The Cheese Shop I'm honestly mad at myself for not taking pictures -- because this place is that fun. You can grab a sandwich (lots of great options) and their house dressing alone is worth the stop. Seriously delicious. But the real fun is the cheese counter. You can build your own cheese board, browse all their incredible cheeses and charcuterie options, and then... here's the best part... Take everything downstairs to the cellar, order a glass (or bottle) of wine, and just enjoy. No rush. No fuss. Just good food, good wine, and a great atmosphere. It's one of those spots that feels like an experience, not just a meal. Fun, relaxed, and so, so yum. If you're in Colonial Williamsburg, don't skip this one. Grab cheese, grab wine, and settle in -- you'll be glad you did. read more

I admire this cheese shop in Merchant Square. It's definitely a place you'll want to check out when visiting Colonial Williamsburg. The first level is the market, filled with an abundance of craft beers, drinks, cheeses, breads, sandwiches, deli items, ingredients, and more. The lower level is the tasting room, and there's also outdoor seating available, although it can feel a bit tight. We didn't get a chance to try anything since it was close to closing time, but I can definitely see this place getting super busy on the weekends. read more

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The cheese shop is still a great place right in Merchant's square! I got my usual and it was fresh and delicious! Turkey & Provolone on French Bread! I also tried one of their chocolate chip cookies and a brookie and they were both delicious! Will get those again! Loved that on a busy Sunday lunch time that they had an employee greeting everyone and telling them how the ordering process works and directing people to where they ahold go! Made everything so efficient! No seating inside but plenty outside! Also lots of yummy treats and food items to look at inside while waiting for your sandwich to be prepared! read more

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We stopped in on a crowded Tuesday during Garden Week. Our order was taken quickly but there was quite a crowd waiting on food. It was a little awkward because you didn't have any where to stand and not be in the way of items. I ordered a glass of wine and appreciated that I could pay a $3 deposit and have a real stemmed glass. I got my $3 back when I returned the glass. It was nice to sit outside on a beautiful day and enjoy a delicious sandwich. I think if I went more often the ordering and pickup wouldn't feel so overwhelming. read more

The Cheese Shop - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

I was very disappointed with this place... It seems to be popular with the gluten free crowd... I guess I expected real bread, but they only have sliced white (granted it was bigger than most gf slices) but no toppings, no onion, tomato, lettuce... It was just really sad. Their regular bread looks incredible and I assume thats where the love is. Also at a place called the cheese shop, I expected a better variety of cheese, and better quality. I got cheddar and it tasted like a cheap lack of flavor type... and I am not picky about cheese. It is cute, a lot to see and walk around, grab random foods you won't find anywhere else. I just wish a sandwich shop stepped it up a little bit. read more

The Cheese Shop - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

This is always a stop when we come to Colonial Williamsburg. It's not your typical cheese shop where they let you sample the cheese before committing. Nonetheless, we enjoy stopping by as it's so convenient to the rest of the shops in town. Our kids loved the many snacks we picked up here including the crackers, the jamon imberico, and variety of cheeses. Our daughter was also excited to pick out some cornichons to taste with all of the cheeses. This shop can get very busy so expect some lines if visiting during peak tourist seasons. There is a sandwich shop in the back for a quick grab and go option along with tables along the side of the restaurant and out front. read more

We ordered sandwiches from here. I thought to myself that a grilled cheese sandwich from the cheese shop must be cheesy delicious, right? Nope. First, one side of the sandwich was made with an end of the bread. The sandwich was extremely dry and it's a though they didn't put butter on the bread before grilling. My husband ordered a combo America with their famous house dressing. Any veggies on it were extra. They barely put and of the dressing on it as you will see in the Pic. Plus they were very slowwwww. I will not eat here again. read more

The Cheese Shop - Combo sandwich showing next to nothing regarding dressing. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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I got a custom cheese plate made by one of their cheesemongers. I asked for "weird" cheeses and she delivered! One was made with peppers and so a little spicy. One was made with sage. Another was a very fluffy soft cheese. And the final was a classic double Gloucestershire. It was a little too much for one person so I'd recommend asking for a plate of about $15. Pair it with a $7-8 glass of wine. Sit outside and enjoy the ambiance. My only complaint is that the ordering system was a little confusing. read more

