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The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills
Category: Food Specialty Food Cheese Shops Cheese Shops [Edit]
419 N Beverly DrBeverly Hills, CA 90210
Neighborhood: Beverly Hills
(310) 278-2855
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 6 pm
Sun 12 pm - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
115 reviews for The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills
Review Highlights
"also offering sausages, olive oils and a variety of..."
(in 7 reviews)
"They get rare cheeses from all over the world."
(in 4 reviews)
"This place has great service and great selection."
(in 8 reviews)
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115 reviews in English
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Review from Brian U.
Sylmar, CA
2/5/2012
This is a best cheese store in town. Walking into this place is like entering Willy Wonka's factory with rivers of chocolate. Instead of chocolate, there are stacks of cheese that fill the room with rivers of aged aromas. And you don't need a winning gold ticket to enter.
Along with an extraordinary selection of cheese, they also sell olives, bread, wine, caviar, salame, and other cured meats like prosciutto and iberico. It's everything you'd need to create a spectacular cheese tasting dinner except for fruits and greens.
Because there is too much cheese and they aren't labeled, let them help you pick. And don't ask for their best brie. Ask using descriptive words like creamy, tangy, semi-sweet, runny, fruity, salty, unctuous, etc. and they will offer a sample that might fit what you're seeking. Your experience can vary depending on who is serving. Not because of personality or attentiveness, but because tasting palates vary. -
Review from Virginia L.
Los Angeles, CA
2/2/2012
The Cheese Store is the best place in town to buy cheeses from around the world. They have an amazing selection of top quality cheeses from France, Italy, Spain, Holland, Switzerland... they know very well their products and always advice you very well if you want to try something new (you can even sample some of the cheeses before buying).
I always find there the best raclette cheese (melting cheese) to make french raclette.
I just feel like I want to buy and try everything when I go to the Cheese Store! -
Review from Marian B.
5 STARS for my 500th REVIEW!!!
I had to save my 500th review for something very special and the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills is DEFINITELY special. Call me crazy but the smell of cheese makes me giddy. Like school girl giddy. Right when you walk in, it looks and smells like I just died and went to cheese heaven. The Cheese Store has over 700 types of cheese from all over the world! You can find any and all types of cheeses (goat, cow, sheep, blends) in there.
Other reasons I love the Cheese Store so much? Let me break it down for you.
1. Huge selection of cheeses
2. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff. Norbert knows his cheese. He is the cheese guru. The Yoda of cheeses. You can tell him and everyone there is truly passionate about what they do. Norbert hosts a few classes too so you can learn a lot from him.
3. They have other gourmet products like olives, olive, oils, charcuterie, honeys, pates, chocolates, crackers, etc... Whatever you think you can pair with cheese, they have it.
4. The carry the most amazing WHITE TRUFFLE HONEY! I fell in love with this ever since one of my friends introduced me to it. Get a piece of bread, delicious goat cheese and dab some white truffle honey... FOODGASM!
5. Many top restaurants such as Scarpetta use the Cheese Store of Beverly Hills as their cheese provider. Smart of them ;p
So there you go... you don't have to take my word for it, see for yourself. If you love cheese, you will love this store. :)Listed in: 5 Stars!, Great Eats in LA!
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Review from Anthony N.
Playa del Rey, CA
1/7/2012 3 Check-ins Here
***The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills offers high quality products (as well as hard to find stuff); unfortunately, it is quite pricey***
The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills is a very well-known and renowned cheese shop. They offer a great variety of cheeses (from soft to hard as well as mild to pungent), but you can also find great things to go with the cheese like bread, gourmet crackers, various types of fruit pastes, honey, honeycomb, pickled items, spreads, pastas, and so on.
The cozy and intimate shop is overflowing with items, but the cheese reigns supreme and it is evident in the smell. The cheese smell is incredibly strong.
I was able to find three good European cheeses including a Rogue River blue cheese as well as a Piedmont Italy cow, sheep and goat's milk cheese. I thought the Piedmont cheese would be hard to find, but it was actually available at many places including Tavern and La Brea Bakery.
All of the cheeses were good.
I also picked up some burrata cheese (they get fresh batches on Monday and Thursday) for a persimmon, arugula, pomegranate, and burrata salad I made for a dinner party. The burrata had the creaminess I was expecting (not incredibly creamy though still good), but it was unfortunately a little bland.
I grabbed some panforte as well. They had a big one that they slice to order, but I opted for one of their packaged ones. It had a good flavor, but it was wrapped in some kind of wax that stuck to the sticky panforte and made it difficult to get off (kind of like removing a sticky price tag from a paper DVD cover). If you do get the panforte here, you should probably opt for the sliced-to-order one (you can also get housemade panforte at Sweet Rose Creamery in Brentwood).
