Great little pit stop to make if you're in the area. You MUST get one of their sandwiches. Huge sandwiches piled high with toppings. I had the special, which was turkey with coleslaw. Amazing. I forget what my boyfriend got but it was a cold sandwich with different deli meats, cheese, and veg. See picture. Their beef sticks (the teriyaki, in particular) were the best I've ever had, and being born and raised in the Midwest, I've tried a lot of beef sticks. Their cheese was also great (I recommend the sharp cheddar, bacon cheddar, smoked provolone, and onion cheese). Ice cream was okay. The interior and exterior are very instagram-able. Worth a day trip from the cities for sure! Check out the nearby National Eagle Center while you're in town. read more

Nelson Cheese Factory - a large white barrel in front of a building - Cheese Shops Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

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The food was really good- I had the veggie pita wrap and my sister the BLT. And after there was some delicious ice cream!! There was a darling little outside seating area and the people were very nice. First time at Nelson's and I would return! read more

Nelson Cheese Factory - Veggie pita, BLT in back - Cheese Shops Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

We recently took our annual trip down MN side and up Wisc side of the River. A stop here is a must. The maple nut ice cream is so very good - they don't make it, it's premium Kemps, but still. We usually buy cheese and New Glarius. The cheese has gotten outrageously expensive - $15 for 7-8 pieces of smoked string cheese, they are large, but wow. They check you out as fast as they can - the lines can be long. It's a good deli atmosphere. read more

We were in Nelson Wisconsin today at lunch time. We take a drive yearly down WI 35, Great River Road. It was a beautiful day for November and decided to take our drive. The Cheese shop/creamery has a cheese shop and deli type restaurant. You order at the counter and they have a dining area which worked out great for us. I ordered the Old Fashion, smoked turkey, roast beef and cheese on wheat bread. My husband ordered the Old town, smoked turkey, ham and cheese on wheat bread. Both sandwiches were very tasty. It is a cute place. Happened to be the first time we ate there usually when we drive this area it is soo busy you can't find a place to park. We usually head there when the trees are changing color. We had a nice time will stop there again. read more

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We took our yearly trip down the Great River Road Highway 35 in Wisconsin. It was a great day for a drive. We stopped in Nelson and went to the Nelson Creamery. They sell cheese and sausage and other deli type things. They also have a restaurant, order at counter. We each had a great sandwich. I got the Old Town sandwich, ham and cheese on wheat bread. My wife got the Old Fashion, roast beef, smoked turkey and cheese. It was a nice little place to take a break and have a good sandwich. read more

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Lunch service was quick and tasty. Many varieties of sandwiches to choose from. They also offer gluten free.

"...this is a very nutritious lunch. All the food groups are represented." (Judd Nelson, Breakfast Club) If you find yourself On the Road Again...the Great River Road along the Mississippi, that is, the Nelson Cheese Factory is the best pit stop to refuel your stomach. This may be a former cheese factory, but you will find all food groups represented here: artisanal cheeses, sausages, pizza, soups, ice cream, wine and more! Hearty sandwiches are made to order, perfect to eat on the go with a band of gypsies or to pack for Saturday detention. I ordered the chicken sandwich sans lettuce, mayo and tomatoes. I gave it a full Nelson and demolished it! Delicious! The chicken was tender and juicy, the bacon was crispy, and the cheese added unbelievable flavor. My vegetable barley soup was a disappointment though, as the carrots and celery were quite crunchy. My friend's tomato basil soup was excellent, as was her veggie sandwich. We purchased cheese curds as well, and their squeakiness was solid proof of freshness. Next time I'm trying the ice cream! I give the NCF 4.4 tugs of a Poltergeist rope by Craig T Nelson. read more

