This is hands down our favorite cheese monger in the LA area. Their service and selections are above reproach, and the taste and quality of their cheese and meats are incredible. The entire staff is very friendly, helpful, and super knowledgeable about their products. They also hold various cheese events throughout the year, which can be educational and fun. Holy cow...sheep and goat! If you're a cheese fanatic, like us, we can't recommend the Cheese Cave highly enough. Don't miss out on this gem in Claremont Village. read more

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Anytime we visit, there is always something new to try. Whether it's cheeses, duck fat, chips, marmalades or wines, I'm buying it! These folks just introduce the tastiest, most beautiful food into my life. I've been coming here since 2011, so you can imagine the culinary treasures I discovered through them. Their selection of pretty much everything is just so thoughtfully curated. My husband knows to brace himself whenever I ask him to bring me to the Cheese Cave because he just knows we're coming out with a huge haul after. The mall may very well be most people's happy place, but this is mine. read more

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I'm upset because I didn't purchase more! Service was nice and friendly and the store has all types of goods. I walked in just to look and ended up buying an amazing cheese. The staff helped me figure out what to pair it with and I could not have been happier with the result. 10/10 all across the board & will come back for more. read more

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This is one of my happy places, what a treat. This cozy little shop is full of surprises. From their wine selection to their charcuterie accoutrements to their variety of cheeses, there's something for everyone here. The cheesemongers who run the counter are so knowledgeable. They'll offer you samples and help you find just what you're looking for. Every time I bring someone to Claremont, I make it a point to stop here! read more

Cheese Cave - My favorite cheese, Ossau-Iraty. Hard to find. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Claremont, California

Such a hidden gem! I've been coming here for years. Service is always great. They have a wide selection of cheese, meats, wine, and anything you would need to craft the perfect charcuterie board. One of my favorite things to get from here are their little snack boxes. It comes with your choice of cheeses, meat, olives, nuts, and dried fruit. It's a great little snack. Highly recommend this spot if you're a cheese lover. read more

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This shop offers a good variety of specialty products including cheeses, pâtés, condiments, chocolates, wines, etc. I love that they carry Rancho Gordo beans. Customer service is attentive and friendly. The shop is small and busy with plenty of people coming and going on the weekend. Parking is street in front, but there is a small lot across the street. read more

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Cool little spot that carries various cheese and items from Europe. They will let you taste the cheese only if you're planning on buying something. Lost a star for that and...not all of their cheese is available for taste. I bought Goat cheese from Spain named Garrotxa so good. Will definitely come back. read more

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After lunch with some girlfriends, we decided to check this place out. It is such an amazing little shop. They sell gift items, snacks, candies, wine, balsamic, olive oils, beans, meats and bratwurst, as well as a huge variety of cheeses. We all went crazy over the Ewephoria cheese, which is a gouda from Holland. A few of my girlfriends bought butter and raved about it. Another bought a caramel and said it was amazing. We plan to go back again soon, and I will definitely be buying some butter! If you are in the area, make sure to stop in! read more

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Lovely little shop that sells a variety of different cheeses and other food and wine pairings to go with the cheeses. I like that we could look around the shop to see what they had before getting to the cheeses as some places immediately try to sell you on them. I felt less pressured to browse and actually found a nice bag of truffle chips before I got to the cheeses. All the cheeses displayed had a name card with the price on them and you could ask for samples to try. The people behind the counter were super nice and knowledgeable and even gave us some recommendations. We ended up buying one of the truffle cheeses they had because I'm obsessed with truffle and cheese. It was super aromatic and I thoroughly enjoyed eating it with a nice cracker. I want to come back to get the other cheese they recommended next time. read more

