The Little Bleu Cheese Shop

Quality cheese shop in Rochester, friendly and helpful staff! Not only did they sell us delicious cheese but gave us recommendations on nearby cool shops to check out. When I am back in the area will go here again!

We were out sightseeing and came across this Cheese Shop. It is very quaint and offers a wide variety of local cheeses as well as other custom food products you’ve probably never seen before such as plum butter and meat spreads.

This is my new favorite spot ever. If I could you eat nothing but cheese and crackers. I would. The owner is super nice and knowledgeable. They let you sample any cheese you want. I got the kunik which is 75 raw goat milk and 25 raw cow milk. I’ve never had cheese that was made from raw milk and it was heaven. It was super creamy and filler with flavor. I also got the 3 year aged cheddar which was sinful. I think the 7 year would have been to sharp but I didn’t try it. I tried the red dragon and liked it a lot. It has ground mustard in it. Only reason I didn’t buy it was because it has a ton of flavor. I wouldn’t be able to eat a lot of it. I thought the prices were also very reasonable.

I love having LBCS in town. Their cheeses are excellent, and they stock everything you need to make a top notch cheese board all in one room. They have a great variety of cured meats, mustards, jams, and cheese-​related tools (cheese paper, cutting boards, etc).
LBCS has an excellent selection, but I don’t frequent it that often because their prices are very high. For example, I know for a fact that some of the meats that they stock are available elsewhere at a significantly cheaper price. There are definitely certain items I’ve seen elsewhere at nearly half the price. Last time I was there, I bought a few ounces of fromage blanc… which cost me over $ 8! I’m willing to pay more for quality products, but these prices are even beyond what I would consider reasonable.

This place is a gem! Love the Gouda! You can find all your favorites plus some extras to pair with them.

Had an amazing experience here during South Wedge Date Night. The owner (unfortunately didn’t catch her name) was so helpful and is clearly passionate about cheese! The Vermont Brie and Smokey Blue were out of this world, and I plan to go back for that honeycomb

I was just out wandering in the Wedge and decided to stop in — I was born and raised in Wisconsin so cheese is my birthright. I absolutely loved meeting Ann and looking at the very high end selection. Sure, they may have some similar choices at Wegmans but there is room for everyone. I’m happy to pay $ 20 for a wheel that is going to pair perfectly with the wine jelly I was gifted — and you know how I know it’ll be phenomenal? Because Ann said so and she obviously knows and loves her cheese. The other specialty products they have are a great compliment and were selected specifically to pair with the cheese (sense a pattern here?). I am so glad I opened the door to this gem. If I’m making tacos and need some cheddar I’ll pick it up at Wegmans. If I need something special I’ll stop at TLBCS.

TLBCS is among my favorite places in Rochester — it’s cozy space is lovely, and there is always something interesting to try. Ann offers up great suggestions to those of us who can’t make decisions easily; not sure what pairs well on a cheese board? Just ask! Looking for something to fancy up your Mac & cheese? Just ask! They also carry tasty extras to round out your needs — I like feeling fancy with minimal effort, and TLBCS helps me do that :)

Thanks for coming to Unilocal events and having check in offers! They had a very flavorful sampling of cheeses. We bought cambozola that was wonderful baked with craisins and pecans. Their sharpest cheddar with salty flecks was great on its own. I’m always looking to support folks who carry Piggery products, I love their rillettes and pâté. Thanks for carrying their products.

Not only do i love cheese and the LBCS offerings, I love the family approach the shop takes on. The husband and wife that own the shop are always ready to hand out samples and describe cheese like it’s a fine wine. I love it. Their prices are fantastic, I spend $ 20 and leave with a variety of cheeses to enjoy with wine or create a cheese platter to share. I’ve never visited the LBCS without purchasing at least two varieties of cheese.
Now if the Wedge had a wine store with a better selection it would be a successful one stop shop!

I love cheese. I really love cheese and have been excited to stop by this place. It’s small but the selection of cheese is more than adequate and you try before you buy. The staff was knowledgable and very friendly. Although there were others in the store we did not feel rushed to make our decision on what cheeses to bring home. We picked out an ommegang ale cheese which has a very unique flavor consisting of mushroom and citrus. We also grabbed a block of jack by First Light Farm and Creamery which we tried over the holidays. Jack is usually not an exciting cheese for me but this particular jack is pretty amazing. Will definitely be stopping by for more cheese from the Little Bleu Cheese Shop.

