Fromagerie Atwater

This is a place to come for when you are looking for a particular cheese and you just can’t find it elsewhere. Bulgarian feta cheese… got it. Burrata… got it. When you are looking for a cheese, they have a cheese dictionary to pull out. And if it gets beyond that, they call in the boss, who has the most amazing memory. Looking for cheese, this is the place.

A bit of a disclaimer, I can’t have dairy products so I’m only concerning myself with, and evaluating, the beer side of the situation.
My previous review had given the Fromagerie 4/​5, after my most recent experience, and after having gone there to check out the beer situation every Friday and/​or Saturday for the last few years, I’m increasing it to ⁵⁄₅.
On the beer side of the situation, the Fromagerie Atwater is in the top 3 for the city (the others being Peluso an Epicerie au Coin Duluth). The staff here is uniquely excellent and thats why, for bottle shops, it is really a two way fight between Peluso and Fromagerie.
Last night I posted a question of the facebook page asking a question about a beer.
Someone responded in FOUR FREAKING MINUTES. I am very, very grateful the bottle they kindly set aside for me.
You put up a lovely fight Peluso but Fromagerie Atwater wins.

This place smells really bad. Like, really really bad. Like there’s rotten cheese in there that hasn’t been cleaned up properly. My eyes hurt after leaving this store.

Great selection of high quality cheese, seafood, microbrews. Plus they sell cult yogurt, which is why I will be returning next time we’re here.

Isn’t it strange the reviews about this amazing cheese store are written predominantly by toursist? Fromagerie Atwater is a must visit when I’m in the area.
First of all I would enter the store only to sneak into the beer cave and look with adoration at the varieties of local beers. I would rarely buy something, but the choice of brews is so wonderful and sometimes they would have some of the seasonal hits bottled. Imagine how happy I was last fall to obtain two packs of pumpkin ale. You can’t miss the cave, but just in case, it is on your right next to the cashiers.
Most importantly, the cheese store has a little cheese tasting stand just next to the entrance. The cheeses that are offered are on promotion and I have recorded some impressive cheese finds of mine. Yesterday it was the 40 months aged Comté, last time local strong and amazingly smelly goat cheese. Every time there would be a surprise and I would end up buying something. They are guilty that some time ago I developed a taste for truffle cheeses. It is an expensive treat you can obtain in the bigger cave, the cheese one. You can’t miss this part of the store, it is at the underground level too. The guys behind the counter are super friendly and will be happy to find whatever you dream for.
Conclusion, Fromagerie Atwater offers a gorgeous selection of local and imported cheeses, dream store to explore!

It was a worthwhile destination on my recent trip to Montréal. We got a selection of Quebec cheeses for the plane. Atwater Market is of course a destination to see, but I’m endorsing the Fromagerie Atwater as well. It has stacks of cheese and there is a hustle and bustle between the patrons and knowledgeable staff.

This is the temple of cheeses in Montréal and a must when visiting Marche Atwater…
Filled with every possible combination of European and local cheeses including the outlawed whole milk verities, seasonal specialties, pickles, pates, craft beers and cured meats.
Service is exceptional and novice friendly with professionals more than willing to recommend combinations for your table.
PS: Remember those outlawed cheeses? Well they are not opposed to sealing a wedge without a label for travel… Just saying.

Voici ce que j’appelle le royaume du fromage à Montréal. L’endroit idéal pour faire de belles découvertes en fromages mais aussi en bières car on y tient une variété extraordinaire de produits locaux et d’importation. Le personnel est sympathique et toujours disponible même lors de grande affluence comme le samedi après-​midi. Pour déguster de bonnes bières né manquez pas l’Octoberfest du Marché Atwater !

My go to cheesemonger.
My go to Quebec beer store.
My go to stop for organic milk.
Impeccable service, knowledgeable staff, great variety.
La vie est belle au Fromagerie Atwater.

