The Cheese Shop

Absolutely amazing! Great staff, great food, great beer/​wine, and great cheese too! Such a cool shop!

One of my all time favorites, awesome food, any kind of cheese you could ever want and an incredibly friendly and knowledgable staff makes for a great experience.

Wow… it’s been awhile since I have handed out a 5 star but I believe that this place warrants it. I stopped by today to meet a friend for lunch on a cold Iowa day.
Summary
–Order any kind of toastie you want — I recommend the Royal
–Arrive by 1145 if you want to sit at a table on a weekday
–Order extra gherkins if you order the Royal
–Come back time and again, this place is AMAZING
The décor and layout is perfect for what this place is. It’s a cheese shop + benefits. Namely simple but perfectly executed dishes that showcase the tremendous cheese that they sell.
Glad we came early as all the tables filled up for lunch and all that was left was bar seating by 1145. I looked at their large yet simple menu and settled on a Royal Toastie. You will see in the picture that this is a grilled ham and cheese sandwich covered in bacon crisps lathered in mornay (cheese) sauce, topped with a fried egg and served with pickled gherkins. Think of it as a high class rare bit.
This thing was delicious from every angle, each bite was rich, sweet, salty and crunchy. The egg was perfectly cooked and runny and the gherkins gave it a good acidic punch to break up all that rich creaminess. The waitress was awesome and brought be a large serving of gherkins!
Now it does end up being a pricey lunch (the Royal is $ 12) but you can’t have this everyday (otherwise you would be in for cardiac arrest). On your cheat day, eat this. It’s worth it!

I really wish I could convey smells through Unilocal,because the heavenly smell of baked cheeses permeate every inch of The Cheese Shop.
Tucked away in an older strip mall, this gem has it all. Fresh bread from 2 doors down «La Mie»… Fresh/​local charcuterie… Cheese and cheese accessories galore… And a wine stash built to satisfy.
I had the toasted ham and cheese sandwich, but to be honest, that sounds way too simple for the flavor experience. It was nothing short of phenomenal. I also had a side salad, which was also good. The dressing was extremely light, and it had the most delicious blend of sweet and savory croutons. The olives are not pitted, so just be mindful of your teeth.
I will definitely be back on future trips to DSM. Delicious!

Cheese is one of my new loves since craft beer has blown way too out of proportion for it’s britches. Love to try new, strong cheeses. This place is tiny but worth it. Maybe stop in on an ‘off’ hour. They are happy to give you recommendations or go for it on your own. Order a glass of vino or a craft brew and sit for a bit. Would love to try the fondue but getting there on a Wednesday is impossible for me. Parking out back of the shop so don’t sit and wait in the front lot waiting for someone to leave as you will probably be waiting awhile. Try a toastie, it is one of the world’s best sandwiches. Definitely worth a stop. Not overpriced for what you are getting. Staff and owner truly love what they do and you can tell through their attitudes. Very friendly and helpful.

If you’re looking for something unique, intimate, high quality food & drink, and away from the chain restaurant jungle of WDM you need to check out the Cheese Shop! Located in the little strip mall of the Shops of Roosevelt, halfway between downtown Des Moines and West Des Moines. Space inside is very limited, but comfortable. High top table seating is available as well as several seats along the counter. I could live off the LaQuercia Prosciutto, but all of their meats are fantastic! If you have the chance to talk to CJ (the owner) grab him and ask for his recommendations. One of my favorite things about visiting this place is the story behind he food. CJ and his staff are extremely knowledgeable about where the food comes from, the regions, the family history, etc.
The Cheese Shop is a different dining experience from what most people are used to but once you come here, you’ll want to come back!

Everything about The Cheese Shop makes it a real gem. I wish I had been able to sample more of the menu offerings. The staff are extremely friendly and take extra time to ensure you have tasted cheese, tasted wine, etc. I’ll certainly be back on my next visit to Des Moines.

Loved every second of our Tuesday date night here. Service was personal and excellent, and the food was beyond words. HIGHLY recommend.

