Sissle & Daughters Cheesemongers and Grocers (Cheese Shop of Portland)

The gentleman working there was so nice and very informative about the products there. I was curious about one of their cheeses - a sheep’s cheese - and asked if he had some of it to sample, and it was delicious. Bought some and brought it back home to share with the family

Oh man, I could rave about The Cheese Shop for days. It’s no surprise this place gets so much love — it’s easily one of Portland’s best spots. The team here knows their stuff. If you’re into cheese, this place is heaven. And even if cheese isn’t your thing, their selection of local and imported goodies, from oils and jams to wines and crackers, will still blow you away. We’ve tried a ton of their cheeses and have never been disappointed. Our latest find was “Shabby Shoes,” an amazingly rich goat cheese from Wisconsin. Seriously, 10/10. Their sandwiches are also next level. All made in-house; they’re the perfect lunch. Sitting outside, enjoying a sandwich, and people-watching in the summer is a must. What really makes them stand out, though, is the people. The staff, including the owners, are some of the friendliest people around. They truly care about the community, and every time we visit, we feel genuinely welcomed.

I'd like to take a minute to rave about what a delightful experience my friend and I had here this week. We stopped in here on a whim just to browse and see what they had. Several employees were involved in helping us get a diverse assortment of cheeses for our afternoon outing- but Jason in particular went above and beyond to ensure we were getting a wide variety of cheeses we would enjoy. We were also impressed with the amount of accoutrement to go with our cheese selections and happily got a baguette, crackers, specialty jam, Genoa salami, and a fantastic bottle of wine. I can't wait to come back the next time I am in Portland.

A decent selection of items (not as many options as Whole Foods). Great samples. Cheese mongers could’ve been more informative and engaging. A solid shop but with limitations. In all, nice to have shops like this around. More cheese the better!

A true gem in our city! I encourage you to walk into this shop, engage with the insanely friendly and wonderful staff, and let them curate a picnic/board/etc. for you. You won’t be disappointed. And don’t forget a fresh baguette or sandwich. And a chocolate treat.

What a gem for foodies! Catered selection of everything that is delicious, amazing sandwiches, nice staff, great cheeses. We came here looking for one specific product (through a referral online) and came out with a huge bag of deliciousness. They have great wines, conservas, Ranchi gordo beans, mustards, and much, much more for a fancy piknik.

My husband got the most delicious cheese and bread here on our vacation. They matched a cheese to some wine we had bought elsewhere. Had the cutest tables for sitting outside and gave us some water for our corgi!

First time in and I was impressed. The sandwich I had was excellent. I will go back to check out more of the menu plus the grocery items and of course the cheese.

A quaint cheese and charcuterie shop filled with a delicious selection of cheeses (try the Oma, which is like a slightly less creamy, more umami brie alternative), meats, spreads (hummus, tahini, jams), tinned fish, crackers and chips, and housemade treats, like their miso peanutbutter cookies. They also serve custom-made sandwiches and hold cheese making classes, too! Staff is friendly, the selection is stellar, the space is cute and jam-packed with flavor (literally), and it's in a great location on Wash Ave. Will most definitely be a regular!!

During my first proper visit to Portland back in 2021, I had discovered the Cheese Shop and was instantly hooked. I love cheese, and the combination of their selection, complements, and knowledgable staff made it one of the most enjoyable experiences of my trip. It goes without saying that I wanted to make another stop during my most recent trip, so after some lunch nearby I made my way to the shop to check it out. The setup of TCS is nothing fancy - it's pretty straight-to-the-point with what they have to offer. The main focal point (to me at least) is a large refrigerated showcase of cheeses - the selection is awesome and they offer samples if you're unsure of which to buy. In addition to the dairy, they also have a selection of dry goods that are cheese/charcuterie adjacent and can also be used to complement the cheese. I also noticed that they make sandwiches, though by the time I arrived they had finished making them for the day. Even though these are all strong assets that make TCS a worthwhile stop, I truly feel its the staff that are the real stars here. They are friendly, knowledgable, and passionate about what they do. Everyone I interacted with was eager to help and made great suggestions based on what I was in the mood for. I ended up purchasing a blue and softer, creamy cheese along with some crackers and house-made crostini; bring on the dairy and the bread because I'm going straight in. Overall, another excellent experience at The Cheese Shop of Portland. It's definitely worth a stop here if you're in the area.

