Sonoma Cheese Factory

The ham and cheese croissant was exceptional. It was the best ham and cheese type croissant in my life and great value for money. There was a lot of meat inside and it had a very rich and smoky flavour. The cheese was melting and balanced the meat flavour well. The croissant itself was also made really well. It was a warm delight and I wish I had a chance to try it again. Definitely recommend! Overall the place is more like a deli store with some pastries, wine as well as cheese and other products

Great place with excellent selection for artisanal items that pair well with whatever wine you’re tasting in the area. Perfect place to start the day, take a lunch break, or finish adventures over a beer or plenty of other beverages.

Nice place for breakfast - we had the avocado toast and the brisket, it was super delicious. Its a good place to start before going on the winetastings!

I haven’t been here since 2014, and I’m so glad I returned! I absolutely love their cheese selection and enjoying a few glasses of wine while I nibble on the goodies I purchased. Such a fun place with knowledgeable staff and nice outdoor seating to enjoy wine and snacks.

We walked in expecting a quick "on the go" breakfast. Wow! We were blown away with the breakfast sandwich. My husband had the ham & cheese croissant (added bacon) and I had the ham, egg & cheese croissant. They were both delicious! And, the coffee was very good, as well. Will be back.

cute cheese shop with great selection to choose from! staff was super friendly :) had a famous brisket sandwich to go and they packed it well! so we could eat it in the park nearby. defenitely recomend :)

A homely sandwich and coffee spot. Had their brisket sandwich and thoroughly enjoyed their sandwich. Nice and juicy. Had their Cafe au Lait. Was on a milder side for its coffee. Smelled their coffee beans and liked their “Sonoma’s Best” and “Let’s Go Camping”

Cutie little spot with tons of cheeses, a cafe, and food/gift items. We were walking around Sonoma and saw this store so we peeked in. Ended up getting coffee but they have a huge variety of cheese (shocking)! There’s a restaurant next door, too.

Cheese, meats, wine, beer, crackers, tinned fish, jams, pickles...what doesn't this shop have?!?! Aside from everything you need to craft the perfect charcuterie board, they also have sandwiches, salads, and wine by the glass. The cheese selection isn't quite as grand as some other cheese shops I've been to in the Bay Area, and they weren't slinging cheese samples the way the others do, but they still have a great variety of products. If you have a food lover in your life, this is a great place to stop in for gifts! I wish I was crafting a charcuterie when we came here because I would've left with a lot of the store!

Phenomenal! This place has been here for a zillion years. It's now re-vamped and the quality is thru the roof; including the service. They use Della Fattoria bread which should tell you immediately abt the care and quality. I couldn't believe I was able to find a legit mortadella sandwich. Now let's get to the wine. I happened to get lucky and meet Jason the wine maker from Stereophonic - gorgeous vino. This is now my go to on the square for a casual, high quality amazing bite.

Their brisket was amazing and the staff behind the counter were knowledgeable and really helpful (especially Isaac).

I came here a couple times recently with my BFF to buy cheeses. Once just to buy for us to try at home and then my mom liked it so much she asked if I could pick more and do a plate for Thanksgiving, which I did. The cheese shop is located on the square and the staff we talked to were very knowledgeable about cheese, maybe save for the one young man who didn't seem familiar with the word "pungent" when I wanted to find a particularly stinky cheese without using the word "stinky" in a fine establishment such as this. The main downside is the price - a lot of the things here are too expensive. For the cheese... I mean, this is what you came here for, so I'd say go for it. But if you want the other things for your charcuterie board, it's probably best to get the nuts, dried fruits, jams or honey from another shop. I did buy some crisp breads here because they had a large selection including some gluten free. Second downside, there were flies in the shop, buzzing around the cheeses. I get that it's hard to control, but it's also a turn-off for me. I do appreciate that they had different cheese samples available on different days. And the baked lemon ricotta that tasted like eating a cheesecake was amazing.

