Formaggio Kitchen - South End

It is like cheese heaven. So much to choose from. The employees are helpful. The quaint shop is what gives it its appeal; also the hand-written signange describing wach cheese's characteristic.

If you're ever looking for a reason why unfettered capitalism backed by monopolistic import laws and distributors is a terrible thing, visit this place. $400 a kilo for pata negra, $200 a kilo for Salamanca, dry as a bone, sliced on a deli machine, and crushed between plastic sheets until it's a chunk you can wave around and smack your kids in the head with (see pic). No cheese monger should slice jamon that expensive on a mechanical slicer. $30 a pound of Bayley Hazen. $20 for a handful of strawberries. It actually makes sense to just fly to Europe, grab a few months of charcuterie, and fly back under the radar. It's basically like buying weed in Boston before 2016. Never again.

Always a pleasure going there, trying great cheese, talking to super nice people and exploring interesting products from all over the world. Great selection of wine too!

Tiny, no parking, and pricey, but you can't get my favorite French olive oil anywhere else. Came out with the Mas de Bories grossane, a bottle of basalmic, excellent parmesan, two kinds of olives, and a loaf of bread, too, so I guess I had a good time. Will be back.

The most wonderful cheese store in Boston. A great selection of hard and soft cheeses, yummy samples, and good gift selection. They can also pull together gift baskets, including sometimes on short notice.

Now, I love a good “build your own charcuterie” experience. It’s probably my favorite thing to do. This place is PERFECT for it! They have so many options of jams, olive oils, pickled things, dips, fantastically presented cheeses and some of the BEST cured meat I’ve ever had. Max was very knowledgeable about the pairings and waus throu each type of cheese, asking if we would like it stronger or more mild and letting us get the taste for the board he was creating for us! Max made my first experience very pleasurable, and will absolutely be back because of him. (Thanks for letting me take photos:-) ) Very intimate atmosphere with an amazing selection of products. If you’re not in a rush, take your time because I guarantee you that you’ll find something you’ve never seen before.

Say cheese! This place is heaven on Earth. A selection that's out of this world, not to mention the mouthwatering selection of cured meats and pate. Very helpful staff. Cave wait to come back

They have my favorite biscuits in the world in their freezer & incredible selection of meats, veggies, fresh bread, and goodies of all kinds! It’s small and packed normally, but it’s oh so good!

Such an awesome place! We were searching endlessly for foods like jamón serrano and Spanish chorizo. They have both here! Not only that, but they had 3 different kinds of jamón to choose from on top of many other meats. For something rare to find around here and imported, the prices were reasonable considering this is a specialty market. This place has it all if you love European charcuterie and cheeses. We also found some amazing bread. Walking around the store you feel like you're in a wonderland with all the many different types of items packed so closely into a small store. They make effective use of vertical space here and from floor to ceiling are a plethora of interesting, different, high quality finds. The service here is helpful and friendly also, and what's even cooler is you can check their selection on their website before heading in. A win!

4.5 stars. I've been following their Facebook page for 2 years and this is my first visit. #cheeseStalker. The Parking situations is not great but it's worth it to deal with it. Of course you can get samples of whatever you want which is fantastic. The only reason I'm not giving it five stars in the first visit it's because they didn't have cheddar that was aged 8 to 10 years. I did manage to spend $40 however on cheeses for Christmas Eve, plus I bought a sandwich for lunch. Everything was delicious. The guy at the counter was super helpful and patient. I'll definitely be back.

This small shop that not only sells cheese, but also wine and fine meats -- all things for a nice picnic in the park or at home. I had a grilled cheese sandwich from here and oh my! First of all, I am gluten free and do not eat dairy. I usually only eat glutinous items and real cheese whenever I'm back in the EU because I don't get sick from those items there for some reason. But because the Formaggio sandwich looked so good, I decided to take a bite of my portion. But then I became addicted -- I took another one and another one.. . . Secretly praying my stomach wouldn't get sick. I am relieved to report that it has been 24 hours with no stomach symptoms! Meaning, Formaggio definitely has excellent quality items. Now if only the sandwich had zero calories, it would be perfect haha!

