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24th Street Cheese Company
Category: Food Specialty Food Cheese Shops Cheese Shops [Edit]
3893 24th St(between Vicksburg St & Sanchez St)
San Francisco, CA 94114
Neighborhood: Noe Valley
(415) 821-6658
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 7 pm
Sat 10 am - 6 pm
Sun 10 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
95 reviews for 24th Street Cheese Company
Review Highlights
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"I wanted to try a triple cream." In 6 reviews -
"...flecked with black truffles, and a semi-hard sheep's milk." In 3 reviews -
"...have great cheeses, and a great selection that goes beyond..." In 5 reviews
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95 reviews in English
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Review from David P.
1/29/2012
Amazing! This place knocks the cheese section at any Whole Foods clear out of the water. One of my favorite cheeses is the Humboldt Fog, so I approached the cashier and asked if they had anything similar. He laughed and said, "Oh, the Humboldt Fog is only okay for a chevre. Try this Spanish Montenegro." Mind. Blown. The "fancy" cheeses of most places are about a low-mid range for 24th Street Cheese. You may end up paying $30-40/pound for a high-end variety, but if you're a cheesehead like me, you know it's worth every penny!
The shop has many great wine and salami pairings to go with the cheeses and a full selection of books and cheese-related recipes. -
Review from kelly t.
Santa Monica, CA
3/27/2012
THIS IS THE RUDEST MAN I EVER SPOKE TO!! I don't know how rude people like this can own a business!! I just called to ask a question and he yelled and slammed down the phone on me. What a jerk!
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Review from Elana R.
Los Angeles, CA
2/26/2012
When I moved to the neighborhood, I was excited to find this shop with an extensive selection of gourmet cheese and other goodies, but recently was very disappointed. I bought some expensive goat cheese and when I got home realized that the cheese they gave me was moldy. I tried to cut off the mold pieces but the mold was all the way through. If I am going to pay $10 for a tiny portion of cheese, I expect it to be in perfect condition, so either I will be inspecting more closely before leaving or sticking to buying cheeses elsewhere (Cowgirl creamery, whole foods, etc.).
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Review from Markito M.
Oakland, CA
2/15/2012 3 photos
Great shop. The staff was very helpful and we sampled several cheeses before settling on the Deliste Jura and a baguette. They also have cooking utensils, chocolate and other stuff to go with cheese.
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Review from Amy H.
Berkeley, CA
12/23/2011
I stopped in one night to get some of truffle pecorino and I was assured that the mold growing on it would not affect the flavor. Wrong. Tasted like blue cheese instead of pecorino and I couldn't taste the truffle at all. I spent $15 on a piece of cheese I could not stomach to eat. I need to go back and tell them in person. Hopefully, they will make good on my purchase. I think though if someone is looking for a truffle pecorino, you might want to tell them that it is going to taste like blue cheese because it has been sitting there so long next to the blue cheese in the fridge. This is my favorite cheese to buy at Cheese Board because it is always fresh.
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Review from Cynthia B.
San Francisco, CA
11/28/2011
I went here and got some havarti cheese and also some brie. Both were probably the best cheeses I have ever eaten, like sex in my mouth. Sooo goood! Yummy! Quality! I can't wait to go back.
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Review from Erin A.
2/23/2011
Best Cheese Shop in San Francisco!
Once the cheese hits your tongue, its like there are 100x more compounds that hit each papilla of your taste buds. Its like a perfect match of compound to receptor whereas other cheeses would not fit. It's so smooth, so flavorful, and just makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Drool...
I specifically come here for their Gouda cheese. I usually get six dollars worth. The cheese here is 100x better than the gourmet cheese you'd grab at Safeway.
People are nice and its a great stop in Noe Valley.Listed in: San Francisco's Best Eats
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Review from Sean H.
San Francisco, CA
8/19/2011
My grandmother in Austria would often share her simple rule of thumb regarding good cheese; "The stinkier the better!". While I did inherit a love of stinky cheeses, I love all sorts. This shop has an amazing selection. Pricey...but the cheese is worth it and I'm supporting a local business.
I work on 24th Street and this place is terribly handy for a snack when there isn't a lot of time for a full lunch break. I come here at least once a week for a baguette and a couple different cheeses to share with co-workers. They also have pate, salami, wine, jams, chocolate, bulk candies, fondue sets, cheese cutting knives and boards. Perfect one stop shopping for entertaining or gift giving.