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We love the short little road trip across the border to Nelson's! This place is a gem and if you haven't been, do yourself a favor. The old creamery turned restaurant and store has such a wonderful ambiance, and the staff are always so friendly and welcoming. The ice cream is delicious, the soups and sandwiches are homemade and always prepared with the freshest ingredients. They have tons of local jams, honeys, cheese, cheese curds, and so much more. read more

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Fantastic ice cream! It was creamy and just the right amount of frozen. I got the Chocolate and Peanut Butter as well as the Mackinaw Island Fudge. I liked the chocolate best of the two. The fudge was almost too sweet for me on the other though the vanilla base was perfect. The selection of cheeses was overwhelming and they also had a decent meat selection. I'm not sure where all the cheeses and meats came from as some looked like brands I'd get on my regular grocery store, but it was exciting to look around. If only I could taste test, haha I'll have to update my review after trying the cheese curds we bought. Update: cheese curds were good. I liked the garlic one best but thought it was very subtle in flavor. My grandparents told me these ones weren't as fresh as they usually are as they didn't really squeak against your teeth when you ate them. read more

Nelson Cheese Factory - Double scoop ice cream. Chocolate and Peanut Butter on top, Mackinaw Island Fudge on bottom. - Cheese Shops Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

This place was recommended to me by a local. The ambiance was good, the sandwiches my girlfriend and I ordered were fantastic. We indulged in ice cream as dessert. Very happy we stopped here. read more

We have had all their pizzas except the spicy chicken and they are delicious! Thin crust and the right amount of toppings. They only have pizza on the weekend. Rum cherry and raspberry white chocolate ice cream sooo yummy! I could taste the rum in the rum cherry, it would have been even better with pieces of cherry In it. For a tiny town restaurant & specialty shop they are busy but they do a good job of getting people checked out quickly. Benches outside to sit down, patio outback and they also have indoor seating. Oliver Blueberry Moscato was a nice bottle of wine. You can taste the blueberry. Spicy chicken pizza next time! read more

Nelson Cheese Factory - Mediterranean Pizza add red pepper flakes - Cheese Shops Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

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Stopped for ice cream while passing through town on a very warm Wednesday afternoon. I was very impressed by this store. It had a wide variety of cheeses, meats, wine, beer and other gourmet food products especially for such a small town. Too bad I was only in the market for ice cream. A good place to stock up for a picnic! I got a brandied (I think) cherry ice cream and it was very good and a very reasonable price compared to everywhere else these days. Do stop! read more

Hot Eddy fantastic sandwich all gas no brakes. Garlic cheese curds best iv ever had highly recommend, stock up every time you're in town. And the homemade onion cheese faggedabout they should sell it by the brick it's so good read more

Super cute store with a large selection of cheeses! They also have jams, jellies, olives, spices, and so much more! We also ate lunch there and it was delicious! The service was great as well. Staff was super helpful and friendly. I have lots of food sensitivities and they took great care of me. Definitely worth the stop! read more

Nelson Cheese Factory - Gluten free breakfast pizza - Cheese Shops Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

We are business owners in the area and decided to get our ice cream fix on at Nelson Cheese Factory about a month ago on a quiet week day. I really don't know where to begin as the whole experience was so unpleasant and disappointing to us. We waited in line to order and the young woman did not want to make eye contact with the customers. I've worked in the Food & Beverage industry for decades and this is just wrong. Another young staffer allowed other customers go ahead of us line. Again, wrong. So, I let it go and we get our ice cream cones and sit outside on the front benches to eat our cones and get out of there. What happens next defines our whole experience. My friend and I were the only two guests sitting out front, right before closing time at 5pm. We were driving back to Wabasha when I realized I left my iPhone back on the bench at the Cheese Factory. I call them to inquire about a lost iPhone and a young woman answered and replied there were no missing phones left there. I thanked them and used Find My Phone on my iPad - which stated on the map it was at the NCF. I call again and talk to a young man, who makes pleasant small talk while another employee looks out on the bench, where I instructed my phone to be. The young man reported that there was NO PHONE OUTSIDE even after I told him that I had tracked it down and to look exactly on the end of the bench outside as it said on my search. Guess what? We drive back and my iPhone is EXACTLY WHERE I SAID IT WAS. We went in to let the staff know that I KNEW they didn't even bother to look, and we were treated so rudely by a young woman that I swore I'd never go back. She even shouted on the way out, "Maybe you shouldn't have brought your phone with you!" Good God, some nerve and so utterly disrespectful. All I wanted was an apology, and I didn't even get "an excuse"! I have 3 businesses in the area. I have brought family and friends to the Cheese Factory dozens of times over 20 years. No more Cheese Factory! Do they care about me and my boycott? Probably not, but at least you get to know about my sad, little experience. read more