Simply a slice of heaven. For years our dear friends have told us about Formaggio, so we finally made a visit this morning. What a culinary delight! Be sure to ask for David, his knowledge is impressive, we found some incredible cheeses, cured meats, spices, pastas, spreads and so many other wonderful treats. This is now a must on our list for every visit. We carried our Yeti all the way from CT and it is returning full! Just wonder

I am a little obsessed with this tiny store that manages to pack in a ton of flavor and quite the assortment. When it comes to cheese and charcuterie, this place is amazing. So many unique meats and cheeses. I will say - the fact that they have the Jamon Iberico de Bellota is a huge selling point for me too. It's so delish and so hard to find. Their wine section is fabulous, they even somehow have a legit amount of great beers as well. They also manage to have unique items that are hard to get anywhere else - like the most amazing potato chips from Spain ever (la Bonilla vista I believe). The staff is nice and helpful, and they take great pride in what they bring to the neighborhood. Such a great shop!

Get the blueberry scone. Warm it up a tad at home. Thank me later. $$$, but worth it.

I have been coming to FG since 1983, when it was it Cambridge. One of a kind place for cheese and sophisticated picnic supplies.

Five star products with one star service, minus a point for being that expensive with that much attitude. To the staff: yes I know that I am not worthy to shop at your store, and I do understand how much better you would like you job if there were no customers in the store. Now that I know how inconvenient it is for you to have me there, I have an easy solution -- I will shop somewhere else.

My favorite shop in all of Boston - all products are expertly sourced and they take such great pride in bringing quality ingredients and food from around the world. Amazing cheese selection (David is wonderful, enthusiastic, and knowledgable), thoughtfully curated wine, delicious pâtés, delicious pasta (much of it sourced from Capone Foods - an awesome local producer), bread (from Clear Flour and recently Seven Stars Bakery in Providence driven up fresh every morning). Favorites in the prepared case include their chicken salad (probably the best I've had), ham and butter sandwich, and duck confit. Thank you for bringing so much deliciousness into our neighborhood :)

Fifth stop of the Bites of Boston Food Tour. The cow milk cheese sample was much better than the goat cheese sample. The red wine we were served wasn't all that special.

Outstanding selection of cheese, meats & provisions. Pricey, but high quality for the money. Very busy at noon time but definitely worth the wait.

I love places like this. Amazing food, knowledgeable staff, and products you know you can trust. Sometimes there is a line, but it moves quickly and it absolutely is worth waiting. The reason I took off one star was because the person ringing me up made a comment about how "insane" the price of the items I was buying was..... I was pretty embarrassed and felt pretty judged, but I felt like the price justified the quality of the product I was buying.

I like this shop. It's sophisticated and exquisite. I can find rare food in the store. The cookies look delicious. Cheese lovers should visit this place. They have vary cheeses. If you are red wine lover, you also must stop by.

The is the best store in all of Boston. Cheese and charcuterie selection is unmatched. Premade foods and wine. Imports and domestics. Knowledgeable staff. I love this place. It is perfect.

This place is amazing. The selection of meats and cheeses (and everything) is VERY impressive for such a small space. The owners are fully hands-on with where they source their products from, having built close relationships with the actual makers of a lot of the products they carry. They carefully select the wines they offer, as well, with an emphasis on finding the best, affordable options. Formaggio seriously has an incredible array of wines for under $20. It's impressive...seriously. We took a cheese 101 class here recently and it was a ton of fun! We learned a lot about their sourcing and standards. In short, this place seriously knows their stuff and can speak passionately about the products on the shelves and in the cases. You can stop in and learn as much as you want by just asking. Describe what you're feeling or want to pair and they'll hook you up with recommendations. Also, bonus points for carrying jamón Ibérico de bellota! A lot of their meats are sourced from places in the States that make a comparable product, based on the crazy regulations around importing, but the jamón...thank goodness the USA allows it in. I digress, if you love cheese, wine, charcuterie, and like to support the little, local guys, stop into Formaggio. Who knows, fall into a conversation with their friendly, knowledgable staff and you might even learn something about cheese that you didn't know before! Enjoy!