Though it be little, ’tis very cheesy (as is the beginning of this review). You can tell how great this place is when you walk through the door. There are preserves, chocolates, mustards and other non-​perishable items in a shelf on the left and a cheese counter in front of you. They offer you samples of cheese and explain where the cheese is from. They also have a variety of cured meats– even acorn and hazelnut prosciutto among others. There are about 4 tables, a bar and a communal table to eat at. They have specials that change often including a soup and different meat and cheese plates as well as a charcuterie board.
The toasties are amazing and the add ons are great. Our favorite is the «Spanish» with Nduja, quince paste, almond butter, prosciutto and we add on the arugula pesto. It’s amazing. As a mac and cheese aficionado, I put my seal of approval on this mac. It’s the only one I’ve ever had at a restaurant that is better than the one I make.
We also had their stuffed piquillo peppers special app today and it too was great.
They also have a great beer selection that changes regularly.
You must come here if you’re in Des Moines, but bring your stretchy pants…

Despite not making a reservation at all the place, we still manage to wait for a little bit and just because I was drinking wine while waiting. The moment, we came in, you can smell the food all over this tiny place (it’ll stick We came here since I’ve been dreaming about cheese and figs, figs and cheese. We also brought our daughter as well since she was never a fan of mac and cheese and I figure she might change her mind.
The only bad thing that happen was my encounter with one of the host. For some reason when we came first before one group (3 people as well, which I assume also didn’t make any reservations too) they were able to sit down first before we did. I was standing right there and I have to get to the counter and get his attention so that we can sit down. It’s a tiny place, hard to miss anyone waiting and standing. When I asked him, what drink they can offer to a kid, he said a list in a very annoying manner. I caught the word rootbeer and just ordered that and not asked question at all. I know, I’ve read that people adore the staff and that was my expectation when we decided to come here anyway. I was happy that he’s not the one that took care of us that tonight, this wonderful lady asked me if I want something to drink and went for just the cider. But what he did stick in my head that I can’t seem to get passed it really. Now instead of waiting for 10 – 15, we were standing for more than 30mins, done with my wine and a little upset.
When you get to the door, you’ll see the huge cabinet of the different kind of figs, cocoa, crackers and all that good stuff. What caught our attention was the chocolate from the local farmer from Davao. I was a little proud. I’m sensing the owner must have visited my country and fell in love with the Cacao or Tablea which is the best one I’ve ever had. It’s understandably expensive since it came from one of cities that makes probably 20k imports a year.
Finally, we sat down and check their menu. I opted for the Pig and Fig the husband went for the Muffaletta and the kid went for the famous Mac and Cheese. We also got some cheese platter. I asked for another refill for the same wine. I can’t remember the name but boy that was really good. It has this amazing scent of jasmine. Yeah, I can drink that all day, all day, all day every day. Hopefully, on my return (or probably might just do some take-​outs and buy a bottle.) I will figure out what wine was it. We all did enjoy our meal and my craving was satisfied. I would never thought that I would actually enjoy fig way too much. Our host approached us if my daughter did enjoy her mac and cheese. She did. my husband like the one he got even though it has olives on it but that’s the only way he can eat olives, unless its a salad.
The thing is… I was able to make the same stuff at home a day after we came. i We bought all the stuff that we need to make the pig and fig. Bought stuff from wholefoods, the meat brand, the same kind of cheese, fig and the bread. That being said, I paid for less than $ 50 to make everything that already include a $ 20 for bottle of wine. The next day we bought some pork belly and glazed it with honey and it was fabulous. We did had fun putting all the stuff together for a Sunday dinner. I’m sure that what we paid for that day was for three meal and an extra plate of their cheese. I like small places, good food, good wine and nice people (except for one) but I guess if I feel a little fancy then I might go back or if my daughter wants the mac and cheese again. I spend on food that I know I won’t be able to make it at home, just don’t have time or can’t find anywhere else.

