The restaurant and menu are the same, but the location of Cheese Shop Deli has moved to the Horton Grand Hotel on 311 Island Avenue, downtown.
mmm-yoso is the food blog and Cathy is writing while Kirk vacations and ed stays in Yuma, grading more papers.
Hi. Food blogging time. This is a short one. I have had to be in downtown San Diego fora few reasons rather regularly lately(I happen to be a registered voter and have a driver's license; figure it out) and so I have been exploring eateries in the area. 
The Mister and I used to go to The Cheese Shop downtown a lot, more than 15 years ago, when Horton Plaza first opened. It is a delicatessen as well as breakfast place and we always liked it. The physical location moved about a half block away, but the ambiance and food seems to be the same. 
Except for the prices, of course.
So, I had a couple of breakfast items and will share. 
The mushroom swiss omelet ($7.95) comes with that half a plate of hash browns and is made with fresh sauteed thinly sliced mushrooms. Quite full. The egg was not as fluffy/crispy as I like in omelets, but was tasty. This also came with toast. 
I decided to try the breakfast sandwich ($3.75)- an egg with cheese (cheddar) and choice of ham, bacon or sausage (I got bacon) on an English muffin. Looked kind of small, and I did take one bite and then decided to 'deconstruct' it
and put some of the jelly that is on the table on the muffin and ate the egg and cheese and bacon with a fork and knife. Made me take my time and remember, again, that there are no rules.
On Friday, I decided to get a cheese tray for two to go. ($11.80 with tax)
Three cheeses (the proper amount- if you do more than that, tastes are muddled) Muenster, Brie and a medium cheddar, some vegetable wheat crackers and grapes. This was perfect snack for the two of us when we were working around the house Friday evening.
My favorite grilled cheese sandwich here is Havarti on pumpernickel. They serve pancakes, bagels an cereals for breakfast and hot, traditional and specialty sandwiches as well as cheese sandwiches burgers and home made soups and salads for lunch. Breakfast is served all day. You can read the menu on line.
Cheese Shop Delicatessen 627 Fourth Avenue San Diego 92101 (619)232-2303 open 7 days M-F 7 am-4pm S-S 8 am-4pm NEW LOCATION: 311 Island Avenue San Diego 92101. Check the website link, above.
2165 Avenida de la Playa La Jolla 92037 (858)459-3921
Mmm, Havarti grilled cheese sandwich! The Mister’s and my favorite type of grilled cheese. I make these all the time on the panini grill.
I like the way you deconstructed the sandwich. Have you tried a breakfast sandwiches with the jelly? It’s an interesting taste. I watched some food show where the guy swore that he could do any grill cheese with jelly and it would taste good. The Mister tried several versions but I’m not convinced. Interesting tastes but probably something I would not go out of my way to get or make.
I vouch for Havarti. Yummmmm so buttery.
I used to hit this place in mid-to-late nineties. They had the most amazing roast pork loin sandwich.
Hey, GC! The pork loin sandwich was great; I haven’t ordered it, yet, bt feel I may go through the entire menu offerings by the end of the year…
Started working downtown recently and I can’t believe I hadn’t been to the Cheese Shop before. I’m not really a huge fan of sandwiches, but this place is great. Try the blue cheese sandwich (the blue is cut a bit by the addition of munster). The pastrami is good too.
Now if only there were good pho downtown…
Hi, Alex- I am unsure if you are the same person I told about Northgate market, so either welcome, or welcome back…Yes, I am downtown a lot more than indicated in my postings (in fact work on the same block where the Cheese Shop is located) and love going there for a good cheese sandwich. The Blue/Meunster on pumpernickle is a favorite. So is the pork roast. I have found pho, but not good pho. I will post more good places near there/downtown soon.
Oh my! I missed your reply — guess I’m used to blog systems that email you to notify you of a new comment.
Yes I was the one you told about Northgate. We’ve been several times now. Great place!
I’m a big fan of this blog and thanks to you guys, I’ve tried places I would never have discovered on my own. I was long familiar with the Convoy St. corridor, but I would never have know about, for example, Ra Ren.
While there’s plenty of good food downtown, it’s mostly overpriced and there’s not as much variety as might be nice.
Hi again, Alex. I sent you a note with some cheap downtown eats, and will be blogging a few of them soon. Kirk and I are so happy you enjoy our little blog and are both glad we could help. I guess a lot of people don’t want to try someplace unfamiliar…so we are that “word of mouth” that you can only read.