South End Formaggio

A true gem for artisanal food: cheese, wine, charcuterie and more. Pricey but truly worth every penny. It is like stepping in an old Italian (or European, per se) store. the selection might not be as wide but truly better than Eataly. Prices are the same but food quality is much higher and truly artisanal.
Not to forget: there is a second store in Cambridge, by the Huron Village.

This outpost of the massive mother shop in Cambridge (you know, the one with the underground cheese caves) is way too small to be useful, right? No way could a specialty grocer exist in such a tiny space and offer anything useful.

Wrong.

Between the breads, cookies, spices, charcuterie, cheeses (and cheeses and cheeses and..), wine, beer, honeys, pastas, flours, beans, and everything else, it is easy to get overwhelmed. Fortunately the staff is incredibly knowledgeable and affable. If, even with their help, you can't figure out how to put a meal together, just pickup some of their homemade takeout items. The menu changes daily and is posted a week in advance so you can plan your meals around them.

Pro tip: they recently started a CSA-like program. You can join for cheese, charcuterie, or both. You get a nice little discount off of their regular prices and get a fun curated selection of different local meats and cheeses. Highly recommended

Great place, and amazing selections of all the things.

Delicious cheeses and interesting beer and wine selection.

Wonderful cheese selection! Great specialty grocery store too.

Really cool shop to buy specially food items. Things are priced affordably.

Amazing place for wine, cheeses, sandwiches and more!

It's a lovely boutique, but felt overwhelmed by all the options. Not sure if that much variety is good in such a small space. The staff were lovely, though!

Great selection of artisanal cheeses and cured meat. Eclectic collection of wine and other European staples. I always spend more than I plan to whenever I visit the store!

Great quality goods. Grabbed a great Helle Lager there, some cheese and delicious meat that I cannot recall the names. The meat was $30/lb if that helps, but it was sooooooo good.

The food is GREAT, THEY JUST NEED TO UPGRADE THE INSIDE.

You bring a bit of France and for that I love you. Everything I have had here is delicious. The staff is friendly and super helpful. Whenever I go in looking for something, I come out with a perfect, high quality version of exactly what I was looking for.

They offer a great curated selection of wines and craft beers, artisan sweets and great cheese. Everything to make the perfect dinner party or night in. I love that everything seems individually chosen for the store and has a story behind it.

If I had more money, I'd shop here more regularly but also would probably be 400 pounds.

Wonderful locally owned grocery store.Their prices are great and they have a deli packed with homemade options prepared on site! Try their cole slaw , just like Grandma s!

A bit pricey but they have a large selection of cheese

Thete are no words that could say how tremendous this place is. Cheese and cheese

Helpful, knowledgeable staff who are eager to let you taste before you buy. Best quality with decent prices.

Good variety of wine, beer, and more. Sandwiches are always very good.

It's quality food, you won't get what they're selling anywhere else. The products are on the expensive side.

Loved this place. Purchased some great aged gouda that had crystals in it and had this smoked caramel taste to it. Amazing. And paired it with a great red wine purchased from there as well. Service was also amazing.

The ultimate high-end food shop. Exquisite selection of grocery items, cheese and charcuterie plus numerous excellent items made in-house.

Packed with beautiful cheeses, meats, prepared foods and gourmet goodies. Parking is tricky. Worth the wait for a space.

The staff and service was great. Really great selection of cheses and meats.

Mostly a cheese and charcuterie store, though they carry spices, candies, jams, and other specialty items. The one in Cambridge is larger and has more staff behind the counter so if you have a choice that one's a bit nicer to have time to talk, taste, and really be guided to a good cheese and meat selection.

Amazing sandwiches. Great selection of artisanal groceries. And a very friendly staff!

Wonderful selection of cheeses, the staff is very knowledgeable and helpful.

The best selection of imported cheeses oils pastas cured meats etc.