We have been to a. Lot. Of cheese shops. And Cheese Shop of Portland is easily of one, if not our favorite out there. I WISH we had a cheese shop of the same caliber near us. I've visited Portland at 5-6 times, and this is always a must-go for us. Will and his team are the best around - so passionate about cheese, incredibly warm and excited to share their unrivaled cheese knowledge. The shop itself has a great selection of local products - perfect for a taste of Portland picnic or charcuterie board. So whether you're a seasoned cheese eater or a newbie, stop in and let their team open your eyes to the amazing world of cheeses. I always leave learning something new and finding a new favorite cheese.

Excellent selection of meats cheeses and specialty goods. Even when there was a national shortage of guanciale they helped us find some. We also get a panatone every holiday season. We don't go often but I wish we did.

LOVE it here! We have been to Portland what feels like hundreds of times and just discovered the Cheese Shop of Portland (and I wish we had known about it sooner!). Their staff is so kind and excited to help you browse their super impressive selection of cheese, meats, wines, and more. They have a small counter with baguette sandwiches that were too tempting to pass up on. I tried the vegetarian option (with goat cheese and jam) and it was one of the most incredible sandwiches I have ever had. I can't stop talking about it! We will definitely be back on our next trip to Portland, and you should make the stop too!

This place has everything you could want for a great charcuterie board, minus fresh fruit! The cheese and bread we bought here tasted amazing! The staff was so kind and lets you have samples so you know you'll love what you get. It's such a cute and beautiful place for hobbits and charcuterie lovers alike! Definitely check this place out!

UPDATE: As if the Cheese Shop wasn't already heaven, now there are *cheese classes*! I just went to "Cheese 101" on a Sunday evening--and while I already expected it to be fun, it ended up being essentially dinner (yes, cheese counts as a meal). There were around 15 of us cozily squeezed around tables and we each had a plate of 9 different cheeses, arranged thematically: Goatie Goodness, Feeling Sheepish, Alpine Showdown, and A Strong Finish. Each category came with a special garnish, all a cut above the usual: a fig jam made with Earl Grey tea (mmmmm), this insanely good honey that was somehow like butter, a green peppercorn mustard (I'm officially addicted now), and some dark chocolate. Plus, paired drinks with each, ranging from rose to pinot noir to a white wine and even an ale! Will (the shop owner) and Claire were our hosts and talked us through what we were tasting, plus cheese lore galore. Check their website or Instagram for upcoming classes: I highly recommend this a fun, convivial, and very very tasty experience. (Bonus: you get a 10% shopping discount for the evening, too.) Crossing fingers that cheese tours are in the future . . .

This place felt unreal, I loved walking around the store! They had cheese samples and I immediately bought the cheese offered, it was so delicious!

I feel like I need a whole week to recoup from the joy this place brought me. Amazing selection of cheeses and local snacks, perfectly organized and so well laid out. The cheeses have descriptions next to them, and the variety is incredible- something for everyone! I called ahead and ordered their sandwich special- mozzarella, white beans, sautéed greens on French bread- and it was UNREAL. like truly the best lunch I have had in years. The best part of this place is how kind everyone is- super friendly staff, happy to answer your cheese questions and just chat. Truly stellar. Run don't walk! This is one of the best businesses in Portland for sure.

First time in a cheese shop and I'm glad this is my first! The workers there were really helpful in suggesting cheeses after we selected an initial cheddar. He gave us samples of his suggestions while we were looking for snack cheeses. This is definitely a treat as two small (~1/4 pound wedges) and a small jar of jam ran us $25. Not an everyday thing for sure but this really opened up the world of cheese as I was not a huge fan (or so I thought) of cheese.

Excellent cheese selection and the fruit pastes are a delicious choice as well. Knowledgeable, friendly staff

I order a charcuterie platter from this store. I do not recommend it. I spent $220 for a very unexciting and fairly small platter. I honestly had very high hopes. I am sure the shop is great. The platters, however, are not very impressive, IMO.

I go there every time I go to Portland, hand them $200 and say, "take me on a ride." Each time I've walked away w new bottles that I am obsessed with, but never would have found, and the perfect accompaniments. If I could give them six stars I would. Literally my favorite wine shop in America.

Excellent variety of cheese, knowledgeable staff, good quality accoutrements and drinks. We went on a Friday afternoon, really nice day - bought a baguette and some soft pecorino Romano, olives and drinks. We ate out front on cafe table and chairs - really nice. Staff are all super friendly and helpful. Would recommend without reservation.

An incredible variety of cheeses and other items. Top level deliciousness! Staff had top notch service. Finding this shop was a delightful end to our trip to Portland!

