The Grilled Cheeserie

The Grilled Cheeserie originally started as a food truck but soon gained so much attention it now has 3 storefronts! But is this business truly deserving of the fame it has received? Hopefully after reading this post, you will be able to make a decision for yourself.

In my opinion, the whole concept of The Grilled Cheeserie is quite genius. Grilled cheeses are a easy and cheap meal that even a kid can make. Adding a few extra ingredients, calling them “gourmet,” and pairing the sandwiches with sides and milkshakes was all it took to turn a simple sandwich into an entire company.

The menu offers a wide selection of grilled cheese sandwich options. My personal favorite is the, “Turkey di Parma” which is a specialty melt composed of buttermilk cheddar cheese, free-range turkey, walnut pesto aioli, and balsamic-marinated sun-cured tomatoes, stuffed between two slices of parmesan-crusted rosemary garlic bread. I ordered mine without tomatoes and quite enjoyed my modified version. The taste of the pesto, combined with melty cheddar cheese, on parmesan-crusted garlic bread was spectacular. The, “Pimento Mac & Cheese,” is another popular specialty which piles house-made pimento cheese, local cheddar, macaroni, a tomato slice, & bacon bits high on country white sourdough bread. The, “Buffalo South,” offers yet another unique combination — pepper jack cheese, pulled organic chicken, buffalo sauce, bleu cheese aioli, and pickled celery on country white sourdough bread.

If you prefer more traditional toppings, or if you just feel like being creative, you can also make your own combination! You can choose from 5 different cheeses, even including a vegan option; 4 different breads, including a gluten free option; 4 different proteins; and an extensive list of extra toppings. My personal favorite combo is buttermilk cheddar cheese, organic pulled chicken, and fresh avocado on multigrain bread.

And of course, no grilled cheese is complete without a warm bowl of tomato soup for dipping purposes. The menu offers two choices — creamy old-fashioned and roasted red pepper. If tomato soup isn’t your thing, you are weird, but there are some side options for you as well. The tater tots, which are dusted with house seasoning, are my favorite of the choices. They are a little salty in my opinion but still pair well with a melty grilled cheese. Other choices include cheesy tots (in case you don’t think you have reached your cheese in-take for the day after eating your sandwich), sweet potato chips with french onion dip, kettle chips, or a small house salad.

I don’t know why anyone would go to a place that literally has “grilled cheese” in the name and not order a sandwich, but the menu also offers 3 different entree salad choices. I cannot tell you about these because I am a normal person and order grilled cheeses when I go to The Grilled Cheeserie. If somebody wants to try one and tell me about it, you can comment on this post.

The restaurant also offers fun drinks to quench your thirst while eating your meal including bottled craft sodas like mexican coke, root beer, and cream soda. For you true Southerners out there, don’t worry, they also have sweet tea and fresh-squeezed lemonade.

The last part of the menu, and the best part of any menu, is the sweet treats. The Grilled Cheeserie has a selection of old-fashioned floats which can be made with any of their craft sodas, as well as a nice offering of milkshakes. The menu lists your typical shake choices in addition to specialties like, “The Hopscotch,” which is made with vanilla ice cream, house-made butterscotch, fresh banana slices, and brown sugar caramelized bananas. The “Tiramisu,” is another specialty which is made with sweet cream ice cream, cold brew coffee, mascarpone, lady finger crumble, and cocoa powder. The milkshake I got last time I visited the restaurant was a seasonal offering called, “The Strawberry Shortcake.” It was made with vanilla ice cream and strawberry sauce and topped with biscuit crumbles from the well known restaurant Biscuit Love, a fresh strawberry, and whipped cream. Honestly, this milkshake both looks and sounds better than it actually tasted. It was good, but personally, I think a McDonald’s strawberry milkshake topped with some biscuit crumbles would be just as tasty but ring in at a much better price.

Since we’re on the topic now, let’s go ahead and address how much you’re going to be spending on a trip to The Grilled Cheeserie. The “specialty melts” range from $8-9, and the “make your own melts” start at $5.50 but add up quickly with each protein costing $1.50 and extras ranging from an additional 50 cents to $1. The soups are $3.50, tots are $2.75, and chips are $2.50-3.50. Drinks add another $3, and milkshakes ring up between $6-6.50. Needless to say, you could easily go to the store and purchase an entire loaf of bread, a package of sliced cheese, a family sized bag of chips, a can of soup, a 2 liter soft drink, and probably even a whole gallon of ice cream for less than one meal will cost you at The Grilled Cheeserie. But is the price worth it for the taste? That would have to be a no from me. Don’t get me wrong, the sandwiches are delicious. However, I just can’t justify spending $9 on a grilled cheese no matter how unique the toppings are.

Parking is also an issue. At the Hillsboro Village location, there is not a reserved parking lot for the restaurant, and there is very limited street parking in the area. Really, the only option is to park in the lot across the street which will cost you a few extra dollars, making your trip to the restaurant even more expensive. I have not been to the locations in East Nashville or Franklin, so I cannot comment on the parking issues you might face there. Let’s be optimistic though and hope for better, cheaper options.

Modeling an entire business off a simple cheese sandwich is a great concept. However, the extremely high prices prevent me from adding this restaurant to my list of Nashville favorites. I definitely think everyone should try one of the specialty melts at least once, but this is definitely not a restaurant to rave about.