Kowalski’s

I’ve been shopping at Kowalskis for three years and have enjoyed the variety of gourmet items and the friendly staff. But lately the store has let me down. A tub of fresh pineapple that turns out to be so hard (unripe?) that it is inedible. Grapes that, on closer inspection, are brown around the stem. Blueberries that are soft the day you buy them.
I have wasted a fair amount money at Kowalskis on marginal produce. Fortunately, Cub Foods, not far away has super-​fresh fruits and vegetables at much lower prices — and scrumptious French rolls.

This is more of a convenience market. If you are careful, there is regular priced merchandise, however there’s a lot of outrageously priced items, for instance: Their cheese selection at the front of the store — look at the price per pound — much of it is $ 19 — $ 30 dollars a pound, the lamb chops were $ 19.95 — while we purchased them a COSTCO (the same week) for $ 6.95 a pound. However the deli meat — Boar’s Head is competitively priced. The olive bar is nice also.
You need to get familiar what the store has to offer. Otherwise 60^th & Nicollet there is a CUB.

This place has gone downhill. There used to be more of a selection. Now, it seems like all the space in the store is dedicated to expensive crap that I can get online or at Trader Joe’s for half as much as it is at Kowalski’s. Maybe since Jim died things are starting to fall apart. I couldn’t believe the lack of selection at this place. For one, they didn’t have gallon sized whole milk. I could pay an extra dollar for Kemps, but I don’t want to pay $ 4.00 for Kemps. That’s a joke. Kemp’s milk is crap. They didn’t have any Totino’s party pizzas, which is shocking considering every convenience store has them (They are the number one selling pizza in America Kowalski’s!). There mac and cheese boxed selection was crap. All the Annie’s mac and cheese was taking over the space. And, who needs Annie’s mac and cheese? That stuff is the worst tasting crap on the planet. I don’t care if it’s all natural; it tastes yucky and bitter. It’s worse than the $.50 cent discount mac and cheese.
Needless to say, I will be skipping this place most of the time. I used to come here to get cheese all the time, but Trader Joe’s really put a damper on that. I can get better cheese at half the price at TJ’s. GET A CLUE KOWALSKI’S!

I’ll keep this brief. Just wasn’t what we expected I guess… lol. Didn’t particularly care for the way we were spoken to. Just an opinion, doesn’t mean much. Hope others will have better experiences.

It used to be better. But, now, it seems to be a good place to get a soggy sandwich from their deli and, at the checkout counter, mediocre service.

I’ve come to this kowalski’s ever since I was a child with my parents. The other night roughly the first week of august of 2015 I came to this beautiful grocery store which I adore. And the two men working in the Deli and Meat Isle were being extremely creepy towards my girlfriend. They would not stop eyeing her down. It was very uncomfortable for me and for her. I asked them where the chocolate chips were and he told me the isle number but then insisted on following us there. When we found the chips he stayed in the isle and talked to a co-​worker while instead of making eye contact with him stared at my girlfriend the whole time. Extremely rude. Extremely awkward. To do that to any woman let alone a woman who is with her boyfriend. Show some respect in who you are hiring. Keep the creeps on the streets and out of my favorite grocery store. The gentlemen had a beard and his co-​worker had long hair. Both worked night shifts at the deli and meat section. We walked in around 11 pm. The gentleman who accompanied me with the beard should be fired. Me and my girlfriend live a block away and I will not be returning ever again.

Kowalski’s in the Lynnhurst neighborhood is a go-​to on a regular basis for us. Their mix of quality produce, good hot food deli, great everyday selection, and top-​notch meats are a definite selling point.
We typically frequent this location once or twice a week for our grocery needs. We are able to do all our shopping here, which is a major plus. We can always get the produce, proteins, and non-​perishables that we are looking for. Also, when we are looking for one-​off items like specialty cheeses, alternative food options, or high-​end beef, we usually make this the first stopping point.
I have yet to be disappointed in my shopping experience at Kowalski’s and I will continue to keep coming back.
Specialty items:
— One of the only stores to sell Bull Run coffee in bags
— Have Wagyu beef in steak and ground form on a regular basis (great price)
— Awesome specialty cheese selection
— Best hot food/​sandwich selection in the Southwest Minneapolis area for grocery stores
Major Con: The parking lot always leaves me cursing and wondering why I continue to shop here. It is cramped, flow is horrible, and people treat it like a racetrack. COME DURING OFF HOURS TO SAVE YOUR SANITY!

