I wish I had photos. I used to order a cheese board for pickup in the afternoon and walk over to the park nearby and enjoy the sunshine and eat delicious cheese. Their charcuterie boxes are phenomenal- so well thought out, and everything was always delicious with lots of little add ins like pickles, nuts, flowers, dried fruits, jams, etc. They were very responsive and attentive to dietary preferences. 11/10 love love love I think about them all the time. read more

I was having a cute little picnic one day and I placed an order online for this cheese platter! It was so easy to do and the perfect picnic ready snack! It really elevated the vibe. The cheese is amazing and I love being able to try ones I wouldn't normal reach for at the store. read more

Venissimo Cheese - Cheese Shops Near Me - San Diego, California

Venissimo is a niche micro shop that offers a nice variety of various cheese globally. It's just standing room to browse and order. There's usually parking in the lot behind the shop. The staff are friendly and helpful. There's french cheeses with truffles and creamy Italian cheese and lots of other stuff to create your own charcuterie board. If you love cheese, you'll like a visit at Venissimo. Recommend read more

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Amazing quality cheese, you will be shocked if you have only ever got store bought cheese. A little goes a long way it's very rich and makes any dish 10 times better! Also great to just eat alone with a glass of wine and some fruit! The staff makes great recommendations and is very friendly. They also carry wine, jams, and crackers. Great place to stop on the way to a dinner party they do custom cheese boards! read more

Venissimo Cheese - Cheese Shops Near Me - San Diego, California

Great selection! It can be a little overwhelming at first but they will give you samples to try which is super helpful.

This is for the Del Mar location. I don't know if they are under staffed or over worked but anytime I stop in to order a sandwich or mini plate, they act a little annoyed! Like they don't have time for it. It's happened enough times now that I'm leaving a review. read more

We ordered the Crowd Pleaser Sampler from Venissimo Cheese and it truly lived up to its name! The selection was thoughtfully curated with an incredible variety of flavors and textures -- from creamy and mild to rich and bold. Everything tasted fresh and high-quality, and the presentation was beautiful right out of the box. read more

Venissimo Cheese - Crowd pleaser! - Cheese Shops Near Me - San Diego, California

Every now and then I get a hankering for charcuterie and have tried a few places in San Diego. So far, Venissimo has been hands down the best experience. They are a cheese shop but you can walk in and ask them to build you a board and in 15 mins they put together an absolutely scrumptious assortment of meats and cheeses. My friend and I tried their 6 item board the last time and asked for spicier meat selection and they also allowed us to pick the cheeses we like. The lady assembling the board was kind enough to talk and guide us through a bunch of different cheeses. This is certainly my go to spot for charcuterie now. read more

Venissimo Cheese - Cheese Shops Near Me - San Diego, California

Love the atmosphere. Staff is friendly. Charcuterie is delicious! Love how you can also have beer and wine while you eat your yummy charcuterie board. read more

We reserved a cheese/meat sampler for 2 for our anniversary and it was great. All the cheeses were delicious and so were the fruit, spread, crackers, and meat. We felt like getting more cheese than meat on this day and liked getting to choose the ratio of cheese to meat options when booking online. The platter is laid out beautifully and I love the presentation. read more

Venissimo Cheese - Our cheese board - Cheese Shops Near Me - San Diego, California

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Update: Since my last review, I just avoided stopping by when the one problematic employee was around, and about a year later, it seems they had moved on. Peace was restored! All the positives I said before still stand. That one person aside - I've consistently been treated with kindness and respect here. I have been "curd nerding" out with the staff regularly. Happy to report this spot is back on my favorites list. A few pro tips from someone who's been coming here for years: 1. Give yourself a little time buffer. They work fast, but parking behind the shop can be tricky. There's usually plenty parking nearby, and in the worst case, just park at Vons and enjoy a short walk. 2. Ordering a cheese board? Order ahead or be prepared to wait a bit. On holidays, definitely order ahead or expect not to get one. Their charcuterie boards are absolutely worth it, but this isn't fast food. I've seen folks get impatient and cranky because they get denied or their cheese plate didn't materialize instantly. Please don't be that person. If I order in person, I set a 10 minute timer and go for a brisk walk around the block. Works out almost every time. 3. Respect the craft: This is a small craft cheese shop run by passionate, knowledgeable people. Not Costco or a supermarket deli. They're always moving, always hustling, and have a team putting love into everything they make. I can't stand seeing people get an attitude with them. Kindness goes a long way. Please don't sour the cheese with a salty attitude! If you're looking for a delicious cheese specialty shop, I strongly recommend stopping by. read more

