Astoria Bier and Cheese

Very nice place, clean and prompt service. The patio is a nice breakaway from eating out on the sidewalk. I’m in my 60’s but still a hipster so for my taste it was a little trendy. The food was great and selection of beers is always rotating.

I might give them another chance but probably not. Upon entering it’s unclear what you do– do you sit? Do you order at the counter? What happens? This would be fine except no one guides you. No one helps you at all. The man at the counter did not want to take my order, did not answer my questions and then rudely asked if I knew where I was sitting like it was busy and there was no place to sit (it wasn’t busy, there were many places).
The woman who brought the cheese was better, explaining what each thing was how it went with the beer etc.
The cheese portions are TINY. One plate of four cheeses is enough for two people BARELY. One of the cheeses we got was clearly just the rind. The special craft beers in the beer flight really just taste like the standard beers (blue moon, colors, Miller, Sam Adams). I’m sure their other beers are good, just don’t get the flight.
The WI cheese curds are neither from Wisconsin nor cheese. They had no taste and did not squeak. I found that to be highly insulting. It was clear this restaurant took the Outback Steakhouse road of creating a menu.

Went here yesterday for dinner and a couple of beers. This spot is great! Very friendly and knowledgable staff. Had the pretzel with Bier (?) cheese and a sandwich that was on their specials menu. The pretzel was spectacular. Soft, warm, chewy and just the right amount of salt. The mustard it came with reminded me of good spicy German mustard, and the cheese was tangy deliciousness. The sandwich I had, I cannot remember the name of for the lif of me, but it was just as delicious. It was a panini pressed sanwhich filled with avocado, goat cheese, Pig Cheek bacon, and lettuce. The bacon was amazing, and so was the goat cheese. They have a great selection of craft beers on tap that rotates all the time. They also have many bottles of craft beers. Including what looks like some pretty rare ones, as there was a limit on the number of bottles you could buy for certain brands.
Overall, great food, great beer, great service. Definately coming back.

Sandwiches, cheese, cocktails, name it. Astoria Bier and Cheese has it.
A convenient place from neighborhood and great place in the city too.
Food is served fresh, prompt service and products are always available.
Repeat– Yes
Advocate– Yes
Satisfied– Yes

We love this place! I used to come here all the time when I lived in this neighborhood-​definitely an Astoria treasure!
There are so many great places in Astoria but this one stands out!
Whether you do a beer and cheese pairing or just have one of the craft beers with charcuterie, pickles, or sandwiches you won’t be disappointed.
The staff is knowledgable and friendly! I’ve learned a lot about cheese just from coming here! The vibe is so chill and I’ve come here after yoga or a photo shoot and never feel out of place. They always play great music too.
This is a Saturday afternoon or after work must! I love my new neighborhood in Brooklyn but this is one place I definitely miss. Hence why I still make the trek over her!

I’ve lived in New York my whole life and I have to say this is the best place for beer in the whole city. There is always a great selection of beer on tap and if you don’t like what you see, there’s a great bottle selection as well. The staff are incredibly friendly and there’s a wonderful outdoor space open until 10. The best part of all is that the vibe is less like a bar and more like a café. If you prefer to drink in a more casual setting, this is the perfect place for you.

I came by here yesterday with a bunch of my coworkers, as a part of my going away party and have to say that I really loved the place. First of all, you’re allowed to sample the beers before trying them… well, those that are on draft of course.
I’m glad I was because I tried a cider that had a ginger base and though I love cider, that added ginger was a little too powerful for me, so I’m glad I didn’t get a full glass. I ended up rolling with some Down East cider, then we all sat down toasted up our drinks and had a cheese plate sampler and loved them all (except for one). Pro-​tip: if you’re starting from left to right, the cheese on the right is the strongest of them all and I mean like REALLY strong, lol.
It’s an awesome place and also, what may at first seem to be some sort of mirror in front of where you’re sitting, is actually a tablet embedded into the wall, so you can take pics and videos with your friends. That was easily one of the coolest unexpected surprises I’ve seen while out, in a while.

