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Boston Cheese Cellar
Category: Food Specialty Food Cheese Shops Cheese Shops [Edit]
18 Birch St(between Corinth St & South St)
Roslindale, MA 02131
Neighborhoods: Roslindale Village, Roslindale
(617) 325-2500
- Nearest Transit:
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Roslindale Village (Needham Line)
Belgrade Ave @ Robert St (14, 192, 30, 35, 36, 37, 51)
Belgrade Ave @ Corinth St (35, 36, 37)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 7 pm
Sat 10 am - 7 pm
Sun 12 pm - 5 pm
- Price Range:
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$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
40 reviews for Boston Cheese Cellar
Review Highlights
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"...gifts and interesting chocolate/honey/olive oil options." In 6 reviews -
"...and are eager to let you sample the cheeses until you find..." In 3 reviews -
"Great gift items for foodies too." In 3 reviews
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40 reviews in English
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Review from Sarah C.
9/29/2011
Uh - god - I don't even think I need to say anything new here after everyone else's reviews. This place is the S**T. The young man behind the counter was completely fantastic and totally made this stop a highlight to my day. Not to mention I bought two delicious cheeses (both of which were offered to me as samples before purchase which I gladly accepted), a great box of assorted crackers, and a fancy bar of chocolate for a great price. Oh yeah, and they have a great gourmet chocolate selection (vosges + others galore!) and tons of other gifts and cheese compliments. Um, also, he gave me a sample of a new candy they just got in. Bonus points!
Really, Quinn beat me to it - read her review. -
Review from Dan P.
Chelsea, MA
4/27/2011
After moving into the city a few months ago, I have been looking for a nice little cheese shop where I can go in, and feel comfortable. I not a cheese guru, but I couldn't take the cheese selection at the local grocery market. I heard about this place, and had to give it a try.
1) Most important - The Cheese. Good selection. Good prices. I bought a single cream brie and my girlfriend picked out the Mango and Ginger. Both are amazing.
2) Staff - Staff was helpful and very nice. We were offered samples to make sure we picked the right cheeses for us.
I would def recommend it to anyone looking for some great cheese, that doesn't want to pay an arm and a leg. -
Review from Loren C.
Roslindale, MA
11/21/2011
My go-to gift stop. Just pick a handful of lovely things from the shelves and you can make a great gift for anyone who eats, spending as little as ten bucks or as much as you want.
And of course, there's the cheese: This place has been the source of some transcendant cheese experiences. Ask for a recommendation, never disappointed. -
Review from Robin J.
Jamaica Plain, MA
3/26/2008
I finally made it in here today after hearing about it from everybody I know in JP who dares to venture beyond the end of the Orange Line and into Roslindale. I wasn't expecting to be too thrilled by this place, as I am not majorly into fancy cheese and, quite frankly, have a hard time justifying paying for it most of the time.
Nevertheless, I think this place is pretty awesome. All the cheese prices are clearly listed on a whiteboard behind the counter, and all the cheese is piled up in two deli cases. I thought I'd be able to figure out what I wanted, but I stopped at the Hugely Stocked Deli Cases and kind of stood there with a glazed look in my eyes. The guy behind the counter came over and helped me out, gave me a couple of samples, and helped me figure out what I wanted. He was great! I was in and out of there in less than ten minutes.
If cheese ain't your bag, there's plenty of other great items in stock to bring you here. They sell bread from Blue Frog Bakery, which is enough in and of itself; they also carry various teas, jams, crackers to eat your cheese with, et cetera.
This is a wonderful specialty shop in a neighborhood I don't make it out to nearly enough. I highly recommend it to anyone in the Roslindale area, or for cheese nerds who live in JP. It's worth the trip! If you don't have a car and are freaking out about trying to take the commuter rail to Roslindale Square, any bus on the Forest Hills upper busway except the 38 Wren Street will drop you off right there. -
Review from T J.
