This was on my list of must-do places while on vacation in the driftless area. It was just as advertised: nothing fancy, just good sandwiches at reasonable prices. I had limburger and salami on rye - my first taste of limburger - and it was great. Service was OK, but a little relaxed. Had the server suggested soup or a side, I probably would have ordered. Waited for our bill while the server chatted with another customer. read more

We stopped in on a family food and spectacle road trip through Wisconsin. We chose it because we noticed that there were a bunch of elderly gents in overalls/flannels milling about in front, which is the hallmark of good food in a small town. The menu is short but sweet, servers were quick and friendly and they made my beloved mother a sammich on gluten free bread she brought in without even batting an eye. I had a liverwurst sandwich, which was fantastic. They have a great little deli with nice local cheese and some other treats that was very well priced. Please go here if you find yourself in town- this is a restaurant with true Wisconsin character and its important that places like this fight on through the homogenization of small town America. Viva Liverwurst! read more

Excellent place for lunch! we had beer on tap, cheese freshly cut, and one of their homemade soups. (from which they had half a dozen to choose from) The real winner here is the service and the atmosphere. we had a great time looking at the walls filled with signs and murals, watching staff throw dollars on the ceiling, and cheese tasting. we will definitely be back! read more

Old world for sure. All you're getting here for food is cheese and deli sandwiches or the soups for the day. But they can't be beat. Lots of New Glarus on tap, as well as others (Hamms!). Bar is still holding onto its 1931 roots and if you're in the area, worth a stop for lunch and cheese read more

Awesome place. Good chili. Great spicy Bloody Mary. Incredible cheese selection. Great staff. Not sure what more you could ask for.

I'm a "local" and make a point to come to town and hit Baumgartner's at least a few times a year. It's such an original and local institution. The bar has incredible ambiance, a wonderful selection from our local cheese factories, and really friendly staff. The menu is local pub fare with a nice selection of local brews. The place can get crazy busy during games and town festivals but, it's always a good time. Family friendly for lunch and dinner - this should be on your "must visit" list any time you are in Green County! read more

Baumgartner's Cheese Store & Tavern - Very cool murals - Cheese Shops Near Me - Monroe, Wisconsin

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I come here every time I visit my dad and I love the atmosphere of this place. Very kicked back and an excellent place to pop in when the weather is frigid outside for cheese, beer, brats, and chili. The beer is a really great bottled selection from local breweries and the servers will be happy to explain each one. Really, you are in Wisconsin, so you just can't go wrong with beer! They also have a great selection of cheese and you can order a cheese sandwich or get some to go. During the summer, they also have a few tables outside to take in the view of the pretty little town of Monroe. read more

Not at all a cheese store. A very small cheese selection and no cheese curds when we went.

This might be my favorite place in Wisconsin. If you are looking for some cheese with your fun than this is your place. During a recent visit I experienced the best bloody Mary I have ever had, along with a delicious corned beef sandwich (yes, it was St. Patty's weekend), with bread so fresh it stuck to my teeth. The staff is funny and the owner even recognized me from five (yes, five) years ago- is that a good or bad thing?! There are fabulous murals of wine vs. beer and the signs behind the bar are priceless (my personal favorite reads: Unattended children will be given a shot and a free puppy). Tip: Be sure to donate a dollar (or more) and they'll throw it and tack it to the ceiling; all the money after a year is donated to local charities. read more

You HAVE to make a stop here if you're in Monroe and you've never been. We stopped here after having one too many free beer samples at Minhas brewery (just a block away) looking for cheese and beer. Cheese sandwiches are just what you'd expect, thick slices of excellent cheese between untoasted sliced bread served on paper (not plates.) Since Monroe is the only place that still makes Limburger cheese, you'll also have to try one of those sandwiches or it doesn't count. They taste better than they smell. Beer list is respectacle for small midwestern town located one block from a brewery. They carry most of the local microbrews/standards from the area. *Extremely* helpful and nice staff, even though the place was busy. Ask for the history of the beer/wine mural and they'll hand you a laminated history with hidden objects you may have missed. read more

Ya! This place is GQ (Great Quality). The beer taste good, the price is right and the 'Chili is off the hook'. I wish the hot food area did not close so early. Around 8pm? But thank you Baumgartner, I enjoyed my stay, I especially liked all your funny signs you had plastered around the bar area. read more