This is foodie HEAVEN if you are passionate about cheese. They have a broad and extremely well-curated selection of cheeses and the staff is so friendly. Haley was able to quickly select some perfect cheeses for my charcuterie board based on my description of what I wanted. The rest of the store also has a variety of tempting items. Even though it's small, Formaggio can be your one-stop shop for the perfect array of party beverages (beer selection is sneaky good!!), appetizers, snacks and desserts. I will be back again and again.

Amazing and helpful staff! So many speciality cheeses and other items to choose from. It's a must-stop if you're hosting a dinner party.

This is the only grocery store in town! They are punctual, the kitchen is fresh, and they produce within an hour or two. Coming out of them provided me with a tremendous sense of accomplishment. Positive feedback has been received for this store.

I've been a customer of this fabulous, eclectic, fancy food shop for more than 10 years. I love the patient way they help you make selections cheese board selections. There sandwiches are top notch, too. Their food is never boring and that's what makes exploratory jaunts here so much fun.

The best place to get cheese and cold cut meats in the city. The wine is also spectacular. One of my favorite places to shop.

Extremely friendly staff. They let you sample cheeses and not just the little pieces that they put out. They walk you through what you like (sweet, earthy, salty etc) and the type of milk cow, goat etc and help you find the cheeses you like. When I started, i was a novice and i have started to learn a little over the years as they talk you through where the cheeses are from (e.g. region and farm) and even the process of producing the cheese. One of my favorites is Bianco Sardo. They also have meets and specialty products, beers, wines, natural sodas that are delicious. They have a tasty salad counter with sandwiches like the Turkey Bob, spicy italian on focaccia and a black bean and goat cheese torta with hot sauce. Yum!

Amazing cheese, great hot chicken when it is the special. and tons of wines to choose from. including an under 20.00 wine section!

I've scarcely been to Cheese and Import shops this amazing. Maybe Ann Arbor (Zingerman's) or Minneapolis (Surdyk's). This place has an astounding, well-kept range of imported and local cheeses. One monger was able to guide me through an introduction to artisanal cheeses from Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire, offering me tastes, giving me back ground, and eventually helping me choose a few. There's an incredible diversity of gourmet products that is unparalleled in the area. A limited, yet well-chosen beer selection sidles up to the more dominant wine choices. I will be back.

Such a great neighborhood spot. They carry amazing meats, cheeses, and fancy foodstuffs. I went in there to get cheese and crackers for a dinner party and the staff was extremely helpful, made recommendations, and had me try multiple cheese to ensure what I bought was "just right."

Great selection of products including exotic spices, and gorgeous selection of dips. Thanks for the cooking advice today.

A lot packed into a little box. Good variety of cheeses and decent lunch sandwiches. Staff is hit or miss. I am a finish carpenter that often works in the area. I visit for lunch often. Sometimes I am met by the cashier with a smile and a what's up. Other times I made to feel that I have offended the cashier by my mere existence. She is not my favorite. Otherwise a nice spot to find that special imported cheese or get a lunch bite.

The place to bring visitors, to show off how cool it is to live in the South End. Julie is the best!

If you like cheese and wine this is the place for you. What are you waiting for, get in there. Fall in love with food all over again.

Great neighborhood shop. Great place to buy fresh baguettes!

Great market with an exceptional cheese selection and tons of samples!

Awesome spot for excellent meats and cheeses for a charcuterie platter. The customer service is great. The few times I've been there the person helping us select our meats and cheeses is always spot on. Sampling all of the cheese and meats is a plus too. They also carry Jeni's ice cream which is to die for. Not cheap...but you definitely get what you pay for. Wish I lived closer so I could go here more often!

They have everything a foodie would need. Fresh truffles. Fine wines. And cheese for daaaaaays. Plus they are super friendly and will help you find the right cheeses for any occasion or meal.

Crowded or chock full of amazing foods of the highest quality

Best macaroon I've ever had was from here. The variety of cheese, wine and other amazing delicacies packed into this place is staggering. I had their toasted Italian sandwich and it melted in my mouth. This is a must visit when you're in the South End!

