Super friendly & let you taste bf buying. I was intimidated going in but really they are not snobby at al! Can’t wait to go back even though I don’t live in the area!

Excellent cheese shop in Midtown. Knowledgeable staff and great selection. Went home very happy.

In my not-so-humble opinion, this is New Yorks pre-eminent cheese shop. Full of wonderful cheeses and other fine foods. The employees are all like sommeliers of cheese; it seems that there is nothing about cheese that these cheese mongers do not know.

Miss living on first avenue so much. Luckily, Goldbelly brings the amazing tastes of Ideal Cheese Shop to me. Not the same as being there but 3000 miles cant stop my love for Ideal Cheese.

Very welcoming and provided great samples and suggestions. I walked out with two cheeses Id never heard of before and two variations on old favorites. They also have an olive bar, dried fruits, nuts, olive oil & vinegar to refill or standalone bottles, crackers, and fresh Balthazar baguettes. Small but well thought out beer selection.

Ideal Cheese Shop has the best cheese. I will be coming back soon. They staff’s friendly and helpful.

The selection is fantastic and the service excellent.

Awesome cheese shop with too many cheeses (thats a good thing). We were allowed to sample the cheeses and the staff were really helpful. They gave great suggestions and helped us with our groupon.

One of the best reasons to live on First Ave in the 50s. Ideal Cheese is a guilty pleasure I can’t resist. The cheeses are amazing, and the friendly staff are always glad to suggest the next stop on your cheese journey.My wife and I love to stop by and pick up a baguette, cheeses, cured meats, and some jam, to have an impromptu picnic at the nearby parks. Ideal Cheese lets me escape to a European city without leaving New York!

Fabulous selection of well known and unusual cheeses, mostly French, with knowledgeable and friendly staff. I bought half the shop.

The best prociutto I have ever eaten!! The dry olives were delicious as well. The shop was very clean, the prices reasonable, and the staff friendly but not fawning. A+.

Great service and products!

Amazing selection of cheese and meats. Knowledgeable staff. A true gem. The cheese is amazing. Workers are friendly. Great place to get cheese.

Small shop with great selection of wonderful cheese. Really helpful staff who know their cheese. They are happy to give tastes.

This cheese shop is exceptional! The European cheese selection are among the best in the country! The staff are very helpful and will assist you in choosing the best selection for any occasion. Love that they kept the old school charm yet stay up-to-date with the newest and best cheese trends. Luckily I live in the neighborhood but even if I dont, Ideal will probably be a trip to be made. MUST visit!

Love this place. Not a chain and better cheeses than murrays. (No offense to Murray lovers). This is the local little guy and I love to support them. Great meats and cheeses with a wide range. Also a wide range of chutneys and such. I pop in a few times per year and pick up some wonderful new flavors to pair with wine. You can sample them all, and generally the staff is friendly (when its not packed).They can do with a number system for lines like at a deli counter, or perhaps mark a line somewhere. During the holidays people just jump in to bark orders no matter who came in before them.They also need an additional meat slicer. Waiting for meats can take a LONG time.Best cheese shop in NYC. Would get 5 stars with changes mentioned.Cheers Ideal Cheese!

These folks really know their products 😃

Just heard Ideal Cheese Shop was rated as one of the best cheese shops in NYC. That is so false. They are THE BEST cheese shop in NYC. Head and shoulders above the rest! I live in VA and order cheese from them several times a year. The selection is fantastic and the service excellent. Whenever I have a question I call or email and always receive a courteous, informed reply. You cant go wrong with these folks!

Hands down one of the best cheese shops I’ve been to in NYC besides Lamazou. Mark helped me and all of his suggestions were amazing and delicious. When you go please ask for Mark he’s super nice and very knowledgeable.

Not only is their cheese deliciously amazing, but their friendly staff provides samples of cheeses until you find your perfect match. i was assisted by Miguel during my first visit and have been back several times ever since, he was so polite and helpful. They are my new go-to for cheese. Highly recommend the Ideal Cheese Shop!!

I was in the neighborhood and I thought I might stop in to pick up some Comte cheese. The store was completely empty except for the staff members working there. The place isnt every big but they do have a good selection of cheese, meats, bread, jams and other gourmet items. They offer tastings for the cheese and the staff were very friendly. I told him what type of cheese I usually like and he offered a bunch of recommendations. However, the prices are a bit steep for some of the items.

I love this place. Looking for great cheese shops in NYC is tough. You need to hit both the classics and be able to surprise and delight with something obscure. Ideal cheese shop excels on both fronts. Service is friendly and lets you explore samples and they have a nice selection of artisanal beer and accoutrements. This is my midtown cheese shop!

I do my purchases online and over the phone. I LOVE their products. The best part is their shipping labels! My package delivery man gets a kick out the shipments EVERY time!I just signed up for the CHEESE OF THE MONTH club! My first order arrived last week. EXCELLENT! I love the thought of getting different cheeses to try monthly!!!

