Beecher's Handmade Cheese

Beecher's Handmade Cheese is a cheesemaker and cafe at 1600 Pike Place, at the heart of Pike Place Market in Seattle, Washington. The shop is known for its viewing window, where visitors watch cheese being made by hand, and for its famous mac and cheese, which has become the emblematic dish of the business. The cuisine is American, built around the cheeses made on site, including the Flagship cheese, a cheddar-style cheese sold by the pound and used in the cooked dishes. Other signature items are the grilled cheese sandwiches, soups and cheese plates, along with the cheeses sold at the counter for travellers to take home. The space is a counter-service storefront with limited seating, a busy and noisy atmosphere and no dress code. Visitors often queue at the counter, order food to eat standing or on a bench, and watch the cheesemaking through the glass. There is no formal wine programme, but drinks include sodas, coffee and other beverages. Prices are modest, at roughly $8 to $18 per person. No reservations are taken, and the busiest periods are lunchtimes and weekends, particularly in summer. The market location puts the shop close to the fish-throwing stalls, produce vendors and the waterfront, so it fits naturally into a self-guided food tour. Visitors can buy cheese to take home, and should check how long it keeps if travelling. Hours run from morning to evening daily, though they may vary by season.