Rice Epicurean Markets

I worked her or about 7 years, starting when I was in High School and first in college. They started home deliveries way back in the first part of the nineties. They used to have a lot of tv personalities come in and were very big in the eighties until they started having businesses, too many of them opening up around them and obscuring the business as well as too many other stores that were competitively cheaper. Great bunch of people to work with and a very nice selection of food. It’s a shame that they’ve gotten so many negative reviews at the end.

Overpriced supermarket, lots of elderly patrons, prices are marked up but their rewards card is probably one of the best, they sent out $ 5 off coupons for every $ 20. It’s one of the closest markets to me so it does make it convenient.

Rice Epicurean is not perfect but I think it deserves more credit than given here. It’s a great place to shop if you 1) have the moolah but no time (the 77 005 crowd, minus us dirt-​poor Rice students), 2) have flexibility in your grocery list, or 3) live really close (just how close? I won’t disclose).
With the coveted *Experience Card* and a cursory glance at the weekly specials, you really can leave here without breaking the bank. Actually, every time I bring a friend who’s never been here before, I preface the visit with a warning of how expensive everything is, and they’re always pleasantly shocked at how reasonable some prices are. Don’t shy away from here just because people are saying it’s expensive. You might find that what you need on a weekly basis is just as affordable here as anywhere else.

We live fairly close to this store and had never been inside, so last night we were hungry and bored so we decided to check it out. We walked inside and it wasn’t the nicest looking grocery store, but we started to notice — they have EVERYTHING. Great looking produce, odd items, rare items — we thought we hit the jackpot.
I know what you’re thinking — if this place is so great why 1 star? Well my friend, we now understand why there are only 5 cars in the parking lot every time we drive by.
We showed up later in the evening (around 8:15PM) and we started noticing fewer and fewer people as we continued shopping. I always hate to be the one holding people up from closing the store, so I tried to wrap things up to let the people close down at 9PM (I only assumed they closed at 9PM bc of what a ghost town it was and started noticing cashiers closing out around 8:30).
All of the side items in the deli bar had plastic wrap over them, the soups & salad bar had been cleaned up, and there was not a soul to be found in the deli department. The same was found in the seafood, meat, bakery, and candy (it looked tasty — wish we could have tried it) counters.
I was starting to think «oh no, we really are keeping this place from shutting down».
Flying through the store, we make it to check-​out by 8:50. The cashier starts checking us out and asks if we have an «Experience» card. We inform him this is our first time there and we were not sure of what it was (typically most grocers inform you of their discount cards bc they want you to get one AND COME BACK AGAIN). Nothing.
So then comes the grand total and I mentioned things were not ringing up like the prices we saw — he mumbles, starts fumbling for something (which we assumed to be the «Experience» card application), and instructs us to slide our credit card. Before we sign our name we ask if he used the discount card because I am still seeing problems on the screen. He tells us «it’s too late to use the discount card because you already swiped your credit card». What? Other grocers will even use their own card if they don’t want you to go through the hassle of filling out an application.
Obviously frustrated we both try to look around to see if there is someone to ask for help and there is not another soul to be found in the store, so we just decide to eat the cost and leave.
NOW COMES THE KICKER — we unload the groceries into our car, both complaining of being hosed, and my boyfriend takes the cart to return it — LOW & BEHOLD the store doesn’t close until 11PM!!!
Quick summary — we will NEVER be back again — with nearly 3 hours until closing (when we initially showed up) this store had everything put away and cleaned up, no people staffed at any of the counters, and had only 1 – 2 people working the entire store — more importantly, the stunt the check-​out guy pulled with the discount card just sealed the deal.
Go to Randalls down the street — they have a wonderful selection, their staff is friendly, and THEY ALWAYS offer you the discount card.

I have never been in the store. This review is about their grocery delivery service. My husband & I are in Houston for his transplant & we have no transportation. We decided to try this service & it was awesome! The delivery was on time & the delivery guy was polite and professional. The delivery van was refrigerated & clean. My eggs weren’t broken; my bread wasn’t smushed. Is smushed a word? With your first online order you can enter NC as the promo code and they will take off the delivery charge. The online ordering process is easy. The only reason I gave them 4 stars instead of 5 is because one item was left off my order (1 out of 120 is really not that bad) and there was no option to report missing items online. They did add a free OMG cupcake (delicious) as a thank you for ordering so that probably makes up for the missing item! I’ll definitely use this service again. Probably for Thanksgiving groceries.

I popped in one Saturday afternoon just to see what all of this hype is about. Yes, I do that. I tour new grocery stores to price check, sue me…
It was very empty for a Saturday, and after looking at the prices I wasn’t surprised. You can get much better deals at the Kroger on Kirby, and heck, even the Fiesta Mart. AND they didn’t even have an «ethnic hair» section… Tresemee? yes, Dark and Lovely? Motions? Think again…
I guess if you need some See’s candy, this is where you can go…

I only visit Rice to purchase the beef tenderloin they are always on sale here. this store is very clean and smells good.