They had some interesting looking garnishes, but I just ended up with some quince paste (a brand that is actually available at Bristol Farms). The honey with truffles looked very good.
Service was friendly and good. Waits can grow during peak times (remember to grab a number), but they have a lot of staff to handle the many customers.
While The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills offers great products (including many hard to find ones), it is very overpriced; they offer very fine dining-like products, but you have to pay quite a bit to get them. I think if you are looking for a very hard-to-find cheese (or cheese related) item, The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills is a great place to start. Otherwise, you may want to start with a less expensive spot like La Brea Bakery or even a gourmet grocery store like Bristol Farms.
There are several nearby parking structures that offer free parking (for 1 or 2 hours) during the day. -
Review from Brittany B.
Los Angeles, CA
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Upon walking by you get a small whiff. The second you walk in the door, BAM, it hits you! You are in cheese land!
This is a little slice of foodie heaven! I went in last night and walked out with more than I had planned for. I wanted a great, high quality olive oil but couldn't resist the comte cheese once I had a little nibble. They also have great gourmet ingredients like truffles, specialty oils and gourmet crackers and chocolates.
Their service is personal and helpful and their selection is vast. This is definitely the best place to buy cheese in LA.
I also love the cheese tastings that happen monthly... a great, fun, educational experience!Listed in: 90210
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Review from Jeff M.
Beverly Hills, CA
10/28/2011
Been coming to The Cheese Store for years, and this is the BEST place to get meat, cheese and items for a party. If you are going to have a romantic picnic, Wine and Cheese party or even party with appetizers and sides. The Cheese Store in Beverly Hills needs to be your first stop.
First this place is a cheese store and you're going to read it every review. This place will smell of very strong cheese. But it will last for a minute or two.
The quality of meats, cheese and the items they sell is the best. The staff is very friendly; they make sure that you sample it before to buy. This is how I started to like their Truffle Cheese.
Items I would recommend trying/getting for (Meats): Duck Salami, Duck Truffle Pate (spread it over bread) It's mouth watering, Jamón Ibérico de Bellota (similar to Italian prosciutto) Mortadella, Prosciutto
Cheese is depending on your taste, I'm not a fan of a lot of them but the ones I like are. Truffle Cheese, Boschetto, Brie de Meaux, Chaumes, New York 2 Year Aged Cheddar.
They sell truffles when it's in season and if you are a a truffle lover this is a place to get it. It's about $50 and oz, so get a truffle and go to your favorite Italian restaurant and have your truffle dish.
Everything is so good here, once you try this store. Forget about the grocery store for getting your meat and cheese. Be sure to try the Truffle Honey! -
Review from Vince L.
10/10/2011
Unless you are truly a connoisseur of cheeses, it'll take you a few minutes to get used to the smell--if at all. Man, that smell is strong!
I do enjoy good cheese but don't know much about the brands. We got some gouda and brie. Those two pieces were probably the best I've ever had. You will definitely be able to taste the difference in quality. Budget-wise, it's a bit out of my range for a regular thing. Maybe a few times a year when my wallet gets too thick. Otherwise, the cheeses found at Trader Joe's will do. -
Review from Leslie C.
12/19/2011
I'm a fan because I was spending company money to purchase a gift basket for a client and not my own. This place is expensive. I usually frequent the Cheese Store in Silverlake or Say Cheese to get my cheese and crackers fix and those stores seem to offer more speciality gourmet items that are reasonably priced. The Beverly Hills Cheese Store had very few items under $10-- most were chocolate bars for $8. I ended up purchasing two types of delicious sheep's milk cheese (about 8 oz each) for $30, a jar of duck orange pate, chocolate chip cookies and crackers for an additional $18. (Side note: I had to purchase additional filler items at Cost Plus World Market to complete my basket.) I'd definitely recommend this store for gift items and for a wide selection of cheeses--but you can purchase cheaper crackers and candy somewhere else.
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Review from Janelle S.
Ventura, CA
12/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Service, and selection are going to be the top deciding factors in giving this shining review for this place.
My dad and I walked in around 10:30 am, we did not take a number as instructed by the sign on the front door. We browsed a bit, I overheard a few customer chatting up the cheese specialist, everyone was on a first name basis and very friendly.
When an opportunity came up my dad asked a few basic questions, and the man behind the counter simply told him he should try a different cheese made from different milks, such as goat, cow, or sheep, I love how he simplified it for us almost like the different varietals of wine. The man was gratuitous, friendly and even threw in a loaf of bread in our purchase.
Now for the selection. I was amazed at how much inventory they had! Everything from floor to the ceiling was organized, dust free, and looked well maintained. Unreal. Super impressed with the wines, canned goods, oils, salts, and little gifts though out. I will be back to the cheese shop of Beverly hills! 5+ stars -
Review from Steve M.
