- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
About Cheese
Category: Food Specialty Food Cheese Shops Cheese Shops [Edit]
483 Church StToronto, ON M4Y
Neighbourhoods: Church-Wellesley Village, Downtown Core
(416) 925-8659
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9:30 am - 7 pm
Sat 9 am - 6 pm
Sun 11 am - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
27 reviews for About Cheese
Review Highlights
-
"Dope shop for their Grilled Cheese sandwich." In 5 reviews -
"Supposedly fantastic prosciutto, hand sliced." In 4 reviews -
"Vast selection of Ontario and Canadian cheeses." In 7 reviews
Loading...
27 reviews in English
-
Review from Kate M.
12/14/2011
You know that Beyonce song "Halo"? That's what comes to mind when I think of About Cheese. Oh so dreamy. Oh so perfect.
I guess I should mention that I kinda ADORE cheese, so About Cheese is somewhat my heaven. Shall I break it down?
- Cheese. Fancy cheese. Delish cheese.
- Lovely fresh baked goods! Get there in the morning as they sell out quick!
- Daily specials! My fav so far has been the truffle mac and cheese! Only $4!
- Grilled cheese! Hot! Melt in your mouth! Yum!
- Hot dudes. I'm not even kidding. If you work here and you're not gay give me your number next time you sell me cheese.
I dare you to name a better place. I dare you. -
Review from Shelly M.
2/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Moderate selection of cheese, but holly prices. I almost choked.
Huge cheese fan, if desperate I would go back nice selection of spices and other curious items. But would head to Kensington market for my cheese next time. -
Review from Georgia F.
Mississauga, ON
12/17/2011
I am a cheese fanatic, so cheese shops are sort of cracky for me. Good cheese is heavenly. And hot cheese is nature's perfect food.
My biggest gripe is cheese wrapped in plastic rather than paper, as I find it affects the flavour, and I think they would be advised to make that switch. But I do like the selection here, and their grilled cheese sandwiches are pretty wonderful. -
Review from Missy K.
Toronto, ON
4/1/2012
The grilled cheese is a little heavy for me, but they have delicious croissant sandwiches sometimes already made, but if not the staff will prepare one for you. Also the croissants alone are amazing. Prosciutto sliced paper thin on a manual Italian slicer and that's all before you even get to the cheese!
-
Review from Naomi E.
Toronto, ON
10/19/2011
I was out for a walk with some friends and I passed by a window that had a huge selection of dried chilis and other amazing spices in the display. I stopped at that moment and had to take a look at this window! It was in fact the giant bowl of vanilla beans that made me head in your doors. I knew a store that would put such beautiful products in it's window must be on a mission to share fantastic food. Once through I was greeted by familiar culinary friends and I knew I had made an amazing decision.
I walked immediately to your amazing selection of "Épice de cru" spices and was floored by all that your had. I have seen this collection before but very rarely and to know I now had access to these made me extremely happy. I then made my way around your chilies and mortar and pestles and had significant nostalgia. I was greeted by amazing staff who were very knowledgeable and accommodating and understood the art of customer service. Your cheese and meat selections were to die for and I was so excited to see a goat cheese version of my favourite aged gouda, "Beemster". When I approached your soft cheese counter I was disappointed to see my favourite brie not there, however your employee Jen was quick to change my mind by having my try the Brillat Savarin. You have a convert, it was truly to die for.
I loved your house made products, like the plum, walnut and honey terrine and the blue cheese and chocolate chip cookies. The croissants also reminded my of my coffee breaks in France and Germany (which means they must be incredible) and though I did not have a chance to try them today, I will be back to try them again.
This shop is TOP NOTCH, and I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates fine food, done well with an amazing atmosphere to top it it off. GREAT JOB!!! -
Review from Zainab K.
Toronto, ON
2/27/2012
Ok i like this place. i like their stuff. a little expensive but still great stuff.
what pisses me off is their unprofessionalism. many many times i've visited them in morning and they don't open on time. i came back in 35 minutes and they hadn't opened. many times during the day they have a "be back in 25 minutes" sign and they are NEVER back in 25 minutes. it's extremely annoying! -
Review from Terry P.
7/13/2011 ROTD 8/21/2011
Fantastic cheeses, fantastic service, and I have a small crush on one of the guys who works there. What more can I say?
Actually, I can always say more: I really like that they don't try to oversell you. Unlike at some cheese shops, the pieces that they cut you are a fairly modest size, so you get to try a wider selection without spending a fortune. I also think their prices are lower than some other places, although I'm not a serious enough cheese-buyer to have actually compared prices of the same products to other stores, since I always buy something different anyway. -
Review from Jackie P.