We moved to Boston two weeks ago - just down the street from this adorable shop! Couldn't have been happier to have them, Polkadog, Coppa, etc. all as our neighbors. Yesterday I purchased a bottle of chilled rosé, a small block of cheese, and some crackers. When I left I said to my partner something like, "I'd rather overpay and have high quality food from this place than get more at some supermarket." So pleased! We are truly wine-and-cheese obsessed, so this felt like the sweetest version of fate. However, just as we reached our corner, the bottom of the Formaggio bag broke open - the bottle of wine crashing to the sidewalk with an explosion of glass and pink wine. All over my feet, my tiny puppy, and our neighbor's stoop. We cleaned it up as best we could, wrapped the glass in the paper from the bag, and I insisted on heading back to the shop before they closed in order to replace it. Formaggio closes at 7:00 on Saturdays, so I ran down to make sure I arrived before then. I got there at about 6:56 - I know because I was watching my phone to ensure I wasn't late. I literally got to the door as they were locking it, and tapped on the window. The woman walking away from the door clearly saw me, but didn't make any move to help. I don't have any problem with a shop closing a little bit early - that's a benefit of owning/working at a small business - but I think decency would dictate that if a customer (carrying YOUR STORE'S BAG) appears before posted closing time, you open the door. I tapped on the window again. And again. When someone looked over, I held up the broken bottle with a shrug - help! - and she came to open the door. I explained that I had just bought this wine, but it broke through the bag once I got around the corner. She asked what I would like her to do about it. Surprised, I said I thought they might be able to replace it. She condescendingly said, "That's out of our control." Well, not really. Because your store put your product in the bag. Your store bag. And it really could have injured me (wearing sandals) or my puppy, who is a three pound baby. (Can you imagine if that bottle had broken through the bag and ONTO HIM?! The stuff of dog-mom nightmares!) However, I truly was not coming back to cause problems. I just thought that at the very least, I would get an, "I'm sorry that happened!" and I could BUY another one. I mean, these are OUR NEIGHBORS. I felt like I'd been slapped in the face - it never even occurred to me that our new favorite shop-around-the-corner would respond by basically saying, YOUR PROBLEM. She could not have cared less. I left it by saying: 1) please don't put cold wine in paper bags on hot days (or maybe double bag bottles generally if the bags aren't sturdy enough?); and 2) I'm incredibly disappointed, because we were so excited to live down the street from your shop. Normally I wouldn't even care, but it just adds insult to injury in this case: the $5! crackers (in the cute, tiny box) were stale, and no one ate them.

I am completely addicted to the chicken salad. It's like crack to me. I have no idea what makes it so delicious, but it's absolutely amazing! I also love the staff, they are efficient, organized and professional. I am also a huge fan of the apricots, candied ginger, refillable olive oil, fig jam, the giant pretzels, the lakota cookies, ok, who am i kidding, I love it all!

The owners probably hate that I am recommending this place to just walk in and poke around, like you would a museum. Formaggio Kitchen comes off like a rare-book store but with cheese and wine and lots of other stuff you know you don't need but desperately want. The reason they don't want gawkers is because it's so small and narrow, with broad-shouldered lummoxes like myself a constant threat to back into a display or clog up an aisle. They sell great sandwiches here, the ham and butter was legendary and a staple for my small kids. When I lived nearby they were missing some kind of license so couldn't make a sandwich on demand, but there was always something great and fresh to choose from. The cold-cuts are simply the best around, but be prepared to pay a well-deserved premium. The wine selection is unique and the staff knowledgeable. If you find yourself needing a unique gift for a foodie (or even a non-foodie), stop here, they'll inevitably ask where you got the gift and the ensuing conversation that consists of everyone's experiences in Europe, the sugar content of red wine, the merits of long-distance relationships and ultimately, of course, Donald Trump, will last the rest of the night. You walk out of this clever little euro-deli thinking you will emerge onto a narrow cobblestone way with gas-lights and the click-clack of horse-drawn carriages. Well, one out of three ain't terrible. So definitely check this place out...and also the odd little Syrian knick-knack store that's right next-door. Brought to you with generous support from the Titanic Nut Company.

