Riverdel

I’ve always said I could never go vegan and give up cheese. This place has rounded up all kinds of vegan products to make a shop that really feels like a normal, unsuspecting sandwich place. Which is amazing for vegans! But not for me, as I had no idea my salami and cheese was going to be seitan and (soy?) cheese until it came out. It was a little disappointing. Still, cute place, and I got good vibes from the people working there. Wouldn’t go back myself but I’ll send my veg and vegan friends here.

I didn’t think gluten free vegan bread could ever be so perfectly toasted but Riverdel found a way to make it happen. I love the assortment of vegan cheeses and condiments. This is a great place to shop if you are looking for picnic or dinner party options for your vegan loved ones. They even have condiments (buffalo sauce, ketchup etc) from Terri and a selection of vegan ice cream.

Riverdel is the unequivocal answer to the question everyone asks about vegan food and gourmet vegan alternatives, «Does it really, really taste like X though?» (Answer: YES!) Visit for the an incomparable array great vegan foods ranging from jerky (awesome, BTW) to cheese that really tastes like cheese.
When I visit I always discover new items on the cutting edge of healthy and innovative vegan food that reminds you that one does need not forego variety or flavor by going vegan (or even trying something different once in a while if you are a omnivore). Super friendly staff are always on hand to greet you and answer questions.
A neat place to stop in for a quick bite too. I tried the Southwest style sandwich which was full of flavor, quite big, and proper protein boost after a workout. Look forward to going back and strongly recommend to vegans out there or anyone with interest in trying something different that won’t disappoint while also helping the planet.

A wonderful collection dairy-​free cheeses (as crazy as that sounds). Very tasty and you would swear they have dairy. Very cool to have in the neighborhood.

This place is a favorite! It’s a guilty pleasure My bf and I go here almost every weekend and get Miyoko’s and crackers or sandwiches and DONUTS and go chill in the park.

This is a great shop, and I hope they are successful in that location. They have wide selection of delicious vegan cheese, although they often sell out of certain products. They also make tasty sandwiches, and carry a small range of vegan specialty foods. I have been vegan for over a decade, and they carry the best selection of non-​dairy cheese I have ever seen.
They are also extremely nice. Every time I have been, either the owners or a staff person have been attentive and helpful – offering samples, making recommendations – and just generally really warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable.

just so glad this is in my neighborhood. I adore Miyoko’s cheeses from living in the Bay Area & eating at Millennium, a posh vegan spot out there. Everyone at Riverdel is super nice, & I spend a small fortune there. But it’s worth it. Try before you buy so you know you’ll bring home something you’ll love! They’re generous with samples.

Great sandwiches for lunch! Also the chocolate «milk» is delicious.
The entire store is fake cheese but the products are legit

Riverdel is the best! Cutest little shop. Awesome owners, very knowledgeable about the products. The selection is amazing, we love the cheese they make in house (get the peppercorn!!!) On top of having an off the charts selection of cheeses, the sandwiches they make are epic. Would give Riverdel 5 million stars if I could :)

I like this store, I keep discovering new interesting products.
Cheezehound makes wonderful fresh vegan mozzarella! It comes in a jar preserved in liquid. It’s the priciest vegan cheese I’ve seen. Over $ 20 for 2 pieces. I chose the smoked mozzarella. It’s amazing how they can recreate the texture of mozzarella without using dairy. I like the smoky flavor in the cheese.
That’s Cheezy has a Parmesan cheese. It’s grainy. The color and crumbly texture is similar to Parmesan. It has a pleasant nuttiness and it’s sweet to the taste.
These two products are my new favorite vegan cheese. They are way different from the traditional nut cheese made with cashew.

Run, don’t walk, to Riverdel! If you are vegan like me, or a foodie who loves new tastes, or a heath conscious person of whatever stripe, this place is a goldmine.
Today I bought artisanal cheeses from the store brand, miyoko’s California cheeses, a local mozz packed in water (!) vegan crackers, tomato butter, four types of chocolate, and vegan eggs. They make sandwiches and soup and have local nut milk and bread and pastries and…
This teeny tiny shop is a dream come true for vegans/​foodies/​health conscious people… really for everyone!
The people who work there are mega sweet and offer free samples.
It is truly amazing to me why I can’t buy these foods in Manhattan. Whatevz. Until they do, Riverdel is my go to for gourmet plant based foods.