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So worth the stop! Friendly staff and simple options. Had the small cheese plate, nice thick slices of cheese and salami. read more

Baumgartner's Cheese Store & Tavern - Small cheese plate. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Monroe, Wisconsin

Do you like cheese? Do you like joints with tons of well-aged charm? Do you like one-of-a-kind places? If you do, then you'll love Baumgartner's. Oh, did I mention that they have lots of cheese and cheesy things there? The place was packed when I arrived there on a Saturday afternoon, but there was an open seat at the bar. So I settled in an grab a bite for lunch. Upon looking at the menu, I saw that they had lots of cheese-related items, including cheese sandwiches which many of the other patrons were enjoying. I went with the Brat since I was told it was the best in Wisconsin. It did not come with cheese on it which was fine with me, but there was a hunk of cheese on the side. Oh, and I could have ordered cheese with the meal also. Did I mention yet about the cheese? The Brat was OK, I think that the Brat Stop is better, but the Brat Stop does not give you a hunk of CHEESE with your brat, so I had that going for me at Baumgartner's. Everyone was friendly and the food came out quickly. The guy sitting next to me suggested the cheese sandwich for lunch, but since I had already ordered a Brat, I declined. Did I mention that the cheese selection was outstanding? When you're done with your meal, you can stop on the way out to further harden your arteries with some truly excellent cheese from the cheese shop at the front of the store. Would I go back? Absolutely. You should stop by too. Oh, and don't forget that they have lots of cheese there. read more

I LOVE Baumgartners. Whenever I'm back home I insist we make the 30 mile trek for the awesome food and atmosphere. I love the decorations on the inside, especially the giant map of the counties in Wisconsin. But obviously, the best part is the cheese!!! The cheese is so good. I prefer the brick cheese as I don't like sharp cheeses, but the rest of my family is obsessed with the sharp sharp cheddar cheese they have. My only critique of the restaurant is there is no fryer, and i love my french fries!!! Baumgartners is a great place to come and hang out for several hours with friends and family. There are huge TVs which always have sports playing on them, and there is a whole shelf full of board games. I highly recommend this place! read more

In Monroe on business and wanted to hit up a local place to grab some local grub. Hit up Yelp and saw this place had good reviews. Bellied up to the bar and ordered a grilled cheddar sandwich and a bowl of chili with onions. Sandwich was decent...I would've expected more cheese on a grilled cheese purchased at a cheese store...but hey. The chili was fantastic. Seriously just get a massive bowl of it. The call it the second best chili but idk...it was pretty great. Lightly sweet style. Yum... Service was good. My fellow dinners to my left n right were friendly...it's a good time. I'd go again. read more

If you haven't been to baumgartners you really missed out on one of the Finer Things in life. It's an example of Wisconsin at its finest! read more

Baumgartner's Cheese Store & Tavern - Cheese Shops Near Me - Monroe, Wisconsin

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Attentive and friendly service and one of a kind sandwiches, made for a pretty pleasant experience. For a unique experience and to support a great cause, be sure to ask the guys behind the bar about the money on the ceiling. I braved the Limburger and was not disappointed. The cheese soup was also superb. read more

Baumgartner's isn't fancy, but it's well worth the visit. It's a cheese shop with a bar and lots of Swiss decorations and trivia. The menu is limited, mainly sandwiches and soup/chili. I highly recommend the chili. They call it the 'second best' chili. Why? Because Mom's (your mom's) is the best. Prices are very reasonable and service is prompt and courteous. If you want to be adventurous, try the Limburger cheese and onion sandwich!!! read more

Nice staff. A historical landmark. I was surprised they don't make grilled cheese sandwiches!!! All that cheese & bread & not grill??? Smh but some people love it! Yesterday I ordered a cheese plate, chili, a brat, & a 4 layer horchata chocate tart! TO GO ORDER LOL so far I've are the brat, half the chili, a few bites of the cheesecake, & a half slice of the cheese. There's no wifi & my internet wasn't connecting, so I'm late with this review read more

I come through Monroe on a semi regular basis for work, and never stop for lunch, just because eating out of the way seems like a hassle. Baumgartner's made for the PERFECT to go lunch, delicious sandwich, reasonable price, everything you want and need. Ideally one day I'll sit and have a beer and some soup, but for now I will look for an excuse to come visit. read more

Came here as a party of 12 for lunch. We had an incredible time. We've been coming here for years. The food is great, they have an awesome beer selection, and the service is superb. This place is a favorite of ours for sure. read more

If they had a couch, I would move in. Best place on the square, a must visit for Monroe. Can't wait to come back and have another combo with braunschweiger and brick cheese. Fantastic! read more

My husband and I ate there last week. It's really a culinary surprise. We need to go more often!

