Cincinnati isn’t just known for its chili; a nice hunk of cheese makes nearly every local dish sing even more. Whether you like grilled cheese, mac and cheese or cheese boards, you can find your favorites at these and other Greater Cincinnati establishments on June 4, National Cheese Day.
Located in Over-the-Rhine, The Rhined is a cheese and wine shop that offers only wine and cheese that is handmade from small producers. The Rhined offers take-out as well as eat-in, having both indoor and outdoor seating. Visit The Rhined, 1737 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday-Friday, and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday.
This Northside deli is home to two cheese experts, Michael Heerkins and Mark Dreibelbis, who own Morsel & Nosh and had attended cheese school in San Francisco. The two, who had never run a small business before Morsel & Nosh, share with customers their local and regional artisan cheese trays. Visit Morsel & Nosh, 4183 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. every day except for Wednesday.
Share: Cheesebar is a shop that began as a food truck under the name “C’est Cheese,” as CityBeat previously reported. The business has since grown into a brick-and-mortar shop in Pleasant Ridge, with an expanding menu of gourmet grilled cheese in addition to its artisanal cheese and charcuterie. Visit Share: Cheesebar, 6105 Ridge Ave., Pleasant Ridge, noon-3 p.m. Saturday or 3:30-6:30 p.m Wednesday-Friday.
In addition to serving local cheese such as cheddar and gouda at a number of restaurants and markets, Urban Stead Cheese’s Walnut Hills store offers a variety of aged cheese as well as a bar that serves beer, wine and specialty cocktails. Visit Urban Stead Cheese, 3036 Woodburn Ave., Walnut Hills, 4-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, or 1-5 p.m. Saturday.
If you are a fan of macaroni and cheese, visit Keystone Bar & Grill, which CityBeat readers recently picked as the region’s best place for mac and cheese. Keystone offers eight variations of mac and cheese at its locations in Clifton, Covington and Hyde Park, all with varying hours.
Founded in 2018, Mama Bear’s Mac is a food truck that roams the Greater Cincinnati area with its six varieties of macaroni and cheese alongside crab cakes and pretzel bites. The winner of the first-ever CityBeat Mac & Cheese Throwdown, the food truck continues to be a favorite for many around Cincinnati. Mama Bear’s Mac is available for private and corporate bookings by calling (513) 349-4612.
