M Pellegrino Importing Co — Restaurant in Town of Colonie

I have never been so humiliated in my life by a business. I called earlier and put in an order for pickup. They guy on the phone was very rude but they always seem short tempered when I call in so I didn't think anything of it. I go to the Malta store (where Just Meats used to be...wish they would come back) I walk in and the taller man with gray hair is yelling at one of the young lady workers...who in the end is the only nice person I came in contact while there. He asks rudely if I was being helped, I said no and that I had an order for pickup. I give him my name and right away he says 'did you call OUR store of the one in Albany. I said 'well I googled your name and I dialed the number that came up'. I will admit I thought I dialed Malta but in fact it was Albany. I already felt horrible because they made a sandwich that wasn't going to be picked up. The gray haired man then says to me...'well you know how they say the customer is always right, well you were wrong...SORRY!' I was apalled. Then the short fat bald one (as I was checking out) said 'take our business card so this never happens again'. Are you kidding me?! I felt bad as it was that I called the wrong restaurant...I left in tears. And as I was leaving I could hear the young lady who was nice to me say to the bald guy....'you made her feel so bad'. Bald guy: 'she should'. I NEVER and I mean NEVER right reviews because I believe everyone has their own experience at places, good or bad. But this was just the straw that broke the camels back for me. HORRIBLE HORRIBLE customer service!! Also if you want delivery...you better be having a party because they only deliver for a MINIMUM of $50!! I would be surprised if they were in business in Malta much longer because I work at SF and I will be telling this incident to everyone, poor customer...

I apologize for not writing this review much earlier. Pellegrino's Imports has been a long time favorite going back to their previous location on lower Madison Ave in Albany where I first started patronizing this Italian import store & deli in the late '70s. Then to their location on Central Ave and now their present location on further west on Central Ave in Colonie. The owner is Benny Anastasio, second generation of this Albany family owned business. Great selection of Italian & Greek imported products from antipasto to ziti. Full grocery selection and a full service deli. Purveyor of Boar's Head meats & cheese. Also offer their own spaghetti sauce, olive oil, sausage, also barrels of dried beans & olives, prepared salads & meals, sandwiches, soups, pastas, Prinzo's bread &rolls, pizza doughs & all the toppings, and many kinds of imported cheeses. But the most important item they offer is their AAA service. They treat their customers like family. They can meet all your catering needs. I just can't say enough about their service - it's exemplary! You'll always be happy with your selections and their service. They also have two other locations, one in E. Greenbush on Rt 4 and one in Malta on Rt 9. Thank you Benny & staff for the excellent customer service over...

As an Italian American from a very ethnic family I like Pellegrino's in Albany, but their store in North Greenbush on Route 4 leaves a lot to be desired. The staff was rude and dismissive as if being asked a simple question was an intrusion on their personal life. Example: "Do you have the red dye for Greek Easter eggs?" Surly guy: "No." "We used to buy it at the other store, do you think they might have it?" Surly guy: "I don't know, just call them, I'm really busy here." Thing is, wouldn't you know if the other store has what you want? Even if you didn't, wouldn't you try to accommodate a customer? He couldn't be bothered. So he turned away and that was that.

A word of advice to all retail establishments: Sometimes you can get away with inferior products, but you can never get away with rotten...