Surdyk's Liquor & Cheese Shop 303 East Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55414

"Such an awesome place! I've followed them on Instagram for over 6 months, and I finally had a chance to visit them while in the Twin Cities. We visited on a Saturday morning and there was plenty of parking in the lot right in front of the store. There are two entrances because, of course, Minnesota separates alcohol from other goods. The liquor store has a lot packed into a small space. This is not a bargain shop; you'll pay a premium, but you can find many items here that you cannot find anywhere else. My husband discovered a bourbon he's been looking for for about 10 years, while I found several new ciders to try. Then there was the cheese shop/cafe. Oh wow. Wow. Wow. For a cheese-obsessed person such as myself (check out my other reviews and the theme is pretty obvious) this is a dream store. An expensive dream, but well, that's reality for you. Just as with the liquor store, at the cheese counter you'll find a diverse selection of domestic and international artisan goodies that you won't find many other places. In my handbasket, I accumulated an eclectic mix of soft cheeses from Australia and France, plus one from Tennessee and two from local maker Alemar. I also grabbed a rose hip jelly that I haven't had before. Most of the people in line that morning were there for coffee, and with reason--my husband bought a cup as well and found it to be excellent. The nearby pastry case had some incredible looking offerings, too, but those will need to wait for a return visit. There WILL be a return."

"Whether you are unsure of what to pick up, or looking for a particular drink, the selection at Surdyk’s meets just about any need. The staff is friendly and super helpful. I once asked for a recommendation on a champagne to pick up as a gift for a friend's wedding, and was walked through the selection in a way that actually made sense for someone completely unfamiliar with what to look for. The bottle I selected ended up being a massive hit. Beyond the wine selection there is a wonderful selection of other liquors and beers as well. In the cheese store area find a great assortment of charcuterie and other sides for wine pairing. Additionally the deli offers delicious crispy panini’s and a selection of other cold sandwiches as well."

"Surdyk’s cheese shop has the best ready-to-go food in NE Minneapolis. I’ve had a variety of their entrees and sides the past 2 days and it’s some of the best food I’ve ever had! The options change out frequently and you may not be able to get the same thing 2 days in a row, but I promise you’ll always find something high quality and delicious. They carry the kind of food you’ll feel good about feeding to your loved ones."

"Selection of unique and hard to find beer is unmatched (only place in the state that had or could get what I was looking for). Overall it’s expensive, but that might just be the location and everything around there is more. Wish they were able to ship locally so I didn’t have to drive all the way into downtown the Saturday before Christmas just to pick up 8 cans of beer."

"Nice liquor store, friendly staff always clean and friendly service. Usually has a nice and selection and fairly priced products. Sidebar has really good food only one mistake all these years I have been shopping there."