Nice spot in the Grand Rapids market. Checked out the Christmas market. Ended up getting a charcuterie plate & splitting a bottle of wine. read more

Aperitivo - Cheese Shops Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

4 stars (and not 5) because of a very rude server behind the bar who was very clearly trying to get us to leave so they could close. Which is disappointing because the server we had was wonderful. We dined her on a Monday night starting at 5:45p. The website still lists their hours as being opened until 8p, but the server shared with us that they recently changed their hours to closing at 7p. Had we known this, we would have gone some place else for happy hour/dinner together. We all order wine and their large cheese board and then all ordered sandwiches... which didn't come until quarter to 7p... so 15 mins to eat our meal? That's not enough time. They did also give us last call at 7p and that is why we hung out a bit longer. Closing in on 7:30p (still 30 mins before their website lists their hours ending) the male server (younger gentleman) loudly yells over the bar towards the now closed market to NO ONE, "Thanks for coming ladies, have a great night!!' in what we think was a solid effort to jolt us into 'also' leaving along with these pretend ladies who he just said goodbye to. Anywho, we had already paid our bill at that point and took the hit and left wine in glasses that weren't finished yet and food behind as well. Our experience would have been much different/positive had our server come over and politely asked us to relocate and thanked us for coming in. read more

Aperitivo - Cheese Monger (large) cheese board - $27 - Cheese Shops Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Every time we come to the downtown market, I ask myself why we don't visit more frequently. The latest example was a date night visit to Appertivo We popped in on a very busy Saturday evening prior to attending a performance downtown. We opted to sit at the bar and were greeted with fast friendly service and yummy drinks. We ordered bread and butter to start (because bread and butter is always a sure thing) for dinner I had the meltaway a.k.a. grilled cheese sandwich of the day and my husband ordered the spicy sausage spread sandwich. Both were exceptionally delicious I would get either again in a heartbeat, we didn't have time for a second round of drinks although we both wanted one and we agreed that we definitely need to make visiting here a more frequent occurrence! read more

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Pleasant little Italian-style wine bar. We tried a mimosa and a bambino (mixed drink), along with a cheese sampler that our waitress was gracious enough to put together for us. Perfect treat after dinner. read more

Aperitivo - Cheese sampler - Cheese Shops Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Went on 12/15. Pretty busy time and hour so the slow service I'm attributing to that. The food was good. I got the small charcuterie board. I wasn't floored with flavors but it was very good cheese and olives. The ambiance is cute and nice and warm in the winter months. The pear sangria was strong. Overall, it wasn't a mind blowing experience but I'll be updating my review once I got get a second taste read more

Located inside the Grand Rapids market. They offer many unique Michigan items and cheese. read more

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This place is like three awesome businesses in one. First off, it's a retail cheese and charcuterie shop with all sorts of unique cheeses and accoutrements. Plus the staff is super knowledgeable and passionate about cheese. They offer cheese by the weight or to-go charcuterie boards pre-made (48 hrs notice) to bring over and impress your friends. Second, they are a retail wine and beer shop stocking many wines you've never heard of but definitely need to try. If you're ready to branch out from the same ole $12 bottle you buy at the grocery store come here and talk to one of their knowledgeable staff members to help you find a new bottle you'll really enjoy! Third, this place is a fun wine bar with beer and wine by the bottle or glass and a fun list of cocktails. They offer snacks, sandwiches (highly recommend the meltdown), salads and desserts as well. Plus if you don't happen to find something to your liking on their menu you are welcome to explore the rest of the Downtown Market and bring whatever you find back to enjoy at your table (very fair min $20 purchase at Aperitivo required). If you like cheese, wine, beer and having a good time you need to go here! read more

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One of the best charcuterie boards I've ever had in my life! A friend and I are in town for a wedding and we split the mongers board. The cheeses were super unique and the pairings were perfect. It could have just been the delicious frosè i was sipping, but I was very pleased. All ingredients were fresh and the prices were reasonable. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a really unique restaurant concept with incredible quality read more

Aperitivo - The frosè was so cute - Cheese Shops Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Gorgeous wine list -I highly recommend ordering oysters at Fish Lads across from the bar and pairing with the Italian sparkling wine! Staff were attentive and kind. read more

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We've come here many times to get cheese and meat for boards, they have a fantastic selection you can buy out of the case! The staff is super knowledgeable and can help make cheese selections and find wine pairings. We ate here for the first time and the food was really wonderful. We had a mongers board to share. Three cheeses and two meats, all were delicious! My husband got the meltdown which is the grilled cheese of the day, his had blue cheese and a honey butter to dip it in, really yummy I got the tart Turkey. Turkey, arugula, Brie, cherry jam. It was perfect! The Brie is subtle but compliments the cherry jam and Turkey well. We will continue to come here for our cheese board supplies and hopefully be back to try more off the menu! read more