It was the first time we came to eat here, and we will definitely be back when we are in town. The staff was prepared for Covid, and were super friendly. They throw money into the ceiling to collect for local charities... fun! The sandwiches were delicious as was dessert! We bought some cheese to take home for later... can't wait! Yum! read more

We had the chili with cheese and onions and the Reuben sandwich. Give this place it a try because it's old school with the long wooden bar and the wooden booths in front. Established in 1931 you know it has to be doing something right still serving the public. The food is always consistent and they have a good selection of beer on tap. They sell some of their products like the mustard, chili and a great selection of cheese and sausages. This place seems to be always busy and the servers are great every time we have stopped in. read more

THE CHILI. 2nd best in the world ain't a lie. Super inexpensive for what you are tasting. Our server was really nice, we actually ran into him at a concert later that eve and he remembered us. This place has such a relaxed atmosphere and you can feel the history & traditional values. All I want to know is how did you get all that money on the ceiling? This was my first time to Monroe WI. What a cool town. read more

Baumgartner's is one of the best things about Monroe. It's a little unassuming cheese store and bar on the courthouse square - the kind of place where locals take visitors, probably because they were heading there anyway. There's a hit-or-miss factor with local places in small towns, but Baumgartner's is a hit all the way. I grew up in Green County but I'm not really local to Monroe, yet my parents and I are always treated by the staff like neighbors they've known for years. The decor of the place fits the atmosphere perfectly. I think most of my knowledge of Switzerland comes from the demographic information on the wall. And the beer vs. wine war mural rivals the Sistine Chapel in its poignancy. Last Wednesday I was in Monroe for a training course, which was all the excuse my parents needed to arrange to meet up Wednesday for the baby back rib special. I parked on the square (a quarter buys you 4 hours!) and walked in to the wood table where my parents were already into their Berghoff & Hubers. I'd barely settled into my seat when Don, our waiter, came up and joined my parents in ribbing me about being late and, right to business, asked what kind of beer I wanted. We ordered our ribs, plus a to-go order for my grandmother, and received our sides quickly. The ribs came about the time the first Berghoff went down, and the server quickly grabbed me another. At this point my father decided that a trip to Baumgartner's wasn't complete until he ordered the Limburger & red onion sandwich, which came out moments later. I always have a bite, and it's good, but I can't take a whole sandwich (yet - I'm up to about a half before I give up and hand the rest to my father). The ribs were delicious and messy - I was washing off sauce over an hour later. Everything was just perfect. It is definitely not to be missed if you find yourself in Monroe. read more

I think Mike C and I are kindred spirits. Baumgartner's and Doolin, Ireland, in the same review - my brother! (Gus O'Connor's, I'm sure, is the fav in Doolin - Good Craic!). Agree with all reviewers on the pluses of this place. The aspect with not enough mention is the classic Limburger cheese sandwich. I drive 2.5 hours to get this delightful rendition from my Swiss-German roots (pronounced "ruhts"). Yes, Limburger is the butt (pun intended) of many jokes due to it's pungent address, but once you get past the smell, you've got it licked. The combo of Limburger, Huber Bock and chili makes for a gastro-eventful ride home. Best done in a convertible, but works OK with the windows down. If you visit, you must try the Limburger sandwich. Go big or go home. read more

Wednesday is rib night. Go there. As soon as you can. Seriously. They are the best ribs I've ever had. I randomly discovered their mastery of ribs last year. (I mean, it's not what I was expecting from the menu online.) I was ecstatic when I realized I was going to be in town for rib night again! I've got to find a way to get back to Monroe on another Wednesday night! read more

Wonderful! JASON created a cheese plate just for us. Memorable stop. GREAT selection of beers.