Easy go-to spot for a quick charcuterie plate! Grab-and-go to enjoy a lovely park picnic & the beautiful SD weather, paired with delectable small bites of meat and cheese! :) read more

Venissimo Cheese - Menu - Cheese Shops Near Me - San Diego, California

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My wife and I were eating across the street at the red door and noticed all these people going into this cheese shop. We couldn't believe the amount of people so we thought let's go check it out. We left the store with a recommendation from the girl at the register who made our charcuterie board and it was the best thing we have ever had can't wait to go back. We live in El Dorado Hills, but visit San Diego frequently and will be going back every time we come. read more

i wanna give a ton of credit to the ladies running this shop. they continually exceed expectations in customer service , courtesy, and punctuality. On top of that, they happen to be entirely knowledgeable of their inventory , and willing to go far , and wide to get the most esoteric cheeses you'll ever see. I am 100% thankful this shop and it's staff are here...and it's AC. read more

Venissimo Cheese - Easily the most crowd satisfying blue in the book. - Cheese Shops Near Me - San Diego, California

This place is amazing! Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful. Patient as well especially for a person who is attempting to broaden her cheese knowledge read more

When I visited Venissimo and purchased 4 item plate, I really liked it. Why? Because for 2, it was well balanced, delicious, thoughtfully arranged, and just enough. So, 5 star for that experience, plus the lady at the counter was so super sweet and helpful. I decided to order the mini combinazione for my Easter guest after seeing some posts on social media posted by Venissimo. Being 100% honest here, for $95.00 plus $15.00 delivery fee, I was underwhelmed. The tray looked very light on items and looked like somebody had put it together at the last minute. It was nothing special, especially for Easter. The grape was old, and we could not eat it. The cheese was delicious, but that's about it. The items on the tray were very limited(like I said) in quantity. I would not mind if it was at least nicely and thoughtfully put together. After all, I purchased the tray from the store because I wanted nice. Otherwise, I could have put it together myself for a lot less. So, if you have to order, think about what you are getting, and if it is really worth it for your money. For me, the tray I ordered, I have to say, sadly, it was not worth it, for the reasons I mentioned above. I really wish I could write a different review. Picture included for your observations. Also, the picture of a cheese slice/edge included in my tray. Maybe I am not a cheese person, am I supposed to eat that? Come on, let's get real here. So, 3 star, average, rounded up. read more

Venissimo Cheese - Mini combinazione for $95.00 - Cheese Shops Near Me - San Diego, California

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A very pleasant find just came across Venissimo Cheese. It's a small shop enough for no more than three people stand inside comfortably. Cases of Cheese and the aroma surround the entrance. The gentleman so kind and welcoming he took his time to have us sample the blue cheese we chose. Go on in spend hundreds or a few dollars they welcome us all! read more

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Always good. Amazing selection. Convenient location. I Always find a parking spot in front. Order the Brie and fig jam panini, first thing on the menu. Ask for it on cibata bread, and ask them to put some spicy soppressata on that! Best. Sandwich. Ever. Creamy, crunchy, sweet, spicy and salty. read more

Venissimo Cheese - Sampling of cheese - Cheese Shops Near Me - San Diego, California

