A must go for wine tasters and cheese lovers alike. If you are heading to Lodi or the Sacramento area for some wine tastings, then your first stop must be Cheese Central. Located in downtown Lodi, Cheese Central boasts over 140 different types of cheeses from all over the world. The knowledgable staff will help you pair the perfect cheese to your wine preferences, or if you don't plan on drinking wine, they'll help you simply find a cheese for your current mood. They offer samples for most of their cheeses and will wrap your entire order in a bag equipped with plastic knives, a place mat, and extra napkins. This little cheese bag was recongnized by almost every winery and tasting room I visited and the staff at each of them were more than happy to let me and my friends pair our cheeses with their wines. If you're looking to educate yourself, Cheese Central also offers cooking classes covering more than just cheese, though cheese related lessons are available. These course are inexpensive and held in a beautiful room in the back of the store. Cheese Central will make you fall in love with cheese with every visit. read more

Not always great customer service. I called on Saturday to get a picnic lunch for today (Sunday). Apparently I used the wrong terminology (I believe I said "cheese plate") , and was told that the picnic lunches needed to be ordered 48 hours in advance, no mention of that on the website, but was more than welcome to come in and get cheese. The clincher, however, was as I was hanging up I could hear the employee complaining to her co-workers about the "stupid lady that was trying to order a picnic lunch for the next day". Not at all professional read more

Great cheese shop with a variety of items. The counter help was very helpful offering a variety of samples to try along with suggestions of bread and meat sticks. Will definitely go back. read more

What a great little cheese shop. They have hundreds of different style cheeses from around the world to choose from. Now some are pretty pricey. But if you can't find it anywhere else, try here. They give us some free tasting samples...and they were good! Street parking...which is limited, can be a challenge. If you're a cheese lover, you're gonna like this place. I believe the staff said a lot people buy and go straight into the local wineries to pair. No objections to coming back here again. read more

If you love fine cheeses, this is heaven. They really, really know their stuff, and can tell you everything that you need to know to just try something new to throwing a cheese tasting party. They also have a very nice selection of crackers, random cured meats, jelly, and beer. My favourite part; they are QUICK with the samples. They are more than happy to let you same anything in the store, along with giving you information on the origins of the cheese. Seriously, just go. It is hard to leave without buying something. :) read more

Cheese Central - Cheese tasting at the farmer's market in Lodi, CA with Cheese Central serving it up. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Lodi, California

What an amazing place!! I stopped by this lovely shop on a Thursday afternoon and was impressed with the cheese selections and friendly staff. Karen was knowledgeable and entertaining as she passed out delicious samples of cheese and crackers. If you're ever in Lodi, do yourself a favor and stop by...you will not be disappointed! read more

Just go. They give out samples (to get you hooked) Too many cheeses to pick from. And don't choose the same boring cheese, mix it up. I want to sign up for their cooking classes read more

Excellent selection of cheeses. They have such an array of fine cheeses to please all palates! We grabbed some delicious cheeses and crackers from here while wine tasting, they have great salami (that's what she said) DELICIOUS!! Must stop spot for the cheese aficianado read more

Cheese, Cheese, and more Cheese. Lodi is really up and coming and Cheese Central is in the heart of downtown Lodi. They can fulfill any cheese lovers needs. Great place to stop before going to the wineries so that you have cheese snacks while wine tasting read more

I love cheese and the staff here helped us picked a few different selections. Along with nuts, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and bread. Yes the trick is to go here first to buy cheese and take that with you to your wine tasting. It is allowed and encouraged by this shop, they say all the tasting rooms allow their cheese. We will do that first rather than last next time. Not sure which cheese to purchase because there is so much variety SURPRISE they will let you taste them...maybe all of them I don't know but each one we inquired about we got to taste like 31 flavors style. We spent quite a bit or rather my buddy spent a lot on cheese etc. read more

Offers tastings based on what you like. 5/5 Karen was an amazing addition to our experience. She knew all the things we loved/ would love; great suggestions and very patient with multiple tastings and regressions. Karen, thank you so much. I wish there was a Cheese Central in OC. You are the bomb.com/ life goals. Yours, cheesily, Lance and Andrea (from SoCal) read more

