Baumgartner's Cheese Store & Tavern

Baumgartner's Cheese Store & Tavern is more than just a restaurant; it's an institution. The combination of its historic charm, outstanding service, and truly unforgettable food makes it an absolute must-stop when you're in town. You won't be disappointed!

I was told about this place by a friend, and holy cow, it surpassed by expectations. I got the special - Philly cheese steak - and of course had to get the classic cold sandwich - salami and brick cheese. This was honestly one of the best cold sandwiches and also one of the best hot sandwiches I’ve ever had. I was savoring the final bites. The sauces are perfect. 10/10 would recommend. Our server also gave us great service and fantastic recommendations.

Food was good. Pretzel was soft and fresh, but a little too much salt. The cheese sauce was fantastic! The service was excellent and very helpful. Make sure to "donate" a dollar on the ceiling!

What a great visit. Very friendly fast service in a unique classic shopfront in the town square. We had a table outdoors and it was perfect. The food was delicious all around. One of our party loves ribs and stated the half-rack was “fire”😂 We had a beer, four pops, six meals and a dessert for $80. Evidence of great value. After, we participated in the charity drive they do. The ceiling is covered with bills, but I won’t give away how they get them there as it’s part of the fun. Great environment, service, food and value.

Our go-to spot when we come to Wisconsin. They have a good local beer selection. You must try the Limburger cheese, sandwich form w/ all toppings is the most palatable. We tried the Bahnmi brat special this weekend and it was awesome!

It has been many years since I last visited Baumgartner’s but this was a place my parents brought me to regularly while growing up in nearby Freeport, IL. I’m glad to say it is still just as appealing as ever! I was recently in Beloit and decided to make the trek across the beautiful countryside to Monroe and Baumgartner’s specifically so I could partake of both the liver sausage with onions and cheddar AND pulled pork sandwiches chased with a stein of root beer. OMG-these were the same as I remember them and the happy memories came flooding back! I’ve had everything on this menu at one time or another and encourage you to stop in! Walk the town square while you’re in Monroe and don’t head home without something to go!

Stopped in for lunch and it's a really cool spot. Service was super friendly and they have a bunch of cheese options. We had a cup of chili, brat, Reuben, burger, and small cheese plate. The cheese plate and rueben were excellent as was the chili. Brat was not to our liking and the burger was just ok. We will be back to try other options.

Definitely a must visit when in Monroe- the history here - the food was amazing.

What a treasure in Monroe! Great food that wasn't obviously delivered from a Sysco truck! Great burgers and homemade soups. The special is always fun and new and different. Usually not something you'd find in any bar in this town. The staff is always friendly and they donate thousands of dollars every year to the local schools!

An amazing cheese selection and reasonable prices. Nice stop while wandering the city.

I had an afternoon cocktail here and an evening meal and cocktails (all in the same day) while visiting Monroe a few weeks ago. I didn't really look in the deli case up front, but I ordered a sandwich and from the rye to the spicy mustard it was really good. My sandwich also came with a side of cheese, which cracked me up as well as made me so happy...I do love cheese. While in Wisconsin, right??? The bartenders were great. One even checked on me after a guy sat down and tapped my ear off for half an hour. I was fine, but being alone I really appreciated that he noticed. Cute tavern in a cute town. I would definitely go back!

Good sandwiches. Good soup. Good beer. Good selection. Of cheese and Landjaeger. Very nice host and wait staff.

Always like stopping here. The tomato soup is hardy and delicious. The beers are great. The pastrami sandwich was big enough to split. They have a wonderful selection of cheeses. Sit outside while you can. The downtown is quaint. Huber beer isn't too far away.. Nonetheless the bartender is super helpful and the inside is nostalgic. I'll be back soon!