CHEESE served by a knowledgeable AND PATIENT staff (they let us sample so many cheeses until we settled on something we enjoyed!) ---unfortunately South end's cheese selection doesn't really match my flavor profile ---Housemade duck pate: wasn't a huge fan since we thought it was a bit bland BUT NOT JUST CHEESE, they've got a wine selection, Iggy's bread, Chocolates & sweets, dry goods, etc. & if you aren't into asking for personal assistance from the staff, they also have cheese samples pre-cut on a table! ONE GRIPE: we were given the wrong cheese on one of our orders

South End Formaggio Rocks My World! I love cheese and this is the place to find the most delicious cheese. I adore the samples they put out, and, as someone else said, they will certainly allow you to sample anything you might want to try. There is always a great selection of cheese, especially chevres. Among their prepared foods, I especially love the ham and butter sandwich. Their breads are excellent as well. I've had some disappointing experiences with their sweets, but hey, the place is named Formaggio, it's all about the CHEESE. Staff is super helpful and friendly but sometimes they seem to get overwhelmed if there's a lot of people in the tiny little store. Overall though, this place is the best! Kneel down and WORSHIP THE CHEESE!

I wish I could live in South End Formaggio. It is so warm and cozy and filled wtih my favorite things in the world (cheese, wine, hummus, bread, olives, etc.). They always have samples of cheese available for customers to try and often have some other product ready for tasting. I love that they have a large selection of organic champagne (reasonably priced). Their homemade hummus and pita bread (some things I wouldn't think to buy at a cheese shop) is some of the best I've ever had. They also have a hummus-like spread which is an Egyptian specialty (the name is slipping me at the moment but this stuff is incredible...heat it up a tiny bit in the microwave, throw some chopped up tomatoes, red onion and olive oil on it and you'll be in heaven). Thank you for just being you, South End Formaggio! xoxo

I've lived in a few francophone regions and used to take advantage of fantastic neighborhood epiceries when I felt lazy. I've always found it interesting that the concept of an epicerie is somewhat alien in America. This small store is essentially an epicerie. Fantastic take-out (sandwiches, breads, ready-made food) and a very precise collection of pantry, cheese/ charcuterie, and fresh items. I love walking through the store and always pick out something interesting to try: fresh figs in the summer (this summer, neither WF or Trader Joe's had fresh figs :-( ); new cheese; canned bonito. The real magic here is the staff, who are clearly passionate about food and want to make people's days better through food.

I mean, what's not to love? Local South End shop will make you feel like you've stepped into a shop in Italy or France! Wonderful selection of cheeses, crackers, wines, desserts, tea/coffee - with people who can make wonderful recommendations if you aren't sure what you're looking for. They also have prepared dishes that you can get by weight: lentil salad, artichokes, etc. Definitely stop in for cheese and little sweets!

What can I say that hasn't been said already? Great little place. I love walking in and just looking through all the little jars on the shelves, peeking at the cheeses and meats through the case, sampling the fun things they put out for us to try. They don't have a food license, so they can't make sandwiches to order, but they have a good selection of yummy sandwiches. And they'll grill 'em for ya. Mmmmm. Yummy. Then there are the baked goods and candy. And the wine. And the butter. This place can be pricey, but for some things, it's totally worth it.

I did one of the wine and cheese tastings they offered through GiltCity and then ended up purchasing a whole scrumptious boat-load of products we tried. I don't live particularly close to either location and their delivery pricing is a bit ridiculous but thankfully they made it quite easy to pick up everything. I emailed the store directly with the items I wanted and then called with my cc#. simple as that. My fav item by far which I could selfishly eat by the block is their 'Le Cornilly' goat cheese. I LOVE goat cheese, like to the point that I would eat it with everything if I could but this one, ohh man, this one puts that goat cheese log you buy at a grocery store to shame. It's incredibly fresh and has that tang you crave with goat cheese but on steroids. During the tasting, we had this paired with 'Arenazza Salsa al Peperoncino'. A marriage like no other. I'm so glad i got this product because I've enjoyed smearing it on everything. I also got their "Mousquetaires Black Cherry Confiture' which is spectacular. It has the bright fruit flavor you want but not that coyly sweet cherry taste (this from someone who avoids cheery and grape flavored anything--hello horrific flashbacks to robitussin and dimetapp). Lastly, we opted for the 'Fieschi Pere Mostarada' roughly translated to a poached/pickled kinda pear in mustard and it's delightful. Pairs great with cheese or a sturdy cracker. Wine-wise I got the Folle Blanche. I don't usually drink white-wine but this one is a must. For a red, I got the Antoine Sunier Regnie--quite different from anything else I've had and accompanies many dishes extraordinarily well. I can't wait to try other goodies from here and the staff are experts but also say "if you like them together, eat/drink them together".