9/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
YUM!!!!
Friendly, informative, knowledgeable staff.
15 year aged cheddar: $50lb
7 year aged cheddar: 15lb
Right across the street from Nate and Als.
So expensive but so good! -
Review from Benjamin P.
Los Angeles, CA
12/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
My favorite cheese shop of all time is in Berkeley, CA: Cheeseboard. It's really the gold standard when it comes to variety, quality, and price. Really excellent. The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills, thusly, must be critiqued with this standard in mind.
The Cheese Store was the first cheese shop that I've visited in Socal. You are immediately greeted with a wonderfully pungent stench of stinky cheese upon opening the door to this rather small establishment. There is a wall full of condiments and oils and all sorts of things that I didn't really pay any attention to.
I went directly to the counter to the first available cheese monger. I said "I want 2 cheeses. One hard, one soft, best of whatever's ripe." He seemed rather puzzled at my request. He asked me "well, what do you mean by hard?" REALLY? After I explained what I meant, he asked me what I meant by "ripe." As you can probably imagine, my inner cheese snob is raging in my head at this guy. He offerd me "aged" choices instead, which is acceptable for hard cheeses, but not for soft. The soft option he presented to me was a very young Epoisses. Don't get me wrong, I love a good Epoisses, but it's the best when it's ripe and ready to be thrown away in a day. This stuff felt and tasted like it was made the day before. I feel like Epoisses is the go-to cheese when mongers know Humboldt Fog isn't an option for those with more refined pallets. I accepted the Epoisses begrudgingly, and was offered then a hard cheese whose name I have forgotten. It was a fine choice, but not particularly interesting. Tasted like a low-end gouda, a cousin even to my favorite Prima Donna.
I ended up buying a mere 8th of a pound of the Epoisses, and a quarter pound of the "gouda." In all, it was $18. Too expensive! Especially for the quality and amount received. At Cheeseboard, for $20 you can get a quarter pound each of 4 mid level cheeses, plus a freshly made baguette. Paying $18 for such a small amount of mid-level cheeses is really very deplorable. I do recognize Cheese Store's location and the high rent that they probably have to endure, but their math is a little wrong on the supply and demand curves. Lower the prices a bit and more people from east of Beverly Hills will flock to you. I know I would for sure.
To conclude: the mongers need more training, cheese selection is acceptable at the very best, and prices are too high for common folks like me. If I don't find a cheaper or better option, however, I likely will make a trip out here again, but only on special occasions.Listed in: Overrated in LA
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Review from Vanessa C.
Beverly Hills, CA
9/25/2011
ok, first off, holy sh!t this place reeeeeeks! I am not into stinky cheese and there is a plethora of it here. When you open the door to walk in plants wilt, children cry and birds fall from the sky.
aside from that, it's a great place. I went in to buy my brother (a stinky cheese connoisseur) a gift certificate. I did find it very expensive, then again i don't care about cheese THAT much. I prefer mozzarella or burrata and that's about it.
So I am not sure how far a $75 gift certificate would go in there but my brother was beyond happy. The guy who helped me (albeit it took me five minutes to have someone come out from the back of the shop to notice me) was very kind and helpful. He offered me a few different tastes of cheese, which i promptly refused but I was very appreciative of the offer and his kindness to a dimwit when it comes to this indulgence. He actually did educate me on some things in the brief moments I was there. I swear he must have gotten a PHD in cheese.
If it wasn't for my brother's love of cheese I would probably never step foot in here again, but since he does in fact love it, I will probably be back again for another gift giving time. I will hopefully be able to stand the smell for a bit longer to allow myself time to look at the olive oils and other goods they carry that would be more my style. -
Review from Anna L.
Northridge, CA
9/2/2011
I don't know much about cheese but whenever I have guests and need to make a cheese plate, the staff here helps me out. I can tell them how many we will be and they can prepare everything down to the right bottle of wine so that all I have to do is pick it up. Very convenient. A little stinky but apparently that's a good thing for a cheese store LOL.
If you're looking for cheese and want variety this is the place to go! -
Review from Soo H.
9/17/2011
Fantastic cheese shop that offers a wide variety of cheeses, as well as several other gourmet items, such as olive oils, wines, and salts.
They have an email list that keeps you apprised of fun events like cheese tastings, and the staff here have an impressive knowledge about everything cheese.
Highly recommend this place regardless of whether you're a novice or a gourmand when it comes to cheeses. The only drawback is its location, which makes it a pain to access, but it's fairly close to several parking structures. -
Review from Sandra C.
