Sure, it’s the largest retailer of crunchy stuff, but there’s more to Whole Foods than bulk granola and Gardenburgers. For example, it’s also the best place to snag a live lobster, a tuna steak or wild salmon. The tattooed guys behind the counter are friendly and knowledgeable. They know their orange roughy from their whitefish. Yes, some markets have a bigger selection, but the clincher here is the service. Whole Foods will always steam your lobster or shell and devein your shrimp, no matter how busy they are.
This article appears in Sep 26 – Oct 2, 2002.