My husband and I have been wanting to try The Cheese Shop for awhile so on a recent weekend trip to Des Moines (from Omaha) we planned to have dinner here. We arrived around 6:15 on a Friday evening and found that the place was quite packed (it’s tiny — maybe 20 seats). We were told it would be about 30 minutes for a table. In the entryway area, there are racks of wine and coolers of beer/​wine, convenient for grabbing a drink while waiting for a table. Really unique selection of beers in particular — lots of farmhouses and sours, which we like, so we enjoyed a couple while we waited.
Our wait turned out to be a little longer (about 45 minutes), but we got a couple cheese samples (free) in the interim, and were checked on no less than 5 times by various staff to make sure we were ok and to apologize for the wait.
One benefit to our wait is that we knew what we wanted by the time we sat down (at their small bar area). We ordered the meat plate (3 meats), cheese plate (3 cheeses), as well as the mac & cheese with bacon. Our food came out surprisingly fast — meat & cheese plates first — and I was really impressed by how much came on the plates, especially for the price. Our waitress gave us some info on all the meats and cheeses and where they are from, which I enjoy. We liked all the meats and cheeses, but especially enjoyed the prosciutto — it was very thinly sliced and almost buttery. The mac & cheese was absolutely fantastic — possibly the best I’ve ever had, at least in recent memory. It was cheesy and creamy without feeling overly heavy and starchy, and the salty bacon really knocked the dish out of the park.
The food here was all 5 stars, but the service was as well. Nobody ever likes to wait for a table, but when staff are cognizant about your wait and check in every once in a while, it can make all the difference. We had great service sitting at the bar and even chatted with a few of the staff for a bit after finishing our dinner. We’ll definitely be back here on our next trip to DSM!

Every time we go to Des Moines, even if we are just passing through, we love to stop at The Cheese Shop for a cheese plate and a meat plate. It’s a wonderful place, not only because the cheeses and meats are mouth-​watering, but because every staff member can tell you where the food is from and a cool story behind it. There have been cheeses that were stored in old army barracks in France or in an old man’s cave.
The place is cozy and small and always packed with people, but that just speaks further to the deliciousness of the place. If you don’t want to dine in, you can get it to go. They also have an area where you can buy a block of cheese to take home, too.
I’d highly recommend a visit to The Cheese Shop!

This place is pretty amazing. Came here on a Wednesday night, when they do fondue. My suggestion, get here early, this place gets packed! Once we got our food, I got TASTE why they get so busy. The fondue was amazing, the bread soft and we ordered some stuff on the side such as small potatoes cooked in duck fat, their pepper jam and the fig spread. All of it pretty tasty. I can’t wait to go back and try some of their cheeses and spreads. If you want a unique food experience, I suggest checking this place out!

Arrived at the Cheese shop around 5:15 to eat before a play. This place is small and seating is limited. Plan accordingly because this place is worth it! We ordered a meat and cheese plate. It was awesome! It was great to try cheese I normally wouldn’t think to order. Also ordered the La Quercia and a bleu cheese grilled cheese. They were amazing! I will never look at a normal grilled cheese the same way. I have now been ruined for a standard GC. The service was amazing! Not only were they super friendly and attentive-​but they also had so much knowledge to share about wine and cheese. Talking with the bartender was a highlight of my night as I learned so much!

Staff is sooooo nice! I’m glad we checked out this little shop as we explored Des Moines. Worth the price and is so unique and fun!

What a charming place!
I came in on a weekday night, and the place was buzzing with locals– good sign! There’s a separate counter for ordering your cheese, charcuterie and food to-​go, and there are a few bar seats, tables and also a communal table for those who want to stay and eat.
I ordered a glass of wine and the Royal Ham and Cheese Toastie (grilled cheese sandwich varieties). The bread they used was divine, the sunny-​side fried egg on top was perfect. Of course, I had to get a cup of Tomato Soup– I thought this was the best part of the meal. The soup had a smoky taste to it and ranks as one of the best tomato soups I’ve tried.
I’ll definitely be back the next time I’m in Des Moines!