Quincy, MA
8/26/2010
Okay... honestly I have never had a reason to head into Roslindale before in my life. But a year ago I saw a Groupon for the Boston Cheese Cellar, and who doesn't love good cheese, so of course I bought it! And then proceeded to forget about it for a year (oops!)
So I popped in there on the FINAL day of the Groupon... and of course it was completely packed with other customers doing the same exact thing as me. And even though it was quite busy, they (1) kept the line moving all while (2) were kind enough to give samples/answer questions without rushing you out the door. That was quite a feat!
The staff was informative and helpful. And when I asked random questions (as in, what is a good cheese to pair with peach preserves) they not only had a suggestion but nailed it.
Of course all of this quality and service comes with a fairly large price tag... but a little splurge doesn't hurt now and again. And come on... it's GOOD cheese!
So, while I may not be driving through Roslindale everyday... or even every month... I will make a special trip here and there to the Boston Cheese Cellar. -
Review from Alexa D.
West Roxbury, MA
7/28/2008
This place is my porn shop.
The boyfriend gives me a strange look every time I happily volunteer to take him to Sebastian's for a haircut. I keep telling myself to be cool about it when I accept his request but I can't help it.
I drop him off and sneak over to the cheese shop where the helpful staff lets me try whatever random cheese I want. I end up buying at least a few different kinds...cause I never know what I'm gonna be in the mood for later.
I take my little bag and hide it from the boyfriend as he doesn't eat dairy and he can't understand the ecstacy I experience.
Go here...you'll buy more exotic cheeses than you'll ever need. -
Review from Emily L.
Cambridge, MA
7/1/2008
Reasons this place is sweet:
1. free samples! (seriously, the samples were amazing, especially the smoked salmon/dill spread made in Concord)
2. knowledgable staff
3. delicious cheese
4. location (for me, at least)
Reasons this place didn't get four stars:
1. kiiiinda expensive
2. the staff didn't laugh at my jokes as much as I'd like -
Review from Megan S.
5/16/2009
The only food store you actually want to be smelly. The smell draws me out from Forest Hills every Saturday for my weekly fix of cheese.
Get on their e-mail list to get alerts when there are tastings. You always are free to taste any of the dozens of cheeses that they have in house, but some days they have fondue, chocolate makers, and dip purveyors there to hock their wares.
For best foodie results, combine your trip to the cheese cellar with the Saturday 5-7pm wine tasting at Solera around the corner. -
Review from Marc L.
Roslindale, MA
10/3/2007
Wanna have a European adventure right here in Boston? Do you hanker for a hunka, a slice, or slab, or chunka (cheese)? Get thee to this local fromagerie.
They have as extensive and wonderful a selection as you might imagine from a cheese-centric establishment. The last time I was in I bought smoked blue cheese! Can you believe that exists?! Simply fantastic. Turns out they stock lots of other niceties such as pastas, olive oil in bulk, chocolate etc.
Visiting the Cheese Cellar caused me to ponder the meaning of life such as... "if you consider the number of months that are likely to remain in your life (and I'm hoping for another half century so we're talking 600 months) surely there are as many interesting cheeses out there as each of us has remaining months in this world. Others can have their self-improvement through more noble means. I invite to you to join me in the "One New Cheese Per Month for Life" Club. I hereby make you a member. Put Your Faith in Cheeses. Looked at this way, the Boston Cheese Cellar isn't just a friendly, beautiful, well-stocked store; it's a shrine to self-improvement, a parlor of potential, a temple of transformation, a mosque of magnificence! Greatness through Gruyere! Carpe Queso: Seize the Cheese!
Here's a concept approach for a visit: For the full-on European approach you can take the train here (the Needham Line Commuter rail stops just a stone's throw from the Cheese Cellar or the Forest Hills stop could allow you to walk through the arboretum first). Add a meal at one of the nice places in the vicinity beforehand, and perhaps a stroll up the street to the Pazzo bookstore, and/or Pet Cabaret if you're a pet owner, and you've created an insanely wonderful excursion in your own backyard. There's also an excellent wine shop (Solera), bread shop (Fornax), and butcher (Quality Meat Market) within a half block. Enjoy. -
Review from Melissa S.