I was very disappointed with the disappearance of variety in the supermarket when I moved back to the US after spending 23 years in Europe, but Ideal Cheese Shop saved the day with their seemingly hundreds of cheese varieties. A bottle of good wine, a baguette and a variety of good cheese, what more could one want. I also enjoy the way the shipment is carefully hand wrapped and labeled by real people and not dropped out of some machine.

Amazing selection of cheeses, really friendly staff. Great place overall.

Amazing place, with cheese and other delicacies from France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and more. Staff are very kind and helpful.

There are a few great cheese shops in NYC, I would add this to the list. They have a nice selection of cheeses, a lot of them with the ages displayed. Also available were some cured meats, crackers, oils and other food items.

I have been going to the Ideal Cheese Shop for many, many years now. As one would expect from a cheese shop in the Sutton Place neighborhood, they have a fantastic selection of fine cheeses. But that isnt the only reason why I like this place. Their prices are really good and competitive. The staff is very friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and make the extra effort to get you over your inhibition if you dont know much about cheese. They also carry an assortment of other food. Definitely a place you shoudl visit if you havent already.

Great little shop for cheese.It is in a less convenient place and a little expensive bit they have excellent service and delicious cheese

I am a foodie & Ideal Cheese is a critical imperative for me. The Ideal Cheese team are in a class by themselves for their inspired cheese advice & exceptional service. They are truly gourmet partners at your table enhancing the experience with magical cheese pairings, incredible salumi & luscious chocolates. But dont stop there - the olive oils, pastas, butter, ...I could go on & on. James & Michael are the BEST partners a foodie could ever have!

Amazing customer service and great selection of the best cheese

A good friend who passed away introduced us to Ideal Cheese. He said that the cheese and service were great - and he was right! Enjoying the cheese brings up good memories. Thank you.

Amazing!!! the best cheese shop in the city. they have the best selection especially when it comes to French Cheeses. Staff is very knowledgeable and helpful.we are so lucky to live right next block!

Expensive but good quality. The worst thing in here is service. Staff looked annoying even I just ask one question for cheese and recommendation. He was so unkind. There are many cheese shop with kind and sweet employees in nyc. I probably not to back this store...

Employee was friendly and knowledgeable, patient and helpful. Lovely cheese shop and experience!

The owner is very knowledgeable, carries a good selection of cheeses, and wraps everything in wax paper. The store also offers gourmet condiments, beverages, charcuterie, and imported delicacies.

Staff knows their cheese.

Huge selection of cheeses. Excellent quality. Nice Staff.

Manhattans Best!

Delicious cheeses and great staff.

A unique place and for serious cheese lovers. Walk in and take in the wonderful cheesy aroma and sample cheeses from all over the world.

Excellent cheese shop 10/10

Bought a wonderful soppressata and Reblechon on a Groupon voucher. Cheese and gourmet items.

Great Cheeses, Great Artisnal Foods coupled with a staff that always treats you with a smile.I have been shopping at this store for 10+ years and they never disappoint!

Fine cheeses. Free samples. Good service

Walking by this unassuming lil queso shop is doing yourself a grave injustice. These guys know their dairy and they dnt play no games!! Be brave and step up to the counter ask the monger to show ya a taste of somethin new...hesitantly eat the offerings and become extremely surprised at just how wonderful this cheeses are. Amazing array and most to all are soooooo good!!!

Good quality cheese.

Have ordered cheese many time from these folks. Great service, good pricing, and INCREDIBLE cheeses. The goudas and Prima Dona are to die for!

I discovered Ideal Cheese years ago meandering around the Upper East Side . My husband is French, I lived in Switzerland and Italy for many years, and we LOVE cheese.I find Ideal Cheese to have the best selection of my favorites always at good prices. I live 2 hrs away so am so happy to have online access. The quality is always excellent and they package it properly (which is so important!). THANK YOU Ideal Cheese, going to stock up now for February ski vacation. Raclette time! and I see you have Vacherin Mont Dor which makes me weak in the knees!

Ive ordered several cheeses online from Ideal Cheese Shop and was more than satisfied with the product, packaging, and speed of delivery. Additionally, they carry several of my favorites such as Carles Roquefort which I find very hard to locate elsewhere.

Ideal has an incredible selection from all over the globe!

Nice and very knowledgeable staff. Didnt have the cheese I was looking for but found me something close to it and I was very Pleased

I dont really get why you would have to close at 6 when many of us have to work during the day :P.

By far, The Best!

Wonderful selection great customer service.

Love it.

Pricy, but a good selection of cheeses

Many cheese for choice but not cheap 😁

Best cheeses in NYC!!

Great place. Great selections.

Great shop and helpful staff!

Always worth the trip!

Great service and selection!

Oh my gawd. The cheese.

Outstanding.

Great cheese

Great selection

Hidden gem

All excellent

Good service, items are of excellent quality, highly recommended

Is very pretty

Superb.