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Whole Earth Center
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Health Store
Vegan-friendly
American
Fast food
Take-out
Bakery
Natural food market with a vegetarian deli inside serving lunch type of foods. Bakery has vegan cookies and cakes daily. Find a variety of vegan pantry essentials. Meat and dairy are also sold here. Open Mon-Sat 8:00am-6:00pm, Sun 9:00am-6:00pm. Closed Sun.
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360 Nassau, Princeton, New Jersey, USA, 08540
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- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 29 Nov 2021 by poivron
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11 Reviews
First Review by goshdavey
Kate9791
Points +1293
A true gem - Edit
I’ve been coming since their beginning, but only lately come to truly appreciate them. 100% organic produce section - abundant selection and extremely high quality. The best in the area.
Read moreDeli always has vegan options, along with the grab-and-go areas.
This place is a true community gathering spot. I’m treated like a regular even tho I only am on visits home to my parents.
They make lots of their own foods - deli; soups; sandwiches; breads; cookies.
Separate vegan dairy cooler; big bulk section and bulk spices; compostable produce bags; lots of sale items.
Updated from previous review on 2024-05-19
Pros: Senior discount, Good people watching, Local sourcing
Cons: Small (also a pro, but it can get crowded)
Guest
poivron
Points +480
Less vegan-friendly than it seems - Edit
I've been shopping here for several years, and during the early part of the pandemic, it was the only place I shopped. It is a very irritating place to shop, though, and I've recently been avoiding it. There are now just a few things I buy here, and I'm looking for another place to buy even those things.
Read more1. It's clear who the target shopper is: a well-off omnivore who wants to feel good about the "humane" flesh and secretions they purchase at a hip "health food" store. The deli is vegetarian, but pretty much everywhere else you look, you will see animal products: canned fish flesh, mammal and bird flesh, animal breast milk, animal eggs, whey, flesh broths, and, of course, bone broth. It's a little disturbing to see all this carnage in a place that claims to be earth-friendly. If I have to shop at a store that caters to omnivores, I'd rather shop at the nearby McCaffrey's, which has a larger selection of vegan products than the Whole Earth.
2. There are often piles of cardboard boxes blocking the aisles. Frequently, when I stop by here to pick up a few things, I end up leaving empty handed because everything I need is either out of stock or blocked by a wall of boxes.
3. Prior to the pandemic, the workers would rearrange the store at least once a year, moving everything to a totally new position for no apparent reason. Just as I got used to the new layout, it would suddenly change again. It was clear that the management ordered this because they wanted people to walk through the store looking for what they came in for and find other things in the process that they wouldn't have noticed otherwise. I don't like to feel that I'm being manipulated. Furthermore, as an introvert who doesn't like to ask for help, I hated the inconvenience.
In short, the management of this store doesn't respect its customers. In particular, its vegan customers are clearly an afterthought.
Pros: Vegetarian deli
Cons: Too many animal products
FrancineSafir
Disappointing!
Read moreGuest
JeffJohnson
Points +217
Love this place - Edit
Wonderful organic produce , hard to find natural grocery items. We always eat lunch at their cafe and there are lots of vegan options - mostly vegan in fact. Lots of good vegan prepared food in their cold shelves too.
Read moreGuest
endanimalcruelty
Points +538
!!! - Edit
Best store around!
Read moreGuest
TKprincetonNJ
Points +60
love this place - Edit
Since 1970 they have been doing the earth and eaters a solid.
Read moreGuest
Tentaculata
Points +94
Thank god for this place - Edit
Whole Earth is a haven for Princeton vegans. Amazing lunch deli (not all items are vegan though; they do write out ingredients on little cards by each item). Love the tofu specials, the braised collard greens, house guacamole, and cashew sauce pasta. Bulk section for nuts, grains, and spices. Good organic produce. And you can find vegan marshmallows, vegan egg replacers, vegan chocolate chunks, veganic cereal, vegan meat substitutes, vegan cheese, almond/soy/coconut/etc milks, vegan Mac and cheese in a box, vegan butter and mayo, vegan buttered popcorn, flaxseed meal, wheat germ, seaweed, and more. A little pricey but worth it.
Read moreGuest
ButikiGirl
Points +222
Tasty Food at Fair Prices - Edit
I love this place! They have a nice selection of products that can’t be found in Whole Foods and Trader Joes and their produce is so fresh and local. The deli is great! There are plenty of vegan options on the menu and in the to-go case. The tempeh blt is very tasty and filling for only $3.99. Where else can you get a good vegan sandwich for that price and in Princeton no less? Juices are only $3 for 10 ounces. All of the prices are completely reasonable. I notice they tend to use less sugar, which is nice. Service can be a little slow but the people are great.
Read morePros: Tasty, quality food, Nice selection of vegan options, Great prices
Cons: Service can be slow
Guest
beets+beats
Points +24
Magnificent - Edit
I stopped in to pick up some fresh veggie food to go after an international trip. I tried the kale chickpea salad, beet fennel salad, herbed roasted potatoes, and lemon rosemary tofu. Everything was fresh and delicious!
Read moreGuest
Vegparty
Points +113
Best food in town - Edit
Lovely grab and go deli setting. Fresh foods prepared each day by Alex and his team of chefs. You can even sample something before you buy it. All deli foods are vegan or vegetarian. Our favorites from the grill area are the vegan BLT with smoked tempeh, the falafel sandwich and the rainbow sandwich. From the hot case, try the sautéed tofu, the daily Indian inspired dish, the sautéed potatoes. From the cold case, try the house salad -amazing, the green slaw, vegan rice pudding, vegan chocolate pudding, hummus, beet soup, gazpacho...selection varies daily. All ingredients are listed on the name cards, so you can see what's organic, vegan, etc.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Sunday August 11, 2013
Pros: Crazy good, Many organic foods, Vegan bakery on-site
Cons: Busy at 12:00
Guest
djspe
Points +91
The freshest local organic produce - Edit
Whole Earth Center has the best organic produce sourced from local NJ growers. They always have a well-stocked variety of season fruits and vegetables and they can actually answer questions about where the food came from. Additionally they have a great selection of pantry goods, a wonderful bulk section and a small deli that makes vegetarian breakfast and lunch. The staff is super friendly and helpful.
Read moreYou might pay slightly more for certain items than you would at Whole Foods, but the fresh produce is often cheaper and you are helping to support local businesses and growers.
Pros: Freshest produce, Locally grown, Knowledgeable staff
Cons: Some pantry items priced high, Deli not open past lunch
Guest
goshdavey
Points +13
a very special place - Edit
One of the few health food stores left in the area that is not a chain. The Deli and bakery make food from scratch - the way it should be made. All the food has ingredient lists to make eating on special diets easier - you know exactly what you are eating. The chefs at Whole Earth Center are very creative and make fabulous food creations. Be sure to try a cup of soup that is made daily. You can also get super healthy sandwichwes loaded with fresh veggies. Grilled sandwiches are also available. Top everything off with a large selection of tasty vegan and non-vegan cookies and cakes.
Read moreWhole Earth will also be opening a brand new deli sometime this year in the space that was once a flower shop connected to Whole Earth Center - even more reason to check it out!
Pros: fresh food, great menu
Guest
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