Here's what good -- cheeses and fresh real French butter. The sometimes have a nice bread selection. Good sweets. But everything is outrageously expensive Here's why I gave a one star review If they could be a bit friendlier more helpful or even give a hoot about customers - it would be an ok experience paying top dollar for everything. But they act like you are bothering them - disturbing them as they stand around In addition their hours of operation are erratic at best. If they post on line they open at 10 you risk going only to find out they decided to open at 11.. very capricious. Lots of great cheeses out there -- Sorry We won't be back. read more

Great selection of cheeses and wines. Really nice store. Upscale and pricey but comprehensive and well stocked. Knowledgeable staff too. If in the area, a great place to pick up picnicking stuff or for home. read more

See all

I came in here recently, to get some cheese and wine for a concert at Tanglewood. One of the men behind the counter who worked there was very snotty and dismissive. Guido's fresh marketplace down the street would be a much better choice. read more

Rude guy. Honestly, I was excited to go there because I remember it from years ago. But he was completely uninterested in describing any cheese for me. I was disappointed and just left. It was not busy at all so he had the time if he'd cared to. read more

We live not far from Great Barrington. On long weekends we love to visit our good friends nearby. My extended family also stays in the Berkshires every fall. So we've had many opportunities to visit Rubiners. I remember our first visit, a young man helped us. He was a joy. Great energy, interesting and interactive. He had some recommendations and we listened. I was purchasing some items for my husband's 50th birthday. It was a wonderful introduction to the beautiful shop. Felt like we were making a great connection to a place. Felt like we had traveled beyond Massachusetts... The next several times in, it wasn't so warm. I wonder, is the owner socially awkward maybe? Not interested in small talk? He's not unkind...just aloof and uninterested. I'm a business owner myself. I pride myself on my product and my demeanor. I've made wonderful friends through a little chitchat. I get feeling awkward about social interaction...my husband can present that way sometimes. But unfortunately, it does come off as a little rude. In these types of situations, something kicks in and suddenly have the goal to warm the person up! I make silly remarks, and direct eye contact. I finally got the owner a tiny bit engaged. He laughed. Don't write him off entirely. If you've traveled outside of the states, you know Americans are actually overly friendly in comparison to many European cultures. Try a little. Make a fool of yourself willingly. Maybe, just maybe his shell will crack. Be open. And hope for openness in return. And fantastic cheese. Oh! And the pistachio crème. To. Die. For. read more

Supplies for appetizers are nice but cheese selection is NOT vegetarian friendly. At best they only have a few cheeses without animal rennet and at busy times chances are they will have none. And since that's what I needed it and they had nothing it gets one star read more

Well if you like cheese they got it all. A good amount of choices. This little shop had a lot of things inside. They also had a good amount of different beers and some wines. The odd thing was they also sold ice cream which looked good but did not buy any. Also they sold prosciutto which looked very good and should have bought some. However the day was very hot and we had just come out and didn't want to leave in the car on a very hot day. They had a friendly staff. read more

See all

We have been going to Rubiners for several years. Our last to two visits have been very disappointing. Whoever waited on us the last two times , possibly the owner, has been disrespectful, as if we were bothering him purchasing something. Very poor customer service! read more

Seven of the 45 Yelp reviews for Rubiner's mention the word "rude". Make that 8 of 46 now. Which is a real shame because Rubiner's is a very impressive store and was a real treat to walk around in and check out their massive selection of goods. We saw cheese from all over the world, eggs, rolls and breads, wines, pasta, beer, charcuterie, candies, sauces and more. The store is pretty cool because its located in an old bank building and if you walk to the back, you'll see the old massive bank vault doors. We picked up a pretzel roll, a wedge of cheddar and two lollipops imported from France. The pretzel rolls were set out on a table near the front door. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/rubiners-cheesemongers-and-grocers-great-barrington?select=PFxruEtawg9gZVH46gz5eA We weren't exactly sure if they were display models, or inventory to be sold. We weren't sure what to do if we wanted one. The gent behind the cheese counter said "just pick it up and put it in one of those bags". Now we all know that the way you say things is just as important as the words you say. Had he said those twelve words in a friendly manner with a smile, that would have been perfect. But instead, he snarled them in a very curt manner. Which is why there are now 46 reviews with the word "rude". Which is also why there isn't a 4th star on this review. It doesn't cost anyone anything to be nice, does it? read more