The staff is knowledgable and, so far, they have only been friendly to me. My only bad experiences there were not a result of customer service. Instead it was due to fellow customers. I now generally avoid going in when they're really busy. It's a long wait and I have had a couple of hideous, entitled, Noe Valley yuppie, stroller moms brazenly cut in front of me. One excuse was, "I'm double parked...". I now wait for a lull in foot traffic so I don't kill someone while waiting to buy my wonderful cheese.! -
Review from David S.
Updated - 10/16/2011 13 Check-ins Here
I'm not sure what happened; they got really friendly in here. I can ask for a few slices of salami and then ask them to suggest a cheddar to go with it - all without the attitude. I think some of the employees got kittens or started having dreams of rainbows and unicorns. First time I happened, I waited to update my review...just to see if the happy stuck. It did! And so, now I can take my time and look around. You know what, there is some really great stuff here! Fancy pastas, imported tomato paste, pesto, little candies...so much I used to miss because I was trying to order quickly and get out. Whatever the case, it's a win for San Francisco. Don't waste your time buying the often stale stuff they pass for cheese at the Whole Foods...come here and cheese it up yo!
Listed in: 24th Street Highs and Lows
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/5/2011
This is actually a very nice cheese shop; if the staff wasn't so freaking angry all the time. I… Read more »
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Review from Lauren F.
Oakland, CA
9/4/2007
You had me at Humbolt Fog.
Cheese Co...you complete me.
(btw..is there ANYTHING better than goat cheese? seriously?) -
Review from andy r.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2007
Friendly Maria at the 24th Street Cheese Co. was my ringside trainer the day I knocked Thomas Keller out (TKO).*
We'd had a fantastic cheese + honey + apple course at Ad Hoc earlier this year (see Suzanne B.'s review) and hoped to match it. She helped us surpass it.
We went in to procure a selection of cheeses to go with the secret ingredient at an "Iron Chef" party: HONEY. The aromas punch you in the face when you enter. I usually go back out and repeat whenever my senses normalize it. I'm a glutton for sparring the senses.
She guided us through an array of selections to compliment the honey, apples and pears, leaning toward goat/sheep varieties after finding out Kiki was allergic to cow's milk.
We left with 3 AY-MAY-ZING cheeses: a light and delicate Bethmale (goat); a middleweight Sardo Fiore (sheep); the triple cream heavyweight St. Agur (moo). All three matched wonderfully with the fruit and the coup de gras on site: White Truffle Honey.
Hey! No fair, kicking him when he's down!
*...as best cheese dish I ever had. He won't remember, so don't ask him. That's just mean. -
Review from Jay H.
6/6/2007
Peeyoo!!! There is some funkdafied stankiness goin' on in here!! Hoowee that's NASTY!!
Where can I get some of that?!?!?
Smelly ass cheese...so good.
The nicest folks, too! -
Review from R N.
San Francisco, CA
11/9/2011
Well, maybe I need to go back and check this place out. When I moved into the neighborhood 3 years ago, I tried several times to shop here. The people that work there made me feel like I was bothering them when shopping and they would chit chat away without acknowledging my standing right at the counter waiting.
My husband has experienced the unwelcoming rude service too so we stopped going. I see more positive experience here so may have to brave it again... -
Review from Jen D.
5/15/2008
Um... Hi, my name is Jen and I am a cheese addict. I need it all the time. I need it on my burgers. Extra on my pizza. Between two pieces of toasted 12 grain bread. In my grits. On my tacos. In my rice. Sometimes, I even eat it all by itself!
Ok, so the all of the staff here isn't as nice as I would like. I got the stink eye from some of the women employees. But the older asian dude that helped me was super nice and he knew his cheeses. I absolutely love this place. LOVE IT!
Walked in only wanting to check this place out. 15 min later, walked out with imported prosciutto, spicy salami, bresaola, manchego and my absolute favorite new discovery, Prima donna aged gouda!!!!!! OMG... SO....DAMN.... GOOD...
Took all that home. Popped a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape, bread, great dipping oil and pigged out. -
Review from Liz S.