I can't say enough about the variety that this place has! We were hoping to find Portuguese St. Jorge cheese here and although we didn't, they gave us a nice substitute that was also Portuguese. They even had old fashioned cream cheese! Pretty much heaven in the center of wine tasting rooms! I can't wait to go back and try/buy more! read more

If you love cheese then this place would be a must. There were so many choices of cheeses that you could be here a while. We were referred to this place after doing some wine tasting. There was a line to try and buy some cheese. Towards the back of the place smelled so good because there was fresh bread baked. I think it was for a class or something. We tried three different cheeses that I forgot the exact names of them but one was Gouda. The cheeses we tried were good and would probably go well with wine. Check this place out if you need some cheese because they probably have it here. read more

CHEESE!! This is my new go to before I hit up the wineries! I love cheese and so this place is like heaven. Let's start from the back of the store and work our way up! In the rear, they have the cutest kitchen where they hold cooking classes and share recipes! Guests get to sit family style at the communal dinner table and enjoy their creations. Moving onward..you reach the cheese tasting counter. Here is where you get to taste each and every cheese they sell , unless of course they have run out;but then that means just buy it- it must be good! They gals who serve you are very knowledgeable and super nice! They have so many varieties both new and aged! For me- the funkier the better! The Creamy, pungent, salty, sharp, mild,nutty,buttery, bitter.. YOU name it , I Love it! Now we are at the front and They also have imported beers and carbonated drinks with lots of cool flavors! Don't forget the Crackers! Ok, now you're ready! Paying is easy because they have the nicest little lady ever collecting your monies! She truly is special! I can't wait to come back... I have to- the cheese I bought is already gone! read more

See all

We went in to the cheese shop with no expectations. Karen helped us, she was delightful and extremely nice. If you are in Lodi there is no reason not to stop at cheese central. Great selection of cheeses. They let let you taste everything and can cut whatever size you want. They even send you on your way with knives, napkins, and a small piece of parchment paper to use at the local wineries. What a treat!!!! read more

What a treat! Spent a few hours with these terrific women of ValleyMilk LLC @cheesecentrallodi in Lodi for CHEESE 101 A -- THE BASICS And a bit of Italia, al Fresca. Thank you, Cindy Della Monica, owner / Cheese Monger for your wealth of information on all things cheese, good food and cooking! Lunch was fabulous and we had a great time! You have an outstanding selection of @realcalifmilk , national and international cheese! We highly recommend an opportunity to enjoy your wide selection of cheese tasting and cooking classes. read more

This place is awesome!! Karen was so helpful. My husband didn't think he liked cheese since he's lactose intolerant. Well she helped save the day and found him an amazing cheese he can eat :) so glad we stopped in there today and can't wait to go back. We also got some sausage and some chili pepper jelly for Christmas :) read more

Lodi needed a little place like Cheese Central. You'd think that being such a big wine town that Lodi would have more places that offered delicious cheeses to pair with their fantastic wines. Thankfully, Cheese Central is here to meet those needs. The staff at Cheese Central is very nice and helpful. They are willing to let you try just about anything in the store. If you don't see something you like/need, just let them know. They are very willing to do special orders. The store sells Raclettes which you don't see a lot of places, so this makes me happy! I love the uniqueness of the store and their ability to meet a need Lodi's need for a place to buy really good cheese. read more

Pros: Different cheeses to sample, Barely Buzzed Cheese, excellent service Cons: closes early (5pm on weekdays and 4pm on Saturdays) Fun: they rent out fondue sets read more

This place is Amazing!! I don't know how I've lived without it.The staff were great they were funny, personable, although Karen helped us, everyone who worked there was attentive, the atmosphere was just a BLAST! The Cheese was so unique we bought many, my personal fav was sweet cheese if your cheesecake obsessed the Lemon Ginger will hit the spot. read more

Where do I begin here? I love coming to Cheese Central. I will literally drive the 20 minutes to get there for the Cotswald cheese. Also, the Red Dragon. Don't get me started on the fig cake. The cheesemongers are knowledgeable and friendly. They aren't stingy with the tastings at all! I highly recommend a visit to their shop. read more

Cheese Central - My personal favorite. Cotswald double Gloucester cheddar. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Lodi, California