See all

I had not been to this jewel of a store in years when we returned to the Berkshires mid September. The store is larger than I remember and the layout is attractive. We purchased a local cheese and some country ham, conservas and crackers including our favorite, Tozetti.Service was good, but the staffing is lean so you might face a wait if rhe store is crowded. Prices are what you would expect at this level of quality Hope to return sooner. read more

This upscale cheese shop has a good selection, but there were some major issues that lead to the poor rating. First, the staff does not seem to be trained well. I requested a famous award-winning cheese that they told me they had. They sold it to me, even labeling it as what I asked for. When I came in a couple days later and commented on it, the owner said they haven't had that cheese in months and it had to be something else. At $40/lb, I felt pretty ripped off, and not only didn't the owner make it right, but he didn't even apologize. When I got home, I sent an email with the receipt voicing my dissatisfaction and didn't even get a response. The owner also seemed a bit arrogant and condescending when I tried to talk about cheese with him. Doesn't seem like a great business strategy to make your customers feel stupid. read more

Spot on Must try Staff amazing Enjoy Still eats my cheese h...yummmy Look it's not everyday you walk into a cheese house. But enjoy the flavors of farm ad earth and all that good stuff makes Life what we like for LIFE! Embrace it by the horns and ride its read more

Great little cheese shop- Great selection of local and imported. More than willing to offer tastings of ones already out for that purpose or anything else we were interested in trying. I read many reviews of poor service and attention to clients and patrons- from my experience I believe this has been addressed. My personal favorite was the smooth creamy Gorgonzola from Italy. Great stop when visiting. read more

Wow, what a wonderful selection of cheese and other specialty goods. I asked for a recommendation for four cheeses that would work well together and was given an amazing quartet. I also purchased lots of fun grocery items like mini biscotti, toasts, and truffle egg noodles. I was only in town for a visit but if I lived closer, I would absolutely be in all the time. read more

Rubiners Cheesemongers & Grocers - four different types of cheese - Cheese Shops Near Me - Great Barrington, Massachusetts

Super well curated shop. The French butter and the green garlic pesto are must haves. Cheesemongers were friendly and patient.

Went back a second time. Had a pleasant and normal experience. The cheese selection is special.

This shop has an impressive selection of cheeses, meats, wines and other products. I will give them that. Pricey? Sure. But they are the only game in town (for now) and can charge accordingly. And most of what they carry warrants these prices. BUT--what is with the truly rude service--by the OWNER, no less. I left there miffed that I didn't call him out right the and there. I found this from his team at the sandwich shop in the back when I visited on several occasions a few years ago. Dismissive and rude. They start it starts at the top and makes its way down.... read more

Yes, they do have a nice selection of quality cheeses but I would give it up, and go somewhere else, with a customer service that is not friendly and helpful at all! Be prepared to spend big bucks and leave annoyed by the customer service you will get. There's plenty of specialty cheese stores in this country that offer much better and friendlier customer service. read more

Still the worst Great Barrington has to offer. I asked for Stevia, at the cafe in the back. The runner arrogantly replied "we only have natura sweetenersl" lol. Apparently, their boss hasn't given them a clue that Stevia is actually a plant, as in natural. Then they loudly mocked me, the entire staff, from the young lady to the barista: "can you believe people, if they want that, they should bring it themselves." I never experienced such blatant rudeness. They went on and on about how it happened earlier too, as if I was invisible. Childish, disgusting. That cup of coffee was poison after a great day. We will never return. I'm sure he'll be out of business soon as there is a long history of this disgusting behaviour in this establishment. read more