Review # 800 This restaurant was the highlight of our Wisconsin road trip. I loved the place. It has such nostalgia to it. Every wall, every piece of art/decoration inside the restaurant has historical significance. Service by lively employees was phenomenal. They explained the menu and options patiently. We ordered, interacted with friendly patrons, and within no time our food was ready. We took the food outside, sat at the town square and enjoyed the peace and calm of a chill place! We ordered the following: Ian had a hot dog. Mrs. had a roast beef. I had a Pastrami sandwich. 2 amazing desserts to share. Total was $31.65. Food was freshly prepared. You could tell because, it melted in our mouths! Desserts were amazing. Cheese as a topping was unique. I loved it. If you are within 50 miles of Monroe, you should definitely head out here to this amazing restaurant. You will not be disappointed!

My wife and I were on a cross-country trip from Michigan to California, with many stops along the way. One of those stops was in Monroe, Wisconsin. The major purpose for the stop was to have a tour of the New Glarus brewery. One night we went into town to have dinner. Based on reviews here on Yelp, and other word-of-mouth recommendations, we decided to have dinner at Baumgartner's. It was delicious , the service was great, and we love the fact that every meal came with a side of cheese. Highly recommended!

Came in my 6,000 mile food tour to I try the infamous limburger and braunschweiger sandwich which was served on rye with onion and sides of mustard. By the second half it was a bit rough, but not their fault lol. It's one of the stinkiest cheeses made allegedly. Neat little spot kind of dive bar meets diner vibes in the back room where I sat. Glad I tried it!

For Monroe area, this was 4/5 but if this was compared to other places 3/5. I got their Reuben sandwiches and ginger beef soup. The soup was super delicious. The sandwiches, I would say the Reuben was so salty and the breads were so buttery. I feel like the butter flavor took away the tastiness of the Rueben. the brick cheese was ok. My boyfriend got their ribs. That was very interesting and good. He also got landjaeger and he loved it. It was very meaty and savory. Overall, cute and interesting place to go to if you are in Monroe.

Great food. Had the braunsweiger sandwich. It was good. I had it grilled but I think it would have been better plain on the dark rye. I haven't had this sandwich in years and brought back a lot of memories. I took a pic outside for some people and the fellow who I assumed was Swiss said the pics going straight to Switzerland The Bloody Mary was perfect!!! Ambience wunderbar!!! Waitress, energetic, proud of her work and attentive!

We were passing through on our way to a vacation rental, and had to stop in Monroe for some cheese to start the trip off right. I had a cup of the zesty vegetable soup which was quite good, but the star of course, was the grilled cheese sandwich! I had cheddar and it was soooo good. Be sure to order it grilled if you want it that way as the default is a cold cheese sandwich. The cheese was melted to perfection, and the bread was buttery and crisp. The flavor of the cheddar was amazing. Service was fast and friendly, and we loved the covered patio seating overlooking the main town square. We had no trouble finding parking nearby on a Monday at lunchtime. We'll definitely be back on our next trip through town.

So we've been eating hamburgers in a lot of the local establishments since moving to Monroe three years ago. We had our first Baumgartner's hamburger tonight, and it went straight to the top of the list. Delicious! It was all about the meat, which is locally sourced. The burgers come in several different configurations and they all looked equally delicious. Also had a beer and a cup of their tomato basil soup, which is always available and is excellent.

Baumgarten's was great! The atmosphere was fun with seating outside and fun, quirky decor. The sandwiches were delicious, nice and hot, and good quality. Our waitress and the person who helped us at the cheese counter both had excellent service. Will go back for sure if we're in the area!

We took a day trip to Monroe, Wi. We wanted to stop at Baumgartner's . It's been around since 1931. Same menu. Cheese sandwiches, made with local cheese. They have added a few grilled. I also ordered a cup of tomato basil soup. It was delicious. Very thick. I had the daily special, grilled block cheese sandwich. It was done perfectly. My wife had Braunschweiger with local Swiss cheese .I ate half her sandwich. It was great. Served room temp on dark rye. She also order a side of their potato salad. It is made with red potatoes. Also fantastic. I love good potato salad.

It has been many years since we stopped here for lunch. Given Covid we got our sandwiches to go though their backroom tables were well distanced and the staff all wore masks. I do love the decor and ambience of this place so I plan to return after things get back to normal so I can eat in this mecca to cheese. I ordered the hot pastrami sandwich with brick cheese on it (should have tried it with the smoked Swiss). It was moist and tender and a good portion. Delicious. And you gotta love a place that gives a slice of brick cheese as a side! Only in Wisconsin. My wife got a hot ham and cheese sandwich and loved it. You can also buy cheese, salami, mustards and other items. We will return.

