What a fantastic cheese shop! Excellent customer service, beautiful products, extremely reasonable prices. It's my go-to in Santa Cruz. Next time I am getting the grilled cheese because I've heard it is out of this world. Thank you Jillian for your wonderful shop and incredible personalized customer service. It was very much appreciated. read more

Delicious grilled cheese, they also have a basic kids option. The tomato soup was also good though they skimped on the two we ordered (only poured about 3/4 of the way) - I suspect bc it was tail end of lunch rush and they were running out (we saw a sign saying they were out when we picked up). Two tables outside - I recommend ordering ahead and picking up to eat somewhere else. read more

Cheese Shop 831 - Inside - no seats but two small outdoor tables - Cheese Shops Near Me - Capitola, California

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The grilled cheese was perfection. The bread was grilled very nicely and the cheese was high quality and the addition of bacon was yummy. I also enjoyed the little pickles they added and the super yummy jam. It was a great combo of sweet and savory. read more

Cheese Shop 831 - Cheese Shops Near Me - Capitola, California

Found across from the capitola mall, this shop specializes in esoteric and uncommon cheeses from around the world. Staff is friendly, offers samples. I got a Swiss cheese that I had not heard of but tasted good so got some. Inside is small, they have a fridge with smaller portions for charcuterie which is nice. I do feel like because this is such a specialized cheese shop with a lot of cheese people have never heard of, it might be good to have them organized by origin and then give a three word flavor profile or something since not everyone knows everything about cheese but definitely likes cheese. Also, there didn't seem to be a lot of common cheeses that would bring in a lot more traffic and let people discover the really good cheeses here. I would definitely come here for more than just the occasional pricey cheese board cheese if they consistently had high quality imported ricotta for baking, pecorino romano DOP, Parmesano Romano DOP, mozzarella, and other Italian cheeses that are difficult to find in the quality necessary to make the dishes authentically. Would help save trips to a place like Eataly for those items. read more

Cheese Shop 831 - Cheese Shops Near Me - Capitola, California

Cute little shop that allows you to experience cheeses you wouldn't otherwise try. My husband and I stopped by on our way to the beach to pick up some snacks. We ended up getting the broccoli cheddar soup and a $30 mystery bag. The soup wasn't great but the bag was a lot of fun. It came with 7 cheeses, a jam, honey stick, cheese cutter and pin. Service was helpful and we were offered samples as we browsed around the small shop. It's small with no inside seating as we could see. And a few tables outside. A fun experience and I would recommend it to all cheese enthusiasts! read more

Cheese Shop 831 - $30 mystery bag - Cheese Shops Near Me - Capitola, California

It is with great apprehension that I write this review. My fear is that the location will become popular and the quality will drop. Except, CHEESE!!!! Everything cheese is here! There are cheeses from a variety of mammals and you can sample them before you buy. The service was attentive and kept feeding us samples- truffle cheddar, bleu cheese, something creamy and dreamy, etc. Also, LOOK AT THIS CHEESE SANDWICH! read more

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This place is amazing. The cheesemonger led us through a delightful free tasting of a wide variety of cheeses, helping us hone in on what we loved. Well worth the drive over the hill and I'll be back soon for more of the Wensleydale with lemon and honey, Molinaro al tartufo, smoked bleu cheese, and to discover more fabulous flavors. read more

Cheddar or Never: A Cheesetopia Experience (11/10) I entered this cheese shop as a mortal but left as a lactose-fueled deity of dairy bliss. Upon stepping inside, I was greeted by an aroma so divine it could resurrect a dead baguette. This wasn't just a cheese shop; it was a temple, and I was there to worship. The cheesemonger, who I can only assume holds a PhD in Cheeseology, took one look at me and said, "You seem like a triple-cream brie kind of person." Reader, I cried. She was right. I didn't even know I was a triple-cream brie person until that moment. Her knowledge was encyclopedic; her recommendations were life-altering. Every cheese I sampled felt like a mini vacation. The aged gouda? A sunset in the Netherlands. The blue cheese? A thunderstorm of flavor that awakened parts of my tongue I didn't know existed. And the truffle-infused cheese? I can only describe it as eating the dreams of a millionaire who only vacations in the Alps. They also had a cheddar so sharp it could cut glass and, frankly, my heart. After one bite, I made peace with every mistake I'd ever made in life. The display itself was a work of art: wheels of cheese stacked higher than my hopes and dreams, glistening in the soft glow of well-placed artisanal lighting. There were more free samples than I could count (don't judge me--I stopped at 27). Received one of the greatest cheese boards I've ever had the privilege of being in the presence of. I considered proposing to it, but I feared rejection because I'm only 90% sure cheese can't file for a restraining order. By the time I left, I'd spent enough money to trigger an alert at my bank, but it was worth every cent. Do I regret buying the $120 of cheese aged longer than the moon landing? Not one bit. Do I now have a cheese drawer in my fridge so full it's legally a hazard? Absolutely. This cheese shop didn't just sell me cheese; it sold me a lifestyle, a purpose, a reason to keep going. If you love cheese--or even if you don't--you owe it to yourself to visit. Life is short. Eat the cheese. read more