On né parle pas assez d’eux, et c’est dommage. Choix impressionnant de fromage, excellent service, un must

I love this store. They sell more than just cheese, but its the cheese that you come here for. Oh and the fresh meats downstairs. They carry a large variety of cheeses and often times have a sale 3 for $ 14 which is always the best way to sample cheeses that you may have never tried before, or just to buy your favorite cheese.
There were some samples of cheese and olive oil. I also found a date chutney that I have been looking for for a long time and it has the flavor that I am looking for! Woot!

Location: At the bottom of Atwater. You can access it easily as the shop is facing Atwater so you don’t have to go into the main market to curb your cheese fix.
Service: Good — I had two different people help me with my selections, one of whom insisted I tasted the cheese I already knew I was buying :) The staff is very knowledgeable and take the time to explain the differences between whatever cheeses you’re thinking of buying. They also happily make suggestions based on your preferences.
Selection: If you’re a cheese lover, you will be in fromage heaven — they have a HUGE selection of every possible cheese you can think of. Hard cheese, soft cheese, semi-​hard, semi-​soft, goat cheese, cheddar etc. — from a variety of regions. I think you can probably find what you’re looking for right here.
Price: To be honest, I hardly ever go to proper cheese shops to buy cheese, so I don’t really know what a ‘good’ price would be. I bought a Gruyère and a goat cheese for $ 30. I think this is decent given the size and quality of both my cheeses. The goat cheese was already packaged and $ 13. The Gruyère was cut for me, so cost will depend on how big or small you want your piece.
Verdict: This place is a definite hit for me!

How can you not give 5 stars to a place that has over 800 cheeses, québécois craft brews and all kinds of charcuterie. The staff was very friendly and helpful with explaining different cheeses as there are really too many to choose from in this place. We were looking for some funky, stinky cheeses, well 3 of us were at least, but the lone non stinky cheese lover in our group was not out of luck.
They had several people providing samples to taste so that all palates could be satisfied. They also have some fresh made in-​house ricotta that was a hit and went very well with some fresh berries that we bought at the Atwater Market. All in all, we bought 6 cheeses, some foie gras pâté and several craft beers to bring back to our hotel. We were staying in rooms with small kitchens, including fridges, so we could make all these good products last.
A definite place to stop for any cheese lover!

VIBE
Stinky. In a good way.
I ATE
We had a goat cheddar but I asked for a Canadian version of Château de Bourgnane (triple cream cheese) and got the quebecois Laliberte. These guys know what they’re talking about. I’m eating the whole thing as we speak!
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
If you are in the area, this is the place to get cheese.

It’s a perfect little cheese shop. Stinky, with helpful cheesemongers! Great if you know your cheese, or you’re just trying to deviate a little from your regulars. We had a delicious cheese on a plate at b&b and they sent us to Hamel, but we found Atwater first. The one we were looking for was the 14 Arpents and it’s an excellently pungent cheese, smooth and creamy.
There was also a small room full of microbrews that will just blow a visitor’s mind. So many beers I’m never going to see again! Also, they were tasting out some olive oils, which is just so smart. I dunno how people buy olive oil without tasting it. They’re soooo different.
Great place to get your Quebec cheese before to leave! Just be sure not to eat it all first like we did. Be sure to stop by the bakery and grab some fresh bread before you head out!

I visit Fromagerie Atwater at least once to twice a month and it’s a great experience every time; the staff is extremely helpful, always kind and smiling, and the cheese… oh, the cheese! It’s simply delicious. Besides cheese, they also carry some meat and vegan/​vegetarian products. Tip: try one of their goat cheese — to this day all the ones I’ve tried were marvellous!

