How good is Lidl.

[Noidea2114]

We need to tighten our belts so I'm thinking of trying Lidl.
Is there anything that you could recommend.
We normally use Asda or Morrisons.

Best thing to do is do a shop there and see what you think.

The fresh bread is the main reason I go there.

Personally, I hate it. I have the ability to shop elsewhere so I do. If I had to shop at Lidl, I would choose Aldi instead.

They have all the everyday basics and quite a few niche items/specials, you should just go with your usual shopping list. There are loads of brand-alikes but they usually have a few brand items too.

I love Lidl. Their cheese and meat is very good, but I always check it's UK meat as some is European or even Thailand in their meat products. Salad etc very good, fresh bakery, chocolate is excellent. I agree with P.P. just try it. Check fruit and veg bags before you purchase though as often there will be a rogue bad one. I reckon it's 1/3 cheaper than Tesco for our shop. If you buy the meat offers each week you could save more but I tend to buy the same things each week.

Their wines and gins are also excellent and they do stock some branded items too now (coffee pods, teabags, ketchup etc)

I do my weekly shop in lidl and I love it.
I always buy the same essentials eg fruit, veg, bread, pasta, meat etc but I love that I never quite know what I might discover. We don't really meal plan so I love the limited time options etc. Also the middle of Lidl is great too. I've managed to grab so many bits and bobs from there.
If there is something very specific I want, for example, filo just roll pastry, I go to morrisons, but for a standard week shop, I love lidl

I don't think 'good' is what people are looking for in Lidl, and I don't think it's what they find. But if you want to be fed and drunk for cheaper than anywhere else, on mostly just about bearable fodder, then it'll tick your boxes. I'd say the same for Morrisons own brand stuff though, so you might not notice too much difference.

I alternate shopping in Lidl with Morrison’s. there are some things that are great, but i find I can’t get everything. I specifically go there to get cheese, olives, Greek yogurt, bakery things.

People rave about Lidl but I much much prefer aldi.

The one time I shopped in lidl I realised once I'd got home that the fruit was all mouldy and I was really unimpressed with their chicken.

Saying that I dont like the quality of the chicken in aldi either so always have to stop off somewhere else on the way home to get it!

I love their bakery, their meat is great, chocolate is also good and fruit. My husband is very fussy and likes their stuff, used to do all our shopping at Sainsburys but just a few things there now that I can't get at Lidl. Oh and cheese is good.

I’ve converted since lockdown and saving about £30. I used to shop at Sainsburys.

We swapped to Lidl late last year and noticed it was significantly cheaper than Tesco.

I can get most of what we use there, but do struggle on the odd thing like certain dried herbs and some of our favourite pasta sauces - we’re not having meals in a hurry atm so not missing those at all.

You can get free range and organic produce and lots of their own brand biscuits and crisps are great and very cheap- ideal for lunch boxes but again we’re not making those just now.

There is a reasonable amount of branded produce if that’s what you’re after, but more often than not the alternatives are just as good.

It took me a while to get used to the lay out, and I try to avoid the aisle of doom in the middle but overall it’s been a very good swap for us.

I love Lidl. Probably what I love most about it is that I don't get much choice so I don't spend hours shopping in there, or waste lots of money buying different things from different ranges.

They have 1 type of chopped tomato. Sorted. Unlike Tesco who on one occasion had more than 8. Ditto one sort risotto rice, one sort fusilli, you can have it or leave it.

Unsurprisingly during lockdown they were the quickest supermarket in our town to restock loo roll, tinned tomatoes, pasta, flour etc.

Ham and dairy items are really good, now when I have to shop elsewhere I feel completely ripped off.

However there is the aisle of random if you want to get sucked into spending pointless amounts of money on things you didn't know you wanted.

And I know it's a long time away but Lidl is amazing for Christmas. They sell Christmas to the Germans, all their cakes and biscuits are excellent.

Meat and bakery are both excellent.
But hit and miss in other areas.
I have a partner and child both on the autism spectrum who are fussy and can't do a full shop there because of this.
I tend to pop in once a fortnight for a meat shop... And for their jam doughnuts

I'm surrounded by supermarkets and don't struggle with my budget, but we chose Lidl everytime we love it

Lidl's bakery items are very good. The croissants, pain chocolat and bread are the main reason I go. The coleslaw ( not their own one) and sausage rolls are better than Tesco's finest

Nappies and wipes are great too as well as sandwich meat. I go easily once a week to just get these items and big shop elsewhere. I fit it into my nightly walk

Lidl has a huge amount of brand name items whereas Aldi has very few

I love Lidl, it’s definitely cheaper than Tesco, but I am not sure the savings will be as noticeable with Asda or Morrison’s. I do think the quality of food is loads better (bar a couple of exceptions - they never have decent fresh soup) than everything except Waitrose and booths.

Greek yoghurt - plain and strawberry
Tinned Tomatoes - usually get a case
pasta - spaghetti and penne - but grab other variations during Italian week
fresh orange juice
organic chicken
turkey steaks
fresh bakery section - rolls, baguettes

cheeses - take your pick, mozzarella, brie, cheddar, Parmesan
dry cider
cans of trendy IPAs

Perhaps Lidl is different in the UK but I wouldn’t describe the food I buy in it as bearable fodder like a previous poster.

The food I choose in it isn’t necessarily cheaper than the alternative supermarket beside me.

This week I bought gorgeous Irish strawberries, nice salad veg, really good fresh bread, Irish cheese, milk, natural yogurt and ham, free range chicken breasts, charcuterie meats, nice wine (as well as basics like passata, flour, rice etc).

The bread is very good and it’s cheap in comparison to other supermarkets for cured meats, halloumi, dips etc. Own brand posh crisps and the veg are also good

I love both Lidl and Aldi. Aldi is actually the one I prefer now but Lidl is still good.
Bakery - brilliant! You have to try the brownies. Bagels are very pale and doughy.
The chipotle potato salad is delicious and very morish.
The steaks are nice from there, and their flavoured meat is also nice. They do a spatchcock chicken for around £3 which was nice. Meat in general is pretty good.
Alcohol is good, some nice wines including a fizzy rose. I do like the pink gin cans...

Their crisps are lovely, and lots of choice.
French Grain Vodka.
Fruit, especially their huge lemons when they have them.
And everything Christmas.
Out Lidl and Aldi are side by side, which is very handy.

I prefer Aldi, but Lidl is OK. Both are definitely cheaper than Asda/ Sainsbury's/ Tescos.

I often do my weekly shop at Lidl, it is much cheaper. I spend more at Tesco for example purely because there are more options. Because Lidl has the basics rather than loads of stuff I don't need that's what I buy . I prefer it to Aldi, apart from the nappies, which are much better than the Lidl ones!

I only like the bakery there.
I prefer Aldi