Cheese Shop 831 - Grilled Cheese - Cheese Shops Near Me - Capitola, California

What an amazing find in Capitola! I discovered Cheese Shop 831 thanks to Instagram and stopped in for a grilled cheese sandwich. Little did I know that it would be the best grilled cheese sandwich I ever ate! The staff is always super friendly and very knowledgeable about the different cheeses in the shop. Something for all cheese heads. I've also attended some special after hours events at the shop. Those are special and fun. Jillian has a cool shop with a friendly vibe and is a champion for local businesses. read more

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If you're a cheese fiend like me, this shop is for you! Huge selection of cheeses from all over the world. Any kind of cheese you can think of they have, and then about a hundred more. Best of all, you can even sample the cheeses! They have a nice little grab and go section of pre packaged cheeses if you're in a hurry, or you can visit the cheese case to look, sample, and really curate to what you are looking for. They also sell the perfect cheese board accompaniments like jams, olives/pickles, crackers, and flavored oils and salts. I got a honey salt last time I went and it was fabulous. My only wish is that they were open earlier. Often times I go over the hill pretty early and they are not open by the time I leave to head home. But, probably good for my wallet because I would buy all the cheese if I got to go in that often. read more

What a gem! I've been looking for a good cheese shop and this was IT. Great rotational menu of grilled cheese sandwiches, a plethora of cheeses to select from, and a complimentary little cheese tasting. I will definitely be back here to try other seasonal cheeses. Can't wait to visit again. PS their homemade CherryLemon jam was delicious and it complemented the grilled cheese sandwiches so well. Please sell this jan! read more

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A hidden gem and a must if you're in Capitola! The selection here is amazing - so many different types of cheeses, crackers, and all your charcuterie needs. They have bins of little bits of different cheeses that are well priced if you wanted to have a little bit of everything. We tried almost all of the cheeses behind the counter and were so impressed with so many of them. The person helping us was so patient and had great recommendations! We ended up buying more cheese than we thought but were so happy with everything. Looking forward to coming by whenever we're in the area :) read more

This is the kind of place I love to find! Small selection of very fine cheeses. You know they are special as soon as you taste them. I bought a bunch of little ends that they have in a basket when you walk in. Every bit was high quality and delicious with some amazing textures. read more

Dude, such a lovely place! I love the little tiny bites thing they have for the small bits of cheese that they sell for pretty cheap prices. It's great that you can try just a bit of something for a small price. I got my bf the four alarm cheese, which included like ghost pepper and habanero, and he absolutely loved it paired with a yummy cracker. I also got my pup some yummy dog treats that were cheddar and peanut butter flavor, which she absolutely loved at the great price of $6.99 a box. And the service I got from the dude that was working the register was really awesome. He was so nice, and def made me want to come back again! Please check this local cheese shop out! I'll def be back soon for the grilled cheese sandwiches they serve until 2:30 PM! read more

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Excellent cheese shop with large selection! Everyone I interacted with was really nice. I got two individual cheese plates (boxes?), which I brought the beach. I'd love to check out items from their menu next time! read more

Ordered a charcutier board for a bridal dress appointment and they were so easy to work with. Needed to have GF items, not a problem at all, and they had everything ready to go at the time I asked for it. Beautiful presentation and the cheeses/crackers were so yummy. Perfect combinations. Can't wait to use them again! read more

Kudos to Jillian and her dynamic staff.... Bar none the best "over the top" grilled cheese on sour dough .... have to get my weekly fix....... venture out to try their daily specials... the French Butter is worth the price too.... Iam a happy hooked customer..... KT read more

Super nice staff! I ordered a pretzel and it came with a really great cheese dip. But the pretzel surprised me, it was wet and soggy. I wasn't able to finish it but it made me wonder if the pretzel was supposed to be like that? read more

Great variety. Fabulous staff. Find what no other stores in the area have. Wish they were open more days!