Toronto, ON
6/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
A couple years back I was in Normandy France taking a stroll through the pasteur rolling green hills. I stopped in the town of Camembert and visited one of the original and only remaining hand made camembert cheese farms. The moment I walked in, in the most dispicable french, I tried to communicate to the cheese lady that, "I'm a big fan of cheese". She starred at me confused and my partner burst out laughter. To this day, he still likes to bring that story up to prove how geeky I actually am. Well, I'm not ashamed and I'd scream it from the roof tops (even if this groupie gets serious digestive problems for it).
About cheese is my fantasy cheese shop...and it exist!
JACKIE'S TOP TEN REASONS WHY TO SHOP AT ABOUT CHEESE
1. The cheese is incredible.
2. Vast selection of Ontario and Canadian cheeses
3. Samples, Samples everywhere
4. The guys are good looking.
5. The staff are knowledgeable and don't try to oversell. They know how to pair with alcohol and best ways to use it. Pick their brains. They're incredibly passionate.
6. They sell St Johns bread
7. They're very creative and are constantly thinking up and creating new yummy cheese delicacies like blue cheese chocolate balls and blue cheese chocolate chip cookies.
8. They make one of the best grilled cheeses I've ever had
9. They have fresh croissants. So buttery, so good.
10. The guys are good looking. Oh right. I said that already. But for a girl whose a fan of cheese and also enjoys some eye candy, it's a dream come true.
A lot of people complain about how expensive cheese is. Well it can be. All you need it to be honest with your budget and have the cheese men take it from there. They will give you a lot for your buck in quality and quantity.
It is such a treat to have a cheese shop like About Cheese. I don't ever mind dropping $40-$50 on a few blocks of cheese. It's beautiful, organized and welcoming inside. Take a looksy and try some of their freebies. I can promise, you won't be leaving empty handed. -
Review from Magdalena O.
Montréal, QC
Hottest staff ever. Plus their grilled cheese is a total pornographic spectacle. Oozing delicious cheeses on perfectly grilled bread. Plus if you're into meat, they add prosciutto free of charge.
Ok, so let's recap - delicious grilled cheese with optional free meat and hot staff serving you.
As good as it gets for real. -
Review from Lara P.
1/4/2012
Why are they great? Knowledgeable and friendly staff. Weekly specials. They give you samples of cheeses that somehow are exactly what you are looking for. I am overwhelmed whenever I am at a cheese place but I love cheese so when they feature a 2 for 1 special each week I can try new cheeses with less guilt and more to share with friends. The prices are comparable to the other stinky cheese shops and they also carry wonderful chocolates from a local artist. Also the place smells nice so we know it is well ventilated and they know their cheese. I will try to get here earlier so that I can sample the fresh baked goods but I would love to come back any time I can get away and stroll.
-
Review from Melissa F.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 4/10/2011
Funny that this got ROTD right before I was going to update it.
I JUST went with my friend- and brought two extra friends to try the ROTD experience with me.
Lest ye be looking for that ROTD experience- it is no longer there- except for the hot staff..they are still there..
But the grilled cheese was underwhelming. Before it was the most excessive amount of buttered bread and overflowing cheese you have ever seen. Now? it's grilled cheese.
And the ridiculous amount of samples, I was told, are on crackdown.
I hate it when high expectations are set, met and then landslide after all the ruckus advertises a place as being amazing.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
11/14/2010 ROTD 4/10/2011
in-cr-EDIBLE!
Walk in
enjoy the free samples of delicious cheeses, cheese straws and prosciutto
notice… Read more »
-
-
Review from Dean H.
Toronto, ON
9/6/2011
Friendliest staff...
Great product...
Samples...
It's the best cheese shop in the city - hands down. -
Review from Vic G.
Toronto, ON
5/5/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Not much to say other than this is THE BEST grilled cheese sandwich in the city. I recommend taking the prosciutto option. They use thinly sliced La Quercia prosciutto which adds just a touch of saltiness to this decadent treat. It is buttered up almost to excess, and the Frere Jacques cheese is also piled on in abundance, resulting the most gooey, delicious sandwich you've ever bitten into. Highly addictive.
Aside from the sandwich, they carry (obviously) a wide assortment of excellent cheeses, including Blue Haze, a rather interesting smoked blue which I would recommend.
They also carry Fred's Bread, including my personal fave the Yukon Gold Potato Focaccia, as well as a range of special goods such as chocolates, olive oils, and condiments.
Staff have always been friendly and helpful.
Definitely a place to stop by if you find yourself in the Village. -
Review from Alex F.
Scarborough, ON
8/5/2011
It's just cheese right? WRONG! Cheese is the stuff of life and this place sells some of the best there is!
