Was there at about 2pm ...at Super Pola. Do most shopping at Nacional. I used to go to Pola only if I happened to find myself
around there, Or if in desperation Nacional did not have item which I felt I needed. This time, except for some really ok
croissants .. Store shelves very bare...juices almost non existant and items just not there. So after being told by reliable people that Jumbo is happening just thought that Super Pola ......
I like buying vegetables if I am around Los Corales and spot the trucks near French bakery for beautiful vegetables.
ooh yeah,
for veggies the vegetables truck is the best way to go,
and for fruits it is the fruit stands along the roads.
some provide with a constant wide variety and constant great quality of their items,
others are more hit and miss.
i prefer the ones up in Veron for fruits and the veggie truck in cabeza de toro, as they run just one price per item, no gringo prices or such as the ones in the bavaro area.
they are all better than fruits or veggies at any supermarket, and very reasonable priced, even the ones with their "Gringo" prices.
what i really like at Pola(since a few months only that it started/changed), is their actual local Beef offered.
it is the one sold for 155.- pesos per lbs. buy the whole lomito, their sizes always vary from 3.5-6lbs per piece, put it the way they pack it in into your fridge for 2 days and 2 nights, then take it out and cut it in nice thick pieces, put 'em in ziplocks and freeze 'em. they are for such cheap sold item really good beef. i like 'em "bloody", and they are always supersoft.
the first time i bought them as emergency, as i had for the coming weekend friends over for a BBQ and needed a refill on beef, and they been out on the import i usually bought for the grill. that importa always been 290-500.- pesos per pound.
the emergency purchae came out to be a more than up to par replacement, and on average for 1/3rd of the price, so since then i take a piece or 2 every week.
i also had their 700-900.- pesos per lbs imports, nothing bad, good beef, but the actual cheap local beef is by my taste on par with that 5 times the price import, so as long as i don't get a disappointing piece, i will stick to it.
and i find the selection of toilet and cleaning products and the kittchen stuff like the cooking oils etc easy, well sorted, good variety.
the Nacional gives compared to Pola a upper scale feel, their wider isles are comfy but such would not be a deccider about which super to shop at to me.
i did not buy any beef there since years, back in time when i did, i was always satisfied with the quality received for the paid price. i like their wine selection, as they hold a large variety of wines which are by my own taste.
i buy all stuff for the boat supplies like the different drinks and other stuff at nacional, as it is located close to the Marina.
here i like that they mostly(sorrily not always) have the specific brands of waters and cokes etc in cases ready and you just send one of the guys to the storage room to get you the amount of cases each item.
over all,
i agree with others who state that Pola looks less nice than it did after their opening time, Nacional looks cleaner, but i would not name Pola dirty, it is fuller, serves much more clients per day than nacional, that may be one of the reasons why it has its times looking a bit overrun.
what ever Items i need at a moment, i find it at either and use the one closer to my spot at the moment.
i find them both fine for the daily needs.
none is perfect, but i would not await perfection from any Super.
competition of additional Super Markets in vicinity or even side by side, is good. such competition could never be anything bad for us customers.
let's bring a Jumbo.
back in the old times i went once a month for Jumbo Shopping to La Romana, because there was no real acceptable supermarket not even in Higuey.
the Jumbo in La Romana is the only one i know, so i can't compare to other Jumbos.
in comparison to that Jumbo there I find Pola and Nacional here way superior and both well cleaner.
Jumbo gives me more the feel of a Sirenita like the one in Higuey.
maybe they run a new one here in Bavaro on a higher level, at least we will have more to select from at the same spot.
Mike