Cheese and Crackers is a brand new business run by (I believe) a long-time local, and well-worth the return visit. A deli featuring both artisanal and local items in cheeses and crackers --of course!-- but also chocolates and meats, C&C proprietor Bart is immensely friendly and knowledgeable about the products he carries (and happy to take suggestions, if you've got 'em). Intelligentsia coffee, Audra's Toffee Tales, local honey, Cocopotamus fudges, and artisanal chocolates from Chicago and San Francisco (deliciously displayed in its own case) are among the mix of offerings. Bart is also hoping to offer a small selection of wines in a few months. I believe Bart can talk about meats all day long, and is happy to try to convert you to his love of meats with plenty of free samples. I had some spiced pork shoulder, some beef thing, some cooked salami, and some black truffle something or another all in short order! And, in the time we spent in the store, we discovered that Cheese and Crackers already has at least one regular on a familiar first-name basis with Bart. Although there is no signage for sandwiches, Bart will make you one --as he did the regular-- with whatever meats and cheeses and other assorted sandwich bits you like (I believe the breads are Pekara, which I'd like to see more of on the other side of the counter!), or if you trust him, one of his own devising! I miss the downtown Champaign artisanal deli Persimmon --I still miss the delicious sandwiches and gelatos-- so I'm excited and hopeful for Cheese and Crackers! read more

Modified my previous review after the store owner's thoughtful response to feedback shared. I respect small business owners that put in effort to follow up to feedback shared. After his note, I have gone back to the business and better understand what their focus areas are. SUMMARY Cheese & Crackers primarily is an order ahead market. The name 'cheese and crackers' is misleading, as what they offer stretches beyond cheese. You can order a range of things like artisanal cheese trays, cured meats to seafood. The trick is to visit their website and sign up for their mailing list. There, you'll get a better feel for the range of products Cheese & Crackers offers on a weekly basis beyond what you just see in-store. PROS: - Order Seafood: They have a mailing list to order fresh seafood. Sign up on their website. They bring in fresh, high quality seafood from Canada. I went to a dinner party that served fresh salmon from here - was delightful. - Catering: They are a great fit for catering, in particular artisanal cheese platters and trays. - Baguette Sandwiches To Go: They serve sandwiches on baguettes like thinly sliced roast beef. - Cheese Assortment: They have an extensive list of featured cheeses. CONS: - They don't offer in-store or to-go cheese plates - only order ahead. I would love to be able to stop by, select 3-4 cheeses, take them home to try that evening. - They have a few bistro tables, but the store footprint is small thus it isn't really a spot to hang out in-store. - The sandwiches are only served on baguettes, and the baguettes are really tough on your teeth / hard to bite. Would be nice to offer another bread option for sandwiches, as the sandwiches are very tasty. read more

This is a nice place. I got some delicious feta cheese and they were good on describing the differences between the two (Bulgarian and Greek), and I chose the Bulgarian. It's a bit more tangy and has a creamy texture because it's made with sheep milk. Though there was probably a bit of tension because of a previous review based on the feta cheese (kind of apparent, but I appreciated the clarification). It's in a good location and they have such a diverse selection. Unfortunately, the chocolates were a bit underwhelming. I got both Patricia's Chocolates and Norman chocolate I believe. I tried 3 types of Patricia's Chocolates and I wasn't sure if it was just old, or not well-made but there were no distinctive flavors of the chocolates. The habanero/chipotle had no extra spice flavoring, the pear caramel was also just plain, and the banana rum caramel was okay, but not amazing. I guess I've tasted really great chocolates before (Cocoa Bella, Mariebelle, etc; a few at the NYC Chocolate Show), and I've been really amazed before. But for $3 a piece, I'm expecting some sort of distinctive flavoring. Even with the spicier chile chocolates, I'm okay with a little spice but there was barely any note of spice. So disappointed. I'm not really sure where to find my chocolate fix in Champaign, but I'll probably have to order online from somewhere else. And to edit/ the Normal chocolate was good. I got a New York Cheesecake truffle which was really nice. read more

Just drove by on way to Panera and went here instead. Glad we did! Got the Reuben, Picnic, Thanksgiving and Sardine sandwich. All were 5 stars except the Thanksgiving, which was a 4 star because the bread was under toasted. Owners attention to detail comes through in balanced taste and texture of sandwiches. Delicious! read more