The folks that serve the hot food and the chef are amazing! The staff is so friendly. I can’t say enough good things about this store. I drive out of my way to go to this location. I wish all Kowalskis were as good as this one.

I will say it again. The sushi here is amazing for a grocery store! Really fresh and creative selection.

I live near this Kowalski’s and when they opened, I felt that I should patronize my neighborhood business and do my shopping here. However, I find that this is a place I do not enjoy. Compared to my usual grocery store, Byerly’s in Edina, I find the selection to be limited (the store is small). Aisles are crowded and items are hard to find. There never seems to be a stock person to help. Also the interior is to me dark and depressing and parking can be a hassle at times. The express lane is usually not open so if you want to buy a few items you often have to wait while one or two people with full carts get checked out. Frankly, I have not found the vaunted quality of produce and meat to be that great either. I will continue to drive to Edina for my weekly grocery shopping.

Kowalski’s is like the Sak’s 5^th Avenue of grocery stores to me. I don’t go often, but when I do, it’s soooo enjoyable. I love that they carry my favorite heathy bread, but they also stock stuff you can find at a Cub, should you so desire. Excellent selection of products. I feel special being among the other lovely Kowalskians. The customer service (especially the bag boys and girls) is impeccable and it’s an ideal place to pick up a card, flowers, or a cool gift (also one of the only places I have seen unique, classy «Minnesota» souveniers) for a party or what-​have-​you. Then after, you can swing by the awesome liquor store across the street (if you can find a parking space) and off you go!

Great service and best donuts ever! The fancy schmancy donuts around town are so overrated. Kowalskis has fresh and fun flavors for only a buck! The chocolate cocoa puff is so nomnomnom, but I can never resist the good ol fashioned. All the flavors are super good, but I tend to go for crunch over raised or cake. Definitely check out their bakery when you have a craving!

Let me start by saying I’m a big Kowalski’s fan, especially the location I lived next to in Eagan, great store. This location is definitely better than some but not as good as Eagan or Hennepin Ave. I usually frequent the hot soup, deli items and bakery, the shrimp salad and chicken tortellini alfredo are pretty great.
I will drive the longer distance to this Kowalskis rather than the Chicago Ave store because it’s bigger and has more to choose from for prepared food. Too many times though the food has been below Kowalski standards, maybe it has to do with how busy it is but things in the deli often taste as if they have been sitting there under the heat lamp for too long. I can’t remember a single example of this happening at Eagan, all the food seemed to have just been prepared. My other beef is with the soup here, maybe they are slipping at all the locations but this store does not have as hearty soup, I always have to sift liquid to get a little filler with my meal.
I know I’ll be back, they have a Movies On The Go and South Lyndale Liquors is right across the street. It’s not so bad where I would drive the extra distance all the way to Eagan, it would be nice however if they stepped their game up a little bit.

Kowalski’s is my slightly impractical grocery store of choice. It’s my go to because the Kowalski’s private brand is awesome. They don’t just do basics, they do flavor! The pasta salad options, for example, are fantastic. They will let you try plenty of varieties before you select your favorite, but I’ve stopped bothering because I’ll love them all! Tropical Mango Quinoa, Lemony Couscous, Fall Grains with Apple, they’re all delicious. Also, if you are willing to meander down the path of grocery store sushi, they have some pretty legit options. I like the spicy tuna and California rolls (with brown rice when it’s still in stock).
The big drawback for me is that they do ending up costing me a bit more for a similar basket of goods at Lund’s. Typically if I only buy only sale produce I can keep costs in line, but if I go in with a need for ingredients for a particular recipe I usually pay way more than I’d like. Also the parking lot is a disaster in peak times. It’s very small and it can be hard to maneuver around in.