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Another 5 star Aperitivo review - I swear we are not related to any staff, and don't own stock. But today was the first time we ordered a grilled cheese, and it was amazing!!! It was also not anything close to your mom's grilled cheese - no way my husband could finish it, and it was so yummy the rest of us were sure trying to help. I wish we had taken a picture or two to post, because it was as visually appealing as it tasted. Thank you for a lovely brunch!!!! read more

Food: 3/5. Service: 4/5. Good selection of wines. The food is safe but also good. The market detracts from the vibe.

Apertitivo is my favorite spot in the Downtown Market. Because...CHEESE! They have a huge selection of fresh cheeses, most of which are unique and made at local MI farms. The people working behind the counter are total cheese nerds like me and love giving recommendations. They're really helpful! I like to stop here for lunch or an evening cheese plate. The Meltdown is a rotating grilled cheese- YUM. Perfectly pressed, bursting with melty cheese and always served with a nice honey or jam. I love this sandwich. The cheese plate is a perfect choice for this place as well. It's served with beautiful accoutrements including fresh bread, olives, dried fruits and honey or jam. Can't go wrong! I also love their Lillet spritz. Its really refreshing and fruit forward. The perfect sweet and slightly bitter balance. They also have a variety of wines and beer. This is definitely the place to go if you want to expand your cheese tray making skills for a party. They have everything you need to impress your guests with a stunning spread. Thanks Aperitivo! read more

Aperitivo - Cheese plate with 3 cheeses at Aperitivo - Cheese Shops Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

While I wish you offered a oaky or buttery white wine, the food was great. The service was fantastic and knowledgeable. The bartenders were fast and kind, making for a great little Saturday visit. We'll be back for sure! read more

Aperitivo - Very knowledge and so kind. We really loved the meat and cheese board with a mix of local breads, jams and cheese. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Really unique place. Staff was friendly and explained everything we had order. Mainly because we couldn't read the menu. Definitely do your research before you go or know your meats and cheeses. We are fairly new in experiencing cheeses, so this was probably not the best place for us. Biggest problem was the prices for wine. They were over the top. A glass of a $24 wine was $10-12, talk about price gouging. read more

Aperitivo - Cheese Shops Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Popped in yesterday with my friend and enjoyed a delicious red blend and charcuterie board. Our server was so attentive and she guided me to the bhilar red from Spain. This wine was very pleasing, I will be returning to purchase my next bottle. We ordered the Mini Monger and this didn't disappoint one bit! read more

Fancy pricey meaty cheesy winey goodness! Well-curated selection and knowledgeable staff. I also love their outdoor patio area for happy hour hijinx! read more

I traveled here on a suggestion to try their butters. I purchased three different kinds. One was a salted butter by Vermont Creamery. It was phenomenal. The other two were awful. The two that were awful were in paper wrappers. They tasted like the ambient odors of the cooler. So I emailed Aperitivo regarding the two butters that were spoiled. They very graciously refunded me the cost of those two butters. I am very thankful for the kind customer service. read more

After my first visit, this cheese and wine shop at the Downtown Grand Rapids Market became one of my favorite places ever. Kate, the owner and cheese monger, is very particular and only carries the best products. Translation: everything is high quality and super delicious. We did a charcuterie board with five cheeses (Casatica de Bufalo, Pecorino Ginepro, Greybarn Bluebird, Crottin de Perigord, and Tulip Tree Foxglove) and thee meats (La Quercia Prosciutto, Charlitos Cucina Chorizo, and Creminelli Sopressata), which also included figs with honey, a pear jam, pickles, pickled peppers, olives, a variety of crackers and beads, and mustard. The selection was fabulous. Presentation was beautiful. I love that we could sample cheeses this way. We also tried The Meltdown of the day - which is a chef's choice grilled cheese. So good. The staff is amazing and super knowledgeable, which is great. If you love cheese, cured meats, and wine, this is a must-stop! read more

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5 stars because of a very polite server behind the bar personally thanked my lady friends and I for coming to the restaurant

Lovely place with fabulous wine and beer selections as well as amazing savory tidbits and antipasto. Sit on the airy patio and enjoy a glass of wine and all the terrific service. Great attentive staff. Very knowledgeable. read more

Aperitivo - Outdoor patio with fpuntain - Cheese Shops Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Creative appetizers and sandwiches, always perfectly prepared. They also curate a rotating list of wines that pair well and are available for sale in the shop. The selection of cheeses and meats at the counter makes them the best Italian deli in the area. Friendly staff makes it even better read more