Really intense set of cheese - great selection. The cheeses are located inside the refrigerated counter out front, and the staff lets you try all sorts of things. Local cheeses are highlighted, and all the cheeses are really high-end; their selection makes Whole Foods' cheeses look really dumpy. Anyhow, this place is nuts! I think their baguettes are good too.

I go for lunch for their pre-made sandwiches in the back which you can eat cold or have warmed up for you. The chicken salad and cheese sandwich was amazing. Warm and melty and comforting, and not too mayo-ey (which is good because I'm always scared to order "salads" out of delis for this reason). The chicken salad was flavorful, but definitely a purist's chicken salad with no nuts, fruits, vegetables or chunks getting in the way of the simple deliciousness. I saw a lot of other sandwiches that looked just as good and I see at least one person with a Formaggio bag at work every day. Sandwich prices vary from just over 5 dollars for a grilled cheese & tomato, to 8 dollars for some of the more complex sandwiches. No seating available. Nice cheese samples and they look like they have a nice North End-ish selection of wines and just about any cheese you could want.

Ugh I love this place. Quiet and quaint little shop in the south end with the broadest and biggest selection of cheeses I've ever seen. They have cheeses from everywhere. They also have a huge selection of spreads, chocolates, wines, and meats/prepared foods. My favorite is the small bin of cheese bits that are $1-$5. It is the perfect size to give you a taste of the cheese. The only problem I have is that sometimes the staff is really friendly and sometimes they can be kind of rude. With a million cheeses it would be nice to have someone walk you through things. You are pretty much left on your own and if you don't know about cheeses you might be lost. Advice: ask for samples and don't feel bad about asking a million questions.

It's been said before: South End Formaggio is the best. We get it. But it's true, and you can't make this stuff up. Piles of chocolates, jams, jarred concotions, olives, sausages, cheese, wine: it's heaven. Clearly. I popped in just for a look see, while my husband waited outside with the dog. I kept him waiting a long time. I just got caught up with a man (previously employed at Formaggio) who wrote a book about pairing wine and cheese. He wrote a book, so you have to trust him. He had samples of comte cheese, paired with a sausage, mustard, and sip of red wine. What he didn't know was that I had fond memories of comte from Paris, and that was just what I was looking for. He convinced me to purchase the comte, which I enjoyed for several days (several cheese plates). It made me happy. Please come here if you're ever shopping for a party. They have great suggestions, and the price tag, in my opinion, is worth it.

Formaggio would be my ideal version of heaven. I've never been disappointed by a trip here, and I always leave with a ton of goodies. The staff is so knowledgeable and helpful- they'll listen to the meat and cheese flavor profiles you like and give you taste after taste until you find the perfect one (or 4 or 5 if you're like my husband and me) that you're looking for. It's a good thing this is about a 30 minute walk from where we live, otherwise we'd probably stop in daily. Definitely worth a trip if you haven't been!

Cutest little gourmet deli shop in South End for all your artisan cheese, fancy spices, and wine/beer needs! They have great selection of cheeses, ethnic food items, quality spices, amazing sounding gelatos and ice creams, and huge selection of beer and wines. Even though we just stopped by for the Shop Local Night wine/cheese tasting, the staff were very friendly and helpful! Will have to go back to try some of their sandwiches next time. I do have to warn you, the space is very limited, so don't plan to come in with all your shopping bags, back packs, and strollers.

I've always loved their cheese selection here, with both interesting European selections and local ones. I love being able to sample stuff and also hear the background information on the farms, producers, and cheeses. They also have a good charcuterie selection, as well as lots of specialty foods that are imported or harder to find. We got a bunch of cheese to bring back to California. They also have a lot of interesting Spanish and Italian wines at pretty reasonable prices. I miss living in south end and having a neighborhood specialty store like this within walking distance.

