For as long as I’ve known my wife, one of Punky’s dreams
in retirement has been to run her own restaurant devoted to custom grilled
cheese sandwiches and soups – one that not only delivers the basics but also
features a large menu of specialty themed creations.
It’s a great idea, but as we’ve learned it’s hardly a unique
one. Still, a successful idea is all
about the execution. And from what I
experienced while travelling for work in Cleveland, you’d be challenged to find
any place that does gourmet grilled cheese better than
Melt Bar and Grilled.
The first Melt opened in 2006 in Lakewood, Ohio, a
west-side suburb of Cleveland. Its
success has spawn six more locations in the Cleveland area, Akron and
Columbus. By 2010, word had spread to
the Travel Channel and Food Network, and your usual food-themed hosts helped
give Melt national recognition.
After learning I’d be working in the Cleveland area for a
while, I remembered Melt from these shows, and it didn’t take a lot of
convincing for my co-workers and me to eventually plan an after-work “team
building exercise” to our nearest Melt location in Cleveland Heights.
Once you walk into a
Melt Bar and Grilled (at least at
this location), it doesn’t take long to realize the style and décor of the
place is about as cheesy as their sandwiches.
I loved it. Whether it’s the
lighted figurines hanging on the shelves, the classic leg lamp, or beer and
food signs from bygone eras, you’ll find plenty to distract you while your food
and drinks are being prepared.
The centerpiece of the Cleveland Heights location was its
huge rectangular wooden bar. It goes a
long way to fill up a rather cavernous brick-walled interior.
The ceilings are quite tall and lined with what appears
to be newer, although classically designed, aluminum tiles. The duct work is prominently visible, adding
to the building’s industrial feel. It
all comes together quite well, and although Melt seems to draw a sizable dinner
crowd, it never feels too busy.
After discussing several of the room’s more interesting
knickknacks, my group and I turned our attention to the food. I quickly ruled out the Melt Challenge listed
at the bottom and after much deliberation, I chose a half-sized fried green
tomato BLT for my sandwich.
It should also be noted that even the menus themselves
are a little “cheesy.” That’s because
they’re printed on the back of album covers.
And, if my menu is any indication, it doesn’t have to be a classic album
by any stretch. I suppose if you’re getting material from record store bargain
bins, though, this selection would make sense.
Although I was perfectly satisfied with my sandwich
selection, the monthly specials were simply too fascinating for me to pass up entirely. So, instead of the customary fries to
accompany my half-sandwich, I substituted the kung pao brussels sprouts. I also added the featured beer – a
DuClaw El KaBong apricot chili ale – to wash it all down.
Although it’s probably one of the less “experimental”
sandwiches on the menu, I found the fried green tomato BLT worthy of praise, especially
when you consider their touch of substituting seared pork belly for bacon. If there’s one thing on this earth better
than bacon, it’s pork belly. The fried green tomatoes themselves were very
well done and compared favorably to those you’d typically find in the Deep South. But the star of the sandwich was the
remoulade sauce. Put simply, they nailed
it!
As for the beer, I can safely say it was the best apricot
chili ale I’ve ever had. It was in all
honesty quite tasty although it took a little getting used to the chili
aftertaste that just kept you thirsty.
The best thing I had for dinner, though, were the kung
pao brussels sprouts. The hoisin-style
sauce used in roasting them took the concept of carmelization to a whole new
level. And the crushed peanut topping was
an excellent complement. It was an
outstanding side dish and large enough to be a meal by itself.
The only disappointing part of the meal was the cup of
roasted garlic tomato soup I ordered as an add-on. After all, what goes better with grilled
cheese than tomato soup? The coffee cup
was another nice, cheesy touch, but the overall flavor of the soup – which seemed
to be little more than crushed tomatoes and garlic – was a little bland for my
taste.
Still,
Melt Bar and Grilled completely met my
expectations, and its menu was so intriguing that I went back a few more times
while I was working in Cleveland. As you
can imagine, Punky was less than excited to learn I had discovered
Melt Bar andGrilled, but at least she has a good standard bearer to follow if she ever
decides to own a similarly themed restaurant.