Not sure if this place has evolved into something else, but I just didn't see/get what other reviewers got. I also thought that this was going to be more of a 'factory' visit, where you'll get a glimpse of actual production and/or be able to sample some of that down home ground zero goodness. But nope saw none of that. What I did see was a bougie market serving mostly cheeses from all over (think Whole Foods level), some cured meats and lots of shelves for bougie imported foods like tinned sandines from Spain, tomato sauce from Italy, grain mustard from Germany...you catch the drift. And when you see specialty foods like these, ya just know you're gonna have to drop some coin for these things. I also didn't see a place to order gourmet sandwiches, cuz like I said it was more retail store lookin' than sandwich counter. Unless you order through the cash register person up front, but that didn't seem that obvious to me. The few workers just seemed more geared for food retail versus food service. I did come home with some dry salami, a small wedge of some German bleu cheese which I had never heard of before and thought might as well be a learning lesson. The salami was nothing better than you could snag at Trader Joe's or even Grocery Outlet but this was also double the price as well. But I was at Downtown Sonoma, so just gotta accept/know that. The cheese was a big learning experience as I usually love most bleu cheeses out there from Stilton to Gorgonzola to Cambozola. But I think this one had some kind of greyish/blueish ash imbedded into it, and it just had this sharp almost numbing sensation once put into the mouth. The flavor was just fine, I just didn't care for the extra sensation. So lesson indeed learned. So, seems to be a decent outlet if you want to grab supplies for a picnic to bring to a winery or park in the area. But if you're the type who likes to pack things before travel, there's really not much here that you can't get in your hometown, for probably a bit less expensive to boot. You-do-you.

We stopped in for cheese and ended up getting their meat board to share and a Mortadella sandwich with pesto and burrata cheese and wine! What a fantastic meal-the chef Isaac came out and told us how everything was made-it was a wonderful experience! We will be stopping there every time we go to Sonoma!

What happened? This used to be the most amazing brisket. We would drive from Napa for a sandwich and order for family gatherings. We went to shop in the square today and planned lunch here. My sandwich was half fat and the seasonings are completely different. Apparently the shop is under new ownership.

Everyone that works here is helpful and nice. The bbq in the back is legit! The sandwich's are also super tasty.

nice enough but tbh i was last back in92 and boy how its changed. i used to go there all the time in the 80s. do go but as for me, its lost alot of what it was. but i do have memories. and be sure to go back and get some bbq .

Best deli in downtown Sonoma! My cousin and I split one of their sandwiches on special (I believe there was a meat, cheese, and a delicious pesto) before our wine tasting reservation. Soooo good. They also give out free samples of their cheeses. Great unique selection. If you're in town, it's a great place to stock up on charcuterie board makings! Service was good once we figured out where to place our order for the deli (only one of their cash registers was open at the time). Staff are friendly and are very knowledgeable. The place is more of a specialty food store rather than a restaurant, so it's very casual. Seems like a cute mom and pop place. There's counter seating facing the street (good for people watching) and some outdoor tables. Will definitely be back next time I'm in town.

The Team are amazing. I mean above and beyond. From a tasting, to something to eat. They are so kind and welcoming. The food is a show stopper! The flavors are intense and wonderful. The sauces! The meats, cheeses, beer, wine, all were my new favorite of the area! I mean all 3 Counties!

I was not expecting to find good brisket in sonoma, well that all change. the brisket is soft and juicy, well season I will be coming back to try other stuff in their menu.

It is so amazing all the fun cheeses. The spread is amazing! We bought a delicious deli sandwich and had a picnic on the grass in the square. It was only missing the friendly staff to greet you with a smile.

Great cheese selection in Sonoma! We came here after a bomb breakfast at Sunflower Caffe nearby. Definitely take your time in this store, ask any questions you may have and staff is more than happy and very knowledgeable about their cheeses. Try any sample they are offering because it may become your new favorite cheese! We picked up some Truffle Manchego, Mimolette, and a bag of Jamon Iberico Potato Chips from Spain. Definitely check it out if you're in Sonoma Wine Country! ALOHA!!! SHAKA METER: \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ \uuu/ 4

I am VERY disappointed!! I drove all the way from Santa Rosa because they have my favorite Pepper Jack Cheese and they are closed!!! It says they are supposed to be open until 5pm and it's only 4:15pm. I just wasted gas because their website is inaccurate. I haven't been here since before Covid. I'm so disappointed!!!!

Best brisket I've ever had!!! Literally melts in your mouth. Got a brisket and a tri tip sando ( also very good). Most varieties of cheese I've ever seen. Great staff, super friendly and helpful.

Cheese, cheese and some more cheese. This place had lots of other items besides cheese. There were pre made charcuterie plates. sandwiches and Lots of other foods.

Love the brisket sandwich! It was so so good. We got there at 2 pm so we got the food fairly quickly. It was $18 so definitely not bad considering the area. They gave a good amount of meat, it was juicy, and the pickled onions and pickles were the perfect complement to the fatty brisket. 5/5 recommend. Also got a couple of cheeses- all delicious. If you like a hard cheese, highly recommend the OG Gouda and for a Brie soft cheese get the Brilliant XXX Cream Cow.

