Pulling For Grilled Cheese Awareness

Bread, Cheese, Butter, and Others… get them while they’re hot!

Grilled cheese sandwiches are a staple in most American households. Not to be too cheesy, but today we raise our glass of tomato soup and toast all of the gooey perfection this sandwich has to offer. If you have never had the pleasure of indulging in this dish, here are a few spots charring the best breads and melting the finest cheeses for National Grilled Cheese Day.

The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen

The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen has been aiming to cheese since 2010. If adorning their menu with grilled cheese for breakfast, mac and cheese grilled cheese, and a jalapeño popper grilled cheese with apricot-jalapeño relish is not enough to travel to San Francisco for, they have franchising options available to bring a Kitchen closer to home.

This May, owner Nate Pollak is riding 300 miles over the course of three days with Chefs Cycle for No Kid Hungry in an effort to end childhood hunger in America.

Chef Heidi Gibson is a 7 time National Grilled Cheese Champion and has literally written the book on Grilled Cheese. Many ingredients in the restaurant are locally sourced and gluten free options are available, as is pickup and delivery.

Melt Shop

Melt Shop set out with one goal: to make the best damn sandwich on the planet (for under $10). With multiple locations in New York, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and even Kuwait, they have gone global.

Since 2011, Melt Shop has been producing some of the most innovative grilled cheese on the market. Zagat Guide and Forbes Wine & Food 30 under 30 list once featured found, manager, and sandwich junkie, Spencer Rubin about his marvelous venture.

An array of sandwiches fill the menu, such as the truffle melt with muenster, arugula, black pepper with truffle oil (drool), a tantalizing list of add-ons, vegetarian or gluten free options, and many of their locations offer online ordering.

Grater Grilled Cheese

Starting as a food truck and voted Best Grilled Cheese in Southern California, Grater Grilled Cheese now operates 4 locations throughout San Diego and Irvine. With a mission to make the world a grater place, one grilled cheese at a time, the chain comes equipped with breakfast, bistro, and catering menus.

Although there is a “make your own” option, the Lobster Grilled Cheese, Cordon Bleu Grilled Cheese, an entire cheese fry selection, a mac and cheese list, and GRILLED ICE CREAM SANDWICHES make it almost impossible to choose.

Many ingredients are organic or locally sourced and online ordering is avalable.

Tom + Chee

Shark Tank competitor, Tom + Chee began as a simple tent food vendor on the side of a seasonal ice skating rink in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio in 2009. Now, T+C locations can be found across the country.

Trew Quackenbush, Corey Ward and their wives, Jenny Rachford, and Jenn Quackenbush began the venture together in various roles. It has since been acquired by the Cincinnati chain, Gold Star Chili.

The chain has a wide variety of flavors, gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options. Many flavors top their menu, but the most recognized is the Grilled Cheese Donut. They have received TV recognition on Man V. Food and Amazing Eats. Enjoy their soups or toasty sandwiches in store or order online!

The Melt

The Melt opened in 2011 as the brainchild of Jonathan Kaplan, the founder of Pure Digital Technologies (creator of the Flip Camera). His dream was to digitize and streamline the grilled cheese market while opening 500 locations simultaneously. Even with high tech systems in place, the initial plan of offering five different grilled cheese and tomato soup combinations did not pan out quite as projected.

Through growing pains and trial and error, the company found food quality to be most important. Now under the leadership of Ralph Bower, The Melt offers a menu of Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Meltburgers, Chicken Sandwiches, Salads, and more. The California chain boasts a healthy initiative, gluten free options, and an A-Z list of chemicals/additives that are NOT included in their offerings. Some locations provide delivery and catering.

Grilled Cheese & Co.

Starting as a music festival food concept in May of 2009, Grilled Cheese & Co. has been a brick and mortar spot since April 2010. The business was built on the warm foundation of high-quality comfort food, memorable service, and genuine hospitality.

Vic Corbi and Matt Lancelotta originally began planning their fast-casual empire in 2005. Their chain now serves it’s melty fare in 4 locations across Maryland and is available for franchising.

Of their selection of grilled cheeses, the “famous” signature sandwich: The Crabby Melt reigns supreme. The sweet crab meat topped with monterey jack on ciabatta is available for order online or to enjoy in store.

Melt Bar & Grilled

If you are a fan of a large variety of craft beer and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, Melt Bar & Grilled has been the spot for you since 2006. What began as a hidden Cleveland gem, has become a collection of 10 hot spots sprinkled across Ohio.

As the business continues to grow, so does the fan base. Owner and creator, Matt Fish offered 25% off for life to anyone who got a grilled cheese tattoo! Originally thinking only a few might head to the tattoo parlor, he never anticipated that over 700 people would now sport their own permanent variations of the restaurant logo.

He and his outrageous toasty cheese had a feature on numerous television shows including Diners, Drive-ins & Dives, Man V. Food, and the Today Show. Menu items are available as gluten free, vegan or vegetarian, and you can order online.

Whether you are a purist that believes the grilled cheese sandwich is simply American cheese, white bread, and butter, while everything else is a melt OR a champion of the idea that any toasted sandwich can be a grilled cheese, this day is for YOU. Go to a restaurant, order online, or make a sandwich at home. Treat yourself to whatever toasty, melty sandwich makes you happy, dip it in soup (or don’t), smile, and repeat. Happy National Grilled Cheese Day!

Thank you for reading. Appetite is the official blog of Appfront, the data-driven solution bringing your food to the table. A tasteful blend of Restaurant Marketing, Customer Loyalty, and Online Ordering.