What's more, dairy is integrated into nearly every small-plate dish, from the Cheese-Stuffed Morel Mushrooms and the Bruleed Rogue River Blue—literally grilled cheese—to desserts like Chocolate Cake with Cream Soak. You can mitigate your cheese intake with more than 70 wines (from Hungary, Greece and South Africa), cask-conditioned beer from Brooklyn's Sixpoint Craft Ales and plenty of cured meats. (Depending on what type of man you are, we recommend either the Smoked Goose Breast or the toasted Pig's Ass.)

And the only thing more extraordinary about Casellula than its breadth of cheeses may be its location. Nestled just west of 9th Avenue on 52nd Street, the cafe manages to emit a charming downtown vibe from a spot not far from Hairspray.

So now even in the thick of Midtown you can impress her with the phrase, "You know, I know this great little cheese place...."

There are plenty of retail outlets in the United States where you can choose from a wide array of farmstead cheeses, but not while relaxing with a glass of fine wine or beer. There are restaurants where you can enjoy a world-class selection of farmstead and artisanal cheeses, but not without getting dressed up, acting all snobby and spending a fortune. Casellula Cheese & Wine Café plans to change all that.