Artisan cheese wheels gliding past on a slow-moving belt under glass domes sounds like a fever dream, but Pick & Cheese has turned this concept into London’s most talked-about dining experience. Now the world’s first cheese conveyor belt restaurant is crossing the Atlantic, opening its inaugural U.S. location in early 2026 at Shaver Hall in Manhattan’s former Lord & Taylor flagship.
Democratizing America’s Artisan Cheese Scene
Mathew Carver launched Pick & Cheese in London’s Seven Dials Market in 2019 with a radical idea: transform the intimidating world of artisan cheese into something as approachable as kaiten sushi. The concept became an instant viral sensation, drawing cheese novices and connoisseurs alike to grab plates as they circulate past.
“The hope is for guests to leave with a new appreciation for American cheesemaking and perhaps a new favorite local cheese,” according to Carver, who previously founded The Cheese Truck, The Cheese Bar, and three other cheese-focused ventures.
The NYC location will flip the script on Carver’s London success by spotlighting American farmstead producers—particularly from the Northeast. His team identified standout makers like:
- Four Fat Fowl
- Nettle Meadow
- Spring Brook Farm
- Perrystead Dairy
Each cheese arrives paired with inventive accompaniments. Vermont cheddar meets chili jam. New York goat cheese sits alongside Turkish delight.
Fifth Avenue Gets a Cheese Education
Pick & Cheese’s timing couldn’t be better for American cheese appreciation. While European varieties still dominate restaurant boards, Northeast producers have quietly developed terroir-driven cheeses that rival their Old World counterparts. The restaurant’s educational approach—each plate tells the producer’s story—promises to shift perceptions about domestic artisanal cheese.
Located within Shaver Hall’s 11-vendor food hall, Pick & Cheese will benefit from foot traffic seeking novel dining experiences. Dorothy Shaver, Lord & Taylor’s pioneering president who championed American designers, inspired the space’s name. This makes it fitting for a concept celebrating American cheesemakers.
For cheese lovers tired of the same imported selections, this conveyor belt promises discovery without pretension.