Friendly atmosphere, knowledgable staff. Had the divine Truffle Shuffle (truffle Gouda, mozzarella, HONEY on sourdough — bonus points for a Goonies reference in Astoria… Queens) to soak up a 4-​beer sampler. Honey a bit messy as on top of sandwich (but probably the only way to grill it) but delicious nonetheless. Good beers and a good selection to take home, in addition to a crazy selection of cheeses in the case, plus local gourmet foodiness (pickles, spreads, etc.) at a price. Next door is sister wine shop with intriguing selection.

Where else can you get above-​average beer for $ 4 and a chocolate grilled cheese?
Astoria Bier and Cheese is half-​small-​beer distributor, half bar. There is a line of coolers and shelves with a wide variety of domestic and international beers, all for around the price you would pay for them at a store. The other wall is a bar that serves fancy-​pants food and where you can sit and use their iPads for TV or apps. For whatever reason, the iPads were not working that day. Oh well. I got a Breckinridge Vanilla Porter to stay for$ 4.50. Can’t beat that. That, with a drink for my girlfriend, a cheese plate and the odd but satisfying chocolate-​sandwich that is the Chocolate Grilled Cheese, and Friday night was well on its way, and for only ~$ 23

I passed this place so many times and each time I asked myself why I hadn’t stopped in before. When I finally did, I realized what I was missing. They have plenty of beers to try from all over on tap (I recommend getting a flight) and plenty of styles. The food was very good — a few notches up from bar food, yet still casual. It’s a small place, yet cozy with a nice bar and a few small tables. Good for a date night or just a quick drink.
Since they have a great variety of beer in bottles/​can (much of which is refrigerated), I have no problem stopping in when I go by for a few cold ones. You can make your own six pack with top notch beer.

First time we went to the one on Ditmars and when we walked in we thought we came to this one because the settings look just like the other location. Both locations have fridges across from the bar and they have a lot of beer selections.
We ordered the cheese and honey plate to share and we never knew that cheese and honey form such a good harmony. Be careful of ordering this to share, because you would definitely want more after you finish.
I ordered the Truffle Shuffle Grilled Cheese because I just couldn’t resist the temptation of truffle. My grilled cheese came hot, with a touch of honey. I think it’s one of the very few times that I actually enjoy a sandwich with no meat in it. My taste buds are satisfied by the flavor, the grilled cheese warms up my stomach.
Awesome place to bring you date here and enjoy a romantic night with cheese and beer ~

Astoria Bier and Cheese is amazing!
Their selection of beers are out of this world. Not only do they offer some delicious brews on draft, they have a large selection that is refrigerated. along with some that aren’t that are available for purchase as well.
My favorite is their cheese selection. So many choices to choose from and try! I always get a beer flight so I can taste a few choices, and then end up getting one of those or something from the fridge.
I love their pickle plate because it includes spicy pickled green beans. The sandwiches are also delicious.
On our way out, I ended up buying so much stuff to take with me. Overall, a great place to check out.

Came here with one of my girlfriends and wanted to try their cheese and beers. Once you walk in, it’s a bit weird because there isn’t a person greeting you and showing you to your seat. There was a bartender and some people perched up on the counter. A few tables here and there but it seemed like you can sit in any available chair. I awkwardly stood for a while and it took the guys behind the counter a few minutes to even acknowledge me. The bartender was preoccupied and didn’t seem to bother either. I had to ask the guys behind the counter if we can order food and sit and he just gave me a menu.
So I guess how it works is you order at the register and sit and they just bring the food to you. We both ordered a cheese and beer pairing which was $ 18. Each cheese and beer pairing had a dried fruit or nut too. Some of the cheeses were too smelly for my liking but the beers did pair well. We also shared a truffle Gouda honey sandwich which was really good. Perfect for vegetarians and truffle lovers.
When we settled the bill we just went back to the register and paid. We tipped even though nobody really came back to check up on our meal or refill our waters. Overall experience was OK. But the food is good. Mostly people come here to pick up unique beers.
Cute painting in the bathroom!