12/21/2009
Half of the 24th Street Cheese Company is a store with a variety of local and imported high-end products. Nice stuff. The other half of the store consists of a huge counter, filled with cheeses and an enormous black chalkboard listing their impressive selection. Simply awesome in scope.
This is not an experience like rummaging through the cheese section at WF or Mollie Stone's, peering at signs bearing descriptions of the cheese. Here you either have to know what you want, or spend some time with one of the knowledgable staff talking about cheese characteristics and sampling different cheeses. Not a problem for me - this is the way I prefer to shop. In this world of online ordering and self-checkout at the grocery store, it's refreshing to engage with someone who is not only well informed, but passionate about the product.
I ended up with a goat cheese brie that was absolutely wonderful - runny and creamy with a gentle taste of goat's milk. Something special to put out on the table and share with friends, but not too expensive that it felt like a splurge.
A lovely neighborhood destination, offering old-world customer service and a treasure trove of cheeses. -
Review from LeSLiE W.
Portland, OR
9/20/2007
Friends, I need to talk to you about Haloumi. Haloumi is this freaking delicious cheese that I discovered while traveling in Cyprus about 13 years ago.
In Cyprus people eat this stuff for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And I can see why. I myself tried it for the first time sitting in the back of a car on the way to a bar in Nicosia. It was served in a homemade pita with fresh tomatoes. Much to my surprise the cheese was grilled. LIKE A FREAKING STEAK! I was in heaven. Sadly, we arrived at the bar too soon and I was only able to eat half of my luscious pita. I had to leave the other half in the back of the car to be savored later.
So distracted was I that I had half a Haloumi pita waiting for me that I could pay absolutely no attention to the amazingly hot Versace modelesque Cypriot boys that kept hitting on me. So of course, that really got them going. But I could not be deterred.
I haven't been able to wean myself off it since.
Now the chewy, salty, creamy goodness that is Haloumi is not for everyone. Some people I know actually think it's gross. But I don't talk to those people anymore. They're obviously clueless.
The 24th Street Cheese Company has Haloumi. Do yourself a favor... check it out. -
Review from heather g.
San Francisco, CA
3/12/2009
I love cheese.
I was once a vegan, and while my body felt better, my soul was in the toilet. I need cheese to be a fully realized human being.
This place is one of my very favorite places in San Francisco. I found pimente d'espelette here. Not a super easy find. They have so many kinds of cheese, and are very helpful and knowledgeable.
What I love best about this store, however, is how it feels. It's small and a little dark. It has wood floors. The shelves are small. There is sausage hanging from everywhere. There is too much good stuff to see all at once. It smells like cheese. It's terrifically exciting to be in there, and it makes me feel like a kid again. -
Review from Stanley K.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 8/13/2009
Based on my last review of this place, you can tell I'm still a fan of cheese.
So last night, I had tickets to go see Depeche Mode in concert at Shoreline. Unfortunately, the universe said no. You don't deserve to see DM live. WTF am I supposed to do? The night before I was drowning my sorrows over beer and in yelp talk, which probably, more likely didn't make no sense at all. Sorry Drunk Talk thread:(
Back to cheese: I had sent my friend that an email asking what type of cheese does she like. And I won't take," I don't care what you pick, just pick something."
Minutes later, I got a very confusing text replying, "Its hot. Maybe white if we can keep it chilled? I do not like oaky. Buttery or sweet is ok. I like most reds." Whoa!?! I don't think she knows what I was referring to, oh well? It's ok, I sometimes speed read. ;)
Something sweet and butter, I ask the cheese man. First sample, "this taste too much like butter, you got something sweet?" Second sample," ok, this is good, (taking another bit) I'm starting to taste it ( like Ratatouille does) yes!, this is it! Let me have a quarter pound!
My tip for cheese, be sure "never to order more than one sitting, it doesn't taste the same"
Stan's pick - Taleggio(cow, Italy)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/2/2007
You got any CHEESE? ( Steve urkel's voice)
That's me, the cheese lover. I came here looking for the… Read more »
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Review from Xiu L.
San Francisco, CA
1/14/2008
Let's see. I love what's being sold at this place. The cheesy smells sooooooooooo good and you can find little gourmet food products.
