Alex Farm Products

Been here a few times for cream cheese (which is pretty good). Helpful staff and decent selection.
Overall: 3.5÷5
Repeat: Yes

I often stop in this cheese shop on the way to my good friend’s place as we both love cheese and wine. The location in convenient, and while they have a few good products (nice wafer crackers and spanish tortas) The prices are pretty off the wall and here’s my biggest complaint of most cheese shops:
They don’t seem to like cheese.
Or the people they’re selling it to.
Right away, there was a guy on me like a hawk, but not in a friendly, welcoming way. More like I was a fly that he wanted to swat and shoo out the door with $ 100 worth of cheese beneath my wings. But I needed some time to look since their selection is very extensive. I like to read the descriptions before they move in with the hard sell.
And the sell is harder than a parmesan rind before it goes on the grill.
These dudes aren’t so easy to heat and enjoy.
I like to try new things, so I asked them if they had anything interesting and explained to him that I like strong cheeses. Despite this, they never seem to grab something that I think is unique. More often than not, they grab something that they have on hand, right behind them, but never seems to be that great.
Half way through serving me, one of the guys was like: Oh, excuse me, I’m serving another customer. Oh, are you? How do you slice some product up for me, then, ignore my next request and serve someone else? Especially when that customer came in the store in the middle of my order.
They also refuse to cut you cheese by actual weight. They decide how much you get.
Which really grates my cheese.

Alex Farm, on the Danforth, is my go to cheese shop mostly because they are the only game in town and right on the way home or from home if I’m going to a house party/​dinner. Just get off at Chester station – it is right across the Danforth.
This is not to write that I only shop here because of location. Everyone I’ve worked with here has been friendly and seems to know their cheese and is good about making recommendations.
A good cheese shop has what you want but also pushes your boundaries, introducing you to tastes you didn’t know existed. A really great cheese monger also has stuff nobody else does and this is quite often Alex Farm.
They also have these incredible crackers from Spain that are fried in olive oil and individual wrapped. These are always a huge hit with my guests.
I’ve never been sure if prices are a bit higher here than in either of the Markets or elsewhere. It is hard not to walk out without spending $ 50 or more for a few good wedges or pucks.
Highly recommended if you are on or near the Danforth. But our city really does cheese well so be sure to check out other stores too.

I really wanted to love this store as I am a frequent visitor of ‘The Danforth’. One day I decided to wander in as I had been looking for a very specific cheese. The sales staff greeted me warmly and asked if I needed assistance. I asked for the cheese I had in mind and the guy actually laughed and said «we don’t carry that», in an incredibly rude and condescending tone. OK, so I was looking for a French cheese and I was in a Greek neighborhood, but he didn’t have to laugh. They sell cheddar and that’s not from Greece.
I felt as if I had done something wrong and left. I was embarrassed. I’m sure their products are nice, but their customer relation skills are wanting. I prefer About Cheese on Church near Wellesley. The staff there has been nothing but incredible.

[Announced with an echoing special-​effect]: CHEEEESE! CHEEEESE! CHEEEESE!
Yeah, it’s like a monster car of the fermented dairy world.
Yeah, the cheese mongers are pitched behind their cheese display counter a full foot higher than you are so they can properly be the Lords of Cheese that they are.
Yeah, the shop makes you feel like a Little Mouse of Cheese. And you don’t care.
Ask them: What about a sharp cheddar?
They will give a slivery taste.
Ask them: What do you recommend for an Italian cheese plate?
I actually haven’t asked them that one yet.
Ask them: I need a ½ pound of Gruyère so I can make the «pork belly of vegetable dishes» (ie: potato gratin).
Them: Shall I shred that for you?
And they did and they literally saved me about an hour of hand shredding.
I love you, monster car of cheese.

VIBE
It stinks. Of cheese. What do you expect? It’s a pretty basic layout. It’s a small shop with a counter and lots of floor room and shelves of product on the other side.
Staff are professional, knowledgeable and friendly.
I EAT
Cheese! They introduced me to Delice de Bourgnon (yes, I’m butchering the spelling of this), an amazing brie cheese but they also have cheaper alternatives, which are equally as delicious. That’s the kind of service that’s provided here. All price points!
What I really loved is how they were able to put a cheese plate together for me as a tester. It’s a great way to try new cheeses as well.
That said, I still end up paying $ 50 when I walk out of this store because I want to try everything.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
Bringing the farm home. Of course, I like the original location (this one) the best and it’s a great staple on the Danforth.

Awesome cheese! Thanks to Barbara for finding this place!
I have tried two of their cheeses– very creamy and tasteful.

Would you believe I have never actually shopped in a «cheese specialty shop» before? The first thing that struck me when I entered was the overwhelming aroma of, well, cheese. As I became accustomed to it, I realized it was really quite pleasant.
I was expecting the costs to be much higher than the deli cheese counter in the local grocery store, but the prices were very reasonable. And the cheese was so much fresher, tasted so much better. I certainly will be returning to buy more cheese at this store.
The staff were good; friendly and efficient. The store very clean. A great selection, another reason to return to this location.
I consider this store a place worth making a special trip to shop here. Highly recommend you give it a try.

I am biased given that this place is about 30 steps from my front door, and I am on a first name basis with the sales people, but I still think the place is the best!
It’s fancy, yummy, and potentially rare cheeses without the pretentious attitude that’s often associated with specialty cheese shops.
The friendly staff will let you taste a bunch of stuff if you’re not sure what to get. For example, you’re having people over and want to do a cheese plate. Don’t go with the staid old faves, ask them to recommend something– go for a soft cheese, a classic and something funky and unexpected. They are totally keen to work with your budget so you can also just say «I want a tasty cheese hunk for $ 10 that will feed a couple people for apps». That easy.
Also, they have some deli meats (delicious prosciutto), dips, olives and crackers. You could basically buy everything (except bread) for a cocktail party spread here.
Only beefs are that they discontinued selling ACE bakery bread and have yet to find a replacement and that the entrance is not stroller friendly. Other than that, I would strongly recommend this place and the fact that it’s steps from the Chester TTC station gives you few excuses for not venturing here!

Some people have weaknesses for chocolate or chips. I don’t suffer from any of those, I have a weakness for cheese. I haven’t really ventured into the world of stinky cheese, I like the typical, brie, camembert, provolone, mozza, old cheddar, mmmmmm.
Upon walking in, this store definitely smells like a cheese shop. I said I liked cheese, not necessarily the smell of cheese, it is afterall bacteria, no? The smell takes some getting use to, once you get over it, you’ll notice there’s a really wide selection of cheeses. I was looking for a nice brie. Other than behind the counter (where the blocks of cheese are stored), they have a small selection of pre-​wedged cheese and lots of different bries. Pricewise, they are pretty comparable to supermarkets and other cheese shops. Minus the stink, nice little specialty cheese shop…