Rubi's Coffee and Sandwiches

264 Main Street
Great Barrington, MA
(behind Rubiner's Cheesemongers)

Rubi's is hard to resist. It has a warm atmosphere with its wooden floors - when I picture it in my mind, it seems to be a small-scale renovated barn. There is very limited seating with a counter that seats three next to the counter where you order, and a few small tables and one large communal farm table in an adjoining room. I have yet to be in there when it is not bustling. The menu is written on chalkboards behind the counter and the baked goods are arrayed in front of you under large bell jars. They serve a real macchiato - espresso with a bit of foam on top, not the latte-ish thing Starbucks makes. Today I enjoyed the Halloumi Toast sandwich - basically, an open-faced grilled cheese on a baguette, made with halloumi cheese (a greek cheese that's a cross between mozzarella and feta) and bits of preserved lemon. Delicious. I also took home a slice of hazelnut ricotta cake that was both chewy and delightfully moist.

Rubi's turns into more of a bar/cafe in the evening, featuring oysters and cheese plates and wine - I haven't been there yet in the evening but I look forward to it.

There is one downside of Rubi's. On the three occasions I have been there, the place is generally populated by two sorts of people. One sort - pretentious hipsters in flannel with dyed hair (girls) and long hair or really short hair - hair that has been very much paid attention to - (boys) and conspicuous eye wear. The other sort - loud New Yorkers who complain frequently, inform the entire line of their debate about what to order, and don't seem to mind stepping on your toes to get an extra napkin. Such is the price of irresistibility - even the obnoxious are drawn in.