The Cheese Shop - Custom cheese plate for $21. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

Williamsburg, VA, is a wonderful study in colonial life and times made manifest by the Rockefeller Foundation over many decades. You don't have to be a history buff to totally enjoy a day or more wandering around its brick sidewalks. We stopped at The Cheese Shop after visiting the Muscarelle Museum of Art on the William & Mary campus. On a hot, muggy day in the 90s, it was a cool oasis. I ordered a Chicken Salad & Bacon on Sourdough sandwich and a can of Celsius fruit drink to boost my blood sugar and rehydrate. Although sitting outside under an umbrella, the shade was just enough to make the heat/humidity manageable, with a slight breeze generated by the air moving between sun and shadow. The sandwich was very good and obviously made on demand. Service was efficient and friendly, with only a small "Williamsburg premium." A nice place to have a sit down and watch the heat of the day wait for us to finish and reenter the fray. read more

The Cheese Shop - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

This place is a must when visiting Colonial Williamsburg! The young ladies working were definitely cheesemongers! We had a charcuterie board customized just for us. We were able to select the cheeses/meats we wanted to pair with the bottle of wine we purchased. The atmosphere is inviting and gives the impression of a European bistro. At least what I think a European Bistro would be like. I have never been to Europe! Next time I'm in the area this will be my first stop! Give them a try-you're welcome! read more

The Cheese Shop - Customized charcuterie and delicious wine - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

We pick up sliced turkey, country ham, Swiss cheese, and (of course) the Cheese Shop dressing every time we visit Williamsburg. And then we'll make sandwiches throughout the week. Pick up an heirloom tomato, the sandwich changes. Swap rye bread for a sliced French loaf and this variation on a theme reveals a new delight. read more

These sandwiches are so fresh. The shop itself is cute too with wine, sodas, beers, charcuterie boards etc.

Small shop with lots of baked goods from outside vendors and drink options as well, but you're in for the sandwiches. To me, it was honestly nothing special. $10-12 for a sandwich is expensive, and while they were GOOD, they were nothing special. What stood out to me is my younger one tried to get a grilled cheese, and they told us they were out. I didn't seek clarification on that, because in retrospect maybe they meant the grill was off, but how else are you gonna tell me you're a sandwich shop and "out" of grilled cheese?! read more

Amazing selection, awesome experience with staff. This will be on my list of places I will revisit.

Gonna get flamed but so so overrated. Huge crowd on Saturday morning (esp on W&M move-in weekend) thus was expecting a yummy sandwich - sadly, mediocre at best. Note , to move the line along, sauce/condiment served on side - hubs didn't realized his mustard packet was in bag (thought omitted) until after finishing half sandwich (sigh). Both sandwiches could easily be made at home - ingredients weren't fancy or unique. Really don't get the hype. read more

Came here for lunch and it was okay. Got the roast beef and the sandwich of the day. Got some cheese and meat as well including the bread ends. There are plenty of sitting areas around to enjoy. The place was packed, I could see it has local followers as well. read more

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Wow! My sandwich was a 10/10! Delicious! ...bread was fresh, the house dressing was just right amount to add to the classic combo of prosciutto/provolone was perfection! The staff was efficient & friendly with the amount of lunchtime volume. It is worth the wait and you must add this to your "to do/visit list" for Colonial Williamsburg, VA! The shop also had a nice selection of Virginia culinary items for sale such as cheeses, sauces, peanuts and other gourmet food items stacked neatly on shelves. Enjoy! read more

The Cheese Shop - Prosciutto & Provolone, Roasted tomatoes & house dressing on Focaccia! - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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Rude cashier on 2.20.26. I was in line, 2 other African American ladies were in front. The rude cashier thought we were together. I told her she should have said, "I can help the next customer" instead of ASS-UMING I was with the other ladies. She became combative after my comment. I departed the restaurant & purchased delicious food from Mellow Mushroom & had a delightful customer service experience!! read more