3 months before our girls trip, to take the cooking class, I spoke to Cindy (the owner). She informed me that we were the first to book, that we could choose our menu for that evening and to give her my email and she'd send me the list of choices, which she did. She made me aware that her daughter would be due around that time, but assured me that she had plenty of chefs, and people that were qualified to take over if needed. She wanted each women from our party of four to call and give her their cc info to b charged to hold their spot, which they all did. The day of our anticipated class, about 1-2 hrs prior, we called to check in and so glad that we did! We spoke to Karen and she informed us that there wasn't a class, that it had been canceled, that Cindy's daughter had gone into labor, that they had tried to contact us to let us know but that they couldn't find any emails, numbers, etc. So that evening we scrambled last minute to find a place to have dinner. The following day when I called and spoke to Cindy, she was so nonchalant about the whole thing! It's disappointing as a business owner, that she didn't want to own up to her mistake, she never apologized for our inconvenience, never offered any compensation to try and make things right with all 4 of us. We all traveled 1 to 1 1/2 hours to get there and we stayed overnight in town just to enjoy this experience. We would have loved to have come back the following year to take the class again, but sadly I would never go back to her shop. It's such a quaint little town, but I almost feel that because she really doesn't have a lot of similar competition in that immediate area, that's she's taking advantage of that and has forgotten how to treat her patrons in this type of situation. read more

This place was amazing! First of all, the service was impeccable. From the moment you step in you are greeted with smiles and friendly conversation, and immediately offered a cavalcade of samples of cheeses and sausages, olive oils and breads. There were so many I didn't even know where to start. I also didn't feel timid in asking to try anything either, as the women working there were so kind I never felt like I was imposing on them. They just seemed happy to share their cheeses with us and learn more about us. My friends and I all agreed upon leaving that we were not used to being treated so nice before. Check out my friend Vittoria L.'s review if you don't believe me! The first thing we tried was the Cotswald Cheddar which they claimed was their best seller. I could see why immediately upon trying it. It was probably one of the best cheeses I've ever had and I immediately bought a block. Same went for the Delice De Bourgogne which was a must-try. It was a triple cream that was so creamy and delicious I couldn't believe it. I still have them in my fridge and nibble on a bit every day to keep my spirits up throughout finals. Pros: Great cheeses, Huge variety, Free samples, Very kind owners, Cheese classes and cooking classes at an affordable price, and the owners keep the place extremely impeccably clean. Cons: The crackers were overpriced, The cheese was quite expensive (but that is expected for cheese) and the store smells a bit weird when you walk in (but you get used to it). If you like cheese at all, do yourself a favor and swing by. I wish I had discovered this place a few years ago. read more

The short: Did you know there is a cheese shop in Lodi? Me neither?! The long: I've wandered around downtown Lodi on a few different occasions, but apparently I never walked down the street far enough to stumble across the cheese specialty shop in Lodi. It's a tiny little shop which is what you should expect for a town this size, but they have a nice selection of cheeses and specialty foods to compliment them. The staff is super friendly and willing to offer suggestions and offer suggestions. I keep meaning to come back in here, but to be honest I always forget about them I really wish they were somewhere I would see them more often. What works: A cheese shop in Lodi! What to improve: Get the word out you're there read more

Great customer services. Great options and variety of cheese and crackers perfect spot to as their located right next to a winery and several other are within walking distance. They even gave us a knife, napkins, and paper to cut our cheese on the go! Highly recommended stopping by and picking up the mushroom Brie and crackers. read more

I absolutely love this cheese shop, the ladies who work here are extremely knowledgeable and super funny too! I always learn and taste something knew depending on what wine I am pairing or whatever she suggests. Always a tasty good time... read more

Cheese Central - Cheese Shops Near Me - Lodi, California

See all

Fell in love with this store!!! Went to Lodi to wine taste & came here on a review from a friend. We were greeted and helped as soon as we walked in. Karen was so sweet and helpful! She took the time to explain and let us taste the cheeses before we purchased. She was super knowledgeable about everything in the store and really enjoyed taking her time to help us! She even cut a loaf of bread we purchase there and put some utensils together so we could enjoy our cheese with our next wine tasting stops! Seriously cannot say enough nice things about Karen and can't wait to go back!! read more