When I was a kid, my mom sometimes came here for See’s Candies and it would be a special treat. I loved the caramel-​covered marshmallows. I saw that Rice Epicurean had renovated/​reopened. Though I can now make some pretty badass caramels myself, I was driven by nostalgic forces to visit.
Out front, there were signs saying, «You’ll be surprised!» I try not to make assumptions, so I was extremely wary. Would this be a good surprise or a bad surprise? Your significant other proposed or your significant-​but-​actually-​rather-​insignificant other proposed? You’re having a baby or you got knocked up? You got a standing o or you got the clap? I remembered past times I’d been here, and how, for a gourmet grocery store, it was a little scrubby (if you use the context of the TLC song).
Sure, See’s is there, though the woman at the counter ignored me as I contemplated the candies, there’s a fine pastry section, lots of samples, a ton of Barefoot Contessa baked good mixes, and an ice cream section which includes Greek Gods (get the baklava – the brand has an interesting, yet good, gummy texture) and Choctal ice creams (mmm, I love the Costa Rican Vanilla and the Papau New Guinea vanilla). However, though clean, the oldness of the store vaguely reminds me of ghetto Montrose Kroger, the organics section is on par with a renovated Randall’s, and the self-​serve prepared foods section is pretty blah (mayonnaise-​y salads, olives).
Oh, another thing that made me think of Montrose Kroger? When I was trying to check out with my Odwalla, a lady was searching her wallet, bag, etc. for ID or some more coupons for her food stamps. That’s fine, but not what you’d expect from a place that purports to be on par with Whole Foods.

What a sorry excuse for a grocery store – and especially one that appears to want to claim the mid-​upper market. There is absolutely no comparison to Whole Foods. Even for a premium of 10 or so %, I’d rather go to Whole Foods. As a matter of fact, I’ll go to Kroger next time for ALL the items i purchased here. For the specialty items, like deli/​bakery/​salad/​food bar/​wine/​fish and even bigger selections of yoghurts, etc. only Whole Foods.

One time I saw three gas stations at three different corners of an intersection. Two of the gas stations were priced in the mid-​$ 2 dollar range. The other was over $ 3/​gal.
In the world of specialty grocery stores, Rice Epicurean Markets is that other gas station.
They do sell See’s chocolates here though.

I enjoyed shopping here a couple of times, but it wasn’t something I looked forward to all afternoon, like Central Market. But then, I didn’t spend eons parking and struggling with the crowds, like at Central Market or Whole Foods. They had a few things that fascinated me, but I resisted the sweets and settled for hot sauce and a few sandwich ingredients, so that I could drop more at Half Price Books.

Okay, 5 stars may seem high for a seemingly snotty grocery store, but I’m so impressed! The day before Thanksgiving, I realized that I had to wash all the sheets for the guest bed, clear up the house, buy the groceries, and take care of other errands – after working a half day! Stressed did not begin to describe me. So, I Googled a grocery store that would do a home deliver and they came up with Rice Epicurean. Sounds hokey, but it was FANTASTIC! (In the end, I opted for the in-​store pick up since it was just $ 7.)
Sure the groceries were slightly more expensive than a normal store, but I was willing to pay the price for the convenience and the service. I’ve never, EVER been to such a friendly grocery store in my life. Pretty much every employee I ran into during my visit was friendly and accommodating – and they all asked how they could help me! Seemed like a dream. I was there within my designated pick up time and they had my cart waiting for me. I added a case of beer that I’d forgotten, paid my bill (I’d given my credit card online to hold the order), and used my brand new Rice Epicurean discount card.. . which pretty much gave me $ 10 in savings which made me feel better about spending $ 7 for them to pack up my cart for me!
Other things worth mentioning is the seafood section. I just took a quick glance back there and while it isn’t nearly as extensive as Central Market – wow! The prawns were enormous! The lobster looked fantastic! And, of course, the seafood man was incredibly friendly.
All in all, I was so impressed with my experience here that I think I’d be willing to pay the slightly higher prices if only to avoid the crowds at Central Market and their horrible parking situation. Rice Epicurean, you just won my heart!

With Central Market and Whole Foods in town, it can be kind of hard for Rice Epicurean Market may have a hard time competing.
While they have an awesome deli and great specialty foods, I don’t find it a place that I go out of my way to go. Don’t get me wrong, Rice Epicurean certainly has its good points but it isn’t the kind of specialty grocery experience I’ve come to enjoy other places.
If a Rice Epicurean is convenient to me, I will always go in and marvel at their level of special goods but it will take a little more to lure me in than high prices and yummy baked goods.