The new BBQ place... the Butcherman ! Seriously the best BBQ west of Kansas City and St. Louis!!! Put away your thoughts on BBQ from those areas. Because they do it their way. Which is awesome... but open your mind to this fusion BBQ offering the qualities of Mexico and California meeting together at your grandmother's house where you are welcomed home with a delicious meal! The brisket is melt in your mouth with a pickle relish that you want to live in and eat by the bowl full in a corner. The turkey sandwich...um can we have this every Thanksgiving and thereafter?! Try the sauces and just savor the flavors and remember a simple time. The Butcherman cares about the meat, the flavors and presentation. Stop in and say hi Amazing staff and great experience. Thank You

An part of the history of the Sonoma community As of February of 2021, Sonoma Cheese Factory has been a part of Sonoma for 90 years. It was founded by Celso Viviani in 1931 and was owned and operated by Viviani family until it was sold to Sonoma's Best Hospitality Group on August 4, 2020. It was closed for awhile for different reasons including the pandemic, until it reopened in limited capacity. The building is located across the street from the northern end of historic Sonoma Plaza on the former site of the home of Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo which was built in 1835. The who that was called Casa Grande (Big House) burned down in 1867. The existing building was constructed in 1945 and included areas for offices, retail sales and cheese production. The Sonoma Cheese Factory, initially, produced Italian-style hard cheeses and fresh cheeses. Eventually, they shifted towards semi-hard cheeses. They were the first cheese company in California to make a pepper Jack cheese with jalapeño and chili flakes. Today, they produce a variety of Jack cheeses including chipotle, garlic, pesto, habañero, smoked and lavender. Sonoma Cheese Factory won a gold and a bronze medal for their Sonoma Garlic Jack in the 1987 United States Championship Cheese Contest. That was a first for California cheesemakers. To read more about the history of the Sonoma Cheese Factory go to: https://tinyurl.com/55f7s9ev To read more about the new owners go to: https://tinyurl.com/jy8j2v8

Outstanding turkey sandwich and great service. I was in a hurry and they made it work.

Amazing selection of cheeses, super cute trinkets and home goods (gifts too), good bottles of wine at a very attainable price point, and friendly staff. James is awesome!! The sandwiches are amazing, can't go wrong with any of them. Good portion too. Walk across the street to the park and enjoy your sandwich and/or cheese plate in between wine tastings!

The brisket sandwich is the MOISTEST, MOST TENDER, DELICIOUS brisket we've ever had!!! Service was fast and friendly. Better than any Texas brisket we've tried.

This was out first cheese tasting and Nicole and her team made us feel welcome. The cheese selection is out of this world. We picked out several cheeses, crackers, and meats and made our own fresh charcuterie board. They have a back room where you can eat and drink if you want. One the employees walked up to us and put all of our purchases on a board and added some olives, apricots, and almonds. What we love about visiting small businesses is the welcoming employees that make an extra effort to make it a memorable experience. Thank you for your wonderful service!

Best sandwich in ever! The service really surprised me for dining in - everyone was so kind and helpful!!!! I had an Italian sandwich. The guys had a tri tip and brisket - they loved it ! I thought the tri tip was sooo good! Can't wait to come back!!!

Their selection of cheeses is reasonable given the location - nothing special. When I asked about a sharp cheese, I was given an option that (upon purchase) actually wasn't that sharp. Seems like they don't really know their cheeses. More importantly, I was shocked by the attitude of one of the senior people working at the shop. When I asked about what the options are for coffee/lattes, he spoke to me like I was an idiot and said "Lattes? Coffee? We obviously don't have that here." Oh, interesting....then why do you have "Espresso Bar" and "Coffee" advertised on the front of your store? Moron.

Went in and got bbq from the butcher guys and was absolutely delicious. Got the chefs plate which included turkey, jalapeño cheddar sausage, brisket and tri tip. Some of the best brisket I've ever had, and the jalapeño cheddar sausage literally made my mouth water as I ate it. Talked with the guys for a while and told us the story about how they started and we're extremely kind and informational. I would highly recommend anything on this menu.

We had the most amazing cake made of cheese for our wedding. Jim is genius and our guests were simply amazed. Thank you!

No trip to Sonoma is complete without a visit to the cheese factory. You can actually see it all made right in front of you. My folks took me here many years ago when they first moved to Napa. I can still remember how fascinated I was with watching them creating this wonderful cheese. And then comes the tasting. It was so good. We bought some sandwiches for lunch there also. They were delicious.

