Longtime app user and loyal customer to this location. Not anymore. Today before grocery shopping I ask the front desk if I could exchange for $10 in quarters. She refuses but suggests a couple spots nearby that might be kind enough. Ok... I do my shopping and I'm checking out at self checkout. There are two employees standing there hanging out, not preparing bags, or anything useful. One comes over not to thank me for spending $100 on groceries today- But to eye my scanned groceries and then correct me that I had typed in the wrong type of tomatoes, presumably saving the store $00.30 or something. You'd think with as many nearby competitors Star Market has, they'd want to distinguish themselves in a good way, not a bad way. Looks like it's time to switch to Stop and Shop! read more

I wasn't originally going to write a review on this but I'm just very disappointed. I live really close by and this star market has always been a go to for me. My problem however is with the blatant disrespect from some of the employees- 2 incidents in particular that I believe may have been with the same employee. My father, who is not from around here and just visiting, went to this location to pick up some cold medicine for me as I was sick with the flu. Upon checkout my father was asked to present his ID. He was confused and asked why that was necessary, but instead of explaining, the employee repeated louder that he needed to present his ID or she would call the manager. My father, still confused, asked again why she needed it and the employee proceeded to call the manager over claiming that my father was being aggressive and uncooperative and refused to sell the item. Luckily the manager was very kind to my father, apologized, and shared that no ID was necessary for this product and he was welcome to purchase it and leave. But of course when he returned to the house he was visibly shook up and still confused as to why that happened in the first place... as was I. And most recently- I was waiting in the checkout line (which was very long due to being around 6pm) speaking with someone on the phone. As it was my turn to check out I put away my phone and pulled out my earbud and the cashier kept looking at a bag I was holding from work. Assuming that she may have been thinking my bag was going to be used for the items I mentioned that I would like a paper bag from the store. There seemed to be some confusion as she proceeded to ask me a few times -angrily- if I needed a bag or not even though my answer was always yes. She then proceeded to say "you talk too much. All you do is talk talk talk here you can bag your own groceries" and tossed the bag at me. Normally when it is this busy I bag my own groceries anyways but I was absolutely shocked. She continued to TOSS each grocery item at me as I was bagging it myself. With the line being so long behind me I decided against confronting the employee in the moment as that may have caused a scene and many people to not be able to check out. Ive been in the service industry and understand the weight of being stressed and having a bad day can put on you- but I don't believe anyone should be treated with that kind of disrespect. Very disappointed. read more

A couple very rude employees, some aren't rude but rather indifferent, and a few are really nice. Produce isn't very good, and very limited selection. It is my least favorite grocery store but unfortunately the one I live closest to, so it'll do. read more

The staff are impolite. We will travel farther to be treated with dignity. This is clearly a reflection of the store's leadership/management because the poor behavior run across multiple employees. read more

The only Star Market I've been to (because it's convenient) but I've started to avoid it entirely unless it's an emergency. Aside from the fact that it's just as expensive as Whole Foods and half of the items are damaged or sometimes spoiled, for some reason the store allows other businesses to solicit customers on their way in. One person seems to be taking donations for charity but every other person is selling something or bothering you to sign up for a service. read more

Ordered Uber eats delivery and the brown portobello mushrooms that I got were covered in white mold on all three packages. Completely disgusting! Be careful ordering anything that isnt in the freezer, they sell food that's been poorly packaged or sitting out for far too long read more

Star Market - Mold on my mushrooms - Grocery Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

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The tale of Star Market is that of classic tragedy. When I first started frequenting the establishment, all was well. Then, one day, it happened: they stopped selling soppressata. I was gobsmacked. Literally how can you have multiple rows of the same salami but no packages of just soppressata?? Like idk what kind of soppressata deniers run this establishment and fill it with their salami propaganda. Then, it kept happening. They are often out of multiple things. The website specifically said said that the Tyson Family Size Crispy Chicken Tenders were in stock, but to my dismay, they were in fact not! Then, at the one moment I needed a singular jalapeño, they were of course out of stock. I was at my breaking point, though, and built up the courage to ask if there happened to be a singular jalapeño. There was not, until the next morning they had magically grown overnight (too little too late, as my chili had already been tarnished by emergency Serrano chilis). Idk if these jalapeños walked themselves over or if they are being gatekept with the soppressata. Do better. Please. read more

