What to buy in Lidl?!

[Lobsterquadrille2]

.... just that. Tunbridge Wells finally has a Lidl. I have just queued up and wandered round like an idiot, trying to remember the things everyone on here recommends. I've ended up with 200 tea bags - Earl Grey and much cheaper than Sainsbury's - plus a load of cheese, chocolate and vegetables. Any tips for "better than Sainsbury's and Tesco's"? Is the cat food any good?

They do a brown low GI cob in the bakery which is the best supermarket bread ever.

Greek yoghurt
Granola
Dishwasher tablets
Packets of antipasti cold meats. So good and cheap.
Fresh orange juice.
Steaks

All these things are better than the more expensive equivalents elsewhere.

Their herbal teas are good - about 89p I think - I like the peppermint, just as good as Twinnings at half the price.
Their own dark chocolate - 45p a bar - in a red pack is good, as is the white chocolate at the same price.
I love their crackers, rice cakes etc.
Love their potato salad, hummus, coleslaw.
DS loves their meatballs/sausages deli type stuff - all pre-cooked and great for him to snack on.
Their big tubs of prepped salad is good value - but use it the same day as it doesn't keep well.
Jars of olives, gherkins, etc., all great value.
I love their hand wash - especially the Bergamot and Orange, and their hand cream - about 45p is very good.

Their ribeye steaks, the single packed ones and if you want more than one, try and pick them the same size. Not even the 'posher' range ones. Not huge steaks but tender and full of flavour. They are the best we've tried, as good as any butchers where they would be so much more expensive and they freeze well.

The big tubs of Greek yogurt are the best.
Frozen salmon/pastry lattice from the freezer
Nuts and seeds
Cheese - all of it
Jars of pickled beetroot, roasted red peppers and other pickles
Little tubs of chillis stuffed with feta
Marzipan/plum chocolate things at Christmas

Apples are really tasty.

Caramelised onion quiche, white chocolate fake magnums, salmon en croute ( deluxe in freezer) and luxury coleslaw. Lidl does have some good stuff but the fruit is v disappointing

@BarbaraofSeville

Massive jars of gherkins for hardly anything, but don't buy unless you are very strong or have specialist equipment, as they're impossible to open.

DP is very strong and even he has to use heavy duty rubber gloves for extra grip to open them. I have no chance and would probably break a wrist trying.

Give the lids a sharp, swift tap on the outer edge with a knife (just a normal eating knife, doesn't need to be sharp). The slight dent made on the lid is enough to release the vacuum and then they open easily.

They have a perfume that smells exactly like Chloe. It's amazing

@Coldwinterahead1, Ohh I love Chloe! Do you know what the perfume is called please? Thanks.

Thanks again. I have googled "middle of Lidl" as it's been referred to several times - I thought those aisles were because they were sorting the store out rather than being intentional.

Wooden kids toys are really good, we have quite a collection now!

Fresh bakery: crusty sourdough rye & sourdough boule, pastries

Smoked salmon - gravadlax in particular

Steak - we had sirloin from there yesterday and it was v good, also like the ribeye

Herring in creamy dill sauce

Pastrami

Dark choc - we like the 70% madagascar one

Big jars of roasted red peppers, gherkins, antipasti, cornichons

Greek yoghurt - the 500g tubs of full fat are v good. The bigger tubs (1kg) of greek style / fruit flavoured also pretty good.

Jam

Rye bread

Hortus gin

Kids like the choc milkshake mix in the yellow tub & also use this for hot chocolate

Hand wash

Rinse aid

DD is obsessed with their sushi in the lunch chiller and buys it most weekends (she works very close to a Lidl!)

I find the fruit & veg in ours is generally ok but I guess it comes down to your store. They do good big bags of tomatoes & apples & grocers boxes of clementines / satsumas.

Their fake magnums always go down well (almond)

Frozen fruit is v good value (black forest mix)

Tbh there's not much we haven't liked - not keen on their bagels but can't think of much more?

I’m not a fan of their fruit and veg, but love their bakery section (pizza breads, pastries, doughnuts, fresh bread 😋). Also like the breakfast cereals. Their fresh salmon fillets are cheaper than the other supermarkets too, and just as nice.

Another vote for the 70% Madagascar dark chocolate.

Also the West Country butter with sea salt crystals, which was recommended on a previous thread and is now my favourite (and I eat a lot of butter!)

@SophieB100

If you like Muller rice pots, Lidl's sell a 6 pack (3 plain, 3 strawberry) for £1.79 - yum

Thanks @Coldwinterahead1, I'll look out for that and treat myself to a bottle when I shop there later in the week.

Chocolate brownies in the bakery section.

The organic ketchup is lovely

@NeedToGetOuttaHere chocolate brownies were right by the entrance and I bought two on Saturday. They were excellent!

I know the chocolate bits are so good and there’s just the right amount of chew.

The bakery

Their fruit and veg.

Icecream & desserts

I shop there all the time. Only thing is they don't do everything like another supermarket would, ours has stopped lasagne sheets??? Weird

But def good value

I wouldn’t buy anything electrical from there again though - bought a kettle with a three year guarantee, has lasted barely seven months and they won’t refund me.

I really like the art stuff at lidl.