This is were I get all my charcuterie board needs. Any time I bring it to a party, everyone always ask where I get it. If you do the platter, you don't get to choose like you use to prior to covid but you can give your preference. I always go for soft cheeses like brie and goat cheese, super good. Always friendly and knowledgeable if you are uncertain with what you are wanting read more

I've been getting a cheese board for my husband on Father's Day for the last three years. Our family of four can eat the entire Mezzano board all love it! AND they deliver to PQ!! read more

Venissimo Cheese - Mezzano - Cheese Shops Near Me - San Diego, California

I go here at least once a month. I go to my salon, then Venissimo. Ritual. They used to be the only, or best, cheese game in town, but even the Ralphs near me has upped their cheese game. I really do think that's because of Venissimo. Service is usually pretty good, but this month they saved me at least $45 by just not helping me at all. There was one woman sitting behind the cash register and smiling, but no one behind the cheese counter. I stood and looked at cheeses I wanted to buy for a good five minutes. Still no one. I could hear others singing to the radio (Sweet Dreams, actually) and maybe cleaning something in the back. Then I looked at the cashier again, who was still just sitting and smiling at me, and so I left. When people don't want your business, believe them. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ read more

Favorite cheese shop by far and this is the location I go to the least amount just because it's a bit small and I like to sit and eat some cheese while I also stock up and buy some cheese for home. Mongers are always the sweetest and most kind and take care of you very well. Highly suggest going in having no idea what you want and letting them blow your mind! read more

1st time customer and boy o boy did they made me feel special. I didn't know there was so much to learn about cheese. Dania was very helpful and insightful. She had patience in getting to know my palate to provide some fitting options. I felt really confident purchasing 2 boards and gave me a little knowledge to impress my book club about some of the characteristics of the charcuterie platters. Lovely place and will most definitely be back for some more delightful cheese selections. read more

This was our first visit to Venissimo, but it definitely won't be our last. It's a very small shop, fits maybe 15 tightly with no place to sit. That being said, it was a wonderful slice of heaven (or cheese). I understand that this is but one of four locations in the San Diego area. SERVICE: High marks. The young man who assisted us was super friendly and very helpful with describing the various cheeses we were interested in trying. There was no push to buy one we tasted or anything, for that matter. Very relaxed atmosphere. CHEESE: What an amazing selection! We tried at least eight different varieties and settled on three: Saint Angel (triple cream), a Monte Enebro, and a Gruyere. While we were there, several customers picked-up pre-ordered cheese and meat platters, which looked great. A really cool feature was the sales receipt. It has a description of what cheese you purchased and what pair well with it. OTHER ITEMS: We also tried and purchased some of their Spanish Chorizo (from acorn feed pigs), which was absolutely fabulous. They had several other cured meats/salamis. Also, a small section of jarred accoutrements, like pickled items, mustards, spreads, etc. NEGATIVE: There was a slight smell in the air. Not sure what the smell was, but it was a little off-putting. Two gentlemen that came in after us, commented and turned around and walked out. I didn't ask about it, but hopefully, this was a one-time thing. SUMMARY: If you're in need of cheese, meats, baguettes, or other accoutrements, then you should definitely stop in and give Venissimo a try. We'll be back next time we're in the area. read more

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Love to come here for specialty cheese. To my surprise they offer amazing sandwiches! Definitely coming back to try more! read more

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First of all, it's pricey and you are expected to pay tips. All of that would be good if you wouldn't have to take a bite of spoiled mozzarella, only to find out it expired several days ago. Second, you get spammed with their email that you receive without giving any consent. read more

Popped in right before they closed tonight to pick up a baguette and some meats. I know, this is a cheese shop, what about the cheese?! I already had some cheeses at home and hoped that they'd have a few things to complete my cheese plate goals. While there were not nearly as many meats as there are cheeses here, the meats I got were top notch. I got a chorizo and a fancy salami with fennel seeds. Both were finely sliced and immediately devoured. The staff that works here is super friendly and happy to let you sample whatever you want. It's a tiny shop, but it is full of character and charm! read more