We went there on a Sunday afternoon and I had the grilled Roman, my wife had the Italian. The Porchetta on the Roman was tasty as were the bread and cheese, it was grilled well. My wife's Italian sub was pretty big (enough for half of it the next day), the bread, meat, cheese and tomatoes were all much better than what you would get at a restaurant. We got the sandwiches and a bag of chips all for 20 bucks. A good value considering the quality and quantity of food. We will be back for sure. read more

I've been stopping at Cheese & Crackers for close to three years now. It's one of those rare small-town businesses that are easy to become inordinately fond of. There are few other places around that compete with their selection of cheese, certainly. I've noticed that the nearest Schnuck's makes a somewhat dispassionate effort, but Schnuck's selection is more a disorganized trough of cheese miscellany stared down by the gleaming piles of bacon just across the aisle. I've read other reviews that suggest the Art Mart -- I don't really think the competition is there, to be frank, and I can't recommend that anyone without a sturdy constitution take their torch and compass through the relic halls of the Lincoln Square Mall. If you've looked at the other reviews, you've picked up on a few things -- they can be a bit expensive, they sell far more than just cheese, and they make excellent sandwiches. All of these things are true. They're situated very close to a Subway sandwich shop, a Jimmy John's, and a Panera, but I'm always more than happy to spend a little extra time and money getting a sandwich from them. The ingredients are high-quality and the final product is always delicious. And while I'm waiting for a sandwich to be made, I love perusing all the cheeses, pastas, sauces, teas, coffees, chocolates, cured meats, and other inspiring food-fancier items they've got (they're always adding new stuff, too, which is fun). Really, the only reason I'm not giving them 5 stars is because there has been some minor inconsistency with sandwiches in the past. I'm not sure if there isn't a standard write-up for how the various sandwiches are made (exact ingredients and at least rough amounts of each), but I've occasionally ended up with 'variations on the theme' that I'd at least like to have been warned of beforehand. But that's about my only complaint. As long as you don't mind a little waiting now and then and aren't scared off by premium fare, Cheese & Crackers is a great place to check in again and again. In fact, for some meals (principally ones including cheeses and meats), I consider it an indispensable stop. read more

Went to Cheese and Crackers with a couple friends the other day for the first time. I would give a five star rating, except for a couple reasons: the staff seemed very confused when I asked about the Yelp deal (free soda with purchase of sandwich and chocolate) and the interaction was awkward as a whole. However, the sandwich was delicious. Very fresh ingredients, moist and succulent. I would definitely go back just because of how tasty the sandwich was. I wish I had gone there sometime before the day after I graduated from U of I. read more

Great sandwiches, very helpful staff, and plenty of unique items to choose from. I had the Ty's Turkey and it was delicious, particularly the Peppadew peppers. The bread is local and is extremely fresh as well. read more

I have a love-hate relationship with CnC. I love the fresh fish list and the deli selection. I dislike the constant need to comparison shop the prices to see how badly I may be getting hosed. I also dislike that I need to work overtime to feed my addiction to their fresh shrimp. I wish they'd get rid of the absurdly expensive/pretentious chocolates and replace that cabinet with fresh sides/salads made with their seafood or deli selections - shrimp salad, cheese pairings, etc. Overall, Bart is a super nice guy who works very hard to please his customers. At one point, he even offered to deliver an order when I had discovered an error. It is a little uppity, but it's in an uppity location and serving a specific clientele. We'll keep going, hoping they get a bigger space and keep double-checking. Edit: I'm getting annoyed with not being able to get a sandwich because they're out of bread. It's bread. Over-order and take the loss, for crying out loud. That's three times, now. One more and I'm out. read more

After seeing the local news video on their webpage and reading about the hubbub praising their Italian sandwich, I had to come try it for myself. I'm not from Champaign, but do drive into the city every so often on the weekends to try out various restaurants/eateries. The Italian sandwich was delicious. The veggies are chopped and the salami is sliced when you order it. This makes a tangible, taste-able difference. You can tell a lot of thought went into selecting the ingredients and ratios of ingredients for an exceptional-tasting sandwich, too. The vinaigrette was something special. The baguette was crusty and delicious. (Can't have a terrific sandwich without terrific bread.) I got the sandwich to go and was eating it in my car. Upon finishing it, I was feeling mildly bummed that the sandwich was consumed. And so I did what any reasonable man would do - I promptly U-turned and went back for 2nd one. I do want to mention that the young lady who helped me and made my sandwich (both times) was really kind. She greeted me as soon I walked in the door. And although I knew exactly what I wanted, I appreciated that she offered to answer any questions I had, and even recommended another sandwich that I might also like. When I went back the second time, she was again welcoming and remembered me. I also wanted to mention that even as I was waiting for my sandwich to be made, a gentleman (I believe the owner?) also promptly tended to me to make sure I was already being helped. Really like this place and will definitely be back to check out some of their other products. Wish I lived closer and wish my hometown had a place like this! read more

