Cheese Bar

Cheese BarCheese Bar
Cheese BarCheese Bar
Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

6031 SE Belmont St
Portland, Oregon, 97215-1927
United States

// CLOSED //

Hours:
Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday - Sunday: 11:00am - 11:00pm
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.33
Reviews:
4
Ratings:
11
pDev:
8.08%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 3.8 by DoubleDaisyCutter from District of Columbia

Dec 19, 2017
 
Rated: 4.5 by schroeder1200 from New Jersey

Sep 01, 2015
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Reviewed by SCW from New York

4.53/5  rDev +4.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.75
Cheese and beer make a great pairing, but great draft beer and killer sandwiches make even better pairings!

Great gem right at the base of Mount Tabor, and Steve and his crew are elevating the scene with their knowledge of cheese and love of good beer.
May 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4.1 by almostjay from Virginia

Jan 14, 2015
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Rated by Galin

4.7/5  rDev +8.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 3
Amazing cheese selection. Get a sampler or take a variety home. Knowledgeable staff will guide you to something you like.
Jan 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by TheBungyo from Washington

Dec 13, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by kamikazeokami from Oregon

Mar 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by fitius5150 from Oregon

Dec 02, 2013
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Reviewed by MightyCow9 from Texas

4.65/5  rDev +7.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Lets just start by saying the only thing to knock on this place would be the amount of money that I left behind there. But seriously. They have hundreds of cheeses, and will pair them with beer for you (unless you are already someone who enjoys doing that). They are very free to help you choose what you want to drink. Their selection of tapped beers changes frequently and has a wonderful Oregon heavy selection. My wife, Uncle, and I enjoyed the cheese plate and it was fantastic. Well, I say we enjoyed it, our baby ate her fill and we got the scraps. The beers were spot on and served by knowledgeable and very pleasant people. I might have reviewed this a bit higher than I normally would, but the concept and execution of this store was perfect. Oh, and I left with a purchased bottle of to go beer. Seriously, that is awesome.
Nov 11, 2012
Photo of msubulldog25
Reviewed by msubulldog25 from Oregon

4.1/5  rDev -5.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Opened in Spring 2010, Cheese Bar is the brick & mortar offspring spawned by cheese guru/beer aficionado Steve Jones [edit: 2011 Cheesemonger World Champion!]. What once was a small corner of a Northwest Portland wine shop is now a full-fledged eatery/drinkery anchoring an average-looking building on the loftier (the gently sloping Mt Tabor) and more residential east end of SE Belmont.

We've visited about five times now in a little over a year; today's visit was a cheese/pate/pickles/pints pit stop after a little shopping at the Mt Tabor Art Walk (a.k.a. buying a mug to help support my wife's potter friend). It's not in an area we frequent all that much, but it is relatively close to beer 'musts' like Belmont Station and Horse Brass and there have been occasional release parties and events (Double Mountain held a nice one last summer) that are a draw for the beer crowd.

The space is pleasant, albeit kinda spartan, with minimalist artwork on monochromatic walls and blonde wood flooring. Besides the modest L-shaped deli cases and a short countertop near the taps, there are just five small tables, a row of window-facing stools and a couple al fresco spots when the weather cooperates. Not uncomfortable, just a little underwhelming for my tastes.

Cheese Bar has an extensive list of (what else?) cheese - some 200+ in their deli cases - and cured meats, there's also a limited but smart selection of sandwiches and soups. There are some phenomenal flavors to be had here; it's always fun to experiment with different combinations (samples are available and encouraged). The aforementioned Steve seems to always be around for recommendations, though he's just as apt to be stocking shelves, bussing tables or pouring pints. His staff is helpful and seems well-trained on art of pairing gastronomic delights. Trust their judgement.

As expected there are plenty of wines available, by the glass or bottle, as well as teas and coffee, but beer is what keeps us coming back. With six constantly rotating taps (often local favorites like Double Mountain, Deschutes, Caldera... or newcomer Burnside - our pints today were their terrific Oatmeal Pale Ale) and somewhere between 50 and 75 carefully chosen bottles one is never at a loss for pairing ideas. A broad range of styles are covered, from local and regional stouts, Pales and IPAs to Belgian quads and German pilsners and hefeweizens. 'Take home' prices are a shade higher than the average bottle shop, with a small upcharge added for 'drinking here'; no worries, as we're usually drawn to those fresh and reasonably-priced tap handles ($3-4.50 in general).

If you're a beer-loving cheesehead, it's well worth the effort to seek out this place.
May 23, 2011
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Reviewed by portlandjeff from Oregon

4/5  rDev -7.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Just checked this place out last week for the first time. Formerly Steve's Cheese in NW Portland, the name changed when the address did.

This place is attractively designed and comfortable. A bar runs along the west wall with several stools, and the east wall is set up with several small tables and chairs. Attached to the bar are two cases, containing artisan cheeses and cured meats. Behind the bar are 6 taps, as well as a large collection of carefully curated bottles of craft beer.

It's apparent that a lot of careful thought went into the selection here. While I know a lot more about beer than I do cheese, it was obvious that the owner cares very much about providing the best quality of both, and I look forward to trying more of what they have to offer.

Service was good. Very friendly, and attentive. I ordered a cured meat sandwich and it took a while to make and get to me, but that was easy to overlook with a fresh pint in my hand. They had only been open for a few days at this point too, I'm sure things will smooth out more in the future.

My sandwich was REALLY good. 6 types of fresh sliced cured meats, cheese, and lettuce on a fresh crusty roll for $6.

The prices here seemed reasonable.

I really hope that the Cheese Bar will host beer and cheese pairings in the future. I'd really like to get into cheese, but I don't know where to begin. Approaching it with a beer in hand and good advice from the neighborhood cheese monger would ease the transition.

Anyway, I definitely recommend this place. It's a nice, comfortable, neighborhood spot with a great selection of beer, and above average eats. I see a lot of lunches here in my future.
Mar 17, 2010
Cheese Bar in Portland, OR
Place rating: 4.33 out of 5 with 11 ratings