This has become me and hubby's tradition when we're in town. We often come here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. I tend to order their prosciutto, cheese and tomato on a baguette. And I usually order a cheese meat mini plate to go. Always delicious. Their shop is so busy and it usually requires a Xanax to deal with the chaos when you're inside, but it's always worth it. Delicious food. Nice people. read more

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The cheese shop has been my favorite lunch place in williamsburg and the best spot to get a sandwich since i was very little. My parents went to William and Mary and every homecoming, this is a most-looked forward to staple. So amazing! I usually get the sliced chicken sandwich on wheat with pepper jack cheese, sprouts, tomatoes, and the house dressing. Highly recommend also getting some bread ends to dip into the house dressing read more

The Cheese Shop - chicken sandwich - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

The wine cellar at the Cheese Shop is a great place to find wine for dinner or for a party. The people who work there are knowledgeable and can help you find the perfect wine to fit your needs and in your price point. If they don't have what you are looking for in the shop, they can often order it for you or find something similar. In addition to selling bottles of wine, they offer a wine club where they select a bottle each month from their distributor for club members for one annual fee. They send you information about the wine in a monthly newsletter. The first Saturday of each month they offer a tasting of that month's selection if you pick up your bottle that Saturday. They also offer a 10% discount on all bottles you purchase that first Saturday. If you would like a glass of wine to enjoy with your cheese or sandwich from the Cheese Shop upstairs, they offer selections by the glass. In the winter they also often sell cups of mulled wine. So perfect on a chilly day. read more

I have been visiting Colonial Williamsburg for 25 years and wanted to bring my friends visiting from NY to The Cheese Shop. After getting their sandwiches, they walked over to the area to pay that's on the side of the cheese shop where I think you sell just wine and cheese. A middle aged female employee (not the young, tall , female employee) walked over to the counter and instead of just telling them to pay up front, she rudely said "do you not see the PAY HERE sign? Can you not read?" To say I was shocked and embarrassed for my visiting friends is an understatement! My friends just walked away and paid upfront, but I knew I would be writing a review. For the record, this happened on Tuesday, March 10th at about 1-1:30pm. I do hope you can address this employee about her harsh and rude behavior. read more

What a disappointment. Wanted something quick and easy for lunch while visiting colonial Williamsburg. While waiting to enter one of the many incredible historical buildings, someone highly recommended the cheese shop for a really good sandwich. I don't think so! It's a sandwich shop in the back is a small store. The sandwiches were pretty weak. We had baked ham and cheese on French baguette. Thinly sliced ham with single slice of cheese along with their signature mayo/mustard spread. The sandwich lacked any flavor had maybe 2 thinly sliced pieces of ham. I've seen and had better sandwiches at a local grocery store! There are much better places to eat while visiting. read more

The cheese shop had always been an enjoyable spot to grab a sandwich. Service was fine and the store relatively quiet. The tuna salad was yummy until it came with a mouthful of plastic wrap. It is beyond me the kitchen crew could not see they included it on the sandwich. Quite disappointing! read more

The Cheese Shop - Tuna salad on French Bread came with a mouthful of plastic wrap. Not the quality I would have expected from a recommended site. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

The place was packed, I had hopes it was a good sign. I went looking for a very of cheese pieces that I could sample like what I'm used to at Amish markets. They don't do that. I had also hoped they did flights so I could Bret before I buy. NOPE. You either already know what you want or just enjoy paying way more than normal in the hopes that you don't hate it. read more

5 stars! Absolutely love this place! I have been coming here for over 20 years. Food is fresh and delicious and healthy. Love this place! read more

The Cheese Shop - Egg salad sandwich - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

This is a cute deli and gourmet food store (with wine and beer) in the heart of Merchants Square. It's well worth a stop - especially if the weather is nice for an outdoor picnic. I came here around 5:20pm on a Wednesday evening in late October 2023, but arrived too late to order a sandwich (they stop talking orders around 5:30pm). Instead, I picked up a cheese plate ($11), bottle of water, and some Petite Cider (from Potter's Craft Cider in Charlottesville, VA). Overall, I enjoyed the delicious cheese plate with sausage, which made a pleasant low-carb picnic meal outdoors. Would have preferred a glass of wine, but the dry cider was nice for a fall evening. I hope to return during the day on a future visit to try their sandwiches. The only downside is the early closing time for sandwich orders (be sure to arrive by 5:15pm!). read more