Love the cheese at the LBCS. The cheese offered is mostly made in the USA from farms in NY and surrounding areas. I used to think European’s only made good cheese, however, this is far from the case after trying the cheese (there are several varieties) at the LBCS. I would definitely say the LBCS sells my favorite types of cheese that you cannot find anywhere else in the area.
The owners are very knowledgable and apparently travel around and have new types of cheese every couple of weeks.
The prices are good especially considering you are getting artisan and farmstead cheese and the fact that you can try before you buy. I would also say they have the best selection of Bleu cheese in the area.
I read a review from person that claimed their prices were to high and you are better off going to Wegmans. I hope people understand this in not true and the cheese the LBCS sells us not available at Wegmans. Also consider the area is fortunate to have this specialty shop.
If you love or even just like cheese, this place us definately worth a visit.

Comment on the comment:
You state that you have cheeses in the «$ 12−14/lb» range, yet I saw nothing under $ 24/​lb the day that I was there. Furthermore, you had a local cheese by Lively Run priced at this pricepoint, which is available at my local Wegman’s for less than half that price. I’m sure rent is expensive at your location, but money is tight, and I can’t see paying big-​city prices like what you charge when there are other alternatives, and I can’t imagine any reason for pricing your goods in the odd ¼ lb pricing other than to make the cost appear cheaper than it is. Sorry, but there are just so many more AFFORDABLE cheeses at Wegmans and Trader Joe’s.

If you are going to the LBCS, know that you will be getting a chance to purchase and consume the best selection of artisinal cheeses available in the greater Rochester Area. HOWEVER, you will be spending upwards of $ 10/​lb. If you want cheese that isn’t produced in an industrial wasteland, accept this as a reality. To me, this is a fair deal. If this is unacceptable to you, Kraft yellow american can be picked up at any bodega.
I have been here several times to pick up supplies for hors d’oevres (spelling?). I spent about $ 30 each time, and walked away with a selection of very interesting cheeses. The people behind the counter were incredibly helpful, and were quick to offer free samples and provide suggestions based on my taste. Each time, I have walked away with a half pound of the coffee crusted lavender something-​or-​other, and it is always a hit. The LBCS carries an assortment of cheese improvers; figs, tubular meats, jams, crackers, etc. Next time you are heading to a friendly gathering, ditch the pre-​made pepperoni and cheese tray and head here.
I love the South Wedge, and I am happy this place has found success there.

Great addition to the South Wedge neighborhood. I’ve stopped in a few times to look around and sample. The staff is always friendly and helpful, offering tastes and recommendations.
The store is filled with cheese, cheese-​related goodies and gifts, and other foodie items. Would be a great place to shop for the holidays.
I do wish they made their own cheese! But I realize that is quite the task. They offer several finger lakes cheese and other area varieties as well as some imported from further distances.

I am a self-​proclaimed cheese addict so the Little Bleu Cheese Shop is the cure for any dairy craving I could possibly have. What I love most about LBCS is that they sell a multitude of cheeses from wonderful organic or local farms in the northeast, many of which are raw milk cheeses (aged the appropriate time for it to be legal in the U.S.). Truthfully, raw milk cheeses — cow, sheep or goat — are phenomenal. You don’t know what your missing. Try it now! Another fun fact, apparently cheese flavor varies depending on the time of year due to environmental and diet changes. AMAZING. Same thing with honey. The color varies from light to dark. Needless to say, you’ll learn a thing or two hanging around the shop, which I recommend you do. Ann, the owner, is the sweetest person around so be sure to introduce yourself and ask her all your cheesy questions.
I recently purchased Honey Lavender fromage blanc (from Nettle Meadow farm in Warrensburg, NY). My new favorite cheese of all time. Light, slight tartness from the goat’s milk and the honey sweetens the flavor just perfectly. The cheese goes well with the Back to Nature Poppy Thyme Crackers. A must buy. Also, I sampled a new cheese they recently brought in — Opus 42 — cow’s milk cheese with a subtle bleu cheese bite. Great for a cheese board while enjoying wine and cocktails with friends.
In a nutshell, this little shop is just presh and you need to pop in. They have a variety of unique cheeses, snacks, chutneys and honey unlike anything I’ve seen in the area. They also pair up with local places for wine & cheese tastings like at the South Wedge Wine shop across the street. You will learn so much so give it a whirl.