How have I not written a review for the best cheese shop ever? My partner and I have bought cheese from Will and Mary at their Cheese Shop since they opened in the original location The cheese and meat selections are fantastic! We can ask for the type or flavor we are looking for and they always offer a spot on selection. They have a lot more than cheese at the shop. It's ALL great!

What can I say awesome staff, great product. I wish I got the young lady's name that helped me find SUSUCARU, YOU ROCK!! Drove all way from Dorchester in Boston and I'll definitely be back

Came by the teeny tiny shop to try some new cheeses and I was so impressed by the knowledgeable cheese mongers. I asked for a little sampler based on my preferences and they made up a few and let me try whatever I was interested in, including the dried meats. They also have a few grilled cheese sandwiches of the day and plan to add raclette which is Swiss-style melted cheese over hash browns. I'm hopeful for some tomato soup pairings with the sandwiches in the winter, mmmm... They also have an impressive array of imported foods from Europe like pasta, salts, sauces, balsamic vinegar and special butters, etc. Oh and they sell baguettes and farmers' loaves from a local bakery. I haven't had a chance to try those yet.

I stopped here on a Saturday afternoon to see what options this shop had for cheese after reading great things about the location. The space is small and they want to limit the number of folks inside, so we did have to wait in line for a little to get in, but it was worth it! They had so many cheese options and a lot of them were different and unique. We were able to get a 1/4 pound to snack on while we sat a brewery and enjoy some of the other snacks. Folks inside were friendly and the pricing was reasonable. I'd recommend a stop in!

This place is a cheese heaven! Owners and staff are super knowledgeable to the point that they can name a cow who gave milk for a particular cheese ;-) you get a great selection from the world's best cheeses and also get an opportunity to buy some flavorful additions for a great charcuterie board. You can also get some local foods (crackers, baked goods) there and drinks. Buy local!

On a very stormy Saturday, I headed to the Cheese Shop to load-up on Parlour Ice Cream and this amazing tahini they carry. On my way out I spied some ham sandwiches they had prepped behind the counter and thought I would give one a shot. For the record, I'm not a fan of ham sandwiches - however they seemed so simple and artfully wrapped, that the allure got the best of me. I dashed through the rain into my car - situated myself, and took a few bites before I took off on a long drive. (!!!) Perfection - absolute perfection. Perfect baguette - crusty, but not hard. Delicious ham. Excellent cheese. Lettuce & dijon mustard. My initial impulse, which I held back on, was to bolt out into the rain and dance in front of the windows of the shop, pointing to the sandwich. I'm hooked and have been obsessing about getting another one. Friendly, helpful folks - great vibe - excellent eats.

Will, the owner, is amazing. Kind people and great product. They really love cheese and it shows! The lines can get long during holidays and summer weekends, so arrive early and be ready to take a minute.

Lovely place to learn about and see a variety of cheeses! I came in asking for several recommendations and asked what kinds of cheeses are good for lactose intolerant people. The woman who helped us asked what kind of allergy was it, based on cow's milk or lactose itself. We learned quite a bit and left with about 4 cheeses for our charcuterie board!

I decided to hop over here to grab some sandwiches on my lunch break, saw rally good reviews and I love cheese. To be fair, this review is only for the sandwiches. The grilled cheeses way soggy and way too rich, too many different cheeses I think, almost inedible to me, and I love cheese. The ham & butter was a tasty combination, and I'd get that over the grilled cheese if I ever go back for sandwiches. The only other slightly disappointing part, was that the gal pressing the sandwiches finished pressing and prepping mine, but I had to wait about 15 minutes while she made some other sandwiches from scratch (they're usually prepped and just need to be pressed) before I was checked out. Not a huge deal, but it took half my lunch break when my sandwiches were ready to go and I was just waiting at the cash register. I will try again for the cheese, but not for a quick sandwich.