Cheeeeeeeese! So much cheeeeeese! Gorgeous, mouthwatering, sodium-​filled, fatty French cheese! Seriously, this place is un-​brie-​dled (groooan, thanks dad) when it comes to the stink of the gods. It’s the kind of place that you smell the quality before you taste it, and with over 700 kinds (reportedly) and an emphasis on Québec artisanal rotten stuff, Fromagerie Atwater gets high marks in my books. And of course, what fromagerie would it be without some fine oils and cured meats and weird patés? Not much of one, that’s for damn sure. Good thing this particular place is hamtastic when it comes to the porky stuff (as they should be) — a one stop robin shop, as it were.
Sure, it’s in Atwater Market, a slightly touristy zone, but the wares are S’DAMN good that I can’t not love ‘em. For real, this place is the dairy, dairy best.
Also, strangely: beer, if you’re so inclined. So dairy much beer.
(Good grevé, who invited me to review?)

I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, we talked to a very helpful and friendly employee (in English, which did not seem to be a problem). On the other hand, both cheeses we were recommended, while good, were exceedingly mild to the point of dullness. I’m not sure if that really reflects their cheese selection or just our unlucky bad choices. I would give it another chance but if I didn’t get a good cheese next time, I’d give up! (Although I LOVED all the cheese samples they had — including a guy grilling some Mexican cheese! So delicious! So I guess I would always stop in.)

CHEESE LOVER IN PARADISE.
I went on Monday morning, so maybe that was just a good day to buy old cheese, but they had a special of 3 for $ 14, and you can mix-​and-​match, and then I found wrapped blocks of their local cheeses, which were in the $ 40−60/100g range, which were included in the deal. Anyway, I made out like a bandit: I got 5 cheeses (2 packages had 2 cheeses) for $ 14! if I were in NYC, I would have paid at least $ 50.
They have everything! This shop was better than Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market and better than Eataly or Chelsea Market in NYC, with a diversity of cheese and GOOD PRICES.
I wish I could go to Montréal every weekend just for this cheese shop.

While this shop is overall a must-​visit gourmand’s paradise – a little taste of Europe in North America, particularly for us Americans from just south of the border – I am writing this review primarily to direct beer lovers to the one place they should visit for a sampling of Québécois brews in Montréal. Definitive selection of Canadian, mostly local, beers, and most of them are not available (from what I’ve seen, which is a lot) in the US. Stock up. Most of the products are quite affordable, as the giant bottle craze seems not to have swept French Canada yet. Montréal is a beer drinking town, so most bars have great selections on tap, I should add. I had no idea the Québécois were producing *this* much craft beer, though!
Warning for Americans, you are only technically allowed to import 1L of alcohol into the US (per person). Not sure if beer is an exception, and though the border guards are unlikely to search your car, you may not want to risk it and drink most of your beer in your hotel room, as I did.

Stopped here on my way home from a trip Montréal and was beyond impressed. This is a MUST stop while in Montréal!
Went here to pick up some real cheese (ie Unpasteurized) as well as some of the more interesting varieties that are not typically available in the US.
So I went in a little bit concerned that my crappy french skills were going to be an issue in getting exactly what I wanted, but boy was I wrong. A guy approached me and asked me if I needed in French first, but he very quickly switched to English. I think at first he was like oh crap some stupid American is in my store. Then I started explaining what I wanted and he became beyond friendly.
He escorted me around the entire store (cheese and beer sections) explaining every last little thing. He gave me all kinds of amazing recommendations. I’m almost ready to move to Montréal just so I can go to this place on a regular basis. That is how good it is!
The funniest part was how he kept saying remember when you get to the border to say you have nothing to declare and if they stop you make sure you don’t mention anything about how the cheese is unpasteurized or I would get busted. He then said and if you get busted forget where you bought the cheese. It was classic.
The beer selection was also great as it had a lot of Québécois microbrews that are either impossible or very hard to get in the US. I bought a bunch of Dieu Du Ciel which I had never been able to find anywhere and then strangely saw it at Julios liquors like 2 weeks after I got back. The selection was seemingly every brew they make which was awesome as they are pretty out there when it comes to beer.

Amazing cheese selection! The staff is very knowledgable. I was feeling very overwhelmed but the person who helped me at the counter was great. He gave me samples and made suggestions on what I should buy. I highly recommend!