American
Fast food
Take-out
Stall 35 inside the market. Sells vegan cheeses and dairy-free foods, plus made-to-order sandwiches, pastries & coffee. For takeaway. Previously called Riverdel. Reported under new ownership February 2024. Open Mon-Fri 11:00am-7:00pm, Sat 10:00am-7:00pm, Sun 10:00am-6:00pm.
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88 Essex St (at Essex Street Market), New York City, New York, USA, 10002
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Last update on 15 Feb 2024 by Poundie
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Added by Chris26_lilo on 15 May 2019
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47 Reviews
First Review by ManhattanTransfer
drquayle
Points +738
Solid - Edit
Vegan cheeses generally upset my stomach. The cheese here doesn't, though – it tastes and feels more natural to me than store bought options. Also just really fun spot to visit.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-02-12
Pros: All vegan, Nice alternative to store bought vegan cheese
Cons: Not a huge fan of vegan cheeses, personally
Guest
LisaSpykers
Points +7860
Delicious but really pricey - Edit
I bought 3 cheese wedges: picante, a blue cheese, and a sharp cheddar. The taste is a step up from other cheese wheels I've tried but the price is mind-blowing ($11) for the teeny wedge you get. I'm glad I got to try this place, but it isn't a place I can afford to frequent. Note that the cheeses can't be left out of the fridge too long or they become a soft mess.
Read morePros: Lots of variety
Cons: Very expensive
Guest
mramericano
Points +175
RIVERDEL! - Edit
This is the place for vegan cheese! What an impressive selection of cheeses - they specialize in having whole wheels of cheese cut and weighed to order - very much in a traditional cheesemonger style. They also have some good prepackaged cheese options along with vegan meets, sauces, unique jams, tofus, and baked goods. They have a couple of sandwich options too.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2021-08-20
Pros: Cheese!!!, Helpful, friendly staff
Cons: Inexpensive
Guest
jrfishe1
Points +448
Great service and great cheese - Edit
We had such a great experience here; Clauditte was exceptionally patient with all our questions and have us great information and advice about the cheeses. We bought 7 samples and then bought a pound of our favorites (the house picante, Reine sharp cheddar, Rind lapsang, and Conscious Creamery maverick). They are in stall 35 on the ground floor (the one where you enter).
Read moreGuest
wanderinggabs
Points +186
All the Cheeze - Edit
Amazing selection of vegan cheese for every occasion, helpful staff. They also have a good selection of packaged cheeses, “meats” and sauces/ dips.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2020-11-19
Updated from previous review on 2021-05-08
Guest
yasmin1818
Points +911
Who doesn’t love vegan cheese - Edit
Amazing vegan cheese shop! 🧀
Read moreGuest
szczupak
Points +86
Good cheese, wide range of other vegan products - Edit
I came to Riverdel in person once, and the people there were very friendly and gave recommendations on cheeses to try. Also, my spouse's employer organized a cheese tasting as a holiday activity and ordered a Christmas box for him, full of great products as well. I particularly enjoyed the Camblue and cranberry blue cheese made by Rind.
Read morePros: Many options for vegan cheese, artisan products, Nice staff
Cons: A bit expensive like all artisan vegan products
Guest
gabandtonic
Points +3011
The original vegan cheese monger.. - Edit
Riverdel is simply the best, what else is there to say? I was heartbroken when their prospect heights location shut down. They are the go-to vegan spot in NYC for cheese. Their cheeses can't be compared to anything else. The selection is incredible. I definitely spend an insane amount of money here and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Read moreEveryone who works there is beyond lovely. All of their cooking classes benefit a farm sanctuary. They are just the epitome of vegan awesomeness. If you are in NYC this is a must!
Pros: Everything, Riverdel is the best
Guest
JJones315
Points +2169
Vegan outpost in Essex Market - Edit
Let me state upfront that, because of health reasons, I rarely eat vegan cheese. That said, Riverdel also has baked goods and groceries. At this first trip I had a truly delicious slice of pumpkin bread (which they kindly heated up for me) and I bought a bottle of vegan fish sauce (who knew?!). The service was appropriate, though not speedy by any means. I’ll be back next time I’m at ExMk.
