Ideal Cheese Shop

I went in today for burrata. The staff was rude and unhelpful. I asked if he had the cheese I was looking for, he said «it came in today» then charged me $ 13. I thought that was outrageous for burrata. But I paid it and went about my day. I got home and the cheese was rancid. I had to throw away a $ 13 «fresh from today» cheese. What a waste.

I Couldn’t survive in the wasteland that is midtown east without this shop. I really dig the dried sausages. The guys working behind the counter are always courteous and happy to suggest a cheese to newbies and experts.

Lovely assortment of cheese but why are the guys behind the counter so disinterested/​unhelpful? I have to agree with Bill S’s review. It’s like pulling teeth to get them to help you or even crack a smile for that matter. I live in the neighborhood but rarely go in anymore because it’s such an unpleasant vibe.

I have been to all the big cheese shops in new york city and many outside of the city. Ideal Cheese is the best cheese I have found in NYC. The friendly staff are most helpful when I am not sure which cheese I want. The cheese is all looked after and is not sitting in the fridge, like in whole foods. The variety is amazing and this shop rivals cheese shops I frequent in France. They have the variety and quality that is second to none!

Great neighborhood cheese shop without the crowds. I have always found the staff helpful and engaging when I have questions, though perhaps not the most outgoing. It’s fine with me, I usually know what I’m looking for when I’m cheese shopping.
Taking advantage of the Amazon Local deal is the value added for me. I find their prices are on par with other places, so the half off seals the deal!

This place is probably the best place in midtown to get cheese. Decent selection not huge but better then Whole Foods. The people here are also sort of stare at you blankly until you order types too.
The location on 1^st ave is out of the way and also this place closes at 6pm! Not as good as Murray’s and I need to check out Bedford Cheese Shop in Williamsburg.

Fantastic cheese selection at very reasonable pricing!
I love how they cut the cheese from the GIANT block rather than having it pre-​wrapped in pieces.
Also they give out sample before you buy! Very friendly and great service!

Hands down, the best cheese shop in NYC. Great selection and fantastic service. I also use this store to send gift baskets to friends all over the U.S.

Superb quality cheeses. (Not as many as Zabars but much quieter and better curated.) Also decent craft ale (several trappist) and ciders for sale. Staff were very helpful and took living social coupon as well with no complains. Will be back!

Since I was refused service, I cannot really confirm the one star, but for lack of willingness to sell, they get it. I was looking for a cheese shop with a good selection, plus other items to complete a charcuterie. I had never been, and arrived at 6:14; 14 minutes after their posted closing time. They still had guests inside. As I was looking through the window at the shelves, one of the staff came to the door. I asked if they would take one more. The answer… wait for it… no. Seriously, even with customers still in the process of shopping? Small business must be doing very well in NYC.

Um. Can someone get a personality?
When you to Murray’s, the cheeseman is your best friend! They’re engaging, telling you how to pair cheese with food and wines, they’re just fun!
I walk into an empty store. I see the cheeseman behind the counter and the assorated cheeses. I ask about Truffle Cheeses, he tells me a few of them but its like pulling teeth. Cheese, along with wine needs to have an advocate for the product. When I walk into Fairway and talk to anyone behind the counter, they’re talking to me: Hey, I have that cheese you described but first try THIS cheese. This behavior wasn’t displayed during my visit.
I bought a small slice of Brie, A slice of the Truffle Cheese I tasted along with some candied pecans.
The store itself kinda reminds me of a Bodega. They have wire shelves of oils and crackers on them, it wasn’t very inviting.
The cheese I purchased was good, there’s too much cheesy competition to deal with and this store needs a personality lift. I don’t care if its from 1954. If you live in the area, then add a star.
It’s not my ideal cheese place so. Smell ya later!

The cheese man is funny. I came in all crabby pants and like «but whole foods has all the cheeses cut little so I can grab a bunch of random cheeses» and he said something like «how would you like to be chopped up into little pieces and wrapped in plastic?» lol.
He let me sample some cheese and I went home with a delicious truffle cheese and something creamy from Vermont. I will be back!

Went here on an Amazon Local voucher. Cool little shop. I haven’t used anything I bought from here yet, but can comment on the service and selection. Huge selection of artisan cheese. The clerk was great. He let me sample everything before I bought it. They also have other items that are rare. Everywhere now has craft beer, but there were beers here I’ve still never seen. The people here know their cheese.

Kum. quat, it’s time for us to go.
Grabbed the second iteration of their Amazon local deal ($ 12 for $ 25, unrestricted) for a smattering of cheeses from the friendly but almost certainly UI staff. Selection was impressive and my purchases were tasty, but I’m afraid they were not helpful enough to make me consider this as my go-​to cheesemonger, especially at full price, given their aloofness and general indifference which came off as lack of knowledge.
FWIW This joint was named the Best cheese shop in the US by Forbes in or around 2012.

I went in the other day as I heard this was a must try for people in the Sutton area. It was fantastic! I described what I was looking for and the gentleman had me sample several wonderful cheeses. Excellent!

Here’s the scenario (read as: my worst nightmare): It’s Tuesday evening, you’re on your way home from work and you get a text…“can’t wait to come over tonight!” You suddenly remember that you’re having over BFF X and BFF Y. Shit, and here you were looking forward to secretly binge watching hours of reality TV and ordering in. With no food in the apartment, other than the basic staples (truffle butter and edible decorative gold flakes, of course), what do you do?!
Head to the Ideal Cheese Shop and get the highest quality provisions to make a sumptuous (yes, sumptuous comes to my mind when describing feasts) cheeseboard and charcuterie plate.
The Ideal Cheese Shop includes the welcoming and helpful service of an old-​school mom n’ pop but with the wealth of offerings of a specialty gourmet gallery. Having been open for over fifty six years, the Ideal Cheese Shop is aptly named because it carries over two hundred and fifty cheeses from seventeen countries. Everything is cut to order and the varieties of choices range from your go-​to favorites to bizarre and interesting. Best of all, they also sell the finest accouterments to go with your board — oils, crackers, chocolates, cheese knives, fondue pots and even the occasional raclette or two… because you’d hate to be raclette-​less.
…quite ideal, indeed.

This place is really good. It’s a little expensive, but has good stuff like époisse, morbier, vieux comté, etc.

I absolutely love this cheese shop. It can get crowded and some of the staff can, on some days, be a little surly, but I think that’s part of it’s charm.
Their cheese selection is quite good and they take great care of it. They know what they are talking about. If you are having a party or just want something different, just talk to them and tell them what you’re trying to do, what you like, etc. You will be happy.
They have a limited selection of meats, all very good.
They often have cheese sampling and sometimes beer and cheese pairings.

NEW FAV CHEESE SHOP in NYC. liking it better than the famous Murray’s cheese shop. all the tourists & crowds can go there, i’ll stick w/​ideal cheese
love the selection here PLUS the cheese mongers really know how to please a palate! we loved all the suggestions he gave us after only asking us what types of cheeses we already knew we liked
–holzhoffer cow’s milk cheese: this was my fav of the ones we took home that day
haven’t tried their meats but i’ll be back
FREE SAMPLES in the back & of course you can sample anything you want to try out before committing to buying!

Large selection of cheeses, cured meats, and other epicerie stuff.
I really liked having less people inside the store than in the other famous cheeses places I usually go to.
Staff is knowledgeable.
Get there when they carry the Vacherin.