Ok. I know it's been closed for health violations in the past -- perhaps multiple times -- and they had a lengthy standoff with the DOH last year before they reached some sort of deal to reopen. But. I still have a big soft spot in my heart for this labyrinthine, old school neighborhood grocery with surprises around every corner. Sure, the bargain fruit from the stands out front are often on their last leg (I've learned to categorically avoid). But there is also a vast selection of excellent, sometimes obscure, usually well-priced cheeses on offer, always with lots of samples. (I tried gjetost / brunost there for the first time many years ago.) There are nice olives and chocolates and jams. There's a variety of prepared foods, which aren't obnoxiously priced, though I don't think we've ever tried them. (It's almost as easy to throw together a quick meal than it is to reheat something from the store.) And I keep stumbling upon wonderful, unexpected products like date molasses, sumac, and even ramps ($44 / lb, cf $50 / lb at Citarella)! Staff are baseline kind of grumpy... but in a weirdly endearing old people sort of way, and are usually very helpful when you ask a question. read more

It's such a shame that this place is so run-down and has had so many health and sanitary issues, because there are a lot of great items. However, I live on the block only go here when I absolutely need something quickly. read more

I live on the block and I only try to go when I absolutely need an essential. Every time you pick something off the Barzini's shelves, you risk buying a product that is moldy or expired. They will occasionally have something niche that you need, particularly a spice or a cheese, but that doesn't make up for the fact that their inventory is so neglected. And if you've read any other reviews, it won't be earth-shattering to hear that the owner is rude. read more

Nothing to add past what many others have said about the dirty conditions, gloomy and rude staff, and inexplicably overstocked aisles full of expired items. But I have to add that the few times I've made the mistake of shopping there, I've noticed their customer base is heavy on frail, elderly locals who probably live alone on fixed incomes, shop there because it's the only place they can get to, and don't use Yelp or check their credit card statements. So on top of their other crappy attributes, I think they prey specifically on that constituency. Yes, they have remarkably wide selection -- I'm fascinated by their massive array of salami. But there's something seriously wrong, even hoarder-like, with ownership that keeps piling up stock at the expense of freshness and sanitation. I know being an indie grocer is tough, but there are better ways to operate. Broadway Farm down the avenue manages to have standard variety in a big footprint without filth, and Kalustyan's down in Little India is the gold standard for a tidy specialty grocer that doesn't try to also be a supermarket. These guys could adapt to reality, but they're clearly never going to, and I'm sorry to say it but I hope the newly opened Key Food nearby runs them out of business for good. read more

A very nice grocery store they have fresh fruit outside in boxes. They had the Diet Pepsi and Zero Sugar drinks I was looking for. Got a six pack of drinking water and some orange juice. Along with all the different snacks too. I asked if they sell lottery tickets they said no but I can get them from the news stand right outside the store. Friendly people I would shop here if I lived in Manhattan. read more

Real expiration dates on products are often removed and replaced with their own sticker. I've made the mistake of buying raw chicken, of which the expiration date stated 5 days forward from the current date. When I opened the package at home, the chicken smelled rotten and I could see mold in the chicken (not visible from outside the package). This happened 2 more times; 3 for 3 rotten / spoiled meat. Will not shop here again. read more

nasty owner, prices much higher than neighboring groceries, dirty store. Produce not fresh.

tightly packed, layout unclear, and nobody around to help or ask questions. Not to mention, ALL the perishable food I bought (fruits, vegetables, some meat) all rotted 2 days later (the meat had a weird taste and texture). You're better off to go to Trader Joe's read more

I am so upset that I have to bring my four-star review all the way down to a one-star review. I have had a recent and terrible experience with them. While their tomatoes are to die for and their cat is SO incredibly cute, I can't ignore the fact that they are keeping expired items on their shelves and they give you a hard time when you try to return them. I will be coming back for their tomatoes, but they need to be more careful with the items they're selling and they need to be more compassionate when people come in to return items, not just for a refund but for another one. read more

Barzini's is your typical grungy, old-time New York corner grocery store that somehow has everything. No, not the place for whiney UWS snowflakes who like to shop at places with the word "emporium" in their name. Barzini's is cramped to accommodate all the store shelves it needs to stock the incredible variety of goods it stocks. There are lots of specialty foods, especially Italian products. It's the only place in New York where I can find hot cherry peppers (now if only they would stock lupines). And the prices are mostly "Trader Joe's" level prices. Example: mimolette cheese is $10 per pound at Barzini's, but $19 per pound at Fairway, and $21 per pound at Citarella. There's a nice variety of veggies at good prices. And as anywhere, a friendly smile gets you great service. read more

