The Cheese Shop

Service wasn’t friendly at the cheese counter or the sandwich counter. If you’ve never been here, it’s not really possible to have your order ready when you hit the sandwich counter, but if you don’t, they aren’t very patient or nice about it. Be prepared to wait 15 minutes-​ish for your order to come out amongst 20+ other customers also waiting. The sandwiches are good, though small, which is in line with the fairly inexpensive pricing. The ham verges on inedibly salty if you like that, which is worth mentioning because I don’t and I’m glad I got the turkey and ham to cut the saltiness.
The cheese counter has a selection that nearly rivals Whole Foods, but it’s not got anything they don’t, and you’re stuck with a quarter pound for the smallest quantity, which is quite a bit if you’re looking for something to go for a picnic or whatnot. The ham biscuits they offer are about the size of a half dollar, you get four per order, and they are absolutely delicious. I would come back repeatedly just for them (though I’d add cheese if possible next time).
Bottom line: Good for sandwiches, ham biscuits are spectacular, definitely good for a cheese plate and glass of wine, seating very limited, avoid bulk cheese purchasing as a tourist (cheese sweats and will make you sick if not kept properly stored — I learned this first hand after my visit here — bleh).
Would I come back? Absolutely… though I wouldn’t be happy while ordering, waiting, or looking elsewhere for a place to sit and eat.

This is pretty cool operation with all the different things to see and buy, including wine in the cellar downstairs.
However, we were told that the sandwiches were a must have so we went in earnest for lunch. I fed into the hype and was very dissatisfied. (Plus it took about 20+ min to get our food. We knew this ahead of time, but just be aware)
First off the sandwich choices are super boring. They are all things I can make myself which annoyed me. In a place with this much hype there should be some signature foods that make you want to come back because they are the only ones who make it. If the house dressing is all you make that’s unique it’s time to reassess.
Ham and cheese? Turkey and cheese? Tuna salad?
Seriously??? It’s like an 80 year old man came up with the menu. So once you finally get your food the sandwich is so damn small. Mini French bread and dry corn beef. I won’t ever be back, it’s pointless.

I love this place. We are in Williamsburg for only 3 days and have Come 3 times to the cheese shop. I had the corned beef and the wine downstairs. My wife had the veggie and said it was wonderful. The atmosphere is great and the parking plentiful.

I heard a lot about this place before coming here, and I must say that I was somewhat disappointed. There were quite a few customers in the store and it’s set up as a cute wine and cheese market. The rear of the store was the actual sandwich shop. We gave in an order rather quickly, I ordered a smoked turkey sandwich and my boyfriend ordered a prosciutto and provolone sandwich. Nothing fancy. The toppings, such as tomatoes and lettuce were an extra 50 cents, which I thought was unnecessary. I think we waited 20 – 25 minutes for our order. I went to grab a seat for us up front in the seating area, which there isn’t much of. There was one girl checking everyone out at the register, adding more time to the wait. Once we actually sat down, we ate in about 10 minutes, ¼ of the time we waited to eat. Again, sandwiches were nothing special. I could have been as satisfied, if not more, going to Potbelly or Jimmy John. I wouldn’t go back.

This is THE spot if you want a fantastic sandwich. The place gets very packed but it is worth it. The bread selection is great and the bread tastes great. I got turkey on rye which was fantastic and my girlfriend got ham on focaccia bread. prices are reasonable. Seating is limited but there’s plenty of places to grab outside somewhere. Definitely a great lunch stop if you’re planning on touring colonial Williamsburg which is within walking distance of this location.

Meh. My sandwich was uneventful. My friend with celiac ended up getting sick off his, which was supposed to be gluten free. It was so hectic in there that I’m not surprised that there was cross-​contamination, but they shouldn’t advertise gluten free sandwiches if they can’t provide them.

I’m have been wanting to eat at The Cheese Shop for a long time. Today was the day. The best sandwich… Whatever you get make sure you put the house dressing on it!
There are many things to look at around. Too bad I didn’t drive and I didn’t have a refrigerator to put some pimento cheese in bc I’m sure theirs is delicious! Next time… Don’t delay try this place.

Yummy sandwiches, cute drinks, awesome artisinal foods to purchase, PERFECT! We ate lunch here and loved it so much we returned later in the day to get some crusty bread and cheeses. Great service!