The Cheese Shop - Dry cider from Potter's was pleasant to drink on a fall evening. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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As a William and Mary alum, I have been visiting The Cheese Shop and enjoying bread ends and house dressing for 20+ years. I remember when it was a different location, smaller, and the only way to get house dressing was in a small tub. So as much as I love this place, I have to say I was a bit disappointed in my most recent visit (November 2024)--after waiting in line to order for 15 minutes, waiting another 10 for my order, I excitedly picked up my sandwich (ham, swiss, sprouts and house dressing on French Bread--I'll never stray from this combo), grabbed my chips, and got a draft local beer (another pleasant new-ish addition, but another 10 minute wait). I headed outside to enjoy the sun and relive college memories...only to find hard bread, not nearly enough dressing, and extremely salty ham. The staff was clearly working as hard/fast as they could and they were very kind, but it's just hard to have high expectations and then have everything fall a little flat (especially after waiting so long). So I think what I'm trying to say is: the people are great, the House Dressing is popular for a reason, but I think it might be a case of a place of being *too* popular and growing *too* fast...or that could just be my nostalgia talking. read more

The Cheese Shop - This photo is from my sandwich in 2020--which was delightful. I was so disappointed in my sandwich in 2024 I didn't even take a picture. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

Very busy! There is barely any room to walk. I felt like everyone was bumping into everyone. It was hard to look around and see if we wanted anything due to the amount of people there in the shop. Waited nearly 40 minutes in line to try a sandwich. It's pricey for not having that many options. It's cool to do once but would never go back to. The sandwich is not worth the wait. They do have a gluten free bread for the sandwiches. read more

This was a MUST stop for me this trip. I love the sandwiches, I got the turkey with provolone and the house sauce (chef's kiss). I also enjoyed a glass of wine. The service was quick and helpful with questions. Others in our party enjoyed the PBJ on brioche bun, baked ham and provolone on French bread, and the Route 11 chips! It was a lovely day so we sat on the covered patio to enjoy our meal. read more

The Cheese Shop - Turkey and provolone on sourdough bread with a glass of pinto Grigio. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

Always love the bustling cheese shop! It has high end products at fair prices. I always enjoy grabbing a simple but delicious sandwich with a fun drink and treat. It's also fun to grab a few cheese types, bread ends and have a picnic, so many options! read more

Please don't call regular bread FOCACCIA! It was a very dense bread. The sandwich was okay not great. May need to try one more time before I say never goin back read more

The Cheese Shop - Focaccia prosciutto provolone, sun-dried tomato sandwich - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

Finally braved the line and ate a Sandy from here. Bullet point review for here from todays visit 12/30/22 * They are always very busy unless you come during the week when everyone is in work or school. When they are busy there is a line that forms on the side of the building, exit is out the front. I love that they only let in so many people some to order some to just shop. You could walk around. Problem is when people bring in all their family/friends to order sandwiches then all those people stand off to the side waiting, which causes a cluster. * It's hard to see all that there is to offer at the Cheese Shop with the crowd. * The sandwiches were pretty good. Not packed with cheese and meat, mild. Their sauce is amazing... it's a doctored up mayo. * staff seemed stressed at the order line. I understand that there is a lot of stress because of the amount of people and line. But, yeah. I'll leave it at that. * I feel like there could be a better ordering system. Maybe electronic via a website? That way customers can stay outside and lit shoppers shop. Then have a pick up window? * My son and friend ordered their special of the day and there was stuff missing or it was the wrong meat. Either way it was not what was advertised. We never went back to fix the problem because some of the staff was irritated and stressed so we just let it be. I will give it a go next time. But, something has to change. After reading all the other reviews I'm not alone. read more

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Fast friendly service in a tourist town... an I dreaming? No, this place is awesome, great made to order sandwiches filled with flavor and deliciousness. The house dressing made on site is over the top good!!! Pickup a bag of bread ends and enjoy!! This place is a classic deli with charm and when you walk I. You know you'll leave with something great!! Enjoy!! read more

Great variety of cheese, wine, & beer. Was pleasantly surprised to find Sip Of Sunshine & Hazy Rays.