Los Angeles, CA
7/15/2011
Review of one of their cheese tasting evenings:
My 3rd tasting although I haven't been in quite a few years and had forgotten just how great these are! Not all so cheap at $60 a person, but I would do it once in a while. They use the back patio of Sharkey's restaurant down the street from the store, which is a lovely setting - you would not think it's the back section of a "fast-ish food Mex place". Also nice that they include comp. valet parking in the back alley! The Cheese Store staff are fabulous and make the evening great fun, Tony was esp. good as the host and the wine rep guy for that particular evening, Justin, was good too.
We got 6 generous pours of white Burgundy wine - all great - and at one point I was able to get a 2nd taste. 2 small cheese boards with 5 different cheeses on each - most were fantastically good! No shortage on the bread baskets filled with a few different yummy, fresh, sliced breads. Also a bottle of good water on the table, which we finished, and had no trouble getting a 2nd bottle. The "3rd course" was a small and yummy chicken salad - to go with the 3rd flight of wines.
Once the tasting is over, many head over to the actual store as wines & cheeses that are tasted, are 10% off. The wine rep was there too, allowing more tastes of whatever wines were left over.
All-in-all a really great evening!! They do these tastings weekly and vary the theme/region so I will be back in a few months! -
Review from Rapha F.
4/9/2011
Legen--wait for it--DAIRY
&...
Great homemade pastas and an awesome selection of pasta sauces, olive oils, caviar, and jams. -
Review from Romain L.
Los Angeles, CA
4/17/2011
As a child I used to hold my nose whenever I'd walk in front of this store...boy have things changed! It is true, the stronger the smell, the better the taste.
The Cheese Store of Beverly Hills has a nice variety of different cheeses. Brie de Meaux or Comte for starters and Epoisse for more experienced cheese aficionados. The Tuscan pecorino is also a treat to find in LA. I suggest serving with honey the way they do in Florence.
For cheese neophytes, the rule on a cheese plate is to start with the mildest cheeses and work towards the stronger ones, eating some bread between if necessary. Generally, they are placed in such order to facilitate eating.
I'll tell you this and so will the personnel: wine is very important when cheese tasting. They do have a selection of wines you can get there or the personnel is also happy to just advise you. In general, the stronger the cheese, the stronger the wine (and always red wine with cheese).
The selection here is excellent this side of the Atlantic, however I would love to see them add a "Mont d'Or" and an "Abondance" to their menu, but really, they have a large variety.
If you have the chance and you don't know cheese, I say go there and try a variety of cow and goat cheeses with wine and friends. It makes for a lovely evening.
Tip 1: avoid saran wrap on your cheeses; they will have a better consistency if they are wrapped in wax paper
Tip 2: in order to not stink up your fridge, store cheeses in a sealed Tupperware container -
Review from Burt B.
Studio City, CA
10/18/2011
I love Norbert. I go in sometimes just to smell the place. Been coming here for years. Dominick also gave me some flour once to help me make better pasta.. Great place.
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Review from Jeannie H.
Boston, MA
7/2/2011
I came with a friend to pack a dinner for our overnight indulgent trip in Beverly Hills. We didn't live that far away but the thought of battling the 405 in both directions the same day was moderately daunting. Between us, we wanted cheeses we had not tried before and we've snarfed down our share of cheeses. She wanted mild cheeses excluding goats. I wanted funkier ones including goats. Somehow, he managed to find 5 cheeses that appealed to both of us.
What is unfortunate is that nothing in the store is actually labeled, not allowing you to point to a cheese of interest and inquiring about it. This leaves you entirely reliant on the staff. The selection is extensive and he was infinitely patient.
We tried about 10 cheeses and settled on 2 sheep, 1 goat, 1 soft cow, 1 blue, 1 duck salumi, 1 French loaf, and 1 box of water crackers. This spread in addition to the cab blend we brought with us ended up being the perfect meal. They have one of the best cheese selections in SoCal so I will definitely be back. -
Review from Shannon R.
Los Angeles, CA
1/24/2011 18 Check-ins Here
Cheese, glorious cheese!
When I step inside here, all of Los Angeles melts away. I love gourmet food markets, and regularly pop in to discover some new wine or pantry item that I suddenly just need to have.
As for the cheese? I hate dairy and how it makes me feel, but oh god, I love cheese. Daiya and Teese are phenomenal replacements and suit me fine at home, but until I can get Boschetto and Fromager D' Affinois without dairy, there will always be a void. So every now and then, I indulge, and I do it here.
Why here for all my cheese-lovin' needs? Well, to start, it's expensive, so that automatically keeps me in check. I'm not going to be walking out with a wheel of cheese, despite how much I want to. It's also cheese of the highest quality, so it is occasionally worth the charge to my card and my stomach. And finally, I just love this store. The people are great and very helpful, and all the cheese is out front for you to see.
Prices can be surprising, so I suggest going onto their website and pricing what you want before you go. It'll keep you from being blindsided!Listed in: Cook Like a Rockstar
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Review from Courtney G.
