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Leslieville Cheese Market
Category: Food Specialty Food Cheese Shops Cheese Shops [Edit]
541 Queen St WToronto, ON M5V 2B6
Neighbourhoods: Alexandra Park, Queen Street West
(416) 361-3111
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
15 reviews for Leslieville Cheese Market
15 reviews in English
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Review from Jessika D.
Toronto, ON
5/5/2012
I likes me cheese. A lot.
I have two particular cheeses I'm always looking for:
Gouda. Particularly Frico-brand Gouda (imported from the Netherlands). I find most places either sell cheap and bland Gouda, or if they have Frico brand, they sell pre-packaged slabs that are great if you like your cheese in cubes, and suck if you like it in slices because after a few uses, it gets so thin it disintegrates in your hands. I usually buy 1/4 or 1/5th of a wheel and make it really last.
Taleggio. Particularly the really stinky variety. (Imported from Italy.) Don't breath on anyone after you eat any of it, but it's really yum.
I've *never* seen a store anywhere - the U.S., Canada or Europe - that sells *both* of these. Frankly, there aren't that many shops that store Italian and Dutch cheese together, let alone the two I love.
Until I discovered the Leslieville Cheese Market.
As a born&raised Montrealer of Dutch origin, the ultimate breakfast food for me is a good Montreal bagel with sliced Frico Gouda.
Thanks to a stop at Leslieville Cheese Market last night, I got to have just that for breakfast this morning, including a bagel from the stack of half a dozen St. Urbain bagels I took home from the shop last night. *droooooooooooooooool* They have Frico in a whole wheel and said cutting me a 1/4 wheel wouldn't be a problem (though they did request I give them a day or two's notice if that's what I plan to order).
Can't wait to go back for lunch... they look like they have a selection of grilled cheese sandwiches I look forward to trying... -
Review from Yvonne T.
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had a Groupon voucher for 2 Grilled Cheese Sandwiches and as a cheese lover, I was excited!
This location is home to pâtés, soups, duck confits and much more prepared foods. You will also find a few offerings of bread available.
Their crowning glory however, seems to be the Grilled Cheese Sandwich.
Unfortunately, on this particular weekday that I went, many of the options weren't available. They only had the Swiss and the Classic grilled cheeses available though the girl serving us did say she could check if others could be made to order.
We just opted for what they had.
Although the cheese is rich and bold in flavour, for a Grilled Cheese Sandwich it lacked the gooey-ness I was so looking forward to. The bread was buttered, but nothing special. It was just OK.
All in all, its a great way to fill up during lunch, but I might just wander over to Banh Mi Boys next time to see what they have to offer. -
Review from Jen C.
10/17/2011 10 Check-ins Here
Larger than their Queen East location, this Leslieville Cheese Market is geared toward the lunch crowd with its plentiful offerings of take-away goods. One of them being a grilled cheese sandwich, of course.
Otherwise, they do have plenty of cheeses, breads, crisps, and cured meats (including the gypsy salami that I love so much - un-sliced!) to take home. Or if you're like me, to buy some for lunch. They have a convenient half-baguette to bolster your meal of meat and cheese. The garlic-stuffed olives are also a good addition to the impromptu ploughman's, though salty if eaten alone.
Something I hadn't noticed in their Eastern counterpart was the abundance of sauces and house dips. An interesting balsamic ketchup caught my eye - will have to try it out next time! -
Review from Tara A.
2/1/2011
My walk home from work is filled with fashion temptations and the occasional ... ok frequent homeless person... there aren't many opportunities between Spadina and Trinity bellwoods to pick up some supplies for dinner. Leslieville Cheese Market is a great store to supply me with my goods.
I will say this past weekend I bought some brie that was "off" and so yesterday i stopped in on my way home to let them know and they didn't even flinch. They immediately gave me another cheese and were great about it. I couldn't believe how well they handled it.
I will definitely continue to go to this store for all of my cheese needs. Their spreads are definitely worth a try too. -
Review from Bryan G.
Toronto, ON
3/23/2011
GENERAL NOTES
Great little shop with an abundance of cheeses, meats, dips, breads and frozen foods. Also a grilled cheese counter, home to some of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I've had to date.
They also offer cheese school, wine and cheese nights and catering services.
MENU RECOMMENDATIONS
Spicy tuna melt grilled cheese
4 cheese grilled cheese
I know the dips are all made in the store so I'm sure they're good but I've never tried them.
LOCATION NOTES
South side of Queen at Augusta. They also have a store in (surprise) Leslieville.
SERVICE NOTES
The staff is very friendly and will be helpful in educating/advising/suggesting so just ask. I asked for a sample of something that was particularly good and was immediately handed an apple wood smoked cheddar that made me forget about everything else.
HUMOUROUS STORY
I know the grilled cheeses are so good because I occasionally do general labour for them in exchange for sandwiches. I think that's funny. -
Review from Deanna W.
8/22/2009
There is really no better snack food than cheese, it's easily accessible, comforting and requires very little prep! Just slice and go or a nibble here and there?
Leslieville cheese market offers various hard, soft and semi-soft cheeses in it's Queen West location. The selection leans more towards artisan Canadian and int'l cheeses. For example I cannot come here in search of a cheap standby cheddar a la Global cheese in Kensington because they do not offer that. There also seems to be a smaller selection here than other cheese emporiums about town. And it could be just me but prices here appear be higher than other shops.
