I heard a lot of good things about Van Hook, so gave it a try on a random weekday for dinner. Because it closes at 7pm, I had to rush a little bit to grab dinner, though working from home does have its perks on days like this. When you enter, you're amazed at the selection of different cheeses, chips, crackers, etc. etc. I was tempted to buy them all, but showed wise restraint. After like 5-10 minutes, the grilled cheese was ready to takeout. I ordered the classic with spicy honey. It was solid, though I was a bit surprised with the bread chosen because I've always been used to seeing super thick and chewy. However, the benefit of that is that it becomes super yummy without feeling super heavy. I was thoroughly impressed. At just under $10, it's a pretty solid deal. read more

Van Hook Cheese & Grocery - Classic Grilled Cheese with Spicy Honey. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Cheesy Vegetarian here: I am in cheesy heaven - so many options and so little time, what can I do?!?! Findings: Unique cheeses and crackers Place is veyr well lit Staff are cordial and friendly read more

Cheese and meats, meats and cheeses. This place is the charcuterie board heaven! A little pricey but the quality cannot be argued. All they're missing are some vegan cheeses but I know they can be hard to come by in the area. Love it! read more

The bomb! If you are a foodie, looking for speciality items or trinkets, unique coffee beans, darn good cheese, or a bomb artisanal grilled cheese sandwich... this is your one stop shop. I ordered a grilled cheese with onions. It takes about 10-15 min for it to be prepared. It is well worth the wait. I would suggest ordering it first and then wandering the shop. The onions were perfectly sweet through great caramelization. The bread was buttery and crispy. The cheese was of the upmost quality and taste. Just a well rounded combo and sandwich. The service here is friendly. Would definitely come back to this location. There's also a Montclair location which is a bit larger than the JC location. read more

Pretty place. We seldomly come here to buy their cheese. Service is great. They even got a mini market shelf. read more

Van Hook Cheese & Grocery - Taking a stroll - Cheese Shops Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

They have a separate sandwich menu you can ask for. The truffle Gouda with honey was amazing. House mutz is a must try as well! read more

Van Hook Cheese & Grocery - Sandwich menu - Cheese Shops Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

We have legit walked by Van Hook numerous times, but we never went inside. I was walking back from the post office, was starving, and saw some people leaving the shop with sandwiches. I was like, wait, hold up, they make sandwiches? They do. It was one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches that I've ever had. I had a cheddar, prosciutto, and fig jam grilled cheese and it was phenomenal. The fig jam gave it a bit of sweetness to counter the savory of the prosciutto. Staff were super nice and friendly and they have SO MUCH cool merch in the store. We're definitely going to be back to pick up some items for a nice cheese board dinner in the near future. read more

Wow. I'm blown away by the recent experience that I had with Van Hook. My husband's 30th birthday was a few days ago, and of course all plans were cancelled and we were home. I put together an at home wine and cheese tasting for him to enjoy and Van Hook HOOKED it up. See what i did there? Ordering Process: -SEAMLESS. -Fill out the online order form, you only need to do it a few hours in advance. I did it two days in advance just to be safe. There are tons of cheeses and meats to choose from plus cheese board fixings like crackers, jams, pickles, etc. You can even find other grocery items like eggs and chicken. -There are lots of fancy cheeses and meats with fancy names. If you have any questions you can email Van Hook and ask for advice. The owner Carl got back to me so quickly and was so helpful. -Specify the quantity. Most cheeses have 1/3 of a pound minimum, but because I needed small amounts of a variety of cheese I was able to put in a special request for 1/4 pound. -Once you order confirmed you'll get a call from Van Hook for payment. And then you can simply walk over and grab your order without having to make any contact. They only allow two in the shop at once so it's super comfortable, but if you feel more comfortable with them bringing it out to you they will do that. What we ate: -Everything was absolutely stellar. I ordered several cheeses, meats, rosemary crackers and pickles. The prosciutto was by far the best. I won't be buying prosciutto elsewhere now. My husband and I both agreed that the Humboldt Fog was the most delicious cheese of the bunch, it's like a hybrid goat / blue. I also really loved the L'Amuse Signature, which was an aged gouda. Van Hook is a must always, but it's especially a pick me up now because cheese really solves all problem. The ordering system that they have in place is flawless and the cheese is even better. If you have a special occasion coming up and want to impress someone I'd suggest setting up a wine and cheese tasting at home and snagging all of your goods from Van Hook. My husband really loved this, and it was such a great way to celebrate. Now that I know which items I like I'll be ordering more regularly. read more

