Jump to: Reviews | Grocery-Store Tricks

Surprisingly, many online sources consider grocery stores one of the best places to meet people. Even more surprisingly, online sources also consider grocery stores one of the best places to exchange money for food. Today's Groupon will give you plenty of opportunities to be surprised: for $15, you’ll get $35 worth of groceries at Straub’s Fine Grocers. This deal is good at all four St. Louis–area locations: Webster Groves, Clayton, Central West End, and Town & Country. While there is an online store, this deal is valid for in-store purchases only.

Open since 1901, Straub’s is a family-owned and -operated store that prides itself on good old-fashioned personal service, with none of those fancy, genetically engineered "bio carts." As you stock up on your weekly sustenance of Baconaisse, sour gummi worms, and jerky, stop by the deli for a cut of USDA prime beef from a trained butcher—and to get a helping of the wildly popular chicken salad, made fresh daily with all-white meat, celery, Hellmann’s mayo, and secrets ($9.99/lb).

Straub’s also offers fresh-baked bread from its bakery, chef-prepared soups, produce, seafood, locally roasted coffee ($8.99 for 12 ounces of Straub's house blend), and orange juice squeezed in-store. If you’re in need of wine that doesn’t come in a box or marsupial's pouch, Straub's expert wine staff will help you navigate their shelves. Even though you don't plan on eating any of it, stocking your kitchen with food from Straub's will make it less obvious to houseguests and nosy landlords that you're actually a vampire.

Reviews

The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade named Straub's Retailer of the Year in 2001 and again in 2006. Sauce Magazine named Straub's their favorite chain butcher shop each year from 2005 to 2009, and their favorite chain gourmet market in 2008 and 2009.

Citysearchers and Insider Pages users are of a like mind, rating Straub's a perfect five stars, while Judy's Book reviewers give it a solid four:

• Staubs [sic] is my favorite grocery store in the city. They’ve got a great selection, all packed into a tiny store. The service is awesome. Everyone is so nice and helpful. – Laura C., Judy's Book
• The beef tenderloin was incredible. If wine is what you want, they have a huge selection of wines from all over the world…The deli area is very enticing, with freshly made salads, and awesome cheeses. Straub's is truly a St. Louis experience that you cannot pass up. – Cindy P., Insider Pages