Cute little spot, with really good cheeses and a nice wine selection. Got the Cheese Monger plate with 5 cheeses. It was really good, I considered buying a second one after sharing the first. I also had the french onion soup, it was good, mines better. Little sweeter than I like but still well executed. Stop in this is worth the trip.

I'm fairly picky when it comes to reviewing food, but dear god, this place is amazing. I've never had a bad sandwich from this place--it's my go-to lunch place. I also highly recommend their non-to-go food items--they make for great gifts for the foodie in your life. And if they have the truffle chips in stock--give them a try! They're amazing.

This place is the best. We often stop by for the sandwiches (goat cheese & fig is our favorite). Amazing meat and cheese selection as well as a wide offering of artisan foods. We also love how COVID compliant they are, making sure no more than 3 customers are in the store at once and always with hand sanitizer available. Feels very safe. So glad they're in our neighborhood!

(Sing to the tune of "My favorite things" from Sound of Music) Soft cheese and hard cheese and all types of hummus. Red wine and crackers and chocolate among us. Overstuffed Cubans pressed hot off the grill With a side of Zapp's chips, oh what a thrill! Dark chocolate turtles with nuts and caramel. Oil and garlic, a heavenly smell. Boys at the check out with warm friendly smiles. Samples of delights, right there in the aisles. When the scale climbs. When the clothes are tight. When I'm feeling shame. I simply remember Sound End Formaggio And then I know who, to blame.

Hi, my name is Calli and I'm a cheese-aholic. I like it sharp, creamy, hard, flaky, and even bleu every once in awhile. I walked into this place and immediately felt the urge to hand over my credit card and shove everything into my mouth as fast as bodily possible. Thankfully, I showed some self-restraint and now I will (hopefully) be allowed to come back (unlike a few other places). The cheesemonger was extremely friendly and knowledgeable in pointing me in the direction of a flavorful sharp tart harder cheese, and then to a creamier counterpart that was the perfect balance. He even sliced me off some pieces of their cured meat when I off-handedly mentioned how one particular slice would match it well. Out of all the cheeses I tasted, I ended up with two great ones that I was looking forward to devouring. I walked out with a bounce in my step and some cheese in my belly.

This tale begins with a girl. A girl who loves ice cream (spoiler alert: it's me). I ventured into Formaggio Kitchen yesterday to kill some time before a dinner reservation. To my delight and surprise, I found Jeni's ice cream stocked in their freezer (!!!!). While one can easily find Jeni's at certain Whole Foods locations, FK has 6-10 flavors that I've never seen in inventory elsewhere (by now, you know this is the kind of matter I am diligent about). Ndali Estate Vanilla Bean, Churro, Green Mint Chip, Gooey Butter Cake, Black Cat Espresso and on and on it goes. I checked out with my pints and then remembered my dinner reservation and the surprisingly warm weather. Kyra, the manager, sealed her status as Ice Cream Angel of the Universe by offering to keep the ice cream in the freezer past close so I could pick it up after my dinner (!!!) Thank you Kyra and Formaggio Kitchen for making a girl's dreams come true.

Walking into a high end cheese shop hoping to find cheese cloth with which to make homemade ricotta cheese, I had no idea how I'd be received. Would they be snooty and unhelpful, since I wasn't there to buy cheese? I was worried, but my worries vanished once I asked about the cheese cloth. Not only were they so super friendly and enthusiastic about my ricotta cheese making adventure, but they dug around in their back room and found me some cheese cloth, even though it's not something they sell! I have never had such a warm, genuinely friendly reception at any store, and this was a high end shop to boot. And they have everything you might need for a quick entertaining spread: Delicious cheeses, crusty baguettes, a huge array of oils and balsamic vinegars, and chocolates . Not to mention the cases in the back with prepared food, such as pumpkin bread pudding...yum. I also have to mention that they have a sample station set up, and one of the cheeses I tasted absolutely blew my mind. Had i not been so set on trying to make my own ricotta, I would have bought that tangy goat cheese and inhaled the entire log. Formaggio is officially my new favorite cheese shop (sorry Cask!) and I can't wait to check out their Huron Village outpost.