If a were someone else, someone who didn’t work for a non-​profit, have 30k in student loans, wanted to waste money on groceries, while shopping in a truly beautiful store, I would live here.
Kowalski’s is my grocery dream. I aspire to it. I love to walk around here, eat samples, look at the deli case, and then walk out with a container of apple juice and a small pack of strawberries.
I can’t afford this place for all my grocery shopping, or really any of it. But its a lovely thing. I worship at its altar of superiority.

This is my closest grocery store after moving to the Kingfield neighborhood, and I have to say, I’m not impressed. First of all, the prices are crazy! Since when are chicken breasts $ 6.99/lb? And Jack’s frozen pizza for $ 4.39? Now that is insanity. Also, I find the store to be laid out strangely. I never know where to look for items, and items aren’t even price-​labelled clearly half the time.
That being said, it’s nice enough inside, and they’re open late. However, if this wasn’t the closest grocery store to my house, I wouldn’t bother to waste a single extra penny there.

I like Kowalskis a lot for their cheese and deli selections. try the pulled pork bbq sandwich! I wish they had a bigger bulk nut selection but ah well, can always run over to the Wedge co-​op for that

Kowalski’s is another reason I love living in southwest Minneapolis. Sure, they’re pricier than the likes of Cub or Rainbow, and their parking lot gets crazier than a bad carnival ride, but they’ve got the grocery biz figured out.
Let it be said, I do not do my everyday shopping here. When it comes to pricing and selection, the aforementioned establishments are superior. However, if I am in a hurry or am in need of some specialty items, Kowlaski’s is where I go. Forget Lund’s and Byerly’s. Kowalski’s produce and meat dept’s can’t be beat and their fresh sushi is shockingly phenomenal. But where Kowalski’s blows the competition away is their customer service. I do a lot of cooking and sometimes my recipes call for off-​the-​wall ingredients. A few weeks ago I was making a dish that called for ground sumac. Sumac is not an everyday spice you find just anywhere. After recruiting nearly the entire staff to look for the elusive sumac, they finally Googled it and found mulling spice to be an acceptable alternative. For my ‘trouble’ they comped me the mulling spice. Now THAT my friends, is service.
My Grandfather used to own a neighborhood grocery, and this is exactly how he ran things. Sure, you’re not the biggest or the cheapest, but your service is the best and your customers love you for it.

I really remain uncharmed, unswayed, and unimpressed with Lunds/Byerly’s. Their pricing is a joke, and the quality not all that — the entire experience of shopping there an obnoxious one, to me.
Sorry folks, Dean and Deluca you ain’t, not by a LONG shot. Stop acting as if you are.
Kowalski’s on the other hand, gets it right. It’s all a little better, a little nicer, and yet, I don’t feel like I’m being gouged or like I must dress to be seen in order to go get some peanut butter and milk at 11:30 at night. There are all the organic/​gluten free highlights for when the co-​op is closed or Whole Foods is too irritatingly packed to consider.
I’ve always had amazing help, friendly checkout, and it’s one of those little things that make me love my ‘hood even more.

Kowalski’s is my 2^nd favorite of our Twin Cities area grocers, just behind Lunds when it comes to things like bakery goods and meat. They too carry Boars Head meats, and have exclusive products. I’ve always had real good luck with their bakery when it comes to hamburger and hot dog buns for a day of grilling, gotta get those Boars Head all beef hot dogs, man are those good.
Another nice thing about this place, as well as the other Kowalski’s that I’ve been is you can get in, get you’re shopping done, and be out the door in no time, great if you’re in a hurry. Just like Lunds each store has it’s own characteristics, this one is in a charming old neighborhood shopping area right next to Minnehaha Parkway, and has a very neat interior. I think the prices at Kowalski’s are for the most part more expensive than it’s competitors, even Lunds. I don’t think the things that I get here are by any means a rip off though, it’s good quality stuff.