The best cheese snacks in the area. I will take the 20 minute drive to pick up cheese when I want something extra special. They have cheeses I have never heard of and from other countries too. They are the expert in their field and occasionally have classes, which is what I need to learn so much more than the basic Cheddar, Brie, Gruyere, Manchego, Burrata, Gonzonzola and Fontina. There is hard cheese, soft and semi-soft type, I just love them all! On my last visit I bought wine and a snack box that was ready to go (cheese, salami, nuts, fruit and olives). It took the "pressure" off me from deciding what to choose. They are super friendly and helpful. Even if you stopped by when you weren't hungry, buy some cheese or sandwich anyway, you will be glad you did. Don't forget to tell 'em that Rosemary sent ya! read more

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This place is excellent. They have a broader assortment than most cheese places in southern California (we drove from Fullerton). The gal who helped us was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. We ended up buying about 8 different types of cheeses. They also have many other gourmet food items as well. We highly recommend this place to satisfy your discriminating palate. read more

I ordered a small gathering platter charcuterie board for Mother's Day. It was perfect, my mom and all of my guests loved it. There was still plenty left over for snacking for a few days after. I'll definitely order more platters from here. read more

Cheese Cave - Small Gathering platter - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Claremont, California

Very friendly service. I bought a sample box because I didn't know where to start. I just read they give samples which might of helped. It came with dried fruit and weirdly corn nuts, real nuts would have been classier - nice gourmet shop if you have the $ and knowledge. read more

Cheese Cave - Sample box. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Claremont, California

Our favorite place to stop in and get cheese plate goodies. Amazing selection of fresh cheeses and meats and butters, as well as cards and other things. Mustard, crackers, anything. The service is always excellent and they're so helpful and not pushy. We always find something fun to bring home when we visit for the farmers market. read more

Cheese Cave - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Claremont, California

If you need ingredients for your charcuterie board, Cheese Cave is the place to go. You can purchase ingredients to build your own charcuterie board from their fine selection of cheeses, crackers, meats, etc. or order a cheese platter from their website. The cheese platters range from small to large. Cheese Cave also offers custom gift baskets. I was able to purchase a few goodies from Cheese Cave, and I paid an additional $10 fee for the gift wrapping. They make lovely gift baskets! Please keep in mind that orders should be placed at least one day in advance and a few days in advance for holiday orders. read more

Cheese Cave - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Claremont, California

The Cheese Cave is an absolute gem! As someone who loves authentic French cheese, this place is a dream come true. They offer an incredible selection of high-quality cheeses with rich, authentic flavors that instantly transport you to France. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and always happy to help with recommendations. It's the perfect spot for cheese lovers whether you're picking something up for a special occasion or just treating yourself. I absolutely love this place and highly recommend it! read more

I don't leave reviews often. Only when an operation really earns it. And this place earned the review I am about to write. Last weekend, my 75 year old mother and I stopped in to the cheese cave right before heading to the movie theatre. We wanted to have a nice afternoon out and enjoy some amazing cheese. I have been visiting the cheese cave since they opened. Honestly, I couldn't possibly estimate how many thousands of dollars I have spent over the years. The cheese has always been superb. On this afternoon, we spent over $100, which is quite cheap for a usual visit, and on our way out my mother wanted to try a couple of cheeses to possibly take more cheese with us to the movies. The young man behind the counter stared at my mother, rolled his eyes, and then asked if she was planning on purchasing cheese right now. Keep in mind, we had already purchased over $100 worth of product. My mother was so offended. I was so offended. And one of the owners, not sure which sister, was standing right there and said nothing. There were no other people in the store. This young man was rude and insulting just for the fun of it. The bad review is for the disgusting service we endured in front of one of the owners. The cheese cave earned this review. Claremont is a town of mostly older individuals. I am sickened by the treatment we received and I am so shocked that the owners care so little about their community and their customers who have poured thousands upon thousands of dollars into this local business. read more

This place is absolutely wonderful! I love to experience new places around town. It's kinda tucked away but so worth the visit. If you love cheese, international food and specialties, this is your place. I shopped for unique gifts for a basket. Found everything I needed! Perfect stop! Best customer service too! read more

