Lidl ..worth a punt?

[Ihopeyourcakeisshit]

Lidl just opened near me what is it like for meat veg and wine?
Anything I should avoid or definitely buy?

If they've just opened they usually have 6 weeks of offers which is a once a week freebie by voucher (from what I remember ours was things like chocolates, olive oil, loo roll, savoury snacks etc)

The chicken is reasonably priced and OH says is good (I don't eat poultry so no comment).

Veg is ok, just be as selective as you would be in other supermarkets.
Wine? Never met one I wasn't keen on :)

They have weekend specials where they discount some things by up to half price, look in the magazine for details.

The only things I won't buy is the fresh bakery products and that's because of the vile habits of other shoppers that I've observed (dropping things on the floor and putting them back, licking fingers and poking food, small children being allowed to rummage, using hands to pick up food, adults sneezing over the food etc) ugh.

I like Lidl and also Aldi. They don't have many brand names in, but their own brands are reasonable. I also like the random stuff that comes in now and again, have discovered new foods this way. They both have some good continental foods in, and they often feature in best buys on their alcohol. Occasionally I do buy some specific items at other supermarkets, especially for my DC's GCSE food tech requirements.

A huge one has just opened by me. I go in, but only for specific things.

Wine, yoghurt drink and the morning rolls. The bakery section looks great if not a bit stodgy!

I prefer to buy fruit and veg elsewhere, and I find the aisles of tat in you don't need a bit annoying (welding mask anyone).

Today's cashier was grumpy, and did the 'CASH OR CARD??' bark at me after virtually throwing my stuff at me.

Lidl do a very nice Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc for £5.49

Thanks all, I'm off out for a peruse!

I buy whatever I buy anywhere else in there. I don't trust the great unwashed locals so I don't trust the fresh bakery you can touch yourself (shame, it looks and smells lovely!), and I don't drink or eat meat so can't testify for those things! They do lovely cheeses, especially extra mature cheddar and red fox which they copied from aldi . I refuse to buy ketchup anywhere other than them and aldi for 45p now, because I can't taste the difference and it doesn't separate out like heinz dies.

I couldn't get the ketchup past my Heinz loving teenager, even when I decanted it into the Heinz bottle.

Good free range chicken.
Boxes of mini cucumbers.
Brilliant wine section with points awarded. Just check the right wine us in the correct box .I've picked up fantastic summery & pudding wines recently. Also Gin is very good.
Good random tins of Artichokes & Anchovy stuffed olives.
Baclava.
Fresh Sourdough Pizza with spicy sausage.( Kids love).
Good upmarket tomatoes .
Fantastic Cheese .
Cold meats / Gravadlax.
Crispy roast duck.
5% fat mince.
Steak .

Good for booze, pizzas, random fresh nibbles. Veg is also good but how annoying is it that you can't just buy one or two carrots? I don't want a whole kg thanks!

Their big pots of Greek yoghurt are fab value and I love their lemon swiss roll cake! Used to agree about the chicken from there until an item in the news a few weeks ago where a chicken supplier was mistreating the chickens very badly - it supplied to Lidl, Aldi and one other I can't remember. Not a fan of their fruit and veg but if you eat it the same or next day its fine.

sparkling

I tried this with their coffee on a colleague. Decanted into a Kenco jar. She practically spat it over her keyboard!

Summer, I bet she doesn't trust you to make the hot beverages any more.

I honestly didn't think she would know. I often fondly remenice about this while she throws dagers... She is a true princess and the pea. I have never dared do it again.

Lidl is very good for meat and also for fruit and vegetables. I do not particularly like their tinned foods though! The main thing is check the dates but lidl are usually very good at marking the price down when the dates are short, aldi don't seem to do this.

@SummerHouse

Coffee is sacred and unlike ketchup I can taste the difference. If it was the first cup of the day there would have been a good chance you'd be under the patio by now if you tried that on me! 😁

Lordy XX I will not do it again I swear.

Good. There is hope for you yet ;)

Just as a by-the-way, both Aldi and Lidl have gone right up the ranks in the ethical shopping stakes. They are better than Tesco and Asda I seem to remember and for MSC registered fish they are top 3, both of them.

Also, PP who mentioned about the middle aisles of stuff you don't need - that's part of the fun! Now if they'd start stocking lentils and soy yoghurt we'd never go anywhere else.

Go, try everything, make a note of the things you like and those you hate. Everyone has different tastes so it's difficult to say. Every store seems different with respect to the quality/longevity of the fresh produce too.

Let us know how you get on.

We do our weekly shop here and get so much more for our money. Only things I buy elsewhere are chickpeas, coffee, tea, shampoo, and dog food. I'm not keen on Lidl bananas but we do eat them.

I feel a bit of a party pooper for not liking the Middle of Lidl and their aisles of tat.
The stuff in it though you would never go in for (unless maybe it was say 'Fishing Week' and you needed some tackle) it's just all designed as impulse buying of stuff you can well do without, and it's not particularly cheap.

Cleaning/laundry products are usually good value. Worth stocking up on an occasional visit.

@pcbananahammock exactly what I came to say.

Chicken and mince is also good. Veg is nice but check it as usual. A lot cheaper.

The degreaser spray is brilliant and 79p I think.