Saxelby Cheesemongers

Worst Customer Service Ever. I was lucky enough to get an Animal Farm Butter into my cart at 3pm on 12/20/24. Upon entering my shipping and payment information and clicking submit I was notified the item was no longer available. Getting floor seats to a Taylor Swift concert was easier. Saxelby needs to figure out their website. This is horrible customer service. Called and spoke to two people and they offered me no assistance. Thanks for nothing!

the best grilled cheese sandwich I’ve had is located in the basement of Chelsea Market. tucked in a corner, Saxelby Cheesemongers is a small cheese shop serving artisan and farmstead cheeses from America, cured meats, tapenade, jams, some beers, and other dairy products. it is a very small, neatly arranged space. very clean and brightly lit. from open to 5 pm, a short menu of grilled cheese sandwiches is served at Saxelby’s. do not sleep on these sandwiches—especially the “Sal E Pepe” which i think might be best kept secret in grilled cheese sandwich circles! it is called the “Sal E Pepe” which is “Brooklyn Salvatore ricotta, honey, salt & pepper” served warm on delicious crunchy buttery toasted bread. the “Sal E Pepe” is literally spilling warm rich smooth ricotta as you bite into it, the sweetness of the honey punches up the flavor, and the hints of salt and pepper round out the flavors. this is what comfort food that elevates your day is all about. it is quite filling bc of the heavy dairy richness of the ricotta, and the sandwich is totally shareable between two. “Sal E Pepe” — $10.50 + tax—well worth the splurge in calories as It is a simple decadent grilled cheese that is simply delicious. sandwiches are wrapped to-go (no seats in this space) but there are plenty of interior and exterior seating options at Chelsea Market staff is quick & efficient. definitely hit them with your qs on cheddar and beyond.

Love that we have a local shop focused on cheese, but there was a really strange, condescending, and confrontational interaction with a staff member. Just trying to get some guidance on cheese!

Saxelby Cheese has the must scrumptious selection of American cheeses. I like to grab one of their yummy grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch on the High Line. Plus, I love it that when I buy from Saxelby, I'm supporting local farmers and cheese makers!

Loved The Chelsea grilled cheese sandwich so much that it didin’t make it to the photo. The staff was súper friendly! 10/10

Very helpful staff and enjoyable experience. They took their time to allow us to sample a few cheeses until we were sure which one we wanted. They definitely seem like they enjoy what the do and know their cheese!

So disappointed with my trip there today… I was eager to see if they had Harbison cheese which I had researched for a few weeks. I showed up and excitedly asked the female employee ‘are these all the same size? I’ve been looking for this cheese! Can’t believe you have it’ her response was a rude one ‘I can’t cut it and we close in five minutes’. I was shocked because I never asked her to cut anything - I just wanted to know if all the discs I saw were the same size yet she dismissed me without a thought. I really wanted to buy it but she left me disenchanted. There’s no way I’m paying $20 for 4oz of cheese and getting a snarky/rude/unnecessary response. I walked away without my cheese and knowing I will never go back.

Saxelby Cheese is the best cheese shop in NYC, hands down. If you love cheese, you will love Saxelby!

My partner wanted to get us some fancy cheese so we recently stopped in. Got .5lb Pepper Jack + .5lb Cayuga Blue + 1lb Moses Sleeper Brie! Super cute, well curated shop. Huge variety of easily visible cheeses all around the counter. They were beautifully displayed, though the signage could be written a bit more legibly. Fun accompaniments around the shop include: sodas/juices/probiotic drinks/beer, crackers, jams, savory spreads, salami, condiments, chocolates, pickles, and more. Everything you could want for a fabulous cheese board! They offer customizable cheese flight boxes and I saw a pic showing a menu for bunch of different grilled cheeses which I'll have to check out next time

Worst Customer Service Ever. I was lucky enough to get an Animal Farm Butter into my cart at 3pm on 12/20/24. Upon entering my shipping and payment information and clicking submit I was notified the item was no longer available. Getting floor seats to a Taylor Swift concert was easier. Saxelby needs to figure out their website. This is horrible customer service. Called and spoke to two people and they offered me no assistance. Thanks for nothing!