Ok, this is long lol,
The short review: if you like to try new ingredients that are of a high quality and delicious, go here!
Long review: I found this shop because I was actually looking for a peanut butter I had tried in Hawaii that I absolutely loved from North Shore Goodies. It had been seven months since I had this PB and it was still on my mind. When I saw that Riverdel carried it for the about the same price it would cost to ship it from Hawaii (10 ounces for $ 10.50), I knew I had to go there.
I am not a vegan, but many of my meals are vegan. I am a food enthusiast and finding delicious ingredients is my passion. I refuse to pay for cable TV or spend money on expensive cloths, but I have no problem with paying a premium for quality food.
I had tried vegan cheese several years ago, and quite frankly I was not impressed at all. It all tasted the same, and not very good. I figured, ok I’m here, let’s give it another try. The owner was very patient and not judgmental at all when I confessed I was not a vegan. She offered a tasting of five small samples to try. Honestly, each one had their own taste profile, and of the five, two of them really resonated with my palate. I bought an almond based one that was silky and smooth and flavored with truffle. It was as delicious as any dairy cheese I have tasted, and I have had the best of the best.
I find it curious when reading comments on various posts from people who are threatened by food that does not fit their criteria of what that ingredient should be. They say «you should not call it cheese» it is nut paste lol. I am always intrigued when I am surprised by an ingredient or meal that blurs my preconceived perception of what I think it should be. One of the best meals I’ve ever had was in Montréal in a grocery store by day, restaurant by night place. Every item on the plate they called one thing (and it looked like said thing), but was in actuality something completely different and wonderful.
So call it whatever the hell you want, vegan cheese, nut paste, as long as it is good, I couldn’t give a fig.
As I finish this review, I’m thinking, why the heck did some vegan cheese/​nut paste shop in Brooklyn that is out of the way for me to get to (I live in Queens) illicit and compel me to go off on this tangent? I think in the owner I found a kindred spirit, a curator of fine food, who I hope finds many others who will appreciate what this shop offers to keep it viable. The encounter made my day nicer, and any place that has tasty food, for me, makes life that much the better.
Postlude: I also had the BBQ Seitan Texas sandwich on a baguette which I enjoyed very much As a bonus, I noticed that Riverdel is not far from the Brooklyn Museum, and that peanut butter is not going to pick itself up…

Had been meaning to stop by this shop since opening but just wandered in yesterday. The place was packed, which made me really happy — sometimes specialty vegan shops like this don’t do so well. Despite the crowds and tiny space, the owner, Tim, was on the floor greeting everyone. He took the time to talk to us for over ten minutes about their products, and helped us to make some good selections.
For those that are curious, Riverdel is very careful not only with major non-​vegan ingredients (dairy, eggs, etc.) but also with ingredients that some vegans do eat: there is no honey and there are no microingredients (non-​vegan sugars, non-​vegan natural flavors, etc.) in any of their own products or those that they sell. In fact, they have a person dedicated to researching this and sincerely asked that if customers find a problem with a product, to let them know.
Their stock is amazing — so many local products and cheese makers that I’d never heard of before, and that I wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to try without paying an arm and a leg in speciality shipping (like for Miyoko cheese, for example). I wanted to buy everything, but ended up with their Lemon Peppercorn Cashew Cheese (made in-​house), a carton of Vegan Egg (very hard to find elsewhere), a coconut macaron (from Sweet Maresa), and a Provolone and Shalami sandwich.
The cashew cheese was fantastic — not at all bland like most vegan specialty cheeses, and full of flavor and a little tangy. It’s something I would serve to vegans and omnis alike. I’m anxious to try their other cheeses now, especially the brie. The macaron was amazingly good (macarons are traditionally made with egg whites so this was a *real* treat), and we’re trying out the Vegan Egg later this week. The sandwich was quite good (especially the cheese) on a nice sourdough bread, but I felt that either a) the shalami could have used more flavor, or b) a chutney or spread could have been added to make the sandwich more flavorful. Either way, it was good, and I will definitely be trying their other options.
Overall, I can’t speak highly enough about the shop and what they are doing. I’ll be stopping by again soon, and you should too!

Get their homemade brie! Though of course, they have a wonderful selection of cheeses and other delightful goodies. The staff is wonderful and super helpful so you can ask any clarifying questions and even try some of the cheese offerings.

I am currently eating the best sandwich (Monk’s Meats salami and Follow Your Heart provolone) ever thanks to Riverdel. I can’t wait for my next lunch!

This place is AWESOME! I have been waiting and waiting for a place to get decent non-​daiya vegan cheese in Brooklyn, and now I finally have it! Riverdel has every non-​dairy cheese you could ever hope for, and then some. Not only do they have a massive vegan cheese selection, but they have a great selection of gourmet market odds and ends with a vegan touch. They sell pasta sauces, crackers, yogurts, chocolates, nut butters, jerkeys, etc. They also have a nice little bakery section with breads, danishes, and pastries. One of the best parts of shop is their sandwich counter, where you can get delicious pressed sandwiches to go or to stay (they have three stools and a short counter at the front window). It’s amazing how much stuff is packed into this tiny little space! I would recommend you avoid bringing in strollers or dogs, because like I said, the place is small and it makes it cramped.

This place is better than I had ever hoped. The selection of vegan cheeses is so strong and the prices are incredibly reasonable for what it is. Best of all, the staff is absolute top notch; they’re educated in what they offer and very friendly in communicating with customers, I wish all retail stores had staff like this.

Vegan «cheese» is finally edible and this place proves it can actually be delicious! Friendly and helpful staff, reasonable prices (grilled cheese was $ 8 and soooooo delicious) and simply a gem. I live in the Bronx so the only thing that would make this place better is if it was in Riverdale (and the play on words would be great!).

I love this store. So many good vegan cheeses from all over the country. Can’t wait to try my purchases. They let me sample a few. Great customer service.

Lovely vegan shop, with tons of cheeses and little extras like crackers, spreads, breads, and sweets. I was able to sample many of the cheeses until finding my favorite. The woman who helped me (ahh! I can’t remember her name) was very knowledgeable and kind. I will definitely return!