BUT.... Service sucks!! I've had one lackluster but helpful advice from ONE GIRL. Everyone else I've met there have a gloomy, cold, snobbish, sad attitude. They all hate their job. These poor unfortunate, skinny, noe valley woman in their 20s and 30s who are all so white that they probably knew they should have been better off than working at a dead end job
But what happened to good old American optimism? wait or does all the people who got bad service happen to be people or even women or color? I am just suspecting since a lot people seemed to have gotten good service but then some are just kicked in the face!!
anyway, cold glances, slamming of things to show unwillingness to serve, lack of cooperation, snobbish responses to inquiry, basically outright display of hatred for having to work with people.
I am soooo sorry you have to work there. Get a different job!! -
Review from Benjy W.
San Francisco, CA
10/27/2006
My favorite store on 24th street. Actually, scratch that. It's not a store.
It's a shop.
'Cheese store' is so mundane. 'cheese company' sounds like something out of a Wallace and Gromit episode, whereas 'cheese shop' is simply splendid. And not just for those who delight in all manifestations of the Terpsichorean muse. 'Cheese shop' conjures up images of a family grocer in an English country village in the 1960s. In fact, every time I walk into the shop I'm reminded not of Monty Python but of an old column by Keith Waterhouse about buying Wensleydale from a crotchety old grocer in Margate.
The 24th Street Cheese Shop, as I shall refer to it from now on, actually sells many other delicacies besides fermented curds, including some very nice olives and cured meats. But really, it's all about the cheese.
As you walk in, the first thing that hits you is the smell. Naturally, the whole place reeks of cheese. If this is a problem then you have no business being in a cheese shop. Go to the Cala Foods across the street and buy a big block of Velveeta instead.
Once inside, take a peek at the big chalk board above the counter, which lists dozens of cheeses of all nationalities and varieties. Python fans will search in vain for Venezuelan Beaver Cheese, but the staggering variety more than compensates. As a creature of habit, I tend to go for what I like: crumbly Gouda, sharp Stilton, crisp Cheddar, all absolutely delicious.
I've shopped there many times and not once have I had anything but friendly, effective service. They listen to what you want, make sensible suggestions and let you sample the tasty, tasty merchandise. The 24th Street Cheese Shop is a shining example of where local independent stores beat out big box retailers: selection, quality and service.
Yes, it's not cheap. But not all cheese is created equal. You're paying twice as much for something worth ten times as much. It's a bargain, really. -
Review from Jess H.
San Francisco, CA
7/24/2008
Within seconds of walking into this store I almost pulled a Mary Tyler Moore spin, hands outstretched, face to the sky. But I refrained. Thank God because the short and expressionless staffer sporting a corn cob behind the counter may have fainted from an outburst of joy close by.
Seriously, I used to fantasize about a place like this. As I quickly texted a friend back in L.A. - "I have found my Victors and Silverlake Cheese Store all wrapped up on one, little, pretentious and beautiful shack in Noe Valley. My San Francisco. Oh, how I love this effin' city." Screw L.A.
So, back to my fantasy. And this is slightly resembles my stops into the Farmers Market next to the ugly CBS studios in Los Angeles: On the front counter, they have individual servings of salami, a creamy swiss cheese - some other things, anyway, they have Italian Soda's for 1.5. Yes, seriously. The olive selection is stored a little better than what's at Whole Foods. Lots of biscuits, specialty sauces, oils, truffles, caviar and the wine selection looks impressive but I can't pronounce half of the shelved selection. So I just noted the Volume. (Yep, if I don't really know what I'm drinking I'm at least making sure there's a buzz guaranteed.)
Oh, they share here. Samples - bring it on.
Duck Foie Gras. $100/lb.
$6.20 later, I'm sitting in Dolores Park with my salami, sweet baguette, buttery and tart cheese, olives, Italian Peach Tea and a small chocolate square with peanut butter. And a handful of plums. -
Review from Doctor L.
Palo Alto, CA
3/27/2008
I wouldn't go so far as to call the employees here "bitches" as some other Yelpers have done...but I also wouldn't argue with you if you did. They definitely didn't appreciate it when I told them that Hillary Clinton is to female presidential nominees what Clarence Thomas was to black supreme court judges, despite the fact that it's true. They also had no comeback when I pointed out that she was a war monger, and that war mongers are unwelcome in Noe Valley.