I was very put off. We have come in several times to buy cheese and olive oil but the last time we came in we were kind of hurrassed for sampling the oil it had been a while and since there are three oils we wanted to make sure we got the one we liked and since they have it set up to sample we didn't think anything of it until an employee we have not met gave us the third degree about sampling all three of them... needless to say we are looking for a new oil soured read more

Oh. My. Gawd. If you like grilled cheese and tomato soup...run here!! Niece loved this place and that young girl only eats like 5 things. A must for Claremont. read more

Cheese Cave - Tomato soup - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Claremont, California

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Very cool little shop that I didn't even know existed locally. I'm usually south of Indian Hill so I am rarely on that side of Yale. I went in to pick up a couple cans of Bianco NY Style pizza sauce. It's a pretty new product and glad a local shop is carrying it. Being my first time in, I naturally browsed the store to see what type of items they stock. Pastas, jams, crackers, cheese boards, cheese utensils, etc. Additionally, I noticed they carried dried salame and smoked turkey. I said what the heck, let me try it. $13/lb. seemed reasonable. At least so I thought! I asked the man for a pound of smoked turkey, he gladly sliced it up and promptly rung me up for my items. I noticed the sticker on the turkey said $26, but I asked for a pound. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....... "Is it $13/lb.?", I asked. "That's for HALF a pound", the store clerk replied. "Ahhhh.. got it", I begrudgingly said. At this point I'd usually say something like "That's pretty deceiving. Who posts the price of deli meats per half-pound?". But I didn't. I paid and went on my merry way. In a nutshell, it's completely my fault for not reading the fine print and assuming the price was stated "per pound". But who in the world posts deli meat pricing per half-pound? Maybe it exists; I've certainly never seen it. And it certainly isn't the norm. I felt kinda duped but at least now I know not to ever come back. It's not that I can't afford the deli meat. It just felt like marketing tactic to deceive and take advantage of a customer. They got my extra money this time.. but they didn't get the potential hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars I'd have spent over the next 3-5 years. I can order Bianco NY Pizza sauce online. Oh and also... they have pizza sauce but don't carry low moisture mozzarella yet they're called "Cheese Cave"? Seems like a no brainer to carry the mozz if you carry pizza sauce. But that's just me. read more

Now here's something you don't fond too often anymore: a shop primarily devotees to cheese. Any high end or now many mainline markets stock a variety of domestic and imported choices, but the difference here is the knowledge and expertise! read more