My friend, my service dog and I wandered into this place and I am a HUGE fan. I ordered the tuna salad sandwich on wheat with sprouts and walnuts and everything so incredibly fresh and tasty that I wanted a second ‘sammich’ for later. My friend had the roast beef and she loved it as well.
They sell all sorts of drinks, chips, snacks, cheeses, crackers and much more that the eyes will never get bored but the stomach will be conflicted. I purchased a lemonade and an organic strawberry drink — then mixed them — Delish! My friend ordered a roast beef sandwich and some «bread ends» that we used with our pasta salad later on. They have a heated rear enclosed patio area that was quite cozy on this cold and rainy afternoon. If you’re ever in Williamsburg, you MUST eat here. You’ll thank me.

The Cheese Shop is an amazing place to grab a quick bite, or if you want to stop by their store and look at their selection of cheeses, wines, olives, snacks and various other ingredients like pastas, sauces, olive oil etc.
We stopped by here for lunch while vacationing in Williamsburg, and really loved their sandwiches. We got the Chicken salad sandwich with applewood bacon and the Veggie with edamame on focaccia, both of which were delicious.
I would give them 5 stars except that the layout of the store and the checkout process could be improved. You need to go to the back of the store to order your sandwiches and when your sandwiches are ready, they call out your name. Once they hand over your sandwiches, you need to go to the front of the store and stand in another line to pay for them. These areas are usually crowded, and you have to wait in line twice, which is inconvenient.

So nice and fun! Me and my friend grabbed a cold beer and cheese plate with olives and a cheesecake, it’s so nice to sit outside! Lovely!

Such a great local staple! This was one of my boyfriend’s favorite places when he went to school here. We went on a Saturday & it was pretty busy. When you walk in the front is filled with multiple cheeses, pastas, & jars of sauces that you’re able to buy. You order your food in the back of the store.
They had a chalkboard of all the sandwiches you’re able to order. I got the tuna salad sandwich on French bread and my boyfriend ordered the smoked salmon that was topped with a bed of an arugula all on a focaccia bun. After ordering you wait around & can browse all the local items they sell. We only had to wait about 15 minutes before they called our name. They place your sandwiches in a cute little basket that you bring up to the front of the store to pay for. That part was a bit confusing since you would think you pay for everything where you order…
The sandwiches were amazing! Everything tasted fresh & had such a great flavor. They were a decent size too so after eating I was content with how full I was. I would love to try all the other sandwiches they offer if I go back again.
It was a great experience and I recommend coming here :) it’s also in the heart of downtown Williamsburg so there’s a lot to do in the little strip as well.

Are you hangin’ out at Colonial Williamsburg for the day? Follow these directions precisely: visit this shop in between or after your visit to Colonial Williamsburg, after you walk into the shop, walk to the rear and place an order for the grilled cheese sandwich! It will be the best grilled cheese you will ever eat. The time before the last that I stepped into the cheese shop was a little over 10 years ago. It was still as busy, if not busier. It was the day after Christmas, when we visited, so the store was packed with people, lines were long for ordering food, but it did not deter us from eating there. Luckily, there was only 3 of us, so we got a small high-​top table that coincidentally had 3 stools. This market and very casual-​style restaurant had something for everyone — salads, sandwiches, desserts, specialty drinks, wines and so much more.
That grilled cheese sandwich was worth every second we waited on it (that wasn’t even that long). It was cheesy hotness on sourdough bread and it was the cheese was ooey and gooey stringy, when I took my first bite. Even the cheese was very high quality cheddar. They also served Illy coffee, which is always some of the best cup of coffee. We had some small salads and other lovely treats. I had my eye on these ooey gooey double chocolate chip cookies and I was so tempted to get them, but had to resist. Can you tell I have an obession with ooey gooey? Happy eating all!

Any time I go back to the ‘Burg I make at least one stop at The Cheese Shop (in October when there for HC and my 25 year college reunion), I went twice!
My personal favorite is roast beef with edam on french bread with extra house dressing, but everything there is GREAT!
If you haven’t eaten here before, make sure that you do get the house dressing (so excited that they now ship it) on your sandwich as it’s their special recipe and is sooooo good (if you like it, buy some with a bag of bread ends to take home with you– lol… a staple for many W&M students).
It does get really crowded because it is so popular, so be prepared to wait a while or call and order ahead so that you can just pick up your sandwiches.