Los Angeles, CA
10/27/2011
This is the holy grail of cheese shops, with a fantastic selection of cheeses and some other goodies, and a knowledgeable staff. But yes, it's in Beverly Hills so the prices are what you'd expect.
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Review from Elaine T.
Los Angeles, CA
9/20/2011
Wonderful place for hard to find cheeses (like a wheel of Epoisses) but service can be hit or miss; I've shopped here several times and had trouble getting someone to help me even when the shop was nearly empty. I would shop Wally's Cheese Box first (for their excellent service) and if they don't have what you want then go to the Cheese store.
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Review from Laura G.
2/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
What is not to love about this store? Smack in the middle of Beverly Hills, this small quaint store has the most delicious cheeses ever. You can literally taste the grass that the cows, sheep and goats ate.
The staff knows their cheese. I came in and asked for a truffle cheese (they have a few different types) and then told the "guy" I wanted a soft cheese to go with a white burgundy. He choose a double cream cheese that is the MOST DELICIOUS soft cheese I have ever had, and I've had a lot of soft cheese! I then told him that we would be drinking an Italian Barbera - he selected a raw goat cheese that was perfect.
I am always so amazed at the quality. It's by far the best cheeses I have ever come across in the U.S.
I used to get my truffle salt here, but I found some closer to home. My husband is upset because I didn't get enough cheese. You can never have enough cheese from this store. -
Review from Cara Mia D.
Glendale, CA
4/9/2011
Came here on a class field trip. The sales associate that helped our class is the epitome of a cheese connoisseur. We tried at least 20 cheeses that day, accompanied with smoked meats and gourmet crackers. Let's just say we all left the little shop with high cholesterol.
Their selection of gourmet items, such as truffle salt, infused oils, caviar, marmalades, etc. were amazing. If i wasn't a broke college student, I could go crazy buying rare ingredients to experiment in the kitchen.
Definitely a place I'd go to again when in need of some special ingredients. -
Review from Jon W.
San Leandro, CA
When the rich say their shit dont stank...... well, come over here and you'll realize how really, really bad their shat stank! Thats good for a cheeze shop.
Cool little shop, lots of cheezes. Lots of people. People looked kinda friendly but didnt get a chance to really say hi. The place stank so bad of so many different cheezes, we barely could breathe.
Dont get me wrong. We love cheez and we've bin to plenty of cheez shops. I even love the stankiest blue's. But this place had the stank of the richest, heartiest cheezes from the dank, dark, moldy ages. It was very thick and lingered in the air. We had to leave cuz I felt mold growing behind my ears.
We'll have to come back when my poor ass's shit starts stanking like the rich... -
Review from Demon V.
Los Angeles, CA
9/27/2011
If you really like cheese you've doubtless been disappointed by the selection available in even the best high-end grocery stores, fortunately the Cheese Store is here to rescue you. It's got a great selection which the staff is knowledgeable about and will happily offer samples to try. The stock is far better then anywhere else, especially when it comes to Stilton, Humboldt Fog and dozens of other cheeses. There's also a good amount of accessories on the back wall but they haven't let it eat up cheese space unlike the Silverlake Cheese Shop. It would be nice if they were at a different location and therefore not quite so expensive but if you're a true cheese lover this really is your only choice.
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Review from Leila V.
Beverly Hills, CA
12/15/2010
I used to walk by this store when I was a little girl, and always thought it fun that I would have to pinch my nose because it smelled so bad. That was then. Now, they've of course, insulated the store more so it doesn't smell as much. The place is pure heaven however.
The gentleman behind the counter was amazingly patient and nice and we asked for his recommendations on certain cheeses and were not disappointed. I also wanted a very good salami and he definitely picked an amazing one, and even sliced it for us. I even asked him about those cheeses that are fermented by millions of bugs crawling over the top and through the cheese. Of course, he miraculously produced one of those cheeses and we got to sample it (along with countless others).
In the end we left with some salami, a baguette, and over a pound of various cheeses. It set us back about $40...not bad at all!
My boyfriend and I then proceeded to walk to the patio at the Montage, and sit down for a French lunch with all our goodies.
This place is amazing, and the staff clearly love cheese and love helping patrons find cheeses they love! -
Review from Darren T.
Orange, CA
1/27/2011
I used to deliver wine, and would make a weekly trip here to drop of some cases. So when I needed some good cheese that you can't buy at Traders, or Von's I came here. Now if you smell something that at times may seem like an old diaper, don't worry that is cheese ageing in the back. Remember not all cheeses have a pleasant aroma to them.
One of their employees will answer your questions, give you samples of cheeses you are interested in buying, and teell you the differences between them. They have a great selection of cheese, and the staff was friendly as well.
Some cheeses are expensive, but tell them what you want and what you would like to spend and they will help. I got a brie, alight orange french cheese that I can't pronounce and won't try to type, and an amazing blue, my budget was $50 and I was under, awith plenty of cheese for the family christmas party. It beat the regular Jarlsburg, and pepper jack we used to have. -
Review from Muchin K.
12/1/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is the first cheese store I've ever been to, came here with a friend who is really into cheese and wine. Luckily my friend has experience with cheese stores, so he suggested that we come here right when they opened. I think they open at 11, but me being a woman who is always late, we didn't get here until 12... I got time management issues...
Luckily we came early because as we were leaving, the place got really crowded. It's not a very large place, so it can be really crammed. Also it's really smelly in here upon first entry... so if you're pregnant or sensitive to smell, probably should stay away. My friend's wife don't like to come here for that reason, it makes her nauseous. Me, not so much.
The guy behind the counter is very knowledgeable about cheese, and you get to try different kind of cheeses to figure out what you like and what you don't like.
I also witnessed a couple who came in, and got 1 lb of some kinda special prosciutto, from Spain... apparently this animal was fed some special stuff and cured it specially enough to charge $175 for 1 lb. The couple got 1 lb worth of the meat, and I over heard them say, "oh this is afternoon snack"... yeah, I'm in Beverly Hills alright.
And because I kept asking questions about this meat, the guy behind the counter offered me a slice... that's probably like what? 25 bucks? it tasted really good, but I wouldn't pay $175 for it, then again, I am normal.
I walked outta that store with 35 dollar worth of cheese and felt like I was educated. Great experience!!
and later on my husband threw away my 35 dollar worth of cheese thinking it was going bad (I had blue cheese in the mix, so maybe it stunk up the fridge), yet he kept the 7 dollar cheddar from Ralph's! I was NOT happy!!Listed in: Good eats
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Review from Cassie B.
Park La Brea, CA
3/4/2011
who needs Disneyland when there is a place like this!! You would assume being Beverly Hills the guys that work here would live up to the reputation of the city, but not even close!! They guys here are SO cool they take time to let you try samples, I learn something new every time i go, talk to them they are a wealth of knowledge! Ask them what's good and they will show you so really cool stuff! And it's not only cheese there olives are out of this world, and you have to see the Ferrari slicer in action! If i could give them six starts i would, that's how happy i am i found this place!
It is next door to the North Face Store, so you don't miss it -
Review from Pam S.
11/27/2010
Thomas Jefferson and I went in here nearly a year ago and I have had it on my list to review... I am remiss. I purchased several cheeses for my Christmas Mac n' Cheese and as soon as you walk in the door you are in full blown FUNK! Cheese Funk that is LOL
It was very crowded here when we went and the counter help was nice but they were trying to move people along... but keep in mind people their stock is expensive and people purchasing A LOT of it deserves time and patience.
I got some Tomme de Savoie and Reblochon made a delicious batch of Soul Food Macaroni with these hard to find cheeses. Prices were what I thought they would be and although the shop is relatively small they do pack it with lots of goodies to accompany your cheese finds. Mustards, Gourmet Biscuits, Wine etc.
Parking was adjacent in a underground small driveway not easy to find.
Respectfully Reviewed -
Review from Albert L.
9/16/2010 2 photos
FINALLY! There's a store on Beverly Dr. that's not run by assholes.
You know, the type of salespeople that make someone from Orange County feel like they were living in a ghetto or something. Some people call them pretentious. Some would even use the term snobby. I go WTF in my head when that happens.
Either way, The Cheese Store is quite literally THE cheese store. Upon entering the store, the smell of cheese slaps you in the face as heavily as someone who wants you to smell fishy would slap you in the face with a fish. To the right upon entering, are stacks of different varieties of cheeses and meats that would make cheese lovers pinch themselves to make sure they're not dead and in cheese heaven. To the left, are complements that can be paired with cheese (Honey?!? Who would've thunk??). And in the back, many different bottles of wines.
Need any help on how to prepare these different morsels of food? Ask the wonderful people who run these stores, each of whom could earn a Ph.D in cheese if such a awesome degree existed. These people are also generous in letting people sample the many varieties of cheeses and meats, and in educating which wines work best with which cheeses. This is over the top customer service at its best.
The uniqueness of this shop makes it an automatic must visit in Beverly Hills. Go and stink of cheese. -
Review from Jana P.
Marina del Rey, CA
3/9/2011
The selection is fabulous. There were several cheeses from creameries that I know and love and new ones that I have yet to explore.
Service was also wonderful. A fantastic guy behind the counter gave me samples, answered my questions and let me purchase some expensive blue cheese at 1/4lb. They are friendly and helpful no matter how little you spend.
When we wanted to walk around and come back to the shop, he suggested that he wrap the cheese around an 8 hour ice pack to keep it cold. Allowing us to avoid a return trip. Yeah! (No charge for the ice pack.)
