Tashkent Supermarket Halal Food - Ave Z — Attraction in New York

It took me a long time, but I’ve finally decided to leave this negative review — in hopes that something might actually improve. I’ve been coming to the Ave Z store since it opened — it’s one of my local stores. They has some unique produce that I really like, and honestly, that’s the only reason I keep coming back. I’ve bought spoiled food here multiple times. I’ve learned to only buy small portions because most of the time, the food goes bad within a day. That alone is disappointing, but it can happen in any store. My biggest issue is their staff. What is going on with them?? Is this a cultural thing? Because in this country the customer comes first. And yet, not once — not one single time over the last few years — have I been able to approach the salad bar without a staff member cutting me off, stepping in front of me, or doing something completely unnecessary right at that moment when I try to get food. Why does this keep happening? Let me give a few examples: My hand reaches for the spoon, and a worker literally grabs it just to stick it back into other side of the salad. I’m approaching the salad trays, and a female worker suddenly runs in front of me to shuffle trays around for no reason. I wait patiently. But another worker joins in and they start having a conversation — right in front of me. Both see me very well and my face says it all as well- totally ignoring. So, I ask them: “Am I invisible? Can you let the customer get food first and then do your own thing?”Their response? “We have to do our job first.”What job? Switch two near by trays? Blocking customers from buying food? If I ask for 2 pounds of meat, give me 2 pounds — not 4 pounds. Don’t make me explain why I don’t need to buy extra not even extra but double. Honestly, I could go on and on. It’s every single time I come in — someone is pushing me out of the way at the salad bar or cutting me off like I don’t exist. It’s completely disrespectful. May be the owner is pushing the workers run non stop that they become disoriented, I don’t know. But please — just take a look at what’s going on around your salad bar. Your workers are disrupting customers, moving trays and spoons from one spot to another for no reason. Feels like they just constantly need to pretend like they are doing something at the salad bar but instead they are preventing customers from buying food and make the experience frustrating and unpleasant. If everything is ok at the bar, move your workers away, let us just buy food. You don't have much space there either. And one more thing — we all know how to go to the register. Why is someone always shouting, “Register 8!” or “Register 2!” like we’re a herd of animals? If you’re trying to do a Trader Joe’s-style experience, then treat customers with respect. Don’t yell at them. Guide them politely. I'm willing to correct my review if I notice some changes...

Honest to God, this store is probably THE BEST STORE In New York State, and not New York City to buy HALAL MEAT or simply ALL MEAT in general. Prices are fair and quality is EXCELLENT.

Giving a 1-star review due to truly atrocious customer service, which my wife and I witnessed firsthand and experienced as racism. My wife had mentioned previous incidents, which I initially doubted, but after it occurred multiple times and directly in front of me, I have to speak out. While the products are excellent and the store is clean, the discriminatory treatment we received is unacceptable and the worst customer service experience I've ever had.

**"I'm updating my review from four years ago, where I unfortunately gave this store a 1-star rating due to a very negative customer service experience. While my initial review praised the products themselves, the service I received at the time was truly disappointing. As a regular customer who has been shopping here since the store first opened (and it was a much smaller operation back then!), I've been so pleased to see a significant and welcome improvement in customer service over the past few years! The staff has been noticeably more attentive, helpful, and pleasant to interact with during my recent visits. This positive shift has considerably enhanced my overall experience as a loyal shopper who has witnessed the store's growth. Beyond the improved service, I must also mention that their cooked food is absolutely amazing – a real highlight! Additionally, the new renovations are spotless and have created a much more inviting and enjoyable atmosphere in the now larger store. Interestingly, even though I initially left a 1-star review, the quality of their offerings has always impressed me so much that I've consistently recommended this store to everyone I know for the past five years! Given my line of work, I meet many people daily, and I've always pointed them in the direction of this store, even when it was just starting out. While the customer service is now much better and a significant step in the right direction, there's still a little room for further refinement to reach truly exceptional levels. However, the progress made is commendable, and it now makes for a much more positive shopping experience overall. I'm updating my rating to 4 stars to reflect this considerable improvement and my long-standing positive view of their offerings, and I sincerely wish them an even better and more...

1Star added for Friendliness and Kindness of their Staff. Their Tashkent chain Location on Avenue Z and Conney Island: Poor Quality Salad Bar Food (with 30% added pieces of Saturated Fat into just about all of the cutlets and pies). Extremely overpriced, as $7.99 per Lb ($16 per kg) for a Salad with Radishes and Cucumbers swimming in deliberately added water in prepackaged boxes. Salt and Saturated Fats deliberately added so they can sell leftovers for 4-5 days as it's Bland and tasteless. Staff in Spanish mentioned no paper towels and toilet paper and no hand soap left in the back room. Really regret buying Salad Bar ($80 all went into the trash). Owners are spinning out chain stores at various locations and they don't care about cleanliness or tasting Own Foods daily at all locations. Their original location used to be nice and food was well made and it used to be clean 5 years ago. Their new locations are pretty much need to be avoided unless you are only buying Veggies and canned food and Bread and avoiding Salad Bar and Take Out Food and Cold Cuts due to lack of cleanliness and being over salted as their "cooks" have no idea what these dishes should really be tasting like. Maybe original location on Brighton Beach is somewhat ok, but after Ave Z and Conney Island visit and putting $80 of Salad Bar Food into trash as it's impossibly salty and with added fats and questionable tasting, we would be avoiding Tashkent chain stores Locations... What used to be good is now ruined by Franchises or chain poor quality no professional management chains. There are tons of other international food markets around and we would be avoiding Tashkent going forward and so are our friends who didn't like the Salad Bar...