Belinda says it more concisely than I ever could: OOH, HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH. Between the LA Burdick mice (white chocolate with cinnamon ganache, please), Taza discs, Askinoisie bars, Un Poco Dolce toffee squares, salted dark chocolate-dipped figs, handmade caramels, fancy almond joys, and boozy chocolate, I'm already overwhelmed. But that's not the half of it. Not even a quarter. Here's the main thing: PERSONAL CHEESE SHOPPERS. The most unnecessary thing you never knew you needed in your life. The end result? A perfect goat camembert to pair with all the above chocolate. Yes, all the above chocolate. Oh, and Formaggio carries Jeni's ice cream (as in, the best ice cream I've ever tasted, shipped in from Ohio). Plus, more than all the chocolate I just mentioned. And drinks. And breads. And meat. And baked goods. And spreads. But seriously. Motherf*cking personal cheese shoppers. That should be enough to get anyone going.

If you've ever been to Europe, and if you're anything like me, then you are familiar with the "post-Europe" syndrome. The symptoms are: 1)your sentences become peppered with "in Paris..." or "In London..." or "in_____ (Fill in the blank)..." 2) You live in Natick, but you set out for your evening walk to the plaza without a purpose and the cops ask you where your broken down car is, and finally, 2) you exclaim "Why can't we...." a lot, as in, "WHY can't we have bakeries! WHY can't we have good coffee! WHY can't we have cheese shops!" Well, at least SEF can help you with that last one. Tons of excellent cheese selections and very nice staff. I had no idea what to get, and I think I picked a Brie like wedge of something soft and double cream... Let's see if I like it. Also an eclectic selection of other random stuff, jellies, prosciuttos, membrillo, coffee, chocolate, soap, and "french style" macarons (WHATEVER, as if) Located in the rear end of the South End, next to a doggie bakery (what will they think of next), so don't walk in there by accident instead, because, being the South End, I'm sure that it would be rather difficult to tell the difference between the doggie and the human boutiques. You might end up with some cheese milkbone instead of Camembert. The space is cramped and kind of stressful, and they don't have Foie. I'm feeling strict today. 4 stars.

Formaggios is an upscale wine, cheese and everything else associated with wine and cheese shop. Its smallish perhaps 750 square feet. It is attractively laid out with the sundry part up front and the cheese in the back. It is also on the way to or from the great restaurants in the "new" South End. The cheese is very, very good. The service is even better. Case in point: The girl friend likes a cheese with a "barnyard" flavor, so we must have tried 6 before she acquiesced. The cheese steward can not have been more knowledgeable and accommodating. Its seldom that I have seen such great service. I can only hope that Yale can be that good

If I my childhood fantasy of being Godzilla ever came true, I would eat this store first. It would be the best Kaiju hors d'oeuvre ever. I'm going to give you another reason to love this place: they care about giving back to the community. A lot. Which honestly surprised me a bit, since like it or not this place is for the yuppies. The upper crust. The kind of people who are frightened by homeless people (you know who you are!). So it's even more amazing when they literally throw open their doors to a whole class of students of color from the Boston Public Schools who are doing a project on food in Boston. Not only do these students get free samples of many of the products Formaggio sells, but the employees took the whole morning to teach them all about their products and how they are made. There are not many businesses that would be so generous. End of story. As a cheese-mongre I could write endless treatises about why this place is probably the best thing ever. But that'll have to wait for an update that I may never write because I'm afraid of committment.

I went, I saw, I drooled... SEF is a small corner of heaven unassumingly hidden in a residential section of the South End. The selection of cheeses is as good as anything I've seen in the US, and they also have an interesting assortment of wines, spices, oils and other quality foodstuffs. On top of that, the staff is enthusiastic, friendly and helpful. Hands down my favourite store in Boston.

