Robyn Lane

Robyn Lane

Robyn Lane

11 Places In New Jersey To Get Comforting Grilled Cheese, that’s a comforting thought.

There are few things better than a melty grilled cheese sandwich. It is quite possibly one of the most comforting foods on the planet.

Eating a grilled cheese sandwich is a rite of passage for every child born in the United States of America.
I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who hasn’t eaten at least one grilled cheese sandwich during their childhood. I’ve eaten more grilled cheese sandwiches than I can count during my life.

When accompanied by a hot bowl of Campbell’s Tomato Soup, grilled cheese seemed to have made all of my boo-boos feel better and made any sadness I endured as a child go away.

As an adult, I’ve upped my grilled cheese game. Instead of eating my grilled cheese made from Kraft Singles wrapped in those plastic sheets, my adult idea of grilled cheese has evolved. I have incorporated a variety of cheeses that I’d never even considered eating as a child.

For instance, in recent years, I’ve made grilled cheese with creamy Brie cheese and added sliced apples, fig jam, and pepper jelly on sourdough bread.

I’ve also graduated to using a cast iron skillet rather than using my mother’s old Farberware stainless steel skillet.

Places In New Jersey To Eat If You're In a Comfort Food Mood -GRILLED CHEESE
Cast Iron grilled cheese sandwiches are where it’s at. I’ve also experimented using a few different fats to coat the bread before it hits the pan. I’ve used mayonnaise instead of butter, and it works quite well.

Some Grilled Cheese Facts

According to Cheesystreetgrill.com: “Grilled cheese” didn’t actually become common until the 1960’s. Before then, these delicious sandwiches were better known as “melted cheese” or “toasted cheese”. Whatever you want to call them, they all invoke a mouthwatering craving for this ultimate comfort food combination of melty cheese and bread.
Some renditions of grilled cheese sandwiches have been around for centuries with recipes even appearing in ancient Roman texts. The French started making their own croque monsieur in the early 1900’s. Things really started cooking (pun intended) when James L. Kraft received a patent for his pasteurization process of cheese which allowed it to be transported without spoiling. Soon after, Otto Frederick Rohwedder invented an automatic bread slicer that produced even slices in the 1920’s in Missouri.

 

11 Places In New Jersey To Get Comforting Grilled Cheese

List Of Top All You Can Eat Buffets In New Jersey

April is Grilled Cheese Month. Each year, National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day is on April 12th and recognizes one of the top comfort foods in the United States.

So let us salute one of the world’s most perfect comfort foods with a list of places in the great state of New Jersey who make some of the best.

 

 

  • Whiskey Lounge - 403 Higgins Ave, Brielle, NJ 08730

    My co-worker Jackie strikes again with her fabulous suggestion to hit up the Whiskey Lounge for their Grilled Cheese Bar. A whole menu dedicated to Grilled Cheese. Be still my beating heart. Look at these choices!

    Fig & Brie Grilled Cheese – fig spread, brie cheese, sliced granny smith apples, sourdough.

    French Dip Grilled Cheese – provolone cheese, sliced prime rib, sourdough, au jus

    Three Cheese Grilled Cheese – cheddar, swiss & American cheese, marble rye

    French Dip Grilled Cheese -provolone cheese, sliced prime rib, sourdough, au jus

    Caprese Grilled Cheese -fresh mozzarella, oven-roasted tomato, house-made roasted peppers, pesto, sourdough

    It all looks divine.

  • Nip n Tuck Bar & Grill - 23 Norwood Ave, Long Branch, NJ 07740

    It may be appear to be a basic grilled cheese sandwich to the average person, but to me it’s comfort on a plate. A customizable sandwich that can be ordered with a simple variety of cheeses including: American, cheddar, mozzarella, pepper jack, provolone, and bleu. Choose your bread: White, rye, or wheat. Add a side of their delicious onion rings with their the horseradish sauce and a frosty beer, and you’ll be set for the day.

    If you want more than a simple grilled cheese sandwich, then ask about their Grilled Cheese Of The Week. It might be the Jalapeño Bacon Jam, Brie & Gouda or something else out of the ordinary.

    11 Places In New Jersey To Get Comforting Grilled Cheese

  • The Committed Pig - 165 Main St, Manasquan, NJ 08736 - other locations in Morristown, N.J. & Summit, N.J.

    Another fine establishment committed to creating a variety of grilled cheese offerings.
    SPINACH & ARTICHOKE GRILLED CHEESE – fontina, gruyere, white cheddar, spinach and artichoke spread, fries
    GARLIC AVOCADO – smashed avocado, sun dried tomato pesto, muenster, garlic butter, fries
    GRILLED CHEESE & TOMATO SOUP – American & cheddar jack cheese accompanied by a cup of their homemade tomato soup.