Rubiner's is an excellent cheese and specialty food shop. I look forward to the experience of selecting, tasting and then buying and serving good cheese . Although they have many other meats and specialty items, a selection of great cheeses is my typical purchase here. I find the staff to be very accommodating in offering advice and samples prior to purchase. I have been here many times and have never had a bad experience. I also find there prices to be very common to other good cheese shops. Murray's, Fairway etc... Good cheese is unfortunately expensive. I recall my mother-in-law making grilled cheese with my $28/lb English Keen's Cheddar once. :) Looking forward to tasting the three cheeses I purchased this afternoon. Caprino Cremoso al Tartufo ( a goat cheese with white truffle) Pecorino Toscano ( a semi-soft sheep cheese) and Pearl Las ( a blue cow cheese from Wales, similar to Irish Cashel Blue) Yum. read more

if you don't mind spending $21.95 for half a pound of cheddar, this is the place for you.

The cheese selection is good but the owner is so rude it's painful to shop there. And today we went back to the cafe for the first time since it reopened. My "runny egg sandwich" was burnt and the egg was not runny. My husband's Cuban sandwich was deemed very good. So the food is mostly good, but no apology for a burnt "runny egg sandwich" with a hard egg. I don't think I'll be back. And I'm a local so I could give them a quite bit of business plus referrals if they deserved it. read more

This is a gorgeous little cheese shop in an old bank. The selection of cheeses is incredible and they have many other items to help create the most beautiful and tasty charcuterie board. We were treated very poorly by the owner so will not put ourselves in a position where we need him to help us again. He was rude, arrogant and dismissive. Luckily the young lady working in his shop made up for the owner's shortcomings. If you walk into this store and see the owner do not try to talk to him or ask him for help as you will be very disappointed; wait for the nice young lady to help you. She is knowledgeable, friendly and will help you pick out the perfect cheeses for your event. read more

Apparently spending 600.+ in one visit in the midst of a pandemic summer still doesn't warrant an attempt at warmth for a returning customer. Aside from a basic lack of civility, this time around the eponymous monger eavesdropped on a private conversation just long to interject some personal insults along with his incorrect information. Who cares how stellar the merchandise, when the proprietor's sneer transcends his indifferently-worn mask. Pass. read more

I am not sure why Yelp erased my review...kind of makes me question the legitimacy of Yelp. The cheese is wonderful, the service is abominable. My girlfriends and I strolled in at the end of our Girls Weekend excited for some great treats to bring home to our families, and we were made to feel as though we were completely putting the staff out to help us. It was very uncomfortable. One of my girlfriends actually apologized ~ can you imagine! Feeling as though you need to apologize for being a customer. We spent a pretty penny in there, only to find that one friend went home with TWO of the same cheeses. In any other situation we would contact the shop, as any reputable business would want to rectify the mistake, but it appears as though customer service is not a top priority for this shop. read more

A national treasure... & the staff is great. They are not there to entertain us or fulfill our unmet needs. They are there to be knowledgeable & helpful. And they are. Matt too. Thank you, thank you Matt. So eternally grateful for your shop which brings so much joy to so many of our lives.... Cannot thank you enough. read more

Great selection of fine cheeses. A little pricey but worth the taste. Guys behind the counter are extremely helpful and knowledgeable. If you want to try anything, they'll be happy to let you sample. read more

Rubiners Cheesemongers & Grocers - Hen eggs at the counter. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Great Barrington, Massachusetts

See all

With an incredible selection of cheeses and wines, Rubiner's Cheesemongers has to be one of the best things about Great Barrington. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, making any visit a pleasure. read more

Taste. Rubiner has it. You benefit from it. Disregard whatever else you read and accept the quasi-French you-are-lucky-to-be-in-my-shop vibe. Why? You are lucky to be in his shop. Cheeses hard to find even in NYC, from Vermont to Sardinia, keep me coming back and spending the dough--and it's all good, from the salami (Petite Jesu, I love you) to olive oil to beans to goat's milk caramels to the whole wheat baguette--the small details are the final proof that this guy is serious and sophisticated. It may be that his sense of superiority is justified. Rubiner is not just a shopkeeper (though he's clearly a savvy merchandiser). Rubiner is curating, and he's very talented. So get over it and enjoy the cheese. read more

Found the staff and owner to be incredibly rude. Definitely expected better service. It doesn't seem like they're interested in improving and I feel like that starts at the top. read more