Star Market - Food haul! Accidentally scanned it twice because I'm so clumsy #relatable - Grocery Near Me - Brookline, Massachusetts

the staff here are always rude. it's the only grocery store within walking distance so I don't have a choice, but you can expect them to consistently glare at you, act like you are unconvincing them, and never say thanks for being a customer -- and this is all coming from a west coast person who is generally too nice for her own good -- highly recommend they have a training about how to be pleasant to human beings :) read more

This very small supermarket has a tiny parking lot and the physical store is small. The biggest drawback to me is the super narrow aisles. Being so small, there is not a huge selection Too small Not enough product. In the future I will go to the whole foods 8 or 1p blocks away or a closeby shaws. read more

It's wonderful to have a market in my neighborhood. Especially for those who don't drive. The market was renovated years ago and it's improved. The managers are stocking higher end brands. Thank you. What I don't get is how many items that you don't carry. I joke around with friends that the market should be called Star Convenience. Don't go in the store with a list because you won't find your items. It must be tough to stock a smaller size market. So, what can be done? What is the most efficient way to request items that consumers want to see in the store? The market could be more targeted. For example, breads sourced locally, premium proteins and possibly an expanded organic produce area. It surprises me that lower end processed items take up so much shelf and freezer space. I think the managers and staff are awesome. The market is an anchor in the neighborhood. Managers are a very friendly neighbor. This post isn't very timely given our inflation and tough times right now. Signed, a very loyal customer. P.S. Can you stock vanilla Dove icecream bars in dark chocolate?! read more

Great service every time, the manager is always wonderfully helpful. I like the store layout as well.

This grocery store is okay if you're in a pinch but it really doesn't have a lot of variety. I find it to be lacking when it comes to a lot of items honestly. Also, because it does fall under the same ownership as Shaw's, it is on the more expensive side. I would suggest going a little further down the street towards Coolidge corner and shopping at either Trader Joe's or stop and shop. read more

This place has the worst customer service. I have been here 5+ times (out of convenience) and had a bad experience each and every time. The woman in charge of customer service is EXTREMELY unprofessional and rude. I just went to drop off a fedex package (it is an access point) and not only was she extremely judge mental and rude, but proceeded to ask me what was in the package because it was medical. Beyond inappropriate, intrusive, rude, and then raised her voiced and became snotty with me when I said that was personal and I couldn't answer that. It's a shame that the service is so bad because it ruins it for everyone in the store and other, good employees. Other checkout experiences have been extremely uncomfortable - I am very uncomfortable in this store. read more

Terrible customer service. Like not even the bare minimum. One worker was cursing and nasty and another didn't even say anything to me the entire time she was ringing my items. A third worker was singing in a really strange way in the middle of the store. This was really the weirdest experience ever. read more

Even if this is the closest supermarket to you, please find another place to shop. First, the layout could not be worse. It takes way to long to find simple items, like ginger. Not to mention I very often find out-of-date items on shelves and am currently getting over salmonella poisoning from one of their bagged salads last week. When it comes to the cashiers, I frequently get charged for organic and/or pricier versions of items when I am clearly buying the regular produce. The prices here already aren't amazing and I can't afford to pay for items I am not actually buying since I'm on a tight budget. I don't know why this continues to happen so often. There is a woman who works at the flower desk area who I have never been comfortable around. Every single time I've visited while she is there I hear rude comments about customers and employees come out of her mouth. Last time she was bad-mouthing one of her new coworkers about the speed in which they were learning the ropes at this new store. Everyone learns at a different pace, apparently it wasn't good enough for her. This time she completely made up rules about how many bottles a women couldn't bring to the bottle exchange and was extremely loud and rude to her in front of all other employees and customers. I don't appreciate giving my service to people who I know will probably bad mouth me for no reason in front of other customers. I will now take the extra time to travel to TJ's down the street where the selection is better and the employees nicer. read more