The cheese and meat selection (and chocolates) are great and an unexpected surprise in the C-U area. I went in to get a few cheeses for a cheese plate, and they were reasonably priced and delicious. Overall, they have some great stuff and I will definitely be back to this shop for the cheese selection. read more

What a cool little find in downstate IL! I love, love, love the crusty bread they use for their subs. They also have top quality cured meats and cheeses. So many choices. If you love stinky cheese and salty meats this place is for you? Chocolate you ask? OMG, they have some of the best and most decadent and beautiful chocolate choices I've ever seen. So wish I lived closer to this place. read more

I was excited to try the sandwiches here. I ordered the Mindy's Italian. The sandwich has so much potential, however, it did not meet expectations. The sandwich has too much bread and on top of that, the bread was a little tough. The sandwhuch could also use a little more meat. I might try another sandwich at some point just to make sure it wasn't an off day. read more

This store is a total rip-off! They sold a 1 lb. order of crab legs at $69/lb. I literally received 1.5 legs of a crab. I will never step foot in this business again!!!!!! read more

My boyfriend raved to me about how Bart is so selective with what comes in and is sold at the shop. He also seriously talked up the sandwiches. Given that sandwiches are my favorite food and I'm one of these "I'll be the judge of that" types, we went in and I was cautiously optimistic. BEST SANDWICH IN TOWN-- so, so good. We also purchased some drinks and an awesome jarred vodka sauce that I kind of doubted could be as good as the description card on the display. It said something about Bart and his wife trying a bunch of vodka sauces (over a hundred, I think) and choosing their favorite and that this particular one stood out so high above the rest that they tasted it and exchanged a look of deep knowing and agreement that this was indeed the best they'd tried. Well, he was right and now I go in there knowing that everything was chosen and has a purpose there and I love it so much. read more

I cannot tell a lie but no sandwich has compared to the sandwiches I get at this place. I never even knew that I loved goat cheese. I am absolutely 100% addicted now. When I first went, a friend from San Francisco had looked up this place and I thought "there's other stores around there but I'm down to go in and see". We walked there on a summer night and when you first walk in, it doesn't strike you at first that they make sandwiches because they have samples of cheeses, sausages, olives etc. Along with of course various cheeses & crackers! Oh and chocolates and other delicacies it really is a true hidden gem and trust me I am very picky when it comes to sandwhiches but I am a cheese and crackers addict now. I really recommend going with how they come off of the list... maybe add some mayo if you were obsessed with mayonnaise like me but I've even ordered it without it and forgot that it was not even on the sandwich because it was just that good but when I first went in the owner of the restaurant/store really explained how the flavors of the sandwich come out and all of that stuff that I'm thinking hey it's just a sandwich and I want this and I want that and then finally I thought I'll just take it how he says and oh my God he was right! 100% satisfaction. I always get the Woody's turkey. And I will admit something I had never had an artichoke that I knew of and I loved it. I keep their menu on my refrigerator and this is the only menu I keep out and I do it because I do Airbnb and when my guests ask where to grab a bite, I recommend there because it's less than a minute away from my house, you can walk there, and the price is comparable to all the other places around. Plus, I always end up having two meals with one sandwich so it is worth the money and the meat used is top of the line. Boar's Head is the brand. I really think anybody would be satisfied with their sandwiches and should give this place a try plus one of the girls and I have the same birthday ;)! read more

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Delicious sandwiches made with first class ingredients for less than Jimmy Johns? Yes please.

They have a wide assortment of meats, cheeses, chocolates and delicious soda. YUM! They have great gourmet sandwiches with very, very tasty bread. Cool staff too! Ilene and Jada are fun! (difficult to spell names) I recommend the delicious sandwiches with peppadews, their cheddar cheese, and yummy soda! ! They are very gouda! They won't make you bleu! Come spend your cheddar at cheese and crackers, don't delay, come today! read more

Stopped on our way back from Nashville for a sandwich and they were great. We got the grilled cheese with truffle, Turkey sub and a couple of italian subs. Everything was tasty. I will be looking forward to my next travels down 57. For sure check this gem out. read more

