Rubiner's Cheesemongers

I’ve been going to Rubiners since it opened and never had a bad experience. The quality of everything there is A+. We especially love the olives, the butter, and the aged alpine cheeses but you can’t go wrong. It’s also fun to try a wine, any wine- they have such a unique selection. A gem.

Great collection, guys! Yes, it’s $40/lb cheese… But again, it’s great cheese.

On the plus side - Great selection of cheese and breads. On the downside, the guy who runs it can be a tool. It would be nice to be able to go in buy cheese and a baguette without having to worry about what kind of mood the guy behind the counter is in.

I would echo exactly what other reviewers have said about the owner and his attitude. Highly unpleasant & unprofessional. Why bother having a business where you are public facing if you clearly don’t like people. He was grumpy & borderline nasty right from the start. Barely looked up to say hello Acted like I was bothering him when I asked about cheeses. I dint believe in supporting that kind of attitude. Will be the first and last time I shop there.

The cheese selections are fantastic. They have quite the assortment of hard and soft cheeses from around the world. They also have different kinds of hams and prosciutto and sausages and meats, including some smoked salmon and other delicacies. They have an extensive selection of jams, jellies, hot sauces, wines, bread, candies, and frozen delicacies, such as ice cream, and refrigerated meats. Their products are of high-quality and worth the price .the staff were very helpful and helped with questions I had and some cheese choices.we purchased some Swiss cheese, prosciutto ham from Italy and smoked salmon. They were delicious.thanks!

Killer wine section. Wasn’t expecting to find such a large selection of biodynamic, natural, & organic wines, but was a nice surprise when I stopped in to grab some meats and cheeses for lunch. Nice selection of beer too. Staff was friendly & helpful with recommendations.

The guy at the shop insisted that all cheese is lactose free. I said I heard things like aged Parmesan was lactose free and he said, yes they would have “less lactose but all cheeses are lactose free”. I don’t know how you can have less lactose than lactose free but that’s what he said. I bought some cheese which he said was definitely lactose free. I have diarrhea now and I have no doubt that it’s from eating that cheese.

I have been to Rubiners many times and always had a good experience. I was excited to bring Out of town (foodie) guests to the store To show them the large and interesting selection of cheese. Unfortunately, it was a fairly unpleasant experience. Matt Rubiner, The owner of the store, waited on us and from the Moment we walked in, he was rude and condescending for absolutely no reason. It seems to me if you own a store you would want customers to feel welcome and taking care of. My friend ended up spending a good deal of money in the store but I would not return. I was embarrassed by Matt’s Rudeness. He may want to consider charm school.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

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....

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!)

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.

This is a beautiful store - an art gallery to cheese; however, I have visited here multiple times including yesterday with out-of-town guests and we've always left empty handed. Why? No one ever says hello to us or even acknowledges our existence - even when we are the only people in the store. My friend said hello twice to the staff yesterday and they wouldn't even make eye contact or say hello, therefore we left and made our purchases at other stores. It's such a stunning store; I wish they would apply their unbelievable expertise to customer service

Great service, wide selection, friendly and knowledgeable. Got some really great cheese! With the wine we got two doors down, spectacular!

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.

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.

Rubiner's is a gem. The greatest cheese selection and knowledge. You can find shops with great cheese, but at Rubi's you can learn each cheese's history and the differences between 20 kinds of goat cheese. Wonderful selection of other goodies, now including wine. And don't forget a pint of wonderful varied olives.

I've read all of the previous reviews, and I get it that some people do not harbor warm feelings for Matt Rubiner, the owner. While I don't condone rude or condescending service, I also think that the one- and two-star reviews are just ridiculous. I am a former cheese shop owner and I can say that that Rubiner's has a fabulous selection of cheeses. One would be hard pressed to find some of them in a top cheese shop in a much larger city. I bought four cheeses. All were in peak condition and all were excellent. I asked for a sample of a couple of cheeses, and was accommodated without any hassle. A high quality cheese shop lets customers taste cheeses before they buy, and, on this score, Rubiner's did not disappoint. Are the prices high? Yes, they are, but these cheeses would be similarly expensive in any good cheese shop. And, contrary to what many people believe should be true, cheeses from American artisanal producers can be every bit as expensive, and sometimes more so, than cheeses imported from Europe. The locals who have written nasty reviews about how horrible Rubiner's is should instead be thanking their lucky stars that a cheese/gourmet shop this wonderful exists in a town with barely more than 7,000 residents. I would kill to have a shop of this caliber where I live.