We picked up a charcuterie platter and were so disappointed. At $100.00 it was a rip-off. A selection of a few cheeses surrounded by grapes, nuts, salami and crackers. Maybe $15 worth of cheese. Maybe $10 (at the very most) of salami. Not a good value at all. Next time we will head over to Whole Foods and get an awesome selection for half the price. read more

Cheese Shop 831 - Where's the cheese? Lots of crackers- a sprinkle of nuts, olives- about 8 slices of salami. Sorry- not worth $100.00. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Capitola, California

I heard about this shop from a friend so I decided to check it out myself. They have an excellent selection of cheese you won't find anywhere else. The owner is really nice and will help you find just the right cheese. Check it out! It's near the new Michael's in Capitola. read more

Got a $100 cheese platter for Thanksgiving. It was delicious. While my take when I picked it up was almost regret, it seemed small and not that plentiful Was I totally wrong, once spread out, was probably 10-14 different kinds of cheeses alone plus fruits, nuts, dried fruits, sweet treats and other goodie's. Definitely worth the money and was perfect for 5-7 people and 2 kids. Another family member brought a Bree and you could totally taste how better the one from Cheese Shop 831 was. Will get another for Christmas! read more

Cheese Shop 831 - 4-6 people platter - Cheese Shops Near Me - Capitola, California

This place is wonderful! We walked in & immediately walked into welcoming arms. They have everything you possibly need to make a charcuterie board + little gifts. They also treated us with 10+ samples & the best sense of humor/knowledge about their selection. Definitely check this place out if you want to try exotic fun cheeses. read more

Place is cute and tiny and has a lot of little unique trinkets and goodies. They're super sweet and let us try samples of cheese while our grilled cheeses got made. I can be a bit of a food snob because I'm a big foodie, and I gotta say their grilled cheeses were the best I've ever had! There was so much flavor on each one. The last was perfectly toasty and the cheeses were nice and gooey. Super happy. read more

Cheese Shop 831 - Garlic grilled cheese and everything but the bagel grilled cheese - Cheese Shops Near Me - Capitola, California

I thought I had already written a review for this fantastic cheese shop but found I had not. I drive from Morgan Hill to get my cheese from here, they have the very best selection and customer service available. The grilled cheese sandwiches are the most delicious we've ever had and they change them out weekly/biweekly. They are served with a delicious homemade cherry jam and tony Cornichon Pickles. The staff are patient, professional, knowledgeable and kind. The shop also has a giant selection of various sundries to go with your cheese. Crackers, chocolate, jam, charcuterie boards and more. I highly recommend going to this cheese shop. Jillian and her crew are amazing and the cheese selection is above reproach. Super delicious! read more

What a little gem! Very nice staff and we like the cheese samples variety. I especially love the truffle popcorn! Cute little place. Highly recommend. read more

This place is great. Free cheese tastings and all cheeses are unique and rotate. No pressure to buy (but I always do). Locally owned, friendly, knowledgeable about cheese and highly diverse with selection. I only discovered it a few months ago, and now go about once a week. Oh, they also have amazing grilled cheese sandwiches. read more

Order was last minute for the Super Bowl this Sunday. $75 Very nice people work there but friends say it was a skimpy board. I told them when the order was placed to just put a few crackers. read more

Cheese Shop 831 - Super Bowl board. $75 - Cheese Shops Near Me - Capitola, California

Absolutely lovely little cheese shop in the Santa Cruz area. They have an extensive assortment of different cheese types and a delicious menu of cheese dishes. I really appreciated that they also had a "cheese bits" section where we could purchase tiny samples of different cheeses to find what we like best! read more

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Our new favorite spot in Santa Cruz to pick up picnic supplies. I love the cheese sampling where you can sample just a smidge of the day's highlighted cheeses. We usually pick three to four cheeses, grab some yummy crackers and other accruements and head to the beach. The owner is super helpful and packs our goodies carefully in ice. She includes plastic knives, cheese spreaders and napkins and we're good to go. They also have a kitchen where you can order food. Last weekend we shared a Dave's Grilled Cheese with sliced apples and bacon. We devoured it out in the parking lot. Between bites my husband said, "THIS IS THE BEST GRILLED CHEESE I've ever tasted!" It makes me happy to support local businesses like Cheese Shop 831! read more

If you want an amazing cheese board, 831 cheese shop is the place to go! I went in last minute and they helped me put together this amazing, delicious cheese plate. While I waited, I sampled many delicious cheeses from around the world. The service is wonderful, the employees were so sweet, knowledgeable and accommodating. The cheese plate was a hit, I will definitely be back!! read more

