03/01/08

Highest priced market on South Beach, mediocre quality, many stale or expired items.

by sobespirit

The prices are so high that even the rich are avoiding this market like the plague. I have watched in the last year prices rise over 200% on items across the board. It is clear that Epicure is trying to fix their loss of customers by raising prices on the ones that still shop there. A lose-lose proposition from a business standpoint. Every customer has their breaking point and Epicure is testing all of ours.

BAKERY - If you like 3-5 day old pastries and cakes come on in and drop down $4.50 for a soggy napolean or a mushy canoli

PRODUCE - You might as well just go to Publix because half of the produce items at Epicure are EXACTLY the same and are 300% more in price. A large Sunkist naval orange at Epicure costs $1.99 @ Publix you can get 4 for $2.00

DELI - If you enjoy dry and rubbery shrimp try Epicure's golden dipt shrimp. They will only set you back $3.50 per shrimp.

MEAT - You can get a very mediocre NY strip steak for $37.95 per pound. You might try kansas city steaks delivered to your door for less.

EXPIRATION DATES - Q: Why doesn't Epicure use expiration dates? A: So you don't really know how old something is.

On their soups and cooked food items they use a very rudimentary code... basically if you read from left to right it goes.. WEEK DAY YEAR so this week monday would be 9th week 2nd day 08year.

With all of the options today, nobody should be paying these highly inflated prices for such mediocre products.

• Pros: see my review
• Cons: see my review

11/06/07

Unimpressed and Underwhelmed

by misegundohogar

I agree with the other reviewers that this place is overpriced. I would also like to make an alternative suggestion. Try Daily Bread in Pinecrest. They have a store with fresh herbs and spices, sweets, cookbooks, interesting antique looking things like hoookahs and a restaurant where they serve Syrian, Lebanese, Greek, Turkish, Israeli and other great cuisine for cheap. They are very knowledgeable about the things they sell.

11/06/07

Incredibly overpriced

by alabasterfreak

This store is beautiful, I have to admit I was very impressed when I walked in the door. And the packaging is lovely. But unless you plan to eat the packaging rather than the contents, I highly suggest you check out one of the grocery stores listed below. Very few things here are unique, and they can be found at MUCH better prices at 'ethnic' grocers around town. For example- $6 for a tiny can of tabbouleh? $7 for garam masala? Are you kidding me? And the employees are very nice but with the exception of the meat section they don't know what the products are. For the cost of one ingredient of a dish you might eat the entire meal at a restaurant. Why not try:

PUBLIX- yes they have tabbouleh and garam masala!!

DHAKA BAZAAR or SONALI BANGLA in north miami beach- indian pakistan and bengali food. The owners are happy to assist you and tell you how to use a product.

• Pros: A beautiful store
• Cons: being pretty doesn't make you 'gourmet'

What Zabar's is to New York, this gourmet market is to South Florida.

by Contributor

In Short
Founded by the Thal brothers (Leonard and Edward) in the 1940s, Epicure has catered to presidents and celebs alike. Richard Nixon, John F. Kennedy, Paul Newman, Oprah Winfrey--you name it, they've all visited here. The deli is fantastic, stocked with items like stone crab claws, shrimp and Cornish game hens. The two-handed corned beef sandwiches are among the best in the region. There are also gourmet candies, produce, cheeses, seasonings and wines.

12/21/05

Gift Baskets Unavailable

by hgiordan

I, too, am from out of town and tried calling to place an order for a gift basket. I was told that the store does not take orders over the phone and that I would need to come into the store if I wanted to buy a basket. I was very disappointed.

01/03/03

Gifts Giving Goodies

by kmillar

Called from out of town for 3 large holiday gift baskets. The service was great - the gifts were beautiful. Thanks!

• Pros: good service, good selection, nice to deal with
• Cons: no gift pics online