spinynorman99 wrote: When I first heard of the all-grilled-cheese concept (the now-closed Grilled Cheese NYC) I thought it was a good idea, but if it can't stay afloat in NY I'm not sure of its viability as a chain. Ditto Sloppy Jo's. I would have thought a retro-school-cafeteria inspired menu could find a happy landing, but it's likely a tough sell long-term.

The now-defunct 44th Ward Dinner Party on Halsted near Addison had a menu dedicated to grilled cheese. I recall liking the establishment -- it was a cool loungey sort of place on a stretch that needed something a little calmer. The different grilled cheese combinations were good, if I recall. Doesn't help the NAV MAN though unless he can do time travel.

The GP wrote:

spinynorman99 wrote: When I first heard of the all-grilled-cheese concept (the now-closed Grilled Cheese NYC) I thought it was a good idea, but if it can't stay afloat in NY I'm not sure of its viability as a chain. Ditto Sloppy Jo's. I would have thought a retro-school-cafeteria inspired menu could find a happy landing, but it's likely a tough sell long-term.

The now-defunct 44th Ward Dinner Party on Halsted near Addison had a menu dedicated to grilled cheese. I recall liking the establishment -- it was a cool loungey sort of place on a stretch that needed something a little calmer. The different grilled cheese combinations were good, if I recall. Doesn't help the NAV MAN though unless he can do time travel.

You lost the NAV MAN at 'cool loungey' but got me right back with 'Time Travel'.

Pie-love wrote:You might have some new places to eat grilled cheese-- so-called "serial entrepreneur" Jonathan Kaplan of Flip-videocam fame is starting a grilled-cheese restaurant chain:

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/29/138590240 ... led-cheese

No word on a potential Chicago branch.

Jen

A very similar concept with a very similar name has been rolling along in Cleveland for the past 5 years:
http://meltbarandgrilled.com/

Wonder if these guys are in business together or have a legal agreement. It's not like Melt in Cleveland is some obscure joint; it was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives a while back. I've never eaten there but have friends that were really enthused about their experience (and the beer list).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TtkfwFders

spinynorman99 wrote:

Pie-love wrote:You might have some new places to eat grilled cheese-- so-called "serial entrepreneur" Jonathan Kaplan of Flip-videocam fame is starting a grilled-cheese restaurant chain:

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/29/138590240 ... led-cheese

No word on a potential Chicago branch.

When I first heard of the all-grilled-cheese concept (the now-closed Grilled Cheese NYC) I thought it was a good idea, but if it can't stay afloat in NY I'm not sure of its viability as a chain...

There is Cheesie's in Lakeview though I don't think it's a chain.

http://www.cheesieschicago.com/ wrote:The "Classic" - American Cheese, Merkt's Cheddar Cheese, Bacon, Tomato, and Ham, on Cheddar Cheese Texas Toast. Dip Sauce: Tomato Soup

Jalapeno Popper - Cheddar Cheese, Cream Cheese, and Fresh Jalapeno Slices on Sourdough. Dip Sauce: Spicy Chipotle Mayo

Caprese - Mozzerella Cheese, Tomato, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Cracked Black Pepper, Fresh Basil, on Sourdough. Dip Sauce: Creamy Pesto Mayo

The Melt - American Cheese, Chihuahua Cheese, Marinted Chicken Breast, Bacon, 1000 Island Dressing, and Tomatoes on Texas Toast. Dip Sauce: Pesto Mayo

The Tradicion - Chihuahuah Cheese, Chorizo Sausage, and Pickled Jalapeno Peppers on Texas Toast. Dip Sauce: Spicy Chipotle Mayo.

The Mac - American Cheese, Merkt's Cheese, Homemade Macaroni & Cheese, on Texas Toast.

The Frenchie - American Cheese, Mozzerella Cheese, Classic Thick Cut French Fries, Bacon, and Chives, on Sourdough.

Had a Cheese Toastie from Bangers & Lace last night. $7 and truffles to boot. Not in the loop, but quite the bargin compared to the prior suggestions.

Had pizza for lunch because Reggie doesnt do GAC, but pizza is pretty much a baked cheese.

NAV MAN on a mission to get that yellow for dinner for sure. May have to dig into one of these Cheesies.

Just my opinion, but once meat is introduced into the mix I feel like you've crossed the line calling it a grilled cheese. Also, IDID, cheese toastie is not the preferred nomenclature. Grilled cheese, please

Pasta Pronto has the right of it. Once meat is in the middle, the sandwich slips the surly bonds of grilled cheese to touch the face of a melt.

NAV MAN wrote:Pasta Pronto has the right of it. Once meat is in the middle, the sandwich slips the surly bonds of grilled cheese to touch the face of a melt.