We loved this place, we have gone every day while staying in Nelson. Coincidentally we are staying at the campground that is owned by the same people. They have a great selection of beer and wine. The baguette and Brie platter was an awesome appetizer. Will (the owner) recommend a beer for us and he was dead on with his advice. read more

Nelson Cheese Factory - Beer I enjoyed at Cheese Factory - Cheese Shops Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

Hats off to this well done shop and cafe. Simple, well executed and something for everyone. The sandwiches were all great with good bread and fresh ingredients. The ham on the baguette was more American style deli ham vs. a European style that you would expect on a baguette, but still good. At $9 each, perhaps a tad high priced, but no complaints given the small size and nice comfortable country setting. The ice cream (not pictured) was tremendous and at $2 for a large single scoop, a real bargain. The deli was a nice compilation of local and non local items. My only real complaint was the restroom wasn't very clean. read more

Nelson Cheese Factory - Ham and Brie on baguette (left) and Betty's Beef (right). - Cheese Shops Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

Stopped by for a quick bite to eat. I ordered tomato basil soup. The best tasting tomato basil soup I've ever eaten. Fresh, very filling and thick, served with 2 slices of a baguette. Delicious! Finished up with a kiddie cup of ice cream. Can't be beat! read more

Love stopping here on our way thru going between MN & WI as we enjoy their ice cream and cheese. It's a busy place but the staff is attentive and on top of helping it's not stressful. Yummy experience no matter what you choose! Only wished they would stay open later. 5:30 closing time in the summer? There were so many people that were turned away I stopped counting. To see the sad faces on the little ones :(( read more

Very cute place. Tried the rum cherry ice cream which was quite delicious and also got their cheese curds.

Ambiance was great! Sandwiches very good. Service excellent. Basically it's a gourmet cheese store with touristy prices and selections. They don't make cheese there anymore and you won't find one of a kind or unique items. read more

10 stars! They have a ton of stuff. And it's all fantastic! Stop for an ice cream cone. Fabulous ice cream!!

Great food and yummy ice cream. Will most definitely be back. I will recommend it to others

One of our favorite spots for lunch, ice cream and a glass of wine by the fire or on the patio when the sun is shining! They have a wonderful market with wine, smoked meats and cheese and the experience overall is fun and friendly. They make fresh pizza on the weekends. It's always busy--so be patient, but it's a local gem and worth a stop! read more

Enjoyed tasty creamy broccoli cheese soup and half children salad sandwich! Sat outside on the patio read more

Nelson Cheese Factory - Enjoyed lunch on the patio! Tasty creamy broccoli cheese soup and 1/2 chicken salad sandwich - Cheese Shops Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

In town visiting some friends. Some of the best ice cream I've had in a long time. Such a good selection of cheeses and meats. read more

Nelson Cheese Factory - Ice cream - Cheese Shops Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

A must stop. The lines are extremely long on weekends but the ice cream is worth it. They sell cheese of course and have any variety you can think of. Over the years they added wine. Big selection. They recently added food. Pizza smelled great. That is for another day. Indoor seating, patio seating and my favorite, benches out front watching all the motorcycles and classic cars. read more