And their grilled cheese sandwiches *gurgle* they're to die for. -
Review from Jessica L.
10/17/2010
Phenomenal cheese shop. They carry tons of Canadian cheeses that I've never, ever seen in the US. The staff were super friendly and willing to engage in long discussions about the cheese options. They also provided as many tastes as I wanted. In addition, they carry some delicious accompaniments to pair with the cheese.
My only regret is that we couldn't figure out a sure-fire way for me to smuggle their cheese back in the States...next time. -
Review from Keeley-Ann H.
Mississauga, ON
2/5/2011 1 photo
When me and the BF were looking for a place to live in toronto we came across this place in our hunt. We were so excited that we found a wicked cheese shop we were hoping we would find a home close by so when we wanted amazing cheese it was right there for us. Living in Mississauga I have never seen a place like this before. Thankfully we moved just around the corner and now we have access to this place whenever we want ! The people that work there are super cool. They are so friendly and easy to talk to. They are knowledged about there products and always offer to help.
But never mind the people, let talk cheese. I had no idea that real cheddar cheese actually IS NOT orange.....its white!?!?! learn something new everyday. They dont only have cheese, they have organic butters, cocoas (the real chocolate, not that cadbury shit), crackers, jelly, oils....i dont even know what else cause i find something different everyday. They make a mean ass girlled cheese sandwich, with or without procuitto, and they let you sample before you buy (which i doo suggest)
If you ever want a good real full of flavour parmigiano cheese, go for the italian one they have, way better then any other i have had. We sometimes buy the canadian cause tis cheeper, but the italian is the way.
Over all this place is the shit. Check it out, pay the extra once in a while for some real, untouchable cheese, and you wont be disappointed!! -
Review from Eric W.
Toronto, ON
9/25/2011
this really is what retail food should be like. a great shop, that curates there selection based on what they really should be selling. you will not find anything here that is not super high quality, and the staff are incredible. some very rare finds here, and an ever expanding portfolio of wonderful oddities.
they also serve possibly the best grilled cheese around, wrapped in butcher paper and soaking through with amazingness. its a two napkin situation for sure.
its true what some have sad that the staff are really hot. like really hot. milk must do a body good, especially went its cultured as these beautiful people really are. -
Review from Wendy H.
Toronto, ON
4/28/2009
One of the bonus features of Church St is the small-town friendly vibe that graces many of the businesses, and About Cheese is no exception. Wait, I don't think I'm raving as much as I think is necessary - About Cheese is amazing. I would live there if I could. I would get up in the morning and eat one of their earth-shattering chocolate croissants for breakfast, and then I would have a spruce beer & specialty grilled cheese sandwich for lunch. Then at about 4:30, I would snack on some buttery brie with one of the artisan (?) breads. I would have to force dinner, but the goudas and cheddars would be worth it. Don't even get me started on the cheese sticks. Cheese Nip crackers, I loved you once but now I frown upon you. It's probably a good thing I don't live here, because I'm watching my girlish figure.
The staff is amazing. They feed you like a grandmother and sometimes slip a loaf of bread your way if the place is about to close. They're highly knowledgeable about the vast selection, all of which is to die for. Imagine, I went for a year without cheese and here I am, some sort of fromage-aholic. Go in and be like, "I would like a sassy goat cheese, please" and they'll be all, "why, try this and this andthisandthisandthis. This one's made by monks in silence, and this one is only made in February." It's the best.
Well, I'm rambling. This is my cue. But before I go, let me recap the greatness:
* Staff
* Excellent bread and crisp collection
* Unpasteurized cheeses available (ohhh-magod)
* Grilled cheese sandwiches
* Supposedly fantastic prosciutto, hand sliced
Only downside? Look to spend a few bucks. Once you start, you can't stop.Listed in: Why Living In The Village Is…
-
Review from Christine C.
Etobicoke, ON
Updated - 1/1/2010 10 photos
On the night before new year's eve we held our annual gathering and this year I decided to use my gorgeous new cheese board and highlight some fantastic cheeses.
I'm a smart girl. At least smart enough to listen to my cheese monger chick, Lauren Wilson, and take her advice on what to put out. She told me always cheese in odd numbers....3....or 5....interesting but I heeded. On the board I added two condiments, a cheese chutney with fruit and a carmelized onion condiment, both bought on my recent England travels. Also I completed the condiment trilogy with some of About Cheese's own house condiment, the pressed fruit log (with nuts and dried fruits).
