"Beyond being one of the more perfect independent grocery stores around, Fairway is the perfect New York cross section: You'll see young families, old ladies in fur coats, students looking for good food at good prices, and just about every New York "type" you can think of. Beyond the cultural experience, the Red Hook branch in particular boasts the square footage, plus a frozen-foods department you can actually walk into (there are jackets you can borrow to go in), an amazing cheese selection, and a free parking lot. "