This is an update to my last review... Apparently, things have mellowed out in the attitude department, according to my parents... Even with the attitude notwithstanding, I still buy the heavenly marinated feta that's $27/pound (last I checked). Because it really is that good smashed onto a sourdough baguette with fresh tomatoes and basil. I'm salivating thinking about it... Every year at Christmas, I can always expect the awesome candies in my stocking from Rubiner's. So, even if I feel a little wierd wandering in, I still go because the food is so good. read more

We found this local cheese shop by accident and were delighted with the discovery. The cheesemonger seems to be a nice guy, and we were treated most courteously. Regrettably, when we stopped by the selection of local cheeses was very small. We settled on a very tasty goat cheese from Vermont and would have purchased more if it had been available. Given that our rating is based on only one visit, it's perhaps not entirely fair to the shop; we're guessing that at other times the local choices are much greater. Still, we wanted more and couldn't find it. We wish you better luck; we really like the place and wish it good profits. read more

This is one of my favorite stores in GB. I tasted cheese but not that superior compared to VT. Olives were GREAT and love them. This store sells breads from local bakery and they are over priced. Services were poor and got ice cream by the scoop was wasted of $. read more

All I can say is; Just GO! Fun to wander around and eyeball the selections of this passionate foodie known by a good friend of mine. My visit was brief AND years in the waiting. I bought a few items which I enjoyed at a later date. All non perishable due to my travel schedule but I'd have spent my last dimes on some cheese or meats as the selection was drool inducing. Pricey and this level of selection and quality tends to be. read more

Great cheese, great atmosphere, great customer service. Try the illegal goat cheese! Such a fun town.

I never even got to the conversation about the cheese I am making with fresh local milk. Rude. Maybe I looked like a poor farmer I am and not someone with deep pockets? I felt guilty for troubling the owner about a particular cheese I was interested in. He snapped back and interrupted rudely that he knew it when I kindly tried to explain it. Not going back. So sad, because the shop has such a grand history and selection, and promotes local farms and talented cheese makers. read more

Great service, great cheese selection. This is my preferred place to buy cheese and I'm not even from around the area.

For years we have stopped at this cheese shop when we are visiting the Berkshires from NYC. I adore the cheese selection and the other artisan products , and we go out of our way to stop here when arriving in the Berkshires and before heading back home. With that being said, the service is so rude and dismissive that I don't think we will be stopping here anymore. The prices are not cheap, and that's fine given the fine quality, but when you are spending over $50 on three pieces of cheese and some bread, I expect the staff to be warmer or at least feign interest in helping you find a product you like. We have seen this at Rubiners over the years, but this last weekend a staff member was visibly annoyed when I inquired as to which cheeses were pasteurized (not all of them are-- and I am pregnant), and it felt like pulling teeth to get a recommendation for a pasteurized cheese that could replace another unpasteurized cheese I had my eyes on. Going forward I would seriously rather eat a Tillamook cheddar on a Triscuit than give my money to a store full of pretentious 20-somethings who roll their eyes and let out exaggerated sighs when you ask for assistance. (side note: I also got an eye roll and an exaggerated sigh when my husband took a sample of cheese for my toddler! Unbelievable in light of the $200+ we have spent at this shop in 2019 alone!) read more

not only rude, but no community spirit. I have not shopped here since my review of 2011 - Domaney's in town will order cheeses, Guido's has a great selection and oh - smiling service with the cheese - a concept that this guy never tried. I recently participated in a benefit for Construct - a local charity that helps all sorts of people in our great community. 90% of the local restaurants and shops participated - it was a great evening and fun, delicious samples of food - all while raising money for the very worthy organization. Notable by their absence was RUBINERS - who made a promise to go and then reneged - without the courtesy of a phone call - at the last minute. I can not think of a reason to patronize this place. read more

This is my second time in this store and the second time ive had an awful experience trying to buy cheese. Staff is unhelpful even with the boss in the building. I left without purchasing because I got zero help, even after prompting an employee for two particular types of cheese i needed in quantity, one was not in stock ( mozerella...) and the other was needing to be cut from the block. Rediculous. read more