NetCost Market

Net Cost is a Russian grocery chain, with stores located across Brooklyn, and I believe they have locations in Philly and Staten Island, as well. I will often pick up items either on my way to the train, as they are located just two long, long blocks away from the subway, or on my way home. If you don’t speak Russian, this can be an unwelcome experience, as you are made to feel as the Other, but you need to come in with an open mind. The security guard at the exit has a look on his face that can send chills up your spine, and his mustache even looks like Stalin’s! Nonetheless, the prices here are good, and they often send out a 10% discount coupon with the Val Pak coupon package, if you spend $ 100. We’ve spent $ 100 easily on groceries, eggs, produce, and breads, and on my last visit, they had a variety of OK Kosher certified breads in Turkish and Uzbek varieties that made it to the home of my Shabbat hosts, who appreciate ethnic delights such as this. They have a complete line of Sabra salads, herrings, and you can spend hours ogling the unique Russian and Europinian imports (looks like they’ve invented their own continent here!) My favorite is the red star CCCR (USSR) tower of chocolates; nothing evokes memories of the gulags quite like chocolate, I suppose, and like all things Russian, expect this store to be wacky, robust, and coarse. Na zdorovje!

This market has excellent Russian food, fresh bread, frozen pelmeni and (fried and baked) perogies. You can also buy kefir, pastries and chocolates that are Russian or Russian-​Jewish in style.
The staff mostly speak Russian only, but cashiers speak (some) English and Russian. Lovely market. Interesting Buffet. Have a good time in the mother Russia Market.
Let me know if you see Kvas ;)

Net Cost offers valet parking and an abundance of russian/​eastern european food. from Salami’s to baby bologna you can get your smoked meat fix here. A wide arrangement of prepared hot and cold dishes, they have something for everybody. prices are reasonable and the produce section has a small organic section. large varieties of different hard to find produce are available such as strange looking squash and different types of root vegetables. Come with an open mind, leave with a full shopping cart.

My favorite grocery store! The quality of the produce far exceeds that of nearby Key Food, and sometimes of the two Chinese Grocery stores. Prices are almost always better than Key Foods, and sometimes better than that of the Chinese Grocery stores. Better produce selection, too, unless you are specifically looking for Asian veggies. Clean, bright, spacious grocery store, with an amazing selection of honey, teas, coffee, spices, condiments, yogurt, dairy, jams, cheese, dried fish, caviar, grains, cured meats, candies, and baked goods. Basically, they usually have a very wide selection. They also carry a wide variety of affordable organic foods! They claim to do home delivery too, for purchases of $ 50 or more.
I have read the reviews about rude staff, but have not personally encountered any rudeness, and I am Asian. The cashiers are generally very sweet and kind. I have bought spoiled chicken from here before, but returning it was not an issue at all. They were extremely accommodating about it. Definitely a grocery store I will miss when I move.
I have also seen reviews claiming that they do not speak English, but I have never had issues communicating with them. Everyone I have encountered seems to understand and speak English, enough to conduct business and small talk with. The reviews stating that staff is rude or angry if you do not speak Russian are about 4 years old, so maybe they have hired more polite staff now, because I have not yet experienced that sort of discrimination.

i brought a cake for 6.99 a lb, came home and realized it’s got mold INSIDE the cake.
they gave me a refund but i would definitely double check the expiration date on their food, and if there isnt one (such as the cake that’s sold by lb), just check inside before you eat it.

Super RUDE management. When I complained about something, I was told to get out !!! Almost no one in the store speaks English. I have no idea how many of the employees are legal residents. Food is not fresh and I will shop at the Key Food down the street.

This place caters only to the Russian community. In other words, if you’re not Russian, enter at your own risk. You have been warned.