I can't comprehend the negative reviews. This isn't a Jimmy Johns, this a gourmet deli. The selection of cheese, cured and fresh meats, and olives is diverse and expansive. The fresh fish is the freshest and highest quality that you'll find within a 100 mi radius (you have to pre-order). The pantry staples are a little pricey, but where else will you find shaved truffles, authentic Italian riso, etc? (Common ground and world harvest are just as pricey too). I've had nothing but wonderful encounters with the owner and his employees. I look forward to their knowledgeable recommendations whenever I'm feeling something new. I would have never discovered my new favorite table cheese (bulgarian kashkaval) without Bart's suggestions. i think what I've stated above should be the last word. But let's engage the more popular complaints. A) the sandwiches: this isn't a sandwich restaurant, this is a deli. They make sandwiches for your convenience (and to pad their margins lol). All that said, they aren't even bad! I literally can't value the opinion of someone who calls a Cheese and Crackers sandwich "the worst in [his/her] life." They are highly above average and very creative. Tough bread? O.k. go yell at Pekara bakery! B) the staff: I've been treated with nothing but respect. I've witnessed the manager "teaching" his employee once. It didn't offend me. In fact, he was doing so to provide me better service! I have not seen any loud yelling or w.e. C) the prices: this isn't county market. You come here to indulge in a treat or to provide yourself with gold standard ingredients. I get my produce and canned goods elsewhere so I can afford my cheeses here. BECAUSE IT'S WORTH IT. When it comes to artisan foods, you get what you pay for. And at Cheese and Crackers what you get is a lot. read more

Awesome service - friendly and knowledgeable. They have a great variety of cheese, crackers and chocolates. Great place to do holiday shopping or just pick something up for a nice dinner party (or snacking). read more

Amazingly fresh special order seafood .flown in . They have made the ordering process so easy . Some great sweets too bart is very accomodating . read more

Wonderful place Awsome customer service and great selection allows me to feel as though I'm in a small little shop in Europe love it nothing but good from here read more

The staff is incredibly helpful, even to the point of recommending cheaper alternatives amongst their stock based on previous customer's reviews (I bought some basalmic vinegar and got some advice). Bought a mix of confectionaries between both the store made chocolates and the imported chocolates and gotta say the in-house chocolates stood up. The staff knows their stuff and is eager to answer any questions. read more

This is one of the best kept secrets in town! The staff is extremely helpful and knowledgable about all of their products. My fiance and I recently went in for a cheese plate, and the woman working there allowed us to try all three cheeses before making the tray for us. Delicious! They also offer sandwiches with very fresh meats, cheeses and veggies, and they always have samples out of their cheeses and meats. I have not tried their chocolates, but my parents said they were some of the best they'd ever had. I highly recommend this place! read more

I have been to Cheese and Crackers twice now. The owner has been more then helpful both times. He is so excited about food and so informative if you don't know what you want. He suggested this awesome buffalo milk mozzarella to go with the dry Italian sausage we got an it was awesome. This time I went in for a sandwich. They had run out of their baguettes, but instantly offered me another type of bread for my sandwich. I am also pretty sure he added some extras on the sandwich since he didn't have bread. It was awesome! I want to live there. Forever. read more

Freshest fish in town along with a great selection of cheeses, meats, pastas, sauces, chocolate crackers, olives and more. A very knowledgeable and helpful staff is a great plus! read more

I stopped in here today to kill some time while waiting for the bus. It's a little gold mine for foodies. I think they have every kind of cheese and and deli meat you could want. The guy working there let me try some cheeses and patiently explained what everything was. Apparently cheese can get so salty thats its almost crunchy. Anyway I ended up getting an assorted pack of these obscure sodas that taste awesome. Coke is good but sometimes you want something different and I got plenty of variety. read more

Knowledgeable and fun cheesemonger. They obviously know and love cheese. It's all quality stuff here and they will let you sample as well. They also carry cured meats, chocolates, and now have a super fresh high end fish program. It's a local store that is a regular stop for me. read more

It's way overpriced. Almost pretentious. Easily 5-6 times more expensive than Trader Joe's. And the selection is limited. I understand that we need to pay a premium for being a small town, but this is too much! read more

Excellent food, and such friendly service! We bought dates, olives, cheese, and chocolate. Cheese and Crackers treats food as experiences, not just products -- as it should be. read more