A month or so ago, I bought a package of sausage from the Star Market at Beacon/Tappan Streets for a recipe that I was going to make the next day. When I opened the package, a horrific odor immediately hit my nose. I turned over the package and it turned out that the meat, which I had purchased the day before, had expired several days before I even bought it. (I didn't check the expiration date at the store because I figured that if they were selling it, it must be okay to sell). I immediately called the store and told them what happened, but when I went back with my receipt, they didn't have any packages of non-expired sausage that I needed for my recipe. Last week, my fiance and I had one of those "I don't feel like cooking" nights, so I asked him to pick up a rotisserie chicken from the store. He brought one home from Star Market, and upon taking the first bite, he asked, "Does this taste funny to you?" When I tried it, it had a really weird flavor, like it had been sitting in dirty chemical water for days. I tried to mask the flavor with tomato sauce, but nothing could cover up that awful taste. We ended up just eating steamed broccoli. Then, yesterday, I was SO excited for my fiance to make my favorite dinner to celebrate a special anniversary. It's a dish with pasta, tomatoes, hot Italian sausage, basil, and garlic. When I got home from work, he said that the sticker on the sausage said 11-8, which was six days prior to yesterday's date. He said that he bought the sausage anyway because he thought that maybe 11-8 was the package date, not the sell-by date. I noticed that the sausage was not the color it usually is, but when I opened the package, it didn't have a smell. The sticker on the package simply said, "Ring On Meat, 11-8." Confused, I called Star Market to inquire about whether the sticker referenced the pack day or the sell-by day. The girl at the Customer Service desk didn't seem to know what the sticker meant and offered for me to talk to a manager. He confirmed, after checking the meat in the case, that every single package of the hot Italian sausage was expired nearly a week ago. He told me that I could come back with my receipt and he could give me a package of fresh sausage that came in earlier that day and a gift card as an apology for the inconvenience. While I am glad for the gift card, which covered pretty much the cost of all of the groceries needed for the dinner last night, it was really frustrating to have to delay our dinner to sort this all out, and it was very concerning to know that this Star Market location is repeatedly selling expired meat with ambiguous labeling. read more

My husband and I moved here 5 years ago from Louisiana. We are living just "down the hill" from this little grocery store. I come here every week to pick up what need. I find the selection to be more than adequate, the produce fresh and the meat dept has always provided good cuts. I have worked with special needs children in the past and love the fact that some of these amazing individuals are given jobs at the counters to help with bagging your groceries. I have to admit that Dennis is my favorite. He knows what he is doing and always has a smile and a helpful little tidbit of little known information. There is an older woman who appears to have trouble standing and can come across as "rude" but I think that is just the Massachusetts way. We all have our hurdles in life and need to be considerate of others. I love this little neighborhood store and pretty much all it encompasses. read more

Two stars for convenience, but that's about it. It's small, it's illogical, it's crowded. It's about a step up from going to the Beacon Street CVS for getting your basics. There's really not a lot of choice when it comes to competing products... it generally comes down to expensive organic vs. the sub-budget brand X. The only sales I've really seen other than 2 for $5 Cheez-Its are the ones that are "Reduced to Clear Out!"... which only makes me think *PAST EXPIRATION DATE!* If you don't have a car and live on Beacon... then it's fine, but if it's a nice day, DEFINITELY make the walk/T trip to TJ's... much much better.... especially because they don't put the baking goods in the same aisle as canned fish. Gross. read more

and the problems with this place continue to mount. I tried to make a small purchase but due to the incompetence of the cashier, my debit card was repeatedly declined. I immediately contacted my bank; they told me there was no problem with my card and absolutely no record of a failed transaction and that the problem was 100% star market's fault. They must have clicked the wrong keys for a debit card transaction. Prices are now more expensive than whole foods and keep rising, selection keeps getting worse, ALWAYS out of at least 1 item on my small grocery list. I only go there for last minute items and tonight was an epic fail. read more

This is my go to grocery store since it's only a few blocks away from Washington Square and it's right across the street from a T stop for convenience! Smaller than a Shaw's, but owned under the same umbrella so most things are the same, I don't need a million different brands of the same thing anyway. Staffers are helpful and nice and you can catch some good regular sales for the Shaw's brand here too! (88 cent pasta etc) Pro +pretty good variety of things +lines go fast and even faster at the self-checkout +very good about giving rain checks for items sold out +close to the T, C line! Con - runs out of stuff by Sunday a lot -self checkout runs into a "please wait for assistance" problem if you try and bring your own bag to use read more

I have been going to this Star Market for two years, but only because it walking distance from my apartment. The only pluses I can give this location are that it has a decent kosher section and......wait no that's about it. The last three time I have bought produce here I brought it home, cut into it it and found icky disgusting mold. Onions, garlic, avocados, all moldy. The fish and deli sections also do not look like the most sanitary areas to purchase meat from. So, with comparable prices at whole foods, I will definitely take to walking the extra half a mile, so that I can actually eat the fruit and veggies that I pay for. read more

I'm my own worst enemy by continuing to shop here. There hasn't been one positive experience that I've had, but sometimes convenience trumps my decision-making. The ONLY reason I ever come here is because I need something quick to by, and this place is pretty close to my friend's apartment. However, a grocery store (or any business, for that matter) shouldn't rely on convenience alone. I'll drive out of my way to go to Stop & Shop because this Star Market is tiny, doesn't have the highest quality of product, and their staff is terribly unfriendly and unhelpful. To be honest, my rating (or lack thereof) is due to their horrendous customer service. This past evening, the girl at the customer service desk blatantly ignored me when I was standing there. After two minutes, she turned around to tell me that she was closed and couldn't help me. She did result in assisting me (barely - I had to go with her to figure out what the problem was, and I was the one came to the solution), but she was rude, even after I thanked her profusely. If you can avoid, don't go here. If you can't avoid it, I'm sorry. read more

I echo the other folks on here who feel the love for Star Market. I do think there's a certain method to the madness of shopping here, but overall, you could do a lot worse for a local grocer. First of all, yes, this place is small, but if you want a basis for comparison, it's still larger than Trader Joe's down the road -- and it never forms the ungodly-long lines of that place, either. I think that's partly due to the four self-checkout lanes, which are honestly the only lanes I ever use now. I'm extremely careful about picking good produce, and many of the cashiers here do have a tendency to handle apples like bowling balls. However, that has happened to me at least once at every grocery store I've ever been to, and here you have the option of avoiding it. And speaking of produce: I've been shopping here for five years, and never once have I had an issue with buying something that was moldy or past its expiration date. In fact, I always come here for my produce because it tends to be much fresher here than other stores in the area (again I point you to Trader Joe's). As far as the packaged food on the shelves goes, I admit that Shaw's and Star Markets can be pricey -- despite my complaints, I *do* brave the lines at TJ's for certain pre-prepared items because overall they're much cheaper there. But if you get a Rewards Card and shop sales (and aren't afraid to try Shaw's-brand items, most of which that I've tried have been just as good as name brands), you can get some really good deals here. Additionally, I love the fresh deli and baked goods here. The fresh-cut and -caught meat and fish I've bought here has always been lean and juicy (again a cut above TJ's -- pun only partly intended), and the cookies and cakes and whatnot are just flippin' delicious. And aside from occasionally spiking the produce like a football, I really don't have any complaints about the customer service here: The folks working the deli are always friendly, and when I've had issues with the self-checkout and needed assistance, someone has always come over quickly. There's also ample parking in a private lot, which is a major plus as well. Like I said, I give this place "two enthusiastic thumbs up -- fine holiday fun." Give it a try if you're in the area. read more

This locations a disgrace to the Star Market name. Too small, doesn't have half the stuff I'm looking for, of which is not really that hard to find at a normal star market. You cook something ridiculously basic, go here, but otherwise its a waste of time. read more

The store was recently remodeled and is a million times better than it used to be (and cleaner!). Its also grown in popularity and is super crowded during busy times. Its small, but I can walk here from where I live, so its super convenient. Selection is somewhat limited, but they have all the basics. Produce and meat selection is sometimes disappointing. I usually find everything I need between here and TJ's. There's also a Red Box for $1 DVD rentals. Look online for free codes. read more

The food is decent and decently priced (for Boston), but the customer service is awful. There's this one woman cashier who I try to avoid - because I've seen her verbally abuse customers, and she's always in a bad mood, clearly hates her job, and is often downright nasty with customers. Also - I always have to bag my own groceries because the baggers they hire haven't a clue how to bag and just throw stuff in randomly. Seriously - it's the worst bagging I've ever seen in a grocery store. read more