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Took me forever to finally go to Van Hook. When you walk in the smell alone is intoxicating. Selection isn't huge but they have plenty to choose from and prices are good. Staff is friendly and more importantly...knowledgeable. read more

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A really awesome selection of cheeses. The staff is great and allows you to try some to make it easier to choose. You will definitely be leaving with a few cuts. They also make platters but you must order in advance while supplies last. read more

I always come for their cheese & meats and pair them with wine at home. They do have excellent selections. The staff are very friendly & welcoming. I took their recommendations several times and am always happy with the results. I love their grilled cheese. They offer several flavors and my fav is the duck one. The truffle one is also nice. The honey adds the sweetness to the sandwich so it wouldn't be too heavy. It is a little bit lighter than other flavors I tried here. One the other hand, the duck one is more heavy. It is made by smoked duck, raclette & sour cherry preserve. I can't finish the whole thing by myself. The flavor is stronger & I feel the portion is slightly bigger (the weight is actually heavier). Half of it can make me happy & full. read more

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I have been meaning to come back and update this review for a while!! But since my last review, I have gone to Van Hook Cheese several more times and also tried some of their food at different food festivals in Jersey City. They are, by far, my favorite cheese place in the area!! Things I recommend: 1) Getting a cheese plate after work with your friends 2) Getting one of their delicious grilled cheeses with fig jam 3) Asking for recommendations on a cheese plate for home entertaining. You can't go wrong! So glad to have a cheesemonger in the neighborhood!!! read more

Perfect little cheese shop! Employees are so knowledgeable and I always enjoy my time there.

It was my 4th time in the store today. And I really hate giving low ratings especially when the business is nice and unique. During my previous visits the shop assistants (unfortunately I do not know the names but they were male if it is of any help) were super helpful and always advised me the best how to make a good cheese plate, what to pick and how much stuff I need. On the contrary today the staff was very rude and showed attitude I understand it is a stressful time for everyone but people come to the store to get a great product and expect great service and friendly faces not someone annoyed and speaking with irritation. I believe it is unacceptable for this kind of business. Please take that into consideration and hopefully change for better in the future. read more

I love cheese. You might say I was a cheeseatarian. I can only thing of one cheese I have come across that I did not like. One. Obviously I have my favorites. But really, I will eat cheese. Any time, any place. I'm sure I can make up plenty of Dr. Suess rhymes about cheese. I love going to Van Hook Cheese. I tell them the flavor profile I am looking for. The firmness (I tend to prefer hard for every day and soft for parties), and let them steer me towards what they are loving in this moment. Haven't been steered wrong yet. My father in law now asks us to stop by van hook cheese on our way over to his house because he too now has favorites. The shop itself is cute, clean and well organized. The staff is friendly and knows their cheese. In JC and need cheese? This is the place! read more

We were looking for a specific type of chili crisp that was msg-free...and they had it! It's a great local neighborhood cheese & speciality foods store and has many tasty cheeses, crackers, meats, and pickles to choose and take home. read more

Great food and very very friendly people Without a doubt the Best Grilled Cheese +++ sandwich We went back two day in a row and we NEVER do that read more