Baumgartner's is great. I don't know much about Wisconsin, or if places like this are common around the state, but I can tell you that I've never been to anywhere like this before. First off, this is where a cheese sandwich is truly a cheese sandwich. Slice of cheese, two slices of bread. Not toasted, nothing else added. They have some sauces on the table, and I highly recommend all three - spicy brown mustard, horseradish mayo, and a sweet and spicy sauce - but I'd say use them sparingly and switch them up for each bite. The sandwiches are served on a plain-ish rye (no caraway seeds or marbling or anything) that's soft and mild. The basic choices are brick (a local cheese that I'd never heard of), Swiss, or cheddar. They also have limburger and onion....maybe next time. I got the cheddar and hard salami sandwich. Very highly recommended. I love that they're served on a tiny piece of paper too. I also started with a cup of chili, which, while very good, probably isn't in the top 2, or even 5 that I've ever had. I washed it all down with a few of their local brews. All the beers were from around the area, and all were very good. Our server was super helpful in recommending beers and other menu items. We also walked out with a 5 year cheddar (amazing), some Landjaeger beef jerky, and a jar of that spicy sweet mustard. Can't wait to go back! read more

Absolutely our favorite little bar. We come to Monroe often just for this place and it's about 60 miles away from home. The staff is excellent, always friendly and smiley even when they have a line out the door. Don't miss the cheese trays, chili, or the cold meat and cheese sandwiches. If you get there at lunch time be prepared to wait, but they will give you beer while you stand in line so no biggie. Nothing fancy here, just enjoy a good draft beer and cheese sandwich and enjoy the scene. read more

Cool little stop for us out-of-towners. Saw this place on the food channel or something like that for their famous limburger sandwich. Thank god I tried a sample first.....that was the worst thing I have ever put in my mouth. Might be good for some, but no. I opted for the italian beef.....the bomb!!! The cheese sandwiches are just that.....cheese and bread, no big deal. Bloody Mary's were awful as well. My daughter had the chili, she said it was the best she ever had, she didn't leave me a bite, so I believe her. Fun touristy spot read more

We go for the Limburger sandwich any time we're within fifty miles of Monroe. Lots of onion slices, mustard. on their good rye bread. Craft beer on tap. Great afternoon! read more

This is great to have a beer and cheese plate with friends. Awesome service and good food always satisfy. I love the atmosphere and options for beer. You don't find many options in other bars around town. Plus, cheese sandwiches are great. And you don't get those in other places either. read more

Very cool, nostalgic place. The staff was awesome! We brought an entire hockey team there. They were so patient and courteous to our loud group. Loved it! read more

I love a place that lets me experience new things, especially if they relate so deeply with local culture. I have never experienced anything such as the Limburger cheese, wow! I had the brown apple, their specialty Limburger cheese and liver with onion sandwich. It's quite a strong experience like nothing I have ever had before. I also had the cheese platter, love the brick I have never had that before. Amazing service and location, especially because she let us try the Limburger before we ordered (that's amazing service). It's a super cool place too eat, and the cheese sandwich is amazing. I look foreword for a rematch with the Limburger cheese sandwich and the brown apple, 100% would recommend!!! read more

Baumgartner's Cheese Store & Tavern - The large cheese platter, chili and "brown apple" sandwich - Cheese Shops Near Me - Monroe, Wisconsin

This place is a trip! The first thing you'll notice when you walk in is the menu. There are probably a dozen items on it, a large majority of which are cheese sandwiches. That is, bread, cheese, more bread. I had a Braunschweiger sandwich with brick cheese and onions, and even that was a stretch. I felt like I was being one of those picky diners who changes the menu on everything they order, but that wasn't the fault of the staff, who were extremely welcoming. A meal here feels like sitting in your quirky grandpa's basement, from the stack of board games (there were more board games than menu options) to the scads of dollar bills stuck to the ceiling (I won't tell you too much about that, as it's worth experiencing on your own). I'd call this a must-see in Monroe, WI. read more

Get yourself a cheese sandwich, chili, and a beer and you wont be disappointed. Also, remember that they take cards but only accept cash tips! read more

This place is great! Super friendly staff and the service is prompt. Great beer selection! Our group had a reuben sandwich, smoked brat, corned beef sandwich and two of the soups - all wonderful. Smoked brat was the big hit - be sure to add their house mustards. Remember to ask about the dollar bills on the ceiling ... read more