I love to visit here when strolling around Chelsea market. They offer a variety of grilled cheese sandwiches featuring their cheeses. Yum. I like to buy a few the small $3-$5 "samplers" of the showcased cheeses so I can try and experiment at home. I would recommend a visit.

Small store with a lot to offer. Wanted a premade three cheese sampler with crackers. Did not find that. Instead, the gal behind the counter said all cheeses minimum 1/4 pound order. So I just got one, a blue. She did let me sample it beforehand which was nice. It wasn't my favorite blue but it was pretty good.

It's fine the bread is good the cheese is alright. I was craving a grilled cheese and this was fine but not great. Tried the Sal e pepe

Artisanal Grilled Cheese. The $8.71 Classic grilled cheese is filled with very flavorful cheeses.

Cheese is delicious, but service is shockingly rude. Came in excited to get the "cheesemongers choice" cheese flight, was rudely interrupted by the monger when beginning to describe our preferences (which it says to do on the menu). Completely unprofessional and unfriendly young woman behind the counter, especially when approached by three people friendly and excited people. Was going to buy ingredients for a charcuterie board here but will be taking our business elsewhere.

This place definitely has a lot of cheese and mini jams to fulfill all your charcuterie board needs. It's conveniently located inside Chelsea Market on the lower level by the bathrooms. I tried their classic grilled cheese with McCadum Cheddar. The cheese was delicious, nice and salty. It's more goopy cheese kinda like what would be in fondue rather than stretchy processed cheese. I'm sure it would make for a great mac and cheese recipe. However, the bread ruined it. It was way too thick and not crisped up enough. It also lacked a lot of butter. It takes about to 10 min to make and they package it really well. It's burning hot when it comes out so not sure why it didn't crisp up. It costs $7.50. They have a couple other options to choose from as well!

Stopped by to grab a grilled cheese and went with The Chelsea (alpha tolman, marcona almond, fig and chili relish). Concept sounded great but it took forever to make it (there was just one poor guy running the place) and it was really hard, a bit overcooked I think. So 3.5 stars based on that, but obviously the main event here is the cheese selection, which I will be back for soon. Also, this place isn't closed, it just moved to the basement!

One of my favorite Chelsea Market stops! Would recommend splitting half a grilled cheese sandwich with a friend as they can be yummy but quite dense. I loved the Sal e Pepe with ricotta cheese and honey. It's sweet and salty and creamy. A fun variant on the traditional grilled cheese. Sandwiches can take a bit of time to make, so would also suggest putting in a order then checking out Heatonist, the hot sauce shop, next door.

Great assortment of cheese options in this small space. I'd say the prices are a bit high, but I'm uncertain of the going rate for these speciality cheese. They also have grilled cheese options!

Say cheese! This was a really cool cheese store but the staff not so friendly as I wanted to buy some of their special Vermont goat cheese but nobody offered to assist me. I don't think one should beg for help and sadly there was only one other patron in the store. Still thought it was a nice store...their loss on the sale.

Great place for a pit stop in Chelsea market to split something. This is more of a cheese shop but their grilled cheeses are buttery, crispy, and oh so melty! We got the Chelsea classic which is the most popular on the menu and we see why! The jam adds just enough to make this not your average grilled cheese you used to have in middle school.

If your are a cheesehead like myself visiting the Chelsea Market and stopping in Saxelby Cheesemongers is a must. I asked the VERY helpful and nice lady behind the counter to please pick an awesome blue cheese and slice me off @half pound. I don't know the name if it but it was $27.99 a pound. It melts in your mouth with an awesome blue flavor! I told her if I liked it I'll be back, well, I'll definitely be back!! Good selection of cheeses and the staff was very knowledgeable. I can't wait to make my salad tonight... hopefully there will be some left for it ;)

Tried a bit of my friends cheese sandwhich from here...all I have to say is that it was complete Heaven! This store is located on the bottom floor of the Chelsea Market next to Heatonist. I will have to try more of their food when I visit again!