Wow this place has gone downhill since my 2013 trip here! This place used to be huge, lively and full of inventory. What happened? Now it's like just a few displays of cheese, meat and wine. The rest of the building now appears to be either empty or storage space. We walked around and then just left to eat somewhere else. Save your time and go elsewhere.

Sonoma cheese factory saved my friend and I while in Sonoma. We didn't have reservations anywhere for lunch and only a small window of time to get lunch. Everywhere was full, but we were able to get sandwiches here. The sandwiches were... sandwiches. I was grateful to have something to eat, but I'd make advanced reservations at a restaurant in the future.

The brisket here is insanely good and the service is great. Isaac was very knowledgeable and friendly and we can't wait to visit again.

This is for the BBQ spot next to/in back of the Cheese Factory, the Butcherman - WOW!!! So so good. A must try! We Got the pulled pork with slaw, the sauce it comes with is like nothing else I've had at a BBQ spot, and we also got the brisket- truly amazing. Thrilled to have a legit BBQ spot in town and will absolutely be back soon.

Good vibes and great cheese. We came here to linger before a dinner reservation and walked out with so much cheese (recommend the truffle gouda) and charcuterie (amazing coppa). The people working there were really helpful and enthusiastic about their products. I didn't try a sandwich so can't comment on their quality but this is a fun place to try high quality cheese and meats.

We had been told Sonoma cheese factory had shut down and went there yesterday only to be delighted by the fact that they are still open. Yes, they have a more truncated menu due to supply chain issues, but you can still do make it yourself sandwiches. They have an amazing selection of meats and cheeses and a lot of other fun things to try like fig jams and olives. They also have all the drinks you could possibly want for a picnic, wine, soda, fruit drinks and chips of course. So I have to tell you both sandwiches we had were outstanding. The staff were friendly and warm, fast and efficient and I recommend everybody support this local business

Their cheese is always good so five stars for that, but we went last weekend for sandwiches and they no longer make them, so 0 stars for everything besides cheese. We were really disappointed since that is the reason for our trip from Napa. It looked like they might be only selling cheese from now on. The refrigerated items were gone and the back of the store was closed. I understand there are new owners so probably the reason for the change. We had great pizza and sandwiches at Mary's next door so not a total waste of a day trip.

The Sonoma Cheese Factory is open again! They opened in September of 2020. I went in needing specific cheeses for a wine tasting /pairing fundraising zoom event and the two gentlemen behind the counter were very helpful. I will definitely return, especially when we want to have a picnic in the Sonoma town square directly across the street.

Men calling female customers "dear" in 2022 is insane to me. Don't greet your customers this way or else they will not be customers. I used to love this store but things have definitely changed. The store is nothing special anymore. I went around the corner to Vella Cheese Co and found everything I needed.

Went to pick up a charcuterie board, it was fab. Parking in Sonoma is the worst, but we were able to figure things out. All around, lovely drive there, great food. Worth it.

If you are a fan of jack cheese you will want to come here. The Sonoma Cheese factory has been in business forever, or at least from 1945 when the current building was constructed on the site of the 1835 home of Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo. Sonoma is a nice day trip and the Cheese Factory is part of the Sonoma Square experience. I've been here many times and over the years it seems to have changed from a cheese store to a tourist designation. Nevertheless, I almost always stop when I am in Sonoma. They have a wide assortment of jack cheeses to taste and it appears they have a few other kinds of cheese that I did not see samples for those. I ended up purchasing 3 wedges to take advantage of the buy three discounts: chipotle, garlic, and pesto. The cheese is nothing out of the ordinary, but the wide selection of different jacks is worth a stop. There are also wine tastings, gourmet foods, a deli, a gelato station and a bunch of wine counrty stuff that tourist think they need to take home. The chance to sit outside, between the buildings and enjoy hustle and bustle of this delightful town is fun. I sort of enjoy the tourist vibe; it is like being on vacation and only a short drive from home.

Always a charming stop in Downtown Sonoma - as the name implies, they sell various types of cheese and have samples to try. My personal favorite is the garlic cheddar. They stock everything you need for a wine and cheese picnic, which is perfect since the park across the store is one of the few parks that allows public drinking. My group of 6 each bought a Groupon for 2-for-1 wine and cheese tasting ($16 for 2 pairings) - SO WORTH IT! Especially when I'm used to paying like $20 a cheese platter on top of the $25 wine tasting. The experience is super casual - they give you a tray of 4 different cheeses with some dried fruits, nuts, and crackers. For each wine tasting, you just head up to the counter when you're ready for your next pour... so you can go at your own pace while chilling with friends. The wine tasting itself is just alright - we sampled wines were from Chateau St. Michele and Benziger (which we had visited earlier that day) which were pretty good. I liked that they were generous with the pours, and the staff was super nice. The cheeses were great! I only wish they could have provided more crackers on the tray for eating with cheese. Best part was that we got to keep our wine glasses - made for a nice souvenir from Sonoma!