Cheese Shop 831 - Cheese Shops Near Me - Capitola, California

Charming cheese shop across from Capitola mall. Been wanting to try their gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and was finally there at the right time (11:30-2:30). They are closed on Mondays. Soup special was broccoli cheddar which was delicious. Grilled cheese special (also delicious) had spinach artichoke dip with Jack, cheddar and Gruyère cheeses. It was served with tiny pickles and some sweet fruit preserve which complimented the sandwich. I ate the soup and half the sandwich and took the other half home for another meal. They have 2 small outside tables. Service was so friendly and fast. Very fun place to go! read more

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If you like cheese, this is the place to go. They offer cheese tastings. They make delicious grilled cheese sandwiches. Planning a picnic or a party, pick up crackers, jams, salami and much more. read more

Cheese Shop 831 - the front of the store - Cheese Shops Near Me - Capitola, California

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We have a group of friends here for a long Wharf to Wharf weekend. We had grilled cheese the first night and a selection of cheeses the second night. I can't say enough about the amazing customer service and the DELICIOUS cheeses/sandwiches we enjoyed. read more

We booked the CheeseShop831 for an after hours cheese tasting and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches to celebrate my birthday last evening. All of the cheeses we tasted were great but the standout was the grilled cheese sandwiches. We had four or five different sandwiches and they were all terrific. Everyone in our party of ten said they had a great time. Jillian, the owner, was great to work with to set-up the evening and she and her staff took very good care of us. I highly recommend CheeseShop831 for a unique small celebration of up to ten people. read more

Had to buy a last minute gift for a colleague in the this area. Called up a couple hours before closing and talked to Gillian, the owner, about a gift basket. She was able to source wine, produce, and other little goodies and have a wonderful gift basket made up for me on such short notice. I was so thankful. She also kept me posted on how the delivery went and sent photos at my request so I know what was inside and what the item looked like. Inside were about 5 types of cheese, honey, crackers, meats, chocolate, a couple different types of fruit, crackers, a bottle of wine, a book of keep track of which cheeses you've tried and everything was organic or locally source, all very high quality. Colleague was very happy with the gift and enjoyed it immensely. Truly appreciate Gillian going above and beyond! Would definitely use them again! Such a great gift idea or for your next party or special night! read more

Cheese Shop 831 - Cheese Shops Near Me - Capitola, California

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"It smells like heaven." My daughter said as she and I walked in today. "I can't live in a world with out cheese and I have always wanted a cheese shop in Santa Cruz." She added. What a wonderful little store full of CHEESE! We were graciously offered samples. I bought four different kinds of cheese and some truffle honey. We will come back for the grilled cheese and definitely for more cheese! read more

Im kicking myself for not trying the grilled cheese sooner. It had two Irish cheeses. It was the best grilled cheese I have ever had. It came with a raspberry sauce that I could have eaten on its own with a spoon. The tomato roasted pepper soup is wonderful. In the shop, i bought olives, mini brie by il de France, dijon with esplette pepper, Spanish potato chips, and olives. read more

Cheese Shop 831 - Irish grilled cheese - Cheese Shops Near Me - Capitola, California

The aren't enough words to express how fantastic this cheese shop is! As a part of a date my partner and I stopped here and were able to try a variety of cheese made from sheep/cow/goat milk and even water Buffalo. We of course left with 2 we had never had before and it was hard to not leave with more. We will of course we back for the great service, tasty cheeses and maybe the fanciest grill cheese sandwiches. read more

What a great little shop! I am so glad to have a genuine cheese shop in town, with purveyors that know exactly what they're offering and can help you choose the perfect cheese. The ladies are so friendly and helpful. Cute setup with a refrigerated case for various grab n go specialty cheeses - including their in-house made yummy pimento cheese (spicy or regular) and the larger case with several incredible choices. They will set up tastings for you to help you make your choice/s. They also have breadsticks, crackers, pickled veg and dried fruits and some cured meats for a charcuterie or a picnic. And, lordy do they make a killer grilled cheese sandwich! Crispy, hot, buttery, melty gooey goodness. Comes with a side of chutney and a side of cornichones and pickled onion. Do not skip the chutney! Def recommend any of the grilled cheese offerings. Crazy good! I didn't want to make this review too Covid-forward... but they do have a Covid protocol in place. Only 3 people in store at a time, masks required and once the small tasting plate is set up for you, you do have to go outside with it so you can remove your mask for the tasting. Stop by - they deserve your attention. And you deserve some crispy, hot, buttery, melty gooey goodness - or a good, domestic or imported special chunk of cheeeeeese. read more