Thieves!!! Absolute thieves!! Please report these guys if you have a similar experience to 311. Link: https://portal.311.nyc.gov/sr-step/?id=6ab2cb11-3798-ee11-a81c-6045bd7f120c&stepid=3a9a7a20-eb5b-e811-a837-000d3a33b3a3 I came in and bought $29.99 flowers, one box of chocolate at $12.99 and two bars of chocolate at $3.49 each. I went to the cashier who said "$50". Given these were gifts, I started to remove the price tags. They did not give me a receipt. I go home and I see a $75 charge on my credit card. I go by the store and they refused to give me a receipt and told me "wait for the manager". read more

The two stars are for the much better selection of Haribo and Darrell Lea licorice that they carry compared to other stores in the area and the sweet bodega kitty perched right next to the entrance who will always accept a head-rub. That's where it stops, though. Make sure to check the expiration on things. Inspect the produce. I've bought a fair share of tomato and plums here where the layer on the top of the carton is pretty and the bottom layer has all gone rotten. The inside of the store smells overwhelmingly of cheese and not in a good way. The service is also terrible, reaching a level of indifference and contempt that suggests they can't even be bothered to take your money. I was checking out one day and turned on Apple Pay on my phone but the credit card machine had such a small tether that it would have required me to stick my arm all the way under the plastic divide. Rather than offer to just ring me up on a separate register or pull it out further, she just shrugged and stared at me. Meh. Not coming back. read more

I just spent $8 on soup and it had mold on top...super disappointed. Probably safe to say I won't be a returning customer. read more

Barzini's - Buttermold soup - Grocery Near Me - New York, New York

CAVEAT EMPTOR (and more Latin coming!): I was visiting a friend on the upper west side and stopped in to buy some items. The bill came to $15.85 but when I looked at the receipt, I had been charged $18.51. I brought it up and the man behind the counter made some apologetic excuse and gave me back the remainder in cash. I told my friend about it who said the same thing had happened to her AND her husband. So this is clearly their MODUS OPERANDI. If I lived there, I would never shop here. read more

Barzini's was closed on January 18th due to numerous health code violations. Rats, roaches, etc. Another reason they should be closed is that they regularly rip customers off on prices. They constantly over charge customers on credit card charges - often by 50 to 80% $ They should have been closed years ago!! read more

I would give them 0 stars !!!! The tall Middle Eastern man with the glasses is rude.He will close his cashier when it's time to serve you. He also has a complex about doing his job. I only mentioned his ethnicity because I've heard them be racist. He will close his cashier, when it's your turn and then start talking to the next cashier while they are helping you, which distracts from you being able to purchase. Some of the rudest people. Their products are low quality for the price. I see rats running around on top of their products all the time and I chipped my two front teeth on their salad. A lot of their food is expired. You would think they were Upscale for the prices they charge. They are overcharging you for a lot of items. Have to be careful. I also chipped two of my front teeth from their salad. I live on the same block as this terrible place. There are also rats running all over this store !!! read more

Barzini's - a close up of a mouth with a missing tooth - Grocery Near Me - New York, New York

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Yet again, I bought cheese here only to find that the package was clearly tampered with and the expiration date changed. To all those reviewers who write about Barzini's "incredible" deals on gourmet cheese: You're getting an incredible deal on expired gourmet cheese! To those reviewers who expressed surprise that their milk went bad a week before its expiration date: It's not that the milk went bad prematurely, it's that the expiration date was altered. This is not a one-off, it's a pattern that goes beyond their cheese section. Not worth the risk. I'd love to support an independent neighborhood shop, but not if the owners are purposely modifying packages to sell expired food. read more

Bought an item today. Cashier rang it up for a totally different price, much higher, and when I pointed it out, he got very upset and told me not to come back. I'm posting this today because ringing up for the wrong price has happened before, so it's not like this was a one time mistake. On other occasions, we have purchased milk that has gone bad within a day or two despite the expiration date on it being almost a week out. read more