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This is a fun little place in Wisconsin. They offer food and have a little designated space for wine. They also have a patio outside so there is plenty of seating. I did the hot hero. Loved it! It was warmed to the perfect temperature for a rainy day and had a great mix of flavors. I think I ate it in 2 minutes. If you don't want a sandwich, they also offer other options like pizza and salads. Parking lot available. read more

Fun little place. Small ice cream selection, huge cheese selection. Know there is a restaurant on site with a large food menu. Wine listen isn't samples just buy bottles. It's kind of the place to go in town read more

Stopped here for lunch while visiting the Eagle Center in Wabasha with our grandson. We were very happy with the sandwich selection and the homemade soups were fantastic. Great tomato basil with chunks of tomatoes and the Chicken Noodle was loaded with noodles and chicken. Dining choices are on the patio or inside the wine tasting room. Don't forget a scoop of ice cream for desert! read more

My husband and I have recently made it a date day/night on Sunday's to go to Nelson Cheese Factory so we can enjoy the fireplace, quiet conversation, great sandwiches & wine. Absolutely love this place and all the varieties they offer. Must go when visiting our area. read more

Absolutely fantastic! Great food; great cheese and wine shop; fantastic views from the river-overlook patio. Truly the nicest lunch we have enjoyed in Wisconsin. Try the Philly sandwich: it's delicious! read more

If you are in the area, this is a must to visit. The deli is stocked with a variety of breads, local cheeses, and meats. We were there for lunch, so I had a sandwich. I noticed they have a big selection of wines too and they conduct wine tastings. Lots of desserts too. Food options in the area are a little on the sparse side but Nelson Cheese Factory fills the void. read more

We've eaten here many many times, and the atmosphere is relaxing and music very nice..usually nice soft jazz. I'm giving this place 5 stars even though we were disappointed last time as the chicken on the chicken salad was not a real chicken breast as in the past , but a piece of pressed chicken product. I should have sent it back and got another item, but didn't. When I questioned the owner a few days later she acknowledged it wasn't what it used to be due to availability, but didn't offer anything ..even an apology. But this was very much below their usual standard and won't keep us from coming back. But if you go and are thinking of a chicken salad or sandwich, ask if it is a genuine chicken breast to avoid disappointment. Hope this supply issue is resolved soon ! But you will like this place read more

We stopped here for a meal during our tour of Wisconsin, and we're so glad we did! The atmosphere is wonderful! Eat in the room with the fireplace if you can. The staff is helpful & friendly, and the food is so good! I got the cheese soup and half a chicken salad sandwich (BEST EVER!). To top all this off, the store is filled with wonderful gourmet gifts and a fantastic wine selection. This place is not to be missed! read more

So, the first time I came here, I was probably 14 years old. From 14 to 17, my parents sent me to Minnesota to stay with my cousins for a month or more in the summertime. Every now and then, the family would pack up to go to Lake Pepin, where they had a sailboat docked. On the way there, we'd stop in Nelson to get some cheeses, and also a scoop or two of their ice cream.... it was a treat we always looked forward to! They had bags of cheese curds, hundreds of different freshly made cheeses, as well as all the goodies to go with the cheeses. It was a fully stocked delicatessen. The ice cream is usually available in about 6-8 flavors, but whatever you choose, you can count on it to be very rich and creamy!! I like the Pralines & Cream. YUM!! Recently I had to go back for a funeral for my great aunt. She lived to 96 years old. She was a happy and positive woman for as long as I've known her, which is to say, my whole life. The visit back was full of love and remembrance of her life. It was also a time for the rest of us relatives to touch base and reconnect. And of course, food was at the center of things, the way they were when my Great Aunt Alida was around. :-) So if you find yourself on the southeast side of Minnesota, or the southwest side of Wisconsin, you should check out the Nelson Creamery for a scoop ($1 each) of their yummy ice cream, or a fresh deli sandwich made to order. And sit out back in the patio area... it's a nice place to eat and enjoy the company. read more

