Why go: This Del Ray gourmet shop/wine cafe is a fantasyland for the cheese-obsessed. Up front, a glass case is filled with more than 200 varieties—there are 30 kinds of blue alone. At the back bar, you can sample a wide selection plus nibble on salads and sandwiches, all accented with some kind of cheese.
What to get: Balsamic-soaked fig crostini gooey with d’Affinois; grilled pimiento-cheese sandwich; bronze-crusted mac and cheese with Gouda, Pecorino, and Asiago (we like it without the truffle oil); cheese and charcuterie boards.
Best for: Grazing on wine, cheese, and charcuterie; a light lunch or decadent dinner.
Insider tip: If you can’t tell a Crocodile Tear from a Lambchopper, take a seat at the bar and get advice from the friendly servers, who are happy to pass along their passionate knowledge of cheese.
Open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, Sunday for lunch.
>> See all 2009 Cheap Eats restaurants here
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
