One of the most nostalgic dishes of all time has to be the classic grilled cheese. A comforting lunch, the perfect afternoon snack, a cozy snow day meal, or sick-day pick-me-up, a grilled cheese sandwich is a dish for so many occasions. Of late, local chefs have been taking this timeless dish and giving it a new look, a slight elevation from the Kraft-cheese-and-Wonder-bread grilled cheeses of our childhoods. Visit some of these spots to sample one of these grilled cheeses-with-a-twist.
Caboose Tavern’s Brie Grilled Cheese
For an extra decadent grilled cheese sandwich, look no further than the Brie Grilled Cheese at Caboose Tavern. With melted brie cheese, a generous smear of herb-flecked mascarpone, and sliced apples, this gooey concoction will have you swooning. 520 Mill St. NE, Vienna
Hops n Shine’s Loaded Grilled Cheeses
For grilled cheese aficionados, Hops n Shine is calling your name. The restaurant has an entire menu of loaded grilled cheese options. There is the Holy Cheesus grilled cheese, with four (yes four!) different kinds of cheese and a cheese topped crust; the Herbalicious grilled cheese where bread enrobes melted cheddar cheese, slices of tomato and apple, red onion, and a garlicky, emerald-hued pesto sauce; and the Let’s Shroom grilled cheese, a portobello mushroom and muenster cheese creation. With this many enticing options, you’ll have to make return visits to sample them all. 3410 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria
Royal Restaurant’s French Onion Grilled Cheese
The Royal Restaurant’s French Onion grilled cheese can only be described as a flavor bomb. Creamy Swiss cheese, spicy mustard, sweet grilled onions, and nutty marbled rye bread unite to take your taste buds on a wild ride. 730 N. Saint Asaph St., Alexandria
Lost Dog Café’s Grown-Up Grilled Cheese
With a duo of melted cheeses, fresh tomatoes, and hunks of avocado on whole wheat bread, it’s hard to imagine anyone — adult or child — wouldn’t love this sandwich. But if this option doesn’t sound like it’s your speed, Lost Dog also offers a classic grilled cheese sandwich and a make-your-own grilled cheese option, where you can choose from an assortment of breads, nearly a dozen different kinds of cheese (including vegan cheese), and various condiments. Insider tip: Pair your grilled cheese with a bowl of the creamy tomato soup for a combination that is bound to invoke your best childhood memories. Multiple locations
The Big Cheese’s Mexican-Style Grilled Cheese
You know the owners must be grilled cheese experts if they named their food truck The Big Cheese. The menu offers seasonal specials (including a truffled grilled cheese in the fall) as well as staples like the Thrilled Cheese, made with chipotle cheddar, freshly made guacamole, and some jalapeno for a kick. Visit the truck’s website to see where it will be next; the truck can regularly be found around Northern Virginia in Herndon, Chantilly, Arlington and Ashburn.
Feature image of Royal Restaurant’s French Onion grilled cheese by John Rorapaugh for Leading DC
