I shopped at Trader Joe's new grab-and-go store in NYC. It's convenient if you're in a rush, but I see why critics aren't impressed.

Trader Joe's Pronto opened in NYC in March.Maria Noyen/Business Insider

• Trader Joe's quietly opened a new store in New York City in March.
• Called Trader Joe's Pronto, it's a grab-and-go shop with sandwiches and salads as well as groceries.

Trader Joe's recently opened a new type of store in New York City.

In March, a Trader Joe's grab-and-go shop quietly opened its doors in a Manhattan location near one of its traditional stores that the chain's beloved wine outlet occupied until it closed in 2022 — much to the disappointment of some New Yorkers, The New York Times reported.

Called Trader Joe's Pronto, the new shop is a "one-of-a-kind extension" of its bigger store, a representative told Business Insider.

Pronto, the representative added, stocks "more of the products" that locals — in the Union Square and East Village neighborhoods — buy regularly. While the rep said Trader Joe's doesn't currently have plans to open other Pronto locations in New York, or anywhere else, I decided to visit to see whether the company is making the right call.

Some Trader Joe's fans who've already visited Trader Joe's Pronto shared lackluster reviews on social media. Read on to find out why I agree.