Whenever I'm in downtown, this place is my top choice. I usually grab sandwiches to take with me while exploring historical sites. This time, we all got sandwiches and enjoyed them outside. It's a combination of a sandwich shop and a general store, and they even have a wine bar in the basement. You can also get canned beers or wine to accompany your sandwich on the go. The patio is dog-friendly, but the interior is small and tends to get crowded. They don't allow strollers on weekends, but the line moves quickly. You can customize your sandwich by choosing your bread, meat, cheese, and toppings, and you pay for each item separately. On this visit, I tried their daily special, which was an egg sandwich on a baguette with micro greens. It was exactly what I was craving for the day and tasted great. The only thing I wish they had is a designated area for stroller parking or the option for online orders that can be brought to your table or picked up from a shelf outside the exit door. This would make it more convenient for people with dogs and kids. Other than that, it's a fantastic place to people-watch, and the sandwiches are consistently delicious. read more

The Cheese Shop - From the patio - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

2.5 Stars. Well, the jury is still out for me on this place and it's going to take a couple more visits. Overhyped potentially? I know very little about this place, and it wasn't until some W&M kids who mentioned this place that piqued my interest. I got the infamous "bread ends" and dressing, and you know, I was just expecting more. Also got some egg salad in the refrigerated case and just thought it was meh. Both the egg salad and house dressing I found to be mustard/dijon based, which I think could have used a tad more salt or celery salt, or even a pinch of curry powder to bring out the flavors of the Dijon more. I think the house dressing will pair wonderfully on a ham sandwich with a mild, white cheese though, but the French bread is just ok. That's just my humble opinion. I'll have to get a sandwich here soon, but I was pressed for time, and the lines are long! I wasn't terribly impressed with my purchases though, and for me, a hard sandwich to beat is one from my UC Berkeley days at Cafe Intermezzo (now renamed as just 'Mezzo'), with an amazing monster side salad with their amazingly yummy housemade poppyseed dressing to boot (they also sell bread ends of their amazing honey wheat too!), now that's a real sandwich and meal that's hard to beat!!! But I'll give The Cheese Shop another go or two... read more

Say cheese! And charcuterie! Just about any cheese you can imagine, cured meats, relishes, olives, condiments, sweets/baked goods, pastas and sauces, and tons more line shelves and end caps of this "must go" cheese shop! The wine shop downstairs has an amazing selection of wines, Prosecco, spritzers, a frig with chilled wines. The service downstairs was impeccable. We ordered several rosés and moscatos to enjoy with the small charcuterie platter from the prepared food case. This petite cheese board was a pleasant snack which we enjoyed outside on the patio with our wine selections, but for the prices, we expected more food. Their cracker selection isn't great, although we ended up finding some rosemary cracker strips that were okay. We scored with precut slices of My Grandma's of New England coffee cake and some Italian amaretto cookies! This tourist center is super busy and crowded. Despite that, our check out process was smooth and we were given disposable glasses for our wines, along with utensils, etc. which made our respite enjoyable. Outside, a talented gentleman played the violin, but sadly a police office made him leave. Several patrons, including us, were disappointed. But enough "wining", check out this place for a Gouda time!! read more

The Cheese Shop - Perfect day to chill and charcuterie - Cheese Shops Near Me - Williamsburg, Virginia

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If you are in the Williamsburg area and like a good sandwich, you have to visit the Cheese Shop. The bread, cheese, and meat are super fresh and tasty. Currently, they only serve cold sandwiches (and no more salmon). We had to wait for 40 min at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon for our food (a bit too long). There was not too much seating inside the restaurant or on the patio so we sat on the bench and gobbled up our food. A big thumbs up from my 6-year old daughter. read more

You can always count on this place lunch spot to be consistent in Williamsburg. It never disappoints. Great food and if there is a line it moves fairly quickly and it's worth the wait. The price point is an added bonus. read more