They do however, offer a wide variety of gourmet sides for the cheese lover, from the wonderful Epi breads (the fig bread is delicious), homemade dips, cured meats and olives. Grilled cheese lovers take note: they have several varieties of the gourmet snack for purchase from a cheddar&bacon to blue cheese with pear. A major downside is that although they come with a free dipping sauce they are also priced at $7. And at that price I expect a decent hunk of oozing cheese! Sadly my blue cheese version was a tad short of that mark.
As with the other reviewer, I do like that they label the packages of cheese so you can keep track. Although given the small selection of cheese and the slightly higher prices, I would consider LCM perfect for cheese in pinch rather than as a mainstay cheese shop.Listed in: Say Cheese! (Toronto)
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Review from Kat T.
11/22/2009
The Leslieville Cheese Market branch on Queen West serves delicious Grilled Cheese sandwiches, but when you don't feel like fried cheese and bread, sample some of the millions of dips and spreads they make in-house. I've bought several including chipotle hummus and yellow daal dip. The salmon cream cheese spread is also available for sample frequently and I can't walk by the place without trying that. I will buy it one of these days. They are a small shop and sometimes run out of the great cheeses you might have bought there before.
And like most places, the bread can get stale (especially the baguettes) quickly. So ensure you are getting the freshest stuff before you buy. I've been disappointed once when I got home and had a brick baquette. -
Review from Caroline Z.
Toronto, ON
8/9/2010
I go here quite often to pick up breads, cheese, sandwiches, etc. The sandwiches are delicious and come with tasty little sauces incl. a piri piri which can be bought at the store. Some people find the sandwiches overpriced for what they are (slight and compressed, panini style -- just enough) -- but I enjoy them nonetheless.
The bread is fresh and they have plenty of cheeses to choose from, though not as much as some of the shops in Kensington Market and St. Lawrence Market. -
Review from Eric M.
2/22/2010
This little shop has a great selection of baked goods, spreads and cheese. The meat selection isn't as varied as I would have hoped but what they do have is quite nice and from local sources (at least what I've seen so far).
The staff have always been cheerful and attentive with good suggestions on cheese and meat pairings.
I love their "Zebra snack pack". Five year old cheddar strips and pepperettes. Good times. -
Review from Monica R.
Vancouver, BC
7/21/2009
If you don't want to go all the way to the east side to Leslieville Cheese Market, you can stay comfy on the west end as they now have a second location on Queen Street West (conveniently located near the Healthy Butcher).
This location will also be offering cheese and wine classes like the original store.
The first time I went here, the staff were pretty inattentive, but I'll chalk that up to the store being new (I was in there the second day it opened). The second time was much better and I ended up getting a free baguette which was pretty decent. I'm a cheese newbie so the staff were patient with me while I tried to pick something out.
What I like about this store is that they label all the cheeses so when you bring it home, you know exactly what it is.
P.S. Try the La Sauvagine if you love buttery soft cheeses -- delicious! -
Review from Weez G.
Toronto, ON
2/12/2012
You're better of going a few more blocks to Kensington where the holy Trinity (Cheese Magic, Mendel's Creamery &Global Cheese) will provide you with more variety, better prices and knowledgeable staff. The kid working in Leslieville's Queen West location was polite and attentive when I went but didn't know anything about cheese. For example, when I saw they made various cheese dips, I asked if they ever made cold-pack spreads to order. Eegads, I confused the youth who asked in a spacey way, "You mean you want one of those cheese plates? They're in the cooler so they're cold." I tried to explain what cold-pack spreads were but was met with a gaze akin to those kittens on the toilet paper commercial and then a plug for the pre-topped Brie for sale in its own baking dish. (Yikes!) I was also unable to get any help when I asked about an unfamiliar cheese other than "Yeah, people like it." What people? Cheddar fans? Amish Stink Cheese fans? Velveeta fans? Is it good with ale, red wine or grated on pasta? If you don't know how to dump some marmalade on a Brie yourself, then this is the store for you. If you would rather buy cheeses and serve them in your own way at home you will need to know exactly what you want before you come in here. Or you can buy one of the plates with the cheese all pre-cut (Faux Pas!) and shrink-wrapped. Of course if you know all about cheese you would never do that and if you don't know all about cheese this place won't teach you.
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Review from Jonas B.
Toronto, ON
9/20/2009
Swing by for an excellent selection of cheese and charcuterie. First discovered this spot while the owner was doling out free samples during the ossington blackout party. The homemade gypsy salami is particularly delicious and a steal for just 6.95 :)
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Review from Amanda L.
Toronto, ON
8/15/2010
Another favourite of mine. Although, I do agree with some of the other reviews that they don't always have a ton of stock or the same cheeses consistently. However, I have gotten some great cheeses here (stilton, abotts caramelized onion cheddar). They also have a little section of gluten free products (cookies and amazing croutons). The dips are pretty good too. I always find something neat here...like the crackers made entirely from cheese...delicious!
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Review from Tina H.
5/4/2010
I've grabbed some grilled cheese sandwiches here. Their sandwich boards claim to have amazing grilled cheese sandwiches. I'd say they're pretty good but not that great. A tad too salty, and the bread is super hot, razor sharp and cuts right through your mouth. Not the dining experience I'm looking for, especially since they don't have a place to sit and eat it, slicing my mouth off in the dead of winter in the bus shelter is not my ideal way of consuming a $6-8 (can't remember) grilled cheese sandwich.
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Review from fred f.
ON
1/4/2010
there is not a reason to cross the street, unless you want crack from the trashy dealers at the resto next door.
i walk in. ask for st. andre-out of stock she says-we really have nothing like it she says.
i says leslieville is full of people who really like to spend within their means and cheese is not a necessity.
when she says that, and offers nothing else...in a roomful of cheese...i says go home.