If you need some cheeses for a party of a pre dinner snack this is the place to go. Tons of options and hard to find foods. They have a decent craft beer selection as well. Great and knowledgeable staff can help with decisions.

Good cheese selection and other imported delicacies.

Place is incredible, discovered it by chance, great spices selection! Definitely coming back to try some cheese!

John was very helpful in putting together a small cheese plate for a dinner party. Couldn't ask for better service

Unfortunately there are not a lot of places to get good cheese around Boston. This place has a large selection unfortunately, their cheeses are often too old and get too strong or moldy (not the way they are supposed to be). In addition the place is very expensive.

Best selection in Boston, staff is friendly and knowledgeable.

Great service. Knowledgeable staff. Incredible products.

Excellent cheeses and specialty gourmet items. Prices aren't cheap but the cheeses are heavenly. Quite a bit packed into this tiny shop. For more variety, go to the Cambridge store.

Crowded, expensive, awkward register experience but I love it.

so much cheese, so little time. We went on a walking food tour of South Boston and this place alone made it more than worth while. Great cookies too

A wide variety selection of cheese that we all fancy and lots of healthy produce as well. just a well round grocery

Beyond the best of everything Cheeses sandwiches ,nuts, dessert , Best potato chips I have ever found. Seriously If it's the best it's there . Number 1 in my book.

We love this store! The cheese selection is amazingly large. They also have a number of interesting beers. In addition, they do a really cool farm share-like program for cheeses and meats, which has been a great way to try a lot of different cheeses and products that I might not have picked out for myself.

Amazing staff, best selection of cheese anywhere. Deliciousness all around.

This place is incredible. Everything you need for an incredible and special meal can be curated here. Wonderful wonderful place

Outstanding selection of cheeses, sausages and jams

I love this small cheese shop. Always a great variety and a great staff to help me choose my cheese, meat and drinks!

A must see and taste location if you are a wine and cheese fan

Little gem in the South End. Loads of amazing cheeses and charcuterie. Packed to the the gills with unexpected treasures. Helpful staff to boot. Highly recommend.

Best cheese selection in the area by far. They also have great samples out to try.

This is one of my favorite spots in Boston. I used to live a block away and went at least twice a week! Now, I pop in on my way home from the SoWa market.
Cheese: they have an outstanding selection. I rarely go with something in mind, instead, I just say 'creamy' or 'hard' or 'stinky' or 'mild' or 'I need a plate for 4 as an appetizer' and they hook me up with tastes and awesome cheese that never disappoints. They'll let me try it to make sure I like it. They also always have a couple to test out on a counter. Don't even get me started on the burratta and ricotta. SO DELISH.
Alcohol: they have an excellent selection. If I go in with a menu and a price point, they'll point me in the right direction. Also, I often cook with wine and beer and they're great at suggesting the best beer to compliment my chocolate cake!
Spices: I try to get most of my spices from the SEF. I know it's crazy, but the spices here are actually pretty cheap, and they have an excellent selection.
Prepared food: The prepared food here is good! My girlfriends have a battle about who has the better sandwich, Flour or the Formaggio. Personally, I think Flour, but the Formaggio grilled cheese is a thing to behold.
Gifts: From cheese boards and knives, to excellent olive oil, to imported pasta, local pastries and other great stuff, this place is great for a hostess present or for someone whop's interested in gourmet stuff!
Other: Excellent condiments like mustard, olive oil, etc., they actually have great product (arugula, meyer lemons, heirloom tomatoes, dates), I used to get my baking chocolate there b/c it's just SO superior to the baker's bar... :) They have great frozen stuff like pasta from nella, their house made mac and cheese, and wonderful ice creams and sorbets. You have to try their pimento cheese.
Ugh! I can't get enough! The staff is so knowledgeable, thoughtful, and nice. I don't mind paying for the products b/c they're superior, the shop is a local gem, and I just LOVE it there. :)