Went there today, one of the employees was obviously sick - I will not be returning if they aren't willing to send sick employees home even for the sake of their customers. read more

I visited the DOwntown Market for the first time today during a mom/daughter day, and we stopped here for a glass of wine after walking around. The service was great, and I love the selection of wines and cheeses in the store. The menu looked good, but we didn't eat anything. I had a glass of Cabernet and my mom had a glass of Chardonnay. The wine was good, but I don't think it was $14 a glass good. So, I probably wouldn't go back since there are other options for wining and dining at the market, but it wasn't a bad experience! A fifth star would've been earned if I felt the prices were more reasonable. read more

Aperitivo - Mom/daughter day! Stopped at the market to explore, and to have a glass of wine. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

I think that apertivo is a solid 5/5 if you are looking at it as a wine bar and not as a restaurant-- however what tips it over is that it is also easy to get good food from around the market and enjoy it here. We came in here on a Saturday and sat at the bar (although had Michigan graced us with normal may weather we would have enjoyed the outside patio area which is killer in the summer). The bartender was very helpful and gave my wife some good ideas on sparkling rose to try. I ended up ordering a cocktail that was called the Barcelona. It had a great taste and had an olive in it which was fun to eat at the end. For snacks we ordered a great liver mouse pate that was served with a variety of potato chips and breads. The chip - pate combo was fantastic! read more

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Love when I can sneak away for a good glass of wine and some decadent cheese! Delicious options in the alcohol department- beer, wine, sparkling. Cheese & Meats - get a seasonal plate. Holy Yes, please. Other Food: Get this, too. Had a grilled cheese recently- it is what heaven serves. GREAT service. Worth the splurge! Fun items for purchase: food, alcohol, and other fun stuff. read more

Aperitivo is a wine, cider and beer bar that offers cheeses, meats, and a variety of kitchen items and specialty grocery items (like a smaller Art of the Table, their sister store). The wine list is small but thoughtfully curated. I tried an Austrian white, which was crisp and dry. The girl working at the counter was very helpful and asked what types of wines we like and gave us the suggestion. She was helpful throughout our visit, asking how we liked our food and checking if we needed anything. They have a large beer list as well as several offerings in bottles, along with hard cider on tap. Plenty of options for everyone! The Aperitivo menu includes cheese/meat plates, snacks, crostini and a couple sandwiches, including a rotating specialty grilled cheese. I ordered the Monger's Choice, a charcuterie and cheese board with 3 kinds of cheese and 2 meats with accompaniments. My friend ordered the Monger's Choice as well, and they made sure to include different items on each board so we could try a little of everything. My board had a local chevre, a blue cheese and a hard white cheese. We also got some duck prosciutto and a salami. The accoutrements included Field and Fire breads, honey and figs (which were amazing with the blue cheese), passionfruit spread, little peppers, cornichons, mustard, olives, and pickled garlic. It was fun to come up with combinations of different spreads and cheeses/meats to see what worked best. They ask your tastes before making the board, so if you hate blue cheese, just let them know! I split the board with my boyfriend and it was good for a snack, if I wanted more of a meal I would have gotten it just for myself. The only downside of Aperitivo is that it's cost-prohibitive for me to go very often (For a glass of wine, the Monger's Choice, and 2 beers we spent $75). read more

Aperitivo - Charcuterie & cheese board – Monger's Choice - Cheese Shops Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Who gets a lil tipsy at the farmers market? We do. Hehe. My two girlfriends and I spent a few hours at the outdoor patio. The wine The weather was perfect. Our waiter was friendly and made wonderful suggestions that complimented all three of my friends wine palates. We each ordered a glass of wine and then ordered a bottle to polish off our our conversation. (Cheaper to split a bottle). The appetizer For $25 for the meat and cheese dish, I thought we would get a lot more. Especially since one of the meats was a fancy "bologna." There was a pea sized drop of whole grain mustard, three tiny figs drizzled with honey, salami (with spice) and three different types of cheese. I loved the cheese assortment, but I wasn't impressed with anything else. I would go back to Apertivo for the wine and cheese. But I would probably wait and order a meat and cheese plate from the reserve in downtown GR.t read more

Aperitivo - $25 dollar meat and cheese plate. Eh, could be better. Thumbs up for the cheese, but wish there was more for the price. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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If you are looking for a delicious charcuterie board this is the place to go. The wine selection was a tad on the lighter side. The staff seemed knowledgeable on paring the wines they did have with the board they provided us with. Their cheese is phenomenal and I've heard the owner has won awards in cheese selection. I would go back again and plan to at some point. They also sell wine by the bottle and cheese by the block which is mice for a quick grab and go if you have a dinner party to get to. The selection of cheeses is so large it is almost overwhelming but the staff can help find the right pairing for you. read more