Oh my goodness!!! What a gem this shop is! My husband and I visited Portland to experience the ultimate foodie trip. Boy this place did not disappoint us for a second! We went to all the best places, Holy Donut, Tandem Coffee and Bakery, Central Provisions, Eventide, Bite of Maine, Miyake Sushi... the list goes on! Everyone in Maine was just so nice!!!- conscious of supporting local, being kind to the environment and just being nice to people in general! On our last day of the trip, we wanted to bring just a bit more of this warmth back to our home. Could we grab a handful of candies and lobster t-shirts? Yes, it was considered. We couldn't check in liquids due to to restrictions on our flight- so no jams or honey... BUT CHEESE!!!! We wanted local, and went on a whim seeing this place on Yelp. Do not be deterred by the little nook it is in. This tiny shop had an array of the most delicious local cheeses and cured meats. Also an extensive selection from abroad. The Tide Line Cow was recommended to us. Holy Moly! So creamy!!! We also purchased some City of Ships and slices of amazing Copa. Nutty and sweet! The best souvenirs we could ask for!!!! (Our flight was just a few hours, so it made it perfectly. The hard cheeses can last out longer). My only regret is that we did not pick up the delicious looking Baguette Sandwiches that were made using bread from the local bakery. My husband and I were amazed by the hospitality we received in this shop. Thank you so much for extending this Maine Magic back to our home!

I've found heaven! This adorable shop just opened and they have a beautiful selection of cheese, cured meats, pasta, spices and all sorts of other goodies that will make your charcuterie board dreams come true. Ask for samples of their unique cheeses and learn from the knowledgable and super friendly owners- Mary is wonderful! They also make incredible sandwiches to order- today I had the Alpine Classic grilled cheese. I highly suggest stopping by for lunch and picking up some extra treats for later.

It's a very elaborate shop. Everything is OK , But the burrata is very terrible! This has no cheese and tastes as cotton wadding! Why？

What a treat. The owners of this shop have lovingly curated such high quality offerings for cheese lovers and charcuterie enthusiasts. We had a great time sampling cheese and chatting about the different varieties offered. So pleased with the treats we took home. Will absolutely be back!!

Knowledgeable staff with a wide variety of local cheese, beers and wines! Prices are fair, quality is high.

This place is spectacular! The food here is an extremely high quality, the staff and friendly and super helpful. Will definitely be back on my next Portland trip!

Finding superb cheese in Portland Maine while not terribly difficult was not super easy either, but now it is so. Mary & WIll Sissle have just put the capstone to Portland's evolving food scene. Knowledgeable, friendly, and approachable, they bring a sophistication without pretense to exploring the wonderful world of cheese in all its variety and diversity. They know not to cut and wrap the cheese into little dried out cellophane-plasticized hunks before they are sold. A wonderful store full of tasty additions that please the palate, it is now our regular stop on Washington Ave.

Wonderful little cheese and gourmet shop. So many unique and flavorful cheeses as well as a grilled sandwich menu. The two employees/owners were extremely helpful and made wonderful recommendations. Definitely stop by this place when you're in the neighborhood or if you need some special fromage!

Not sure why I've never reviewed this place because it's so awesome. The owners are wonderful people, clearly care about their product and want you to find cheese you will love. I've had multiple cheese platters that they make per request and they are just works of art. In addition to the cheese, their sandwiches are great. I was inspired to write this review while enjoying a Parisian sandwich on the eastern prom. Also don't sleep on their beer selection. Man I'm hungry!

Your favorite cheese shop's favorite cheese shop. Stop by and see what the fuss is about, the quality speaks for itself.

Amazing, clean, knowledgeable owner...do not hesitate everything seems so good, bought a local n' duja kind of sausage made of Calabrian chili and booze really really nice. Don't forget to buy your tote...nice to carry your groceries

If I could give this more than 5 stars I would. I would give this place 100000000 stars if I could. The sandwiches are INSANE. My parents had the BLT and they said it was the best BLT they've ever had. I had the Farmers Sandwich, a vegetarian sandwich with cucumbers, pickled onions, feta cheese (which was the best feta cheese I've ever had), spring greens, and hummus. If you're a vegetarian this is an insanely good option. Not only that, but the bread was amazing. My boyfriend got the ham and butter sandwich and who knew such a simple sandwich could be so damn good. I also got the kale Caesar which was insanely fresh and the beans were cooked perfectly. Never mind that, but everything else they sold was incredibly unique and looked phenomenal. I could not recommend this place enough. GO HERE. A heaven is a place on Earth at The Cheese Shop.

What a delight!! I was shopping for a less expensive alternative to gueyere cheese and had seen this shop out of the corner of my eye. Feeling smart I assumed they knew their cheeses and I was exactly right. I also purchased a cookie that looks amazing and a sandwich that has incredible flavor and whose bread is amazing. Well done!!

Excellent selection with helpful owners who know their products. Funky neighborhood and additional stories nearby

This place is fantastic! The sandwiches are delicious, the selection is amazing, and the owners are so friendly and knowledgeable. I stop here whenever I'm in Portland.