One of the true restaurant gems in the US. Baumgartner burger with homemade onion jam is spectacular. Lots of history here and never disappoints.

We saw a list of iconic, must-visit Wisconsin restaurants online and this tavern and cheese store was one of the places featured. With no college football we embarked on a large looping road trip from Madison and timed it to visit Monroe around mid day. With social distancing there was about a 30-minute wait for a curb-side table on a gorgeous late summer day. This is a great spot for lunch-but you gotta like cheese. Sandwiches come with a half-inch slab of cheese. The waitress recommended the hard salami with cheddar so that's what I went with. Cold sandwiches like mine come on dark rye with your choice of mustards and a side (chips or maybe some beer cheese soup). Service is friendly but a bit leisurely but hey-what else do you have to do during the pandemic? I was pleased just to be able to eat at a restaurant (with appropriately spaced tables of course). Inside is cool too with big murals about cheese making above the bar. Prices are quite reasonable. In this world of chains, this restaurant feels authentic and is one-of-a-kind.

We've been here a few times, as hubby introduced me years ago. It is so good, that we live 2 hrs from here and still go at least once or twice a year. This time was a new experience as the inside was closed for dining and we had a short wait for a table outside. There were benches to sit on while waiting and the weather was perfect, not too hot. We ordered a cheese plate, and a braunschweger sandwich. The cheese plate was enough that I had quite a bit of leftovers to take home. Hubby took the leftover meat/cheese from his sandwich home. We also picked up some apple jack, hard salami and smoked swiss. We really loved the apple jack and salami the most. Hubby had a beer on tap, but don't remember which one. Their prices are considerably low and their menu is small, but what they do, they do extremely well. Worth a 2 hr trip. They also sell Spotted Cow! Try them out, you won't be sorry.

I had been looking forward to coming here since my first trip to Wisconsin four years ago. Being a fan of strong cheeses, I could not wait to try the limburger and red onion sandwich. It did not disappoint. The local beers I tried were excellent, and the outside seating on a warm summer evening was outstanding. What was not outstanding was the service. My server had a great personality and I'm sure is a very nice guy. My problem was he would take my order and and then get held up at two larger tables. Although he easily could have brought me the beer I ordered, he would disappear for long periods, only bringing me my drinks with a tray of drinks for the larger tables. Just in case I am seeming picky, I have been a server, and it is pretty easy to have a beer poured , then walk it out while the bartender is pouring out your 12 shots of tequila. And I had to flag him down for refills. Sorry, Jon (or John), I get working for for the tips at large tables is very important part of the business, but what a shame you couldn't give all your patrons a great experience. Which this could have been.

Came here at the suggestion of our tour guide at the National Historic Center for Cheese Making. After the tour our family (2 adults, 3 kids ages 17-11) were all hungry for some cheese. We ordered the large cheese plate, various sandwiches, and even dessert. Everything was delicious! Well...almost...our tour guide warned us about Limburger cheese...so I went for it...I should have asked for a sample! WOW that's some STRONG CHEESE! Anyway, it's a cozy spot. Our family is road-tripping back to Massachusetts, and between The Cheese Museum and Baumgartner's Monroe, WI was WELL WORTH the stop between Madison, WI and Toledo, OH.

This place is a Wisconsin classic in every way. A must-stop if you're in the Monroe area. When we get down to Monroe every other year for the Cheese Days festival, this place is on the list of things to do. My wife loves a good Limburger sammie.

A must stop when in Monroe. Food, service, cheese and drinks are amazing. Highly recommend to everyone.

Visiting Monroe, and this place definitely has a friendly and welcoming vibe! Drinks were good! We are before we came, but the sauces were great with chips, so we can only assume the food is fabulous! Also, we love that they donate to local school/charity and make it entertaining, but I won't ruin it for you! Come in and visit!