Surely you don't consider bacon to be a non-conforming GAC ingredient.

stevez wrote:

NAV MAN wrote:Pasta Pronto has the right of it. Once meat is in the middle, the sandwich slips the surly bonds of grilled cheese to touch the face of a melt.

Surely you don't consider bacon to be a non-conforming GAC ingredient.

Surely you arent suggesting that the NAV MAN doesnt know his was around a ton of bacon. Surely you arent suggesting bacon tomato and cheese is melt???

NAV MAN wrote:Surely you arent suggesting bacon tomato and cheese is melt???

No. Quite the opposite, as far as I'm concerned.

Dion Antic Working on Melt Sandwich Shop

Now that his plans to revitalize Harry's Velvet Room are seemingly on hold and Porkchop is up and running in the West Loop, Dion Antic is getting itchy to work on another project. 312DD reports that Antic is building out a space to open Melt Sandwich Shop.

The approximately 1,000 square-foot grilled-cheese-themed restaurant will have 36 seats and will open just after Labor Day, according to Antic. It's taking over the former Nalyah's Café at 1840 N. Damen and will have communal tables with a schoolhouse vibe, according to the Diva. Melt will cater to young families and feature gluten-free, organic and vegan items, soups, salads, yogurt and more all priced under $10. Antic is no stranger to the quick-service sandwich biz; he has two Bagel on Damen locations, in Ukrainian Village and Ravenswood.

I have to imagine he's going to hear from Melt Bar and Grill's (in Cleveland) lawyers.

This is going to be awkward since I just made a point to acknowledge that a grilled cheese with meat no longer can be considered grilled cheese. However, I would be doing you all a great disservice if I didn't mention this wonderful psuedo-grilled cheese. At Mr. Greek (on Halsted) you can get a grilled cheese with gyro meat on it. Get yourself a little side of tzatziki sauce and you will have the best version of the grilled cheese ever created.

I guess this begs the question: is there a difference between a grilled cheese with gyro meat and a gyro sandwich with melted cheese?

I just blew my own mind

pasta pronto wrote:This is going to be awkward since I just made a point to acknowledge that a grilled cheese with meat no longer can be considered grilled cheese.

I disagree. I had a late night grilled cheese in Marfa, TX last weekend that had all the elements of a reuben, but it was so heavily skewed towards the cheese, with just the thinnest slice of corned beef and a whisper of sauerkraut, that calling it anything other than a grilled cheese seems somehow inappropriate to me, picky definitions bedamned.

Killer sandwich, by the way.

Food Shark Museum of Electronic Wonders and Late Night Grilled Cheese Parlour
http://www.foodsharkmarfa.com
Highway 90 (San Antonio Street) between Kelly and Abbot
(432) 729-1804

pasta pronto wrote:At Mr. Greek (on Halsted) you can get a grilled cheese with gyro meat on it.

That's a gyro melt. Have it with a fried egg. RIP CND.

Since we're getting into the exotica, let us not forget the cheesy tacos at Raymond's (open to 4am Fri & Sat).



Raymond's Tacos #2
2406 S Blue Island Av (at Damen)
Chicago
773-254-5301

I almost quit dating my wife due to an argument about what is a 'grilled cheese' sandwich'.

We'd been dating for a few months. I was at her house when she asked if I wanted a grilled cheese sandwich. She then proceeded to take two pieces of bread, put a slice of cheese between the slices and PUT IT IN THE OVEN. That's cheese toast!

Oh well, that was over 40 years ago so I've almost gotten over it.

NAV MAN wrote:
You lost the NAV MAN at 'cool loungey' but got me right back with 'Time Travel'.

Warning, warning, warning - NAV MAN third person protocol violation detected!!! Who are you and what have you done with the REAL NAV MAN?

Yeah, my mother calls cheese that you put on toast and then broil in the oven "grilled cheese". It's good, but it's not grilled cheese.

This thread makes me realize that I can't recall ever meeting a grilled cheese sandwich I didn't like. (As long as it's actually a grilled cheese sandwich and not a toaster-oven impostor.) Basic diner type GC, fussy foodie type GC, I've liked them all in their own ways. I'm actually trying to imagine, and coming up empty, what someone would have to do to a grilled cheese sandwich to make me not like it.

If you're really hungry Nav Man, Chunky's Diner out in Northlake serves the gargantuan burger pictured below for which the "bun" is two grilled cheese sandwiches. It's two grilled cheese sandwiches, two big cheeseburgers, bacon, onion rings, barbeque sauce, lettuce and tomato.

They even have one of these dare you to eat it specials where if you can eat this burger, a cup of their homemade mac and cheese, fries, slaw and a milkshake in 40 minutes, you get the meal for free, a Chunky's t-shirt and your picture on the wall of fame.