WAY WAY WAY overpriced, and the cheese is of poor quality. Very nice people though. Still a clip joint. It's unfortunate. People seem to be charmed by the place, but the cheese isn't actually good. read more

The cheese selection is amazing! The fromagier up front of the store was beyond professional and helpful at making sure we got what our palate craves to build for the thanksgiving charcuterie board we've envisioned. Ambiance is what I would expect it would be, should I be stopping by a nearby mom n' pop cheese store in France itself. It's direct, no frills just superb explanations of what their products are. Most definitely will be coming back! What's even better is their receipt has the items you bought jotted down to a tee, in case you forgot what you got from your last trip! Super cool! read more

The good: When my husband and I lived in Mission Hills, on lazy weekends we would order their "Gouda Idea" and "Italian Burrata" sandwiches, then walk a few blocks to have a little picnic at the nearby Pioneer Park. It's lovely, they even pack fruit with our brown bags to enjoy. For my workplace, we like to order the trays for Friday snack time with my team. Love their options and variety; worth every penny. When I'm at their Liberty Station location, I'll make every effort to stop by their booth, get their cheese cones sample some cheeses, and buy some to take home, while getting goodies at other stalls in the public market. I'm a very big fan of this business and hope it remains a San Diego establishment I can rave about in the years to come, to visiting friends that are vacationing here. The bad: So this past weekend I show up with my husband and parent-in-laws b/c my mother-in-law remembered how lovely the burrata was when we'd last taken them to the Mission Hills location a few years ago. She had a hard time remembering what the other cheese was that she'd also picked up and was trying to describe it to the guy behind the counter. I wish I got his name. If the business owner or manager of this location is seeing this, he has brown hair, wears glasses, skinny. He was very short with her, telling her he's "not a mind reader." How about asking her what sort of flavors she remembered from eating it? Or asking her if she remembers if it was a soft or hard cheese, goat or cow, to help trigger her memory. Jerk. One star off because of him. She ignored that comment, and after scanning the shelves she found the cheese she wanted and asked to try a sample. He shared samples of everything she'd asked about, and she sweetly wished him a Happy New Year, which changed his tone a bit, but that "mind reader" remark really soured the customer service experience for me and my husband. read more

My favorite cheese shop in San Diego. In fact, it's not even close. They carry an amazing variety, have fair prices, and will let you sample anything you like, so you don't have to roll the dice on anything new. My favorites are their vintage gouda, Roaring 40's blue cheese, mango ginger stilton (which tastes like cheese cake!), and several of the bries I have had there through the years. I'm probably leaving one or two things out. The service is always uber-helpful, and I have have never been disappointed. Of course, it's cheese, so it's hard to disappoint. read more

This is any cheese lovers dream. They offer a variety of cheeses from all over the world! The price listed on the cheeses is per 1/2 lb, but they can give you any amount as long as you tell them how many ounces. The staff are patient and will allow you to sample as many cheeses as you need before you commit. The store also offers some jams, spreads, and crackers to decorate your charcuterie board. I was indecisive as always so I asked the lady helping me to give me 4 different cheeses that total $15.. And she picked perfectly! She chose a colorful variety of hard, soft, and different milk cheeses. What I think is really great is the fact that on your receipt are a list of recommended beer and wines to pair with each cheese you buy. All the work is done for you! I can't wait to go back! read more

Venissimo Cheese - The most helpful receipt - Cheese Shops Near Me - San Diego, California

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Definitely 5 star for the quality. I don't know if it's organic, but I'm sensitive to additives, and the cheese I tried was natural and high quality for sure. I'm not certain why otc purchase gives a tipping option. It must be for the food service offered on top of the products. Lastly, prices: costos sells 1lb of Humboldt Fog for $20. Here it's $35. read more