Kind of like Shaws' underweight kid brother with hyperactivity disorder, this Washington Square area Star Market has the necessities if you're truly in a pickle. However, the five or so aisles are not just narrow, but usually stocked pretty randomly. Health and beauty care products get their own section of the store (in the front, by the registers) but that is also where you'll find Entenmann's cakes and also bargain day-old bagels. The organic food section also shares space with the Kosher foods, and the cereals and soft drinks have after-hours aisle parties with their neighbors, the laundry detergents and household tools. I am not quite sure how this supermarket is staying afloat, but it certainly is a lifesaver when I run out of the bare necessities and the 7-11 somehow is not an option. read more

Pshhhhh, c'mon you all. I don't know why everyone is hating on this Star Market, though I only started shopping here a couple of months ago when I moved to the area. I haven't had the moldy produce problem that was mentioned in old reviews, and believe me, that would be a dealbreaker in my book if I did encounter it. The selection isn't bad (from old reviews I thought this place was gonna be the size of a 7-11 or something) and the prices are reasonable. Staff ain't creepy either. Now, it's no behemoth like the massive Star Market on Commonwealth or grocery stores that you would be accustomed to seeing in the 'burbs, but considering my nearby alternatives include Whole Foods (ridiculously crowded 24/7, costs a bomb) and Trader Joe's (I like me some TJs as much as the next person, but their stock rotates a lot and focuses a lot of nifty premade meals/snacks, which is a pain when you usually cook from scratch), I'm very glad this Star Market is around. read more

I agree with almost all the other reviewers. This is one of the worst grocery stores I've ever shopped in! The produce section is usually understocked. Selection throughout is pretty terrible. The freezer section is pathetic. I used to make grocery lists based on the weekly sales flyer - but at this location they usually only have about half of those items in stock. A major disappointment when you can't find what the store is advertising. It's sad that they remodeled last year and this place is still so bad. It's fairly clean, but that's about it. read more

Check your receipt very carefully if you shop here. Things are often rung up differently (usually more) than they are priced. Produce is not very fresh. Why is the quality at this store so inferior to other Star Markets? I'd rather drive a mile and a half further to the one on route 9 just to get produce that isn't rotten by the time you get home. read more

Let me preface this review by saying that I was so displeased I had to create a yelp account to share my experience. Star market is generally the last supermarket I would prefer on earth. The quality of products are terrible but somehow the prices are still sky high. With that being said I go to other much more quality and fair priced grocery stores (i.e. Trader Joe's) for everything I can't get at Dud Market. The list of things I DID need to get were very short and basic. Deli, bread and quarters for laundry. Going on my normal get in and get out run today I was horrified to find that the deli has been replaced by all Boar's Head products which are even more extremely overpriced and not good. They even replaced the deli workers with Boars Head reps who were rudely trying to push their product on me and informed me they no longer sell the deli I've enjoyed for years. Not that the former employees were any better.. most of the time they were depressing and openly told me how they hated their jobs. You're welcome for a being a customer at this dump act like you have some sense of customer service. I'm sorry you have to work there I would hate myself too. The quarter situation is also bleak as they often are completely out of them and appear annoyed when you ask for them at the service desk. If that's not aggy enough they changed their policy making you pay in cash only and only one roll per customer. Thx. To recap: They have single handily removed any need for me to go to this excuse for a store. Let me just list the other "grocery" stores in the area I would prefer going to for deli. CVS, 7/11, Dunkin' Donuts or the sketchy corner store next to my apartment. Actually, I'd rather buy my own turkeys and cows and prepare it myself, that would be a more pleasant experience. Sometimes there are turkeys walking down my street in the morning, if you don't see them anymore you can rest assured where they went. The only thing I could suggest to improve this store is to condemn it, close it down, and demolish. Brookline you can do better. read more

