Aj's Fine Foods - Scottsdale

My husband wanted to get a chocolate muffin for my son since this was the closest store to our house. He saw that there were freshly baked muffins in the bakery, so he asked for one. The woman there told him he could not have any of them because theywere to be sold tomorrow. He was sold the day old muffin, full of crumbs from other cakes it had touched. I told him he shouldhave called the manager, because that is unacceptable. The muffin he brought home was hard a rock, I was trying to scrape offthe gunk because I know my son will freak out if he sees gunk on it. I ended up throwing it away. I guess we will just buy myson chocolate muffins at Sprouts. They will sell you fresh out of the oven muffins without any problem.

The experience was okay, but it wasn't my first choice. I went with someone who used to work nearby and wanted me to try it. The food was decent; my guest ordered pizza and potato slices, but there were limited pizza options. I tried the pulled BBQ pork, which had a good flavor, although the bun was hard on the edges. The side dishes were a highlight—especially the corn on the cob, which was tasty, and the beans were exceptional; I could have enjoyed a large bowl of just those. We ordered tea and lemonade, both of which were enjoyable. The prices were moderate, though my guest mentioned that the tea prices had increased.

Unsure what to prepare for dinner? AJ's offers take-and-make entrees and salads. Their delicious gourmet meals can be taken home and heated in the microwave for just 3 minutes, and dinner is served! If you shop early and prepare it before your family arrives, they'll think you spent all day on the recipe. It's perfectly fine to be the star of the show. The process is incredibly quick and convenient; from the moment you park to when you drive away takes only about 5 minutes.

I really appreciate the freshness and presentation of the vegetables and fruits. My checkout experience has been excellent, especially with the lady who works early in the morning; she's incredibly friendly and capable. However, the butchers and seafood counter leave much to be desired. AJ’s has always been pricier than other places, though the quality is typically better. That said, when I see a filet priced at $35 a pound and Petrale at $20, I would expect more information, support, and options rather than a rushed interaction with the staff. This isn’t an isolated incident; I’ve had similar experiences with the meat and fish departments repeatedly. The flower and gift area is also notably expensive. While I love the produce and some of the checkout staff, I dislike feeling disrespected when dealing with the meat and fish department. Whenever I have questions about the freshness of the fish or differences in meat cuts, I’ve received poor treatment—I don’t linger for 15 minutes asking questions. It’s just disappointing.

Unfortunately the service at this location has gone downhill over the years. As a military family, it used to be an easy, pleasant experience for me to call this location's bakery to purchase goodies as gifts for my parents, who live nearby and arefrequent customers. It used to be so simple! I choose a dessert. I pay. My parents pick it up. Easy, right? NO! Not anymore!Consider yourself extremely fortunate if you call and are able to speak with someone who doesn't treat you like the villageidiot. The customer service is absolutely atrocious; truly an embarrassment to your entire company. You have lost our loyalbusiness forever.