The cheesecake meat wasn't bad, but it was fairly average. For $52 worth of product it just felt very skimpy. I kind of felt like there was more acutrimonts than there was cheese and meat. I'll probably just buy cheese/meat from Martha's vineyard and put together my own next time. read more

Downtown Market itself is a great time but Aperitivo is one of my favorite stops when I visit! They have a fantastic wine selection and there are always events going on here. The outdoor patio is very cute and comfortable! read more

Aperitivo - Cheese Shops Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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My husband and I stopped in for a cheese plate and some wine this weekend and had the best experience. The charcuterie was everything I always want out of charcuterie - delicious cheeses, meats, and other morsels. Very good wine too. And the people there were fabulous and so nice; when I splashed wine all over myself (as is my unfortunate clumsy habit) they didn't bat an eye and just helped me clean myself up and kept chatting. Lovely place for an afternoon snack. read more

Fair warning it is in the Market Place so do not go looking for a standalone store. The whole market was busy due to a wedding so the bar and tables were full. However we went to the counter and were promptly helped. Got a mongers choice to go. Very nicely packaged, nice staff and good selection. Sad we didn't get to try any wine but a busy place is the sign of a good place. read more

While I enjoyed Aperitivo before my wedding, since I had them as my caterer I've become their number one fan! Evan was an absolute dream to work with. He remained flexible to my ever-changing needs in this strange wedding climate we are in. I work in the restaurant business and have extremely high standards for food (to the point that I considered catering my wedding myself) - when we finally settled on Aperitivo I knew we were in good hands that I could trust to live up to my exceptional expectations. I highly recommend the tiered cheese platters, not only are they generous in portion size and delicious to eat but also they are just stunning. I, obviously, plan to be a regular customer of Aperitivo's dine in café, but for anyone in GR planning their wedding I would HIGHLY recommend ordering a platter or two of Aperitivo cheese, pickles, olives, and more! You and your guests are going to love it! Thank you so much Evan - you're the greatest! read more

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Grand Rapids is a great stop if you're traveling through Michigan, or in the upper midwest. Aperitivo is yet another reason to make the trek into town. The market that opened here in 2013 is a Seattle Pike Market concept, with vendors who sell pies, meat, fish, some produce (I'm hoping more in the future), hand-made pastas, and syrups. Aperitivo is a cheese and charcuterie shop with a counter for sandwiches and other cheesy delights. I stopped in to pick up a few things for New Years. The selection is amazing--a full counter of cheese from the US and places like France, Germany, Italy, and Holland. We picked up a midwestern cheese, some brie-type cheese, and an aged Gouda, which looks a lot more like parmesan. We also scored a bottle of rose cava, and some crackers. Being accustomed to Chicago prices, I was delighted to pay substantially less (like 25-40% less) than I would back home. Staff is knowledgeable and extremely helpful. They let you try everything, and make suggestions to round out your purchases. read more

Not impressed Management staff is rude. Ask about menu items and was basically to what you see is what you. Would not waste your time. read more

Great all the way- their wine selection on their menu is great, quality and prices. We also ordered a meat and cheese tray that was delicious! It's a very cute atmosphere for a date night or first date. read more

I was very disappointed to come today to Aperitivo to an event for Oysters for multiple reasons: First off, it took a while for us to get a drink; oysters were 2.5 stars out of 5; we ordered a grilled cheese for our daughter, it didn't come and when we asked for out bill, it was quickly rushed I felt so it could get added to our bill. Last, we were never asked to get refills. We left with a bad taste experience. read more

Very knowledgable staff, awesome selection of wines and cheese, and surprisingly affordable. They've created a rotating menu of great wine and beer selections that won't cost nearly what you would expect for the quality. We enjoy getting the "Mongers Choice" and hearing all the yummy details of the meats and cheese we can choose from, but will also go for the "Meltdown" which is a grilled cheese that changes on a, I believe, weekly basis. Added plus, if you're feeling extra hungry, you can walk 10 feet over to Fish Lads and order off their awesome menu. They will deliver right to you at the bar. We've also ordered plates from Aperitivo for a party, and they were delicious and beautifully prepared. Our guests loved them! read more

Beautiful selection of meats, cheese, beer and wine. Try the Monger's Choice to test a selection. read more

Aperitivo - The Minger's Choice - Cheese Shops Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan