Prices are a little above average, but they will often have some well discounted items. Good stop for the beer fan.

Great supermarket in Manhattan. Adam the manager is always so responsive and the cashiers are always helpful and nice they always help me to bag! They always keep the lines moving really quickly. I shop their sales every week. So much better than the crowd at Fairway

I'm a huge Pioneer fan. We moved into Manhattan from the suburbs recently and I was wondering where I would do all my grocery shopping. I tried Pioneer on Columbus and 74th and now I'm hooked. Their selection and range of products is amazing. They always seem to have exactly what I need and the store is very clean. The meat and fish are first rate and always super fresh. It's well managed and the cashiers are nice. It's a great place to shop.

I went in here on a whim, because this place looks so cool-- like it's straight out of the 1970s. I was impressed to find that they've actually got a lot of great stuff, including one of the more impressive beer selections in the neighborhood. I found some varieties I have not seen many other places in New York, and lots more bottles I'd never seen before. It's such a trip to visit this old fashioned grocery store, but I was happy to discover that they often have what I need at reasonable prices.