Bedford Cheese Shop
Category: Cheese Shops [Edit]
Neighborhood: Brooklyn/Williamsburg - South Side229 Bedford Ave
(between 4th St & 5th St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211 (718) 599-7588
- Nearest Transit:
Bedford Ave (L)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: No
24 Reviews for Bedford Cheese Shop
Right now I wait...
...I wait for a time...
A time when I can blow $250 on mounds of cheese.
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Hands down the best place to buy, nibble, and learn about cheese in Williamsburg. The first time I went on a taste adventure there I left feeling like I got away with murder. I had just eaten $20 worth of cheese samples, made someone tell me the entire history of Bra Duro, and left a giant mess on the counter. I ran out like Rick Moranis, yelling to strangers about it and tripping over things in the street.
But this is Brooklyn and the prices are a bit high. Try the raw cow Bra Duro but make sure it hasn't been sitting on the shelf outside the cooler too long. Lots of samples and history lessons included.
The Keymaster says: "Yes, have some."
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First off- love the cheese... obvs. However, It's a pain in the ass to get decent service on a weekday afternoon when the store is empty apparently. More than once I have walked in and the place is empty. Once, I admired some cheese through the case. 4 people behind the counter completely ignored me and continue their in depth, intense, loud conversation about how old the Kinks ( from a Peel session) song was that was blasting from the tinny, high end speakers in the kitchen. I looked at more cheese through glass. I looked around, hoping for someone to notice that I would like to purchase a pricey slab of Du Guesclin without having to scream over Ray Davies. No one noticed. I leave. Yes, I could have shouted and demanded help, but if I'm paying $57 a pound for some french cheese I really shouldn't have to.
Separate issue: they sell PG Tips in there for 8.99 and you can get it at Northside Deli on the corner of N6 and Bed for 3.99. PG Tips is really not a FANCY tea. I understand profit, but gouging I cannot stand. I reserve BCS for the things I honestly cannot find anywhere else or if I'm in a last min cheese plate jam- which isn't often.
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I tried to buy Christmas presents here and had a lousy time. It took about an hour and half to put together two gift baskets...no one would wait on me! It was totally overrun by demanding customers and the staff was flaky and kept passing me off to one another. One guy actually suggested that I go home and just order off their website!
The cheeses I got were absolutely delicious, but I spent so much money on so little that I haven't been back.
HEAVEN ON EARTH. A real cheese and meat shop where you can actually afford said luxuries. Staff is well versed and will happily give you several samples and suggestions. If someone tells you to go somewhere else like the Village Cheese Shop in search of five pounds of cheese for under a buck, trust me, you don't want that cheese. Take the trip to Willy-burg. Get some pate, some Montenegro and a baguette. Go to any of the many beer gardens. Get a beer and spend the day making fun of people's ridiculous outfits (in your head, of course). Not including the beer, 2 people can do this for under 20 bucks. They also make wicked good sandwiches. They're all around brilliant.
Possibly also the only place on Bedford that takes credit, which I have to support just out of principle.
Bedford Cheese Shop does have quite a nice variety of domestic and imported cheeses however I'd have to say that the prices are a bit exorbitant.
I used to work at a specialty/gourmet food store, granted it wasn't in NYC but we carried some of the same cheeses as BCS and they weren't nearly as pricey.
Still, when I want to put together a nice cheese board with some charcuterie this is a great on stop shop, just don't be surprised at how quickly a couple of things will add up.
I also noticed that the guy behind the counter was reluctant to cut me smaller pieces. I was only buying for two people and I wanted a good variety but there was no way I would be able to go through the huge wedges the salesman was trying to sell me. I didn't want to be a pain but if it's priced per pound you shouldn't say that the piece that's already cut is the smallest amount you can sell to me. Oh well, I guess I shouldn't complain about an over abundance of cheese!
Anyway, if you're looking to try something new and spice up your cheese drawer at home stop by BCS and you won't be sorry.
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What a gem! Beautiful little store that makes me feel back in Europe and a friendly staff. I wish there were closer to me, I would visit everyday being that Charcuterie and Cheese are my two favorite food group. The selection of cold cuts and such is beautiful and appetizing. The cheese selection is interesting and a bit more edgy that the average gourmet shop. I was disappointed not to find a goat cheese from France but very happy with my selection. The prices are a bit high but Williamsburg is becoming on par with Tribeca... Overall a great stop when craving tasty, yummy morsels.
PS: Change the address to the new location
Best. Place. Ever.
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Oh. My. God.
I have been in LOVE since I first walked into this place a few weeks ago. One of the staff spent seriously 30 minutes with me determining what I like in a cheese by having me sample things until she narrowed it down. I learned more in that 30 minutes about cheese than all the years of my life put together. It's a special place. With special foods and condiments and sweets that you just don't see all over the place.
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I am giving this place two stars because they do seem to have a very large selection of gourmet products.
That said, let me explain why I am only giving them two stars:
Yesterday, my friend saw this bottle of aged balsamic vinegar in the window that she wanted to buy. We went into the shop and it was labeled $20. When my friend got up to the register, it rang up as $23. When my friend pointed this out to the woman working there, she just shrugged and said they must have raised the price and so it was still going to be $23 for us. Since the people were starting to stare and we didn't care to make a scene, my friend begrudgingly paid the $23 so she could get the vinegar. In circumstances like this, most stores would have said "Oh, we're sorry. Well, it's supposed to be $23, but since we have it priced as $20, we'll sell it to you for that." What's to stop them from doing this for everything they sell?