Found this place in the Chelsea Market. Thought they'd have more grilled cheese options, but I went with their classic. The grilled cheese hit the spot. The workers there are nice too and were quick with making my food. Would stop by again.

Saxelby is so serious about the way it cares for and ships its cheese. Always perfection and the best selection. You could just ask them to send you some cheese, without specification, and you will love it and it will arrive in perfect condition. What a great shop for beautiful cheese.

Cheeeeese! So nice. So lovely. Such butter. Such large tastes. Such devoted turophiles. Such amazingly fresh chevre. Such spot-on recommendations. I love you.

I love local food. I love cheese. Saxelby Cheesemongers specializes in cheeses produced in the Northeastern United States. Win. Picked up some "Ploughman's Lunch" sammies to eat at the bar where we were watching World Cup: unbelievably fresh and crusty ciabatta bread, thick slices of sharp farmhouse cheddar, and a nice layer of gooey chutney. The woman working recommended their Raisin Haters chutney -- chock full of raisins -- because "even people who hate raisins love it!" I, however, have never met a raisin I liked and wasn't about to risk it. Husband, Moms, Pops got the Raisin Haters. I got the rhubarb. Paired with a nice, cold beer, this sandwich made a most enjoyable lunch.

We discovered Saxelby Cheesemongers while on "The Melting Pot" tour offered by The Enthusiastic Gourmet. While on the tour, we tasted many cheese samples and learned the history of the place. Saxelby's focuses on cheeses produced in the Northeastern US. The varieties of cheeses change throughout the year. All their cheese comes from small producers who farm sustainably. Luckily, we had a refrigerator in our hotel room. This meant that we could buy some cheese here and store it until it was time to go home. When we got to the store, they weren't busy. I asked them what they had available in mild cheeses. The recommendation was for a cheese called "Landaff" made from cow's milk. We were offered a sample and liked what we tasted. It reminded us of a mild cheddar but with a salty undertone. Sold! We bought a wedge that was almost 1/2 pound. Today I bought some crackers and can't wait to enjoy this cheese! I wish we lived nearby so that I could sample and buy a wider variety of cheeses!

Great selection of cheeses, good focus on New York State cheeses, very helpful people behind the counter also. Found a great Blue Cheese and some Truffle Honey down the row to pair with it. Also great location, right off the Delancey Exit from the Subway.

Great cheese shop with friendly super knowledgeable cheese experts. Small selection but very impressive nonetheless. The 34degree crackers are life changing!

Fantastic grilled cheese sandwich on delicious bread. Perfect lunch or snack on your cheat day!

Really good cheese here, I got the ricotta. Was cool, because this is made locally in brooklyn. The person at the front was really friendly and nice and I would definitely come back to try their grilled cheeses!!

What a fantastic place! Anne's passion for American artisan and farmstead cheese really shines through in this tiny little corner of the Essex St Market. America is going through an artisan cheese renaissance and there are a lot of original American cheeses to discover. It's no Kraft Singles; these cheeses win awards and are served in some of the best restaurants in the world. Anyone at Saxelby can guide you through it and give you a taste before you commit to purchase - as they do in every world class cheese counter. Unlike the big market Anne Saxelby actually knows the cheesemakers and selects the right wheels for her shop. She now ages them in their new cheese cellar in Brooklyn, so every piece of cheese here has lots of love and attention, passion and personal knowledge included in the price. If you are looking for European cheeses, a few steps away in this market is Formaggio Kitchen a great little shop that specializes in these finds. I often buy from both on the same shopping trip. I have never tried any of the Saxelby sandwiches though they look great. There are occasional cookies and baked goods that I like here though. I also purchase Evan's Farmhouse yogurts and milk here which I really like (cream-line! Non-homogenized! Organic, grass-fed and local, gently pasteurized. This isn't your generic supermarket variety...). The cheeses here are not cheap and no matter how much I shop here they still don't recognize me, but that aside, this is one of the best cheese shops for American artisan cheeses in the country (especially considering its miniscule size!) Besides, I must say that the work they do to spread the word about the rebirth of the American cheese movement is invaluable. Keep it up.