Rolled into the Cheese shop yesterday to share a drink on the patio since it was so beautiful out!
The Cheese shop is one of a kind in Des Moines! For me I’m Vegan so I don’t do any of the Cheese stuff, but they have an amazing BEER selection! And I’m going to go out on a limb and say they would have the perfect Cheese to go with all of them!
Tons of cheeses, other snacks, and sandwiches fill up the menu! Might be the only place in Des Moines where they have an actual Pig’s Leg that they shave meat off of right in front of you! (Scary for a Vegan) but also kinda incredible to see in real life!
The staff is super knowledgeable about the cheese and wine, and there was even a Wine tasting going on while we were there on a Thursday afternoon!
Beautiful store inside and out! Make this your one, stop cheese shop!

Just ate here and had a wonderful experience!
The cheese shop is a cute dainty place that offers an impressive array of local cheeses and meats. Great place to go for wine and cheese plate. I didn’t know this till recently but they also have a fantastic café menu that includes mac and cheese and toasties (kind of like grilled cheese sandwiches)
I had the Royal Ham and Cheese Toastie and it is AMAZING! It’s a Toastie with ham, cheese, bacon and then lathered with a succulent cheese sauce on top. It reminds me of a Croque Monsieur but with a cheese-​based sauce instead. Also tried a regular Toastie with fig jam and it has the perfect contrast of sweetness and saltiness. Mac and cheese here is also delicious. They use pasta that more closely resemble penne noodles. Will need to try a cheese plate next time I come in here. Kind of an under looked gem here that I think more people should try!

Where do I even start with this place… when I first heard about this place I just assumed it was a shop where you go buy cheese to take home to eat and cook. I thought, ehh I’m not that big into fancy cheeses so I may pass on checking this place out. It was after checking out Unilocal reviews that I found out they serve actual meals and food here along with their full service cheese counter (like a local butcher but for cheese).
We walked in and at first it appeared to be just a busy cheese shop with a good number of people waiting to order their cheeses and meats. A kind staff member recognized our confusion immediately and asked if we were here to get an order or to eat lunch, we happily said we were here for lunch and we were seated at a table.
The décor is very… cheese shop-​like haha, and I’ve never been in a cheese shop, it was nice and «real». There aren’t too many tables so I wouldn’t be surprised if they lacked seating some days for lunch or dinner. The staff members are all extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the products they serve. We had a few questions regarding the menu and everything was answered to our satisfaction.
For those who are wondering, they have a separate menu for those eating in that is not on the menu board at the counter. Also, for those eating in, anything on the counter board is free game to order for your meal. Same goes for all their drinks and wines.
I ordered the standard Toastie, which is a grilled cheese sandwich and I believe the item they are best known for. You can added different meats to it, but I just kept it plain. Obviously I had to get a cup of tomato soup with it because you have to eat grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup or else the fabric of the space time continuum will rip.
IT WAS AMAZING! THE TOASTIE AND THE SOUP OHH, NOT GONNA EXAGGERATE, BEST GRILLED CHEESE IVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE! The texture, flavor, everything was perfect!
My wife ordered the special Mac and cheese which was a special that day. It was a bit pricey and the dish itself was complex with complex ingredients. It tasted pretty good and exotic, but for the price I would stick to their simple dishes which I know they will knock out of the park. We also got two drinks, ginger ale and root beer, they were both good and would recommend them.
We are counting the days until we make a repeat visit back here! So many things I want to try! You will love the atmosphere and staff as well, I’m glad our town has a place like this!

Wow. Wow wow wow.
What a great, great little place they’ve got in Des Moines.
Artisan cheeses, incredible cured meats, and a cozy little spot on 42^nd St.
I had the Pig & Fig sandwich and loved it. Prosciutto, fig spread, crisp lettuce, ciabatta bread… wow. So good.
Would love to order from their deli, would love to sample some of the other prosciuttos and meats they had — definitely going to have to come back when we road trip to Chicago because this place is terrific.