Country Cheese

CAREFUL! DO NOT ORDER HAND MADE SANDWICHES HERE UNLESS YOU WATCH THEM BEING MADE AND YOU ARE SURE BASIC HEALTH LAWS AND COMMON SENSE ARE BEING PRACTICED!
More on that in a few. I like this place, yes the woman who works the registrar is rude by my standards. Perhaps gruff is a better term. I go here often, order a sandwich and while it is being made shop around for some interesting items that they have. Probably once or twice a week. Today I was only interested in a sandwich and ordered an egg salad sandwich. The sandwich artist finished the previous sandwich he was making with gloves on. Reached down to the handle of the fridge, opened it with the same gloves. Walked over to the sink and picked up a sponge and rinsed out some old egg salad from a container to make mine. He used the sponge and soap and decided to leave the container in the sink. I presume he changed his mind. He put the sponge down and with the gloves now covered it the dirty dish water proceeded over to make my sandwich. To my horror he proceeded without changing his gloves. I immediately and politely asked if he could change his gloves before making my sandwich as they had been contaminated in so many ways, he replied «I just washed my hands». He was not going to change his gloves. Taken aback and throwing up slightly in my mouth (exaggerating here to try and make the point of how repulsed I felt.). I told him to skip it and felt I should let the owner know of this less than safe, legal food preparation. The woman at the counter turns out to be the owner’s mother. I did not want to disrespect her but I had to repeat no less than ten times could I have the phone number to contact the owner. After every discouraging, evasive, impolite manner she could muster she pulled a card from the drawer. I thanked her and put my hand out as she tossed the card on the counter in contempt. I clearly had no business asking to contact the owner to bring this to his attention is the message I understood clearly.
In fairness, I was able to speak to Pete the owner by phone who very patiently listened to my complaint and concerns. When I mentioned the treatment by his mother towards me he was understandably a bit defensive. Fair enough. He took my call and listened to my concerns. I give this place a one star for the customer service and deli hygiene. I hope this brings about a change. I will not go back as it is one of those events that just turns one off to say the least. Watch like a hawk if you get a sandwich made there. I hope they correct it.

Thoroughly lacking in customer service. The couple at the front barely make eye contact and couldn’t be bothered to crack a smile. They look miserable. The cappuccino I received was watery and tasted awful. The biscotti was hardly edible. I had one sip and one bite and threw it away. I would have returned it had I not been on a short lunch break. The selection of products is impressive but not enough for me to return. Great concept wrong owners.

I have been a faithful fan for years. I go for the delicious sandwiches, cheeses and gourmet items and always look forward to seeing Mom at the front. She has never been grumpy to me.
This lady can knit/​crochet, make incredible spring rolls and a mean Vietnamese coffee.
Sometimes a language barrier can make people appear standoffish.
I always leave there feeling happy and excited about my purchases.
Check it out, browse the isles and try some new things. Ask questions, they are knowledgeable about what they sell.
I was born and raised in Berkeley. When I moved to San Francisco and later Sacramento, I would find my way to Country Cheese at least twice a month to stock up on goodies. Always worth the drive.
Now I am back in Berkeley and I can’t get enough of Country Cheese stuff.

I wanted to love this small cute shop and coffee roaster, but walked out with a bar of badly bloomed Theo chocolate and a block of gouda with green mold and other nastiness on it. I am hoping the coffee doesn’t have such major flaws, but given that it doesn’t have a «roasted on» date on the bag, who knows. I’d return this stuff but I’m 80 miles out of town already. Pictures of the cheese, chocolate, and a receipt from today will be added.

OMG I’m in LOVE! My colleague brought me here and the sandwiches are amazing! I had to keep myself from not eating the whole thing which I was about to do. Low key place and the sandwiches are all the way in the back for the store. Bread is amazing and I’m a total bread snob. Forget the lines at Genoa’s and come here. YUM! When can I go back?!