Delicious cheese. We picked some up for a picnic at Tanglewood. We purchased Couronne de Fontenay Goat cheese from France, Gorgonzola Cremificato (Piedmont Italy), Sopressata, and pate. We sampled the tarentaise goat cheese which was really good and went back the next day to buy some of that for a gift.

I wish I could give this store 5 stars, I really do. The cheese we purchased was delicious and the store also offers imported snacks and pasta. Unfortunately the owner makes it difficult to love the tremendous cheese selection when the service leaves such a bad taste. We were visiting the area for our anniversary weekend and wandered into this store to pick out some cheese for an afternoon snack. We had a few questions about the ingredients in the cheese and this seamed to ::really put out:: the three people working in the store, including the owner, even though there were no other customers. When we went to purchase our expensive piece of (absolutely delicious) cheese the owner was smarmy in response to our ingredient questions and then completely ignored us when a "regular" arrived into the store. We will not be returning on our next trip to Great Barrington.

Visited here for the first time. The cheese shop is beautiful and the 2 samples they had out were delicious. I'm sure the cheeses are wonderful, but we didn't buy any because the 2 people working there had no customer service skills. Each said hi and then just looked at us for a bit and walked away. I guess I could have asked about tasting or preparing a sample plate to buy but they should have offered some info up front, maybe asked us what we were looking for... Anyways, went to the cafe in the back and had the classic grilled cheese. It was good and worth the $6. The space is tiny & cozy with a wood fire burning. But again, no personality with the staff. They came off as uninterested and pretentious. Bummed out by this because I love cheese! Every city that I visit I look for cheese shops and they're some of the best experiences with staff interacting with customers and offering samples and explaining the ways they can package it up for a snack or to take home. Nothing like that here.

Limited selection, service barely adequate (and in the case of one person both rude and smug), and rip-off pricing on items available elsewhere. Only if you're in a hurry!

Drop dead gorgeous shop with highly curated cheese, chocolate, mustard, pasta and so much more. Great customer service - we were offered help repeatedly and guided to the perfect pairings of cheese and a few tastings. You must get the Gorgonzola - scooped out of a huge wheel with an ice cream scoop. Eat that with pear slices and you'll be in heaven. Grab some pretty candies as you check out. And if you don't want to shop when you're hungry - head up the alley and have a mind blowing sandwich from their cute little place in the back.

Rubiner's Cheesemongers and Grocers, while only been on Main Street since 2002 or so, is now an institution in Great Barrington. The owner, Matthew Rubiner, is a master gourmand, with an impeccable sense of taste and an excellent understanding of his customer. The store is magnificent, filled with exotic cheeses under glass bells, stacks of cheeses stacked high upon marble counter tops. He has locally-made foie gras pate in the cooler, next to bolude smoked salmon, niman ranch items, glace de viande, local organic eggs, and other items to tickle your fancy. Astonishing store that rivals those in metropolitan cities. A true treasure of The Berkshires. Store Hours: Monday through Saturday 10 am to 6 pm; Sunday 10 am to 4 pm.

Superb selection but unfortunately there is quite an attitude here. I guess this is what happens when you get to far from NYC - people start thinking cheese and gourmet items are only for those with means! Step past that and indulge as it's a truly amazing source of fine foods.

What a great shop! Delicious cheese, amazing variety and fabulous staff. Why would you ever buy cheese from a supermarket. This shop makes me want base meals around cheese. A delight!

Housed in an old bank with the original vault, this shop is as fun to walk into and study for the architecture as it is for the food they sell. We couldn't buy much since the hotel we were staying in didn't have a mini-fridge in the room. But the homemade goat's milk caramels- they're more than $1 a piece, so it's not penny candy :) But it's fun to buy one or two and indulge in the amazing creamy caramel. Would definitely go back when I have a fridge at the ready to store some cheese and meat :)

So, I am out enjoying Western Mass on the weekend and all of a sudden begin to crave aged cheddar cheese and walk into Rubiners. And I wait at the counter for like five minutes while the super nice cheese monger helps this yuppie mom sample $30/lb cheeses on her young child. Oh the entertainment! On the plus side the cheese selections are broad and the staff know what they are selling. Its a super cute store fashioned inside and old bank - how can one not love that. On the not so plus side, they are not cheap, but I suspect its not easy hauling all this great cheese to the middle of nowhere so I say four stars for selection, service and people!