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A must-stop if you're visiting the Lake Pepin area or the National Eagle Center. First of all, the sandwiches are amazing and packed with outstanding cheese. Our favorite was the Spicy Nel, which was chicken, pepper Jack cheese, honey- mustard, and jalapeños. So spicy and good! We also had a great cheesey veggie sandwich with great guacamole. Our only ice cream purchase was a root beer float, which I strongly recommend. The cheese shop itself is on the massive side. We left with a variety of gourmet and everyday cheese, all locally made in Wisconsin. The lines are long, but they move fast, and the food and cheese is worth it. read more

There is no sign on this building identifying what it does or sells. At least, there is no sign as we think of signs today. A small, rusty cutout metal silhouette of a wine glass and -- what was it? -- a triangular slice of cheese, as I recall, is mounted on an outside wall, a wordless sign of the sort that was common in the Middle Ages, before western civilization became literate. In any case, it's a big building on the west side of Highway 35 in a town that's about four blocks long, so you cannot miss it. We went there for the ice cream, without realizing that Nelson's is a cheese factory and cheese shop with a big wine shop and a restaurant. The restaurant's menu appeared very interesting; unfortunately, we had just eaten, so we cannot rate it. The Nelson Cheese Factory's ice cream is highly recommended by locals including some of our relatives. The ice cream is good but that doesn't make it special, that just makes it ice cream. What makes it great is the price: $1.00 per scoop. Get yours before the owners discover which century they are living in. read more

Nelson Cheese Factory - Nelson Cheese Factory - Cheese Shops Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin

I recently discovered that in all the years that I've been coming here, that I've never checked in via Yelp. Weird. For years this place was a regular pit stop while out on the motorcycle. It's a hot spot for motorcyclists of all types as well as car tourers. Over the years they've added a wine shop to go with all the other foods and cheeses they sell. This place can do turn anyone back into a kid again. Typically I see the biggest baddest looking biker licking an ice cream code with a smile. Their sandwiches are freshly made and a tad different and better than most places. Their ice cream is the best thing on a hit summer day in the middle of a motorcycle ride. I always leave with a bag of super fresh cheese curds, some beef sticks, and more cheese curds. The only thing they are missing is fish from the dairy ice cold milk. If you're driving by you've been on a long drive already so make a pit stop. read more

We've driven past Nelson's several times on the Harley, but have never been able to stop. Finally, it was just us out riding and we were able to pull over on a lovely Sunday afternoon. Now, first of all, the air around this place smells like heaven. It smells like ice cream and waffle cones! (But they don't actually have waffle cones.) We actually drove past, but I was pestering the boyfriend enough that we were able to turn around and go back. It was the smells, yo. The smells coming from that place.... SWOON. The inside is huge! I wasn't expecting that at ALL. The inside has bottles of wine, seating, and cheeses/ice cream/specialty items. It's sorta confusing because the outside of Nelson's says "creamery" but I guess it's mostly a wine bar and cheese factory? I dunno. We cruised around and checked out the cheeses, but we were just browsing. We were in for the ice cream. I was pretty disappointed to see this place only offered 6 different flavors of ice cream at a time. I have a nut allergy, and there were maybe 3? that I couldn't have due to that. The scoops are extremely affordable! $1 for a kiddie scoop, $2 for a single, $3 for a double and $4 for a triple. We just got single scoops. I had the french silk. The ice cream was insanely delicious. Super fresh. I loved it. I didn't like the large chunks of chocolate in the ice cream, but I do know that a lot of people might enjoy that. I'm just not a fan of large chunks of things in my ice cream. There's tons of tables outside over looking the river. It's a really nice place to stop for a break while on a long drive. read more

Nelson Cheese Factory - French silk ice cream cone. Bargain at $2 - Cheese Shops Near Me - Nelson, Wisconsin