    Gluten Free options for your bread in the form of Balthazar pan au levain / gluten free bread

  • Bond Street Bar - 208 Bond St, Asbury Park, NJ 07712

    One of my favorite hole in the wall joints. I don’t always need a bright cheery atmosphere to go with my burger or my grilled cheese. I need friendly service and a place to sit to enjoy my meal.

    You can get a simple grilled cheese sandwich made with: American cheese on white bread, or you can go wild by choosing a bacon apple bleu cheese sandwich on your choice of bread. Or maybe a mushroom, frizzled onions, and Swiss grilled cheese ,or an artichoke, sun dried tomato and mozzarella grilled cheese on your choice of white, wheat, rye, or sourdough.

    Pull up a stool and grab a PBR while you’re at it.

  • Kim Marie's Eat n Drink Away - 1411 Kingsley St, Asbury Park, NJ 07712

    One of the WRAT crew’s favorite hangouts. You can get burgers, pierogis, jalapeno wontons, Irish egg rolls, burgers, and  yummy grilled cheese sandwiches at this local Asbury bar.

    Go for a simple grilled cheese made with American & cheddar cheese on grilled sourdough, or hit up my favorite, the Shrimp Scampi grilled cheese made with jumbo shrimp, scampi butter, provolone and parmesan on grilled sourdough, with your choice of mixed greens or their hand cut fries.

    The homemade tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons is everything a bowl of tomato soup should be.

  • The Mainland Kitchen + Pub - 151 NJ-72, Manahawkin, NJ 08050

    Inside the Holiday Inn in Manahawkin, The Mainland has really good food and fantastic bartenders. I’ve enjoyed a few bourbons & sandwiches, and burgers here before.
    Let’s talk about the French onion grilled cheese- Swiss, white cheddar, provolone, white American, apple wood smoked bacon, caramelized onions on Texas toast.

    If you’re in a burger mood, get the Pub Burger on a pretzel bun.

  • The Grilled Cheese and Crabcake Company - 55 W Laurel Dr, Somers Point, NJ 08244

    I first became familiar with this place thanks to Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives. The Grilled Cheese and Crabcake Company was on Triple D a few years ago, and I was excited.

    The crab melt made with their signature crab cake, Monterey Jack cheese, and tomato is off the charts, or as our spikey haired friend says, “Off The Chain.”

    Guy also built a sandwich for the menu called, “The Triple D Melt” – Smoked gouda, smoked brat, onion rings, fried egg, pepper jack, jalapeños, and sriracha.

  • Grilled Cheese Gourmet - 760 US-46 Suite 6, Kenvil, NJ 07847

    It doesn’t always have to be a simple grilled cheese for me. Sometimes, I like to zig when I should have zagged. I can get down with a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich and I like the variety this place has to offer.

    Anything made with figs grabs my attention, like Figgy Prosciutto -Prosciutto and Fig Jam with fontina and brie on sourdough. I’m really diggin’ the look of Truffled Up – A mix of shredded fontina and gruyere with confit cherry tomatoes truffle oil, on white sourdough with a crispy parmesan crust.

    The people who recommended this place to me highly suggested the Brisket Mac & Cheese Melt – Smoked brisket with Cajun mac and cheese, pickled red onion, Havarti and gouda with pepper jelly on white sourdough.

  • The Pop Shop Collingswood - 729 Haddon Ave, Collingswood, NJ 08108

    This is a fun throwback kind of place. Modern American food with a twist. This place might drum of thoughts of 1950’s ice cream shops, malt shops, & sweet shops. Burgers and fries in baskets, milkshakes, sundaes and more.

    Now, on to the grilled cheese. I’m looking at the grilled cheese originally created by Food Network’s Bobby Flay during the Pop Shop grilled cheese throw down. The Pop Shop has recreated it their way. It’s Brie, Goat cheese, Martin’s Applewood Smoked Bacon, and tomato on thick sliced country white bread.

    Other grilled cheese offerings that ring my bell are: The Arlington – Mac n’ cheese, cheddar and, crumbled bacon on sourdough. Plus, the Calvert– Provolone, roasted turkey, Martin’s applewood smoked bacon, avocado, topped with balsamic mayo on ciabatta.

  • Shut Up and Eat - 804 Main St, Toms River, NJ 08753

    If you wear your pajamas to this place, you get a discount. This fun quirky place has a lot of everything. The menu is huge. Breakfast here is the best. Grilled cheese sandwiches available in a variety of combinations. Nothing is too crazy for the people in the kitchen.
    How about a grilled mac & cheese on grilled rye with pork roll?

    30 different kinds of grilled cheese!! Shut up & Eat!

  • The Speakeatery - 705 Cookman Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712

    The sandwiches here are extraordinary. They don’t have a grilled cheese menu, but they do run grilled cheese specials from time to time. A simple grilled cheese sandwich on buttery bread with a cup of tomato soup hits the spot every time.  I’ll bet they offer upgraded versions as an occasional special with one of their artisan cheeses on one of their incredible buns or biscuits.

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