I was thrilled when this market opened up in my Bensonhurst neighborhood. Previous to that, the only choices we had were the repulsive Waldbaums and the Chinese market on 86^th St. which has decent produce and fish and Chinese specialty foods but little else in the way of general groceries. Here you can find all manner of good quality produce at very reasonable prices. I’m not Russian, but I have adopted some of the exotic vegetable compotes, thick breads and sweets (an amazing selection) which I now quite enjoy. They sell beautiful chocolate boxes that are like works of art, people are very impressed with these so they make good gifties.
It’s a great market for things like organic pot cheeses, the huge selection of jams, teas, cheap coffee, incredible range of Slavic beers in those large bottles. If you are Russian, I suppose it’s Nirvana as there are lots and lots of authentic Russian deli foods including things I am not brave enough to try, such as stuffed chicken necks and pigs trotters. I did buy some frozen blintzes once and they were delicious. Also, as a cautionary note, I have also had the experience of buying food here that ended up being rotten and/​or spoiled. I did not have any problem returning those items however. They also have delicious Greek yogurts, several different kinds, and the wax cartons of vanilla soymilk which is hard to find in this neighborhood. Really good prices too.
It’s true what others have said here, that if you don’t speak Russian and you’re intimidated by the authenticity of the choices, it makes shopping a bit difficult and the old Bensonhurst Italians don’t come in here, it freaks them out! I have had a few awkward experiences here dealing with the non-​English speaking staff, who seemed flustered when I asked questions, but if you smile and are polite someone always at least tries to find someone who can help you with what little English they can muster. The reviewer here who had a hard time with the deli staff needs to understand that these people are, like, OFF THE BOAT from Russia and they have a different manner, they can be brusque. But also, I think they are intimidated by English speakers, I think they get nervous because they can’t speak to you. Really. If you’re patient and smile they are very nice.

Great market for veggies/​fruit, meats, tons of dairy. They must have 50 different butters from around the world.
If you like cured fish or caviour they have a wide selection. Also things you cannot get anywhere else. Its a really fun market. Just dont ask anyone for anything because no one speaks any english!

I guess the only reason why they haven’t put «RUSSIANS ONLY» signs at the entrance, is because that would be illegal.
Most workers at that store only speak Russian and they get mad at you if you dare to ask them anything in English. The staff is incredibly rude. They don’t seem happy to be working there and they make sure you know they are not happy. Oh, and they will keep talking in Russian to you, even though it’s obvious you’re not Russian. The deli counter staff is probably the worst. They always give Russian speaking customers the preferential treatment and either totally ignore the others or make them wait for a long time. Once I went there with a Chinese American friend and they were downright brutal to her.
I noticed that they don’t use one-​time disposable plastic gloves when slicing the sausages and cheeses, but instead use some yellow rubber gloves. They would be dealing with raw meat first and then will touch the cheeses with the same gloves. They never cover the pastries with foil or plastic wrap. They just leave them out in the open. Today they sold me a cheese and spinach Turkish pastry wich was all moldy. That’s 5 dollars of my hard earned money thrown down the drain. Of course you don’t know it’s moldy until you taste it at home. Now, if you are brave, go and ask for a refund… I hope I don’t get ill from eating it, even though I only had a bite before I noticed the moldy taste and spit it out.
I shop there only because they sell many European foods, but after today’s experience, I don’t think I’ll be buying anything from them that is not factory sealed.

Check out their website and you will understand why this is such fun to visit:
Self acclaimed as the «Costco of the ethnic Eastern European market» this place is a head first dive into all things Russian. I stumbled into Net Cost looking for a place to have a very quick lunch and squandered my entire break looking at all the weird Russian stuff. No regrets!
The sausage aisle is a fantasy-​land of meat! Outdone only by the outlandish 2′ x 4′ chocolate gift boxes. How many brands of Kefir can one store carry?! This place is great fun even if you know nothing of Russian life you will be transported to Moscow for a few minutes. The employees take great pride in their heritage and are happy to speak perfect Brooklyn-​American English if you don’t know your chesnochnaya from your moskovskaya!
Spasibo bolshaya Net Cost! (I’d say «I’ll be back» but the Russian verbs of motion are just so difficult!)