Calandras Cheese

The layout of this place makes really no sense, especially given how it relates to the narrow space and the line that can form, but they treated me (to ¼ lb of smoked mozz, $ 2 value) after I endured a huge line of regulars who all seemed to find it ridiculous and complained the service was slower than usual

Calandra’s is everything a cheese shop should be. Walking in is a sensory experience in and of itself, as you get hit with waves of smells from various cheeses. The place isn’t big and always manages to feel crowded between people and the merchandise, but you’ll feel right at home. The staff are incredibly friendly, including the owner who is regularly passing out samples of various cheeses. Also, as you could perhaps expect from a 3+ generation family business, these guys know their cheese. If you’re looking for a recommendation they will know exactly how to steer you, and as mentioned, they’re not afraid to let you try it first before buying.
Calandra’s makes a number of cheeses in addition to importing. Their caciovallo is like aged mozzarella, but with different tart notes that are missing from typical varieties. Their fresh ricotta is addictive, refreshing and not at all sweet. Their fresh mozzarella is stellar, right up there with Casa Della Mozzarella. The prices for all of this are very cheap – especially compared to typical specialty store prices – especially the homemade stuff. This is as close as it gets for a must-​hit for me on Arthur Ave, which amounts to an absolute must-​hit anyway else. If you’re on the block don’t miss it!

I love this little shop. Very friendly and respectful. They let you try anything you want to make sure you like it and even offer a different type to compare. My favorite is the mixed olives. My husband loves the prima donna cheese. I just tasted the prosciutto ham from Italy and one from Spain. The fresh ricotta and mozzarella is so good. I have nothing bad to say about this little spot from heaven. When I move I will make sure to drive over and get my snacks.

Is there anything more perfect than this place?! Seriously! I’ve never been given so many cheese samples in my life, what a wonderful staff of people! The cheese is out of this world amazing! Nothing compares! We got the Parmesan and Gouda blend which was the best, ate the whole thing in one night. The fontina was incredibly soft with great flavor. The bocconcini was AMAZING, I’ve seriously never had better. There are literally 100 different cheeses here, and the staff is so helpful in helping you choose the best one. This place is to die for, definitely the realest of the real. So excited to come back here!

Classic Arthur Avenue shop. Tiny space, but what they carry is the best, especially the fresh ricotta, made in-​store. Best I ever had. Also got some fantastic ricotta salata for grating and dry mozz for home made pizza. Reasonable prices and extremely nice people. Wish I lived close enough to get there more often.

Best spot for cheese!
Owner is very sweet and helpful!
Gives you exactly what you need without a hassle!
Always gives a sampling of Delish cheese
Love the honesty and pride he has for his shop

Some great cheeses inside here, with reasonable pricing. The shop just smells so wonderful when you open the door. Courteous helpful staff. Another one to add to my list every time I get back to the Bronx!

Don’t waste your time with any other place… it’s Arthur Avenue yes alot of the places are good but this place is small and is what the Avenue is all about… best selection of cheeses and they will suggest the perfect pairings for your meal… the ricotta & mozzarella are fresh and tastes amazing… they remember and take care of the repeat customers. always friendly service and if you come here during a holiday you will be waiting on line but worth every minute of your wait. just tell them what you like and they will take care of you.

What can I say, if you are a cheese lover as I am, this store does not disappoint.
Diego gave us a sampling of the cheeses and he began to learn the types we liked.
He brought out some special cheeses with truffle that were amazing. He introduced us to a Greek ricotta salata that was so much creamier than the Italian ones. They make their own burrata cheese that is the best I’ve eaten, and they are known for their homemade ricotta. Needless to say we left with 10 different types of cheese and I can’t wait to pair them with some really nice wines.

This is my happy place. Whenever I go to visit my mom and grandfather in the BX I’m always an hour late because I spend way too much time here tasting/​buying everything. The service is fast and theyre happy to let you try anything you ask to which is a plus. Next time you find yourself in the Bronx you must go here!

This is one of the best shops on Arthur Ave. They’ve got terrific cheeses and their Ricotta and Bocconcini are terrific. In fact, I even use their fresh ricotta with food that perhaps I wouldn’t otherwise, like breaded chicken. They also have lots of cheese for sampling so you can learn about other cheese that may be best for whatever your needs are; dinner, antipasto, wine and cheese, etc… Enjoy the experience.

Quite possibly the best selection of Italian cheeses in the area. It is up there along with D. Coluccio in Bensonhurst.
Calandras is a tiny store at the end of Arthur Avenue. It is packed with cheeses, some of them made in-​house, such as ricotta and mozzarella.
Great little shop located in the best Little Italy in New York, Arthur Avenue.

This is the ultimate cheese Mecca. There are many different and amazing cheeses (mostly from Italy). You MUST try their homemade ricotta, it’s the best in the world. Also, they have a wonderful selection of goat, sheep and gorgonzola cheeses. If you’re a fan of truffle, their truffle cheese is so aromatic and intense, and definitely worth the $ 20/​lbs price because a little bit goes a long way. This place also carries some Italian delicacies, including jarred San Marzano tomatoes, fruit preserves, San Pellegrino sodas, taralli, etc. I can’t forget to mention that the owner and workers are extremely kind, friendly and attentive. They always let you sample cheeses before making selections and are very knowledgable in the various types.

When shopping on Arthur, you need to keep in mind you don’t get all your items in the same spot. The best pane di casa doesn’t come from the same place that makes the best biscotti or chicola bread.
Calandra makes THE best ricotta I’ve ever eaten. EVEERR. They make it fresh, and it is sweet, creamy, and delicious.
Best pricing on a mainstay in my family, Pecorino-​Romano, and the scamorza is tasty too.

Great little place for prosciutto and cheeses. The Mozzarella is very fresh and tasty.

Pretty cool little cheese shop. And I do mean little. Hope that it’s not busy when you go because it’s only about one person’s width between the counter and the shelves. They don’t seem to have a huge selection, but everything I’ve had here has been great and reasonably priced. The staff is also always really nice.
On my latest visit I got some red pepper coated Pecorino that was recommended by a person on another site. I’m not sure the point of it other than making good cheese spicy. But hey, I like it, I cut up some when I got home and couldn’t stop eating it.

They make all the cheese themselves. I tasted their parm cheese and it was a little salty to me but so creamy and fresh. They had mozzarella balls hanging in the window. It’s really small inside so we had to wait for a few people to walk out to go in. They seemed to take forever to get out order. We must’ve been waiting a good 10 – 15 mins.

This is my favorite shop on Arthur Avenue. The owner and staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The products are very high quality. They make their own ricotta and mozzarella and they are both excellent. I highly recommend Calandra’s.

Oh, man oh man. This is a fantastic Italian cheese shop. They make fresh mozzarella and ricotta every day. They also have imported cheeses and meats. The locally made dry sausages are a great inclusion for an antipasti platter or for an anytime snack.