Read morePros: 100% vegan, Nice selection of vegan food stuffs, Great location
Guest
martint
Points +8323
Not worth the hype - Edit
The cheeses are verty impressive, no doubt. Unfortunatelly I couldn't get any so I ordered the "signature McDel" which decepcioned me a lot. A very small sandwich with bland slice of tomato, some lettuce and tofu, nothing more. If this is the "signature" meal, I do not want to get to know others... Totally below expectations
Read morePros: A lot of variety of cheeses
Cons: Expensive, Flavourless sandwich
Guest
kmanchester306
Points +837
Rude staff - Edit
Finally had a chance to visit Riverdel's Manhattan location today, and wow, wish I never did! I thought the staff at the Brooklyn location was unwelcoming, until I came to the Essex Market space.
Read moreMy husband and I were in line to order. The women behind the counter were chatting up some guy (I'm guessing they knew) in front of us in line, asking him to try whatever chips he was snacking on and pretty much ignoring everyone else. They then proceed to skip over us in line and ask the man behind us what he would like to order. Once they were done chatting with their friend and serving the people behind us, they finally decided to wait on us. We were planning on purchasing Impossible burger and multiple cheeses, but after that experience, we decided to only purchase a small serving of Impossible burger (we've been looking to try Impossible at home!) and not buy anything else.
Riverdel: please train your employees on customer service. We ended up walking the three short blocks to the other vegan shop and spending $50 on their products because they're friendly and serve people in line appropriately. So disappointing. I want to continue supporting this business, but the service is just not friendly enough for me to do so anymore.
Guest
quarrygirl
Points +1725
Great breakfast sandwich! - Edit
Excellent spot in the market to grab a breakfast sandwich. I got The McDel, which comes with tofu egg, bacon, cheese with dijonaise , greens, tomatoes, whole-wheat English muffin. Would rate that sandwich 10/10.
Read morePros: Delicious , All vegan, Quick
Guest
vegangyy
Points +752
Awesome cheese - Edit
If your looking for a quick sandwich or deli style place, this is it. They also make their own cheese and it’s wonderful! Highly recommend checking them out if you enjoy cheese
Read morePros: Quick
Guest
wardrive
Points +122
Best cheese in NYC - Edit
I made a quick stop at Riverdale for lunch today. I got a ham and cheese croissant and it was fantastic. Amazing food and fancy cheese. Staff was very friendly. Sandwiches were priced reasonably. I'll definitely be back again.
Read morePros: 100% vegan
Cons: Limited seating upstairs during lunch rush.
Guest
ElizabethMae
Points +421
The best - Edit
There are no words.
Read moreBut I will try.
The selection was amazing. The people are nice. You can taste anything. I loaded up my suitcase before getting on a plane. If it weren’t 100% vegan I would have some serious concerns that my blue/Camembert wasn’t vegan because it was incredibly tangy and tasted straight out of France. I can’t wait to go back.
Guest
FranciscoVazquez
Points +289
Delicious, great service! - Edit
Food here is great, and the service is awesome also, but there’s no obvious place to sit
Read morePros: Lot of options, Great service
Cons: No evident place to sit
Guest
sachboo
Points +44
Amazing grilled cheese - Edit
Awesome array of vegan cheeses and other specialty vegan products. Great sandwiches too
Read moreGuest
perenialist
Points +174
Wholey vegan cheese! - Edit
This is a place that vegan dreams are made of. Such cheese selection! Such vegan snacks! Wish this was closer or that they’d open a second location Queens (:
Read moreGuest
Poundie
Points +15256
Great vegan cheese - Edit
This is a small store that sells vegan cheeses and sandwiches, located within the Essex market, a type of food-court/mall. They have a large selection of vegan cheeses and a few other vegan items. Though listed as a store on Happy Cow, this could also have been listed as a restaurant, since it offers six types of sandwiches--you can order the sandwich, plus order a drink at another place in the Essex Market, and then go upstair where there is plenty of comfortable seating (and their are plenty of other vegan items offered by other venues within the Essex Market).
Read morePros: Great tasting food, Vegan cheese
Cons: Not inexpensive
Guest
ManhattanTransfer
Points +194
Awesome grilled cheese! - Edit
Quick and fast grilled cheese from all vegan cheese purveyor.
Read morePros: Great location., Fast!
Cons: A little pricey but with it.
Guest
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