I walk in to South End Formaggio, and wander around stupefied looking at all the random stuff they have. It is overwhelming. So I ask for help, and the woman behind the counter who was obviously just about to take her break pauses to help me, and is very cheerful about it. I tell her my goal: spend $30, get delicious dinner for three. I try like five cheeses, am shown some of the best looking basil I've seen not on a plant, and am pointed towards their small but reasonably well-chosen pasta selection. I leave with three cupcakes, a demi-baguette, two fingers of two different cheeses I've never heard of, a can of tomatoes, pasta of a name I've never heard, and a salad of mesclun greens. OK, so I'm obviously not the best foodie in world, since I can't even remember the names for things. But my bill is $30.20, and I go home and make the pasta, turn those tomatoes into a sauce, and slice the baguette and cheese. The baguette is the best bread I've ever bought at a store. The tomatoes are vibrant and zesty. The cheese is even better than when I tasted it in the shop (at which point, I thought it was spectacular). The cupcakes are sublime. Even the regular old salad is good. I went in expecting some good cheese to put on Trader Joe's pasta and pre-made sauce, and I ended the day feeling like I know how European people eat. That is, really frickin' well. Dinner for three for $30? Not the cheapest in town, but a way better experience than I've ever had at Whole Paycheck.

Searching for the answer to cheese's great questions? South End Formaggio has your answers. I walked in with an idea of what I was looking for, but no idea what it was. I made my way to the cheese counter and began reading the labels stuck into the many stacks of cheese in the back of the store, but nothing was resonating with me. Seeing my distress, a cheese minder at the back of the store (yes, I'm going with the job title "cheese minder") asked if he could help. I described that I was looking for some cheese that I had no idea what it was, but it was hard, crumbled a bit when cut, had a sharp taste, and felt like it had little salt crystals dispersed throughout it. Without hesitation, he assured me he knew what I was looking for, and disappeared behind the mounds of cheese on the counter, only to reappear seconds later with a thin slice of cheese presented on a white piece of paper. I took one taste, and confirmed his genius. He found exactly what I had been looking for. A few other cheese selections and a baguette later, and I was out of the door with a perfect snack for two, at just under $20. Good cheese is worth paying for, and I won't say they're cheap here, but you can definitely get out the door without breaking the bank.

I know that anyone who considers himself a foodie--a term I wish would die, just like "new media" and "celebutard"--carries a picture of MFK Fisher in his wallet and routinely masturbates to "Consider the Oyster." But I will borrow her quote, if you'll allow: "Cheese has always been a food that both sophisticated and simple humans love." And that is damn true. Because I am both sophisticated and simple. Probably more of the latter. And I definitely feign the former. That's not the point. The point is cheese. South End Formaggio's got it. Many kinds, whole cases of the stuff. Goat, sheep, cow, and mixed. Soft and hard, runny and firm, as inoffensive or smelly as you'd like. They've also got a million other classy little things, including wine and chocolates and snacks. So many good things are packed into this tiny shop. Foods that fool my friends into believing I know what I'm talking about. And the staff has always been incredibly helpful/patient as I salivate like a junkie over the cheese case. South End Formaggio makes me feel like that scene in "Scarface" when Al Pacino shoves his entire face into a mountain of blow. Except for me, it's ash-rubbed goat cheese.

One word: delicious! Incredible selection- one that could upset you as you look at the wide range and wander what would be the best choice. They usually have cheese tasting in the mid section, so you can even stop by only for this. It will brighten your day. They have some quality wine there. So, don't forget to check out their limited but promising selection. If you are looking for real olives, crackers and etc. to accompany and cheese & wine gathering at home: definitely check out formaggio. One down side: If you stop by for sandwiches, you will be disappointed to see that they actually do not prepare them in the shop and therefore don't serve any of their special cheese. Quick note: it is a pricy place for cheese.

Since Formaggio is close to my office, I mostly stop in for lunch. They've got a selection of pre-made sandwiches everyday that they'll press for you. My usual is the Turkey Avocado- turkey, avocado and chipotle mayo on ciabatta (I have them remove the red onions). Small, but a perfect sandwich size for me and even better price at $5! There's usually some cheese samples which I have to try. If you're having a fancy-type party, this is the place to pick up the supplies for a lovely charcuterie. There are little cured sausages that are kinda sorta like a slim jim-type texture and I'll pick one of those up on the regular. Yum. Being a gourmet shop, be prepared to drop some cash. But everything you get here will be worth it!