Chunky's Diner
144 E North Ave
Northlake, IL 60164
Phone: (708) 223-8842

gleam wrote:
I have to imagine he's going to hear from Melt Bar and Grill's (in Cleveland) lawyers.

I believe that the Cleveland joint is actually named Melt Bar and Grilled.

I never cared too much for it during my time there.

Just an observation -- I don't often have grilled cheese. I have no response as to why because my reaction to one when I do have one is complete love and adoration. For instance -- my nephew who will be turning 5 a week from today is a major fussy eater and grilled cheese is one of the few universal foods he'll consume. I usually make him a grilled cheese when it's my turn to feed the boy and I am always delighted by how delicious and gooey it is. Hot skillet, buttered bread, american cheese (because it's my nephew the picky eater...remember?) and the perfect shade of toasty brown as i turn it over and over and over...The crunch that leads to warm soft bread and then the gooey ooey goodness of a cheese that I normally wouldn't go near.

And a happy nephew.

I love it when tomorrow's lunch is already decided the night before....

Carry on.

This thread gave me a serious craving for one of my guilty-pleasure lunches so off we went to Superdawg today. Yes, I realize I'm probably in the extreme minority of people who go to Superdawg and get a grilled cheese, but if you order it on their dark bread and add grilled onions, it's truly darn good. I also like to sneak a couple of Jonathan's sport peppers from his Superdawg and stick them inside the grilled cheese.


Superdawg Grilled Cheese by MsLynnB, on Flickr

The Cafe at Nordstrom makes a respectable one. That and a cup of tomato soup, a side of fruit and a drink is $5. Might be the cheapest meal on Michigan Avenue.

LynnB wrote: I also like to sneak a couple of Jonathan's sport peppers from his Superdawg and stick them inside the grilled cheese.

Why sneak? GAC with giardinara is my standard order at many dog stands (when I order a GAC to accompany my dog, which happens more frequently than one would imagine).

Sable's current lunch menu features a grilled cheese portfolio which looks pretty enticing:
http://www.sablechicago.com/files/menu/menu_73.pdf

Definitely need to try them all I think!

Wonder if there will be a GAC challenge on TCnext?

PeteF wrote:I was sure my personal favorite grilled cheese (and overall favorite sandwich) in the Loop would have had multiple mentions in this forum already, but somehow I can't find any reference to it. It's the "Govind's Grilled Cheese" from the soup & sandwich counter at Seven on State inside Macy's. It consists of pulled slow-cooked short ribs, pickled red onions, and bel paese cheese. Very rich and much meatier than a standard grilled cheese, but absolutely delicious. (Confession: I was delighting in this sandwich long before I learned that "Govind" is Govind Armstrong, or that this sandwich was much-celebrated by Oprah and many other food lovers). It's easy to miss, sort of hidden at the bottom of the menu at the least-exciting looking counter at a food court filled with offerings by Bayless, Samuelsson, and Takashi, but it's a must-try.

I went to Macy's today to try the Govind's Grilled Cheese but I was told they were "sold out". I'm not sure if that was true since it was only 12:30 or if they only make it on certain days. They do have another GC on the menu so I figured I would try it. Waste of $5. I didn't think you could make a bad GC but this one was bad. Hard bread and non-melted cheese. The only thing worth eating was the pickle.

Was excited to try the sandwich mentioned above at Franklin Tower/AT&T building, but came away dissapointed.

Gummy, Kraft-esque cheese between perfectly serviceable bread that was ruined by simply warming it, not toasting it, on the griddle. The thing had no contrasting texture between the bread and the cheese. I had them add tomato, which was my mistake because they were gushy, mealy, industrial types.

The good news was it did come with a side of the delicious, well-seasoned, hand-cut fries.

The sandwich and fries together came to $5.55 with tax, so at least it wasn't an expensive letdown.

mailsf - so sorry!

ever since the remodel earlier this year, things have been screwy, but i really did enjoy my last grilled cheese within the last two months. i really think they canned most of the very hard working staff who had been known to bang out great food without issue.

they changed the salad bar so much (no longer pay by weight, but two price points, neither work when i used to run over for small side salads of my choosing in the $2-$3 range) that i rarely visit much anymore. i wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt based on prior visits for G.A.C.

they support many green initiatives, carbon points on food items, etc. but looks like they went right down to the bottom line, raised prices, let go of staff and are not keeping things up as in the past.

leek wrote:Yeah, my mother calls cheese that you put on toast and then broil in the oven "grilled cheese". It's good, but it's not grilled cheese.

Weekday breakfast in my house as a kid, but we called it cheese toast.