Ordered a board from this place since it was an easy online order with a quick turn around. I was extremely happy with the amount for the money paid and so was the receiver. There was a variety of cheeses that paired well with the dried fruit and everything was tasty. The ladies were really nice and had my order ready when i arrived early. My only hope (knock) is that they can add a way to remove nuts from the boards, but none of the places I looked at had this option so it's merely a suggestion. The receiver had a nut allergy so they couldn't eat the cheese directly under the nuts, but also said boards always come with them and she was used to it read more

I have been a frequenter of Venissimo over the years, and they never disapppont-- whatever location. Helping you try new cheeses, order a cheese tray for a party ahead of time or on the fly making a smaller one, always delicious and the presentation is tops. read more

Fantastic friendly service from both people working today. They clearly enjoy the curated provisions in the shop and eagerly sharing samples with customers. They had many cheeses that I had not seen before and I visit many cheese shops throughout the west coast. The prices are naturally expensive due to being a specialty shop, but on par with comparable establishments. The shop is tiny. Just enough space for several customers, but they pack a lot of products, primarily cheese, into the small space. There is a small parking lot behind the store, but it fills up quickly. Also, there is free street parking, but it was fairly full as well. read more

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I arrived this morning just as the store opened. I asked for slices of raclette cheese. The person working refused to slice the cheese for me. She said she didn't have time. I told her that last time they sliced the cheese and that when I was there before they gave each customer individual attention. I am sure it was clear that I wanted the cheese sliced as I asked several times. I did not ask for any samples or recommendations. Nothing that would take a lot of time. I believe slicing the cheese is a reasonable ask and I am disappointed that a specialty store would refuse this request. She did say there were only 2 people working. There were no other customers in the store. read more

Horrible experience , crappy quality! I ordered a $110 cheese plate for a birthday gift & party. First they couldn't find the address so didn't deliver (FYI the wine people or any of the other deliveries Ive made here have had no issue). Second instead of bringing it back to the store I bought it at after their delivery fail they took it to another store much farther away in a crappy area with no parking & I told me I had to come get it there because it was more convenient for their driver to leave it there than being it back (hello customer service!). Third, when I picked it up my $110 cheese gift it had less than a pound of cheese and the platter was full of cheap filler like mustard, almonds, cornichons & a giant bundle of grapes, but cheese? Nope! I had to go to the store buy cheese & rebuild the platter myself. PS - they also don't include crackers or bread - you have to pay $8 extra for an old baguette that had been refrigerated. Do NOT shop here!! read more