Dear reader, consider the current greater social cultural and political context as you read the following. I [Latino] used to go in about once a month with my [white] wife... oh yeah, this is going where you think it is, so pour yourself a cup of tea... A couple months ago I went in alone and got carded. I'd never seen this happen here before and it seemed odd. I mean, I wasn't buying alcohol and I'm pushing 50. There was something about the way I was asked that surprised me. The guy at the counter must have registered my confusion and clarified, "show ID for the card," in a blunt manner. He made me feel uneasy. Was it my imagination? Was homie being rude? The short exchange made me feel like there was something negative about me that made them ask for ID. Was it the color of my skin? Was my general joie de vivre not showing? I questioned the exchange with a three star review on Google Maps. Surprisingly, someone claiming to be the owner immediately responded (I mean like in a couple of minutes) and said there was a new policy because of an incident. I thought this was plausible and took my review down. Still I had questions, "did the incident of fraud alluded to involve people of color?" You see, I'm inquisitive by nature dear reader and simply can't go long without scratching such an itch... Well, it turns out this "new policy" didn't last a week. My wife went in again and didn't get carded. Even then I thought, charitably, that it was reportedly a bit busy--and you know how these "we have a new policy" types will hide behind anything that gives them wiggle room for a disclaimer. Perhaps they may even respond with, "the employee who checked her out is new and forgot our policy." By the way, this is a policy that doesn't seem to be enforced and that no one else in town seems to have. So, I decided another visit to test the new "policy" was warranted in the interest of fairness--and the owner's presumed craftiness. A week later my wife returned and swiped a credit card that hasn't even been signed--nothing! I hereby declare the alleged policy was BS all along. Sucks too, had the owner just said it was an error and that it would not happen again, I would have been cool about it. Now I'm pretty sure they racially profiled me. Don't get me wrong, it may have been an isolated incident. Maybe I just have one of those ("immigrant") faces--ha! If only the owner had just apologized instead of deferring to some bogus policy, you wouldn't be reading this. It's sad really, there are rumors about my neighborhood I had refused to believe until now (we moved here five years ago). I'm a big boy, I can take it, but my children live here, go to school here, and walk the village with their friends on the weekend. Shame... I bumped into an old friend who told me she knows the owner before going on and on about the grilled cheese (I've had it, it's a grilled cheese). When i related the story above, she protested, "there must have been some mistake." I explained I gave them an out and told her about my initial review and how I'd taken it down for a couple of weeks. "They could have just apologized instead of falsely advertising the policy I checked out. I mean, they are a short walk away," I pointed out. "Well I've never had a problem, nor has anyone else I know," she finally stated. "Okay well look at you, and now look at me. Do all the people you know also look more like you than me." She finally got it. Raised eyebrow and all. In full disclosure, this is from the edited review currently on Google Maps. I tend to have a good laugh with friends when I share this review at dinners and gatherings, sometimes just a block away from the Cheese Cave. It was during such an occasion that I was asked to share the review here. So, here you go. I walk my dog past Cheese Cave now and again hoping he'll relieve himself on their wall or something. No luck thus far. You see, although I've taken it all in stride, my experience served as a precursor for sad things to come. Go ahead, deny everything I've written here. Defend their lavish cheeses and your right to shop there and reserve judgement to the death. I'll be thinking, "shame on you," as my pup and I stroll past judging you through the window. Funny, I just read the negative reviews on here. They're all about one guy. I bet it's the same smug guy in my account above! There's even a post that accuses him of being rude to children. Ever see the movie Tin Cup? Lol! If you [high horse Cheese Cave dweller] read this: relax dude, it's just cheese. You run a relatively successful brick and mortar. This is great. It really doesn't require you to be so high up your own rectum. Just be kind. Finally [and this is how the other review ends too], when it comes to this place, I do mean to gloat: I make a killer grilled cheese myself and it's gotten tastier since I stopped getting cheese from this place. read more

Cheese Cave is located in downtown Claremont with street parking available (but may be filled if you are coming on a busy day). I came by here on a Wednesday afternoon around 1 pm with my husband because of a gift card that I had received. This store was smaller than I thought it would be. But when we came in, we were greeted by two employees behind the counter. After looking around, I ended up deciding to purchase: Pimento Spread, $10.60- I love cheese spreads and this is definitely a good one. But does have a little bit of a spicy kick to it (but those that are regular spicy eaters probably won't think so. I don't eat spicy foods). Raspberry Mango Passion Fruit Jam, $10- Haven't tried this yet but caught my eye because of the flavor combination. ---------------- (Total= $20.60, no tax) This store definitely has some specialty artisan food products that would make great hostess gifts or if you just want to try something different. But to be honest, if it wasn't for the gift card that I got, I probably wouldn't shop here. I actually prefer to get my cheeses from Trader Joe's and Whole Foods just because I frequent those stores a bit more often. But I think if you are a cheese snob, this would definitely be the place for you to check out or their other location in Los Angeles. I appreciate the friendliness by both employees while I was in the store. read more

Cheese Cave - L-R: Pimento Spread, $10.60. Raspberry Mango Passion Fruit Jam, $10 - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Claremont, California