Politics and bitchy service aside, these guys sell some fine-ass cheese. I'm especially impressed with their gouda selection which often includes cumin, pesto (it's green!) and various goat and sheep goudas.
My fiancee and I also love going to this place if for no other reason than it's simply one of the best places in the city to play "Gay, Straight or Taken?" for both males and females. The female side is especially challenging. The last time we were in there we saw a woman who I would've absolutely guaranteed you was lesbian, Jewish and from New England, something I consider myself good at spotting since I also happen to be Jewish and from New England, and because I have a lesbian sister...who is also Jewish and who still lives in New England. Anyway, it appeared that she was purposely taking a long time to decide on which of the many cheeses to buy because she seemed to be enjoying flirting with the cute young probably-lesbian cheese store girl. Well imagine our surprise when she made some comment about her husband who was waiting outside.
So anyway we were wrong about her/them, but I guarantee you that they do drive either a Prius or a beat-up old Volvo station wagon. Maybe a Subaru. -
Review from JR H.
San Francisco, CA
9/4/2007
I love stinky, gooey, and gross smelling cheeses!
I tend to rate food based on what parts of my body I would rub it on, and gross cheese would be on the naked holiest of the holey places!
The Cheese Company is great. They let you try stuff and can suggest different things to accompany whatever event you have. Also, cheese at cheese shops is usually much less expensive than in the store.
I actually went here, bought 5 cheeses and that's what I had for dinner with a bottle of wine! I could also hear my heart clogging as I ate, but hey....we all make sacrifices! -
Review from Allyson S.
San Francisco, CA
10/29/2008
I always come in here looking for delicious cheese, and leave really excited about my purchases. But then I get home, open them up and starting eating only to be very disappointed.
I bought tete de monde here a few months ago and i was waaaaaay past it's prime, to the point of 100% ammonia.
Now when I need cheese I head elsewhere, Cheese Plus and Say Cheese and much better options, because when you are paying that much for cheese, you want it to be quality. -
Review from Ariel S.
San Francisco, CA
2/1/2008
When you walk in, the employees make it seem like you're intruding. I've been in here a few times and have always received the same chilly reception and aloof service. I like mom-and-pop boutique shops and prefer them to big, evil corporations -- but not if the service sucks!
As depressing and filthy as Cala is, they do carry some of the same cheeses. So if you live in Noe Valley and find yourself in a pinch for, say, some decent Gruyere, just walk across the street. -
Review from Jen A.
San Francisco, CA
4/9/2007
I don't do subtlety in life and I definitely don't do subtlety in cheese. I walk in here and ask for the cheeses that are the stinkiest, strongest, ruin-your-palate-for-the-next-two-days BEST and these folks never let me down. And when I need to find more accommodating cheeses for guests/friends, they can cover that too. Had some younger siblings (10 and 15) coming over for Thanksgiving and whoever was working the counter was tremendously helpful with finding some cheeses that were a little more age appropriate but still great (but damn, when I have kids I'm raising 'em on moldy-ass, stinky cheese).
If this place and Lucca had babies . . . I would go broke in a hurry. -
Review from Scott P.
10/30/2007
My neighborhood is just becoming more appealing to me! Shh don't tell anyone but Noe Valley rules we have everything you could want. I could never leave the confines of 24th Street between Douglas and Dolores. We have it all!
There have been many early mornings I have walked past this little gem of a cheese shop. Unfortunately some of those times were with a completely nasty hangover and the smell of cheese blowing out of this place nearly made me heave my now consumed bottle of mandarin.
Having to put a cheese course together for a party I decided to keep it local. Who needs to hit Cow Girl when you have your own little cheese shop in Noe. Sans hangover I managed to get into the swinging door of this shop (it sounds like a creaking door from an old general store...love it!). The ladies behind the counter were ready to help me create the best cheese course ever.
This place is oozing with cheeses of all kinds. Not only cheese but wine, pates, cured meats, vinegars, oils, nuts, dried fruits, fresh pasta, truffles, everything you would want in a nice gift basket. In fact I will be going here to put a few together this Christmas.
I can't tell you how amazing this place is and scary now that I have fallen in love with it. I see a very expensive habit forming and a spare tire coming into my life..no worries Noe Valley has a gym too...24 Fit Lite!