I first bought 3 cheeses for my dad from their stand at the Grove Street Farmer's Market. He loved them, but unfortunately, I couldn't remember any of them. I decided to come back to see if I can somehow buy them again or get similar ones. My dad loves Gruyere, so I asked for any cheeses similar to it. I generally dislike cheese unless it's a hard, salty cheese or melted over something, but I loved the cheeses the incredibly helpful lady chose for me. I ended up getting three interesting cheeses and a standard Gruyere. * Snowfields - I saw this mentioned in a review and was curious to try it. I was afraid this would be too creamy, but it isn't. The crystals in it give it great texture. If you haven't tried it before I recommend getting a taste. * Pleasant Ridge Reserve - I was told this was the most-awarded cheese in American history, and the person helping me said she also loved this particular one quite a lot. The flavor is so intense. Couldn't quite place it, but oniony almost. This also has the crystals in it. I think this one might have been my favorite. * Dutch Knuckle - This cheese is made by a couple in Upstate NY and then sent to a cheese aging facility in Crown Heights. This was also a delicious cheese and most similar to gruyere out of the three. I love the saltiness of it. In addition to a great selection of cheeses, they also have everything you need to make a cheese plate. You can grab some crackers, jams, cured meats, and other gourmet snacks. I believe they even sell ice cream from Milk Sugar Love. If you're in the area check out this cute, little shop. I'll definitely come here now over Murray's Cheeses. read more

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I know very little about cheese. I just know what I like and what I don't so when I heard about a local specialty shop with knowledgable staff, I was immediately intrigued. I dropped in mid-day on a Saturday and there was a smattering of people in the shop. I initially came in for the highly recommended duck grilled cheese (too salty for my tastes) but ended up purchasing $40 worth of cheese, cured meats, and crackers as well... they really got me good and I have no regrets about it. Meat - Hot Sopressata: Very thinly sliced and a perfect mix of salty and spicy. Great for softer, creamier cheeses. Cheese - Truffle Tremor: They warned me this had a strong truffle taste but it really doesn't hit you until you've had a few pieces. They really weren't kidding when they put "truffle" in the name. I don't typically like goat cheese but I love truffle so it all balanced out. Cheese - Vacherrouse D'argental: If it wasn't extremely unhealthy to do so, I would eat a whole block of this in one sitting. It's smooth, soft, and creamy; very similar to a brie. Will most definitely go back for more. I adore the vibe of this place and the vast assortment of goods they offer. The cheeses and meats aren't prepackaged so you can purchase as much or as little you want depending on your needs. read more

Van Hook Cheese & Grocery - Cheese Shops Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Simply incredible curated selection of cheese and charcuterie. I'm hesitant to call out my favorites by name for fear they will become overly popular and gone from the case when I stop in. Though, try the Snowfield, it's an out of this world white cheese that has little crunchy crystals in it. Pick a off peak time, chat up the friendly cheese mongers and pick something based on your tastes and mood. I love putting together a balanced cheese platter and always leave with more than I intend to (whoops!). A selection of chocolate is not to be missed. Hand towels and cloths, as well as boards and knives are available. Crackers and the like are offered. Jellies, fig jams, all there. Literally everything you need to make a cheese board. One stop shopping. read more

Van Hook Cheese & Grocery - Inside there is delicious rare cheese - Cheese Shops Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Great quality duck sandwich for cheap!! Can't wait to explore and try their other sandwiches and snacks. All seem to be great quality. Nice little shop. read more

A cute little local cheese shop with lots of gourmet packaged food selections and also freshly made grilled cheeses! I enjoyed looking around at the different items and ultimately decided on a pint of horchata/churro. Also ordered the french onion grilled cheese on a whim and.... it's AMAZING. The bread is crisp and buttery, the gruyere the perfect amount of gooeyness. The shallot confit really tied the whole thing together. Although the food items are quite expensive, the grilled cheese is very reasonably priced and it's a great local business to support! read more