I remembered my younger days when my Dad would take me to a Holland grocery store just to buy his favorite cheese. This place brought back wonderful memories. They had a wonderful selection of cheese. Oh my goodness! I could not make up my mind as to what I wanted. So if course I looked at the Yelp reviews, and I checked out the highlights. I decided to go with the Snack Pack. It came with 3 cheeses. The red pepper sheep cheese from Italy was semi - soft with a slight spiciness to it. The Lou Bergier Pichin cow cheese from Italy was also a semi - soft cheese and it had a very mellow mushroom taste to it. My favorite of the three cheeses was the Honeybee Gouda goat cheese from Holland. Who would have thought? Of course I enjoyed the cheese from Holland! All those years of eating cheese from Holland, and to this date I favored the Honeybee Gouda amongst the three. It was a somewhat firm cheese, but at room temperature it was perfect for me. I happen to like cheese at room temperature. This cheese obviously tasted like honey with a very slight nutty taste to it. It was delicious! I'll be going back there to purchase more. Before the pandemic, I enjoyed going to the cheese section of buffets. I would then go to the fruit section. Afterwards, I would look for the crackers and honey. It was wonderful that the Honeybee cheese had the taste that I look for when I make my own cheese plate. I love a slight amount of honey with my cheese. The Snack Pack also came with sliced dried figs and corn nuts. I have never had corn nuts with cheese before. It was quite interesting. It was nice that they wrote the type of cheese that the Snack Pack came with. I'll definitely be coming back here to order their Snack Pack and a nice amount of Honeybee Gouda! read more

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I think I died and went to heaven. Cheese heaven that it. If you love cheese as much as I do, this is the place for you. The Cheese Cave offer a wide selection of cheese, quality hams, salami and a wide variety of gourmet foods from all over the world. The store is small for very well stocked and employees are very knowledgably and helpful. I always spend way too much here because I want to buy a piece of every cheese they have. The store is located in downtown Clairemont and parking is off street so it could be a little challenging, but even if you have to walk a little it is just a perfect way to open your appetite for more cheese. I recommend you visit this little jewel in Clairemont. You will not be disappointed. read more

We ordered the XL charcuterie platter from The Cheese Cave for a CGU alumni event, and it was a hit! Beautifully arranged cheeses and meats, with the crackers packaged separately so they stayed crisp. Easy ordering and smooth pickup -- couldn't have been simpler. Highly recommend for any special gathering! read more

So many wonderful cheeses and other little delights. The staff was very helpful and knowledgeable about all the varieties.

Worst customer service ever!! They make you feel like you are disturbing them to place an order. I spend $150-$250 every 2 weeks. I've never felt more like I am putting someone off to buy a product. When your out of a cheese can you suggest something else...No have a good day. I feel like the staff is lactose intolerant and they hate cheese and questions. Won't be back read more

The selection of cheeses & other stuff are really good! The staff are very helpful & knowledgeable about their products!

Being a cheese enthusiast, finding places like Cheese Cave makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop. There were two cheeses that I've been dying to try for a while, which were the marinated cheese from Meredith's Dairy, and the famous Humboldt Fog. I was pleased to find both of these here! Both were amazing by the way - highly recommend them. Cheese Cave has everything you need for a 5 star charcuterie board: cured meats, a great selection of gourmet crackers, jams, artisanal olive oils, chocolate, and of course a bountiful spread of cheeses. You can also buy one of their olive oils and bring back the glass bottle to have it refilled. I'm sure they have other things that I didn't list and I plan on going back to spend more time here looking around. The service was wonderful and the cheese expert behind the counter helped us choose some amazing accompanying cheeses to go alongside the ones we had already decided on. She listened to our personal tastes and we loved everything that she recommended. Will definitely return to Cheese Cave whenever I'm feeling fancy and want to try new cheeses and pick up some specialty favorites. read more

Cheese Cave - Humboldt Fog - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Claremont, California

What an amazing little shop! If you like cheese than this is your place. They also have great service, just grab a number! The inside has little things that go with cheese giving a great little experience! read more

