Profile

Smack in the middle of Greenpoint's commercial strip, with its plethora of artery-mocking butcher shops, Polish candy stores and corner liquor emporiums, The Garden organic grocery is an impressively stocked oasis for the neighborhood's healthier—and wealthier—denizens. It carries all the familiar brands from more upscale natural-foods markets, as well as ample produce, natural skin and hair care products, and healthy items for pooch and puss. Better yet is the hot-and-cold deli in back, where homemade organic soups, vegan salads and fresh sandwiches are served up under the watchful, er, eye of a stuffed billy goat. Discrete counters for coffee beans, bulk teas and imported cheeses (featuring, among others, Bulgarian feta and Irish cheddar) also beckon, as does an espresso and juice bar up front. The store's aisles get jammed during peak hours, and navigating the three checkout lines can be confusing, but it's worth the hassle. Where else in Brooklyn can you choose from over 50 brands of olive oil while loading up on Zywiec beer? — Mark Holcomb