Cute little store on the east side of downtown Jersey City. They don't carry much and the prices as you would expect for a very cute specialty store are high but they do have some very interesting items for sale. They have quite a few caramel sauces, specialty salsas and hot sauces and also have interesting mixers for drinks and a few kitchen type knickknacks. We bought some dried Mandarin orange slices and some Weak Knees sauce which is like a combination of srirarcha and gojuchang. It is amazing with steamed or panfried dumplings. They also sell cheese and occasionally do tastings so if you're in the neighborhood on a weekend stop by as that is when they do those events. One of us said to the other that we needed to leave because we had to use the restroom and the gentleman behind the counter allowed us to use theirs that is in the back. That was very nice. read more

If you go here for only one thing please let it be the duck grilled cheese sandwich. Omg!! I tried it on a whim and have not stopped thinking about it. DELICIOUS!!! They don't have a good selection of salami but a ton of local products and cheese. Definitely worth the visit, especially the grilled cheese. read more

Van Hook Cheese & Grocery is a very welcome addition to downtown Jersey City. To be honest, my cheese needs have been satiated beyond my wildest dreams by the restaurant Third and Vine since they opened in 2014, so I did not see much of a benefit to having a cheese monger downtown when I heard one was opening. Now that I have been in a few times I have seen the light, especially considering how many great specialty food stores have recently opened on this stretch of Jersey Avenue. Who is even going to need to go to Whole Foods when they open in a few years? Van Hook has a deep selection of cheese and they are very enthusiastic about giving you a sample to try. All of the clerks have seemed pretty knowledgeable about the cheeses and there is also a selection of cured meats. A personal favorite cheese I've discovered at Van Hook is the Brebirousse D'Argental sheep's milk cheese from France. It is delicious. I also pick-up a few Christmas presents here, including a make your own herb butter kit for myself. read more

I was in JC For the day visiting my Aunt who has been very sick( from surgery complications)and hasn't left the house in months. I decided to take her to van hook to but and taste some cheeses. Tina was amazing! She asked us what we kind then leg us sample many cheeses. We left with 6 :) and some salami to. Tina was very knowledgeable, patient and never made us feel rushed and so sweet. This was exactly what my Aunr needed to lift her spirits. We will be back! read more

My 2nd time getting cheese and ham - just as good as what you can get in Spain (well, maybe not the Iberico ham) but the Bayonne, plus great bread from next door. best $27 ever spent. My daughter, who has a bad cold and says she can't taste anything can't stop eating it. Get the Jambon Bayonne and 3 month old Manchego plus a baguette and a bottle of Malbec and you've got one of the beat meals in Chilltown. Quality is Superb - you can't get any better this side of the Atlantic! read more

Van Hook Cheese & Grocery - best combo you can get this side of the Atlantic - Cheese Shops Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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This place is magical. If you want to impress your friends, next time there's a gathering, pick up a few cheeses (maybe an aged gouda and cheddar), some charcuterie, a baguette and some olives from here and just enjoy. They let you sample pretty much to yours heart desire, mainly because I think they know their stuff is so legit that you can't resist buying it once you have a taste. read more

Van Hook Cheese & Grocery - Cheese Shops Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

Always have great cheese recommendations and I love browsing the small snacks for a picnic. The grilled cheeses are really tasty. I appreciate the markup is because this is a small business but I took a star off because I think some of the fridge snacks (esp the stray cheese) are very overpriced. But I enjoy this place for the experience :) read more

Great new neighborhood spot. I went in for some curds after hearing that they'd be in stock. While there, was also offered to sample some other cheese (I forget what, but it was good) and then randomly bought another cheese spread. Prices were a bit on the high side, but let's be honest - you're not buying Kraft here. To me it's worth it. Also impressed by the personable staff. From the two women who were working behind the counter, offering a warm welcome and samples, to the owner who chatted me up for a bit, I actually felt like they were working not only to establish themselves as a store, but to be a legit community participant. I'd likely go back regardless, but this "bonus" friendly vibe will surely make me a return customer. read more

I really wanted to like this place. It looks so pretty and yummy. I finally had the time To sneak in while my baby was asleep in her stroller. Middle of the day, not busy at all. I did not get a hello or even any acknowledgement by anyone in there. The guy behind the counter was especially cold. Man it was so awkward in there. It sucks coz, when i guess a regular came by, everyone perked up and was all warm and chummy. NEVER GOING BACK IN THERE, not even if you pay me! read more