I was chatting last week with a friend about Paris, which got me thinking about that city's pleasant and interesting cheese shops. I asked in a Talk thread if there is anything comparable in San Diego, hoping to find something more than a cooler full of cheeses, as I'd expect at Whole Foods and other high-end grocers. Strange as it sounds, I wanted a cheese shop with ambiance. My friends were helpful, if a bit scattered with their advice. Whole Foods and Trader Joe's were mentioned, as were smaller stores like Brothers Provisions and Tip Top Meats, and bars and restaurants including The Patio on Goldfinch, Prepkitchen and Splash. But I wanted to find a cheese shop like those I've enjoyed in Paris and in the Allgäu region of southern Germany, places run by pleasant folks who've devoted themselves to a deep knowledge of the product and its uses, and who are happy to talk - all day, if warranted - about cheese. Venissimo was recommended to me by: David B., Sierramarie B., Cathleen F., Maricela H., Adria D., Melanio F. I've listed their "names" because I want to thank them, publicly, for the referral. Venissimo in Mission Hills was fantastic, and was exactly what I was looking for. Parking was easy, despite the fact that there's only street parking available and that it was all occupied. A space opened up as I arrived, as if the Universe wished to tell me I was where I belonged. The Universe had not, however, provided change for the meter, and Mission Hills isn't equipped with the Space Age parking system we have downtown, so I entered Venissimo and broke a bill. I intended to be there for a while. Reentering, I was greeted by Amber, who was cheerful and helpful. Like the folks I'd met in Europe, she knew her product, and more important, was enthusiastic about sharing her knowledge, and about learning what I knew, and what my taste required. I had a few things in mind: - I want to make a Cremini risotto with a subtle, earthy cheese to accompany a Porchetta and some Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Chipped Hazelnuts. - I bought some nice ripe pears that I'll use to make Italian ice or sorbetto, and I want to serve a cheese with or before that dessert. - Football has started, and I want to eat cheese and meat on bread while I watch the game(s). Amber was funny; once she'd heard my plans, she started me off with a couple of cheeses that were good, but extremely mild. After the second sample, I realized she was pulling her punches, and suddenly, I understood how girls feel when Dad tosses the ball to them waaaay too gently. I mentioned this to Amber, who smiled and admitted that she had started "conservatively." Once we established that I could handle bolder flavors, we started over. In the 1 1/2 hours that followed, I sampled more than a dozen cheeses, including: Piave Vecchio Drunken Goat Bucherondin Boschetto (Sierramarie B.'s recommendation) Pecorino Toscano Salva Cremasco Delice de Bourgogne Monte Enebro I was offered bread to accompany these bites, but declined, and purchased a sliced apple instead. With one or two exceptions, I quite enjoyed all of these delicious cheeses. Working with Amber, discussing our respective opinions about the cheeses I was tasting, I felt as though I was visiting a friend who just wanted my life to be better. It turns out that the key to happiness is Monte Enebro. Monte Enebro is sooo deep and smooth, it's honestly one of the best things - of any sort - that I've tasted in years. Yesterday, I bought some bread at Paris Baguette, then at home, made myself a plate of Venissimo purchases. Every time I tasted the Monte Enebro, I smiled. Now, that's a little weird, I grant you, but it was just so good, it made me happy for the bite. Also, I found myself considering what the best red wine was in the house, and had to talk myself out of drinking away an excellent bottle I've been saving for years. I also wondered where I could find perfectly ripe black cherries. See? the Monte Enebro is a cheese that will make you DO things. Venissimo (http://www.venissimo.com) Whole Foods (http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com) Trader Joe's (http://traderjoes.com) Brothers Provisions (http://www.brosprovisions.com) Tip Top Meats (https://www.tiptopmeats.com) The Patio on Goldfinch (http://thepatioongoldfinch.com) Prepkitchen (http://www.prepkitchen.com) Splash (http://asplashofwine.com) read more

Venissimo Cheese - Why buy one when you can have four, and some spicy salami? - Cheese Shops Near Me - San Diego, California

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When you are looking for cheese in San Diego, Venissimo is no doubt the number one place to go. I love grilled cheese and after having one from their location down at Head Quarter's downtown, I knew I had to stop in when I was in the area. This time around I had the Savory on a baguette which included aged white cheddar, spicy apple garlic jam, and for an additional .50 cents, I added some wonderful Sopressata! The grilled cheese came with a fruit and I choose the pear (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/venissimo-cheese-san-diego-3?select=y3uwPKZOUjwYd7nd9ckOgA#LrVLiZ3dIKVgM3Nf5QGs0Q). The grilled cheese sandwich was pressed in a panini grill where the heat help develop a wonderful crunch on the baguette, properly melted the aged cheddar, and most importantly, heated up that Sopressata so that it released not only the meats flavor, but little drippings of its fat (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/venissimo-cheese-san-diego-3?select=y3uwPKZOUjwYd7nd9ckOgA#sSKgMAjNdiAtzFRrwukPOw). The aged cheddar had a good nutty flavor with a good sharp after taste. It was a little grainy due to its age, but still smooth with a firm texture, even melted down (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/venissimo-cheese-san-diego-3?select=y3uwPKZOUjwYd7nd9ckOgA#uzB6fbTRXlD-p76JTu5J8Q). The aged cheddar eaten in conjunction with the Sopressata was bliss. If I only had a bottle of wine. This place is always a great treat. This place would not be what it is, without the great friendly service and hospitality. They offer free tasters daily and allow you to sample the cheeses on hand. read more

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