Cheese Central - Cheese Shops Near Me - Lodi, California

Karen is a lovely lady! She is so nice to everyone and a kind soul! All of the cheeses are delicious, definitely coming back! Great service :) read more

Yay! It isn't too often that I get this excited. I absolutely love cheese. Cheese is my greatest friend and that is why it took me so long to visit this establishment. They have a pretty good amount of cheese. Not the best selection that I have come across but ample. The cheese monger behind the counter was very knowledgeable about her products and that is a big plus. They always are willing to open a new cheese for you to sample. They have olive oils that you can purchase by the ounce, which is very nice. The other pleasant surprise was their stock of craft brews. Most if not all were local which was very nice to see. I ended up purchasing just as much beer as I did cheese. Thank you for opening such a joint. I am very happy that this place exists! read more

While I had known that there was more to cheese, I had never realized there was THIS MUCH more to it. We were walking down town just feeling out the street when we saw the word, "Cheese"... Not knowing what could possibly be in store we were sold. It's a wine town so you have some expectations but none would bring a cheese virgin to imagine what is inside. The aroma hits you at the door, nothing too strong but that familiar scent that tells your mind and body there is cheese nearby is instantaneous. It may feel a bit overwhelming initially but when you start getting offered those samples, that anxiety melts away and the feeling of contentment sets in. You might find a cheese you don't like but in the end, for me at least, it was a battle of which cheese I liked most and which I was spending my "Cheese Budget" on! On top of the cheese they offer crackers, hand crafted beer and classes... Each of these I have yet to try but that's not to say there isn't any interest. I blame it totally on the fact that I want to spend my every dollar on their cheese! Cheese Central Pro-tip: If you are in the area for a movie, but want to take cheese home, go after. The cheese doesn't sit well in a car. But for an even better movie going experience, go before and bring a little stash in for your flick! read more

Love this place. I love trying all the cheeses that are all so unique. And every one always so helpful. My only gripe is that I always end up spending more that I wanted lol! read more

Mmm cheese! My husband literally spent $100 here on different cheeses lol. They have a huge selection and the staff is very knowledgeable. They also sell other food items such as meat, olive oil, jams and chips. read more

This place was amazing! The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, and they brought out cheeses so we could try them before we purchased. They had samples in the back of different jams and jellies. We bought a lot of cheese, perused their cheese books, and had a thoroughly enjoyable and pleasant time. When I'm back in Lodi I will definitely be coming back here! So delicious! read more

Cheese Central - The front of the store - Cheese Shops Near Me - Lodi, California

See all

Loved it here! The staff here was so helpful and patient with us. We loved tasting all the cheeses and had a great experience. Lodi has a cute little old town and this business just adds to the overall experience. read more

See all

Goodness! I felt a heart attack walking into the place! I was in here yesterday, and loved it, because we saw it on TV. I cannot simply believe this many types of cheese exist at all, much less in one place. My dad tried the wine and walked away with two bottles of something, and I even tried some wine that was kid friendly. Regardless, this place was pretty cool. read more

Cindy is the best. Walk in, get greeted by a super nice staff, try some amazing cheeses and goodies you have never tried before, buy some killer treats, have an awesome day. Be sure to check out their classes as well! read more

It's a decent place, especially for a small shop. It doesn't have the selection of Whole Foods, or any other big place (they even have less than Trader Joes) but they have some nice cheeses, and you can try before you buy. As some other reviewers have said, it's a pricey place. read more

Loved the service and the tasting! Highly recommended even for picky eaters. Gouia was a love bug and had amazing expertise to share.

Awesome selection of cheeses. We enjoyed all the tastings! We walked away with lavender Melkbus Holland, prairie breeze Iowa and Red Butte Hatch Chile cheeses. read more

Cute shop in downtown Lodi. After having lunch nearby, we walked around and came across this place. Went inside and tried some free samples of cheese and mustard-- yum! They have cheese and other accoutrements from regions of Spain such as membrillo (quince jelly that is often served with cheese and bread) and pan de higo (fig and nut "cake"). Very nice people working there, both behind the cheese counter and behind the register. There's also a wine-tasting room two doors down! read more