The 5 previous reviews are really just amazing and I don’t think I can add too much more to what these talented Unilocalers have shared about Little Bleu Cheese Shop.
The service I received at Little Bleu was really great– the owner let me sample a few things which was really nice. I forgot how nice is it to be able to try something before you buy it. I can’t tell you how many times I have come home with a block of cheese from Wegmans that I bought based on a written description only to find it tasted nothing like I imagined (disappointed).
I liked seeing that there were several New York State cheeses. There are a lot of varieties in the area that I have wanted to try and this makes them much more accessible.
As a cute touch– by the register you can fill out little index cards about your favorite cheeses as a reminder to yourself.
I think the price is pretty average. It’s going to seem expensive to a lot of people, but good cheese takes a lot of work and time.
Very excited to have this new shop in our city.

Wonderful and quaint in character but very brave in effort, the Little Bleu Cheese Shop is a real fromagerie in the South Wedge. A shop that’s going to sustain itself purely on selling cheese, you ask? Well, if they’ve done it with chocolate and ice cream in the Wedge, why not cheese?
Decorated in shabby chic farmhouse style, this cheese shop only features domestic cheeses. I really applaud this. They don’t carried away trying to compete with the mighty international selections of the Wegmans giant. Instead, they have personal connections with creameries and cheesemakers in upstate NY and New England, and I think because of this, they stand out. Maybe they don’t have that creamy French brie, but they sure do have that raw goat’s milk cheese from Vermont that you had on your last foodie wine and cheese trip. Also, did you know that plastic cling wrap is BAD for cheese? It saps its flavor and degrades the quality of the cheese. Had no idea! Well after my visits to the Little Bleu Cheese Shop, I was all-​the-​more educated and happy to find my purchases packed neatly into folded paper bags, no plastic in sight. Interesting!
As Laura notes, the cheeses are sold by the ¼ lb and the price ranges, although it seems that the average is about $ 5. I would suggest getting one of the raw milk cheeses — the flavor explosion is unmatched. On the downside for this place, it’s pricey. There are no crackers for sale that are under $ 5. This means that if you’re dropping by to get cheese and crackers before a party, you’re pretty much guaranteed to spend $ 10 for one ¼ lb of cheese and a box of gourmet crackers. So be prepared!
They also sell books on cheesemaking, jams, mustards and the cutest t-​shirts with the beautiful Little Bleu Cheese Shop logo. Someone smart is running the business here; everything is well-​organized. Be patient when you go, it sometimes takes a few minutes for them to serve their customers because all of it is wrapped and cut-​to-​order. But it’s worth it!

If my mom were a divorcee in one of those old people romantic comedies (think It’s Complicated), she would probably own a cheese shop, and it would probably be a lot like this cheese shop. Got your frame of reference? This is a great place. Cheese selection is really good with a lot of diversity in price and style and even some local cheeses. I went in with some friends and the woman that helped us was very knowledgeable, made awesome recommendations, and didn’t pressure us at all. We ended up walking out with 3 different cheeses and had sampled 5 or 6. Prices are good and I think the cheese quality is better than a lot of the stuff I’ve had from Wegmans (please don’t blacklist me, I still love Wegmans), where I’d gotten most of my nice cheese in the past.

This place is a precious addition to South Wedge. We came here to check it out and maybe have a sample or two and left with almost a pound of three different cheeses. The cheeses here are fantastic and the customer service is even better. The lady who helped us didn’t pressure or make us feel like we were wasting time.
The cheese comes priced by the ¼ lb. It ranges from $ 3.25-$ 10. We purchased:
–Hartsfield washed with Ommegang Ale– delicious!
–Smoked Gouda
–Bleu cheese aged in a cave and then wrapped in grape leaves (this cheese has a more interesting life than I do!)
They also have mozzarella, cheddars, etc as well as sausages and little jams/​spreads,
I was impressed with this place more than any other cheese shop I’ve been to based on their fantastic cheeses and wonderful customer service. It’s a great place to stop in and get fun cheeses to bring over for a dinner party or for a wine and cheese night. Highly recommend!