If you’ve lived in Jersey City for any period of time, then you know Van Hook Cheese + Grocery is a family-operated gourmet grocery serving cut-to-order artisanal cheese and a selection of specialty jams, spreads, and accouterments just waiting to be put on a charcuterie board. We recently discovered that Van Hook also serves grilled cheese sandwiches that make for the perfect lunch to shake up your work-from-home routine. Keep reading to learn more about the delicious grilled cheese offerings at this unique grocery store in Jersey City.
The Road to Cheese
Van Hook Cheese + Grocery is a family-owned cheese shop in Historic Downtown Jersey City. The name comes from a blending of two beloved Jersey City neighborhoods — Van Vorst and Paulus Hook.
The owners, Carl and his wife, Laura, opened a second location in Montclair in 2021, and both storefronts serve up a curated selection of meats, cheeses, and spreads. There are more than 75 artisanal cheeses in the shop, so don’t hesitate to ask for a recommendation.
Read More: A Tour De Grilled Cheese Sandwiches in Hoboken
Grilled Cheese Choices
There’s more than specialty snacks, gourmet groceries, and blocks of cheese at Van Hook Cheese + Grocery (although we also love all of these offerings). This shop also sells made-to-order grilled cheese sandwiches that are great for a grab-and-go lunch.
Order ahead if you’re in a rush, or you can place your order inside the shop. We had to wait about 15-20 minutes when we ordered in person, so it’s not a bad idea to call ahead if you don’t have a long lunch break.
All of the grilled cheese sandwiches are served on sourdough pullman — which, we can confirm, is delicious. Here are a few other picks from the menu:
- Classic — with house cheddar blend
- Bonus: For an extra charge, you can add fig spread, Mike’s hot honey, ham, hot soppressata, or prosciutto
- French Onion — with gruyere + shallot confit
- House Mutz — with housemade mozzarella + salami + pesto
- Duck — with smoked duck breast + raclette + sour cherry preserves
- Hot Honey — with taleggio + hot sopressata + hot honey
- Truffle — with truffle gouda + honey
We recently tried a Classic with Fig Spread, and it was phenomenal. We’ll definitely be back soon to try another combination — eyes are on that House Mutz.
Other Specialty Selections
While waiting for a grilled cheese, it’s not hard to peruse the other provisions — the shop truly has everything you need for an elevated picnic or foodie gift purchase. A well-curated selection of tinned fish, pickles, specialty salts, olive oils, dark chocolate, and more line the shelves.
If charcuterie boards are calling your name, at the counter, Van Hook sells cured meats such as prosciutto and jamon, sliced to order If you want to leave the board building to the experts, Van Hook has pre-made platters — with 24 hours’ notice.
See More: Where to Get Unique Grilled Cheese in Montclair + Beyond
Our Toast to Grilled Cheese
We’re surprised it took us so long to try the grilled cheese at Van Hook, but now that it happened, it could quickly turn into an obsession.
Jersey City’s shop is located at 528 Jersey Avenue and is currently open on weekdays from 12 PM to 7 PM, Saturdays from 10AM to 6PM, and Sundays from 10AM to 5PM.