The store is nice with many specialty items and a good selection of cheese. However, if you do not go here immediately and buy mom’s homemade spring rolls she keeps in cellophane next to the register, you are missing out on a real Berkeley gem. I have never tasted their like!

Country Cheese isn’t just cheese, there’s gourmet foods, gourmet sods, a deli dispensing sammie. a latin american bag of chips @2, (jose .?)
brew: Roxakout coffee (m. 2)
–panama origin, probably organic
–smooth, medium roast.
–distributed by country cheese.
drips:
–store is jammed with gourmet goodies, didn’t check pricing
–fast service once i found out how to get into the line…
either do a walkaround of food columns or cut in at the rear at the counter.

Country cheese is my go-​to spot for delicious deli sandwiches, healthy snacks, and fancy sodas. The employees are friendly and the selection is great.

Mama up front isn’t «grumpy,» she’s just old country and moves at her own pace. I always give her a smile and she gives me a smile back (and tries to sell me some of her handmade spring rolls). So chillax folks– you’re all slow foodies, right, so what’s the hurry? ;)

Finally dropped in to get some lunch here last week. I was really craving a sandwich. I always saw their signs for sandwiches but I never really thought much. Well i underestimated.
You walk in, walk towards the back and there’s basically a sandwich station. A person behind a counter waiting to make you a good sandwich. Tons of options, from all sorts of deli meats, breads, and of course, cheeses. Ordered mindlessly through hunger and chose the first things my eyes gazed on the board– pastrami, on rye, with everything. Within a few mins, i got a loaded sandwich with a few inches thick of hot pastrami, delicious rye bread. I think I’ll get a lil less of everything however next time, I didn’t realize how big it’d pile up. Wrapped in that classic white deli paper like a small baby, I walked it over to the counter and couldn’t help but to add a drip coffee to the order. Good coffee. I was buzzing all afternoon.
It’s also mainly a market full of varietal cheese, bulk goods, and fine pantry foods. If they ever make that parking lot into an outdoor patio space, that’d be a fine idea…

I love this place. Great sandwiches and excellent cheeses. I am taking off a star for the fact that they actually sold me a jar — three jars actually — of pickles, they scratched off the expiration date, which I didn’t notice at the time of purchase. The pickles, my favorites, from Brooklyn, are usually $ 10 a jar. These were on sale for $ 3.99. When I opened a jar, and tasted a pickle, it was gross. Just way off. The flavor and texture had left it. Then I went to loom for the expiration date, and it had been scratched off. I didn’t know pickles could expire, but they surely can. I tried the other jars, but they were the same. I ended up throwing out all three jars. I am pretty sure it’s illegal to do what they did… now, when I go in there, I tread lightly and look out for shady practices. Their sandwiches are money though.

The people there are so nice. I go every few weeks mostly just for the bulk grains, beans and tea.
I also get almost all of my spices there — the prices are great and it is all so much fresher than most other places.

Local gem for bulk tea! Their hopkins location is a lot cleaner and better layed out. Still a great store though!

Local Gem.
Local ice cream. Large selection of quality chocolate. This store has everything a gourmet junkie or foodie needs for a good party. I don’t eat much cheese… I know. I get so many looks because of this, but I’m lactose intolerant. Regardless, I love this store, and will come here again when I get the opportunity.
Country cheese is also across the street from Mi Tierra Foods — a fantastic Mexican food store. If you can’t find it in Mi Tierra, it will be in Country Cheese and vice versa.
Place is a bit pricey, but you pay for quality.

I come here on lunch all the time. I love the sandwiches and food, the people who work the back are awesome, seriously they hook it up with the sandwiches, and usually everyone seems pretty friendly. The guy who runs the place is cool and usually cracks some jokes.
The pulled pork sandwich is A+ and so are most the other ones. Thanks for being a reasonably priced sandwich shop! Also they have great Ritter chocolate there! Yum!