My husband and I stopped in here for a late lunch Friday afternoon, and it was great! We sat at the bar counter and really enjoyed chatting with the bar tender. We told her we were new to the area, and she made a lot of suggestions about fun things to do, places to eat and drink in the neighborhood. She also gave us direction to the Museum of the Moving Image, which was where we headed next. Great service! She also gave us samples of the beers on tap so we could try before we spent money on something we might not like, which was awesome.
We started with a cheese plate, which came with three different cheeses and some bread. It was pretty good– they had a variety of cheeses, two of which I loved, one of which I almost spat out (a gorganzola, so it was pretty strong!)
Then we got sandwiches. I got the Show Stopper, and he got the Miss Piggy (I think that was what it’s called, anyways) both of which were specials, so I’m not sure how long they’ll be available. My sandwich was incredible– pesto, jowl bacon, avocado– everything tasted so fresh and flavorful. I tasted the Miss Piggy as well, and it was pretty good! It was a Reuben-​style sandwich and it was great.
My husband got something on draft, I don’t remember what. I got a can of cider out of the cooler case and it was good. I love that there’s such a huge variety of craft beers, ciders and seasonals to choose from. It’s really cool that you can take a six-​pack of mixed-​and-​matched beers with you, too.
I’d say the ONLY downside is that the sandwiches seemed to take quite awhile to come out. They weren’t super busy, either. But it didn’t matter much because we weren’t in a hurry– we had a nice, laid back meal and enjoyed our drinks. If you’re in a hurry, though, might want to consider coming when you’re not.
Overall, I can’t wait to come back and bring some beer-​loving friends when they come to visit!

The name, Astoria Bier and Cheese, is pretty accurate. Imagine a fancy, upscale country picnic that you’d like to escape to via a yellow MG Midget. In the trunk you’ve secured an overstuffed wicker basket with a carefully selected variety of artisanal cheeses and charcuterie. Perhaps, you’ve also included a tiny jar of cornichons. Where had you illegally parked the convertible while you browsed the delicase? On Broadway in Astoria, of course… for it has the best selection of cheeses and cured meats around!
Besides yummy picnic stuffs like condiments and crackers, you can also select from a great selection of cold or stocked fancy beers and ciders. When you make your selection, you can either take the bottles to go, or have the bartender cork your beer and stay. There are also always beers and at least one cider on tap. The small seating area is great for a date!

This place was so much fun! I took my parents here when they were visiting me from upstate New York. So many crafty brew choices, and delicious artisanal cheese. Need I say more? Okay, I will.
I suggest doing the pairs of beer and cheese samples. You get four flights, each paired with a cheese, and four palette cleansers. We also ordered one of the BLTs — highly suggested. Everything was great, not that I know much about how to pair beers with cheese, but it was tasty stuff.
The atmosphere is interesting — the bartenders and cooks are all super knowledgable without being pretentious about it. I’ve been to similar places where you feel like everyone in the place is taking it all way too seriously. Like a winery where the wine snobs are all talking wine with the wine experts and spitting into jugs after swirling it to taste. The staff knows what they’re doing and talking about, but they’re down-​to-​earth people. It makes for a fun experience in my book. You can sit at the bar, at a table, or on the back patio if it is open.
Beer experts and non-​experts alike will enjoy this place. (Don’t let the fancy look and detailed menu intimidate you if you’re the latter). I’ll definitely be going back soon to try some other stuff from the menu!

How to describe Astoria Bier and Cheese? It’s a difficult thing to do. It’s a place that makes you think of what the offspring of a wine bar and a brewery would be; classy offerings in a relaxed atmosphere, knowledgeable staff that still rocks that «I’m super chill» vibe, and delicious cheese and charcuterie boards paired with a unique and tantalizing array of beer (of all things).
Astoria Bier and Cheese is the sophisticate’s beer bar. It’s a special place for those who bath every morning, hold a steady job, and don’t have to ask their mother how to file their taxes. This being said, it’s still a beer bar. From the moment you walk in the door, you feel like you can let your hair down and pull that corporate stick out of your a**, so as to thoroughly enjoy one of the ever changing crafts on draft, or one of the numerous bottles/​cans available.
Did I enjoy my time at Astoria Bier and Cheese? Uh, yes. I work hard, I pay my rent on time, I love cheese and beer, and I like to indulge myself with treats like cheese and beer in an atmosphere that doesn’t require me to deal with all the «somebodies» acting like «somebody.» If you’re like this as well, I have no doubt that you’ll appreciate the experience of Astoria Bier and Cheese too. :)