One of the best sandwiches I've ever had. I've had the turkey and goat cheese sub and the hot ham sub. They were both incredible. Inside of this specialty foods store, you'll find a huge variety of cheeses, meats, jams, chocolates, candies, and much more. It is small and intimate and usually only one person is working behind the counter. They slice the meat for the sandwiches fresh for each one (so they do take about 10-12 minutes). However, you have plenty to look at while you wait. read more

Great selection of specialty cheeses & meats along with a lovely selection of chocolates. The owners are great - and the service is awesome! Really love all the food and staff! read more

The blonde at the counter, "Jayda" has the shittiest attitude. Never coming again. Rather go elsewhere for my seafood. Update to the owner: I have come here at least 3 separate occasions and each time Jayda has been rude. You, the owner were not there to witness it as I have never even met you at the counter or seen you so you can't say that she wasn't giving her "best." That says a lot more about you than it does about me. It seems you're the one in denial about it, but whatever helps you sleep at night. Still not shopping there again though! Update 2: Bart, I could careless if you wanted to stand by your employees. Some people leave negative reviews after ONE bad experience and usually don't return. I had given this place 3 chances and I had always been kind each time I came in. However, I am merely providing my honest review on my experiences. If you can't handle that than that's not my issue. My wallet isn't the one that is being effected anyway. Plus, I shouldn't need to provide you business for *6 years* to figure out someone lacks customer service skills. 3 times was more than enough. Update: Sexist? I am female myself and my intentions were only to state my experience/review on yelp. Again, you clearly don't handle negative reviews well. According to previous reviews, it seems I was not the only one experiencing bad customer service. I was not expecting any ass kissing if that's what you think. I was never greeted or acknowledged coming in. It was not a busy day and only one person ahead of me. I waited 30 mins waiting for someone to tell me that they would be with me in a moment or at least say hi while I was browsing. None of those things occurred. Your employee saw me there but didn't say anything. So I have reason to leave review as this dated back to early June and only then did I just recently decide it was time to leave a review. You lost all professional credibility when you made assumptions that I "suffered personal slight" thinking that I was putting it on your business! Thanks for that anyway! Let this be for all to see, because clearly if a customer isn't happy and they decided to complain, in YOUR eyes it's NOT true! Just because you don't believe it's true doesn't mean that isn't what happened or how I felt. Thanks for invalidating my personal thoughts. read more

Have been a long time customer, but this place is going downhill. Lots of confusion and mistakes with orders, short shipments, emails that contradict themselves, & a GM by the name of Jayda who is unprofessional, has a bad temper, & is totally unpleasant. I called to ask an honest question and was exceedingly respectful in speaking to her; however, she started berating me and hung up on me for no reason at all, so I'm done. I can put up with the mistakes and confusion but the bad attitude seals the deal. I will not set foot in that place until she is gainfully employed *elsewhere.* read more

There's been a lot of hype about this place from my CU friends. And as you can imagine, after a long drive from Chicago to Champaign, I was looking forward to a tasty, hearty sandwich. I went to the shop on a Sunday afternoon, which may have affected the quality of my visit--I ordered the vegetarian sandwich and was given a sandwich with brown lettuce, minimal artichoke hearts, no herbs on stale bread. And for this, I paid $8.99. For one sub-par sandwich. Overrated if you ask me. Or, maybe I need to go back on a Monday, when they have fresh veggies and baguettes. read more

I ordered a cheese platter as a birthday present and was very happy with it. I only knew that he liked a nice, hard gouda and the gentleman behind the counter helped me pick out other cheese that were similar. He obviously knew his cheese, and we were very happy with the selections he made for us. read more

Went probably half a dozen times and got what I needed (fresh mozzarella), but called or drove there an equal number of times to find that they were out. The only time I got upset (and the reason I haven't returned since) was when I called them to check, they told me they had fresh mozzarella, but when I arrived they "discovered" there wasn't actually any there. It's at least 20 minutes for me to get there and I really don't appreciate my time being wasted like that, especially if I bothered to call in advance. I'd strongly recommend World Harvest on University in Champaign as an alternative. It's cheaper (~$7/lb rather than ~$10+) and they've been much more consistent about having fresh mozzarella available. read more

The deli meats, cheeses, old breads, desserts, candies, and fig chunty were delicious. Mr. Basil is an outstanding chef and cook and also a nice man! He puts smiles on everybody's faces and makes sure that the get the best food ever. Also he imported a lot of good foods from Europe. They were excellent! read more

I had a very pleasant experience and was given very useful information about the cheese I was buying. I didn't actually know much about the differences in cheeses but an employee names ashley I believe helped me pick out what I wanted and what I would like read more