Caseus Fromagerie & Bistro

From cheese platters and catering to cozy dinners in the basement, caseus has it all. Everything I’ve had is delicious. Everyone at my event raved about the cheese platter. The Mac and cheese is a bit heavy, very filling, probably best for winter.

It’s been a while since I’ve been to Caseus. missing their cheesy farm to mouth goodness, we headed down for lunch today.
The patio was empty at 11:30.so plan on that to beat the lunch rush at noon. Service was as good as I remember, and the food was stellar. We started with a Spring gazpacho– snap pea, Bok choy, and ramps… id be happy with just that, literally late spring in a bowl. Also splurged for the farm to hearth bread topped with melty cows cheese, paired with pickled veggies. Again, that was all we needed to be happy. They ran a special today with a fried cauliflower sammy, with curry aioli and pickled carrot. For a meatless option it was awesome. id totally get that again. All this great food paired perfectly with a Bantam Cider. it’ll be my summer goal to find this to bulk up on. Sour cherries and peppercorns with local apples, heaven.

Absolutely loved the seasonal selection, from
appetizers to the entrees. I feel like one of the boards, whether it be cheese or meat, is a necessity if you’re really trying to splurge — or not, being how the prices are very reasonable. The trout is unreal, and everything just seems so fresh and fantastic. Attentive staff that know and are educated on the food they’re serving only add to the experience.

Good food, slow spacey service. Poutine, grilled cheese and the burger are fantastic, but if you want a refill on your drink or another beer you’re going to have to tackle your server to get their attention.

Great service, great food, great cheese selection. I need to go back an explore more! Sitting outside on a warm day, enjoying an excellent Rose’ of the day — perfect!

It’s perfect. Nothing more to say.

Cheesemongers Beware!
As someone who prides themselves in working in a lifetime in customer service for such establishments as Whole Foods Market, I found myself utterly surprised that this establishment was in great deficit in terms of respect and quality of customer care. My husband and I eat out about once or twice a week and are always looking for new adventures– shying away from the standard fast food fare. We have always enjoyed supporting local and had made several attempts over the past few months to do our part in supporting Caseus. However, the challenges were revealed in the simple action of booking a reservation.
I attempted twice to book and was told that there was not enough seating and if I were to bring a party larger than two, we would have to be split with no explanation as to why. Upon the second occasion, I was told that there was a wait time of only thirty minutes and therefore, it was not necessary for me to make a reservation at all and promptly hung up on. Upon my arrival twenty minutes later, my party and I were informed that there was a two hour wait and told to wait by the door as if we were discarded cheese rinds. When I politely informed the hostess that I was the gentleman who had just called only moments before, she stated that no one had said any such thing and practically ushered me and mine outside.
The last instance was the most horrible as I was attempting to make a reservation for my parents who are darling, very kind, and tip very well. I called and attempted to make a reservation and was told that although they could not accommodate a 12.30pm request, they had an opening for 11.45am. So I booked and simply stated that my parents would try their best to make it on time but may be only a few minutes late due to a prior engagement. The woman who took the reservation said that they have another table booking at 1.30pm so, if they were to arrive late, they would have less time to eat. I was taken aback by the image of my loving parents frantically shoveling molten cheese into their mouths as to accommodate the needs of the business turn-​over rate. I passed it off as a careless lapse in judgment during a busy lunch hour. Upon hearing this my parents, however, insisted I call back and cancel. When I called and asked for the manager and attempted to explain my concerns with the past and current situations, I was very rudely interrupted four times in a fifteen minute phone call during which the manager talked over me as I was explaining my concerns. All in all, it’s sad to see such good cheese in the care of such horrid care-​takers. And, if I did indeed speak to the manager, I suggest the owners skim the fat as it were to save their business. It’s the last time I’ll recommend or attempt to support this establishment.
I say– go to a nice cheese section in any store, get a loaf of bread, and a nice bottle of wine and skip this pretentious, ill-​mannered closet. Or, if you’ve already paid the meter– which I’ve done three times, cross the street and enjoy the amazing ambiance at Chao Chao where the environment is welcoming, the food– always amazing, and the customer service– paramount.

Everything at Caseus is fine. The macaroni and cheese was fine. In fact, if I had been at another restaurant in town, I might even say it was good. But this is not another restaurant, this is a fromagerie, and I think the mac and cheese should be held to a higher standard. To be specific, it was creamy and tasty, but not meaningfully cheesy. I think the same idea could apply to the other dishes I tried. Everything was okay. Nothing offensive, and in fact it all tasted pretty good. But for the price (and considering the cheese-​centric nature of the restaurant), I think they could do better.
If you knocked $ 3 – 4 off of everything on the menu, that might be a start. The current quality for the price just isn’t quite good enough to justify a visit.

For nearly two years, I heard about the amazing food at Caseus, so I finally went for dinner on a Wednesday evening after term ended. We were seated downstairs, in a very cozy environment, where we decided to order two dishes to share — the mac & cheese and the grilled cheese. Both dishes were quite good but the grilled cheese was definitely my favourite. The portions are also huge, so plan to take some home! The environment is cozy, the food is excellent, and I was pleased with the service. I had a wonderful dinner in good company.
Recommendation:
–Grilled cheese!
Verdict:
Wholeheartedly recommended

My mom has been raving about their grilled cheese for months. As a dutiful son I took a trip over to try it for myself… along with a with a beet salad mac and cheese… Surprisingly I though the beet salad was the best dish I had. It had this incredible soft these which was not overpowering but rather compliment sliced beets, arugula, coated nuts and balsamic dressing. The plain grilled cheese was good but the cheese was overwhelmed by both the best and worst part of the sandwich: the bread. The bread was so thick it was incredible yet it mad the sandwich much less cheesy than i like. The other grilled cheese was likewise hard to review. I got the $ 5 add on (a creamy sauce and fried egg on top). The egg was cooked perfectly yet I didn’t like the sauce and overall felt it didn’t add much. Overall a great lunch place and if the weather is nice sit outside — its a great space.

I so wish I could give five stars. The service prior to arrival of our lunch entrees was very attentive, friendly, and informative. My friends and I enjoyed the daily tart as an appetizer (blue cheese and porcini mushroom). The three of us had the grilled cheese, the mac and cheese, and the daily special which was beef brisket served over coucous. My friend raved about the grilled cheese, which is a half pound of uniquely blended, delicious cheese grilled on equally scrumptious, thickly sliced, rye bread from a local bakery. The mac and cheese also blends cheeses with just the right amount of sharpness. M& C was served with a side salad. Based on these choices, I would be rating our experience as exemplary. However, the beef brisket, and coucous while tasty, was served cold and was extremely fatty. The restaurant was extremely busy and our waiter, who had been very attentive, did not return following the arrival of the entrée and I was unable to gain his attention.
We enjoyed the other entrees and when our plates were cleared I told the waiter about the temperature of the meal. He apologized and said he would notify the chef. Given the caliber of this restaurant, I expected something more, either to be comped for the bad entrée or at least to be offered dessert.

I just visited for Restaurant week with my friends and it was ok. I can’t honestly say I loved it but I didn’t hate it either. It was ok.
Opinion per plate:
Cheddar Ale Soup = delicious do recommend
Black Hog braised black hog SOS = The pork by itself was a little too greasy. I am really picky with pork so if you are into the more marbled taste you might like this but I, not so much.
Mac & Cheese = Good, but nothing amazing (it’s something that can be homemade and be just as good)
Crispy Duck Leg = Duck leg was good by itself but it came with green lentils and «lavender chevre» cheese that was not good with the dish. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t like it.
Dark Chocolate goat cheese brownie = Very tasty do recommend
Overall, the meal was fine. I do have to make a note though the service was great.
I had a great time and might come back but try completely different dishes.
Definitely something everyone needs to try themselves.

This restaurant surpassed all of my expectations. Came here with my brother in law and his girlfriend while visiting her in New Haven. The place was packed when we came around 7pm but we had a reservation and were quickly seated downstairs by the cheese fridge (a cozy spot).
Our server was enthusiastic and had great recommendations. The cider ordered by my hubby was delicious and had the right amount of sweetness and booziness. We ended up deciding on the ham cut pork special with roasted squash and green lentils, the macaroni with 6+ cheeses, the clam chowder, and sautéed Russian kale. The serving sizes are very generous, and we ended up taking home ¹⁄₃ servings of the pork and mac & cheese dishes. The mac and cheese was to die for and was rich, decadent with the right amount of melted to flavourful cheese goodness in the dish. The clam chowder was wonderfully balanced with the smokiness of bacon, creaminess and chunks of sliced mini potatoes. The pork was tender and flavourful.
Because my brother in law and his girlfriend have dined at Caseus a few times before, they know many of the staff. Owner Jason kindly came over to chat about his story of why he decided to start a cheese shop meets restaurant. It was the kind of story of local boy comes home and establishes successful businesses that made us more so want Caseus and his other ventures to succeed.
We ordered the chocolate pot de crème topped with peanut butter whipped cream, the bread pudding, plus a goat cheese brownie to go. However the kitchen had kindly prepared a complementary trio of desserts including the bread pudding, pot de crème and crème brûlée, plus a goat cheese brownie to go. All of the desserts especially the chocolate pot de crème were above and beyond decadent and delicious and a great way of topping off a spectacular meal. I look forward to coming back to New Haven to try Caseus and sister restaurant Oridinary in the future when we are in town.

My family and I are in New Haven for a Yale tour. We Unilocaled this restaurant and thought it would be a cool, local change of pace.
While we didn’t have reservations for the lunch rush, we were greeted and seated almost immediately upon arrival. All of our food from the beet salad, to the cheesboard, brisket sandwich special, to my grilled cheese were incredibly delicious! Don’t forget to try the pickles in the jar on the table while you wait. Yum!!!
Everyone should make this restaurant part of their New Haven experience!
Special thanks to William and Sam for the awesome service!!!

Great mussels with white wine, garli, aoli, rosemary, onions and lemon which came with crispy fries and tasty garlic mayo. Fish taco had a good relish.

Excellent, top notch food and service. IF you get the mac and cheese, I highly suggest adding bacon lardons. Great selection of beers and ciders, most local or regional. The interior has a cozy. cave like feel with lots of corners and alcoves. Service is super friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. Great place for a group or a romantic date, but you definitely want to have a reservation. Seating is very limited and Caseus is very popular with the locals. In warmer weather they have a nice set up on the patio for people watching.

Caseus has become a staple in the Elm City. Unique tastes and a great staff. Check it out and let your taste buds go nuts!
PS– the Cheese Shop has some amazing snacks and sweet merch!

I think I died and went to heaven when I walked into Caseus. What more could I want than an entire meal made up of the most amazing cheeses? I came with my sister for lunch one weekday afternoon, and while it was pretty empty when we got there at 11:45am, it filled up quickly, so I would suggest making a reservation if you have multiple people in your party.
Ambiance — Caseus is an adorable, small, cozy space that made for the perfect snug winter lunch spot. There is a good-​sized bar at which several people were dining alone, which looked very nice as well.
Food — Whoa. Still dreaming of all the oozing cheese. To start we ordered the daily cheese board which was made up of four different cheeses, three different types of bread, amazing grape fig jam, Marcona almonds, and house made pickles. We then shared the grilled cheese and the macaroni and cheese, both of which were served with sides of lightly dressed greens. I wouldn’t dream of changing our order. The grilled cheese was perfectly buttery and toasted with cheese overflowing. I was a little nervous at first because the sandwich is served on rye bread, which I am not typically a fan of, but trust me, it’s so good as a whole that I barely even noticed. The mac and cheese was delicious as well with a creamy base and a crisp yet melty top. I’m ready to race back and order the identical selections (though might have to add an order of frites that I was eyeing at a nearby table…)

This place is a great addition to the New Haven restaurant scene. The cozy atmosphere, local ingredients, and interesting menu make it natural gathering spot for fans of Connecticut on the hunt for french cuisine with a twist.
The menu is full of traditional favorites, such as poutine or duck confit, which do not disappoint: the poutine practically swims in gravy and cheese– and not the kind that comes pre-​shredded. However, there are also more inventive dishes that work to combine unexpected flavors, such as the «juicy lucy,» a cheese-​stuffed burger sandwiched by a waffle with lines of raspberry jam swirled through the batter.
The plates are quite large (I was only able to eat half the grilled cheese), but make great leftovers. In addition, on our last visit the spot has cans of G-​Bot not on the menu, only brought out upon request!
While the place is often full (we were unable to secure reservations twice), there is an outdoor patio and bar where reservations are not required. If you sit outside, you’ll be given a warm blanket to snuggle in– it definitly is a cute touch and adds to the cozy ambiance.

Yummmm times infinity. If I could go back in time and do it all over again, I would. And again, and again. You get the idea.
It’s a small place, with a bar area that seats around 8 people and maybe 8 high tops that seat no more than 3 people. There is seating in the cheese shop after 6:00, but it’s a bit cold because of the cheese, so try to stay on the first level.
We ordered the beet salad with the house guanciale and the tart du jour with goat cheese, onions, and broccoli. The salad was fresh and flavorful, served with blocks of bleu cheese and large beets. The tart was flaky and cheesy, just the way it should be at a place like this.
We somehow managed to leave room in our stomachs for the main courses, Mac n cheese with sausage and Rillette. The Mac was the perfect combo of cheesy and gooey, with a perfect golden crust on top.
The Rillette was light, smooth and perfectly accompanied the crusty fruit and nut bread.
Of course after a drool-​worthy meal, we had to eat dessert. We has a seasonal dessert, the banana bread pudding, which apparently is a recipe from one of the servers.
I’m not a pudding fan, but this was light, chunky, banana goodness. I would have licked the plate if my husband wasn’t there to stop me. What you think the other patrons would have stopped me? You’ll understand once you eat this? But hurry it is only there for a limited time.
I already am looking at the next calendar date available to go again. Reservation please! And keep the banana pudding coming. With a side of cheese.

If you come to Caseus, you come for the cheese.
I’ve only been here once, but I ordered the cheeseburger, mussels, and the mac & cheese (I should mention that I came with my girlfriend. that would be kind of sad if I came here alone and ate all that). The gouda was perfect on the burger and the beef was cooked just the way I asked. However, the highlight was really the mac & cheese. It was pretty much 50 gooey, warm, extremely rich, crazy-​flavorful cheeses having a party in my mouth. Finally, I don’t even remember what the mussels tasted like, so I’m assuming they weren’t that good.
The one drawback is that it’s overpriced.

Had a great meal! So much cheese.
We were a large group so it was great to try lots of different things. The poutine was delicious. We loved the grilled/​fried cheese (don’t remember the name). The cheese plate had a nice variety and was good but there weren’t enough crackers and breads to pair with the cheese. We didn’t love the French onion soup. It lacked flavor.
The Mac and cheese is really good. Super heavy and super cheesey. The grilled cheese is huge but we didn’t love the bread it came on– it was some healthy looking seedy bread. The creamed corn was delicious we loved that.

Can I live here?
Caseus is the sort of place that inspires you to marry a multimillionaire so you can afford to have every meal catered.
My friend and I have been trying to get to Caseus for years, to no avail. It seems we’re only both free on Sundays, Mondays, or Tuesdays, when Caseus is not open for dinner. This year, I bought her a gift certificate for her birthday, thinking if we couldn’t BOTH go, at least she would get to… and then she used it when we went together.
At first we were going to forego the menu and just eat the gherkins that are available on the table. My goodness.
We did eventually decide to order a few plates to share and went with the cheese plate, the creamed corn, and the beet salad. Sort of a weird combination, but it worked. They served the plates as they were ready, so we weren’t overwhelmed with choices. The creamed corn is from a local farm and was so, so, so good. The cheese plate had a good variety and I appreciated having the different breads/​crackers/​etc to spread it on (the jam on the plate was mouth-​wateringly delicious and when combined with the softer cheeses? Oh man.). The beet salad was almost deconstructed, with the beets lined up, arugula and cheese separated, and orange slices also lined it. Visually pleasing (and taste-​bud pleasing, too).
I wish I could remember which wines we ordered. We each liked the other’s wine more, so we swapped.
We finished off the night with the Pot De Crème. I can barely write about this. Suffice it to say, there was about a spoonful and a half left when we were done, and I took home a doggy bag to eat it the next day. That’s how good it was.
The staff let us take our dear, sweet time — we were there for almost 3 hours, eating and enjoying the wine and the company. I love the décor, with the cookbooks lining the wall. Next time, we’ll eat on the patio.

Believe the hype! The grilled cheese sandwich is the bomb here. Probably the best I’ve ever had. It’s mammoth sized rye bread and oozing cheese was amazing. I also added ham and chili peppers to it. A nice addition I must say. It comes with a small field greens salad, a few baby pickles and a ridiculous mustard on the side. The mustard was awesome.
We also got the cheese platter appetizer to start. It came with four cheeses, Spanish fried almonds (tasted like macadamia nuts), pickles, breads, and a raspberry spread. Wow. We killed it.
The whole experience was wonderful from the meal, to the ambience, to the staff. I highly recommend trying this place and can’t wait to go back.
FYI it’s a little pricey ie; the grilled cheese was $ 14 before the ham ($ 3) and chilis ($ 2) but we’ll worth it. Enjoy!

THE BISTRO:
I walked into Caseus today for lunch. I have been meaning to go here for some time after my incredibly satisfying love affair with the Caseus Cheese Truck and their limited yet absolutely AWESOME offerings. Upon entering, I was charmed by the cozy (yet slightly cramped) interior and the extremely friendly host and waitress. I loved the cookbooks on the ledge along the wall, and immediately felt at home. Before I went here, I looked online and was super excited for an absolutely delicious lunch based on the photos. Maybe that was a mistake.
For starters, I ordered the French onion soup and my husband got the bread and butter plate with pickled green tomato butter (yes, you have to pay $ 5 for bread and butter ??). My soup was good (not awesome) and my husband’s bread came out toasted. If he didn’t have my soup to dip his bread into, he most likely would have left it there, as it was hard and difficult to eat.
For lunch I ordered the grilled cheese with the jambon de Paris and my husband got a plain grilled cheese with a side of roasted brussel sprouts. These sandwiches were NOT like the cheese truck, the bread was about an inch thick and while my husbands was golden brown, mine was slightly burned. The bread was so thick (and they also added salt to the top?), that it completely overwhelmed what should have been the highlight of the sandwich — the CHEESE. The brussel sprouts we ordered were forgotten, and delivered just before we left.
I eat out EVERY day (at least once), and I have a few tips to offer that could make things so much better here…
1. If you MUST charge for bread, ask the diner if they would like their bread toasted or not, or even offer them a choice of breads.
2. Offer people a choice of breads for their grilled cheese, or just stick with the one from the truck, as it is utter perfection.
3. If you forget something, don’t just bring it out at the end, unless the customer asks for it after you have offered to take it off the bill.
STAFF:
The people who helped/​waited on us were not «snooty in the least. They were all incredibly solicitous and helpful. It is because of them that I will go back here and try again.
CHEESE SHOP:
As I self-​professed cheese addict, I had to go and see their cheese selection before I left. The store was very small and their selection was fairly limited. As a die-​hard fan or Fromage in Old Saybrook, this shop would have gad to be monumental to truly impress me. If you want an unbelievable selection of gourmet cheeses, meats, pates and other gourmet fare. it is truly worth the drive to Old Saybrook.
At almost $ 60 for lunch plus tip, I think there are better offerings available out there for lunch/​dinner, but I would definitely return at another time to try them at dinner.

Valentine’s day. Caseus has prepared a special prix fix menu for this night, which my date and I have come to enjoy.
The inside is narrow and dimly lit. Fresh flowers in a glass vase decorate each square wooden table, placed closely next to the other.
The server arrives. I choose the beet salad, artichoke soup, and brisket, while my partner chooses the duck, scallops, and brisket. For dessert, the pound cake with berries and goat cheese chocolate cheesecake. An additional order of foie gras with strawberries. The waitress obliges to our request to alternate pairing the wine and beer with either of our dishes.
How I would rank the dishes, based on their taste:
1) Fois gras — the liver was coated in a light savory sauce that once you put a piece in your mouth, melted. No odd smell. The strawberries and bruschetta adding the right contrast of crunchiness and tartness.
2) Beet Salad — two triangle slices of blue cheese, not overpowering the firmly cooked slices of beet and spicy arugula with coated nuts.
3) Pound Cake — the whipped cream lay upon the cake as snow, softly enveloping the raspberries & blackberries, and what I wrapped my tongue around matched what my eyes captured.
The remaining four spots go in this order: Artichoke Soup, Brisket, Duck, and Scallops.
Dinner at Caseus was marked by friendly and accommodating servers, wonderfully prepared dishes (satisfying both my desire for aesthetics and taste), and romantic atmosphere. These features attributed themselves to a most memorable night, that I know I will look back on fondly.