Small but powerful. Hard to find but easy to love. I bought a pound of butter that rocked my socks off as well as a cheddar that made my husband tear up.

OMG grilled cheese sandwiches for adults! I ordered the one with fig preserves in it and I almost died from deliciousness. I'm going back next time I'm in NYC.

I purchased a mini buratta at the shop in Essex Market and was really disappointed that it was no good- completely soured. I had to throw it ($12) in the trash :( When I emailed to let them know, it took days for them to get back- when they did-there was no effort to make up for it - barely an apology. Sorry Saxelby, I liked you- especially because I'm a neighbor- but I won't be a customer anymore...

I adore this little stand at the Essex Street Market. Anne is such an amazing cheesemonger- and always has such a wonderful selection and suggestions. She recently introduced me to Lazy Lady Farms' cheeses - and I've never been the same since! It's especially nice that they have fresh organic eggs and Sullivan Street Bakery breads... it's one stop gourmet shopping.

Specializing in only premier domestic cheeses (cheeses from US farms in Vermont, New York, Washington, etc.), Saxelby Cheesemongers is one of the best cheese shops that I am aware of in NYC. With its knowledgable staff who is always eager to help and to give you information on its inventory, this is the place to patron if you want individualized assistance with your decision-making. Anne Saxelby, proprietor, has never steered me wrong. Through her guidance, she has introduced me to various wonderful cheeses from Lazy Lady Farm, Jasper Hill Farm, Sally Jackson, etc. If you are ever in Essex Street Markets, swing by and sample something here. I'll be surprised if you don't like anything. Oh, and if you're lucky, definitely try "Raptured" or pasteurized cow's milk washed in brandy. It's the best! I bought a small piece of it home once for a dinner party and I am still getting calls from friends asking if I could possibly get more.

This review is for the Chelsea Market location, but I couldn't find a listing for them. They made me a really fantastic grilled cheese that absolutely made my afternoon. I tried the classic cheddar on grilled bread with fresh butter and it was absolutely amazing. They have a few different types of fancy grilled cheeses that I intend on trying. The people that work there are super nice too. A+

I used to think of Saxelby Cheesemongers as a place to pick up top quality local cheeses as a treat every now and then. But the place is more than that. Where else can I get grass fed butter sold in whatever quantity I'd like? Grass fed milk, cream and buttermilk? Check. Sullivan Street Bakery bread? Check. I'm starting to see this place as more of a necessity than an indulgence. But the indulgent stuff is still there. The super fresh locally produced chevre and ricotta are both terrifyingly good, as are most of the cheeses behind the glass counter. Find out for yourself: tastes are free!

I had been looking for the perfect place to get my cheese on for months, and I had read a few reviews about this place and figured it was worth my time for the trek. I have to admit that it was a little bit difficult to find; it's one of the many stands in Essex Market. After finding it, I was surprised that I had heard about it given the limited selection and small space. They have most cheeses that someone would ask for here, but if you're looking to compare different ages of the same style or looking for a very specific cheese or accompaniment for cheese, this is certainly not the best place. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, but that couldn't make up for the limited selection at this site. Others have commented that the location is a benefit because you can find spreads or other items in Essex to go with your cheese selection, but I think I'd rather have it all at one shop. The staff here were helpful and friendly, but that couldn't make up for the limited space and selection at this cheese shop. If I lived closer, I could see myself stopping by more frequently, but I think there are better cheese shops in the city.

I adore this little shop in Essex Street Market. The shop owner is so so so helpful and very sweet. Well, I am guessing she is the owner. My cheese intake is unsophisticated, so I was thrilled to try out some cheese samples. When I mentioned the types of cheeses I usually go for, the owner suggested Mountaineer 24.99/lb, so so so SPOT ON and delish. It was a semi hard cheese, something in between gouda and cheddar. Great and knowledgable service is so hard to come by. I recommend novice and experienced cheese eaters alike to consider checking out Saxelby's!