Definitely would recommend this place and encourage others to go! -
Review from Priscilla Z.
Los Angeles, CA
12/12/2010
It is such a cute store!!!
I just passed by and couldn't help step into it.
They have so many lovely groceries, like fig spread, and fig cake.
I'm just a big fig fan, and can't miss everything that is made of figs!! The fig cake tastes really good! great combination with almond. The spread is a little big sweet.
Also tried some cheese goes for snack. The assistant is really hospitable. He offered me several trials to finally figure out what I want. I just love this store!! -
Review from Britt C.
7/23/2010
This place is amazing and I have officially set a limit (for the healthy of both my arteries and bank account) of only one trip per month....though I suppose two trips wouldn't be so bad. Let's say that it's not a firm limit.
Anyway, entering this place from the mean streets of downtown Beverly Hills (literally, mean...as in full of really bitchy grown women ready to yell at you for every little thing you do or don't do) is like a breath of fresh, old-world, cheese-infused air. You will feel as overwhelmed as a kid in a candy shop with diabetes and ten bucks burning a hole in his pocket. In other words, be ready for a big cheese boner.
I suggest coming in with at least a vague idea of what you like or what you'd like to try. One of the cheese gurus behind the counter will be ready to help you and even something as kindergarden as, "I like hard, salty cheese" (to quote myself) will get you to a whole new level at this place. Be ready to sample and be ready to embrace your new love of goat, cow, sheep and buffalo milk products.
I also suggest picking up a bottle of wine while you're at it (some good labels at reasonable prices, surprisingly enough), a fresh baguette, and some anchovies, red peppers, or pickles for a tasty spread. -
Review from Deidre H.
Los Angeles, CA
11/6/2006
BOOO!!
You fat slobs are SO pretentious it's beyond lame.
I went there to get caviar for a photo shoot (yeah, we would have given you credit in Angeleno if you weren't so LAME) because it's the only place you can buy caviar retail in Los Angeles.
I walk up to the counter, ask what kind of caviar they have. The pretentious man behind the counter rolls off all the usual suspects. I ask - simply ask, if they have any American caviar (because you all know the russian breeds are endangered species and local producers such as Tsar Nicoulai (http://www.tsarnicoula...) in San Francisco are producing great product in ec0-friendly and humane ways - you don't want to know what the russians do to get their caviar) and this pompous, JACKASS behind the counter totally snubs me and says "OH we don't even deal with "THAT" . So 90210. I bet you live in Van Nuys??!
Mind you I went to culinary school, I do food marketing. Im the one who's not working behind the counter of a 2-bit cheese store for $10 an hour.
I try to chirp something out about my food beliefs. But, it's clearly lost on this fat soul, who is OBVIOUSLY from a red state. Eat some more cheese buddy.
Yeah, there cheese selection is great and most of the time the staff knows their cheese. I just hate close minded people. And all their wines are WAY over priced.
I'll only go back when im desperate for a specialty ingredient. -
Review from Julie G.
Los Angeles, CA
7/24/2007 ROTD 8/27/2007
I was meeting the lovely and svelte Max M. here today for a pre-lunch cheesegasm, and not knowing where it was, I walked right by. Then it hit me, the stinky waft of cheesy feet pits beckoning me back into the cool folds of this lovely little fromagerie.
I was offered help politely from the counter, but since I was waiting for Max, I put them off for a moment. Then he walked in, and we got down to business. Tell them what you like and they will take you in any direction you wish. With over 400 cheeses to choose from, that includes pretty much anything. I will try almost anything once, and when it comes to cheese, I am an open book. So we started with an aged cheddar (aged 6 years) that was pleasantly pungeant, but it lacked the serious tang of what I know of aged cheddars. Then he introduced an amazing aged American cheddar. Oh the crunchy salt crystals, the flaky creamy texture. It was to die for. I'll take some of that, I said.
Next we moved on to creamy cheese. He presented us with a very interesting camembert-style cheese (not made in the proper region to earn the name camembert, AOC rules) that had a layer of muenster around it. It was really interesting and delicious. Max got some of that. And then we ended our tasting day with another hard cheese, one plain and one infused with black truffles. The black truffle cheese was so interesting. Earthy, salty, and delicious. But I got the plain one, because my tastebuds are still getting used to truffles. Next time, say my teenage tastebuds. We just lost our truffle virginity, we're coming of age.
The end result was pricey. But the experience and the cheese knowledge was very worth it. Raphael treated us extremely well and I look forward to my next visit.Listed in: ROTD baby, R O T D!
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Review from Nick S.
Los Angeles, CA
3/31/2009
I don't see how this store could get anything less than 5 stars (okay, maybe the prices or the sometimes long wait can turn people off).