Chelsea, MA
2/28/2010
So I figured since I was having a wine and cheese party, it would probably be a good idea for me to get some cheese and maybe even know a little something about it. And I wasn't sure if Velveeta was actually considered a REAL cheese so I decided to go all out and visit this place with a friend.
What a great time, trying out cheese, talking to the lady helping us. I explained to her how many people I was having and she told me how much cheese I would need and then proceeded to take me on a worldwide tour of cheese.
All the cheeses she recommended she gave us a sample of - we were able to pick out the perfect selections for the evening. She then recommended we go to the wine shop just around the corner and let them know what cheeses we got so they could help us pair them.
That's exactly what we did.
I will always go here for my cheese! -
Review from chris d.
1/30/2009 1 photo
- Best baguettes in Roslindale Village
- Great for little gifts and interesting chocolate/honey/olive oil options
- Oh yeah, they sell a ton o' cheese as well
- As others have mentioned, staff is great.
The main reason for writing this short review is that we've started buying Baguettes here despite the 'village' having Fornax Bread and other numerous bakeries close by. -
Review from Ligaya S.
Chino, CA
8/21/2008
It took us three separate trips to Rosindale to finally get to the cheese cellar. Each time we've ventured into Rosindale, this place has always been closed or just closed five minutes before we arrive! Doh!
Cute, European style store that sells items that are either locally made or international exports that you rarely find at your local grocery store. We sampled some cheese, crackers and chocolates. The guy working there was very helpful and dropped tons of cheese knowledge on the both of us (don't ask me, I've already forgotten it).
They have the stuff to create your own gourmet picnic basket for you and a special someone or a very poshed -out gift. Check it out on your way to Sophia's Grotto, they share the same patio. -
Review from Meg C.
Philadelphia, PA
6/29/2009
My cousin and her fiance just bought a place in Roslindale, so we decided to do a drive through the neighborhood so I could assure the rest of our family it is a cute/safe area. Unfortunately, it was raining heavily so we couldn't really wander around on foot.
I wanted to spread the love that is La Tur (much thanks to Lulu for the introduction!), so we came to Boston Cheese Cellar to pick some up. This shop is small, but terribly adorable and very well-stocked. In addition to cheese, they have almost everything you would want to pair with it. I was pleasantly surprised to find the La Tur was on special, so it was a few dollars less than what I have paid else ware. I wish we could have lingered a bit and done some tasting, but the meter and the weather were not in our favor.Listed in: Oh New England, How very quaint
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Review from Seth M.
Jamaica Plain, MA
8/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
if you're a food geek then you should check this place out. I'm a homebrewer so all things fermented I find fascinating, including cheese. staff is excellent and selection to match.
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Review from Phoebe C.
Boston, MA
1/27/2010
Although I have never had any cheese here, I wanted to give a shout out to their olive oil. I am a big fan of good olive oil and believe that it can make or break a good stir fry.
They have a bottle-your-own arrangement that is superb. You can come back and refill your bottle at a discount and it even comes with an oil pourer! The oil itself is fruity in the way that olive oil can be and it has a kick of pepper in the after taste. Great for house gifts!
They also have balsamic vinegar in this set-up, although I have never tried it. -
Review from Jessica F.
Jamaica Plain, MA
10/30/2009
This little shop is truly wonderful. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and are eager to let you sample the cheeses until you find exactly what you are looking for. The last time I was there, the gentleman behind the cheese counter looked barely out of high school (maybe in high school?) but he knew more about cheese than anyone I have ever met! I found this to be totally endearing.
Boston Cheese Cellar has a great selection of cheeses in a range of prices so you can find something delicious whether you are on a budget or you want to splurge. They also have fantastic baguettes and a large selection of other gourmet goodies. Chocolate lovers will appreciate the chocolate selection (they have Neuhaus! my all time favorite!). Also, if you are planning a wine and cheese night, this place is conveniently located near Solea, which is another favorite of mine. -
Review from Chris S.