Ahh I love my Noe Valley and especially love 24th Street Cheese Company.
Oops gotta go it's nearly time for me and my coworkers to do a sampling of the goodness I purchased last night.Listed in: Best of 2007
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Review from Justine K.
8/24/2008
really cute store with lots of great foods, but I think I would have like it a lot more if the cheese I bought wasn't half covered in pink mold. It tasted great when I tried it at the store, but when I got home, ready to indulge, I felt like I was being poisoned by the asian mafia.
It sucks that one of the only stores that sells licorice all-sorts in bulk is out to get me! -
Review from Des Esseintes I.
San Francisco, CA
12/18/2006
There are several businesses in Noe that make the neighborhood--24th St. Cheese Company is one of them (others being the French Tulip, Holey Bagel, and Plumpjack).
The staff is pretty awesome. You may have to prove yourself by ordering something off the beaten path before they respect you. But respect must be earned; the customer is not always right!
Get some salami while you're there.Listed in: Noe Valley's Gems
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Review from Melinda B.
San Francisco, CA
10/2/2006
Staff was less than gregarious, but she nailed it when I inquired about 2 cheeses from Gary Danko's with very minimal descriptions like
A. Soft cheese in a wood container that is the best cheese in the world (Epoisse)
and
B. Blue cheese so good it tastes like Blue ice cream. (Saint-Agur)
Gotta love it! -
Review from Holly F.
Oakland, CA
12/16/2006
I feel like a blasphemer, giving this place less than 4 stars.
But we felt rushed. I wanted to try a triple cream. The guy let me try one...just one. He made no move to offer me a taste of another for comparison's sake. & same with Mario: one taste of gouda.
But the cheese was truly delicious.
Minus a star for feeling like they wanted us to hurry up & get out. Minus another star for it being CRAZY CHRISTMAS CRANKY BUSY in Noe Valley today.
Thank you. -
Review from Thadd L.
San Francisco, CA
2/9/2006
I don't know what happened to the other folks that had a bad time here. I always get great service, fair prices and taste plenty of cheese.
I had a big party where I was in charge of the cheese and the woman there just asked me; "How many people?" when I said "About 80" she just smiled and said "this will be fun."
I think I tasted about 11 cheeeses fefore deciding on the 4 I wanted. It was fun. Everytime I go here I fall in love with the place. -
Review from Kosmonaut K.
1/8/2007
I went here based on a recommendation from Chowhound. I really loved it.
The self-serve area of the store is stocked with all kinds of gourmet staples, from fine chocolates and capers to mustards, oils, truffles, caramels, chestnut purees, and other fine comestibles.
The cheese is all kept behind the counter and you order by asking for what you want and specifying amounts. All cheeses are listed alphabetically on the large blackboard behind the counter and are also divided in categories such as "Cheddar" (they have over 15 varieties,) "Goat," "Sheep's Milk," etc. If you don't know what you want, they will make recommendations for you. You could say "I'd like to try 3 or 4 Spanish cheeses for a tapas plate" or "I'd like to sample some English cheeses" or "I'd like 4 or 5 good cheeses for dessert" and they will make some recommendations.
They also have chacuteries, pates, fresh bread, olives, cornichons, and other items for a good tapas/appetizer plate. Try the Molinari finocchiona salame thinly sliced - yum.
Staff is friendly, and I give them bonus points because I'm deaf and speak with a speech impediment; they had a hard time understanding my pronunciation of "halloumi" and "manchego," and very helpfully gave me a pen and paper to write down on.
Samplings are allowed; when I asked for manchego, they said there were two choices, and let me sample thin slices of each.
All in all, quite a pleasant experience and I will be returning.
For those of you driving, there is a small pay parking lot next door that costs $1 per hour.
They also sell cheese cooking accessories such as fondue pots and raclette pans.
Update: I arrived last night 15 minutes before they closed. They'd cleaned up and put away everything and were getting ready to close down, but they still served me with a smile. -
Review from Galen W.
San Francisco, CA
12/20/2009
A true destination cheese shop in a small, unassuming storefront. Another contributor to my "Only in San Francisco" happiness.
The shop is crammed with the makings of gourmet cheese platters. The blackboard of cheese varieties is hopelessly full of options, and the shelves on the customer side of the counter are stacked with crackers, wines, and other accoutrement for a fine tasting session.