Ate at Baumgartner's on the square in Monroe. We ate under the covered patio outside and it was relaxing. There was a young lady playing the violin just down the street so we had live music! The waiter was good even though he brought out the wrong meal for me but it was quickly corrected. The food was good and comes with a slice of cheese and dill pickle spear. The sides are extra. There is a cheese shop inside and we bought Baby Swiss and Mild Cheddar and they were excellent! Seems to be a popular spot.

Wonderful walk down memory lane. Traveling through Monroe, 25 yrs later. Great food & drinks. Above and Beyond awesomeness service! Look forward to our next trip home to Wisconsin from Nebraska

Stipped by after the brewers tour and it was 4 minutes walking distance. Both the limburger and liver sausage were good. The Italian beef was a bit too dry amd chili dog was ok. Nice staffs and many cheese selections. There's money sticking to the ceiling and was told those were patrons' donations.

Wonderful Unique Old World experience. Fabulous service. Great beer selection. If you like cheese you are in luck.

Great chili and they'll grill you their great cheese sandwiches if you'd like. (Very good.). Friendly and timely service.

Drove about 1200 miles from the East Coast. This place was highly recommended so I stopped to get a bite. While waiting I went across the street and ordered a Latte. I finished about 1/2 when the table became available. Waitress wanted to take my 1/2 cup to dispose with the table dishes and trash. WTF? I cancelled dinner on the spot, and ate dinner elsewhere while drinking my delicious vanilla flavored iced latte and she gave up a $25 order that I had elsewhere. Ambience on a warm day is more pleasant with outside table. Inside are wooden bench seats and a bar and 1 bathroom for all? Genders.

Best cheese sandwiches ever. Wonderful service and great prices. Outdoor seating is wonderful as well.

A great local lunch place! If you're looking for something truly unique and "Wisconsin" this is it! Sadly, closed when we came back in October for take out because people in Wisconsin don't understand science OR what a pandemic is.... Several cases at the restaurant according to the locals. A real shame. #Covidiots #wearadamnmask #sciencematters #wisconsintavernleague

Pretty good burgers. Very limited menu but few burgers I've had have been good. Nice outdoor area to dine in the summer. Will go again especially as there is a lack of good places to eat in Monroe.

We are out doors beautiful day on the sidewalk. Great service and the sandwiches were just fantastic. We ordered a pastrami with Swiss, turkey, salami, and ham with American , cheddar,and Swiss, and a roast beef with Swiss! Also Wisconsin cheese soups and chili... all were wonderful!!

is outstanding. Try the Limburger. it may be your only chance, ever. give them a dollar to stick in ceiling. Youve paid more for less.

Fun...can I say fun again!! What a great place. If you're from out of town and want to know what it means to be in Wisconsin for an average meal here's the place. I had the Ruben and chili, my wife and kids had the grilled cheese. Simple, flavorful and prefect. Simple menu and few options but lots of volume!! Check it out. But get dessert!!

A great place with a lot of nostalgia! Enjoyed the cheese sandwiches and locally brewed root beer.

Awesome must stop place ! The decor and atmosphere alone give it 5 stars. The delicious drinks, cheap prices, and simple yet yummy food earn 5 stars as well!! We got some spotted cow beer (locally brewed) and a Moscow mule. They were exceptionally refreshing. For sandwiches, we of course ordered the braunschweiger (liver sausage) sandwich with onions and cheese. One bite of that took me back to memories of my grandpa eating it all the time and us kids having it on crackers. Great! The pastrami sandwich with melted brick cheese was out of bounds. Pastrami was amazing. Super cheap and reasonable prices ! Must stop in Monroe.

Cute place, but the actual food menu is a bit weird. Got the Italian beef sandwich, just OK. The "second best chili" was a bit odd too. Gave me some serious wind. The shop has that look and feel of an old down home spot. It's on a charming town square. The cheese they sell? Overpriced, not made in-house not even sure if it's local.

This was a great experience! We adventured here on a cold day and were greeted with a warm bustling atmosphere in the cheese shop. I mistakenly expected a grilled cheese sandwich when I ordered my cheese sandwich, (it never said that it would be grilled, so I made that up in my head) but the whole meal was complete with the "2nd best chili". It was delicious! Very quirky, very unique!