Boston, MA
7/26/2008
If I knew even a lick about cheese, I'd probably give this little Rozzie Square shop 5 stars.
The shop is replete with accompaniments and gift sets, but the star of course is the cheese. I believe there were over 100 varieties marked on a white board along with their country of origin. The proprietors are very friendly and helpful. Admitting my lack of cheese expertise, I was guided through varieties and flavors, and allowed a couple samples to educate my palate. "Mildly stinky, with a complex finish" remarks the professeur de fromage - gotta love a tasting note like that! I took home a Vermont cheddar and a baguette to snack on before dinner and I could barely stop myself from spoiling my appetite. -
Review from Liz E.
Jamaica Plain, MA
10/11/2008
What a wonderful little gem of a place! Great selection of cheeses as well as everything you need to go with them plus some. Non-cheese items include crackers, pastas, honeys, serving implements, olives, teas, plus more. There are lots of local products.
The staff is friendly and knowledgeable about their product. The cheese "menu" on the wall is very clear and helpfully categorized. If you have questions they are more than happy to help, and helpful with recommendations on uses as well.
Three cheers and five stars for the Boston Cheese Cellar! -
Review from K R.
Boston, MA
9/16/2010
I love cheese, the owners love cheese, they love people that love cheese. They are really know their stuff! I would highly recommend a visit. Great gift items for foodies too!
I can't tell you how many times I have gotten a bunch of cheese and walked across the street for a loaf of bread and a bottle of wine. Instant Euro dinner! -
Review from Katelyn M.
Menlo Park, CA
6/10/2010
What a great experience! I had a specific event in mind that I needed cheese for (a bridal shower) and a number of people to feed. Stephanie was extremely helpful in helping me find the right cheeses to feed that number and really listened to what I was looking for.
Another Yelper had mentioned their smoked blue cheese. I'm not a huge blue cheese fan and really liked it! (Hopefully others will too). It was a little more mild than the French blue that I tried. The vermont cheddar (cheesecloth) is also fantastic -- it has an almost nutty taste to it. And I liked both of the Manchego selections she served me.
I was on a budget - but thanks to a Groupon was able to save some money. This place is not cheap -- but if you want an awesome cheese that is sure to impress guests this is the place to go! -
Review from Glenn B.
Roslindale, MA
1/26/2008
Great selection of cheeses, as well as ancillary purchases (crackers, baguettes) and upscale / gourmet miscellany (lots of good gift ideas).
As a new cheese aficionado, I appreciate the friendly (and numerous) staff, as well as their patience, guidance and frequent offers to sample the goods. -
Review from jess z.
San Francisco, CA
7/10/2010
What a gem! We went here yesterday to get something to bring to a dinner party and asked the woman behind the counter for a suggestion. She suggested a perfect, delicious soft cheese that was a mix of goat and sheep's milk. The young man helping her gave us a generous sample and we were sold. It was a hit with our friends, too.
We're excited to go back to discover more - there is so much there beyond cheese - and hope our foodie friends will come by and go with us. How lucky we are to be close to such a unique place! -
Review from Judy H.
Roslindale, MA
1/7/2010
Whenever I need something special I come here. Whenever I have friends from out of town that want to check out Rosi Sq, I come here.
Whenever I have to feed my pate fix, I come here.
The staff is friendly and knowledgible. If you love cheese this is the place to go. Plus there are other little gourment goodies to be had here as well. I recommend the balsamic vinegar, so good that you want to drink it, and the olive oil. plus you can bring the bottles back for a refill. Goodness all 'round. -
Review from Catherine B.
Roslindale, MA
6/17/2008
Every time I go in I get lost in the amazing selection of cheese and top shelf pantry items. I love it in there. The counter staff is unbelievably knowledgeable and helpful - tell them what you're looking for (something for a party, something for picky friends etc.) and you'll walk out of there with the perfect cheese(s). They also have a wonderful selection of olives, olive oil, teas, cookbooks, tools....
Try the ploughmans lunch if you can. -
Review from Rinaldo D.