In the Chelsea Market, my friends and I saw a sign that said "Cheesemonger" and it was pointing downstairs. We heard of fishmongers but, cheesemongers was definitely a whole new story. We decided to venture downstairs and saw a beautiful cheese shop. My mouth was already watering before I had ordered my highlight of the day, a grilled cheese. The grilled cheese was buttery and had notes of butterscotch. I would definitely recommend the grilled cheese !

This is such an awesome little cheese store/stall. I stumbled upon it on my way to Shopsin's and was so glad that I did. The owner, Anne, and the other cheesemonger were both extremely helpful with my cheese selections. You can get a really great cheese for a reasonable price. I'm kind of tired of going to Bedford Cheese Shop or Dean & Deluca and paying a week's salary for a few wedges of cheese. Not here though - Saxelby has wonderful local cheeses (mostly from VT) and they are pretty much all affordable. They also sell butter and eggs and other pantry items plus bread from Sullivan Street Bakery. Awesome and awesomer.

Amazing grilled cheese with pawlet, spicy pickles and heritage ham - check it out, best grilled cheese i

I love this store. It's small but all the cheeses are so delicious! The nice lady behind the counter (is it Anne Saxelby? I don't know her name, but she's in the picture) is always extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Plus she will give you a little sample before you buy. I've taken her recommendation on cheeses a couple of times, and they've always been spot on. I'll go back, again and again, and will go well out of my way to visit. It's that good!

"American cheese" typically conjures up images of plastic wrapped individual slices of 'cheese product' - but Saxelby's proves this impression OH SO WRONG. American cheese (like American craft beer) is breaking the mold (sorry, couldn't resist) of stifled European traditional styles, while utilizing the knowledge and skills honed over the centuries by our friends across the sea. The result is an exciting array of new cheeses that demonstrate the distinct American terroir, while catering to an increasingly complex palette of customers who have ditched that processed crap into the bin where it belongs. Saxelby's offers a healthy variety even for such a cramped location. Somehow it doesn't FEEL cramped, although the counter can serve perhaps 2 people at a time, this guarantees you will receive individual attention from the experts manning (and womanning) it. They're so knowledgeable and friendly, you won't get the feeling of being "up-sold" like at a sleazy car dealership - instead, like any expert consultant, they actually seem to have YOUR best interests (eating GOOD cheese and pairing it with appropriate accompaniments) at heart. If that results in the purchase of an extra hunk of blue, or another jar of chutney - well good for them and good for YOU! I have yet to try their prepared foods, but my experience with purchasing cheese for my family's Thanksgiving was so enjoyable, I know I could spend hours picking their brains (and nomming on bits of cheese) except I wouldn't want to run the risk of becoming "that guy" - so like an early date, I'll slow my roll and try my best to play it cool. But you can see that longing glint in my eye, can't you Anne Saxelby? *creepy wink* Oh yeah, there's tons of other stores to visit while in Essex, and I bet every one of them has something that will play well with anything from Saxelby - even the Tuna.

Best. Cheese. Ever. Everything they have is fantastic The guy behind the counter was generous with the samples and helped us find a few cheeses that we liked. There were a ton of different options, and even though we knew nothing about cheeses he was able to walk us through a bunch of different options from the stinkiest of cheeses to ones that were more mild Definitely a good place to go if you're going to bring a food gift to a party or something

I was trying to find a particular type of cheese and emailed the store to inquire if they had it. After not hearing back for a couple of days, I decided to try calling to see if I could get a more immediate response. The employee who answered the phone barely let me say what it was I was looking for, interrupting me when I tried to tell her the brand, then harshly demanding what the type of cheese was while I was mid-sentence. I barely got the words out before she brusquely said 'We don't have it,' and hung up on me. Needless to say, I will not be patronizing this store for any present or future cheese purchases and would not recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good customer service experience.