Take a look at the pics I submitted it to About Cheese's cheese board photo contest because who knows.....I might win the big cheese! :)
Happy new year to my Yelp peeps!1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/26/2009
"When cheese gets its picture taken what does it say?" - George Carlin
I'm a die hard Cheese… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jack W.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 8/8/2011
We tried the fresh mozzarella this weekend. Holy cow. As if it could get any better -- this just tops it off. I could just roll up a bed and live here, seriously. =D I really need to try their grilled cheese.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
6/23/2011
I looove this place. All the cheeses you could want from so many places INCLUDING and ESPECIALLY… Read more »
-
-
Review from Lindsey S.
Toronto, ON
11/25/2009
WOW!!!! This is the best new stores on Church Street!
I love cheese, LOVE IT! I would be very happy grabbing a great cheese and some bread and munching away and making that my meal. In fact that is just what I did after visiting About Cheese for the first time.
I was greeted by the amazing staff with a warm welcome and a "come in and try as many as you would like". The staff was very very helpful, full of knowledge and it doesn't hurt that some of the staff were very cute too. After having a little chat and trying a few, I settled on a spicy chili goat cheese and a cheese bread. Needless to say, both didn't last longer then 48 hours.
The only down side to About Cheese - the cost. My goat's cheese was $12.99 - WAY more then I would normally pay, but it was just to yummy to pass up.
If you love cheese, check them out! -
Review from Deanna W.
11/16/2008
About Cheese is the cheese shop that is eager to please!! And not full of stuffy or impatient staff. The staff are all friendly, knowledgeble and enthusiastic about all matters cheese. I came here after shopping next door and picked up a few cheeses for a mac n cheese I was preparing at home. The staff could not have been any more helpful and were always eager to hand out good sized samples of cheese-a definite bonus! There are also some nice crackers, breads and cheese accessories available on hand as well. Btw, their cheese selection is about 80% Canadian (yeah for local producers) and 20% European.
-
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
10/31/2008
I can still remember seeing my first Monty Python sketch it was the
Classic Cheese Shop sketch and while it was (and still is) one of the
funniest things I've ever seen, the idea of a shop dedicated to cheese
was one that was foreign to my uncultured Canadian mind. The Cheese
shop has finally made it to Toronto and I for one couldn't be happier.
About Cheese by Provincial Fine Foods is a true cheese shop. I went in
before a semi-dinner party (we ate in front of the tv on a coffee table
but it was dinner) and expressed my lack of knowledge. I'm getting to
know cheese but in all honesty I have very little knowledge as to what I
like and even less to what other people would like. So I went to the man
behind the counter and told him that I was having a dinner party with
four people none of whom really knew cheese and what would he recommend.
He took me through about eight different options and allowed me to try
them all, I was in curdy heaven. I really like this store because while
they know their cheese they don't hold your ignorance against you. They
truly do have a passion and are happy to share it with you. I
definitely recommend this store to the veteran cheeser or the rookie,
both of you will find what you're looking for and leave happily.
Like the review? Check out the link to my blog on my profile. -
Review from Gillian L.
Toronto, ON
8/16/2010
This place is friendly and offers a great selection of gourmet cheeses. The bread is also to die for. Sesame cheese sticks are rich and have a little kick.
-
Review from Reg A.
Ottawa, ON
6/17/2010 1 photo
Dope shop for their Grilled Cheese sandwich. Trust me, one of the best in Toronto!
-
Review from Tina H.
5/4/2010
I went here a couple of times and staff was always friendly. I got a grilled cheese sandwich here and it was pretty good. The croissants aren't that great but Toronto doesn't really have amazing croissants. Good selection of cheese that are properly labeled, reasonable prices, and friendly service... I'd definitely go back when I'm in the area and in need of cheese.
-
Review from Paolo P.
Hamilton, ON
6/11/2010 5 photos
I met Gurth Pretty, chef and cheese lover who wrote "The Definitive Guide to Canadian and Fine Cheese" at the Hamilton Food and Beverage Fest in April. Not one to question an expert I bought his book and while he was doing so I asked him about where I could find these cheeses. It is a rare thing that cheeses leave their Provinces but he did direct me to About Cheese on Church Street on Church street in Toronto. I went there yesterday nearly three months later and was blown away. The staff are intelligent about cheese and are also artist when it comes to helping you to find the one you will love. I was thinking about having a cheese and beer tasting. Most people don't even consider the two together but Dane Higgins the manager and Graham Teeple didn't bat an eye and they offered opinions and listened to my ideas as to what I believe I will serve my guest. They didn't try to put me off but instead offered they were grateful for this challenge showed me toward things that would go well with the Gin and even some idea's about what other accompaniments I may consider. They also appreciated that I had gone to their website and looked at some of the things they had to offer. Both Dane and Graham were happy to talk about how they came to be there and why they have stayed there. While