While my family members didn’t love it, I really did. It is officially one of my favorite places in Astoria.
I do NOT like the disorganization of this place, and how rude one woman seemed to be when she did not explain the sitting area situation. I walked in with my family looking for a seat, and she pretty much said «it’s whoever sits first, we don’t have a waiting service» And I get that! But there were people loitering with no food or drinks on their tables, at least tell them something!
Aside from the service, the actual product which is what really matters, I did like. I got the beer and cheese flight. It’s all random. I enjoyed 3 out of 4 cheeses (not a big bleu cheese fan) and 2 out of 4 beers. I want to go back.

I’ve been here a few times now. I love beer, I love cheese and I love this place. The concept, the beers, the cheeses, the meats, their pretzels, the service — everything about this place screams «Disneyworld for Adults who love good beers!».
Today I apparently picked out a $ 20 bottle of beer that’s 11.2 oz. I wasn’t warned that it was ridiculously priced. I tried to bargain with them that I should have at least been warned it was more than your average $ 4 – 8 bottle… instead, I was told that because I use the beer app, «Untappd» I must apparently know about beers and I should pay for it. Way to generalize someone, lol.
Ummm…yeah, I DO know about beers, but I don’t know the prices of stuff because guess what, I don’t sell beer! I don’t know what prices are like, all I knew is that a stout brewed with chocolate and vanilla sounded delicious, but I would have stuck with Well’s Sticky Toffee Pudding hah I known that BrewDog’s Cocoa Psycho was $ 20 for a bottle the size of an average Corona bottle (which is a 40−50% markup based upon some prices I found online after the fact…).
I was also told I should have price checked before they opened my beer. Price checked how? With your beer scanner?! You guys operate the register, I should have been forewarned that this was a pricey bottle. I’ve never even seen a small bottle be that much. As a comparison point, Rogue beers are like $ 10 – 14 and much larger bottles. I was planning on spending about the same or more on multiple brews… not one. Sigh.
The person I dealt with had seen me before. I’m clearly a repeat customer. I live up the block. When asked what she should do I suggested taking it back so I could get a different bottle but instead she suggested I keep it since it was already opened.
I offered to give her something and she said, «that would be nice» so I offered to pay $ 10 (which is half, and still outrageous) and she said she would then have to pay for the rest… well…I’ve worked in retail and if I messed up then I took ownership of my error and paid up. I gave up trying to deal with someone who clearly has no business working in a customer service oriented field, gave her my $ 20 and let her know that it would be the last time I spent money there. Her response was, «well we both learned a lesson». Yeah, I learned that not all of their employees are created equal because she is NOT a representation of what their staff is like. I also learned that when an employee screws up, it’s apparently okay to make the customer pay for the consequences.
I’m super disappointed. I’m writing this from one of the counter stools right now and I’m to the point that I want to cry because I love this place so much and I feel like I’m being taken advantage of. Definitely not the way to treat a repeat customer. I’m done and will take my money elsewhere.
_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​_​
EDIT:
Feels like I’m breaking up with one of my best friends. On my way out I had a glass of water spilled on me by a random customer who was sitting next to me. The rude woman was more concerned with drying the counter and the customer than me who just spend $ 20 on 1 bottle of beer. It was clearly a sign that it was time to see myself out of here. Thanks for the good memories Astoria Bier & Cheese, it was good while it lasted.
Also, I kept the bottle as a keepsake. It will make a fine, overpriced, vase — heh.

I truly love this place!
Huge selection of cool beers! And a nice collection of cheeses!
I would definitely recommend getting the Truffle Shuffle!!! It’s amazing!!! But rest assured Don makes all the sandwiches delicious!
I’ve sat in the back patio and at the bar and I loved the bar because it gives you a chance to interact with the employees which are all pretty cool. The service is great, very laid back atmosphere.
Could be a cute idea for a date also because they have seating towards the front of the place which seems a little more initiate at times!