After reading the reviews we decided to come here. We got lost because we didn't realize that it is a little store reside within a big Bldg of other stores... So quick tip for future Saxelby customers it's the plain building that could look like nothing from the outside and only has one entrance. Thank God we made it on time. Even though we have about 30 minutes, other venues were closing and packing stuff away.. Ariel was the lady who helped us find what we needed. She gave recommendations after Asking what types of cheese I like (Brie, Mozzarella, Muenster, Feta...) So she suggested Mosses Sleeper along with a sample... It was greAt so I asked for half a pound. I also wanted hard cheese and she suggested one that is popular among returning customers. Calbet Cloth and Chedder was a great sample.. So wha did I do...I also asked for half pound of that. I wanted to take more of both but it was like 100° outside with the humidity... Since we were traveling back to L.A. The next day I asked if it would be okay.. Ariel said it should be fine on the plane, there is AC, but I wouldn't recommend walking around town with it I your backpack. Ya, we were headed home and she was nice enough to double pack it. Oh and for anyone else who doesn't know, they do ship across the country. So yay, for me!!

Small cheese shop inside Essex Street Market. I really like the selection of cheese tha they have to offer, and I like that a decent amount of them are I'm New York State. Definitely shocked to see that they had cheese curds - once I figure out how to deep fry them in my tiny apartment I am totally picking up some of those! Only reason I didn't give 5 stars was that the guy working was very quiet and not that friendly. Beyond that, I really like this little place and I'm glad I finally stopped over. I got one of the types of goat cheese. It is super creamy and has an almost smoky flavor to it. With how much I really enjoyed it, I can't wait to try out some of the other cheese they carry!

My partner and I are BIG cheese fans. We'll even drive to Philly to visit DiBruno Brothers in the Italian Market. Saxelby is pound for pound the best in NYC! Sure you can go to Murray's and they have a great selection - but Saxelby's seems to only have an All-Star selection. Every piece you try is better than the last. And when I say "try" - whoever it is behind the counter when you go - they initiate the conversation - "Something you'd like to try?". Much appreciated - and the ultimate sales tool. Everything on offer is fresh (and the selection varies by season). If there is something you know you like and have enjoyed before - visit their website to see what's available. Or better yet - just stop in and try something new - you'll be glad you did!

Pricey but most of the time worth it :) They make great cheese sandwiches! I love the ones with jam. Great selection to bring to housewarming parties, summer bbqs, etc. I highly recommend this place.

I can't recommend Saxelby enough. Some friends and I recently threw a surprise tasting for my cheese fanatic girlfriend. Anne was super helpful and enthusiastic. She met with me to talk about set up, and what cheeses we would like to try. She set up a table in the area next to her shop for us to hold the event. The platter was beautiful and the cheese was delicious. My girlfriend was thrilled, and therefore so was I. I would absolutely recommend you try them.

Best Cheese Store Ever!! Not the broadest selection, but the American farmstead cheeses they have is fantastic. I can buy local without compromising on quality. They really know their cheeses - always make awesome recommendations for whatever I'm cooking - omelet, risotto, gougeres. I've been buying my cheese (fresh eggs too) here since I moved to the area 6 years ago. So sad they'll be closing :(

I wish I lived closer to Saxelby's. Place is great because it's the complete package when it comes to Artisan/Farm direct Local fare. You get amazing product, they are always getting somenew and running out, but in the great and Tasty process of selecting another cheese you are really expose to the intensity and depth of craftmanship that goes in to making your cheese. It is apparent that if it were not cheese the propreitor and staff would be rocket scientists, very well educated and very warm and open to public. Such a stark contrast yet compliment to their "neighbor" Shopsins. Which BTW if you ever find you self in a line and not willing to wait (at shopsins) - treat yourself and get a cheese sandwich. ( let them suggest something)

Devoted. This is a place for cheese nerds, for the curious, the hungry, the gluttonous, for pilgrims of cheese. Anne and her workers are so so friendly and patient, and you'll need to be the same. It is a small stand, and they really take their time helping customers, when it's your turn, you really get personalized attention and the assistance you need to find the cheese of your dreams.