But I mean purely on the cheese and pate selection, the knowledge of the staff, the absolute deliciousness of the food? Then 5 stars should be the only choice for this place.
I went there to prepare for a VERY important night. My girlfriends parents, sister, and brother were coming over for dinner to meet my mom. Could I just get any cheese and pate? NO, they all lived in the South of France for 17 years, so it had to be good.
AND IT WAS GREAT.
Of course it cost me almost $200 - but then again I got 7 hunks of cheese and 3 large slices of pate (I really got ALOT - enough for 7 people to get stuffed on and not even need dinner).
Man o man, this place is just great. The selection is second to none, the pate was some of the best I've had in my life, and the people behind the counter can totally guide you even if you are a cheese neophyte (just tell them a region, or at least how smelly you want it - or hell, at least if you want soft or hard cheese!)
You can not go wrong here. You will come off looking like you know the best places to go in town to get only the finest of things (and it will be true).
If you need cheese, or you need pate and you want it to be a cut above the rest (hell, you want it to be just about the best you can get), then this is your place, this is your wonderland.Listed in: One of a kind places
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Review from Mark V.
Los Angeles, CA
7/16/2011
Best if you walk in the door armed with a dangerous bit of knowledge and some specifics in mind. The selection manages to be refined and extensive at the same time. But if you do tread inside as a novice, the education available from their unsurpassed expertise should cement this as your only SoCal cheese destination for all things abstruse as well as staples.
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Review from Komal B.
Beverly Hills, CA
5/25/2010
I went in here looking for chocolate (happened to be across the street, needed a fix and didn't feel like hunting the stuff down. Yeah, I'm lazy. You want to make something of it?) I came out with cheese, wine and (oh, yeah) chocolate.
Stepping in here reminded me of the days when I lived in NY and shopped for wine and cheese and salami and olives at little local shops. Except that this would be your local if you lived in Paris and made heaps of money.
The smell, oh, the smell. As soon as you step in, you are transported to Cheese Land. It's a ripeness, a delicious kind of stink that makes you wish you spoke French.
Then, as you get used to the smell, your eyes take in the shelves stacked floor to ceiling with jars and bottles and packets of every thing necessary to tickle your most cosmopolitan, continental and cultured fancy. Five different kinds of everything.
As I stood there facing the cheese -- a river of cheese, a mountain of cheese -- whatever you call it, it's A LOT of cheese. The good-looking chap behind the counter asked if I needed help. I asked him for the oldest manchego he had, affecting an air of I've-had-it-before-and-I-know-exactly-what-I'm-tal king-about, and he let me taste it, but he also suggested another manchego, which was much better. And how grateful I was that he could recognize my self-conscious pretentiousness and knew that I would actually prefer a different cheese.
I also spotted the Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog cheese and had to take home just a teeny sliver but not too much because it's very dangerous and creamy. Do you know what heaven is? Heaven is no calories. So you can have this cheese on walnut bread and top it with honey (or some date or fig spread), and eat it until you feel sated and content with life instead of nibbling on it like a petite Frenchwoman and fighting back the urge to devour huge chunks of it, and lick your fingers.
I asked him for his chocolate recommendation too and of course with cheese and chocolate, one needs wine so he helped in that department as well.
The more I bought, the more superior I felt. Generous and abundant and oh-so-European. And when he rang me up -- $38 for two not-very-large cheese wedges, a bottle of $17 Spanish wine and a $7 bar of chocolate -- I was too drunk on the power of cheese to calculate. But when I got home, I realized that their cheese (which is not price-marked, even after you've bought it!) is expensive. Of course, I didn't ask how much it was because WTF are you shopping in Beverly Hills for if you have to ask the damn prices!
So here's the thing: shopping here is a great experience. It makes you feel like you're in Europe, it makes you feel rich and you're supporting local business. However, and I never thought I would say this, you can get some of this stuff at Whole Foods for less. For example, the Humboldt Fog cheese costs less at WF, and if you don't like buying from big corporations, Uncle Berch's stall at Studio City Farmer's Market has it on Sundays (he also sells an AMAZING lavender-infused goat cheese, but this is not a review of Uncle Berch's so let me get back to the point.)
I haven't inventoried the Cheese Store to compare what's available elsewhere (and I don't plan on it because Yelp reviews like this take up all my free time) but you ought to know that if you're looking strictly at the price point, you can get it cheaper elsewhere because elsewhere doesn't have to pay this kind of rent. So it's not the Cheese Store's fault that their prices are high. It's the landlord's fault! (Again, I digress.)
In sum, if you happen to be in the area, and feel like splurging just a little, and want to be swept away for a short while to Europe, and be helped by knowledgeable sales staff who know their cheese, then you will not regret setting foot inside this little gem.Listed in: Screw the Calories! Let Us…