Been here one or two times prior but just realized I've never reviewed it. Truth be told yelp-mate Tons is on my arse about reviews and I'm a wee bit 'fraid of her so...... Mothers day 2017 and many shoppers were getting last minute ingredients for mama's cake, her dinner etc. It being a small space or maybe it's just small aisles lends itself to a lot of (inappropriate) touching /bouncing. I sighed with sadness that it wasn't me as my auntie's basket ran straight into a hank's ASSets. Each time we bumped shoulders though everyone was really pleasant about it. Other visits was a bit uncomfortable as I was stared at to the high heavens. I don't like it when stares are accompanied by scowls. This time staff was very pleasant. They assisted my aunt in finding exactly what she needed to prepare her mother's day lunch. Yeah Yeah, I know, why didn't we cook? Well she's too picky so she prefers to do things her way so it'll be done right. Her words not ours. There's a wide assortment of specialty foods as advertised. I even found maca (root) powder, something I've been searching for for a hot minute that claims to be great for women's health. They sell prepared meals and of course you favorite and hard to find ingredients. Maybe it's pricy, I don't know because auntie paid. Hahahaha. I like Barzini's. I always feel as if I'm in a little European supermarket and we also got free baking soda! Well happy mothers day indeed! Lol. The End. read more

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I don't know why they have to be so gratuitously rude and mean. I bought 3 pears 2 days ago and when I went to eat them today they were all soft and mushy. I went back to the store to return them and one of the owners said go ahead take some more. I could not find the exact kind of pear that I had returned so I opted for the Anjou pears, which were 20 cents more per pound, figuring it didn't make a difference. When I was checking out the same guy was the cashier and he said "you returned two pears, right" and I pointed out that it was three pears. He rang up my other purchases ($15) and then said "the pears you got are different from the ones you brought back" I told him I couldn't find the same kind of pears outside and he said they were in the back of the store. I asked him if he'd like me to go exchange the pears, he didn't say anything. Why are they so grouchy and unpleasant? read more

It's an eccentric place, and it is true that you need to keep an eye out for expired foods. But Barzini's has items you can't find anywhere else-- Iranian pistachios, preserved lemons, countless varieties of jams, oils, vinegars and rice. It's a neighborhood gem, for most goods, cheaper than the chain stories. Yes, often New York manners, but that goes with the territory. read more

Right in my neighborhood. But each time I go in, I wish I had not. High prices and poor service. Uncomfortable store to navigate. read more

Barzini sells coffee bags with the Star-K Kosher symbol on the bag. These bags are not kosher certified. The Star-K says their symbol is unauthorized. read more

A good place to find all the essentials and number of more eclectic items. The store is tightly packed which makes navigation difficult. (Especially passing another shopper in an aisle when you both have full baskets.) The check out lines can get long during after work and Sundays...but they tend to move quickly. read more

Barzini's - Grocery Near Me - New York, New York

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I got home to find the cottage cheese was full of mold and was dated 4 days ago. Then the shredded cheddar was also sold with a week old exp date. The Ezikielhs pita was freezer burned. I called to let them know only a machine. This is unacceptable. read more

This is the kind of store where you're pretty sure all unsold food gets stashed here in the end: where expiration dates are questionable, everything is manually priced on pink tags, the ice cream you just bought has a spoon-breaking layer of ice on top, the meat could be other animals than the normal, the cashier's understanding of English is 40%, and the candy bars are also covered with a layer of white dust when you open them? I ate a Milka Bar and I kid you not when I tell you I'm physiologically waiting for food poisoning. My sweet tooth dragged me to this place at 11:30pm and I usually trust where it leads me, no question. Regrettably, I think I was mistaken. Think at least twice before stepping here. read more

Rude cashier who always upcharges what it says on the sign, but will give you the right price if you insist.

I can't believe this place gets 2 1/2 stars from NYers What is wrong with you people ? Ugh Smelly place Old food Unfriendly Yuck read more

This place should be avoided at all costs. They have a well-documented history or stealing from their customers by overcharging credit card purchases at the register. I bought $34 worth of groceries and was charged $77. This was not a mistake. He didn't quote the total to me and there is no screen showing the total. He just took my card, hurried the next customer up while I was still bagging, and discreetly threw the receipt away. This has happened to numerous people and has been reported to our local representative. There are so many stores nearby. Please do not give them your business. read more

It's disgusting. It's unclean. And the service is rude. What other reasons do you need to stay away?

Had to go there the other day--it's close and always open--to buy some cheese and grapes. The red grapes cost $22 but I needed them and so just paid. The top layer of grapes were Okay but the ones about an inch down proved soggy and inedible. Then: bocconcini balls in a small container, expiring four+ weeks from the day. We opened it to put out, with a few grapes, and it STANK! Worse than stank. It smelled like raw sewage, like a public latrine, and the stench wafted throughout the apartment. I had paid for three of these ready-to-go Toxic Cheeses--and assumed management, so called, would take them back. But they would not. Because, after smelling them (and not gagging), they determined that they were fine and what-was- my-problem? They wouldn't even offer a credit for non-lethal cheese. NEVER AGAIN. THIS PLACE IS A DISGRACE. Go to little Han's up the block or walk to West Side Market. read more