Boston, MA
8/18/2009
Pretty much the text-book definition of "tucked away," this a great little place with knowledgeable, friendly staff and a verity of great products. I came to know the place through a friend who took me thanks to a tasting event they were having.
The central selection, cheese, is naturally large and diverse. This has to be one of biggest I've seen in a while. Beyond the dairy products, they do have a nice amount of additional accompaniments which are all high quality and tasty.
Make a point of checking the place out, just bring a print out of directions with you. -
Review from kevin d.
Boston, MA
12/22/2010
Locally owned..check, great cheese...check, cool products like cutting boards, cheese knives, and other gourmet/gift items..check. It's a tad on the pricey side, but pretty much in line with what you can expect for the quality of cheeses you get. This place is very well sourced, well laid out & has a really nice overall vibe. An excellent addition to Roslindale village..big thumbs up!
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Review from Quinn E.
10/25/2008 4 Check-ins Here
Ok, I love Yelp. But rare is the day that I run home to write a review due to an overwhelming experience. The Cheese Cellar just rocked my world though. The selection was fantastic, with a big board detailing the names and origins of the cheeses. But that wasn't even necessary, since the young man behind the counter was so knowledgeable and helpful. That's what really won me over, this kid was just so darn nice! Maybe I've been watching too much Weeds and he reminded me of a real life Silas in that cheese shop, but does that really matter? He happily offered up samples to my friend and I, including an amazing marinated feta that I ended up buying, and it wasn't even expensive! I bought some pasta that definitely was expensive, and some coffee that was local and reasonable. So I figure, one expensive thing, one normal thing and one cheap thing- it balances out.
Listed in: Oh my Roslindale!
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Review from Sara S.
Boston, MA
1/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
If you need cheese and you're in Roslindale, I'm not sure why you'd go anywhere but Boston Cheese Cellar. For such a small store, their variety is impressive. I chose the buffalo wing cheddar (spicy!) and a cows milk cheese with black truffles. Both were great but, WOW, the black truffle cheese is really unique and amazing. Grate a little on whole wheat pasta or roasted brussels sprouts. A little goes a long way! Surprised that the service wasn't as warm and welcoming as others have mentioned. The women behind the counter seemed frustrated and burdened when asked for a sample.
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Review from Wilma E.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
9/4/2009
So the owner doesn't look like she's always happy, but she knowledgeable and I liked that she supported the employee helping us. The dude is mad smart about the cheeses and having worked in food retail, I loved that I never felt like I was bothering them when asking for samples. Definitely a cool spot to take a date -- smells like stinky cheese, but sampling and learning about cheeses and building a small gourmet picnic together is fun, no?
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Review from Gwen r.
Boston, MA
2/19/2010
I'm a big fan of supporting locally owned shops so was excited to go here to select my favorite swiss cheeses. The owner (i think she is the owner because she's the only person I've ever seen work there) made me feel as if I was a nuisance for asking her questions about the selection of cheeses. She snubbed me a couple of times and rang up a product for twice the price she had quoted me. When I asked her about it, she was completely unapologetic. All in all, I felt unwelcome and will never go back to that shop. I'd much rather get less expensive cheese at other locations then be treated like an intruder rather than a customer.
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Review from Cecilia L.
Cambridge, MA
8/8/2009
Just go here. They're super nice, know all about cheese without being intimidating about it, and let you try anything you want. They also sell olive oils, jams and other specialty foods including a killer bucatoni - just look for the two-foot long bags of pasta along the wall opposite the cheese counter.
Listed in: Best of Boston, Roslindale
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Review from Benito B.
Boston, MA
10/11/2009
Great cheese shop! I went in with a Groupon, but will certainly go back on my own. While the cheese is expensive, it is great quality and the staff will let you sample any cheese you like. They also helped me pick a cheese to pair with a bottle of wine.
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Review from Andrew W.
Bethesda, MD
1/1/2007
This cheese shop is a welcome addition to Roslindale's specialty stores. It's just round the corner from Solera Wine. I've only been in there once, but my first impression was very good.