I debated between 1 or 2 stars for this place. Star is convenient to where I live. The ability to walk there is basically the only reason why I go. The quality of produce on their shelves is horrible. Make sure you check everything carefully - I can't tell you how many times I've picked up a container of strawberries to find them bruised and moldy. Also - make sure you check the expiration date of everything before you by it - they often have items for sale that are past their "best by" dates. The only thing worse than their produce is their customer service. If you ever need any assistance be prepared to stand around while you watch 3 people chat behind the counter about their weekend plans. Good times. There is ample parking if you drive and they have long hours. I think that sums up the positives of this place. Overall, I would say their prices are high but probably standard for the area. I can't wait to move to a new neighborhood and find a new 'convenient' grocery store. read more

Maybe I only like this Shaw's because of familiarity and convenience to where I live, but I've had many more good experiences than bad over the years, and that's enough for me. The smaller size is strangely comforting, it's never TOO busy, and they have four self check-out stations (compared to two at some larger stores), which I appreciate. I've only had to deal with customer service a couple of times and they were friendly and helpful. Also, the fact that they're open until midnight every night is EXCELLENT, and surprising, considering the fact that it's Brookline. For comparison, Stop & Shop closes at 10:00 most nights. For me, the biggest issue with the store is the fact that they just don't carry certain items that larger Shaw's do, although they have improved in that regard over the years somewhat. Also, yes, I have found bread on the shelves that was past its sell-by date (a few times), but I've never had that problem with any other items. I've been coming here weekly for the better part of a decade with minimal issues, so I don't think it's a regular occurrence like some of the other reviews might make you think. I don't do ALL of my shopping here (I go to Stop & Shop for some items, as they have a wider selection and some things are cheaper), but for most of my needs, it's great. read more

Sandwiched between the C and D lines, you can't beat the convenience of this supermarket. It's tiny and there's no cell service, but it gets the job done. Vegetables are usually pretty fresh, and they have a good selection of products. Go early on Sunday mornings and you'll have the whole store to yourself! Use self-checkout when possible -- somehow they've managed to hire a lot of really slow (and sometimes even rude) checkout people. read more

This is good supermarket if you forgot to buy something from your ingredients list to make a good meal. The staff are helpful and nice - there are plenty of choices and it is well-maintained. They also have good deals going on and I like their family size deals. read more

I don't know why I keep coming back to this grocery store. Probably because it's conveniently close to my house. Crappy produce selection, and I've gotten expired/ moldy food from here multiple times. Last night it was moldy onions in a bag, which is what's prompting this review. I also have had bad luck with the packaged salads (most of the time the ones on the shelf are already expired), and I once got some very past-date oysters from the seafood bar. It's also technically a Shaw's so it's not so cheap. The only redeeming quality is the staff, who seem to be an older crowd and have good attitudes. read more

I waited in line to check out for 15 minutes. This is not a quick in and out store. Two cashiers and one bagger. I like that Star hires folks with different needs and, they need to recognize when folks need support. Also, someone else posted about a cashier being racist. It sounded like the same one I had who was incredible rude and condescending to the female employee of color trying to help bag. My heart went out to the employee who remained professional. read more

For a small grocery store, this one is pretty good. Like I said, it's very very small, but even when I go right after work which seems to be grocery rush hour, I'm still able to get around and find everything I need. Their fresh produce is usually pretty on point, one time I did get an avocado that was completely brown when I cut it open, but I guess it's off season so I can't really expect much better. They've only got four self-checkouts, which no one is really sure how to use for some reason. This slows down my check out time considerably, but all in all, it's a well stocked grocery store close to my apartment, so I'll be here frequently. read more

Yeah. Just got off the phone with headquarters. On my way home from work late last night I decided to pop in and just grab some snacks for a Superbowl party. But, whoops! - forgot to check the expiration date. Frozen Tyson mini-chicken patties? "Best by" date was December of 2011. I have an email out to the Department of Public Health too. I shudder to think about their fresh meats. And the time before that? Maybe a week ago I needed some cottage cheese for a last minute recipe. Had to reach WAY into the back to find something that wasn't a month expired. Before I left I turned all the other containers around so the "Exp January 2nd" date was crystal clear to any other customers. Especially the numerous elderly patrons whose eyesight, I would wager to say, isn't always that great. I feel terrible for the locals who have no other choice when it comes to their groceries. No more Star Market for me. Ever. read more

The store is way to over priced not the cleanest . tried to post a pick of the most rotten ive ever got from any store. It had on top so couldn't see it. Honestly looked like chunks of pureed read more