Being one of the first customers of the day definitely payed off for my furry friends waiting for me in car with their adorable heads hanging out the windows. Walked into the kitschy surreal ness of this historic Monroe tavern and cheese shop which boasts of the "best grilled cheese" and after wandering around and taking it all in and picking up a few provisions for a day of cheese sampling, girl slicing stockpiles of cheese for the day's sandwich making offered me a very generous sampling of the various bits of cheese leftovers she had accumulated and could she please see those gorgeous dogs? Well little did she know that she most definitely made Mr. Baxter's day as there is NOTHING in the world he loves more than his Cheese and as far as the lovely little Miss Freyja, well let's just say there is nothing that has passed her lips she hasn't liked! Limited selection of cheeses to outright purchase, but definitely worth a stop and try to do it around lunch for a historic sandwich and a bevvie or 2!!!

When you're venturing through this wide and wonderful world by car, you always hope to find that bit of local color that you're pretty sure you would never see anywhere else, and that endears a place to you forever. Baumgartner's Cheese Store and Tavern is definitely that place for Monroe, WI. We drove into the town square and parked next to a City Hall that looks more like a tiny German castle. On the other side of the parking lot from its green there was this strip of late-19th/early-20th century cookie-cutter brick storefronts. Only, right in the middle of that line of uniform brick facades, there's one that looks like it's trying to be a rustic Swiss chalet, complete with a goat climbing the awning. I cracked up and demanded to go in. The proprietor and staff had every bit as much joviality as the exterior of the store implied, and I will never forget the murals of dwarves mounting cheeses on catapults and weilding battle-steins. But the amusing ambiance aside, their sign that promises "The worlds best cheese sandwich" is not wrong. The only image we managed to add is that of the cheese plate, unfortunately, since the camera holding most of the mouth-watering images of our meal was lost prior to my actually writing this review. Every last one of the house-made cheeses was stellar, though we actually ended up buying multiple of the Swiss Style Landjagers for the road because they were even more amazing than the house-made cheeses. Our only regret is that Baumgartner's is so very far away and that they don't ship their products anymore. I often find myself craving one of those landjagers now, and nobody within 500 miles of me makes them anywhere close to the quality and taste of Baumgartner's. (Date of visit 03/22/19)

Good food. Good service. Stopped in for a beer and sandwich. Left full and still had money in my pocket.

I just love this restaurant I think so as most of people who visited. Foods are tasty, people are nice, atmosphere is pretty, price is reasonable. They had soooo much types of draft beer too. They just made me love. Must go place!!

Been coming here for decades and never a bad experience. FYI They no longer ship cheese or sausage products since Covid hit. Bathrooms are both UNI which I'm not fond of. Staff is fun and friendly.

We were disappointed in the salami cheese sandwich-it was plain and not very good. We did enjoy the chili though!

Cheese store and Tavern? If you're looking for presentation on your plate, this isn't it! Just great cheese and meat sandwich served on a piece of paper! Delicious and very reasonable prices. Heather was a pleasant and fun waitress. Nice area for a road trip.

It doesn't get better than this. Braunschweiger and Limburger with raw sliced onion on dark rye bread. Mmmmmmmmmmm.

Over Christmas week we had Baumgartner's twice. One time we ate in and had lunch. I had the chicken salad, which was okay. My partner ordered the chili which was also okay to good. We went early to make sure there weren't as many people with Covid seemed spread out enough but again, wasn't super busy. So, I'd say lunch was a three-star. Food was good, dependable but nothing to crave. NOW...the crave part. Later in the week, we had their Smashburger, YUM! We all raved about the burger and the price. Way affordable. Loved the bacon spread. The burger was a five-star and I hope to have it again when we are in town.

I've been here three times in the past year. We live in Madison (since 2015) so it's a dedicated journey to be here. And why are we here? For the Limburger, braunschweiger sandwich on dark rye with red onions. There is probably no other place in the US (the world?) you can get this sandwich. The service is always gracious and attentive. We love this treasure. Others report the chili and tomato basil soup are wonderful too.