On 2 avocations that I know of Barzini overcharged on credit card. I bought watermelon for $20. I checked my Amex account and it showed a charge of $60.00. A friend bought groceries for $16.00 and his charge card was for $60.00. There were refunds when confronted but they are crooks. Beware read more

Avoid if at all possible. The cashiers here regularly overcharge. Be sure to keep track of every item during checkout. Your receipt will not be itemized and so you need to watch when your item is rung up. The store itself is dusty and dirty. You will see cobwebs and insects if you look up at the ceiling. The management is not nice and the entire point of this place seems to be to take advantage of customers. read more

Aside from the fact that they're selling expired food and never clean their floors or cases, they are constantly blocking up the sidewalk between 90th and 91st. How freaking in contempt of people are you? Rotten food and now no sidewalk access? I know the prices are great for the area, and that some of their stuff out front is OK. But the fact is...they sell expired food people! They also relabel expired foods with new dates! You can never be sure if what you are getting is good or not. Why take the chance of eating something not fit for consumption? Also, should you really be eating things from a place where the floors, shelves, and cases are literally filthy? No way! If you don't believe me, take a look around to see for yourself. There are rotting vegetables in the inside produce cases, dead bugs on the floor, live bugs on the walls (check back near the potatoes and onions), and rotting yogurt, butter, and sour cream in the dairy section. It's just beyond comprehension. When you patronize a crappy business like this, you give them a license to continue on with their dirty, disgusting, and obnoxious practices. If you're see the same things I have, then you should call 311 to report how unsanitary this place is. read more

Many health and safety violations. Avoid! I have seen mice and cockroaches here. The owner does not care when told. Items are often way past their sell date. I wouldn't buy meat and dairy here. I got food poisoning from a roasted chicken here years ago and now avoid the place like the plague. Queueing customers often rest their dirty baskets on top of (children's) dairy products. How is that not a health code violation? Shelves are stacked stacked to the ceilings and don't seem safe. Aisles are not navigable for a limited-ability person. Barzini usurps more than half the Broadway sidewalk with overextended produce stalls and piles of boxes on the other side. This is clearly illegal. Which city inspector do they bribe? Barzini limits street access to people with disabilities and parents with toddlers. Again, what city health and safety inspectors are they bribing to look away when they endanger the lives and safety of people?! read more

I am so grateful to live across the street from Barzini's. they are open all the time and have a great selection of fruits, veggies (organic and plain), deli, cheeses, kosher section, nuts, dried fruits and more. The staff there is always super nice, from the owners on down. I have never, in my 25 years of going there, had a bad experience with any of the staff. In fact, I have seen them be extraordinarily kind to customers with disabilities. I have read many 1 star reviews - and yes, it is a bit claustrophobic, crowded, and a bit disorganized. As for rancid food, I buy all my milk products from them without any problem. It is true - that some of their fancier cheeses are past their prime - I stick with what is on sale, or their goat cheeses or the more mainstream fare. Once I did buy something fancier and it was off - so I returned it and got a refund, no questions asked. This is a true NYC neighborhood store - not Whole Foods - so get over it! read more

Well, I love the cheese samples and I've bought a good portion of it. Interesting fruits like golden raspberries which I haven't seen in any other store in Manhattan. Why only 3 stars? Huge, fricking grey rat dashing across the aisle. Why still give them 3 stars? Just like the rats, I like the cheese samples. Staff's ok. No one seems excited to be working there. Who would be when you're working with rats. read more

I made a purchase that was about $20 but my Amex Bill was for $60. My husband purchases came to $16 and Amex showed $60. We went to the store and the owners reimbursed us for the mistakes. If you shop there check your credit card to make sure the amount is right. Two times is a coincidence or a theft. Not going there again. read more

If I could give this place zero stars I would. I stopped shopping here in 2014 when I took this picture of a roach. For some reason my co-worker has continued to shop here but yesterday's purchase, sold 2 weeks past the sell by date, put him over the edge. read more

Barzini's - Sold on March 5 - Grocery Near Me - New York, New York

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I have been shopping at Barzini's since it opened, and I shopped at its predecessor called Nisan as well. It has the best selection of cheeses I have ever found, and a "cheese man" who will help you choose the best cheeses to suit your taste. They have lovely crackers and cheeses to try each day. They have a wide array of Israeli and kosher items and will order many products for you if you ask for them. Whenever I have guests staying at my place, the first thing I do is take them to Barzini's to take a tour and be impressed at how many wonderful items they offer and are open 24 hours! read more