We were immediately told that, if there was a particular cheese we wanted to taste, we should just ask. We tried their Wensleydale, and it was worthy of Wallace and Gromit. We bought some, along with a couple of bars of the chocolate from their wide and interesting selection.
As well as cheese and chocolate, this charming little shop sells olive oils, coffee, tea, cheese-wrangling tools, etc. I'm sure that there are larger selections and lower prices elsewhere, but I'm very happy to welcome the cheese cellar to Roslindale. -
Review from Jude G.
Roslindale, MA
6/12/2010
Just plain rude; extravagance without value or service
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Review from Melanie D.
Brookline Village, MA
Updated - 12/3/2009
After a bunch of repeat visits with my cheese-crazy boyfriend, I have to happily admit this place is getting better and better. The service is friendlier, the samples still plentiful, and their selection of non-cheese comestibles really rocks. Dolfin chocolate, people. If you haven't tried it, you must. And they had a fabulous in-store tasting with a chocolatier out of Philadelphia that nobody else is even carrying up here yet. They're on the search for stuff off the beaten path, and you can't beat that kind of artisanal quality.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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Review from Gen M.
Cambridge, MA
8/16/2010
what a lovely shop. Delicious true cheeses, the smell and the grandeur of a great bleu mixed in with crafted chocolates. My favorite - a chili chocolate, a spicy and delectable mix of dark and red colors. The shop clerks are helpful and nice.
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Review from Katie G.
Roslindale, MA
10/13/2007
Wow. As a self-proclaimed cheesehead, I was delighted when this place opened in my neighborhood. Since it opened, it just gets better and better. In addition to more than 100 kinds of wonderful cheese, you can buy olives & olive oil (and a reusable container to bring back when you need a refill), coffee, tea, baguettes, chocolates and all the little accompaniments that go well with cheese like fig cake, preserves, chutneys, etc. The only downside is that the cheeses are super-pricey, which deters me from visiting more often.
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Review from B R.
Jamaica Plain, MA
1/27/2009
Top-notch.
Over 150 options of imported and local cheeses.
Not only is their cheese selection impressive, but they also have a wide variety of cheese utensils, boards, plates and various other products such as crackers, pates, and spreads. Pretty much anything cheese related with great quality.
A excellent shop for those looking to put together a tasty and unique cheese plate, but also the perfect place to pick up a great gift.
With a kind and helpful staff, I'm sure your experience will be as great as mine. -
Review from L Y.
Roslindale, MA
4/23/2010
The owner (I think she's the owner) often looks a wee bit cross, which can be initially off-putting, but she isn't unfriendly, I've realized. The employees are a bit more cheerful in appearance, and EVERYONE I've encountered really knows their cheeses, regardless of their countenance.
I've purchased cheeses here many times, as well as coffee beans, chocolate, crackers, olives...it's hard to escape with only what you come in for. Beware: it can be a wallet-emptier if you go when you're hungry.
They sure know their cheeses, and will give suggestions of new cheese to try if you tell them what you have liked in the past. They let you sample before buying, which is a good thing, considering some cheeses are quite expensive! (but oh so worth it!)
Much as I love it, I try to avoid going in there unless we have guests coming over to share in the purchases, because otherwise, I will eat all the cheese myself, which isn't doing my arteries any good. (I need to have this rule for myself, because I live within walking distance, but no amount of walking between house and cheese shop can possibly make up for what I ingest in one hunk of cheese.) -
Review from Scott H.
Boston, MA
2/1/2010
Best cheese shop in Boston, hidden away in Roslindale Village. The staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, and they'll let you sample the cheese to figure out what you like and dislike. All types of cheese imported from many different areas of the world. In London, there's a terrific little cheese shop called Neal's Yard in Covent Garden, and the Boston Cheese Cellar in Roslindale is kinda like a lower-key American version of that. This place, paired with the sublime nearby Fornax Bread Company, could keep many food-obsessed Bostonians satisfied for days.