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I was delighted to find this place just a few minutes walk away, more so that they had four different types of blue cheese made in the US, although that pretty much was the limits of local cheese. Their selection of European cheeses is however what you're likely to be going for. They have a truly yummy olive ficelle (skinny baguette) if you don't go too late, plus some pretty good chocolate coated espresso beans and peels. There are a bunch of other culinary niceties such as wild board prosciutto and marinated artichoke hearts. But much the other stuff such as the oils, mustards, and pickled, canned and bottled goods are edging towards novelty--at least in the eyes of a cynical European. If you're an Aussie yearning for your Vegemite fix, you will find it here.
Even if you don't buy anything covered in promiscuous moulds (boo!!!) you have to stick your head past the door just to take in the heavenly aromas. (Strictly speaking this shop isn't quite up to five star standard but real cheese seems to be a bit of a niche over this side of the pond.)
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Awesome cheese shop with smart, knowledgeable staff. great selection of cheeses and deli meats.
you can also get other gourmet food items there... my friends get these pickles there that are absolutely awesome--called McClure's Pickles (they're "spicy garlic dill" pickles). You should go there just for these. and some cheese.
They also have make sandwiches daily using various meats/cheeses that they sell on a baguette. very good... i had a speck sandwich, yum yum yum. if you don't know what speck is, you should go there and find out, too.
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I have only been here once, but have been obsessing over going here for MONTHS. I was so overwhelmed with joy when I went in I couldn't even attempt to taste anything or talk to anyone at the counter. Granted it was a Saturday and it was a little crowded. You just feel all is right with the world once you step in here. I don't know.. I can't really explain it. It's like finding your own little piece of heaven.
Everything about this place is the most amazing thing in the world.... I guess it's so good I don't even need to eat any of the cheese they sell.
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I love this place. Their cheese selection is amazing, and don't be intimidated if you're not a cheese-freak, the staff is really knowledgeable and helpful in your hunt. They'll give you all the sizable samples you want until you find a good cheese to take home. They've also got fresh bread, fantastic prosciutto, and a great bunch of random food items from all over the world. Don't walk in hungry though, you're bill can add up quick. The cheese is expensive but totally worth it.
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One of the best places around to get cheese. ALSO, their new shop is expanded with all sorts of things you'd put in a gift basket and give to your secretary telling her she did a great job this year on those reports and stuff.
You can spend $100000 on some rare cheese that is completely green and blue with bacteria or just a few bucks for a decent tasty cheddar. Your choice. They are also really friendly and liberal with free samples.
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Bedford Cheese Shop, you are habit-inducing. When I go shopping, a cheesemonger is not usually the first thing I think of, even if the word itself never fails to delight. (Seriously, say it out loud. Then say it again. It just feels good.) But now that I've discovered you, I'm a changed woman. I can't make a trip to Williamsburg without coming in for a visit. When you're not packed to the gills with cheese-appreciators, I can't resist the pull of dallying over your daft descriptions. You crack me up, irresistible you. With descriptions so wacky and evocative, I simply can't leave without sampling... and then head down the street to Soft Spot for a pint to wash it down with.
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This is probably my favorite cheese locale outside of food shopping along Rue Mouffetard in Paris. The selection is absolutely amazing and the staff really knows their stuff. Everytime I walk in, it seems like there are 20 more types of cheese than they had before!
And now that it has moved to the corner of Bedford and N.4th (yep, my lactose-loving lassies, its no longer in the mini mall) it has an even larger location housing exponentially more varieties of cheese.
If you're feeling adventurous, definitely try the chocolate goat cheese. It's absolutely exquisite and very unique! Magnifique!! Yeah, its spendy, but its cheese dude!
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for the love of god this place is amazing. the people that work there are really nice. the selection is mind boggling. I can't believe it is in my neighborhood. if it didn't turn me into a giant lardass I'd just eat their cheese every day.
I LOVE YOU BCS!
i heart the cheese
it makes me feel like i have taste
for eating mold
I LOVE looking at cheese. I can't eat cheese, but I love looking at it. Actually, I can eat cheeseburgers, cheese cake, cheese danishes, etc. As long as it's not plain cheese. That's just too weird for me. Bedford Cheese Shop is a neat little shop where they have lots of cheese (duh). But they thought it was a bit weird that I kept staring at cheese and esp. when I told them that I don't eat cheese.
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I too heard the grumblings about Beford turning into Soho a few short years ago, but if turning into Soho means more quality stores like the Bedford Chesse Shop are going to show up - I'll take it.
This tiny shop is located within the Bedford Mini-Mall and maintains everything from my fav, Boerenkaas, to plain old cheddar. Name a cheese and I daresay, the Bedford Cheese Shop will have it. The store also sells companion items like olives, pastes and crackers that are all devine. Stop here on the way home, grab what you need and you're ready for a dinner party in no time flat.
So many choices. Even recommended a bread to go with it. Fave so far: Spicy Gorgonzola. Yum.
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Good selection, really knowledgeable staff, not the cheapest, but worth going out of your way to visit.
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