This place is phenomenal!!! There's a sense of intimidation when it comes to cheese (like with all fine foods.) Most people won't even pay you any mind because you don't know what you're talking about, but the people who work here really know their stuff and don't mind to tell you about the different textures and flavors of the cheeses! It's nice to know that there's a place that's so warm and approachable. The staff is so helpful that if I didn't have any self-control I'd buy $$$$ worth of cheeses. This place is definitely worth a weekly visit too. :) read more

Nice selection of cheese and friendly staff. I went in last week for my first visit. Not knowing what to order, I asked the opinions from the staff. They gave helpful tips as well as a brief intro to various types of cheese. I was told their Prairie Breeze was best to go for the Grilled Cheese sandwich. I ended up buying the small samples (in the refrigerator) of four types of cheese. I asked them for ways to eat those cheese when I paid for them, and it turned out great. I will be back and try their Brie and Prairie Breeze the next time. The ones I bought as of now: Beemster 18 month. It is a cheddar cheese that has some savory start, but smooth, milky and a tinny little bit of sweetness at the end when pairing with bread. Schlossberger Alt: a denser cheese. It does have much sweetness or milky flavour, rather it is of a dense and complex yet smooth savory taste towards it. I paired it with Trader Joe's 3 seeds sweet potato crackers for a balance. Wild Alpine and Essex Menchego. Haven't tried but was told they are also good with crackers and bread. Will update later once I try them. read more

The best cheese there is, no question about it. Van Hook is a super trendy cheese shop in Downtown JC. They have cheese from all over the world as well as a sandwich station. For about $10, Van Hook will prepare a grilled cheese sandwich using some of the worlds best cheeses. Inside, it's very inviting and upstate New York feel. The staff is pretty hipster. Beware- the store does smell like dirty feet. I mean CHEESE! read more

Buying specialty cheeses can be a bit daunting since there are SO many options. Van Hook's staff is super helpful, and will walk you through all your options depending on your needs! I usually just tell them what I need if it's a cheeseboard, or if I'm trying to make a particular salad, baked good, or want to make a unique grilled cheese- Van Hook is your go to! Reese is amazing, and is always super helpful, I'm a bit particular with how I like my cured meats sliced, and he is always so patient with me. They also carry specialty goods from local Jersey vendors which I love. Besides the amazing assortment of cheeses, meats, and other goodies, they sell the BEST free range organic eggs. Sourced from a local farm, a dozen only costs $5 which feels like an absolute steal! read more

I went in here and got treated like trash. I walked in a few days ago to possibly find a Christmas gift and the guy in there was more annoyed by my lack of cheese knowledge than he was helpful. I had every intention on buying treats for my whole family, but I'd rather take my business elsewhere. read more

More cheese please- now I get a new one to try every couple weeks. This weekend it's the Italian piave paired with a hot soppressata from Brooklyn. Best place in town to get hot sauce, bean-to-bar chocolate, and locally made ice cream to go. Not to mention olives, crackers, and other gourmet items. Carl and the staff are as helpful and friendly as it gets. read more

Van Hook Cheese & Grocery - Cheese Shops Near Me - Jersey City, New Jersey

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Really great selection of cheeses. The staff are extremely helpful and really know their stuff. Had a girls' night dinner and needed some good cheese for the evening, the owner suggested a few which paired perfectly with our wine and pasta. Definitely a local gem and would recommend to anyone! read more

Special place in Jersey City.....A beautiful selection of some hard to find cheeses and other gourmet products. Friendly customer service and they now carry my favorite French yogurt La Fermiere! Wish I lived closer, I'd be here once a week. :) read more

I love this place so much. The staff is so Staff is so knowledgeable and kind and patient. I wanted to try so many things the first time I went and they were so patient with me. A bit on the pricier side but worth every penny!! read more