They use to make their own cheese but not now. They have very tasty cheese samples , gourmet goods, wine, and specialty meats, nuts, and candy. Lots of gift items. It's a large open shop with plenty of help. Beautifully situated in downtown Sonoma.

A little touristy and pricey but good for your outdoor-dining needs. I appreciated the cheese samples, which led me to a delicious lavender cheese. There's a modest olive bar if you're looking for a compliment to the wine and cheese you're obviously consuming. It took a little bit longer to check out than I expected, but I later discovered there was a faster checkout line in the back, which included people not buying pre-made dishes. Good spot for some travel souvenirs, too.

Totally not like the good ole days. I had such fond memories of this place. I've Visit the establishment many times as a child, teen, adult with my family - and it's always been a fun experience with fresh made, tasty deli sandwiches. I hadn't been in probably 7 years but recently got the urge. I checked the website which says they're open (until 5pm) and even read reviews about their delicious sandwiches. We arrived around 4:15 and I was told they aren't making sandwiches any more. Oh no, I've traveled so far to have one made also the website says your open until 5. Was then informed that it's not their website, and they don't know how to take it down - he then said there's sandwiches in the Cooler. There, I saw 3 pre packaged, old looking sandwiches. Very dissatisfied with their lack of service and empathy. And Actually i don't think the time of day had anything to do with it- (other than him being rushy while speaking, as he continued cleaning & the closing up process- rather than stop, make eye contact and talk to me instead of AT me- rude!) I believe they just don't serve fresh made sandwiches anymore. I let him know I was disappointed and would be sure to Yelp them - his reply was "thank you". On top of everything- he made time to be sarcastic. Wow. Smh.

When we stopped by there were only a few cheeses to sample (pre-cut and sitting there for who knows how long), including a Garlic Jack, Hot Pepper Jack and Cheddar. Cheeses were ok, but recommend skipping this place and heading less than half a mile away to Vella Cheese Co for better cheese variety and friendly service. This place is more like a mini mart with a small selection of cheer, wine and the like. No one around to help either.

Just a shell of its former self. It used to have a large variety of food and souvenirs. The sign outside said it had beer and wine, but they did not. I found out that they had thought they could use there license from other places (e.g. Sonoma's Best Deli) so actually sold wine and beer illegally. So, they had to stop and apply for a new license. I went in to buy some healthy snack, such as nuts or fruit, but only had a bunch of sugar or fatty snacks, beside their cheese. The cheese used to be made on site, but that stopped years ago. I think it is made in the East Bay now. The cheese is not that good anyway. Much better to go to Vella Cheese Company a couple of blocks away.

This place has still not found it's way back. It's in desperate need of a revival. Please restore it to something with a soul, vibe & energy. A deli, coffee, wine & beer, gelato, locally made gift items & CHEESE! Lot's of amazing cheese!

Here's what. The Sonoma Cheese Factory has the not-so-delightful job of catering to spoiled, drunk city-folk just back from a day of wine tasting who expect to be taken care of NOW RIGHT NOW!! (See: one-star reviews.) Listen, y'all, sometimes you just have to wait in line. And sometimes your chicken sandwich isn't perfect. I know, life's hard. Sob! The Sonoma Cheese Factory is a blessing in this little town courtyard - you can order delicious sandwiches and burgers to go, which is perfect if you're on your way to a vineyard or want to picnic in the park across the street. It isn't cheap (yello, you're in downtown Sonoma) so sandwiches will run you around $9-12. I actually think they're worth it. Exhibit A: a giant turkey, cheddar, tomato and arugula sandwich on soft rye with garlic aioli...? YES PLEASE!! They also have cold ice tea, juice, beer, wine, a huge cheese selection, cured meats, chocolate, and other fancy delicacies. If you're a little patient and not too demanding, you're in luck.

This family business has been sold to Sonoma's Best Hospitality Group, a group of companies owned by real estate investors and developer. The place has lost its vibe and cheer, but added a huge selection of cheeses. Not all of them the same quality and freshness. We bought two without tasting (unavailable). The Shropshire Blue at $29 lb was very salty and practically inedible -- despite being assured of a smooth cheddar finish. Taleggio was stale. The washed rind was soggy and the piece appeared to have spent too much time in cellophane. People behind the counter were not particularly knowledgeable or helpful.