This tidy little shop and restaurant, situated in Uptown New Orleans just a couple of blocks from the St. Charles streetcar line, is a cheese lover's paradise and the perfect pre-picnic stop.
Basic Info
Address: 5004 Prytania St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70115
Phone: (504) 899-4737
Web: stjamescheese.com
Hours: Mon-Wed 11am-6pm, Thu-Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 11am-4pm
With a comprehensive and carefully-curated selection that runs the gamut from regionally-produced small-dairy artisanal cheeses to some of the finest European imports, there's a cheese here to suit every taste, not to mention shelves full of crackers, olives, pickles, and other nibblies.
And if the spread is too overwhelming, fear not. The well-trained staff (who also offer classes on cheese and related subjects) will be all too happy to steer you in the right direction.
The fragrant cheese coolers aren't the only attraction here, though. The cheese shop also offers an impressive menu of sandwiches, salads, and cheese and charcuterie boards that keep the place buzzing throughout the lunch and early dinner hours each day.
Sandwiches, all costing $8.95, are simple and highlight their featured ingredients well with hefty portions. The Hooks Cheddar sandwich (Wisconsin's Hooks Cheddar, smoked turkey, fresh basil, tomato, mayo, and ciabatta) is a a favorite, as is the simple and rich Brie de Meaux sandwich (buttered baguette with ham and the iconic Brie de Meaux, considered the finest exported French brie).
Salads, priced at $9.50, are classic, and designed to show off the cheeses which top them. Pears, arugula, almonds, and a quince vinaigrette cut manchego's saltiness and allow the nutty notes to really shine.
Sharp cantal is featured alongside ham, apples, and walnuts on top of mixed greens, tossed with a Dijon vinaigrette.
As a purist, though, my favorite lunches are the simple cheese and charcuterie boards. Let the experienced folks in the kitchen select 3, 5, or 7 cheeses for you ($10.50, $16.50, and $22, respectively), and they'll be served on a slate cheese board, accompanied by crusty bread, a few dollops of jam, candied nuts, and grapes (or other similarly tasty sidekicks). A recent board featured a decadent ripe camembert, a rich English blue cheese, and a creamy, mild, semi-hard sheep's milk cheese.
The charcuterie options are also excellent, and feature both international, regional, and house-made products. The truffled chicken liver pâté, made by chef Jessica DeVay, is worthy of special mention -- it's outstanding. Charcuterie is served in the European style, accompanied by cornichons, grainy mustard, and fresh bread.
Kids aren't left out, either. There's just one kids' menu item, but it's a crowd-pleaser: the Mini Moo plate is a grilled Beecher's Cheddar cheese sandwich (served crustless) with a small side of kettle chips and fresh grapes. The sandwich is pretty big, which is great, because you'll want a few bites to yourself.
Last but not least, the restaurant offers a nice selection of microbrewed beers and a small but heavy-hitting wine list, all priced reasonably. A sandwich and a drink can be had easily for under $15, which makes this one of the best-priced gourmet lunches in town, but the atmosphere is decidedly cool and come-as-you-are, not in the least bit stuffy.
That said, it's a poorly-kept secret, so the lunch rush can be crowded. Be ready to wait awhile in the line to order (though the kitchen is impressively fast and food comes out quickly), and don't count on getting a table quickly at the peak of the lunch hour.
