Is Citarella Legit?
What Citarella Does
Citarella (often branded as Citarella Gourmet Market) is a New York–based specialty grocery and seafood retailer known for high-quality seafood, prepared foods, gourmet groceries, and seasonal produce. The company operates multiple brick-and-mortar stores in the New York area and offers online ordering and nationwide shipping for many seafood and specialty items.
Official website: https://www.citarella.com
Contact info: Citarella lists store-specific phone numbers, customer service and a contact form on its official site (see the Contact/Locations page). For the most accurate phone numbers, addresses, hours and online-order support, use the contact page on the official site or the store page for the location you plan to visit.
Reviews and Ratings
- Positive: Many customers praise Citarella for fresh, high-quality seafood, premium product selection, and well-prepared ready-to-eat items—particularly appreciated by shoppers seeking specialty and gourmet foods.
- Positive: The brand has a long-standing local reputation in New York and shows a consistent presence on major platforms (Google, Yelp, social media) with numerous favorable reviews for product quality.
- Mixed/Negative: Common criticisms on review platforms include premium pricing (reflecting the gourmet positioning), occasional stock or availability issues, and variability in service at certain locations.
- Online ordering/shipping: Reviews are mixed—many customers receive well-packed, fresh shipments; others report occasional delays, temperature/packaging issues, or order fulfillment problems during peak seasons.
- For current, location-specific ratings check Google Reviews, Yelp, or the Citarella store page; for formal complaint history check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile for up-to-date records.
Transparency and Registration
- Citarella operates physical stores with publicly listed locations and an official e-commerce site—typical indicators of an established retail business.
- The company provides contact information and store details on its official website; the site uses HTTPS and standard e-commerce practices for checkout (verify the padlock and URL to ensure you’re on the legitimate site).
- If you need legal or registration details (business entity, licensing), those can be verified through New York state business registries or local licensing authorities for food retailers and seafood wholesalers.
- For dispute resolution or to view any formal complaints, consult the BBB and your payment provider’s purchase protection if needed.
Red Flags or Complaints
- High prices: Citarella is a premium/gourmet retailer; higher prices are expected and commonly noted in reviews (not necessarily a sign of illegitimacy).
- Shipping/fulfillment issues: Some customers report late deliveries, packaging or temperature problems with perishable shipments—important to check the shop’s cold-shipping guarantees and refund/shipping policies.
- Customer service variability: A minority of reviews cite problems with refunds, order cancellations, or inconsistent in-store service—inspect recent reviews for the location you’ll use.
- Impersonators/scams risk: As with any well-known brand, fake websites or fraudulent sellers may impersonate Citarella. Always confirm you are on the official citarella.com domain and avoid paying via nonstandard channels or links received in unsolicited messages.
Conclusion
Citarella is a legitimate, established gourmet market and seafood retailer with physical stores in the New York area and an active online business. It has a strong reputation for product quality but operates at a premium price point. Before purchasing—especially for shipped seafood—review recent customer feedback for your chosen location, verify contact details on the official site, and confirm shipping/refund policies. If you encounter problems, use the store’s customer service channels and, if necessary, file disputes through your payment provider or consult consumer protection resources.