The staff is helpful and knowledgeable. They take my "I like Swiss-style cheese," and translate it into a couple of suitable choices. They offer tastes, so I can fine-tune by complaining that Choice A was surprisingly salty while Choice B failed to activate my taste buds. Choice C was amazingly wonderful!
The prices vary widely, and the staff will help you concoct an assortment that fits your budget. Maybe a bit of the truly expensive Swiss complemented by a larger amount of more reasonable blue?
This independent store faces competition from the just-opened Whole Foods down the street.
Competition, seriously? Whole Foods has a nice selection of expensive pre-wrapped cheeses. They're probably excellent in their own right. But, there's no one to talk to about your likes and dislikes, no one to explain the heritage of your meal, and no one who can talk you down from a pre-party panic by reassuring you that your guests won't care about anything else once they start into the cheese. -
Review from G Z.
Los Angeles, CA
4/21/2007
Walked in Saturday morning, greeted by rustic, woody New Hampshire inn-style decor, loudish Cat Power or similar gentle folk rock music and omg, the most wonderfully powerful aroma of cheese permeating the air.
Each and every staff member was decked out in trendy, hipster knitwear to complete the surreal picture. The shelves are stocked with cheese accoutrements, including a great selection of pickled goods, dried fruits and sausages, melting, cutting and serving tools, AND loads of crackers.
The staff was friendly and helpful. They have a phenomenal selection of cheeses and a chalkboard above the counter with prices. As in most respectable cheese shops, you can taste any cheese you like.
... like a relaxing camping trip, this place stayed in my clothes and on my mind... -
Review from bristol b.
CA
4/17/2008
Very, very expensive. With a bad attitude.
There are many better places to get your cheese (Rainbow, Cheese Boutique in Glen Park, Cheeseboard in Berkeley). -
Review from Alexandra F.
San Francisco, CA
2/11/2011
I frequently buy cheese here and always love what I get; however, the service I experienced today was deplorable. I was in with my boyfriend's mom and once we picked out what we want, we both tried to pay for it. She laid down here 20 bucks on the counter top, apparently too close to where the cheese was cut because the woman wrapping our cheese said, "Don't put that there, I thought you would be better educated."
I cannot believe someone in the service industry would say something so unbelievably rude to a customer. I told her how rude that was, and she was completely unapologetic.
What a shame. -
Review from Tina D.
San Francisco, CA
8/14/2008
This shop serves a certain crowd very well. The selection is large enough to give you plenty of choices while refined enough so that the proprietor knows every cheese he sells and only carries what he knows to be delicious. I'm with Amy L., I like my cheese person to be both knowledgeable and opinionated, and this dude knows his stuff and calls it like he sees it.
If you walk in and at least have a clue about any cheese, you can ask the asian dude who runs the place if he has that cheese, something similiar, younger, older/drier than the one you know, and he will be more than willing to give you a sample. He's not like one of the hippies at Cheese Board who will hand you sample after sample all day long with a smile, the man's running his own place, but if you show intent to purchase, he'll happily guide you to a cheese (or cheeses) that suit(s) your pallet and give you tastes along the way.
My favorites are St. Agur and 2 1/2 year aged prima donna.
If you're willing to pay more for the best cheese available, right in Noe, this is the place to shop. -
Review from Tony T.
Iowa City, IA
8/14/2008
Excellent cheese and knowledgeable staff. One thing you should know about the staff is that they are a piercing reflection of the customer's soul. Snotty or uptight customers will receive the snotty service they deserve; being located in Noe Valley, where self-entitled technocratic yuppie elitism is endemic, it's easy to blame the help.
Know this: if your heart is true and your mission righteous, Maria and Susan will appear as Renaissance angels robed in light, smelling strongly of mortadella. -
Review from Jen I.
9/24/2007
I fainted when I walked through the screen door.
It was heaven, it was hell, it was cheesy and the smell...was enough to knock me to my feet.
$24 for the Tartufo.
I continue to believe I can afford the truffle and champagne lifestyle. I drink bottles of bubbly like water and I douse my salads with truffle oil.
And while the cheese of my dreams remains just out of my grasp for now, at least i know where to find it.