I was in the area and wanted to grab a coffee and was about to head over to Local 123 until my friend told me about the drinks at Country Cheese. At first I was skeptical, but then I noticed that they roast their own coffees so I gave it a try. I ended up ordering the Hong Kong Café. It was my first time having a drink like that. I compare it to a sweeter milk tea that is served warm. I also browsed around the store and saw a bunch of rice, grains, cheeses, and meats. They have a full coffee bar in front and a sandwich deli in the back. I’d definitely come back here to try some of the other stuff.

I have been shopping here since I first moved to Berkeley, so close to 20 years. I have moved elsewhere and as far away as Sunnyvale but THIS is where I get my cheese!
I am amazed at how even stores like Trader Joes can stock sharp cheddar cheese half the age as their sharp and charge even more. I brought in a friend of mine who immigrated from Holland who almost shrieked when she saw the selection of Dutch Cheeses. She had to go to a specialty store in San Mateo (I believe) and they charged a lot more.
They also have a fantastic selection of Teas and their prices beat Cost Plus. Their Chocolates are fantastic! Makes me ask «where do they get them and why can’t no one else get them? I have a friend who’s a serious Chocoholic who shops at places like Cost Plus looking for the most unique Chocolates she can find. When we get together I will bring her something from Country Cheese that she’s never seen. She always ask «WHERE DID YOU GET THIS?!» I won’t tell her because if she knew, my usefulness as a friend would be zero LOL! (Hey! I put it in my will that upon my death she is to get the name of this store).
They also have a great selection of crackers and sodas — (they cut back on the sausages — darn!), Olive Oils, Vinegars! and I also get my bulk rice and nuts there, at better prices then the supermarkets!
FYI The owners are either Cambodian or Laotian there is a copy of an article written about them on the front door!
Also I have tried the spring rolls at the counter, they never made me sick, nor have they ever done anything for me.

A gem!!! snacker’s paradise!
so quiet and unassuming on the outside, but bursting from the seams with goodness on the inside. What a large variety of all kinds of good snacks, nuts, treats, and foods! Foreign jams, chocolates, cheese, you name it! With many hard-​to-​find-​elsewhere type items & rare teas/​juices/​drinks, there is something here for everyone!
Take the opportunity to try new things here!
There’s a deli in the back that will build you very solid sandwiches!
At the cashier, I was enticed by the wrapped pre-​made spring rolls for $ 6, and they turned out to be VERY satisfying and tasty!

I used to come here often, years ago. I’m not sure when I stopped. Maybe when Trader Joe’s opened, maybe before that. It’s related to the Country Cheese on Hopkins, but much bigger. As people have said, there’s a wall of cheese. The layout is different from when I was last in. What brought me in today was a quest for more interesting crackers than I’ve had from TJ’s. A dear friend had knee replacement surgery last month and I’m going to see her tomorrow in Sacramento. I’m bringing lunch and wanted to bring some interesting cheeses and crackers, olives, prosciutto wrapped figs, that kind of stuff.
I noticed some Rouge et Noir camembert, but I didn’t notice the Cowgirl Creamery cheese someone else mentioned. Guess I have a return trip in my future. I found some tasty looking crackers and some Italian olive oil on sale for a good price. As I was paying for those things I noticed a stack of packages of spring rolls on the counter, three to a package. Some packages had shrimp and others had an assortment of veggie, chicken and crab (or krab) combined w/​lettuce, mint, rice noodles, etc. The woman behind the counter told me she had made them and pantomimed w/​her hand how much higher the stack had been. They were $ 6 for a package. I hadn’t had lunch, so I chose the variety. She had small containers of two kinds of sauce, one a thick peanut, the other a reddish sweet/​hot sauce. When I got home I cut them all in half because they would have been too much and they made for a very tasty lunch. Alan can have the other halves tomorrow. I definitely want to return and explore their cheeses and other offerings.

An entire wall of cheese selection! Yes please!!!
I got my Humboldt Fog and Pt. Reyes. I am that much of a cheese nerd that I did take note that Country Cheese is a hair cheaper than going to the Cowgirl store.
There’s also an entire meat section in the back. But I was too busy drooling over the cheese. And then eating it.