When it comes to reasonable places to eat in the Williamsburg area, sometimes you fall short on options. Don’t feel like spending a fortune, but yes you want good service and decent food? This place delivers. It’s not the most exotic, but it definitely fits the above requirements.
The only big gripe I have is the layout of the facility. It can be a little confusing on how to order when the place is packed but just look up for the signs and it’ll help amongst the chaos. Often people will just randomly stand where they think the line is but make sure you’re to the left of the entire ordering counter. Don’t be «that person» who cuts everyone ;)
Overall, they serve deli-​style sandwiches and make for a fantastic brunch.
Out of everything you do, don’t forget to go downstairs and see their fantastic selection of beers and wines. It’s so glorious!
Food Taste: 4
Overall Service: 4
Value of food to cost: 4
Facility: 3.5
Repeat customer: yes
Dog Friendly: yes — outside patio furniture

Really yummy. I had a baked ham with mesclun greens, house sauce and swiss on French. I liked it better than the Colonel’s Virginia ham, which was too salty for my taste but he liked it. He had his with edam and watercress and said he tasted, «museum» when he bit into it, in a good way.
Excellent selection of cold drinks (including beer and mini wine bottles), wide variety of chips, including the hard to find Route 66 Dill Pickle — I always hope to find them and am always disappointed when the green bag ends up being jalapeño! The Sprossling, who had a plain pulled pork, became a fan and swapped me for his aged cheddar/​horseradish chips (also by Route 66). Now he can never say he doesn’t like dill pickle again, ha ha!
Friendly staff, relatively quick, and we found seating without a hassle.

Delicious foods at tourist-​worthy (high) prices and a cute stop for a quick snack — cheese plates and sandwiches. Fun but über-​crowded on a summer weekend for sure.
They carry Savannah Bee Co. honey (love them) and Stonewall Kitchen (love them so much) and the like.
They have the Flam seal of approval!

Having only tried a sandwich, I can see it’s crowded for a reason. Unfortunately I have to take the crowds also as a negative because it took 10 minutes to get my sandwich in a small waiting area with them only shouting names (no intercom) so I feared straying too far from the counter to shop lest I miss my pickup. The seating is also only outside and on a sweltering day like this, even in shade, is not really my bag.
Having said that, my Virginia ham with house dressing was delectable and I enjoyed a Chownings root beer with it. It seems like a great option for lunch. I did see a side window for call ahead options, so if I ever am back in the area, I will be prepared!

We had visited Jamestown before coming to Williamsburg. We got the historical part of the trip and then came the food. The Cheese Shop is in a very nice neighborhood a lot to do around the shop including a very cool peanut and tea shop.
The cheese shop I thought was very good food. The sandwiches were warm, cheese melted and the meat was cooked/​warmed just right. I would highly recommend the Prosciutto and provolone sandwich.
Make sure to get the Bread ends at the house dressing as an appetizer (AMAZING!!!)
I love the town, the food and the service was great.

Whenever I take a trip to Williamsburg, I always make the Cheese Shop one of the first places I visit. That’s just how good it is.
My first visit to Williamsburg consisted of me completely missing the Cheese Shop because I was very young and there were a bunch of adults inside. I wanted to go in, but I definitely felt like I didn’t know enough about cheese to not make a fool of myself. What a mistake!
From the outside, it does look very intimating, but not to worry. The people working behind the cheese counter are very friendly, knowledgeable, and willing to help you decide what kind of cheese you’re in the mood for. The same goes for those who work downstairs in the wine cellar. No one acts pretentious. It’s truly a welcoming place. It was a quick visit, so we only managed a brownie, a jar of peach hot pepper jam, and a quarter pound of Muenster (which made delicious macaroni and cheese later). The prices are slightly on the high side, but that’s the cost of legitimate cheese.
… I just wish it weren’t so confusing inside. You walk up to the sandwich counter and no one really says hi or anything. You’re kinda just left there. Also, the actual cash register is in the middle front of the store. I always have a hard time remembering that. The layout of the store is just a bit weird.
The place gets busy quickly, but that’s just a testament of how wonderful everything is. The variety of gourmet items, the awesome cheese selection, the wine, it’s amazing.