The Cheese Cave is a beloved spot for cheese lovers in the Claremont Village. The service is super friendly Everyone here is extremely knowledgeable and capable of helping you with your cheesy needs. Disclaimer -- This place is great for ordering cheese to take home, not great for enjoying in the store. They only have about three seats at the window and all of the boards are to-go products. Also, they do not serve alcohol. I am not taking away any points for this, but I was caught off guard so I thought anyone coming here should manage expectations and keep that in mind. My original intent was to get a cheese platter with wine, but that didn't happen. I communicated that I like soft cheeses, but the only cheese "sample" they had is the Snack Pack ($12) which comes with pre-selected cheese that rotate constantly. I upgraded this snack pack to include dried fruits, nuts and salami. On my visit the random snack pack had Isle of Mull (Scotland, Cow), Peso Vino (CA, Cow), and Chebris (France, Goat/Sheep). I also purchased a slice of the Fromager d'Affinois ($2.85 - $19/lb). This is one of my favorite cheese that I usually buy at The Cheese Shop in Costa Mesa. This delicious French Cow Cheese is a soft cheese that pairs incredibly well with honey and almonds. I was also sold a small packet of crackers, Croccantini Tiny Crackers 3oz ($3.25). Unfortunately for me, all of the cheeses in the snack pack were hard cheeses. And the salami was all subpar. It might have been wise if they warned me not to get it, and to go a completely custom route. I ended up just eating my favorite Fromager d'Affinois with the crackers and the dried fruits and nuts. The cheese experience was unfortunately lacking due to my incompatibility with their random snack pack of the week. I would definitely come back here for more fancy cheeses, but I'll just pick them out myself. read more

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If you are a fan of cheese this is your new home! Not really they wont let you live there because trust me I tried!! Such a vast selection of cheese it will make your head explode. I tried a brand new cheese from Germany that knocked my socks off. And I thought I had tried all the cheese in my **25ish** (in Weho we never disclose our real age in case casting directors black list us Hehe) years on the planet but I was WRONG! Its a far drive from where I live but well worth it. A great spot to get a midwest dad a gift for the holidays or Superbowl. Friendly Staff and a really kind manager who held my baseball bat while I shopped. I was coming from a coed softball beer league game, thats why I had a bat!! I'm not a criminal lol. All in all this is a great and unique store I will be back to many many times! Tell them Paul The Kid sent you and maybe you can get an extra sample :) read more

Cheese really is like crack: Study reveals the food triggers the same part of the brain as drugs. The title of my review is an actual website stating that cheese is a drug and damn I'm an addict. It was a great experience as a first-time cheese buyer. I had a stereotype for people buying fancy cheese as pretentious snobs, but I was wrong. The fair blonde assistant helped me pick out a wonderful Christmas gift for my family and they really loved it. They helped me pick out something that was lactose-intolerant people. My dad could not comprehend what was good about 40-dollar cheese, but he is a practical man. The women in the family understood the taste and smell of it. I think I know what it means to savor food now. I just usually eat food for the benefits and not for the taste. Anyways, I will keep this short. The cheese will ruin your life and money. read more

Amazing staff and amazing cheese! Sooo fun to explore different cheeses. And all the recommendations were amazing read more

Cheese Cave - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Claremont, California

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Cheese Lovers don't walk but run to buy an amazing charcuterie board from Cheese Cave. As a cheese addict I buy boards all over the USA and I have to say this was the best I've ever ordered! read more

I love the selection and customer service here. The cheese mongers really take the time to talk to you about the selection and are very generous with their samples. I walked out with prosciutto, salami and many different cheeses. They have an amazing seasonal rotation. I would definitely recommend checking this place out if you are throwing a party and want an assortment of cheese, meats and crackers, or you just want some cheeses to snack on or cook with. read more

What can say , I love cheese ! And today I went to Cheese Cave to buy some of my favorite cheeses and to my surprise they started making sandwiches again! I ordered the grill cheese sandwich , available only on Fridays ! The Best one ever! Thank You Milan read more

Cheese Cave - Best Cheese Sandwich at the Cheese Cave !! Available only on Fridays 11am to 2pm - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - Claremont, California

Great selection of cheeses, kind and knowledgeable staff, and an ambiance that is both approachable and provides novelty. Jacobe behind the counter is absolutely fantastic at what he does! read more