Cavaniola Gourmet Cheese — Local services in Town of East Hampton

Stopped in at Cavaniola Gourmet Cheese Shop in Sag Harbor on a recent Sunday, & it was the highlight of our "Girl's Day Day Out." The selection of cheeses, chocolates, and gourmet foods that hits your eye when you walk in is staggering, & the wonderful scents just make your mouth water. We honestly didn't know where to start with the cheeses, but Sue, who helped us through our tasting, knew exactly what to offer to tempt us. Even with four of us with different tastes, she found cheeses to satisfy us all! Added to that were pickles, olives, artichoke hearts, and let's not forget, chocolate! We left feeling like we had a gourmet meal, not just a tasting. I have seen some people complain about prices, but we aren't Hamptons residents, & we didn't find the prices outrageous for a cheese shop. It's not supermarket cheese, but gourmet cheese. And the service was absolutely incredible. Each of us found something we loved to bring home. After we were done tasting cheese-- though we probably could have stayed for hours-- they showed us the way to the equally impressive wine shop. Really glad we stopped in, & will...

Years ago this place was down to earth, owned by a guy who had travelled everywhere and knew his cheeses. I walked in the other day and asked for Feta, and all they had was French Feta. In my experience, the only real feta is Greek feta. When I asked why they didn’t have any, she said this was just as good, with a “take it or leave it” attitude. Well, I got a piece (a little over 1/2 lb) and figured it would be around $10-$12. She rang me up, and it was over $20. So I asked how that was possible, and it was $38 a pound. I buy a lot of feta from Greek grocers in Queens, and it’s $9-$12 a pound. And it’s authentic, and really great. The French feta was good, but $38 a pound is obscene and laughable for feta, especially when it’s not even Greek. I spend a lot of time in Sag Harbor year-round, and I find it really sad that a local shop like this has just turned into another “let’s rip off the summer crowds” kind of place. Really disappointing, caveat emptor when shopping...

For starters, the customer service here and at the wine cellar is unmatched. I am an intern from Florida working at one of the local golf clubs and had no way of getting to the store before they closed. Peter graciously offered to deliver our wine and charcuterie on his way home. Being new to wine and charcuterie and unsure of what to ask for, Sue hand picked the perfect selection of wines and cheeses for me based off a few questions of preference all while remaining budget friendly. The wine and diverse selection of cheese, grapes, and prosciutto were phenomenal and way beyond our expectations.

10 times out of 10, I will be recommending Cavaniola's for anybody's...